Photography tips and discussion

Originally Posted by Render

I feel like I'm finally getting the hang of knowing what manual settings to choose on my camera for certain conditions. I run a Rebel 350D with a 50mm f/1.8 non-zooming lens I bought because the kit lens was crap. Really a great lens for candid or portrait shots, especially in low light.

But there were other things that was wondering about. I was curious about lens filters. I know there are different kinds and they affect color in different ways, but I don't know much about them at all.

Non-technical questions: Do you bring your camera everywhere you go? Maybe not to school or work, but if you're out and about, or you go to a friend's place. My camera is a little big to really lug everywhere. Do you use a compact as a backup?

What do you think of altering your photos? Like say if that sunset wasn't as red as you had imagined and you Photoshopped the saturation and brightness. I sit on the fence for some alterations and I don't quite know why. I feel like I'm a purist, but I'm quite inexperienced to have a strong opinion. In that same sunset example, I believe that you should achieve your desired shot with the settings on the camera, not with Photoshop. Essentially, you master the camera instead of relying on Photoshop. I'm really curious on people's opinions on this.

Aaaaand... Do you ever feel uncomfortable taking pictures? Sometimes I'm driving and find a nice spot to shoot when someone passes by and looks. I feel really embarrased for some reason. Or if I have to get out of my truck and go into the weeds somewhere, the thought of being seen makes me wanna go somewhere else. Anyway to overcome that?

PS: I JUST noticed that my camera puts a bright red 5x2 pixel rectangle on all of my pictures. It's not a dead pixel on my monitor. What could cause this!?

I have the same camera, with a 50mm 1.4, I love that lens, it's definitely a favorite. The lack of zoom hurts, but I'm trying to save up to buy a nice zoom lens later. My friend is trying to get me to buy the 100-400mm. I also have a 10-22mm wide angle which was great. I bought it before I went to Hawaii. I put up a few of my pictures here:

http://soapymoose.deviantart.com/

I don't use filters except a UV one for my WA. Don't go cheap with filters, because you can ruin a great shot because of a crappy filter.

I bring a compact if I'm going somewhere where it would be difficult to use my SLR. It really depends where I'm going, I don't like bringing my camera if I know I'm going to have to leave it in the car. I take specific picture taking trips, that's always a time to get good practice.

You can be a purist and not alter pictures, but personally I find some of the most gorgeous photos have been altered, so I have no qualms in doing so. If you manage to catch great light, then if you don't need to change anything, then that's great, but to catch a perfect shot is really hard. I definitely agree that you should try to get the best shot you can using your camera and its settings, not photoshop. Photoshop should just be touched up, not completely rehashed.

As for being uncomfortable, do you feel self conscious about stopping to take pictures? It doesn't really bother me unless there is a lot of people and I have to wait, or ask people to move out of my way. I don't like to tell people what to do, but that's part of being a photographer.. patience, or photoshop them out of the picture later.

I'm still a photography newbie, I really don't know or understand a lot of the technical terms. I just learned how to do the things I want to do.

Jam it back in, in the dark.