The Shutterbug Society; Activity #3: Ask and Answer

[ed1nburgh.livejournal.com]

Activity: Ask and Answer
Points: 10 points participatioon
Dates: NOW until Thursday, July 1 at 22:00 PDT.

Details: Since this is a photography club and we have members of all skill levels, for this activity, you're going to have the opportunity to ask or answer photography questions you've always wondered!

FOR QUESTIONS: Be sure that it is a question of substance. Asking, "What's a camera?" will not get you points, but asking something of more substance, such as "What is the rule of thirds?" or "What's the difference between digital cameras and film cameras," will count towards points. If you are only planning on asking questions, you must ask THREE questions to get participation points.

FOR ANSWERS: If you know the answer to a question you see, feel free to respond! In order to get participation points, you must answer one question with at least five, complete sentences. It is encouraged that you post an example of what you're talking about, to make your answer totally clear.

Of course, feel free to go beyond the minimum! You may ask more than three questions or answer more than one, or any combination thereof.

If you have any questions for me, please respond to the thread below!

Shoot things, legally! Join The Shutterbug Society today!

Comments

[silvertigerx.livejournal.com]

Excuse the COMPLETE AND UTTER NUB, but exactly how are some cameras "better" than others? Like, a picture is a picture, right? Does getting a different camera really improve the quality?

Silver//Gryff

[raenbow.livejournal.com]

99% of a good photograph is down the the photographer (much in a similar way to how a good artist can make good art, even with the most basic of tools). However, having a "better" camera gives you access to a better set of tools in order to take your photos. A "better" camera may have changeable lenses, greater customisation of settings, and things like that. You'll also have the ability to control the flash, and the images will have larger dimensions which in turn gives you greater flexibility over cropping, etc.

It's important to remember, though, that having a good camera doesn't make you a goot photographer. Things like composition, etc., are important no matter which camera you have.

Hope that helps!

[gringotts.livejournal.com]

Exactly what Rae said - it's MOSTLY due to the photographer and how good their photography eye is. At the end of the day, you can take a great photo on a standard point and shoot camera but having a Digital SLR allows you to take a better range of photos, do different things, and have interchangable lenses etc. plus you get to have complete control of the camera.

Having said that though, having a DLR doesn't mean that you will automatically take better pictures than someone with a point and shoot. I still use my point and shoot sometimes! But, it's like buying a big fancy new car, it doesn't make you a better driver, it just means you have a nicer car.

Nadine//Claw

[marchenland.livejournal.com]

Not necessarily disagreeing with the other commenters, but poorly made cameras or cheap lenses will take bad photos. I'm talking, REALLY cheap Korean knockoffs or something.

Holgas and toy cameras let in light which is seen as a fun thing now, but it was because they were cheap 2nd world / communist bloc cameras manufactured for people who didn't know better. I would imagine it sucked trying to take a photo of grandma and having her come out green because the camera was make out of cardboard!

Also, some cameras just perform better in certain situations. Some cameras, for example, are great in controlled, sunny situations, but as soon as you try to take a low-light photo, they struggle, can't focus, use up the battery, and give you a grainy, noisy image. Other cameras in the same situation might have the capability for low-light built in, whether its a setting that compensates, or a larger range of ISO speed.

http://www.dpreview.com/ is a great site for comparing the minute differences of different cameras! I mean, down to the pixel.

When people ask me what kind of camera they should get, I always ask them what they will be taking photos of, because if they say "Concerts," there are tons of cameras they will end up hating because of the low-light issues.