Do I start with a class? If so, where? Community college or somewhere specific? (I'd like to do it for a living one day, possibly. Scenic pictures, the sky, etc.)
2006-09-25 10:16:36 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Arts & Humanities ➔ Visual Arts ➔ Photography
Readers ask: "How could I go about getting into photography?"
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SUPERBOOKS ANSWERS:
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THE BEST way to get into photography is by getting a camera now, today, any kind of camera and begin practicing photography on your own.
I began with a small point-and-shoot camera in my first photography class while other students had fancy cameras with zoom lenses. That didn't matter. I was determined to do photography.
I continued.
The camera that you use is not the most important thing. Equipment, in the beginning is not important either. You just need a good eye for photography, some creativity, some imagination and you'll do fine.
If the only camera you have at your disposal is a disposable camera or a small camera, that is fine. BEGIN TODAY, taking pictures.
Go to the library and get some of the Kodak series books on photography. Also, an excellent author of photo books is HEDGECOE. Any book by Hedgecoe will help you.
SECOND: Take any photography class that you have available, whether it be at the high school or college or even online.
VISIT a photography club in person . Find out where the photography clubs are and visit them and consider joining one .
MOST IMPORTANT: Never , ever be embarrassed by your camera, and never stop taking pictures because you feel you do not have the proper equipment. There will be time enough in your life to get better equipment.
A good photo class for beginners, that is totally correspondent is the New York Institute Of Photography School. The ad is in all the photo magazines. This school is legitimate and you'll learn there if that's what you choose.
You can learn a lot from living photography --just watch other photographers. Learn from photography clubs. Learn from photo sites online.
Begin your own portfolio. Take your very best pictures and arrange them together in a book. THat is your beginning.
Community colleges are great places to learn photography because they almost always have a good darkroom and you can learn to process and develop your own film and pictures.
If you have a digital camera, go to any store, like Walgreen's or Walmart, and they will most likely give you a free disk with photo software if you bring your pictures to them.
You'd be surprised at the excellent art and photography at some of our high schools . Learn from them . Go to as many exhibits as you can. See other artists's work.
The best learning that you can get is from life experience.
Get into photography by DOING it.
You can do it if this is what you really want to do .
2006-09-25 17:00:55 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
First of all, get into the proper mindset. Get an inexpensive camera and carry it wherever you go. Get it into your head that the day you forget the camera you will find something you would haved loved to shoot and you will miss that shot.
Eventually you will notice you prefer a certain kind of photo. You will still need to get some books or take a class, but you really need to go out there with a camera, ANY camera, and just shoot.
The camera does not need to be fancy. If it is digital don't even sweat the maximum pixel count, since you are still learning. As you get used to shoot pictures you will get to the point where the camera won't cut it for you, that is the first indication that you are really to bump it up a notch and maybe spend some money in a course and/or a better camera.
2006-09-25 13:33:22 · answer #2 · answered by veraperezp 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Community college for basic classes is a GREAT way to start out. You will want to get a Bachelor's degree in a subject that interests you (photography is great, art history is also relevant and good background.) From that point if you want to get really into the artistic side of the business it is best to get an M.F.A (Masters of Fine Arts) degree in Photography. Schools like Svannah College of Art and Design (Savannah and Atlanta, GA) are fabulous for this type of thing. I encourage you to look around on the internet into photographer's forums, and if possible try to find a local photographer that is willing to let you shadow them and ask a million questions. Good Luck!
2006-09-25 10:20:38 · answer #3 · answered by Rebecca S 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A Community College would be an OK start, but my husband started by taking a class at a local museum. He has learned a lot. He built a dark room in our basement and has gotten a lot of the supplies on EBay. I have a friend that has a "portable" dark room set up that she does in a windowless bathroom. Really, start by learning different framing and lighting techniques. Have fun. Everyone that I know that does it really loves it (If you are into nature/landscape photos, you may want to invest in Ansel Adams three part series on photography).
No offense taken johnsenerec...also great advice. I was just thinking if she wanted to start with some guidance. Definitely, practicing the shots you like is developing your own style and craft.
2006-09-25 10:21:25 · answer #4 · answered by just browsin 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't want to offend anyone, well, to be honest, I really don't care, but anyway, my stepdad who is a professional photographer, has a friend who does cover shots for a major magazine here in Maine that gets nationwide circulation and to get to the point I asked him the same exact question. I could paraphrase what he said but I don't want to misquote him. Basically, it doesn't have alot to do with schooling. It has to do with practicing your craft, taking lots and lots of pictures, finding your own individual style, and maybe going to work in the field as an assistant. There are other ways to get experience. It wouldn't hurt to take a few classes. In my opinion the best school of photography, is the photographic workshop in Rockport Maine. If you are really serious about this send me your email address or visit my 360 page and leave a message.
2006-09-25 10:31:59 · answer #5 · answered by Maine Landscapes 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
join a camera club or photography group... take some classes at your community college, there is a start.... if you want to get into photography. education and learning doesn't stop, i don't know anyone who has arrived at that magical mystical place of being all knowing and perfect at photography (or anything else), the best i know (and i know some outstanding photographers) are open to the lesson of the moment, they go to schools and take classes and ask questions of others often and sometimes a shoot will go completely south on them anyway, they are not screw up proof.
2016-03-18 01:15:53 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I really can't tell you for sure. But, I would sugest checking some other peoples work. Here is a site on flickr to check out:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/houser/sets/52261/
2006-09-25 18:37:40 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
buy a camera and some film.
2006-09-25 20:30:16 · answer #8 · answered by deanmoriarityfan 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋