I am extremely interested in photography and hope to one day have my own business. Unfortunately, even with my photography classes, I’m very limited in my knowledge of camera attachments such as different types of lenses and off-camera lighting. Are there any good resources to help teach the basics of this kind of thing? I’m interested in portrait photography in particular.

I currently have a Canon Digital Rebel xSI but am saving up for a 5D Mark II.

While looking at images other people have produced professionally with the same camera as mine, I noticed that it doesn’t even look as if the same camera produced those images, the image quality of there’s is MUCH better, like it could be in a magazine. This isn’t because of amateur faux pas on my part, I have even light and focus and basic photographer knowledge in that area, so why is it that the raw image quality of theirs looks stunning? Is it because of a different lens?

Thank you for your help!
I do have a very good eye and DO have talent, and I of course manually operate f-stop, ISO, aperture, shutter speed, etc. my images are properly exposed and framed, and are all touched up in Photoshop. However, I am working with the kit lens and am wondering what this other girl learned to make it look as though her camera is a 20 megapixal quality camera, as opposed to a 12.2.
I do have a very good eye and DO have talent, and I of course manually operate f-stop, ISO, aperture, shutter speed, etc. my images are properly exposed and framed, and are all touched up in Photoshop. However, I am working with the kit lens and am wondering what this other girl learned to make it look as though her camera is a 20 megapixal quality camera, as opposed to a 12.2.

Check out a battery grip, the vertical controls it gives you are awesome. I got mine on Ebay from some seller in Hong Kong for about $35 (I own a Rebel XSi as well). Also, for longer shoots, the extra battery power is quite nice.

If you’re only using your kit lens, you’re limiting yourself a lot. If you’re on a tight budget, look at the Canon 50mm f/1.8. It’s about $110, and optically it’s miles ahead of your kit lens. If you’re ready to invest a bit more into your business/hobby, get the 50mm f/1.4 instead. Optically, it’s better glass, and the build quality is far superior to the f/1.8. Also check out the 85mm f/1.8 for tight-in shots.

Don’t worry about getting a 5D Mk II just yet; get some quality EF-mount lenses first. That way when your business starts making you money, you can upgrade camera bodies as needed.

And… I’m glad that you’ve learned how to shoot Manually, that puts you miles ahead of most people who consider themselves "photographers." However, a 20 megapixel camera does not take any higher quality images than a 12.2 megapixel camera. Megapixels determine ONLY the size and dimensions of the photo, and have NOTHING to do with quality. Likely what you’re seeing with professional photos taken with the XSi were using high-quality lenses.

If you want to replicate an image like this, for instance:

You need to shoot for a few things:
-Shallow DoF (this is very easy to achieve using any of the lenses I listed above, you should know how)
-Good composition and posing
-Retouching (I used Lightroom; the "Skin Soften" adjustment brush does wonders for those who know how to use it)

Frankly, I think the biggest thing you’re not seeing in your photos is really soft, even lighting, and professional-quality retouching. Practice both of them.

I just recently completed an undergraduate degree in Art History at a prestigious (though small) liberal arts college, and I was only a few classes away from double majoring in Studio Art with a focus in photography. I have a large portfolio of my works, and am considering getting a masters of arts or masters of science in photojournalism.

I want the program to include:

* Documentary photography
* Photo editing
* Lighting techniques in photography
* Online photojournalism
* Communication law
* History of photojournalism
* Ethical issues in photojournalism and mass media

I want to try and complete the program in 2-3 years, as I’d like to try and start a career asap.

What schools have a masters program? I’d like to avoid Boston University because I have slightly bad history with them. In a city would be best, such as Seattle or Portland or NYC. Also, I can go anywhere in France, as I speak fluent French.

I see photojournalism as opening more doors than my art history degree, as it might give me communication and technical skills that are applicable to the workforce (and it would at least allow me to set up a website where I could give myself some professional credit to at least take wedding and party pictures for money). After that, if I’m a total failure as a photographer and photojournalist, I’d like to try Cultural Property and Art Law.

Thoughts?

Frankly, it appears you need to do more basic research on your own as it appears you’ve haven’t really solidified any particular degree path or job you can viably get post grad as your interests appear to be terribly scattered.

This is my next project for my photography classs and i need some ideas on what object to shoot. We have to pick one object (anything) and shoot for 3 different intentions(described below in the rubric).
I am not sure what object to pick and would liek some ideas. Remember that it cant be a person and has to be something that I have access to.

RUBRIC:

Objective: to take 3 themes and shoot each theme for a seperate intention. Shoot 2-3 photos for each category in a theme.

1. For Documentary: Photograph the facts as if the photo were to appear in a fancy magazine.

2.For Art- Photograph from interesting angles, use dramatic lighting, cropping techniques, different lenses, etc.

3.For Humor- Photograph and or print using irony or humor. Can use other props or people.

—————————————————————————————————

Please help! I need to shoot this project tomorrow and need the ideas before then.

thanks!

If you live in a city, shoot old buildings or go to the park

Or you could do an abandoned playground

or a shoe store

Before you all were professional you had to work with terrible cameras and terrible settings. My question is related to the camera. Forget lighting and the art. I know this is 80% of quality work and I agree.

But my question is what "ghetto" techniques did you use to avoid noise? How could you keep a camera stable without a tripod?

If I go back to my roots, there was no such thing as "noise", just grain. I used a lower ISO film (called ASA then) as far as no tripod, this was the old standby : http://www.brighthub.com/multimedia/photography/articles/31585.aspx

i need a really good helpful site, anyone have any?

Google "digital photography school" They have new articles every day and tons of old ones to read. Fantastic site especially for a beginner.

Best books to teach you photography techniques and basics. Ideas?

Their are so many good books out there. It really depends on what you are looking for. I enjoyed Tom Ang’s books when I was starting with photography but now I enjoy books that do discuss technique but in the context of a specific image.

In particular, Joe McNally’s books (if someone was going to try and list the greatest living photographers, Joe would make the list) are amazing, as is David Ziser’s book, Captured by the Light (he is a wedding photographer, but the techniques he describes are fairly universal).

For straight up photography learning (what shutter speed, aperture and ISO are and how they relate etc.), there are so many, the fundamentals have not changed and you might be able to pick up a good one used for cheap.

But I find now that so much information is available online. The Strobist blog is the best place anywhere to learn how to light, for example. Other amazing blogs are Chase Jarvis’s, Zack Arias’, Joe McNally’s and Scott Kelby’s.

That said, a good library of books you enjoy returning to as a reference or for inspiration is invaluable. One amazing resource is peach pit press. They publish many books online that, for a reasonable fee, you can access. You can review hundreds of books and then decide which ones you would want to purchase (I have no affiliation).

Best of luck and keep reading and learning!

documentary/lighting techniques preferred

Art Institute Of Austin.

Found it at http://www.photographyschools.com

The site allows you to search by state and discipline – portrait, documentary, etc.

I’m going to try and have some fun with food photography. What are some good lighting techniques?

A couple large (4×8) soft boxes and two or three fills with scrims and snoots. Use the fills with snoots to shoot through scrims for tight spots, that helps control specular highlights It’s hard to fill in tiny overlaps and keep shadows soft, and you’re also dealing with semitransparent foods that get blown out. Light your background separately. It’s a lot like macro but with the luxury of having room to work.

Ahh, almost forgot…. attitude: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afNIRFCiKEo