i'm worried?

Question

What can I do to be able to take excellent pictures, I mean really artistic works of art? I know there are some people who are just natural at it, but I'm not sure what I am capable of. I'm a beginner at photography and I am just anxious as to how I will do in the class that I'm taking right now. I have a lot of creative ideas inside my head, but I don't know how they would look on pictures. Of course I'm gonna take some pictures and see for myself, but I just need to know one thing: is photography something that you can practice to be good at, or is it just something that you have to have a talent for... like if you don't have a natural talent for it then you can't do it.

I love photography.

Answer 1

I think the love of photography is the most important thing. I have always loved it, but my photographs have improved much with time and practice.

Answer 2

You do not need to go to formal school to become a photographer but you have to learn it from somewhere be it from a class room environment or from you reading and doing things on your own.

1. You should learn the technical aspects of photography and your camera (composition, shutter speed, rules of thirds, depth of field etc), once you understand these you will be able to create better images.

2. Shoot in "M" (manual mode) because you will have more control over your camera and not the other way around. When you are in one of the "Auto" modes the camera will just read the highlights and shadow areas and try to get you a picture. The camera is not smart enough to know what you are shooting.

3. You can start reading all kinds of books on this subject and get information from the internet. This includes web based classes, manufactures web sites to personal blogs.

4. Buy the best DSLR camera that you can afford this also includes good lenses. Take out your camera and manual sit down and go over all the buttons and knobs etc.. this is the best way for you to learn what your camera can do.

5. Start shooting with your camera to get practice and from what you are learning from reading and doing you will get better. Practice does make perfect. Take notes while shooting and then look at your photos on the computer find the best one from that set and see what you did to get the shot and why you like it more than the others.

6. You can get yourself a job as a photographers assistant (be it payed or free) and learn from that person.

7. My suggestion is to find a part of photography that you would have an interest in and point in that direction and specialize. You will try to produce a better image of that subject opposed to just "having" to shoot it.

8. Areas of photography include portraits, wedding, product, nature, travel, fine art and journalism. Some of these career fields require a studio with special lighting others do not but require different lenses and other equipment and techniques.

Since you have access to the internet here is a start: Some you have to pay for and some are free.. start with the free stuff of course.

http://www.photonhead.com/beginners/......
http://www.betterphoto.com/home.asp......
http://www.shootsmarter.com/
http://www.webphotoschool.com/

http://www.lexar.com/dp/index.html?cmp=e...

Studio Lighting info
http://www.photo-seminars.com/Portraiture/lesson1.htm
http://www.studiolighting.net/portrait-lighting-styles/

Photoshop classes
http://www.russellbrown.com/

Just incase you need info on a degree
http://www.photographyschools.com/

Hope this helps,
Kevin

Answer 3

Your last statement says it all. If you truly love photography, and are willing to go through the trials of learning - you'll be a good photographer.

Photography is a combination of opportunity, technique, equipment, vision, and motivation. If you have creative ideas in your head, then the camera is one way of making those ideas visible to the rest of the world. You can have natural talent, or you can earn it yourself by dedication.

Here's some great articles from a photographer/writer who I admire.

What is Photography?
http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/what-is-photography.htm

How to make great photographs.
http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/howto.htm

Photography is not a spectator sport.
http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/spectator.htm

I hope this helps you. Please feel free to ask if you have any more questions.

Answer 4

ok firstly respect Kevin good work, i do disagree somewhat - we are all different

look at it this way, say you wanted to learn something like being a doctor or accountant or you wanted to learn maths, where would you go?

funny structured learning is proven worldwide as the best way for humans to learn things. you can mess around for years picking things up by trail and error, or goto school and have "teachers" teach you.

i did 2 years fotog school and a year at TV school (camera operator). seems to have worked for me - might be a bit to much for some.....

so thats my handle, i had the bug and went to study, i found 35 hours instruction a week and 15-25 hours "study" a week for 2 years gave me the skills to always produce pro/artistic results

a

Answer 5

I really had written you off until your last line which basically is the answer to your whole dilema.

"I LOVE PHOTOGRAPHY"

Love, passion and practice can equal success. Follow your heart.
Email me if you are serious.
[e-mail]
www.flickr.com/photos/sweetlight/sets