Need to learn the basics. I mean BASICS.

<p>Where can I go to learn the very basics of post processing. I have downloaded what has been advised to me as a couple of the easiest to navigate programs: Canon' DPP and Picasa 3. But these are still not basic enough for me. Are there tutorials aimed at kindergartners? I'm almost serious. I need basic, basic, basic, and slow, slow, slow......aimed at someone who knows NOTHING at all about post processing. Can you help and advise?</p>

<p>Well, lets start with the idea that post-processing encompasses two disciplines: the organizing of one's images and the editing of one's images. There is a book on assets management, the DAM Book:</p>

<p>http://www.amazon.com/The-DAM-Book-Management-Photographers/dp/B008SM9ES6</p>

<p>For getting more specific, you typically have to look for tutorials on the software you intend to use. Canon has a page on DPP:</p>

<p>http://www.learn.usa.canon.com/galleries/galleries/tutorials/dpp_tutorials.shtml</p>

<p>There are all sorts of YouTube videos for Picasa:

<p>That aside, the larger issue is <em>how you learn.</em> From an beginning perspective, some things simply may not make sense until you start to build more and more knowledge. And the only cure for that is to keep on practicing!<br /></p>

<p>You might consider taking a course in a local community college, they tend to start out pretty basic and move on to advanced basic.</p>

<p>When trying to tackle this sort of thing, it's also helpful to know both how much you understand photography itself and whether you have darkroom/film experience.</p>

<p>If you've got them, skills from film shooting and the chemical darkroom translate quite readily to the digital darkroom. Post processing hasn't changed so much as the terminology has changed. Many books are written with the assumption that you're adapting your knowledge to a new medium rather than starting from scratch. </p>

<p>If you're shooting on Green Square or P mode and don't have a good handle on in-camera variables, you may want to start with the basics of photography. Most post-processing books and tutorials assume you're fluent in the fundamentals. If you're missing the fundamentals, starting with something like Bryan Peterson's <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Understanding-Exposure-3rd-Edition-Photographs/dp/0817439390/">Understanding Exposure</a> will set you up with the knowledge to better understand books dedicated to post-processing. </p>

<p>Colin,<br>

Your suggestion of learning the "basics" of photography in general, is well appreciated. But I find the terminology of computer processes totally different and very unrelated to, say, the film wet darkroom era. Very little to NO carry over. I could list a bunch of computer-type terms that have nothing to do with what they use to mean (before computers). That's part of what confuses me. I just need a source that begins to explain the processes by stating...."first you do this, then you do this, etc."</p>

<p>Great responses by all. Depending on how much Robert knows about basic old-fashioned photography, I recommend a very basic BOOK -- does anybody remember books? --about beginning photography and another book on post processing. You can't fly if you an't get off the ground.</p>

Schewe's book "The Digital Negative" is a very good place to start even though it is primarily oriented towards Adobe'

Lightroom and Photoshop programs. He has modeled it on Ansel Adams "The Negative". I believe he is working on a

companion volume called "The Digital Print" as well. I also highly recommend the Luminous-Landscape.com multi-hour

tutorial "Camera to Print & Screen" http://www.luminous-

landscape.com/videos/tutorials/camera_to_print_and_screen.shtml ). It is not the slickest presentation in the world in

terms of script and presenters (sorry Jeff & Michael) but it is through yet accessible even for neophytes.

 

The Lynda.com tutorials are very good.

 

Also there is the "Real World Digital Photography" (third edition) by Katrin Eismann, Sean Duggan, Tim Grey. This is not

as deep as the others I've listed but for that reason is an excellent place to start. Order it from

http://www.digitalphotobook.com