[Guest]

I'm looking for a few sites that set out the workings of a DSLR, general info of common settings, etc.



Got a couple alreday (this one and this) but a few more would be useful. Her indoors has taken a shine to my DSLR but I really don't have the time to go through it all at the moment (work and the run up to Xmas, etc.).



Would appreciate any gems you might know of.



Thank you.

[genotypewriter]

[quote name='EricDaily' timestamp='1291593650' post='4777']

Would appreciate any gems you might know of.

[/quote]

Since you're open to the idea of forums, allow me to recommend another approach for learning... interactive learning. Instead of being influenced by composition styles of another party (which is what happens when you read "bible" sites/books of photography), take pictures and post links to them over here along with relevant EXIF data and we can guide you in bettering your technique while still letting you see things the way you want to see.



Camera settings depend on the scenes you're shooting. Even for simple things like landscapes, you can't use the same settings for different shots. In fact, if you have a zoom lens, you might have to learn different settings for different parts of that zoom. There's no site/source out there that can be comprehensive enough to cover such things for all camera, lens, scene combinations. Thankfully, we have the internet forums... and with a bit of caution, you can learn a lot better now than people did in the past using books.



GTW

[Guest]

[quote name='EricDaily' timestamp='1291593650' post='4777']

I'm looking for a few sites that set out the workings of a DSLR, general info of common settings, etc.



Got a couple alreday (this one and this) but a few more would be useful. Her indoors has taken a shine to my DSLR but I really don't have the time to go through it all at the moment (work and the run up to Xmas, etc.).



Would appreciate any gems you might know of.



Thank you.

[/quote]

Hm, lets see.

there is this site

www.cambridgeincolour.com which explains technical details.Iwould however suggest a more effective way. Instead of doing the puzzle by searching for information on internet site, you may want to go to a well stocked bookstore and buy a good book on dslr photography, focussed on the technical site of cameras. Read together with the manual of your camera you should be able to learn quicker and without the hassle of searching for info. Note that the problem of forums is that it will be quite hard for a beginenr to distinguish between useful and useless tips since you need a bit of expereince and knowledge to see whos talking rubbish and who doesnt.

The second suggestion would also lead to the book store. Go to the section with photography (art) books. Sit down in the store and look through a couple of books. Buy the book which displays the kind of photos you want to be able to take. When you are at home look at one picture at atime and analyse. Ask your self:

AT what time of day was the picture taken?

where is the focus?

are there out of focus/blurry parts in the image?

Which parts of the image show correct brightness, which dont?

Where has the photographer placed his main subject in the frame?

after having answered these questions ask yourself WHY the photographer has done what you discovered. Then come back here or refer to your technical book to find out HOW it was done.



Contrary to gentypewriter I'd suggest that its better to mimic certain styles first to learn how it is done and then slowly develop your own style. The most importnt part is LOOK at pictures and ask how and why it was done. this ishow you'll find out which functions of your camera you need and which you dont.

[Guest]

Mmmm, not sure if it's actually worth spending money on photography albums for learning purposes alone. Imho sites like 1x.com should be more helpful, considering that some images have "how to's" posted in the forums already.

[Steinar1]

You sound like a guy who would benefit from the stuff that Tom Hogan writes, but why don't you ask her to do the indoors herself? <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/huh.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' /> Then you can buy Scott Shelby's book on digital photography and learn by yourself.

[genotypewriter]

[quote name='jenbenn' timestamp='1291620145' post='4784']

Ask your self:

AT what time of day was the picture taken?

where is the focus?

are there out of focus/blurry parts in the image?

Which parts of the image show correct brightness, which dont?

Where has the photographer placed his main subject in the frame?

after having answered these questions ask yourself WHY the photographer has done what you discovered.

[/quote]

I don't see how time of day, point of focus, subject isolation, exposure choices, frame composition are the things the OP referred to as "workings of a DSLR, general info of common settings, etc.".





GTW

[Guest]

Thanks for the input people, certainly information worth considering. <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />

[bryan conner]

I am not trying to be a smart@&&, but have you sat down with the camera and read the owners manual?