Bill, this is pretty durned good advice. I'd add to it by suggesting that the batteries be removed from that K1000 and that a spot meter be incorporated into the program. In fact, go out some days without a camera and just use a spot meter, metering highlights and shadows of a scene. IOW, get to know the light and how it can be used in composition. Remember, you're photographing light.
Also, save every negative, even the crap. Not only for learning what's bad, but because somewhere down the line you may learn some skills or techniques that will help you turn the crap into something uniquely interesting. Also, I strongly suggest getting a copy of "On Being a Photographer," and reading through it several times. http://www.lenswork.com/obp.htm Find a subject that interests you and photograph it until your fingers hurt. Shoot it from every conceivable angle and in different light. Do the same thing with a subject that doesn't interest you so much. Make it interesting! Shel > From: William Robb > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Eric Featherstone" > Subject: Re: PESO: Automaton > > I think I have enough lenses (from 24mm to 200mm), what I *really* > > need to do is learn more about composition. > > If you live in an area where there are photo galleries, start > haunting them. Look at lots of pictures by the masters of whatever > genre happens to amuse you at the moment. > > Lock everything but a 50mm lens and one camera (preferably that K1000 > in a vault that you don't have a key to. This will keep you from > cheating. > Spend the next year or so shooting with just a 50mm lens. > > Every roll of film you get back, file the keepers and keep the dross > out for inspection. > Look at the bad shots and figure out why they don't work. > Stop doing what doesn't work, and all thats left is what does work. > > In a year, look at the shots that were keepers when you started, and > compare them to what you think were > keepers over the year. > I expect you will be pleasantly amazed at how much better your > compositions have gotten. > > William Robb > >
