Newbie

Hello everyone

I have been lurking here for a while - thought it was about time I said hello.

I've been interested in photography in for some time and used film SLRs in the 90s. I was thinking of getting back into SLR photography and then couldn't resist the value of the K10!

I work in IT and so qualify as a bit of a geek. I understand technology and also have a reasonable grasp of the 'theory' of photography but generally take crap pictures! I don't think I have the eye for it.

Still, I'm looking forward for the chance to practice and improve.

Cheers
Paul

I don't believe (except possibly with rare exceptions) that people either 'have' or 'don't have' the eye for it.

I think most people develop it, if they're motivated, and work hard at learning from their mistakes. Some will develop quicker than others, as with other things in life, but as with those things, effort plays a big part.

Even recognising that your pictures are crap is a good start, and I'd put money on it being the place most of us were at, at one time.

Welcome!

Welcome ganners!

Have a go at entering the weekly competition or post some photos in the gallery - the feedback you get can go a long way in improving your pictures. Other than that it's all down to practice, practice, practice...

Hi Paul!

Sounds like you are already one step ahead of where I am at the moment

But I've got to say these are a really nice bunch of folks who'll help you when you ask.

Welcome to the forum! I'll look forward to seeing lots of posts and perhaps some images?

Just to take up the point though of whether or not people "have" or "don't have" an eye for images, my experience is that some definitely do.

Down at the club lots of new members come through and over the years it's apparent that the male ones have loads of technical knowledge but in general have to work at the aesthetics a bit. The female ones in general don't worry too much about the technicalities but definitely have a keen eye for composition and what generally makes a great picture. I stress again in general beacuse there are also many notable exceptions to this.

One exception was H---- who I persuaded to enter the year's competitions as I thought he'd do well and would put in some interesting images. Well he just won everything, with apparently no effort whatsoever. Classic shot after classic shot....

The rest of us mere mortals have to work harder than that!

Interesting to note the male/female difference, John, and of course no one would be surprised that there's the occasional prodigy.

I was just picking up on the OP's "I don't think I've got it" comment. It would be a terrible shame if someone bought a camera, took a few pictures, concluded from the results that he (or she!) didn't have the eye, and gave up.

As you say, most of us have to work harder than that.

It might be interesting to have a few of us post two images - a very early one and a current one, just to show how far we have progressed since our first tentative efforts.

When I get a moment I'll have a look in my early archive and see what I might dare to show!

I could do that... or I could just post one of my relatively few current decent ones, and one from my gazillions of current drossy ones.

My daughters can pick up a point and shoot (digital or 35mm) and blow me away.

Both myself and evil Nikon brother in law spend hours discussing all the physics and formulae, but neither of us get one shot in a hundred worth keeping.

The ladies on this forum, well outnumbered by us technogeeks, show amazing creativity with their submissions.

I don't have to look any further than our Lady from Cornwall who regularly floors me in B&W.

So, I agree with John.

How about Gerri from Winnipeg, Don? You invent gear and software. Who has the best eye?

Anyone else?

Thanks to all for the welcoming words.

I thought it was a left/right brain thing? The lefties (I think) are inately artistic with skills in music, art and composition (words that is). Righties tend to be accountants and IT Managers.

Photography may fall more into the middle ground as something which can be learned or copied. I could 'copy' the composition of a great photograph and get it almost right - I couldn't copy a great drawing or painting!

A friend and colleague of mine takes jaw-droppingly good pictures (I have seen 20 or more which are just stunning - wildlife mainly). I would love to create just one like that!

Paul

Sounds like a 12 step program...

"Hi. My name is Jamie, and I take crappy photographs. It had been 3 days since I took a crappy picture, but yesterday... well... I did it again..."

Hi, my name is Tony and I take crappy photos.
I stopped taking crappy pictures for a month, but my wife said I really should take the camera back out of the closet since I had spent so much money on it...
click, crap, click, argh!, click, eek, click, smash!... oops


I like the idea of posting current and past photos. Maybe a side competition for the greatest improvement, lack of improvement and/or greatest decline - heaven forbid.

I agree with John's generalisation. My wife is teaching me why that thing that I thought of as foreground interest is really just a load of clutter, and I'm teaching her why her technique of press and hope isn't making the best of her artistic eye. We're both learning and spending quality time together. It's fun.

Welcome!
Well Mac, Gerri wears contacts.. I don't.
talk about being put on the spot....
kinda like that question we men all hate being asked... "Does this make me look fat?" (the best answer of course is "Kill me. Kill me now. No, REALLY, I WANT TO DIE".... much better than "That outfit has nothing to do with it...It's your a$$ that makes you look fat".

Let's just say even with my best work, I wouldn't be able to feed myself, if it wasn't for Gerri's people skills.......

I'm with you there Don!

Apparently, saying 'it doesn't matter what you wear sweetheart, you have a big bum so it will always look big' , is the wrong thing to say!