Things I've Learned

It's been about 2 months since I started using my new camera. Here are some things that I've learned:

• Intentionally take pictures for at least an hour a week


• Take day trips with other photographers and have them critique my images


• Take camera classes at the local photography store (I use Austin's Precision Camera)


• Look at lots and lots of photos. There are great groups on flikr, 23, and Google, and Nikonnet


• Access the awesome photocastnetwork.com which has more than 10 superb audio and video podcasts dedicated to photography


• Do photography assignments. These are topics that are suggested by photography groups. I've been following the ones by Leo Laport, on The Tech Guy. For example, one of the assignments was capturing a photograph representing "contrast." Others were to capture the ideas of "trouble" and "yesterday."


• Think about how you want people to see the image you are capturing. This distinguishes a image capture from a photograph. A photograph conveys a story.


• Do "Digital Darkroom" post processing. Start with a simple free program like Google's Picasa2 and work up to GIMP or Photoshop.


• Share your work on a public photograph site. Show only your best work. Receive criticism on your photos and give criticism to others. Avoid saying "nice pic" or "Don't like it." Instead say things like "Creative use of color tones as well as capturing the subject at just the perfect time and angle. Consider shooting in more shade next time."

I'm a new Nikon D40x Digital SLR Photographer

Last week I bought a Nikon D40x, which is a Digital Single Lense Reflex (SLR) camera. I've been reading lots of reviews (after the fact) and learning as much as I can. Using my new camera and Google's Picasa2 Program, I made this photo. I took it at night during a baseball game. The catcher was about 400 feet from me. He's in the process of catching a base ball, which is the streak in front of his mitt. Click on the picture to see a much larger view of it.

Some of the useful links that I've found are:

• Austin's Precision Camera & Video sold me my camera. They are a top notch company and have prices that are close that to of other stores and within 10% of online prices. Camera purchases include professional classes that teach the customer how to use the camera. Precision Camera & Video's employees are enthusiastic about photography and at the same time they are low pressure. I was highly motivated to start taking pictures immediately.
• Nikonians - a sight dedicated to Nikon owners. If has a free and paid portion. Free users can access everything from the website and cannot post pictures. Paid members can post their pictures in varying degrees. Additionally, paid members can attend camera field trips around the world. Nikonians arrange the local travel, housing, found, and have camera coaches available for learning to take the most interesting pictures. I think I might have actually seen them at the Alluvial Falls are Rocky Mountain National Park at the end of July


• NikonNet - a website profiling established photographers photos including nice biographies


• GIMP - No it's not some naught site, it's the GNU Image Manipulation Program. It is handy for powerfully touching up photos, using a concept called layers, on a budget. GIMP is freely available, and all of the pluggin's I've seen are also free. It appears that there are some branches of GIMP, one called GimpShop


• Piscasa2 - a powerful photo cataloging program. It's Google for your pictures. Piscasa, like Google Desktop, indexes photos, and understands the photo META data. It allows for captions that several programs understand and which survives image manipulations. Last, Picasa2 has the most popular image manipulation features that I use. Piscasa integrates with a Google account and allows for emailing photos, printing services, and making of CD's and DVD as well as sharing photos online. So, it's an overall excellent program.

Last there are some local Austin photography groups referenced at a post on Flickr

• Texas Photographic Society (TPS)
• Austin Shutterbugs
• Texas Documentary Photography Group