My photos

Hello, my name is Alex Fraker and I am new to the photographic community I

would like to someday become a photographer. I am 17 and would really like your

input on my photos. The ones I have up are not the greatest and I know that. I

have done alot better but lost a lot of my other pictures so that is what I

have to show. Please give me any suggestions you can. Thank you very much to

anyone that helps.

Suggestions:

Read as much as you can about photography. Not just how-to books but historical references, anthologies, collections. Consume everything your library has.

Read as much as you can online. Look through the archives on photo.net.

Practice, practice, practice, practice, practice.

Hi Alex: Great! Really good to be aspiring to this stuff.

Here's an exercise I used to do (and should still do, more often!):

Poke around here, or anywhere else until you see an image that really talks to you. Deliberately, thoughtfully, write down 5 things about the image that you like about it. 10 things is even better. Maybe even 5 things you do NOT like about. Grab your camera, your piece of paper, and go set up a shot. You don't have to try to re-create that same image, or even work on the same sort of subject... but you SHOULD be able to look through the finder on your camera, and then glance down at your piece of paper and ask yourself, "Is number three on my list of things I like also true about the image I'm about to take? Number four? Am I truly avoiding all of the things that are on my list of things I DON'T like?"

It helps to build up that mental checklist, and gets you closer to "seeing" (rather than just "looking").

Looking at the shots you posted, I'm struck by your interest in patterns and shapes. I'm still the same way, but have come to realize the pleasure that comes from having a bit of a narrative in the images. Don't be afraid to try to tell a bit of a story with a shot. Yes, it can easily end up as a cliche, but it's a way to help flex that part of your brain. On the presumption you're shooting digitally and that it doesn't cost you a lot to do so, take the advice from the post above: shoot, shoot, shoot, shoot. Get OUT there. Best of luck!

It looks to me like you have an eye for photography - I've been working on that for about 40 years, and still fall short, so I'm just sort of a mechanic.

You got some excellent advice in the previous posts. The good thing about a site like this is that you can see what others are doing and get ideas from them. Most photos on this site that get much exposure have been manipulated (sometimes rather heavily) through software programs. Don't worry about that yet. Just work on your eye, your composition, lighting, etc.

Some wise guy once said that your first ten thousand photos would be the worst. That's about right. But you can shoot things that interest you.

Best Regards

We're all learning Alex. This site is a good resource, as are tons of publications, other

websites, etc.

Ply through those for the technical aspects, and inspiration, and take pictures again and

again and again. As the previous poster said, practice, practice, practice.

Don't get caught up in photo gear itself. It's easy to do. Just remember the concept of

photography is the same for a $20 fixed lens as it is with a $5,000 SLR: light on film (or

sensor).

Welcome, and good luck!

Thank you everyone! I am gonna try and do that write stuff down and

compose a picture using what I wrote down, I am not sure if you are able to

write coments on my pictures I have up ( I am kinda new to this site ) but if you

can I would really appreciate it. Thank again and keep the advice coming!

Hi Alex, and welcome. My suggestion to you is to learn as much about exposure as you can. How your camera 'works'. Remember, it is a machine you must learn to control. My 18 year old takes wonderful pictures, but I'm up against a brick wall trying to explain to her how the metering system works. She is an artist, and without asking, I'm guessing you might be also. You have an ability to see interesting relationships between objects and the intricate details some of us miss. Now you must learn how to manipulate light to best display what you see. That is 'photography'. So, when you see what you want to shoot, experiment with different shutter speeds and apertures of the same subject and then compare the results. Try reflecting light from the source with a foil covered card or a white piece of cardboard to lighten the dark areas. Learn to move beyond the programmed settings on your camera. The camera's meter is designed to give you exposure based on an average of the dark and light areas in the viewfinder- but we are not seeking 'average'. Learn that white objects (like a wedding dress) reflect more light back to the meter than black objects (like the groom's tuxedo) and that the meter will then expose for an average of the two (called 18% grey). So, you would have to manipulate exposure one way or the other depending on the results you are seeking.

Read your manual thoroughly! Artists tend to skip this last suggestion. The camera is capable of much more when you've learned all it can do. If you are shooting at less than 1/60th of a second, use a tripod or set the camera down on a solid surface with the timer set or a shutter release cable in your hand (beware of round topped rocks... my wife still reminds me of that one time...)and the images will be sharper.

I don't agree with the adage to 'shoot, shoot, shoot'. I believe in setting up for every shot. This doesn't mean hours and hours. It means to mentally envision the scene and physically manipulate the camera settings and controls to capture the image I have envisioned. Introduce light or take it away as required. I still shoot like I'm paying for every shot, not like they are all free so blast away.

Good Luck, Alex. I bought my first camera with my first real pay cheque when I was 18. It was a Minolta SRT 202 that cost as much then as a month's rent cost my Dad, and he and my mother were both disgusted at my foolishness. Today they are my biggest fans. It's been 32 years, and that camera is now my daughter's pride and joy. But, she still won't read the manual!

Keep Smiling!

Gup.

I have added to my portfolio I put two new pictures up. Please take a look at

them.