one way to self teach photography

[jerrymeola]

I have long been a believer in looking at good work and asking myself 'why it is good'.

Recently I started looking at the photos of the day on www.usatoday.com and I realised that it is a good review of how to shoot without the reasons being printed. You have to think and give the photo your own reason as to why it is good, and this is the learning experience.

Keep in mind it is news photography and that eliminates many types of photos, but the basic techniques are extremely well presented. A news shot has to grab the viewer's attention immediately. Asking yourself 'how did he accomplish this goal' will teach you new approaches.

A good things to notice is how the photographers isloate the subject to make them the center of interest. See the use of depth of field to blur backgrounds. Especially see the choice of subject mattter. The techniques transfer to any type of photography.

Most the images posted were not used in the newspaper. They seem to have been chosen to represent a good photo that happens to be of news. Which makes them perfect choices for improving personal technique.

They also have a sports photo of the day for those interested in action shots.

[STaylor]

Jerry,
I agree with your idea and often find myself looking at other people’‚’‚…‚’‚…¾‚s photos that are appealing to me and ask what makes this photo ’‚’‚…‚’‚‚¦. POP’‚’‚…‚’‚‚¦ so to speak’‚’‚…‚’‚‚¦ and how can I accomplish something similar?

Hi,

What works for me is the question "What catches my eye?". I feel if it catches my then hopefully it will catch somebody elses eye. The camera is only a tool, It need the eye and the brain to do the work fora good pic. This is just the way I look at potential pics.

bluwing

[jerrymeola]

bluwing

i agree with your statements.

I always thought that composition was obvious because it came easy to me and from your reply it seems it is easy for you. But I was surprised by the number of internet posts I have read where people say they have no eye for composition.

Fortunately composition can be learned and looking at the work of others teaches us to see in a different manner. It is easy to improve a photo by changing the angle, moving it closer or chosing a better background. But first you have to know it is possible and teach yourself to look for it.

Hi,


These are the same people that can not visulize something finished. To do what we have been talking about you have to see the finished product in your head. Then all you have to do is line up the shot and take it. Developing your eye sometimes is a given thing, But more often it is something that you have teach it to do. It is when I learned morse code to get my ham license, Easy for some but not for me! It took a lot of work from me to get it right. The same goes for taking pictures, Anybody can take them it just takes practice to get it right!

bluwing

[raaf]

What makes a picture a good picture. Same question as what makes a wine a good wine?.
A couple of years ago I read an article written by a well known wine expert. How to recognise good wine, location of the wine, flavour, color, ... However, she also said that the best wine expert is the one who drinks the wine, you like it or you don't.
The same counts for pictures. You look at a picture and you give your opinion. Actually, you don't really need any expertise to judge a picture, you are the judge.
At the other hand, some knowledge of what makes a picture a good picture may become handy and therefor, in a certain extend I do agree with the others in this thread that some basic knowledge can be very helpfull, but keep in mind that you still are the judge and not how experts tell you how to judge.