Photographers / Photography advice thread

[cricketfieldclarets]

As are a few on here, have a keen interest in pictures. All self taught though with no 'proper' training.

(Did originally plan to do photography at college but after our first session our tutor broke his leg and never returned. I think that was a made up story after his first impression of our class!)

Most of the time I use my phone. Easier. Quicker. Less intrusive, particularly when taking street photos. Looking for some advice on lenses. Most of the stuff I like to take is street scenes. especially urban. street art. every day 'things'. Street art. But also natural environments. Day and night.

Not too bothered for motion per se (nature, sport).

My main camera is the OLYMPUS OM-D E-M10 Mark III. But as above don't use it half as much as I should. In the process of teaching myself how to use that and become more adept at the settings and options.

[tim_noone]

You need to get out more....is my advice

[Dyched]

What type of photographers do you like CFC? Research what lenses and such they use etc.

I do quite a bit. Mostly on film though tbh and I’m not much up to date of gear.

Mostly I use a 50mm lens but also 35mm (wider). 50mm (I think) someone will correct me is what your eyes basically see.

Things like iso, the lower iso the slower the shutter. F stops etc, the lower the number the more light the lense lets in. So say F16 would ideal on a brightly sunny scene, where as for a darker scene in deep shadows/inside F4 would be better. But that also deepens on what iso your shooting with.

Best bet, find a scene up Towneley. Shoot it at what the camera tells you to. Then play around with the iso, F stops etc and see how they can change the image.

If you like everyday street photography check out Joel Meyerowitz, Cartier Bresson, Garry Winogrand.

[bennitor]

Not sure re: Olympus lenses but get the best prime lens that reviews for your particular brand suggest and for whatever your budget is. You can pick up excellent prime lenses for Canon and Nikon for around 100 quid so I'm guessing it would be similar.

Then use your feet to zoom

[cricketfieldclarets]

You need to get out more....is my advice

Thats part of the problem these days.

[cricketfieldclarets]

What type of photographers do you like CFC? Research what lenses and such they use etc.

I do quite a bit. Mostly on film though tbh and I’m not much up to date of gear.

Mostly I use a 50mm lens but also 35mm (wider). 50mm (I think) someone will correct me is what your eyes basically see.

Things like iso, the lower iso the slower the shutter. F stops etc, the lower the number the more light the lense lets in. So say F16 would ideal on a brightly sunny scene, where as for a darker scene in deep shadows/inside F4 would be better. But that also deepens on what iso your shooting with.

Best bet, find a scene up Towneley. Shoot it at what the camera tells you to. Then play around with the iso, F stops etc and see how they can change the image.

If you like everyday street photography check out Joel Meyerowitz, Cartier Bresson, Garry Winogrand.

Thanks for the tips. AI am pretty reasonably clued up on the ISO and The F stops etc. Its more the lenses I need to get up to speed on. I have a couple of lenses I bought for mine. One is the 'pancake' lens which is apparently a bit of an aquired taste.

Thanks also the recommendations on those three will check some of their pictures out.

[cricketfieldclarets]

What type of photographers do you like CFC? Research what lenses and such they use etc.

I do quite a bit. Mostly on film though tbh and I’m not much up to date of gear.

Mostly I use a 50mm lens but also 35mm (wider). 50mm (I think) someone will correct me is what your eyes basically see.

Things like iso, the lower iso the slower the shutter. F stops etc, the lower the number the more light the lense lets in. So say F16 would ideal on a brightly sunny scene, where as for a darker scene in deep shadows/inside F4 would be better. But that also deepens on what iso your shooting with.

Best bet, find a scene up Towneley. Shoot it at what the camera tells you to. Then play around with the iso, F stops etc and see how they can change the image.

If you like everyday street photography check out Joel Meyerowitz, Cartier Bresson, Garry Winogrand.

My good friend ONLY uses film. Refuses to entertain digital. I might start calling him kodak

[cricketfieldclarets]

Not sure re: Olympus lenses but get the best prime lens that reviews for your particular brand suggest and for whatever your budget is. You can pick up excellent prime lenses for Canon and Nikon for around 100 quid so I'm guessing it would be similar.

Then use your feet to zoom

Thats a slight problem with Olympus. I think you are limited to Olympus' own branded lenses. Whereas with Nikon, Fuji etc you arent. And you end up paying a premium.

[Dyched]

My good friend ONLY uses film. Refuses to entertain digital. I might start calling him kodak

Shooting films a different thing tbh. A lot of people who use it are against digital for some reason. I enjoy both equally as much. Film kinda slows you down in what your doing a bit and gets you out if the habit if just shooting for the sake of it. To me it’s what vinyl is to spotify. Both great, both have there pluses and minuses.

[bennitor]

I think that's why I stuck with Nikon - partly laziness and comfort but also the wide range of lenses and access to third party equipment.

I owned a fisheye which was fun but largely a novelty. For Nikon DX system I've used the 17-55 f.2.8 lens quite a bit. It's heavy but has balance between zoom and being able to stop down quite low. Of course it's not as good with depth of field as a dedicated prime or zoom as with a dedicated zoom but if you want one lens for street photography something like that would be reasonable cost and you would be able to open it up quite wide.

Again not sure of Olympus equivalent!

[Zlatan]

Thats part of the problem these days.

What are you on about...? I thought you went to Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door the other day...?

Has that area gone into tier 2 yet with you northerners spreading Covid around freely

[cricketfieldclarets]

Shooting films a different thing tbh. A lot of people who use it are against digital for some reason. I enjoy both equally as much. Film kinda slows you down in what your doing a bit and gets you out if the habit if just shooting for the sake of it. To me it’s what vinyl is to spotify. Both great, both have there pluses and minuses.

Absolutely. Films definitely for the purists. It’s an art.

[Vegas Claret]

No better places to start than here : https://photography-on-the.net/forum/index.php

and then follow up on youtube, some amazing channels

[cricketfieldclarets]

I think that's why I stuck with Nikon - partly laziness and comfort but also the wide range of lenses and access to third party equipment.

I owned a fisheye which was fun but largely a novelty. For Nikon DX system I've used the 17-55 f.2.8 lens quite a bit. It's heavy but has balance between zoom and being able to stop down quite low. Of course it's not as good with depth of field as a dedicated prime or zoom as with a dedicated zoom but if you want one lens for street photography something like that would be reasonable cost and you would be able to open it up quite wide.

Again not sure of Olympus equivalent!

Yes for fisheye I use my go pro. (Hero9). It’s surprisingly good especially in good lighting. And gives a unique shot.

[cricketfieldclarets]

What are you on about...? I thought you went to Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door the other day...?

Has that area gone into tier 2 yet with you northerners spreading Covid around freely

No. Just having a couple of babies in quick succession limits things

[cricketfieldclarets]

No better places to start than here : https://photography-on-the.net/forum/index.php

and then follow up on youtube, some amazing channels

Yes follow quite a few of excellent street photographers on YouTube.

[huw.Y.WattfromWare]

Join Burnley Camera Club. Sounds a bit old hat but the guys there will definitely improve you.

[HunterST_BFC]

@ cricketfieldclarets

What's your budget?

[cricketfieldclarets]

@ cricketfieldclarets

What's your budget?

More than Sean dyches. Three figures.

[cricketfieldclarets]

Join Burnley Camera Club. Sounds a bit old hat but the guys there will definitely improve you.

Thanks. Friend of mine (used to run hayhursts with his dad in Nelson) is setting something up via Burnley library soon.

[CombatClaret]

My first DSLR was the Canon 550d, you can pick one up used with the kit lens for £200
Photos I took with it still sell very well on stock sites next to the photos I took with a camera ten times the cost.

Don't bother buying something too expensive until you've reached the very limits of what you already have. And lenses open make more difference than bodies. Canon & Nikkon offer more choice & lower prices due to all the third party manufacturers and the large second hand market.

[Quickenthetempo]

The most basic advice from older photographers is use the tripod and get the camera as still as possible.

[huw.Y.WattfromWare]

Thanks. Friend of mine (used to run hayhursts with his dad in Nelson) is setting something up via Burnley library soon.

https://sinwp.com/camera_clubs/Burnley- ... b-1412.htm

[jollyjack]

Dont fall for the advertising saying you MUST have 30 MP sensor etc etc. I've got an old Nikon D40 (6 MP) and 18-55mmm kit lense and it enables me to do most anything I want. You could pick that gear up on a good 2nd hand site like mpb for under £100. NEVER buy new unless you're certain why you're buying. Use a mobile which is the camera you'll have with you most of the time and practice composition and just experiment. Its the photographer that makes the image, not the kit.

[The Enclosure]

Composition is one of key things to a good photograph and that can be achieved with any half decent camera.
The photo i took below won a competition run by Lancashire Life a few years ago.
Not the greatest photograph but someone must have liked it.

534-IMG_1478-3.jpg (1.6 MiB) Viewed 2796 times

The title of the photo was "Country lane with view of Stoodley Pike"

[cricketfieldclarets]

My first DSLR was the Canon 550d, you can pick one up used with the kit lens for £200
Photos I took with it still sell very well on stock sites next to the photos I took with a camera ten times the cost.

Don't bother buying something too expensive until you've reached the very limits of what you already have. And lenses open make more difference than bodies. Canon & Nikkon offer more choice & lower prices due to all the third party manufacturers and the large second hand market.

Agree with this.

[cricketfieldclarets]

Composition is one of key things to a good photograph and that can be achieved with any half decent camera.
The photo i took below won a competition run by Lancashire Life a few years ago.
Not the greatest photograph but someone must have liked it.
534-IMG_1478-3.jpg

The title of the photo was "Country lane with view of Stoodley Pike"

Very nice picture. Love Stoodley Pike and the surrounding.

[Dyched]

Search the camera on google, there’s a load of articles on lenses etc. Search it on flickr too. People normally post what settings they’ve used and lenses.

Imo, a 25mm would be ideal for what you want. I wouldn’t bother with any zoom. 25mm would allow you to get close and get a wide angle.

[jollyjack]

https://www.youtube.com/user/photoexposed/featured

One of the better tutorial series

[IanMcL]

I know nothing about photography, other than pressing the button. Click and all done. On that basis, I recommend SPECSAVERS!
They always get my lens right!

[SalouClaret]

Subscribe to Jamie Windsor on YouTube. I found his videos great when I first started. I currently have a Sony A7RIII until I can afford the IV... it's not a cheap hobby

[CJW]

Sigma 24-70 f2.8

[ChrisG]

Search the camera on google, there’s a load of articles on lenses etc. Search it on flickr too. People normally post what settings they’ve used and lenses.

Imo, a 25mm would be ideal for what you want. I wouldn’t bother with any zoom. 25mm would allow you to get close and get a wide angle.

Agree with this, I've got a 18-55mm kit lens, a 70-300mm Sigma, and a 50mm prime. The latter is pretty much the only one I use as the quality is incredible even if you do need to think about your shot a bit more

[ALP]

As are a few on here, have a keen interest in pictures. All self taught though with no 'proper' training.

(Did originally plan to do photography at college but after our first session our tutor broke his leg and never returned. I think that was a made up story after his first impression of our class!)

Most of the time I use my phone. Easier. Quicker. Less intrusive, particularly when taking street photos. Looking for some advice on lenses. Most of the stuff I like to take is street scenes. especially urban. street art. every day 'things'. Street art. But also natural environments. Day and night.

Not too bothered for motion per se (nature, sport).

My main camera is the OLYMPUS OM-D E-M10 Mark III. But as above don't use it half as much as I should. In the process of teaching myself how to use that and become more adept at the settings and options.

t

You can guess I do a bit of photography from my posts, that Olympus is a superb little camera and a great base to learn from. When you say you are teaching yourself the settings, in what way are you doing this?

What mode are you shooting in (mainly)? To learn you need to take control, don't let the camera be the boss, get the camera into Manual and understanding exposure. Learn the exposure triangle, which is easy. ISO, Aperture, Shutter speed. Then start to understand light, i.e. highlights and shadows where in the digital index 0 is true black and 255 is true white. Start to understand these and you will soon grasp photography.

Shoot RAW and get a good editing programme, I use photoshop CC but there are others out there i.e. Capture 1 which a lot of pro's are going to now, there is also DXO labs and many more. But if you shoot RAW and have a good programme to edit, you can push shadows and pull highlights all over the place, just avoid burning out the highlights, as a chap told me when I was learning 'it's easier to put the lights on than it is to turn em off'. That makes a lot of sense when you realise you've clipped all your highlights and can't get them back.

Hope that helps a little.

Andy

[Pstotto]

Who stole the JCB and left the wheels, Enclosure?

There are a few interesting glyphs in that picture, for example there's a sliver curl above the curl of the field, which introduces mystery.

[cricketfieldclarets]

t

You can guess I do a bit of photography from my posts, that Olympus is a superb little camera and a great base to learn from. When you say you are teaching yourself the settings, in what way are you doing this?

What mode are you shooting in (mainly)? To learn you need to take control, don't let the camera be the boss, get the camera into Manual and understanding exposure. Learn the exposure triangle, which is easy. ISO, Aperture, Shutter speed. Then start to understand light, i.e. highlights and shadows where in the digital index 0 is true black and 255 is true white. Start to understand these and you will soon grasp photography.

Shoot RAW and get a good editing programme, I use photoshop CC but there are others out there i.e. Capture 1 which a lot of pro's are going to now, there is also DXO labs and many more. But if you shoot RAW and have a good programme to edit, you can push shadows and pull highlights all over the place, just avoid burning out the highlights, as a chap told me when I was learning 'it's easier to put the lights on than it is to turn em off'. That makes a lot of sense when you realise you've clipped all your highlights and can't get them back.

Hope that helps a little.

Andy

Thanks Andy. Yes I’m happy with it.

I’ve been teaching myself through trial and error and via online. Tutorials etc. And watched tonnes of videos on the triangle but still trying to get to grips with it.

I use lightrooms. I always used to think editing was ‘cheating’ but having said that no matter what you do it never looks as good as it did in your head.

I’m going to look at some formal training. That’s what I signed up for when I left school but as first post after one lesson the class ended and I never revisited.

I only shoot in manual now. Annoying sometimes as you lose a good shot that auto would’ve got. But then you learn nothing In Auto. I saw a great image the other day but the exposure was totally wrong. But I guess that’s how you learn eh?

Here are a few I’ve taken recently that I’m reasonably happy with.

[LoveCurryPies]

You say you want to do street photography so I think you need a lens between 28 to 35mm. That is if you like getting up close to the people you are photographing.

There is another group of street photographers who snap people from a distance, so they would suggest 100-200mm lens range.

But the best street photographers get close to their subjects. I know a few...

Dougie Wallace, possibly the best uk street photographer.
Peter Dench...lots of humour in his documentary work.
Homer Sykes...still capturing British society.
Martin Parr.

If you want really edgy / controversial stuff....Bruce Gilden. To me it’s borderline cruel.

I’ve tried using lens wider than 20mm but it distorts people too much. 50mm is too ordinary.

A lot of good street photography is done on small fixed lens cameras. Very easy to be discreet.

My point is....know what style of photography you want to do and then you will know what lens you need.

[Dyched]

Check out William Eggleston and Stephen Shore too for inspiration. Mostly american stuff would looking at the shots above, you’ll enjoy them. Martin Parr is a great british photographer too who is quite similar.

[Dyched]

You say you want to do street photography so I think you need a lens between 28 to 35mm. That is if you like getting up close to the people you are photographing.

There is another group of street photographers who snap people from a distance, so they would suggest 100-200mm lens range.

But the best street photographers get close to their subjects. I know a few...

Dougie Wallace, possibly the best uk street photographer.
Peter Dench...lots of humour in his documentary work.
Homer Sykes...still capturing British society.
Martin Parr.

If you want really edgy / controversial stuff....Bruce Gilden. To me it’s borderline cruel.

I’ve tried using lens wider than 20mm but it distorts people too much. 50mm is too ordinary.

A lot of good street photography is done on small fixed lens cameras. Very easy to be discreet.

My point is....know what style of photography you want to do and then you will know what lens you need.

Never heard of Dougie Wallace, had a quick google. Fantastic, reminds me of Joel Meyerowitz.

I love photographs what a beautiful in the ordinary way rather than finding a “beautiful” scene.

[Dyched]

B045828E-5551-4562-A94C-E8F0FAF72D94.jpeg (123.03 KiB) Viewed 2613 times

Here’s one I shot in Brooklyn NY, the lady perfectly colour coordinated with the cordon.

[cricketfieldclarets]

You say you want to do street photography so I think you need a lens between 28 to 35mm. That is if you like getting up close to the people you are photographing.

There is another group of street photographers who snap people from a distance, so they would suggest 100-200mm lens range.

But the best street photographers get close to their subjects. I know a few...

Dougie Wallace, possibly the best uk street photographer.
Peter Dench...lots of humour in his documentary work.
Homer Sykes...still capturing British society.
Martin Parr.

If you want really edgy / controversial stuff....Bruce Gilden. To me it’s borderline cruel.

I’ve tried using lens wider than 20mm but it distorts people too much. 50mm is too ordinary.

A lot of good street photography is done on small fixed lens cameras. Very easy to be discreet.

My point is....know what style of photography you want to do and then you will know what lens you need.

The challenge is being too close can be very intrusive or worse. Especially at the moment. Being mindful of that also means you can lose the shot.

While I love great shots of subjects. I think it’s more from a distance. And the surroundings I prefer.

[cricketfieldclarets]

Few more.

[Dyched]

It’d be good if this forum had a separate place for threads like these.

How’s flickr work? Can you hashtag on there? We could do an #uptheclarets kinda thing if it does?

[LoveCurryPies]

Never heard of Dougie Wallace, had a quick google. Fantastic, reminds me of Joel Meyerowitz.

I love photographs what a beautiful in the ordinary way rather than finding a “beautiful” scene.

If you have a look, I think there is a video programme of Dougie in Blackpool.

[LoveCurryPies]

Few more.

Nice shots!

Do you follow lots of street photographers on Instagram?

My advice is...find the style of photo you want to take and that will determine the lens you need.

[cricketfieldclarets]

Nice shots!

Do you follow lots of street photographers on Instagram?

My advice is...find the style of photo you want to take and that will determine the lens you need.

Thanks lip.

I do but they’re all totally different.

I often see a great shot ins any minds Eye. Putting it into practice however.

[ALP]

Thanks Andy. Yes I’m happy with it.

I’ve been teaching myself through trial and error and via online. Tutorials etc. And watched tonnes of videos on the triangle but still trying to get to grips with it.

I use lightrooms. I always used to think editing was ‘cheating’ but having said that no matter what you do it never looks as good as it did in your head.

I’m going to look at some formal training. That’s what I signed up for when I left school but as first post after one lesson the class ended and I never revisited.

I only shoot in manual now. Annoying sometimes as you lose a good shot that auto would’ve got. But then you learn nothing In Auto. I saw a great image the other day but the exposure was totally wrong. But I guess that’s how you learn eh?

Here are a few I’ve taken recently that I’m reasonably happy with.

Nowt wrong with any of them, looks like it's working well for you.

Shout if there's anything I can try to assist you with.

Andy

[ALP]

If you have a look, I think there is a video programme of Dougie in Blackpool.

Dougie Wallace is awesome, he really doesn't give a hoot what people think. I remember watching him on TV and a woman was shouting that she was going to ring the police over him taking her photo, he retorted 'Aye, I'll gie you the number, it's 999' and walked off. He really does get in peoples faces; no chance I could do what he does on the street.

A real inspirational photographer for me was when I found the work of Vivian Maier, her work with a camera is awesome, her work only came to light after she passed away.

Website linked: http://www.vivianmaier.com

[LoveCurryPies]

Dougie Wallace is awesome, he really doesn't give a hoot what people think. I remember watching him on TV and a woman was shouting that she was going to ring the police over him taking her photo, he retorted 'Aye, I'll gie you the number, it's 999' and walked off. He really does get in peoples faces; no chance I could do what he does on the street.

A real inspirational photographer for me was when I found the work of Vivian Maier, her work with a camera is awesome, her work only came to light after she passed away.

Website linked: http://www.vivianmaier.com

Dougie stayed at my home and the next day the BBC took him to Blackpool to film that documentary. Not being a drinker, he spent the night trying to get me to take up vaping!

I really like Vivian Maier’s work and what a fascinating life!

[Blackburn_Claret]

I'm sure Wellsy1882 will know whats best. He usually does x