nathy_87
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Registered: 14th Aug 08
Location: West Mids. Drives: Škoda Fabia VRS 5J
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Hi folks, as the title suggests I've purchased my first SLR which I'm looking forward to start using. It won't be for anything big just car meets and pet photos, and just wondering if people had any pointers for me? Looking at getting a flash gun eventually for dusk/under tunnel photos. Is there any software similar to Photoshop that's easy to use or even tutorials for photoshop as I've never used it just to lightly edit photos if needed.
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Balling
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Registered: 7th Apr 04
Location: Denmark
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Great beginner camera. Have had the 1000d for years. Sold it at one point and shortly bought another as I missed it too much.
Get an f/1.8 50mm lens!!! Only thing you'll ever need, beside the camera.
Find a second hand one if you can, they're often easy to come by.
Flashes can be fun, but their use is quite limited if you're doing "action" stuff.
Get to grips with the camera first, then start buying toys. There are literally thousands of ways to capture a picture, so try to stick to the basics to not get overwhelmed. Despite the impression enthusiasts might give, you definitely don't need heaps of equipment.
As for software, have a look at Adobe Lightroom. Fairly straight forward, yet quite advanced if you want it to.
If you already have and know Photoshop, I'd just stick with that.
Tutorials for what? Find out what you want to do and type it in the empty square in the middle of google.com. Lots of resources for beginners.
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Balling
Premium Member
Registered: 7th Apr 04
Location: Denmark
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Also, find a good (active) forum to post your pictures for some basic advice.
Ask for specific things you want to change/improve in your photography. Don't just post a pic of your dog an expect people to tell you how it differs from a professional studio shot with an actual interesting subject.
I'm not clued up on the best places to look, but you'll find little help in here these days, unfortunately.
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nathy_87
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Registered: 14th Aug 08
Location: West Mids. Drives: Škoda Fabia VRS 5J
User status: Offline
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Thanks Balling for your input I can't wait to start using it.
That will be my first purchase for the camera will have a look around the usual places like Ebay/Amazon and possibly shops that sell photography equipment.
As for the flash, it probably won't be used as much as I think it would but wouldn't mind as a back up if needed.
Adobe Lightroom (AL), that more sufficient than Photoshop (PS) or completely different product? Only wanting free/cheap software to edit one or two photos and not over the top editing either.
Not used PS ever, so what would you say? PS OR AL?
And i menat for photoshop. I'm aware how to use Google thanks  
So like a photography forum rather than a car forum? I was just thinking as you've got yourself, will_ainsworth (although don't see a lot of him) and no doubt a few others who are into their photography so was wondering if they'd have an input too.
[Edited on 11-08-2015 by nathy_87]
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Balling
Premium Member
Registered: 7th Apr 04
Location: Denmark
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Neither PS nor Lightroom is free or cheap. Lightroom's the cheapest option though and the one intended specifically for photography, whereas PS has a broader reach.
Both are on a monthly subscription. https://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop-lightroom.html
As for cheap or free I don't know. Picasa used to be good for managing photos, but haven't used it in years.
If you're on Mac the latest Photos release seems to get decent reviews, but I never could get to grips with iPhoto and haven't given Photos a go yet.
You'll get very little feedback on here. Have a look at the first page of Snap Day. Hardly any threads with more than five replies for the last year.
Find a photography forum for beginners.
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MikeF86
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Registered: 14th Feb 15
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Pistonheads photography sub forum is very good.
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Cavey
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Registered: 11th Nov 02
Location: Derby
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I'll be honest, for 'editing' I just use the windows gallery, can do all I need on that, quite easily.
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nathy_87
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Registered: 14th Aug 08
Location: West Mids. Drives: Škoda Fabia VRS 5J
User status: Offline
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Went out last weekend as my cousin wanted a few shots of his car all in I took 66 photos (not all of his car) here are just a few...
[Edited on 20-08-2015 by nathy_87]
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RichR
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Registered: 17th Oct 01
Location: Waterhouses, Staffordshire
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Top one the main road out of Alton towards Farley?
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nathy_87
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Registered: 14th Aug 08
Location: West Mids. Drives: Škoda Fabia VRS 5J
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quote:
Originally posted by RichR
Top one the main road out of Alton towards Farley?
Correct Rich, and as you're coming down the hill you might see this too:
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spencer88
Member
Registered: 6th Oct 08
Location: cornwall
User status: Offline
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Buys first SLR.
Starts Facebook N J Parker Photography Page.
Pretend to be professional photographer.
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Balling
Premium Member
Registered: 7th Apr 04
Location: Denmark
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quote:
Originally posted by spencer88
Buys first SLR.
Starts Facebook N J Parker Photography Page.
Surely not.
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spencer88
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Registered: 6th Oct 08
Location: cornwall
User status: Offline
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https://www.facebook.com/NathJPhotography?fref=ts
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Balling
Premium Member
Registered: 7th Apr 04
Location: Denmark
User status: Offline
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nathy_87
Member
Registered: 14th Aug 08
Location: West Mids. Drives: Škoda Fabia VRS 5J
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It's a new hobby/fad, whatever, I'm not saying I'm professional by any means am I Spencer? 
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spencer88
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Registered: 6th Oct 08
Location: cornwall
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quote:
Originally posted by nathy_87
It's a new hobby/fad, whatever, I'm not saying I'm professional by any means am I Spencer?
I drive the Mrs to work, don't have a page depicting me as a taxi driver.
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DC90
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Registered: 14th Nov 07
Location: Bedfordshire
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Driving the Mrs to work is a bit of a weird hobby
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Ben G
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Registered: 12th Jan 07
Location: Essex
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I'm not a photographer, but you need to work on your aim.
In the first flower image, you've cut off a bit of it at the top. Images like that needed to be centred correctly. Same goes for the car image, you've cut the roof off.
Also photography page on Facebook
[Edited on 09-09-2015 by Ben G]
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whitter45
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Registered: 15th Nov 02
Location: Norton
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just keep practicing and shooting - are you shooting raw and try and shoot as much in manual mode - you learn so much more and at a quicker rate
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VrsTurbo
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Registered: 8th Jun 10
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Wow just seen the latest pictures on Facebook.
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Kyle T
Premium Member
Registered: 11th Sep 04
Location: Selby, North Yorkshire
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Lotus Elise 111R
Impreza WRX STi
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Balling
Premium Member
Registered: 7th Apr 04
Location: Denmark
User status: Offline
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quote:
Originally posted by whitter45
just keep practicing and shooting - are you shooting raw and try and shoot as much in manual mode - you learn so much more and at a quicker rate
Not sure I agree with this. RAW and manual mode offer nothing until you've gotten the hang of the basics like lighting and composition. On the contrary they're just more aspects to be confused about. Leave exposure to the camera until you've come to terms with it.
I'd say any beginner should shoot exclusively in AV and in the rare instance in TV. In fact, I hardly ever switch away from AV myself. Unless in a studio or other controlled environment, there's very little benefit from shooting manual.
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whitter45
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Registered: 15th Nov 02
Location: Norton
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quote:
Originally posted by Balling
quote:
Originally posted by whitter45
just keep practicing and shooting - are you shooting raw and try and shoot as much in manual mode - you learn so much more and at a quicker rate
Not sure I agree with this. RAW and manual mode offer nothing until you've gotten the hang of the basics like lighting and composition. On the contrary they're just more aspects to be confused about. Leave exposure to the camera until you've come to terms with it.
I'd say any beginner should shoot exclusively in AV and in the rare instance in TV. In fact, I hardly ever switch away from AV myself. Unless in a studio or other controlled environment, there's very little benefit from shooting manual.
each to their own, but once you understand the relationships, I found shooting in manual gives far more control over the picture you want to take
I agree AP is probably the one to go for but shooting in manual does help
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Ellis
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Registered: 11th Sep 07
Location: Aberdeenshire
User status: Offline
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I'm starting to feel the need to upgrade my kit 18-55mm zoom lens. Pretty convinced I need a 50mm f1.8 in my life. Anyone fancy adding weight to the argument in my own head?
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Balling
Premium Member
Registered: 7th Apr 04
Location: Denmark
User status: Offline
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Once you've taken your first few shots with that sweet, sweet shallow depth of field, you're never looking back.
Want to shoot landscapes or architecture? The 50mm is probably the wrong tool.
Want to shoot stunning portraits and crisp snapshots? The 50mm is the best tool you'll find.
I do find it sometimes gets a bit too close, especially in smaller areas, where taking a few steps back isn't an option.
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