Photography Class Questionnaire

[Nancy and Georgia Brown]

Sigh, we have all finished yet another doodle calendar rush. We are all thinking "next year I'm going to get started earlier, I'm going to learn to use my camera. I'm going to have better pictures to enter."

While the idea is fresh, I'm open to starting a discussion or class on learning to take better pictures. Several have expressed interest in the idea. While many of you are so interested in learning photoshop to edit, I think it's best to start with a great image to begin with. A image can always be edited by many of the people here to make it better, but the best edit can't retake the picture for you if it's out of focus, or the lighting is poor.

There will be homework assignments and discussion involved. I know for myself watching a video of a new technique seems so educational, and then I try it out on my own and it's not that easy. I run into problems and I can't ask the video "what did I do wrong?" I want all of us to be able to answer that, and we can support each other by giving helpful tips. 

My idea, aside from teaching people to take better pictures, is to incorporated doodles as a constant in the assignments. We all have these lovely, albeit sometimes less than cooperative, doodles that should be earning their keep! Hopefully by next year we will have dozens of excellent pictures to choose from. 

Before I can plan anything I want to get more information. If you are interested please reply to this post and complete this questionnaire.

1. What kind of camera / lenses do you have?

2. What settings do you use for exposure and focus. Do you use your camera on automatic only?

3. Do you know how to read a histogram? (Do you know what it is?)

5. What software do you use to view / edit your photos?

6. What aspect of photography do you find most difficult?

7. What are you most interested in learning?

[F, Calla & Luca]

• Terrific! I am so happy you are doing this.
• I have a Nikon 750 with an 18-300 Zoom and a 105mm lens. 
• I use aperture priority, and speed settings and sometimes auto. If I am taking real close ups I may focus by hand. I prefer single point focus which defeats a lot of newer technology. I occasionally change the ISO. 
• I do know how to read a histogram but don't often.
• I use Photoshop and love Camera Raw.
• I guess getting multiple moving objects, namely doodles to be in focus and looking at the camera is the worst.
• I will be happy with anything you can teach us. I started out with film cameras decades ago. About 8 years ago I got my first dSLR. I have learned a huge amount through this group and through CreativeLive.

[Nancy and Georgia Brown]

Great! So glad most of the responses so far have people knowing the basics. Makes it easier.

I think single point focus is the best. Some of the newer technology helps out with tracking. Your camera is certainly up to the task. Definitely take the camera off of auto anything. And the histogram is my bible when shooting and editing.

Getting more than one doodle in focus while moving, now that's truly a challenge. I would say almost impossible. Probably beyond my skills.

I hope to go beyond the basics and teach more about how to "see light" vs how to use the camera. Teach may be the wrong term as I'm far from a teacher. Maybe exploring ideas together works better. I have some ideas for inspirational themes.

[Richard Crowe]

I generally use Canon gear and shoot principally with a Canon 7D and a Canon 7D Mark-2.  However, I use a Canon 5D Mark-2 (full frame) for my human and dog portraiture.  I have several Canon lenses as well as one Tokina (12-24mm f/4 Mark-1).

My two favorite lenses are the Canon 17-55mm f.2.8 IS and the 70-200mm f/4L IS.

I use the 70-200mm f/4L IS lens on the Canon 5D Mark-2 for all my portraiture: both dog and human...

I tend to like longer focal lengths rather than wide angle lenses...

I always shoot RAW and open my images using Adobe Bridge/Camera RAW.  I do my  post processing in Photoshop CC with a liberal helping of NIK Software added.

I never use the full auto settings but, will frequently used the Programmed or P setting. I will use Aperture or Shutter Speed priority when I want specific shutter speeds or apertures.  I am beginning to use manual camera exposure with Auto-ISO for some of my shooting...

I virtually always use auto focus but, I select the auto focus points. About the only time that I manually focus is when I am shooting macros.

I use auto white balance but, will frequently place a white balance target in any series of shots.

Although I can use a histogram, I do not depend on this aspect.

I want to learn how to use radio controlled flash sync.

I would like to get better in color printing...

[Nancy and Georgia Brown]

You definitely have the skills Richard. I'm glad to have you as part of the group as I think your knowledge could be very valuable to us all.

You should really explore Lightroom. Honestly, if you use ACR and Bridge it's similar but offers SO many more advantages and so much savings on time. I wish I could convert everyone, but I think you especially would catch on quickly and love it. Ben Willmore has an excellent bootcamp class on creativelive. 

I'm far from an expert in off camera flash, but do know a little. I'm far from an expert on most things. There seems to be quite a few people that are interested. We will see if it makes sense to incorporate or maybe it's another group. IDK at the moment.

Color printing...if you are talking commercial CMYK printing I'm extremely knowledgable. If you are talking online photo labs I have some advice depending on the topic. If you are talking personal printers I am probably not the person.

[DJ & Chance]

Nikon d810 with a range of lenses.  I usually use my 85mm to photograph Chance.

Depending on the subject and situation, I shoot in aperture priority, shutter priority, or manual.  For photos of Chance, I often need to shoot in manual and correct exposure with exposure compensation.

I look at image histograms regularly

Photoshop CC

Finding the right light and exposure to photograph Chance--even in the shade the white parts of his coat are easily blown out.  Action shots with enough DOF to get the entire dog in focus while also achieving a blurred background.  Effective backlighting. Flash.

Most anything,  The practice will be good!

[Nancy and Georgia Brown]

You do such great work. 

If enough people have an understanding of the basics I would like to explore the idea of looking at light, and seeing light and figuring out how to translate that with our cameras. Those are topics that interest me and ones we can all learn from each other. Rim light and exposure in shade fall into that.

Action shots seem be be a common theme. I prefer long lenses for action shots. I'm sure you know this. Regarding getting all of chance in focus and the background out of focus, well that's REALLY hard. I think I would approach it scientifically. Get an object or box the same length as Chance and experiment with distance and aperture till you get in the ballpark of what you like. There are DOF calculators, but they are numbers, and can only tell you so much.

[DJ & Chance]

The scientific approach is a great suggestion that I will try out!

Understanding and capturing light are at the heart of good photography, IMO.  A great place to start.

[Anne & Mr. Haley]

Nikon d750, 18-300mm Nikor, 90mm Tamron macro and various other lenses.

I use aperture priority, shutter priority, manual with the camera sometimes picking the ISO.  I use single point focus and mostly auto white balance.  I occasionally focus manually.

I somewhat know how to read a histogram.

Photoshop CC, Camera RAW and various Topaz and NIK filters.

Action shots; consistent good exposure with highlights not blown out and eyes not in deep shadow.  (I have trouble getting and keeping Haley's attention.  Treats, squeaky toys, nothing seems to work)

Most anything to improve my photography.

[Nancy and Georgia Brown]

We will look at all of those things. So grateful you have an understanding of the basics. I find reading a histogram and looking at it while shooting so valuable. We may have a quick refresher on the histogram as I use it while shooting as well as editing.

We will look at action shots. But getting the correct exposure is key. Sometimes it's more about seeing the "light" so you know before even taking the picture that the highlights will be blown and the eyes will be black shadows. Doodles, I think white doodles can be harder than black doodles, for getting light into the eyes. 

[Donna K & Quincy]

1.  I have a Nikon 7100, Nikor 60mm, Nikor 85mm, Tokina 11-18mm, a Tamron 70-300mm (planning on replacing this with a better lens) and also have to replace my 50mm since the mount is broken.

2.I usually do all manual settings.

3. I do know what a histogram is but I rarely look at it. 

5.I do minor editing in Window Photo viewer and PS Elements for cloning and anything that needs the benefit of layers. 

6.Focus, I do use auto focus but the focus rarely ends up where I would like it to be.

7.I am open to learning whatever you put forward. Sometimes I think I need to get back to the basics and learn everything all over again.

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[Nancy and Georgia Brown]

Glad to hear that you are shooting with manual settings. But it is critical to view your histogram while shooting so you know if you're settings are correct. We will do a short review on the histogram. SOO important. 

For auto focus, are you choosing the focus point or allowing the camera to decide? If you allow the camera to decide it probably is not what you want to see.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Yay....I am so happy to see this discussion. I am feeling a little bit lost without my calendar entries to worry about....yes, I have no life :) 

1. What kind of camera / lenses do you have? I have a Canon 6D and many lenses. Lately, I find myself using my husband's 24-70 mm and my 135 mm. My goal this year is to use my 70-200 2.8 lens more.

2. What settings do you use for exposure and focus. Do you use your camera on automatic only? I always use Manual. 

3. Do you know how to read a histogram? (Do you know what it is?) I know just the basics of how to read my histogram. Since I am starting OCF and using a grey card for  correct exposure, I am relying on it more and more.  However, that said, I need more help!

5. What software do you use to view / edit your photos? Photoshop CC

6. What aspect of photography do you find most difficult? OCF, figuring out the best settings to get the look I want for consistently good photos. 

7. What are you most interested in learning? Histograms and correct editing in PS. And how to improve my photography!