We bought a used DSLR camera (a Canon Rebel) and I have never felt so technologically inferior in my entire life. The nice man that sold us the camera (actually 2 cameras!) also sold us 4 fancy lenses, and spent about a half hour trying to show me all the functions of the camera. It was awesome and at the time I totally was taking it all in…then the baby started fussing and the little boy was becoming impatient and the husband was hungry and we were way far away from home. My mind shifted and now I cannot remember a single thing about this camera (except how to turn it on)!
Technologically inferior may be an understatement. I spent about an hour trying to figure out how to adjust things and take a really awesome photo. Here is my best (unedited, because I have yet to get the software)…please laugh, cause honestly I’ve got some learnin’ to do. If you have any pointers or good sites or videos on DSLR photography, send it my way…clearly I need it.
First shot that came out clear!
Emberlynn making faces at her daddy…not too shabby
I have had my camera for several years and just haven't taken the time to learn. Scott Kelby's books are great resources for quick learning (not a lot of reading...set up step by step) but I really need to take a class!
laura_wgtf
Sunday 19th of January 2014
I'll definitely have to check those out!!! Thank you
Censie
Friday 17th of January 2014
We can do this together! Just keep snapping! You will get better!!!
laura_wgtf
Friday 17th of January 2014
Deal! I am really willing to do the class with you, just let me know when :)
HeidiTownMayor
Friday 17th of January 2014
I feel your pain!!! I have had my TSi Canon Rebel for a year now and I still don't know how to use it. I keep it on auto 99% of the time. My husband bought me this big fancy book that's supposedly the best book on learning how to use your TSi, but I've only read about 3 pages.
My goal is to take a workshop because I'm a hands on learner. I need to have someone show me and then I need to do it.
Good luck! :-)
laura_wgtf
Friday 17th of January 2014
Yeah I agree with the show and then do attitude. I gots not time for books :)
laura_wgtf
Friday 17th of January 2014
Carrie! I will definitely have to try the link up! I have been following your posts :)
EJ
Friday 17th of January 2014
I've shot film SLR's and now digital, I'm no expert but I know my way around. My first tip would be to always always always shoot in RAW. You can sometimes save a terrible shot in RAW, but never in jpeg. Get a free RAW converter like Raw Therapee, adjust exposure, saturation, and white balance there, and then convert to a jpeg to touch up in a free app like PicMonkey. Also, get the Digital Field Guide book for your camera model and throw out the owners manual ;) That's really about all you need! HTH! Congrats!
laura_wgtf
Friday 17th of January 2014
Perfect! Thank you! I will definitely try this :)
EJ
Friday 17th of January 2014
Oh, and you'll find the setting to shoot in Raw in your camera menu. It says "RAW", vs jpeg which is like a 1/4 circle symbol.
EJ
Friday 17th of January 2014
It's actually a computer software. Raw Therapee is a free download as opposed to Photoshop which is big bucks! (but PS converts Raw too, I'm just cheap LOL) Think of Raw as a film negative and jpeg as a polaroid. With film you can process it a certain way to correct a bad exposure, but with a polaroid you're pretty much stuck with it as-is. A raw converter turns your "film" into a "print", in a manner of speaking.
laura_wgtf
Friday 17th of January 2014
So EJ can I just download a "RAW" converter to my camera? Thank you for the advice :)
Jen
Saturday 18th of January 2014
I have had my camera for several years and just haven't taken the time to learn. Scott Kelby's books are great resources for quick learning (not a lot of reading...set up step by step) but I really need to take a class!
laura_wgtf
Sunday 19th of January 2014
I'll definitely have to check those out!!! Thank you
Censie
Friday 17th of January 2014
We can do this together! Just keep snapping! You will get better!!!
laura_wgtf
Friday 17th of January 2014
Deal! I am really willing to do the class with you, just let me know when :)
HeidiTownMayor
Friday 17th of January 2014
I feel your pain!!! I have had my TSi Canon Rebel for a year now and I still don't know how to use it. I keep it on auto 99% of the time. My husband bought me this big fancy book that's supposedly the best book on learning how to use your TSi, but I've only read about 3 pages.
My goal is to take a workshop because I'm a hands on learner. I need to have someone show me and then I need to do it.
Good luck! :-)
laura_wgtf
Friday 17th of January 2014
Yeah I agree with the show and then do attitude. I gots not time for books :)
laura_wgtf
Friday 17th of January 2014
Carrie! I will definitely have to try the link up! I have been following your posts :)
EJ
Friday 17th of January 2014
I've shot film SLR's and now digital, I'm no expert but I know my way around. My first tip would be to always always always shoot in RAW. You can sometimes save a terrible shot in RAW, but never in jpeg. Get a free RAW converter like Raw Therapee, adjust exposure, saturation, and white balance there, and then convert to a jpeg to touch up in a free app like PicMonkey. Also, get the Digital Field Guide book for your camera model and throw out the owners manual ;) That's really about all you need! HTH! Congrats!
laura_wgtf
Friday 17th of January 2014
Perfect! Thank you! I will definitely try this :)
EJ
Friday 17th of January 2014
Oh, and you'll find the setting to shoot in Raw in your camera menu. It says "RAW", vs jpeg which is like a 1/4 circle symbol.
EJ
Friday 17th of January 2014
It's actually a computer software. Raw Therapee is a free download as opposed to Photoshop which is big bucks! (but PS converts Raw too, I'm just cheap LOL) Think of Raw as a film negative and jpeg as a polaroid. With film you can process it a certain way to correct a bad exposure, but with a polaroid you're pretty much stuck with it as-is. A raw converter turns your "film" into a "print", in a manner of speaking.
laura_wgtf
Friday 17th of January 2014
So EJ can I just download a "RAW" converter to my camera? Thank you for the advice :)