How do I get started in photography. Im 15 yaers old and really interested in photography (B&W).I dont know what anything is, not any of the words you use like, fstop, apature ring, Macro, what are these? Its confusing. I have taken a Graphic Arts class in school it tought me kinda how to develop film no help from the teacher (Who had never done this before) I learned on my own. How do know what a good picture is. Could anyone help me.

Thanks David Noble

-- David Noble (JN1012@bellsouth.net), June 02, 1998

Answers

beginner

This is a difficult question to answer. All I can say is that it takes awhile to learn the technical aspects of photography but if the desire is there you will soak it up like a sponge. My best advice would be to take an inexpensive beginners photography course at a community center or college (your age might be a problem). Some of them will even provide camera's or perhaps you can borrow a simple SLR from someone. This way you can meet other people with the same interest and learn some of the basics at the same time. Your local library will also have many books on equipment, composition etc. but they're not as good as personal instruction and interaction with other photographers. Hope this helps.

-- Andy Laycock (agl@intergate.bc.ca), June 02, 1998.

Taking a beginner course at a community college is very easy. Just enroll in the continuing education class. They do not care how old your are. They are usually in the evening and some even teach darkroom techniques. The questions you ask are all very good, but impossible to answer in two or three years. They must me answered over many years of study and most of all doing photography. Join a local camera club and listen to what is said and ask questions.

-- Jon Fishback (jpf1@aol.com), June 02, 1998.

There are three books that Ansel Adams produced before he passed away. They have been revised a number of times and they are availabe in soft cover, as well as hard back. They are The Camera, The Negative, and The Print. I think you will find that they are a great tool for learning the basics, and have some very good reproductions of Adams images in them. A lot of what he talks about is technical, but he presents it in a manner that is instructive for beginners as well as advanced photographers.

Taking classes is an ideal way to learn, but just one piece of advice, take a class from soneone whose pictures you like. If you are not interested in out of focus pictures of garbage, or homeless drug addicts, or fashion models, or flowers, then I wouldn't take a class that is going to show you how to do that type of photography. Figure out what you like, get good at that and then branch out into other types of photography. Good luck, it is not any easy medium to get going in, but once you do, photography is quite a hard habit to break.

Beyond the Adams books, there are other how to books available, but I don't think there are any that are any better than his. I cut my theeth on Adams books when I wasn't much older than you are now, so my opinion may be some what jaded.

-- Marv Thompson (mthompson@clinton.net), June 02, 1998.

Ansel Books

I 100% agree with the opinion that Ansel Adam's books are great tools for the begining and professional photographer alike. I am currently a student of photography at my local college and all three of his books are required reading for my classes (along with "On Photography" by Susan Sontag). I personaly am not even a big fan of his work, put his intelligence for the technical aspects of the medium is unmatched as far as I can tell. Dry reading at times but a wonderful tool for referance Andrew Kaiser www.geocities.com/EnchantedForest/4935/ANDY.html

-- Andrew Kaiser (akaiser@rushorder.com), June 03, 1998.

beginner

I strongly advise that you DO NOT ignore a style of photography just because it may not appeal to you right now. Explore all types of photography for yourself. Photography, unfortunately, is rife with dogma and it would be a shame to limit yourself because of others opinions. Photography is whatever you want it to be.

-- Andy Laycock (agl@intergate.bc.ca), June 03, 1998.

Does your high school have a newspaper? If so, every newspaper needs a photographer. Most schools can't afford cameras, so you may have to cut lawns or beg your parents for a good 35mm starter system. Check with your journalism teacher if your school has one.

You should buy (or get for a gift) the Ansel Adams series as has been suggested. If you want to start into landscape photography, look around for a good Yashica Mat and a light meter. They are twin lens medium format cameras which were well made, had excellent optics and are cheap on the used market. They are also a great way to learn photography without spending a lot of money.

No matter what you do you'll need access to a darkroom. You'll drive your parents broke shooting color film, so you need to bulk load black-and-white film and process it yourself. It will be even handier if you can do as I did and learn using someone's else's film. This is where the school newspaper could come in handy.

-- Darron Spohn (sspohn@concentric.net), June 04, 1998.

taking a class either thru the community college or thru some community center can be very helpful. also by getting a camera(35mm slr or single lens reflex) that has manual functions and and going out and playing with all the dials and seeing what they do is a great and fun way of picking up what does what. usually the best way of learning something is from experience. also a book by Henry Horenstien titled "Black & White Photography: A Basic Manual" is very good. it gives good info even if you want to shoot color too.

-- (moschika@yahoo.com), June 07, 1998.

One excellent way to learn about making photographs is the use of a Polaroid camera. If you can find one of the models that takes the type 660 film packs you will be able to do black and white and color, and there is even one that makes both a print and an instant negative.

They are frequently available at garage sales and so forth.

The point about Polaroid as a learning tool is that you dont worry about the darkroom for the time being. You first learn to see the world around you in terms of a photograph. Then you make your picture, and you look at right there on the spot while what you saw and what you were trying to capture in your photo are still in front of you.

You can immediately try something else (change exposure, focus, framing, etc) and see right away what happens.

Later on you can get into the darkroom and find out all about the fascinating things you can do there. But you have to have a picture to work from first, and the Polaroids give you experience in making pictures.

Good Luck.

-- Tony Brent (ajbrent@mich.com), September 12, 1998.

David-

It is always so exciting to see young, aspiring photographers. I am only 20 years old, and I still find myself asking the same questions you are. I also took some photography classes in high school (which taught me nothing I could REALLY use). My advice to you is to not worry about what other people think is a "good picture." When you see something you want to capture with film, go for it. When we dwell on what is "correct" or "incorrect" photography, we miss out on what is really there. So, just keep on taking those classes, but more importantly, experiement on your own- just you and your camara and the world. Now that I'm at a college level, photography is a whole new ball game. But, we never stop learning, and don't ever stop challenging yourself! Good luck and have fun! -Nikki

-- Nikki Stratmann (nss0003@unt.edu), October 13, 1999.

fellow beginner

David Noble, hey, i am totally with you. Im 16 and I am really intrested in getting into B&W photography but im a little confused. I am always taking pictures but I am extremely confused about all the terms and everything. I really want photography to be a big part of my life but im very inexpirienced. Its hard to find help in my area because I live in such a small town, so your not alone, if you learn anything or want to talk email me because im going through the same thing as you. Thanks, Molly

-- Molly Lecker (mollylecker@ijustdontcare.com), April 07, 2002.