It’s been just about a year now since I first started using a DSLR camera. Prior to July 2009, my only experience with photography was using a point and shoot digital camera. I got my feet wet with a Canon Digital Rebel Xsi after which point my interest in photography skyrocketed like you wouldn’t believe. I bought, wait for it, the “Canon Rebel Xsi Book for Dummies” which I just about devoured cover to cover while on our summer vacation last year. It was far far superior to the camera’s actual manual and I learned so much from it. I also used the internet on my phone to Google endlessly for any info I could get my hands on. I no doubt spent hours pouring over the articles at Digital Photography School, when we weren’t seeing the sights that is. I’ve written a more thorough post about this story which you can read about here.

The main focus of this post is to highlight all of the different sources I’ve used to help me learn over this past year. Though it may seem odd that I would post this on my “professional blog”, I actually believe that it would be unprofessional of me to claim to be further along than I am or to know more than I do. So for that reason, I freely give you some more information about my journey with photography. If you really want to know more, keep reading.

Photographer FAQ’s
I would say the most influential source of information for me has come directly from other photographers. You will find many photographers who have bent over backwards to write “Frequently Asked Question” posts on their blogs and I am just one of the many that have benefited from the work they put into these posts. Here is a list of links to all the photographers I feel have helped me the most with their “FAQ” posts. (The links point directly to either faq sections on their blogs or individual faq posts.) I believe I have read almost every single one of the following posts and on more than one occasion. Listen people, you could PAY for valuable information like this so if you’re serious about learning, read through what they have to say. You will be sooooo glad you did. It will take some time to read them all (which you should do) so give yourself a “Photography Learning Boot Camp Weekend” and have your note pad, coffee and some delicious snacks on the ready.

I should note, these are all photographers who I discovered and subsequently began frequenting their sites because I really enjoyed their work. They obviously knew something I didn’t and I therefore began to dig further into their blogs to find their FAQ posts specifically. If you have photographers that you follow and admire, chances are good that there’s information buried within their blogs that can help you. Search for keywords like “lenses” and “lighting” and even “faq”. Is this slightly stalker-esque? Mmmmaybe, but if you’re ravenously hungry to learn, you’ll do what you have to.

FAQ’s with Melissa Jill

FAQ’s with The Youngren’s

FAQ’s with Jessica Kettle

FAQ’s with Jasmine Star

FAQ’s with Jamie Delaine

FAQ’s with Stephanie Fay — one. two.

FAQ’s with The Image is Found

FAQ’s with Bobby Earle

FAQ’s with Michelle Moore — one. two. three. four. five. six.

Feast Your Eyes
Another one of the ways I have learned about photography over the past year is from STUDYING images. I am one of those “visual people” so for me, just looking at an image can be a mini-lesson in and of itself. From one image you can examine the light source, take note of the apparent depth of field and try to guess what focal length the photographer has used. I would also highly recommend studying the EXIF data of the images you particularly like, if possible. This online tool called “Find EXIF” will give you just the basics including what camera and lens was used along with the aperture, shutter speed and ISO values. It helps to understand the mechanics behind the image so that you yourself can then replicate the technique/settings on your own. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve looked at an image in befuddlement until I was able to see and then understand through the help of the data stored within that image. “Ohhhh, so THAT’S how they did that.” Flickr is a GREAT place to go if you want to study this EXIF data concept. Find some photographers whose work you admire and if you’re lucky, they’ll have left their photos’ data open to the public so you can study away. Also on Flickr, you can tag images as your favorite so that you can return to them time and time again for inspiration. But don’t let the quality of someone else’s work discourage you! If you see an image and think “wow, I’m really bad”, let that drive you to learn and become better. You WILL learn and you WILL get better if you’re constantly working towards that end. Also remember that the learning never ends. Your interest in photography will wane if you don’t have the desire to learn. Fortunately, you can bet that there will always be something new to learn, regardless of your experience.

Digital Photography School
I mentioned it above, but this website is an absolutely wonderful tool for the beginning photographer. I would say it is geared more toward the beginner/hobbyist than the professional…..but who says you can’t be both. The site is broken down into categories, Camera Gear, Shooting Techniques, and Post Processing. You will find loads and loads of information here. Whatever you want to know, I would almost guarantee that you can find it.

Research Your Gear
When I was first looking into upgrading from my Rebel Xsi last summer, I read lots of the DPS’s articles on cameras and lenses, including all of the user comments people would make on each post! This is where I first learned about prime lenses (fixed focal length) which I soon determined was going to be my niche. From there I would then research about specific lenses or cameras on Amazon, Adorama, B&H Photo and other reputable places and read user reviews and comments. I would also go onto Flickr and search for images created from specific lenses or cameras or lens/camera combos. I wanted to know everything I possibly could about something before I bought it. A few of my first purchases were not as well informed and as a result, I ended up selling the items later, including the Rebel and the lenses I got for it. In fact, I made a number of purchases over the course of a few months last summer and subsequently sold those items as well. It may be a little out of the ordinary, but don’t be afraid to do this! Many lenses keep their value so if you end up buying something and realize after the fact that you’ve made a mistake and can’t return it, sell it. I don’t believe I lost much if any money by selling my gear. Anything that I would have lost was worth the time and experience I got to conclude that a certain lens or camera body wasn’t right for me. It would be virtually the same as renting the gear (though renting is certainly easier.) Since last July I have gone through 3 camera bodies and 10 lenses and I am now happily “set” with one camera body and 5 lenses. (Though I’m in the market for a back-up body for weddings.) There will always be “toys” that we want or even drool over, but I think it’s important to determine just what you specifically need for your uses. I would gladly eat beans and rice for 6 months to save up for a couple of these “toys” but since they are not necessities, I am not in a hurry to drop the cash.

Try a Prime
My advice for someone looking to make a big camera purchase is to be obsessive compulsive like me! Research research research and then some! My own belief is that you ought to buy the absolute best lens you can afford instead of the best camera you can afford. I would also strongly recommend that one learn how to take quality images by using a fixed focal length lens (prime lens.) I believe photography to be a much more visceral experience when you are forced to move and incorporate your entire body to get the shot that you want. It is all too easy and convenient (not to mention practical) to simply flick your wrist to zoom in or out on your subject. As for me, I don’t seem to connect with this style of shooting and have chosen to avoid zoom lenses completely. I don’t own any. Instead, using prime lenses and moving my body has forced me to 1.) overcome my self consciousness when it comes to “getting in people’s way” with my photography and 2.) freed me up to be more creative because I don’t have to worry about potentially numerous focal lengths I could choose from in a zoom lens. Yes it is actually FREEING to not have the option to zoom. My hands are free and my mind is clear so I simply move about and look through the viewfinder until I have the composition I want. It is magnificent. But not everyone can relate to this style and indeed it is a style. If you prefer to use zoom lenses, please do so, but at least give a prime lens a try. Another huge reason to use prime lenses instead of zoom lenses is that these lenses are higher in quality when compared with zoom lenses at comparable prices. If image quality and sharpness (and speed!) are most important to you, a prime lens will win every time. Now don’t go comparing a $200 prime to a $2000 zoom; that is not an “apples to apples” scenario. Do your research on this point and determine where the comparisons can apply.

As to what focal length to buy, this will be entirely up to the subject matter you will find yourself shooting most often. If you want what is generally called an everyday “walk-about” lens, then you will want something that has a focal length roughly equivalent to that of the human eye. Beautiful prime lenses can be purchased for under $400, believe it or not, but depending on whether or not you go with a full frame camera or 1.6 crop factor camera will determine what lens will be the most useful for you. If you own a full frame camera such as the Canon 5D, a 50mm f1.4 lens is the standard here. If you own a Canon 7D, 50D or any Canon Rebel, the $350 Canon 50mm lens will be too long to be considered a practical everyday lens. Instead you will want something in the 24mm – 35mm range. My personal recommendation here is the 35mm f1.4 lens. If you can possibly eek out the $1370 for this lens, you will be so happy you did. You’ll have it for the rest of your life, long after you’ve upgraded your camera bodies time and time again. It is one of Canon’s sharpest, fastest, and most beautiful lenses, ideal for many uses. This lens is also a genius on a full frame as well, becoming a moderate wide angle. If you can only afford one lens, believe that you will be shooting primarily portraits and are less concerned with everyday environment shots, then a beautiful and affordable prime lens for this purpose would be the $380 Canon 85mm f1.8 telephoto lens. It delivers outstanding results regardless of the camera body and at nearly $1500 LESS than the next step up in quality from this focal length, it is also an incredible bargain.

As you can see, the cost of multiple prime lenses can start to add up, the only point that I would consider a drawback in being a prime-only shooter. For myself, the freedom, quality and capabilities of these lenses are worth the (inevitable) extra expense and I don’t regret a single cent paid.

Photography Forums
Another source you can squeeze a wealth of knowledge out of is through other photographers on forums such as Open Source Photo. For the most part, you’ll find these communities a safe and informative place to browse for information on all kinds of topics, most notably others’ previous experiences and mistakes. You can post your photos for critique, search for used gear for sale, and place ads looking for shooting opportunities. Don’t get too sucked in but do make your presence known and be willing to help others with their questions in as much as you have questions you’d like answered.

Photography Books
I put this at the end because to be honest, I’ve only read a few books and would like to read more yet. The few that I’ve read have been helpful to me in learning some nitty gritty details on the basics of exposure and beyond. I tend to work at the computer on multiple tasks at once so reading articles online has been a more practical approach for me. I do like to go to Borders often to peruse the photography section and I have a wish list of books I’d like to buy or at least checkout from the library.

To conclude, the most obvious and readily available way of improving your photography skills is to take the dang photo. However, I never found this to be quite enough for me because I needed to know HOW. Now that I know the “how” (and am continuing to learn), taking photos is more enjoyable and progress is more notable because I have goals to work towards. Hopefully these tips can help you in whatever stage of learning you may be in. In the future, I’d like to eventually begin my own series of FAQ posts…but not yet.

Well this is awkward. I’ve never been good with concluding paragraphs, so… I’m out.