Learning How to Take Better Photos
I’m taking photography lessons from Kent Johnson at Community Ed. I found myself making huge progress since I started the lesson and I fell in love with taking photos with DSLR (single len reflective digital) camera. Thanks to my photographer friend who lent me his camera so that I didn’t have to invest in a new camera to start with. This worked out beautifully for me, now I purchased this Nikon D7000 camera from my friend. After five Level 1 lessons and some practices, I would like to share with you some of my best works. As Kent told us: from now on, we should always show our best work. Kent also told us that a professional photographer always process their photos using some sort of software. But I don’t have any software at this moment, therefore I have to show them in the original shot.
Before taking photography lessons, I had no idea what aperture, shutter speed and ISO are and I have never used manual mode. Now I know this essential triangle, how each works and how they work together. With modern meter, I found it very easy to use manual mode and I also intentionally explore over exposure and/or under exposure (called bracketing) to see which one(s) I like the best.
After warming up with a few fall color photos, our homework was taking some photos showing cold. I did so when the first snow fell and practiced with aperture, shutter speed and ISO triangle and bracket. As you can see below, some of my shots are under exposed and the moon over the roof ISO wasn’t quite right.
Then we learned how to take portraits. I used a 50mm lens with the largest aperture F1.4 to take the following shot since our lessons were in the evening, it turned out to be pretty cool. After learning composition rules, I found myself feeling comfortable with framing a shot. On Thanksgiving we were on a farm, I did a lot practices and I liked some of my shots.
These two shots I like the most. Even though it was late afternoon before sunset, I feel the shots looked more like moon, do you agree? I sent one of the shots to Kent, he agreed and did his PhotoShop magic for me.
Then we learned using continuous shots and panning for moving objects such as child, pets and moving body, and for sports. I used my son’s basketball for practice. It was fun hearing the sounds of shutter continuously shuts. I feel a little more like a profession now, it’s a good feeling :).
Last but not the least, I continue to take more practice shots and used one of them to make my holiday greetings to you. I hope you like it and I wish you a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! And yes I can take a very clear moon shot now.
