Anyone here a photographer ?

I have a digital SLR that I loooooove to carry around and take pictures.  I love love love looking at photography and really wish I was better at it.

Where do I start?

Is there a book to teach me tips and tricks?
Should I take a class?
Should I just point and shoot and find what works?

My pictures (to  me) look very plain and boring.  When I look at other peoples photographs I see different focusing that I wish I could do - I see different angles and I'm just not sure how they do it.

Thanks

Canuckabroad,

I consider myself an aspiring photographer.  I was in classes for a while and will probably start up here again soon.  Which digital camera do you have?  I have two digital SLRs, one 35mm humungo, and one small pocket sized 35mm camera. 

One thing that a professional photographer friend told me is: what you want people to focus on in the picture should take up a lot of the frame.  Of course if you're taking a picture of something that isn't moving that's easy, but one of those in the moment pictures...just snap the camera - who know's what you'll end up with. 

I was told in class that even professional photographers can end up taking hundreds of photos and only come away with 10 that are good.  That's not to say the rest aren't good, but those 10 look phenomenal when compared to the rest.

The best way to play around with your camera is to go out in your neighborhood and take photos of everyday things...play with the settings on your camera and different focus' and see how different you can make those everyday items look.  Write down the time of day, how much sunlight/lack of sunlight, the setting you used on the camera, and see what works best for you.

I hoped I helped and didn't bore you.

Having been through the whole photography thing, I'd say: take lots of photos, read lots of book and magazines, and take more photos.  If possible, join a photographic club.  If you want to improve your photographic creativity, take a whole day and try to take 100-200 photos.  Also upload to http://zip.4chan.org/p/imgboard.html and ask for comments, you don't have to join up or anything.

Thanks!

I was thinking of getting a few books from the library. 

Start with the rule of thirds, so don't place your main object dead-centre, but in the first 2/3 of the frame, or the last, depending on what is on either side of the object.

Experiment with the camera's controls, don't just rely on the auto-settings.

Cut different size frames out of cardboard and hold them up and move them about to see what would work.

Instead of using the standard perspective (standing up, looking dead ahead), lie down or try to get an angle from above the object.

Take a picture of an object but focus on a specific part rather than the whole thing. Such as the stamen of a pretty flower or the paws of a cat, or the eyes of a bird.

Use an every day object such as a tooth brush and focus on the bristles of the ridges.

Have fun. All photographers started without knowledge. And pretty much all of them had to train their Eye.

Be sure to show us some results!

I enjoy photography as a hobby but have never been serious enough about it to take a class or do much reading.

The two biggest things that I can say helped me to become better are:

1. Photographing anything and everything that caught my eye or was interesting to me.  I'd sometimes spend hours just walking around my yard and taking photos of flowers, grass, rocks, phone poles, etc.  I'd do macros, I'd do landscapes, I'd do everything.  Practice doesn't make perfect, but it will make you better.

2. I posted what I considered to be my better efforts at websites like DeviantArt.com, where they're exposed to a community of people who can offer comments.  Every single comment I got, whether it was from a non-photographer who just enjoyed looking at pictures, or from a seasoned pro, helped me immensely.  It's interesting to hear what people notice about your work, because often, they notice things that you never intended to be there, and that, in turn, helps you to notice more through your viewfinder.

Also, in communities such as DeviantArt, there are forums where you can find even more helpful hints and post questions of your own.  Another great resource.

In other words... just do it and have fun! :)

what kind of camera is it?

what's the range of the lense?

ex: nikon d300 w/ 18-135 mm???

yes slr cameras are awesome. i love them, but it also depends on the brand, grade, and lense. for example if your lense is 18-55 you are not going to get all the shots you want...

i have a film SLR, and although it can get expensive (film cost) it makes me think more about my shots. i really have to think what i want to shoot that day.

i'm at work but i would love to help you out, message me what type of camera you have... that will help a lot!

good luck with it. photography is awesome.

capture what you are passionate about.

I am a graphic designer and do some digital SLR photography as part of my job. Books are great, classes are great, but nothing will substitute for plain old experience. You will need to experiment, and learn about how your camera really works. Try turning off the automatic settings, and don't use the flash. Shoot at different shutter speeds and apertures. Play around with depth of field - a shallow depth of field can create atmosphere and will draw the eye to what is in focus. Also, pay attention to what is in the foreground, middle, and background. You can use the foreground to frame your subject, creating a more interesting composition.

having worked as a marketing/project manager at a magazine in the past, it might be helpful for you to know that a stunning photograph is sometimes only a portion of the original

you can change the focal point and feel of a photo by cropping it and magazines do just that to get the best of the photo

(hyper-wide angle panoramic shots excluded)

i agree with the above advice

a class at a community college would be good, but only if you also take lots and lots of pictures

the advantage of taking a class is also that you may get access to photo editing software that you might not be able to afford to buy for yourself at this point

enjoy!

Ditto other posters: classes to learn how to take a more visually interesting pic (subjects and rule of thirds), practice, practice, get feedback.

Another suggestion: I have a Nikon D80 SLR and the user manual for it offers tips on how to play around with the settings other than automatic on the camera, playing with F-stops, lighting, manual, etc.  In addition to, or building on what I learned from the photography classes I took in college, i used tips and ideas from the user manual to take the same picture but differently.  Such as changing the settings when taking pictures of water; you can let the lens open a little longer than it typically would on automatic and get the effect (I'm sure you've seen it) of waterfalls or streams (any rapidly moving water) that look whitish and 'softer'.

Good luck and have fun!!

I have a canon rebel  camera.

It came with a standard lense (18-55mm) and I have purchased a separate zoom lense (75-300).

All I do - is turn the camera on and shoot.  I change the lense when I want to take pictures closer up. 

I have no clue what ISO does/means or any of the other funky buttons and settings are.  Guess I should buy a book. 

The other thing (I'm ashamed to say) is that I have no clue how to turn the flash off!  Sometimes I feel its too bright.