Getting more serious?

[TieDye]

I mentioned in my other thread that I'm interested in getting more serious about photography. I do what I can with the gear I have (which is just a 35 mm manual focus Canon Rebel G, but it does good, and whatever good film I can get), and I just ordered some filters on eBay - a polarizer, uv filter, and flourescent filter.

Any tips on getting more experience, how to try and get your photos seen, and how to put together a portfolio? I'd really like to do concert/music photography someday, or specialize in animal portraits.

 

[Boss_BlueAngels]

That's really great, good luck on your new adventures! One thing I recommend, with a grain of salt of course, is to try and save up for a DSLR. You'll still be able to use your current filters/lenses and I guarantee that within just a few months of use the camera will have "paid" for itself with the cost of equivilent film/processing costs. The bodies themselves are much more expensive than for film, but the learning curve with digital will skyrocket. Especially if you're trying to expand your skills and try different things more often. When I shot with film I always felt constrained because I was more worried about getting a shot than the shot.

I just wanted to get that out of the way... I know that's what really made a day and night difference in my photography.

 

[motree4316]

DSLR, are the right move, when learning to shoot photographs, you can see the outcome straight away, and this increases your skills, there are downfalls to DSLR, battery life can be poor, memory cards fail, rare, but deadly, if you take 200 photos in one outing, you could loose it all, so always back it up, get a cheap compact to take backups. you dont need to go to college either, one route is to get a photo journalist pass, join a photographers union, like the national union of photographers, as a student cost me 10 pounds, however, can get you free entry to concerts and events, just write to events organizers and ask if you can take photos of rock bands ect, you might get lucky, and get front row or even backstage, they might even buy your photos at a good rate.
one more thing, try to recreate photos you have liked yourself, whatever they may be, but have fun, if you dont enjoy it, why do it? follow a professional photographer for the day. most will be glad for the extra help, weddings photographers are great for this, you will learn more in one day than six weeks of college. but I know money can be hard to find at the moment, so make the most of what you have, I've used 35 mm, 120mm, large format and DSLR, still prefer my medium format, it would mean a DSLR would have to be 40 mega pixels to get the same quality. sorry to go on like this, did my degree some time back now, now teaching woodshop. God bless, mike.

 

[JessyD]

Take lots of pictures, a DSLR is good and you can probably use what you already have lens and filter wise if you get a Canon.

Just take lots of pics everywhere you go. If you have a child in your family pratice on them. I love hand shots. This is where a digital camera is good b/c you can erase what you don't like. Where as film can become costly if you try to do this.

A good film, I never used over 400, and my pics came out great. I always used kodak but someone that has more expirence in 35 mm may know something better.

 

[cristianna]

I mentioned in my other thread that I'm interested in getting more serious about photography. I do what I can with the gear I have (which is just a 35 mm manual focus Canon Rebel G, but it does good, and whatever good film I can get), and I just ordered some filters on eBay - a polarizer, uv filter, and flourescent filter.

Any tips on getting more experience, how to try and get your photos seen, and how to put together a portfolio? I'd really like to do concert/music photography someday, or specialize in animal portraits.

You can use your current lenses and filters with a DSLR-- only if you buy a Canon DSLR. That was the determining factor in the purchase of mine.

To get more experience take more pictures. Never leave home without the camera!

I've never put together a portfolio because for now it's strictly a hobby. I'd recommend finding a really nice, professional lab for the prints to be used in it. Have prints in a variety of sizes. And I'd recommend finding a nice album to hold the prints.

To gain more exposure start planning now for pictures and entries into your local or state fair. Talk to your local Arts Council and find a local photography club.

If you're really interested in specializing in animal shots why not help out at the local animal shelters. See if they are willing to let you take the photos of the animals in search of homes to be placed in ads or on their websites. It could very well get you the exposure and experience you are looking for, not to mention let you know if capturing our furry friends is something you really enjoy.

Good luck!