Rex Photography
Um...technical...photography...stuff....need help...just beginning.....?
I'm just starting to take on photography, and I still have a lot of questions.... How do you get that look in a photo where the backround looks blurred and the main subject is in focus, creating an appealing contrast? What's the best way to get that shot? Are close-up shots of, like, eagles swooping down and catching fish one in a million or just the product of high zoom? What's the difference between those stylish, modern-looking metalic grey digital cameras that are 1/2 inches thick and big, bulky cameras with lenses that shoot out 5 inches? I've been too sport gatherings and seen big events, and the professional photographers seem to have those plain, bulky looking cameras with tons of buttons. Are they better? Also, if I don't have $20,000 to buy really good and professional equipment, how can I start a career, or for that matter, catch really good photos? My digital camera just seems to capture plain, average photos, even when I can see a better picture in my head
Public Comments
- For your first question, getting the subject in focus, and the background blurry, is called shallow depth of field; shallow DOF. To achieve this, use an f-stop; aperture, of around f-5.6 and lower. "Bokeh" is the term used when the background is blurry. Deep DOF is achieved by using an f-stop of around f-8 and higher. Getting close ups of, say an eagle, requires long range, telephoto lenses. And yes, it does require a lot of skill to get it the way you see it in magazines. A good lens, of about 300mm-400mm and up, would be required to keep the subject unaware of your presence. Sleek and slim cameras/point and shoots, are designed to look good. Anyone who thinks they may want to get into photography should pass these off, and get a DSLR. DSLR's, digital single lens reflex cameras, are the big bulky ones you've seen. Yes, they are expensive, but they deliver on picture quality, features, and much more. However, the average DSLR runs around $1000 or more. DSLR's have a larger sensor that allows the camera to take better quality images. They also have the ability to have interchangeble lenses, and more features than the point and shoots. Yes, the DSLR's are better. If you dont have an extra 20K around, look into camera companies begginer, or prosumer models. With Nikon the D40, and the D40x have just come out. The D40x, however, is exactly like the D40, only it looses some of its features, but gets more megapixels. Oh yeah, megapixels do not make the camera. So, if someone says, "this camera has 10 megapixels," dont buy it by just that. Nikon also has the better D80, a prosumer model. For Canon, there is the Digital Rebel XTi. The camera does not make good photographs, it is the photographer. A person could have a $10,000 camera, but still come out with bad photos. Think of a paintbrush and paints; they could be top of the line, but there has to be as just as good of painter to make a good painting. With that said, learn as much as you can about photography. Learn the terms, the features, and learn all you can with hands on expierience. Hope this helped you.
- Those "Big Bulky Cameras" that you mentioned are the ones that get some of these "great" pictures that you mentioned above. Now to finish your questions, yes those cameras are better because of what cane be done with those cameras opposed to a normal point and shoot camera. These cameras plus the lenses and the photographer knowing the technical aspects of photography to create that "blurred" look (use of depth of field). To get the eagle swooping down to catch a fish is a nature photographer doing his home work of knowing where the eagles are and sitting for weeks (or longer) to get the right shot at the right moment. Not everybody is willing to invest a few thousand $$ on just a camera body and then a few more $$ on lenses. So there are the lower end DSLR cameras that start out around $500 on up (without lens). You add lenses as you go and change out cameras as you get better and if you get good you can have other people start paying for your equipment (selling your work and or doing portraits, weddings etc..etc). You need to learn the technical aspects of photography and your camera (composition, shutter speed, depth of field etc), once you understand these you will be able to shoot better pictures. Get yourself a book on "How To" (also you can find some information on-line). Have a look at these websites for some help some are free and some you will have to pay for: http://www.betterphoto.com/home.asp... http://www.photonhead.com/simcam/shutter... http://www.lexar.com/dp/index.html?cmp=e... (tips and lessons) Learn something from one of these places and go out and try it and you will start understanding your camera and what to shoot. Take notes while shooting and then look at your photos on and find the best one from that set and see what made that one better. Hope that helps, Kevin
- Electrosmack1 pretty well gave you all the info that you need, but I'll throw in a few ideas and opinions for good measure.... Your close up shots of eagles swooping and catching a fish are one in a million AND a high zoom. If you are serious about photography, you better find a place somewhere to tuck that camera into and take it with you EVERYWHERE you go. I don't know how many times I have kicked myself in the butt for seeing something that was "a one in a million" shot and not having my camera with me for whatever reason. My specialty is close-up nature photography and electrosmack1 is right about the "blur" effect. I don't think my f-stop has ever been higher than 5.6 I want my subject to be the main focal point. Your camera is important as far as quality photographs go if you are serious about going pro, but you can often find those high-priced cameras cheaper buying from individuals. My first professional camera I bought from a young couple that rushed out and bought a camera without being familiar with operating one. They found that it was too much camera for their ability and wanted to find something easier to use. My last comment is about your "plain, average photos". Photography is composition, thought and some talent. If you have problems with your composition and thought, imagine a picture frame around whatever it is that you are planning to take a photo of....ask yourself if what you are seeing will make a "great" photo. Try a different viewpoint. Change your angle on a shot. For example...a picture of a house. A straight on shot looking right smack at the front of the house is a pretty plain photo....but lay on the ground and aim your camera up......or tilt your camera to the left or right or even go to the corner of the house and photograph it from an angle and suddenly the photo draws your eye in. It's not so much the subject you are photographing, but what you do with the subject that makes it interesting. Hope I've helped some.....good luck!
