Photography Class

chris snell

chris snell

Administrator
Callsign: NW5W
Staff member
@jymmiejamz's comment on the places-you'll-go thread got me thinking about photography and how I learned. I've owned two Canon 5D cameras and while I took a ton of photos with them, my shots were never very good. I only knew how to use the automatic and aperture priority modes. I bought a Leica M10 on an impulse purchase after using one at Winter Romp and realized that I would have to learn photography if I was to use the camera.

I thought about buying a book and was searching around the web for stuff when I stumbled upon one of the coolest things I've ever found on the 'net:

Reddit's /r/photoclass

A completely free online course in photography. A really good, free class.

After a few evenings of reading, I was able to use the completely manual default mode of my Leica to get photos that were far better than anything I ever took with the Canon.

Anyway, if you've ever wanted to become a better photographer, give /r/photoclass a shot.
 
RBBailey

RBBailey

NAS-ROW Addict
Callsign: KF7KFZ
I'm going to need to live a different life over again to be able to drop bling on an M10, but I do still shoot film with an old SL2. I still regret having to sell the pile of lenses I had for it, original, German made, fast lenses... I shoot with Nikon now, but wish for the good stuff!

When it comes to post processing, I use the free https://rawtherapee.com/

One of the things I'd like to take the time to learn some day is how to process for showing on the web, and to get back into printing photos.
 
uc4me

uc4me

Well-known member
Z.G said:
R/postprocessing is helpful too, as editing plays a huge roll in digital photography.
Click to expand...

Totally agree. I do like to see what I can get only from adjustments on my Nikon and specific lens as well. Having said that I used to use Adobe Lightroom before it became a subscription service. Considering it again.
 
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RBBailey

RBBailey

NAS-ROW Addict
Callsign: KF7KFZ
BTW, PS and Lightroom are still the best way to go. I'm no expert, but I think Rawtherapee does a good job as well, although is probably more difficult to use. I'd get the Adobe subscription, but it isn't worth the money for me, since I'd have to buy a new computer to make it work.
 
chris snell

chris snell

Administrator
Callsign: NW5W
Staff member
Z.G said:
$10 a month is a great price for what you get. I have PS and lightroom for $10/month
Click to expand...

I have the same subscription and I think got the Photoshop and Lightroom iOS apps with it, too. Lightroom is super handy on the iPhone. The M10 has built-in wifi so I like to use their app to copy a pic from the camera to the phone, edit in LR, then post up on Instagram or whatever.
 
K

Kevin88RRC

Well-known member
I've been using PS6. Does everything I need so I do not see any need to pay for the new one.
Also use Capture One Pro but that one needs to be purchased or subscribed. You can download a 30 day trial. I haven't used LR but all the digital techs I work with prefer Capture over LR.
 
L

LR Max

Well-known member
Thanks for the link. Despite shooting photography for 15 years and working professionally, I'm still learning.

Now that I don't live by the camera anymore, I downgraded to Photoshop Elements. It was on sale at the end of the year. It does everything I need it to do. If you are low-volume photos, its fine. Handles RAW just fine and the guided post-process is pretty good. One-time purchase is less than a year subscription. I'll probably run this version of elements until I get another camera (so...10 years, lol).

But yeah, if you working with 100+ photos every other weekend, lightroom is very good. I'm not doing that anymore, hence the cheaper option.
 
SouthTexasRover

SouthTexasRover

Member
Callsign: KF5AAM
I've been getting some similar vibes wanting to push myself back into photography since I gave my niece my Nikon for college. For the first time I really want to go with Canon. I've only used them for video shoots and I don't know why I ever thought Nikon was better. I've been trolling the marketplaces hunting for a good deal. I remember reading through that Photoclass on Reddit years ago. There was also a forum, I think onlinephotgraphyschool or something, that I remember was pretty resourceful. They would have a lot of photo challenge assignments and a lot of people who would critique shots for you. I have always used Gimp for processing.
 
rocky

rocky

NAS-ROW Addict
I really have dropped off the photo world since my kids grad high school.
Sports was the thing there. It's a difficult subject especially soccer. I have three generations of Canons plus a bunch of lens including their 100-400....
 
galen216

galen216

Well-known member
My minor in college was photography and I was a photojournalist for a few years until I figured out newspapers pay terrible salaries. The camera you choose is pretty irrelevant unless you buy quality lenses. I always tell people to buy the best lenses, even if that means buying less of a camera. I have Nikon lenses in the f1.8 and 2.8 range that I have owned for nearly 20 years, but have been through more cameras than I can count. Good glass can't be beat.
 
RBBailey

RBBailey

NAS-ROW Addict
Callsign: KF7KFZ
This is exactly the mistake I've made, not emptying the bank on lenses, and I can't get out of the hole now. I've been so frustrated with this problem at times, that I have been very close to simply selling ALL my equipment and completely starting over. But since I have kids that are growing up, I can't not have a camera. I also travel in the summers, and carrying more than a few lenses has been very difficult, so I keep falling for the trap of getting a one-size-does-all lens.

If you have the ability, empty the bank on lenses.
 
Z.G

Z.G

Well-known member
Borrow lenses is great, I use them whenever I'm looking to buy a new lens or need something unique. I only use the L series lenses, except for my 100mm 2.8 macro, because I use it basically only for ring shots and it's pretty sharp already.
 
rocky

rocky

NAS-ROW Addict
The L Series 100-400 (second gen) blew me away with how much it helped improve my sports photography. You'll want a monopod as well. I did rent a 70-200 L series F2.8 for a night game under poor floodlights and that was so sweet....
 
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