Why do you do photography?

[Legitshave]

Hey guys, totally new to photography. I recently acquired a Canon SX500, and I am looking to get into photography. I have no idea where to start... I feel totally un-artistic, and I feel like I have no inspiration How do you guys find your inspiration, or better yet how and why did you guys get into photography?

 

[djh]

What types of photos do you enjoy looking at? Portraits, landscapes, city scenes, close-ups? Pick an area of photography which interests you and then learn more about it- if you have an interest in something it can be fun rather than being a chore.

Learn as much as you can about your camera and photography in general. Being able to control the camera properly will enable you to achieve your desired results rather than having to be satisfied with what the camera tosses at you.

Have fun!

 

[Legitshave]

I like old fashioned... dark and gloomy kinda, or mysterious. Sounds weird I know, but I find those kind of photos fascinating

 

[AllenG]

I got into photography as a child. My father was an avid shutterbug and I learned how to use a camera at a quite young age.



Google up, Alternative Process photography; I think you will like the look.
Also look up the work of Robert and Shana ParkeHarrison. They kind of epitomize dark, gloomy, old fashioned, and mysterious.

 

[dpm802]

Learn as much as you can about your camera and photography in general. Being able to control the camera properly will enable you to achieve your desired results rather than having to be satisfied with what the camera tosses at you.

+1 ... read the instruction manual in detail and learn all the different controls and how to use them. The camera has lots of different modes, and when that once-in-a-lifetime shot comes along, you only have a split-second to grab it, so knowing your way around the menus is essential.

One of the best lessons I ever learned about photography came out of a class in Junior High School. The instructor had us deliberately make all the common mistakes. Shots were made to show overexposure, underexposure, shakes, out-of-focus, poor depth-of-field, cutting the top off a person's head, sun glare, etc. Once we made these mistakes on purpose, we knew what to look out for so they didn't happen by accident.

 

[Mick]

Go to the public library.

Check out these Ansel Adams books.

The Camera
The Negative
The Print

Still good reading material and you will learn more than you thought you could about photography.

 

[badgerstate]

to photograph you must first learn to see, since photography is merely capturing, on film or digital media, what is before you. the vision comes first.

 

[mdarnton]

Look at a lot of pictures from different people. Figure out what you like. Try to do your own pictures in the manner of someone you like, then develop your own style from there. My style is a composite of half a dozen photographers whose work I like, with me on top of that. Then get a project to work on--build a little body of work based on some common thing. These days I'm doing portraits of people I know, socially or from work. Avoid shotgun approaches--taking pictures of anything and everything that tickles you; you will learn a lot faster taking ideas and developing them.

My photography: http://flickr.com/mdarnton

 

[Relentless]

I enjoy all styles, but I find dramatic lighting in general has the largest emotional impact on me. When I go walking around I just happen to have a camera on me. There is no pressure to shoot. I try to take it most places I go and usually don't shoot a thing. I'm always looking for just the right light to capture; it has certainly changed my perspective on the world. When I stumble across an area with dramatic lighting, or phenomenal skies, I search for a decent subject and take a stab at many compositions. You'd be surprised how mundane subjects become interesting this way. I have a picture of a water fountain that has a different impact on me every time I look at it.

Just remember that the best camera is the one you have with you.

 

[Edcculus]

Just remember that the best camera is the one you have with you.

Which is why I carry my RB67 everywhere!

 

[Galengwath]

Well, I've always enjoyed it, but only started getting serious when my wife and i started having kids. Of course, I like photographing things other than my children, but they tend to be my primary focus.

 

[Blooze]

Well, I've always enjoyed it, but only started getting serious when my wife and i started having kids. Of course, I like photographing things other than my children, but they tend to be my primary focus.

I was just the opposite. We've lots of photos of the kids through the years, but I nor my wife were ever the ones who carried a camera around with us when the kids were young. Too busy playing with them or doing parental duties I guess. They hate getting their photo taken now that they're older.

 

[celestino]

i only started to this mildly-seriously when i started wet-shaving and posting my shaves in the SOTD thread!
Now, with all of you incredible photographers to learn from, i really appreciate the art-form.

 

[Lesmore]

Hey guys, totally new to photography. I recently acquired a Canon SX500, and I am looking to get into photography. I have no idea where to start... I feel totally un-artistic, and I feel like I have no inspiration How do you guys find your inspiration, or better yet how and why did you guys get into photography?

I've been photographing since 1968. I find inspiration....just walking around with the camera. I look for small things....for example....hinges on gates, insects on flowers, parts of cars, bicycles parked on the street....I just start and look.

It get's easier as you do more of it. Pretty soon you'll want different lenses...maybe a macro for closeups...than a wide angle for landscapes...then a telephoto for wild birds in the distance.

Then you'll look at the photos you took and start thinking...gee I should try a different angle next time.....maybe lower....and I should get closer to the subject...and try to avoid all that busy background I got on that last shot.

Print some of your better pictures...just to 5 X 7...review them...look...at them a lot...try to figure out how to improve...what you can do different next time.

Get some photo books with lot's of photo's done by good photographer....look....take photo's early in the am....just before the sun goes down....best light then.