A photog newbie - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Scooter755 · 06-13-2003, 06:15 AM

Hey guys, I'm a writer that is interested in photojournalism. When I say newbie....I mean NEWBIE. Do you guys develop your own B & W's? Is the digital medium total crap when it comes to B & W? Can a 35 mm Fuji do the trick?

I would also appreciate any books that you have found helpful.

Thanks!.......Scott

Frowning Budah · 06-13-2003, 08:25 AM

Welcome Scooter, I use to have my own darkroom but the new house doesn't have room. I am a brother Mass Commie. I haven't seen any good B&W out there in digital but I am sure if you have the $ it can be good. I have found that in most good photography equipment is far less important than the ability to see. Check out the pictures in this forum and you will see what I mean. Some shots will just grab you. Best way to develope the eye is look at a bunch of work and shoot a bunch of pictures.
If I can help with anything just let me know.

elfuq · 06-13-2003, 05:18 PM

Glass is more important than anything. Buy the fanciest camera in the world, put a crappy lens on it and you'll get crappy pictures. If I was starting out on a limited budget, I'd buy a used manual Nikon or Canon SLR (and NO other brand - Nikon and Canon are the only options without trapping yourself in a limited system with no escape) and the best fixed focal length lenses I could afford.

The low-end Canon digital SLRs are very nice, but still over $1500. Me, I'm waiting until I can afford a D1x before I move to digital.

So shoot film, and lots and lots and lots of film. Shoot b&w because it's cheaper, and it trains you to see better. You have to think in terms of tone and light. Learn about composition, understand that its way better to crop in the camera than to crop in the darkroom, so shoot tight, and fill your frames. Learn about the rule of thirds - but don't assume that it's always right. Sometimes, dead center is the best shot.

Every roll you shoot, critique it yourself. What went wrong? Why is the composition unappealing? Books, and the work of the masters can help, but it's your own eye that you have to train. Tricks and techniques are useful, but you can't rely on them.

Look at www.photo.net - nice tutorials on that site. Also consider evening classes, good for the technical aspects, and great to have other, more experienced folks look at your work.

Have fun. Shoot film.

Neil

Elsydeon · 06-13-2003, 07:24 PM

Thanks elfuq for the encouragement to new photographers like us. I'll try to take some of your pointers into account while I'm shooting.

stephenh · 06-14-2003, 11:38 AM

Let me address one of your questions: can you get good B&W from digital images? The short answer: yes, and every bit as good as from traditional B&W film, unless you are looking for huge enlargements or are still seduced by the look of gelatin silver prints.

As a photographer of the fine art nude, I photograph 100% digitally, but often convert the natively color images to B&W (or toned B&W). Here are two examples:

http://www.shaynes.com/nudeimages/CRW_0117_Duotone.htm
http://www.shaynes.com/nudeimages/CRW_9816_sepia.htm

It is all a matter of learning proper Photoshop technique. So, even if you want to work in B&W, digital photography still offers you plenty of options.

Washington · 06-14-2003, 06:59 PM

What do you guys think of the digital D100 for pro-am shooting?

motdakasha · 06-15-2003, 09:38 PM

«If I was starting out on a limited budget, I'd buy a used manual Nikon or Canon SLR (and NO other brand - Nikon and Canon are the only options without trapping yourself in a limited system with no escape) and the best fixed focal length lenses I could afford.»

I prefer telefoto lenses because you only need one or two max. They have less aperture options, but it's not entirely disabling. They are more versatile imo.

«The short answer: yes, and every bit as good as from traditional B&W film, unless you are looking for huge enlargements or are still seduced by the look of gelatin silver prints.»

Gelatin silver prints --> RowR! =^-^=

Scooter755 · 06-19-2003, 07:15 PM

Guys

I really appreciate the advice. I have been out of town for a few days, but I am heading out to the Ozark Mountains to take a ton of B & W's. I really look forward to this new hobby.

You guys rocks. Hopefully, I'll have some quality posts in the future.

-Scott

06-13-2003, 06:15 AM	#1 (permalink)
Scooter755 Upright	A photog newbie Hey guys, I'm a writer that is interested in photojournalism. When I say newbie....I mean NEWBIE. Do you guys develop your own B & W's? Is the digital medium total crap when it comes to B & W? Can a 35 mm Fuji do the trick? I would also appreciate any books that you have found helpful. Thanks!.......Scott __________________ Scootdog

06-14-2003, 06:59 PM	#6 (permalink)
Washington Insane Location: somewhere cool	What do you guys think of the digital D100 for pro-am shooting? __________________ there is no absolute, only the moment.

06-15-2003, 09:38 PM	#7 (permalink)
motdakasha Hiya Puddin'! Miss me? Location: Silicon Valley, CA	«If I was starting out on a limited budget, I'd buy a used manual Nikon or Canon SLR (and NO other brand - Nikon and Canon are the only options without trapping yourself in a limited system with no escape) and the best fixed focal length lenses I could afford.» I prefer telefoto lenses because you only need one or two max. They have less aperture options, but it's not entirely disabling. They are more versatile imo. «The short answer: yes, and every bit as good as from traditional B&W film, unless you are looking for huge enlargements or are still seduced by the look of gelatin silver prints.» Gelatin silver prints --> RowR! =^-^= __________________ =^-^= motdakasha =^-^= Just Google It. BA Psychology & Photography (I'm not going psychoanalyze you nor will I let you cry on my shoulder. Have a nice day.) Last edited by motdakasha; 06-15-2003 at 09:51 PM..

06-19-2003, 07:15 PM	#8 (permalink)
Scooter755 Upright	Thanks guys Guys I really appreciate the advice. I have been out of town for a few days, but I am heading out to the Ozark Mountains to take a ton of B & W's. I really look forward to this new hobby. You guys rocks. Hopefully, I'll have some quality posts in the future. -Scott __________________ Scootdog

06-13-2003, 08:25 AM	#2 (permalink)
Frowning Budah Slave of Fear	Welcome Scooter, I use to have my own darkroom but the new house doesn't have room. I am a brother Mass Commie. I haven't seen any good B&W out there in digital but I am sure if you have the $ it can be good. I have found that in most good photography equipment is far less important than the ability to see. Check out the pictures in this forum and you will see what I mean. Some shots will just grab you. Best way to develope the eye is look at a bunch of work and shoot a bunch of pictures. If I can help with anything just let me know.

06-13-2003, 05:18 PM	#3 (permalink)
elfuq Insane Location: San Francisco	Glass is more important than anything. Buy the fanciest camera in the world, put a crappy lens on it and you'll get crappy pictures. If I was starting out on a limited budget, I'd buy a used manual Nikon or Canon SLR (and NO other brand - Nikon and Canon are the only options without trapping yourself in a limited system with no escape) and the best fixed focal length lenses I could afford. The low-end Canon digital SLRs are very nice, but still over $1500. Me, I'm waiting until I can afford a D1x before I move to digital. So shoot film, and lots and lots and lots of film. Shoot b&w because it's cheaper, and it trains you to see better. You have to think in terms of tone and light. Learn about composition, understand that its way better to crop in the camera than to crop in the darkroom, so shoot tight, and fill your frames. Learn about the rule of thirds - but don't assume that it's always right. Sometimes, dead center is the best shot. Every roll you shoot, critique it yourself. What went wrong? Why is the composition unappealing? Books, and the work of the masters can help, but it's your own eye that you have to train. Tricks and techniques are useful, but you can't rely on them. Look at www.photo.net - nice tutorials on that site. Also consider evening classes, good for the technical aspects, and great to have other, more experienced folks look at your work. Have fun. Shoot film. Neil

06-13-2003, 07:24 PM	#4 (permalink)
Elsydeon Upright	Thanks elfuq for the encouragement to new photographers like us. I'll try to take some of your pointers into account while I'm shooting.

06-14-2003, 11:38 AM	#5 (permalink)
stephenh Upright	Let me address one of your questions: can you get good B&W from digital images? The short answer: yes, and every bit as good as from traditional B&W film, unless you are looking for huge enlargements or are still seduced by the look of gelatin silver prints. As a photographer of the fine art nude, I photograph 100% digitally, but often convert the natively color images to B&W (or toned B&W). Here are two examples: http://www.shaynes.com/nudeimages/CRW_0117_Duotone.htm http://www.shaynes.com/nudeimages/CRW_9816_sepia.htm It is all a matter of learning proper Photoshop technique. So, even if you want to work in B&W, digital photography still offers you plenty of options.