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Anonymous
Ok so newfag/troll here.
I purchased a rebel xti, my photos suck (and probably will for a long time) I need some resources to better myself in taking pictures.

Any good books(from the library of course) or websites that I should read ?
Thanks for your input /p/
EXIF data available. Clickhereto show/hide.
Camera-Specific Properties:Equipment MakeNIKON CORPORATIONCamera ModelNIKON D80Camera SoftwareLightZoneMaximum Lens Aperturef/2.8Sensing MethodOne-Chip Color AreaColor Filter Array Pattern718Focal Length (35mm Equiv)93 mmImage-Specific Properties:Image Width299Image Height287Horizontal Resolution300 dpiVertical Resolution300 dpiImage Created2006:10:19 11:30:21Exposure Time1/125 secF-Numberf/9.0Exposure ProgramManualISO Speed Rating400Exposure Bias0 EVMetering ModePatternLight SourceUnknownFlashFlash, Auto, Return DetectedFocal Length62.00 mmImage Width299Image Height287RenderingNormalExposure ModeManualWhite BalanceAutoScene Capture TypeStandardGain ControlLow Gain UpContrastNormalSaturationNormalSharpnessNormalSubject Distance RangeUnknown
>> ac !!VPzQAxYPAMA
"The Joy of Photography" is pretty good, as I recall.
>> Anonymous
These are on my 'to buy/to read' list but I never got around to it.

I'd rather monkey around with the camera.

"Understanding Exposure" by Bryan Peterson

"Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi/400D Digital Field Guide" by Charlotte K. Lowrie

"The New Manual of Photography" by John Hedgecoe

"The Complete Guide to Canon's Digital Rebels" by Gary L. Friedman

"A ShortCourse Book Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi/400D Photography" by ShortCourse
>> Anonymous
if you are into podcasts, I recommend tips from the top floor.
Strobist.com if you want to get into lighting.
>> ac !!VPzQAxYPAMA
>>104523
>"Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi/400D Digital Field Guide" by Charlotte K. Lowrie
>"The Complete Guide to Canon's Digital Rebels" by Gary L. Friedman
>"A ShortCourse Book Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi/400D Photography" by ShortCourse

I'm guessing these are going to be 90% shit like "What lens should I buy?" "How do I transfer files from my camera?" "What's the little knobby thing by the take-a-picture button for?" and so forth. People who need books like these shouldn't be shelling out the money to buy digital SLRs.
>> Anonymous
"Learning to see creatively" by Bryan Peterson - mostly about composition, and design characteristics. It has a few "exercises" in it to work on these aspects
>> Anonymous
As a random question, is that the EF-S 17-85mm IS?
>> Anonymous
>>104537

67mm filter diameter and IS. Looks like it
>> Anonymous
practice :D
>> Anonymous
>>104478

The person who took the OPs picture had a far superior camera. Check your EXIF.
>> Anonymous
OP here, thanks for the suggestions, I will look into them as well as some websites that I've bookmarked from lurking around.


I do have another question. Is there any equipment/accessories that are a must have ? Obviously I haven't grown past the lens that came with the kit but I'm totally lost on things I absolutely need to have.

I will probably go out tonight and take some pictures, so maybe I'll post some monkeying around pictures later.
>> Anonymous
lol D80 pwns 400d
>> Anonymous
>>104632
UV filter?
polarizer?
tripod?
shutter remote/cable?
bag?
cleaning products/equipment?
better flash?
>> Anonymous
>>104535
Not op, but I might look into his books.
>> Jeremo !iKGMr61IHM
>>104774

UV filter? no way dude, completely unnecessary.

-A sturdy tripod is definitely a must. Don't go on the cheap get an decent sized one from benzo or manfrotto, they'll last longer than all the other equipment.

-Cleaning kit, the air blower and microfibre wipes, the former for the sensor and the latter for lenses.

-A sturdy bag. Don't all the expensive crumpler stuff, a lowepro or even a regular backpack lined with form will do the job. But do get something to pad and protect your goods.

... actually i'm pretty much in agreement with the the person i quoted. wicked.
>> ac !!VPzQAxYPAMA
>>104827
>UV filter? no way dude, completely unnecessary.
Especially on the kit lens. I could see it on expensive-ass L glass, but when the filter is 20% the price of a lens that you're probably going to want to replace anyway at some point, not so much.
>> Anonymous
>>104830
Kit lens or not, the uv filter will keep the lens from scratches without altering the pic. That's never bad for a newbie.
>> ac !!VPzQAxYPAMA
>>104834
Unless he gets a really good one, it's gonna add another layer of glass with another layer of distortions and possibility for flare and whatnot. And by all accounts, Canon's stock 18-55 is pretty crappy to begin with.

If he gets a really good one, it's going to be a significant fraction of the price of the crappy lens.
>> Anonymous
>>104834
Really cheap filters *can* degrade picture quality.
>> Anonyfag of Borneo !bHymOqU5YY
>>104835
The kit lens is my primary lens, and as such I attached a UV filter because if anything happens... I'll be left with a prime and two telephoto lens. Not nice.
>> Anonymous
lols

No one mentionned the battery grip yet. It's my favorite accesory by far.

Use it for the larger handgrip, extended battery life and portrait mode or take it off for mobility.
>> Anonymous
OP here again.
>>104827
>>104774
Part of the free accessories kit that came with the camera was:

Extra Battery
Battery grip
UV filter
Lowpro bag

Looks like what I still need is the tripod and cleaning kit.

>>104830
While I'm not going to say the stock lens is amazing, I haven't outgrown it yet so at the moment there is no need for a better lens but right now I have a UV filter anyways - which is already on the crappy 18-55 lens anyways.
>> Anonymous
Books aren't gonna be the best way to learn - just get out and take photos. Take hundreds. Take thousands. Manipulate settings in your manual modes and practice with autofocus and manually focusing. Practice metering, practice getting the histogram to not be chopped off on the sides. Practice getting the composition you want. Read when it's dark - practice every second you have.
>> Anonymous
>>105194

Uh, sounds like you're going on a buying spree.

Do you even know why you want the tripod? Play with the camera for a while and see what kind of pictures you want to take.

And a Speedlite FTW.
>> elf_man !!DdAnyoDMfCe
Right. Go out and shoot. Then do what I did: all that stuff you're thinking of buying, google it, read up on it, do some research, then figure out where you want to go with it.
For the lens, get a cleaning cloth. Should be all you need. Don't worry about sensor cleaning stuff for now, that's way more involved and voids your warranty if you do it yourself. For a tripod, while the extra stability is nice in any circumstance, it isn't always a necessity; for now you may want to leave off, unless you know you want to try photography that will require it, like at night, or macro work(which you can't do with your kit lens). You already have a uv filter, so arguing that is irrelevant; another standard filter that will have noticeable effects is a polarizer, useful anytime the sun is shining, but again, look up some info first, search flickr, whatever. Seriously, wikipedia is your friend for this.
>> eku !8cibvLQ11s
>>105204
Good books are going to help alot. Composing isn't a thing you just learn juts by taking many photos.
>> ac !!VPzQAxYPAMA
>>105293
Sure it is. But it does speed the process considerably to have some guides, so I agree with you on that much.