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Posted: December 28, 2012

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Pro Photography As A Hobby

~paradoxicalfang Dec 28, 2012

I would be interested in getting to know what it takes to get in to photography as a hobby. More than just using a typical point and shoot camera kind of thing. I'd be interested in looking to the digital SLRs and the like, however I'm unsure of the preparation and self education required to learn how to take quality photos before learning the equipment.

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~SkankinMike Jan 2, 2013

Get a camera, learn it, take photos... Everyday!

~Yenneferx Jan 2, 2013 Hobbyist Photographer

A lot of the information you can find in the Internet. For example something like that:
[link]
[link]
There is a lot of the pages which can help in getting knowladge. You only need to look for it

(I never tried to find something like that in english, because in polish i have great course. But i like reading the tutorial "How i made it" something like that: [link] or read some tips : [link]

~Nehszriah Jan 2, 2013

I have to say that out of all the art-based hobbies, photography is one of the easiest for the casually-interested since the digital age has gotten rid of the finality it once had with film exposure. All you need is the camera you've got and a watchful eye--no heavy reading or fancy equipment required. If I were you I wouldn't bump yourself up to DSLRs and light riggings quite yet since they're not really necessary for a good shot. Once you get comfortable with the equipment you've got at hand, that's when you should begin looking into things and upgrading your stuff. For now, your camera is fine as-is. (Once school is back in session I can rent a DSLR and show you how to work it if you really want.)

A few things I'd keep in mind would be the rule of thirds (imagine the photo being divided with a tic-tac-toe board, and then offset the subject ever so slightly so it's partially in other squares), close-ups are your friends (don't be afraid to get in there), lines and angles going everywhere looks dramatic as hell, COLORS, and take your camera with you so you can get all the shots.

Like, that's it. If you really want to have some sort of preface to photography, look up the wikipedia articles for color theory/spectrum, analogous colors and catch the "Odessa Steps Massacre" scene from Battleship Potemkin while observing where everything is placed on screen and how the lines/angles are situated. Also try looking at shots other people have taken, or just talk to someone who is already in the hobby/profession.

`FallisPhoto Jan 1, 2013

By the way, I know it isn't what you meant, but that was a strange way to put it. In real life, pro photography as a hobby would be like doing business administration for fun.

=BasiliskX89 Dec 31, 2012 Hobbyist General Artist

It depends upon how far you are willing to take this hobby seriously. If you want to take photography seriously, by all means buy a good camera.

~paradoxicalfang Dec 30, 2012

Thanks for all the great advice everyone. I'll be looking in to the basics with books first and take it from there as I do have a nice point and shoot camera already. I think lighting for me is going to be the trickiest thing.

`FallisPhoto Dec 30, 2012

None of it is really easy. If you break down photography into seperate elements, you will find that once you get past the very basics, each is an art in itself.

`FallisPhoto Dec 29, 2012

Uh... learning the equipment is PART of learning to take quality photos.

Things you will have to learn:

1. lighting

2. composition

3. how the camera works

4. how to get the photos out of the camera and onto the computer

5. how to edit them (digital cameras are set to take crappy photos at the factory -- not a joke -- and you will have to fix that).

6. all the assorted 1001 things that apply to the specific type(s) of photography you are going to do. For example, portrait photographers need to either hire an assistant who knows how to do hair and makeup or they need to learn it themselves. Landscape photographers need to learn how to use filters. Photographers who work with nudes have a whole other set of things to learn, and so on.

~LacieMelhart Dec 30, 2012 Professional Photographer

Absolutely agreed. If you don't know how your equipment works then you'll never get the quality shots you want. You have to walk before you National Geographic.

~blepfo Dec 29, 2012 Student Photographer

Most important: go out and take some pictures

Aside from that, my #1 recommended resource is "The Photographer's Eye" by Michael Freeman. It's a painful read, and it takes forever to get through, but its full of great info on compositional theory.

For the technical stuff: every time I couldn't figure something out (exposure basics, histograms, RAW vs. JPEG), a quick Youtube search will give you all the info you need. I probably watched 2-3 videos on each topic I needed to know about

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