what should i do first when i get my very first slr camera? any tips on how to take great pictures?

Question

anything that i have to adjust to my camera like the exposure, focus..etc? im new here..so i'm quite confused and blank..

Answer 1

I'll make the dangerous assumption that you are getting a digital SLR, but that's more common these days. It sounds like you already have experience, though, sinec you ask if you will need to change anything. But maybe you are asking how to adjust the camera.

With either film or digital, shoot, shoot, shoot. This is the best way to learn photography. It's a lot easier and cheaper with digital than film, because you can see your results on the monitor immediately or on your computer shortly after shooting. You can't just bang off a hundred pictures without paying attention to what you are doing, though, or you will never improve.

Some (including me) say that the secret to getting a great photograph is to take a hundred or so for every one that you want to keep. The truth is, though, once you know what you are doing, it won't take 100 to get one great one. Your odds will go up tremendously.

Beyond that, I will say to search out tips on-line or read a few books. Look at photograph in the "good" magazines intelligently and evaluate what makes a good picture so pleasing.

Here's a decent site to start with:

http://www.digitalcamerabasics.com/

Answer 2

Read a lot. I learned by reading. A great beginner book is "The Digital Photography Book" by Scott Kelby. It teaches you the basics of a digital camera such shutter speed and a few tips on certain events like sporting, weddings, etc. Once you become more advance I would recommond "Understanding Exposure Revised Edition" by Bryan Peterson. This is a more indepth book about how to understand what your camera's light meter is saying to you and understand how to compose a shot properly.

You need to read a lot and practice with a camera. I learned photography by reading, lots of it. 20+hours of just reading books on photography. Subscribe to a photography magazine such as Popular Photography. Its fun to read stuff in there and they have helpful tips in most of their magazines.

Answer 3

Are you getting Digital or 35 MM
it makes a difference