As a hobbyist photographer and pNet newbie I can relate to some of your anxieties. To summarise what has already been said I'd say first off - just have fun! Don't immediately get hung up on the results but rather just get out there and enjoy the experience of shooting. The results will come with practice so firstly you've got to learn to enjoy the practice.<br>
Secondly - shoot simple and shoot solo. I think this is the sentiment of Vanessa's post to cut through the technical wizardry of modern DSLR's and simplify the process a little. As Chris Neilsen says, try taking one body, one lens, set Av mode, select one metering mode, take yourself and go see what that combination can do. Don't fiddle with program and custom settings, just use that basic set-up and allow the camera to meter the scene and set the exposure. This way you will see with this set up how the camera responds to different lighting situations and compositions and hopefully you'll begin to understand why sometimes it gets it wrong. Next time you go out try a different combination and see what that does. And so on. It's a step by step learning process and I think unfortunately we need to start out by being a bit analytical before we can be more creative. Oh yeah, the solo bit. I find shooting alone yields the best results. You can immerse yourself in the location and process and focus on capturing images rather than being concerned about the welfare of others. By all means take your wife and daughter along for the road trip but leave them at a cosy coffee shop with a good book :-)<br>
Finally, we are all our own harshest critics. This site is a fantastic resource and like you I was initially intimidated and terrified at the prospect of posting any of my images here given the lofty talents of so many. However, as even the resposes to this post show, the advice given on this site is for the most part rational, relevent and well intentioned. So test the water a little, post a few images and seek some feedback. You might just be surprised at what you hear!<br>
I agree with what Dick has said above. Keep at it and don't get too disheartened. We are all prone to throwing a few stinkers in there and hey, even Andy Murray misses the occasional forehand smash!<br>
Good luck and best regards, Rob<br>
PS - I spent 4 weeks in 2006 driving around the Cairngorms, the North West and Outer Hebrides. That's a mighty fine part of the world you've got on your doorstep.</p>
My 40D, and a personal crisis of sorts
in Canon EOS Mount
Posted
<p>Hi Donald,<br>
As a hobbyist photographer and pNet newbie I can relate to some of your anxieties. To summarise what has already been said I'd say first off - just have fun! Don't immediately get hung up on the results but rather just get out there and enjoy the experience of shooting. The results will come with practice so firstly you've got to learn to enjoy the practice.<br>
Secondly - shoot simple and shoot solo. I think this is the sentiment of Vanessa's post to cut through the technical wizardry of modern DSLR's and simplify the process a little. As Chris Neilsen says, try taking one body, one lens, set Av mode, select one metering mode, take yourself and go see what that combination can do. Don't fiddle with program and custom settings, just use that basic set-up and allow the camera to meter the scene and set the exposure. This way you will see with this set up how the camera responds to different lighting situations and compositions and hopefully you'll begin to understand why sometimes it gets it wrong. Next time you go out try a different combination and see what that does. And so on. It's a step by step learning process and I think unfortunately we need to start out by being a bit analytical before we can be more creative. Oh yeah, the solo bit. I find shooting alone yields the best results. You can immerse yourself in the location and process and focus on capturing images rather than being concerned about the welfare of others. By all means take your wife and daughter along for the road trip but leave them at a cosy coffee shop with a good book :-)<br>
Finally, we are all our own harshest critics. This site is a fantastic resource and like you I was initially intimidated and terrified at the prospect of posting any of my images here given the lofty talents of so many. However, as even the resposes to this post show, the advice given on this site is for the most part rational, relevent and well intentioned. So test the water a little, post a few images and seek some feedback. You might just be surprised at what you hear!<br>
I agree with what Dick has said above. Keep at it and don't get too disheartened. We are all prone to throwing a few stinkers in there and hey, even Andy Murray misses the occasional forehand smash!<br>
Good luck and best regards, Rob<br>
PS - I spent 4 weeks in 2006 driving around the Cairngorms, the North West and Outer Hebrides. That's a mighty fine part of the world you've got on your doorstep.</p>