Books/sites on digital SLR photography for beginners, recommendations?

Scott Salisbury · 29 May 2007 at 13:24

Hey all,

I have just got myself an SLR camera and I'm still learning the tricks. I have read the advanced manual of my camera from cover to cover so I understand the basic concepts of shutter speeds, apature, metering, point of focus and the rule of thirds. I have already been playing around with photos of objects in my house, but I want to start taking pictures of landscapes and more complicated shooting opportunities.

But before I do, I'd like to get a little more insight so I'm not sitting on a park bench for 2 hours reading the intruction manual wondering why my photos are still blurry and over exposed.

I've had a quick scan through books on the ol' amazon and whatnot but there's so many, I was hoping that someone here could recommend any books or sites that you may have found helpful during your learning of photography?

Thanks in advance

ScarySquirrel · 29 May 2007 at 13:45

I picked up a couple of magazines last night. Practical Photography and another one which I can't remember and there are loads of tips and techniques in there, lots of photoshop tips and things like that too. Over time this could be expensive but might be another way to learn new stuff

AndyBorzi · 29 May 2007 at 13:51

Brian Paterson-Understanding Exposure is a good one. He also does another about composition but can't remember what it is called now.*

*edit = "Learning to see creatively" or something like that!

I only have the old versions but apparently he has updated to include digital.

sparkymark75 · 29 May 2007 at 14:01

AndyBorzi said:
Brian Paterson-Understanding Exposure is a good one.
I only have the old versions but apparently he has updated to include digital.

I picked this one up in the US recently and it's a brilliant read. The copy I have refers to film SLR's but the principles are the same for digital.

J1234 · 29 May 2007 at 14:12

AndyBorzi said:
Brian Paterson-Understanding Exposure is a good one.

Excellent book, I read when I was starting out. I bought the copy about digital SLR's and it really helped.

Scott Salisbury · 29 May 2007 at 14:50

Thanks for the replies. I'll have a look around for these

Explicit · 29 May 2007 at 17:57

http://www.morguefile.com/archive/classroom.php

I found that site useful

Nicos Rex · 29 May 2007 at 18:30

Scott Salisbury said:
<snip!>

But before I do, I'd like to get a little more insight so I'm not sitting on a park bench for 2 hours reading the intruction manual wondering why my photos are still blurry and over exposed.

I realise that this may sound like a really stupid and obvious thing to do, but for now, forget the books and get out there and take some pictures.

Don't snap anythng that moves, but do it in an organised way. Take several shots of the same thing varying the aperture, composition etc. Make notes of what you do and then when you look at the results it will make a lot more sense.

You need to build up an instinct for the best way to approach each shot, and there really is no substitute for personal experience.

When I was learning I didn't have the luxury of a medium which gave me free and instant results, I had to go into a darkroom and develop my efforts at a further cost in time and money, you don't have that excuse. Take your camera with you everywhere and use it every day, you soon discover what works and what does not.

With that experience under your belt, then is the time to delve a bit further into the theory. Don't forget, photography is a blend of art and science, you need to develop both sets of skills. (forgive the pun)

aztechnology · 29 May 2007 at 23:40

If you want to go out and take Landscapes, I can't reccomend a book better than Jo Cornish's First light.

as for a website, there are loads that are usefull, but the community that is www.photo.net always has me going back.