File :-(, x, )
Anonymous
Okay, so I just had this great idea to become a photographer.

I don't know where to start.
My father has a camera, but he is just beginning as well and isn't interested in taking on a pupil.
Neither are any of the other people I ask to introduce me.

So, rather than be taught, could /p/ relay a small hint as to a good site, or book for self-teaching?
>> Anonymous
bump for photo justice
>> Anonymous
garble brargeael
>> EvenSteven !!RBDL+S5h60X
Ken Rockwell
>> Ken Rockwell !PSg26uGEQQ
You should check out my site, I offer all sorts of recommendations for beginners.

http://www.kenrockwell.com/

If I were you I would pick up a Nikon D40, dont bother with the D40x however, its just more expensive with usless features. Lens wise, perhps Nikon's 18-200mm VR? It covers both wide and telephoto length so its good for a beginner and professional. If you need any other help, just shoot me an email. Oh ya, if you're going to buythose, buy them through my site, it helps me kep it up and running. Good luck fellow photographer!
>> Ken Rockwell !PSg26uGEQQ
>>163605

Thanks for the recommendation, I'm glad to help.
>> Anonymous
>>163616
>>163611
>>163605

samefag

get the fuck out
>> Anonymous
>>163619

>163616
>163611
Well these two are. It's Ken Motherfucking Rockwell.
>> Anonymous
There is a real Ken Rockwell; he's usually wrong, though. The only really useful thing on his site is a chart showing what Nikon lenses will work with each Nikon body.

Wikipedia "exposure," "shutter speed," "aperture," "film speed" (even if you're shooting digital; it's the same), "depth of field," "rule of thirds," and "color theory."

Luminous-landscape.com is the best resource out there for technical information on digital, with some stuff on film, too; there's also advice on non-technical stuff that is usually good. Under the "columns" section, there's "The Sunday Morning Photographer," a no-longer-updated column by Mike Johnston, which is/was excellent, especially for getting a mental feel for photography as a medium.

Johnston has moved on; he has his own blog at http://theonlinephotographer.com/the_online_photographer/blog_index.html.

Another great place for the more mental side of photography- better, actually, is David Alan Harvey's blog.

http://davidalanharvey.typepad.com/road_trip/

And this great blog explores photography from the point of view of a philosopher who is not himself a photographer:

http://politicstheoryphotography.blogspot.com/

The sidebar is loaded full of great quotes on photography, too. Read those.

Lastly, study the work of great photographers and other visual artists. Figure out what sort of photographs you want to take, and go for it.

Good sites for this:

magnumphotos.com
masters-of-photography.com
jamesnachtwey.com (Just one guy, but he's probably the greatest and most important living photographer.)

Look through photographs you find good, figure out what makes them work.

If you have any questions, part of /p/ is here for you. The rest will ceaselessly call you a faggot and accuse you of trying to suck tripfag cock. Ignore them.
>> Anonymous
The real Ken Rockwell is a simpering idiot.

I fucking HATE how that guy is all "OMG PHOTOGRAPHIE IZ SEW EEZIE ENNY WUN KAN DEWIT" and then he takes complicated shots that require advanced knowledge and technique.
>> ac !!VPzQAxYPAMA
>>163687
>and then he takes complicated shots that require advanced knowledge and technique.
What the hell are you talking about?

He shoots full-automatic mode. He's famous for it. His only knowledge and technique is knowing where to point the camera.
>> Anonymous
get some second hand books, that's what I am doing


hooray self teaching
>> ac !!VPzQAxYPAMA
>>163710
This is what I did, too. Library book sales usually have a bunch of photography books for sale. I've got a whole bookcase full of 'em now.
>> Anonymous
I used to think Ansel Adams' work was boring and overrated. Now that I have more practical and technical knowledge, I've looked at his work and realized how badass it really is.

You might want to take a look at his books (The Camera, The Negative, and The Print). It might have a -lot- of technical details and stuff that might be a bit intimidating to a newcomer though.
>> Anonymous
>>163714
It is boring and overrated. That's fine. It doesn't make it any less technically genius, but he was practically a scientist not an artist.
>> ac !!VPzQAxYPAMA
>>163876
I dunno, I've gotten more of an appreciation for Ansel's work recently. Looking at more than just "The Tetons--Snake River" that's always given as an example of his work helped.
>> Anonymous
>>163714

Indeed, I'm currently in the process of reading The Negative and it can be pretty tough going at some points because of the techincal nature of it. Fantastic photographer, but as post above said, it's more scientific than artistic.
>> Anonymous
>>163595

Make sure to ask if Canon is better than Nikon.
>> linkiE !ei5A1FPDuk
>>163919

The Negative is fantastic! Zone system comes in real handy, 'specially when you're dealing with medium/large format. To me, photography is as close as science can get to art. Mix a great deal with technical knowledge with a good eye, and you're got yourself a photographer.

And you've gotta also take into consideration that Ansel Adams was, at times, the first person to ever photograph those landscapes and stuff. Anybody could've pointed their camera at Yosemite Valley, but it's hard to get as well-executed of exposures/prints as he did.