Extreme beginners idiots guide?

[shaolin101]

Hi All,

Just wondered if there is an extreme beginner’s guide to photography.

I mean it in the way of a book that will say for this type of picture (insert silky water night pic) set the aperture to this, shutter to this etc. Or for this type of portrait (insert portrait pic), have a light pointing this way, stand this far back, lens set to this length etc.

Although I am learning by reading bits and pieces and just trial and error, it would be nice to get a few quick result shortcuts!

Thanks.

[hot-fuzz]

Try here :

http://www.usa.canon.com/content/reb...lxtlessons.htm

Some basic tips that can get you started. I learned a couple of things from there.

[horribleman]

get 'understadning exposure' by Bryan Petersen/peterson.

It's cool

[Peakoverload]

You are not really going to find a guide that says "for this kind of shot use x aperture or x shutter speed" because no guide can be that specific as the settings you would need would very much depend on the amount of available light and the exact effect you want to achieve. For example if you wanted to get that silky effect on water than the aperture or shutter speed you would need would vary depending on the amount of available light BUT also how fast the water is moving i.e. you would need a longer shutter speed for slow moving water than you would for fast to achieve a silky effect.

What I think would perhaps be of more benefit is to learn as much as you can about exposure and understand that there is no such thing as one correct exposure (numerous combinations of shutter speed, aperture and ISO can all produce a correctly exposed image) but rather that there is a correct exposure based on the effect you want to achieve. This is a very big subject as you will quickly realise how different exposures can make or break a picture by the use of depth of field, by creating motion blur, by freezing the action etc etc.

There is a very good book called "Understanding Exposure How To Shoot Great Photographs With A Film or Digital Camera" By Bryan Peterson but, although not difficult to understand, isn't really aimed at the absolute beginner. So it might perhaps be best to learn how to use your camera completely first. Depending on what camera you have you may well find that a book has been written on it that explains in greater detail what all the functions do. That said if you have a fairly basic camera than many of the controls that you would need to manually set your exposure may not be there which would kind of defeat the purpose!

[Steve N]

Originally Posted by shaolin101

Just wondered if there is an extreme beginner’s guide to photography.

That's exactly what I was looking for when I first started.
I bought How To Do Everything With Your Digital Camera by Dave Johnson. I think this is a great book for beginners.
I've just put it up for sale.
See Here
I've now advanced to DSLR for Dummies
I can also recommend Bryan Petersons Understanding Exposure.

[shaolin101]

thanks all,

i will get learning about exposure and jsut get out there and try some varying shots.

The cameral i have is the D80 with 18-135 lens.

Thought i woud get one that i can use straight away but has everything else for when i learn what it all means!

will take a look at the books too.

[Steve N]

Originally Posted by shaolin101

The cameral i have is the D80 with 18-135 lens.

Thats the same set-up as me.

I strongly recommend Ken Rockwell's FREE D80 Manual.
See Here

Ken tends to loved/hated by different people but no-one can doubt the guys enthusiasm and his D80 user guide really got me moving up the learning curve.

[alphaomega16]

Originally Posted by Highlander1

Try here :

http://www.usa.canon.com/content/reb...lxtlessons.htm

Some basic tips that can get you started. I learned a couple of things from there.

Thanks for that link man very informative.