I just came across this awesome forum and need some advice from you all. I live in Indiana and have a 300D 75-300mm USM III 50mm 1.8 and kit lense. I really want to upgrade to some L glass but the budget just doesnt allow me to do so yet. But what i need help on is how to really start getting serious about nature photography and just photography in general. i know the equipment isnt the sole factor of someone taking good photos but with my 75-300mm i just sometimes cant get close enough to the action of the animals around here to not have to use the full zoom which severely lacks the clarity needed. this lense performs ok in bright sunshine at around 200mm as the max but beyond that and being wide open forget about it.
I guess my real question is how did you all go about getting really serious about photography and finding these amazing photo ops around your homes?
Posted by Susie Hopkins on April 11, 2008 at 7:18 PM
I'm lucky to have State land in my back yard.. Put up a blind and the critters don't care once they get used to it and me.. Sounds like you have enough to take a ton of pictures and concentrate on the tones in your shadow and light and work on composition.. Looking at a possible shot with the type of light you want.. Being patient til the right light is there.. I look at photography as a meditative experience.. I hope you find as much enjoyment from it..
Posted by Chuck Beatty on April 12, 2008 at 8:11 AM
Hi Stephen,
I've heard from a number of very good photographers that the way to find good photo opportunities is to spend time hiking without your camera. In most cases, you can always come back to a good location again when conditions are right. As Susie said, patience is the key to good photography.
Becoming good at photography is about getting out and doing it. Go out an shoot something every day and learn from your mistakes. In the digital world, it doesn't cost anything to capture a lot of images. Then post your work here or on the appropriate NPN forums and ask for critiques. We promise to be gentle and honest.
Trying to shoot animals with the lens you have is going to be a challenging experience. I have the equivalent Nikon lens and find that anything that moves faster than a mushroom is difficult to capture -- especially at full zoom on a cloudy day. If animals are your passion, try spending some time on the Fauna forum at NPN. Many participants will give technical data on their shots. If they don't you can always ask how they did it. You might also try capturing animals in controlled situations (zoos, wildlife parks) where they are less likely to be as skittish. You can use these experiences to hone your skills.
Good luck and we look forward to seeing your images.
Thanks for the help everyone! I'm going to rent a 100-400L next nice weekend and take a trip down to the zoo. I can afford that, just can't afford the 1500 bucks for owning it!
Discussion
3 repliesI just came across this awesome forum and need some advice from you all. I live in Indiana and have a 300D 75-300mm USM III 50mm 1.8 and kit lense. I really want to upgrade to some L glass but the budget just doesnt allow me to do so yet. But what i need help on is how to really start getting serious about nature photography and just photography in general. i know the equipment isnt the sole factor of someone taking good photos but with my 75-300mm i just sometimes cant get close enough to the action of the animals around here to not have to use the full zoom which severely lacks the clarity needed. this lense performs ok in bright sunshine at around 200mm as the max but beyond that and being wide open forget about it.
I guess my real question is how did you all go about getting really serious about photography and finding these amazing photo ops around your homes?
I've heard from a number of very good photographers that the way to find good photo opportunities is to spend time hiking without your camera. In most cases, you can always come back to a good location again when conditions are right. As Susie said, patience is the key to good photography.
Becoming good at photography is about getting out and doing it. Go out an shoot something every day and learn from your mistakes. In the digital world, it doesn't cost anything to capture a lot of images. Then post your work here or on the appropriate NPN forums and ask for critiques. We promise to be gentle and honest.
Trying to shoot animals with the lens you have is going to be a challenging experience. I have the equivalent Nikon lens and find that anything that moves faster than a mushroom is difficult to capture -- especially at full zoom on a cloudy day. If animals are your passion, try spending some time on the Fauna forum at NPN. Many participants will give technical data on their shots. If they don't you can always ask how they did it. You might also try capturing animals in controlled situations (zoos, wildlife parks) where they are less likely to be as skittish. You can use these experiences to hone your skills.
Good luck and we look forward to seeing your images.