100 things about photography

dinneenp

Taken from BSPCN website

1. Just because someone has an expensive camera doesn’t mean that they’re a good photographer.

2. Always shoot in RAW. Always.

3. Prime lenses help you learn to be a better photographer.

4. Photo editing is an art in itself.

5. The rule of thirds works 99% of the time.

6. Macro photography isn’t for everybody.

7. UV filters work just as well as lens caps.

8. Go outside and shoot photos rather than spending hours a day on photography forums.

9. Capture the beauty in the mundane and you have a winning photograph.

10. Film isn’t better than digital.

11. Digital isn’t better than film.

12. There is no “magic” camera or lens.

13. Better lenses don’t give you better photos.

14. Spend less time looking at other people’s work and more time shooting your own.

15. Don’t take your DSLR to parties.

16. Girls dig photographers.

17. Making your photos b/w doesn’t automatically make them “artsy”.

18. People will always discredit your work if you tell them you “photoshop” your images. Rather, tell them that you process them in the “digital darkroom”.

19. You don’t need to take a photo of everything.

20. Have at least 2 backups of all your images. Like they say in war, two is one, one is none.

21. Ditch the neck strap and get a handstrap.

22. Get closer when taking your photos, they often turn out better.

23. Be a part of a scene while taking a photo; not a voyeur.

24. Taking a photo crouched often make your photos look more interesting.

25. Worry less about technical aspects and focus more on compositional aspects of photography.

26. Tape up any logos on your camera with black gaffers tape- it brings a lot less attention to you.

27. Always underexpose by 2/3rds of a stop when shooting in broad daylight.

28. The more photos you take, the better you get.

29. Don’t be afraid to take several photos of the same scene at different exposures, angles, or apertures.

30. Only show your best photos.

31. A point-and-shoot is still a camera.

32. Join an online photography forum.

33. Critique the works of others.

34. Think before you shoot.

35. A good photo shouldn’t require explanation (although background information often adds to an image).

*36. Alcohol and photography do not mix well.

37. Draw inspiration from other photographers but never worship them.

38. Grain is beautiful.

39. Ditch the photo backpack and get a messenger bag. It makes getting your lenses and camera a whole lot easier.

40. Simplicity is key.

41. The definition of photography is: “painting with light.” Use light in your favor.

42. Find your style of photography and stick with it.

43. Having a second monitor is the best thing ever for photo processing.

44. Silver EFEX pro is the best b/w converter.

45. Carry your camera with you everywhere. Everywhere.

46. Never let photography get in the way of enjoying life.

47. Don’t pamper your camera. Use and abuse it.

48. Take straight photos.

49. Shoot with confidence.

50. Photography and juxtaposition are best friends.

51. Print out your photos big. They will make you happy.

52. Give your photos to friends.

53. Give them to strangers.

54. Don’t forget to frame them.

55. Costco prints are cheap and look great.

56. Go out and take photos with (a) friend(s).

57. Join a photo club or start one for yourself.

58. Photos make great presents.

59. Taking photos of strangers is thrilling.

60. Candid>Posed

dazftw

A lot of those are pretty good. Some are terrible.

10. Film isn’t better than digital.

11. Digital isn’t better than film.

hehehe

14. Spend less time looking at other people’s work and more time shooting your own.

Wouldn't necessarily agree with this.

24. Taking a photo crouched often make your photos look more interesting.

I've been meaning to try this for ages.

48. Take straight photos.

I see people abusing this rule ALL the time. ALL the time.

51. Print out your photos big. They will make you happy.

54. Don’t forget to frame them.

I've started doing this. It does make you happy.

DaireQuinlan

Also ... 60 < 100

pullandbang

dinneenp wrote: »

Taken from BSPCN website


48. Take straight photos.

No gay ones?

trooney

pullandbang wrote: »

No gay ones?

Is this what you mean?

61. Be happy when taking photos.

thefizz

dinneenp wrote: »

8. Go outside and shoot photos rather than spending hours a day on photography forums.

32. Join an online photography forum.

pullandbang

dinneenp wrote: »

26. Tape up any logos on your camera with black gaffers tape- it brings a lot less attention to you.

This one is for Nikon users :rolleyes: *runsandhides*

magicbastarder

dinneenp wrote: »

*36. Alcohol and photography do not mix well.

not necessarily. i've taken photos i'm happy with while drunk.

unless they mean 'do not develop your HP5 with midleton single cask'.

trooney

No mention of drugs though. Hallucinogens can surely only help exacerbate the creative process

Tin Foil Hat

72. People with DSLRS who shoot portraits with their grip pointed downwards look like morons.
:pac:

wallpaper12

I dont agree with the ALWAYS shoot in RAW. Yes shooting in raw is preferably but the images are usually about 3 times bigger than jpeg. I shot about 300 pics recently for a friend who then wanted them on CD and did the first 80 or so in RAW before luckily switching to jpeg. If id kept them all in RAW she would have been getting a ridiculous amount of CDs off me.

Also film is always going to be better than digital due to not being limited by pixels.

dirtyghettokid

47. Don’t pamper your camera. Use and abuse it.

i don't think i'd like to be "abusing" a 3 grand camera!! i use & pamper

wallpaper12 wrote: »

I dont agree with the ALWAYS shoot in RAW. Yes shooting in raw is preferably but the images are usually about 3 times bigger than jpeg. I shot about 300 pics recently for a friend who then wanted them on CD and did the first 80 or so in RAW before luckily switching to jpeg. If id kept them all in RAW she would have been getting a ridiculous amount of CDs off me.

would you not have done any PP on the images? i'd have shot all in raw, checked em all out and then exported to jpg to burn to cd.

magicbastarder

wallpaper12 wrote: »

Also film is always going to be better than digital due to not being limited by pixels.

the film vs. digital 'war' is not fought on resolution; digital has overtaken film on that front, probably, but it's certainly not the reason people generally like to shoot film.

wallpaper12

dirtyghettokid wrote: »

47.
would you not have done any PP on the images? i'd have shot all in raw, checked em all out and then exported to jpg to burn to cd.

What do you use to convert from raw to jpeg? The thing about me is im lazy and didnt have the time to convert each image seperately!

Effects

Tin Foil Hat wrote: »

72. People with DSLRS who shoot portraits with their grip pointed downwards look like morons.
:pac:

Even though it's easier to keep the camera steady that way? Surely it looks almost the same as shooting landscape and you look more out of place with your arm craning in an arc.

dirtyghettokid

wallpaper12 wrote: »

What do you use to convert from raw to jpeg? The thing about me is im lazy and didnt have the time to convert each image seperately!

aperture 3 on mac. i import what i want from the card, have a quick scan and then export as jpg. there's a few different options for exporting, but it's quick enough!

jpfahy

13 is clearly untrue (unless he left out the word 'neccessarily')

I hope 16 is true

K_user

I think the list is missing something, apart from 61-100, and that is that carrying a camera is the perfect excuse to act a little daft. Try lying in the middle of a busy street with a camera, people don’t pay much attention, now try doing it without the camera…

Mjollnir

#4 should be repeated with Matthew 22:40, ironically enough.

FoxT

Interesting list...I'd go along with a lot of it, but not all!

27. Always underexpose by 2/3rds of a stop when shooting in broad daylight.

Your mileage will definitely vary on this one. If in any doubt, bracket & check the histogram. The camera's screen is a poor indicator of whether the shot is correctly exposed or not. If you can't bracket (sports for example) then watch the light continuously & bracket between shots.



42. Find your style of photography and stick with it.

Hmm, Surely it is important to experiment with different styles?

Promac

I think the list is great for people who don't know a lot of it. If you do know it all then you know when to ignore any "rules". Same applied to things like the rule of thirds, etc.

Promac

FoxT wrote: »

42. Find your style of photography and stick with it.

Hmm, Surely it is important to experiment with different styles?

That would be part of the finding process wouldn't it?

nedd

Simple and to the point, doesn't take as long to read as you might think

http://gizmodo.com/5904107/100-tips-from-a-professional-photographer

Effects

It was posted already last week.

nedd

My bad, sorry.

DaireQuinlan

Effects wrote: »

It was posted already last week.

Strictly speaking, only 60% of them were posted last week. The other 40 vital nuggets of irreproachable wisdom were lost ! LOST ! UNTIL NOW !! :eek:

pullandbang

DaireQuinlan wrote: »

The other 40 vital nuggets of irreproachable wisdom were lost ! LOST ! UNTIL NOW !! :eek:

Was kinda hoping it would stay that way.....

Effects

77. Be original in your photography. Don't try to copy the style of others

Most of his stuff just looks like he's trying to shoot like Bruce Gilden.

kelly1

"62. 35mm (on full frame) is the best "walk-around" focal length."

Any thoughts on this? I thought 50mm was the best general purpose lens.

AnimalRights

I agree with #22

22. Get closer when taking your photos, they often turn out better

Makes his way to read from 23 on...

Effects

kelly1 wrote: »

"62. 35mm (on full frame) is the best "walk-around" focal length."

Any thoughts on this? I thought 50mm was the best general purpose lens.

50mm is the lens that's closest to what the human eye sees.

the_tractor

Effects wrote: »

50mm is the lens that's closest to what the human eye sees.

Is the eyes not around 40-45mm? I think that is why Pentax make a 43mm prime lens.

Effects

I've understood it to be 50mm. Maybe that's just the more common lens available closest to the eye. I usually find the 50mm too tight for a general purpose lens.

magicbastarder

kelly1 wrote: »

"62. 35mm (on full frame) is the best "walk-around" focal length."

Any thoughts on this? I thought 50mm was the best general purpose lens.

i'd agree with him. 50mm lens on 35mm format is a short telephoto.
a standard lens is technically where the focal length is the same as the diagonal on the frame, which is 43mm on the 35mm format.