Reddit reviews Read This If You Want to Take Great Photographs

Thanks.

Here is a book for you:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1780673353/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1524516759&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=how+to+take+better+pictures&dpPl=1&dpID=41PClKtt49L&ref=plSrch

That's what Flickr is for. I don't believe that Instagram is a good place to find good photos anyway, unless you want to find photos that are good for Instagram. What makes a "good" Instagram photo doesn't necessarily make a "good" photo in other formats, because good Instagram photos are meant to be viewed on a small screen, not on a computer screen, or as a print.

Also, instead of buying a ton of lenses, learn how to use the ones you have. Get a 50mm (if you have a full frame camera) or a 35mm (for an APS-C camera) prime lens, and stick with that until you know how to use it well. In the immortal words of Robert Capa:

> If your photographs aren't good enough, you're not close enough

Remember that it's not the lens that's making the good photo, nor the aperture, shutter speed, ISO, or the camera. It's a good photographer that makes good photos. Composition is more important than equipment.

If you can't take good photos with a 50mm (or APS-C equivalent), then you're not going to be able to take good photos with your 85mm f/1.7 or your 70-200mm f/2.8L. The exception of course is wildlife photography. If you can take good bird photos with a 50mm, you're probably Dr Doolittle.

Anyway, getting back to photographic inspiration, I think you're better off finding a book. There's some really good books on photography. Read This If You Want to Take Great Photographs is a great one to get a copy of. People seem to love investing a bunch of money into camera gear, but then spend nothing on education. Even the fanciest camera in the world can't make you a good photographer if you have no idea what you're doing.

I’m a beginner myself, but here are some things that really helped me to understand the true basics:

https://tldr.photography/

I also bought this book, which gives you an insight of the art behind photography:

Read This if You Want to Take Great Photographs https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1780673353/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apip_kxr5XO1i42ldv

What I recommend though, is practice, practice and practice! And never delete pictures, you’ll always make mistakes and learn from them, to improve you further as you go along.

Read This If You Want to Take Great Photographs. Great book. Not very detailed in technique and not niche - very good for beginners and getting an overall understanding of photography and the related physics and skills. This book can also be good for pros to get inspiration... the author is great at taking some skill/style that you thought you knew and sticking it in your face to look at again, and most of my friends (and a photography teacher in high school) said the book gave them a new perspective on photography.

> Do you guys have any tips on how to start?

Get a camera

Invest in a decent DSLR, just an entry level camera, doesn't have to be fancy, and just start playing around with it.

Learning

Depending on your learning style, whether it be in a classroom environment or more hands-on, start learning the fundamentals, like ISO, aperture and shutter speed and how they work together. There are plenty of books, blog posts and video tutorials online to help you.

I found this book helpful: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Read-This-Want-Great-Photographs/dp/1780673353/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8

Once you get to know the basics, see if you can find a local photographer who would be willing to let you assist them.

Post-production

Find a tool that works for you that allows you edit your photos. I use Lightroom as it allows me to organise and make adjustments to my photos.

Practice emulating others

Find other photographers whose work you like and try emulate them. I don't mean blatantly copy them as your own work but this helps you to practice shooting and editing in different styles. This helped me to understand what I did and didn't like about someone's work. You might also find your own style along the way!


> What helped you getting in to photography?

My grandfather was a keen amateur photographer and his father was an artist so I guess it runs in the family a bit for me. I used to draw and paint a lot but sometimes I felt impatient because drawing and painting takes time. Photography was a little more 'instant' and it allowed me a lot more freedom edit in post-production. I also live in London now so I don't have a lot of space to store physical art equipment. Photography allows me to be creative, expressive and capture things/people but without taking up too much space!


> What inspires you?

There are a number of photographers out there who inspire me. I primarily shoot weddings and portraits so I guess people and people in love inspire me :)

There are lots of photography videos on YT for beginners and plenty of good books and I can recommend this one. The make of camera should not make any difference as they all have the same basic functions.

The K70 is a great camera as I have the same model bought it a few years ago and it's pretty damn good.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Read-This-Want-Great-Photographs/dp/1780673353/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2LGKL8ZRUGMS0&keywords=read+this+if+you+want+to+take+great+photographs&qid=1573052581&sprefix=read+this+%2Caps%2C152&sr=8-1

Read This If You Want to Take Great Photographs https://www.amazon.com/dp/1780673353/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_Cgi1Cb5XKRJTX

I mean the title itself sounds pretty "clickbaity" but I did enjoy this book, it talks about perspectives and angles and technique. it's a pretty good and easy read.

or maybe even one of those photo challenge kind of books. I've never bought one but they're books that have like ideas and tasks in them and your job is to take a photo and place it in the book and that's how you complete the challenge. makes sense since she likes to make albums and such.

I'm a beginner too, and I recommend you Read This Book If You Want To Take Great Photographs by Henry Carroll.

It doesn't have a lot of technical stuff; this book talks about different techniques to take good photos (using different light, exposure, lenses, etc), and inspires you to be creative and to start shooting with your camera. It explains everything in a simple and effective way, and it's easy and entertaining to read.

Hey /u/buffalogriller this is a really thoughtful answer! You totally get what I'm trying to do. Unfortunately, I'm only going to visit him and he doesn't live nearby enough for us to share a camera. I actually did think about giving him mine with a 35 mm lens... but it's my only camera.

I'm definitely going to give him my great Henry Carrol books to try and stir something up too (this one and this one)

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Read-This-Want-Great-Photographs/dp/1780673353

This book is an amazing starting guide that will help her get a lot out of her present.

Try this. Read This If You Want to Take Great Photographs https://www.amazon.com/dp/1780673353/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_4l06ybNTSSPHW

I'm not an architect but somebody who's moving focus into a design related field (who has a healthy interest in the field) - I'd get her the following.

To keep on her, a GOOD sketchbook, Mechanical Pencil, Pen, small Ruler and a Camera (a point a shoot should be fine) and a good backpack.

For the home, craft supplies and lot's of them, don't go to the store and buy them order them in bulk and online, get her a selection of cutting mat sizes and some scalpels and scissors and glue / tape, kid's want to create and they just love having the thing to hold and show off with.

Also book's there are lot's of really dry books on the subject but there are also wonderful ones as well, and also harking back to my suggestion of getting her a camera get her a book or two on photography - I live with a x100T on my at all times and it's taken so many pictures of interesting buildings new and old to serve as inspiration to me, I'd get this one for a start - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Read-This-Want-Great-Photographs/dp/1780673353/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1500713320&sr=8-1&keywords=read+this+if+you+want+to+take+photographs

It's a older book but it's more about skill than it is the hardware she will learn a lot from just reading it to be honest.

I'd suggest this book !