Any pro photographer in the house?

[o_sh4x]

just curious.

[o_frenchtoast]

Could you add to the other 2 threads on photography?

[o_mullet man]

I got a few cameras laying around.................

[o_geokill----->]

I'm not a pro but I'm getting into it

[o_dr zauis]

<---- i r, u need something?

[o_sh4x]

Cool, what do you do exactly?

I'm just asking cause I'd really like to become pro but I don't know exatly what I'd like to do.

For now my only big project is an exposition in a couple of months but that's only for the art and to get my name out there. I also have a wedding in 2 months but it's only for a friend and I would not even think about doing a wedding for someone I don't know since I only have 1 body right now.

But I have no idea of what I would like to do to make a living out of it. I did not study in photography, right now I'm a PC tech. I bought a D70s and fell in love with photography. Now I'd like to switch career and be a pro photographer but I don't know where to start really.

So what do you do to make money?
Any advice for me?

[mervaka]

i'm no pro either, but i'm a moderately well established ameteur.

seriously, if you want to think of photography as a career, i'd go on some sort of course. the stuff they teach you is truly indispensable. its more than just point and shoot. start off with a cheap 35mm film camera, and learn to appreciate film photography before you rush out and buy a top notch digital SLR. i'm thinking of buying myself a bronica some time in the near future, and those things are ancient, but they achieve such shit hot results!

failing a course, buy yourself a comprehensive book, which covers shooting techniques to composition of a photo. simply reading off the net won't cut it.

what accesories for your camera have you got? the must haves are a tripod, ND/polar filters, cable release, lens cloths, and a flash ofc. i'd also consider more lenses for specialised applications. for my 35mm SLR i have a telephoto and a wide angle lens, as well as the normal lens. i've also borrowed a few coloured filters for my B&W shooting. these can soften the skin and such.

good luck anyway. just dont run in gung-ho like a headless chicken, its easily done

[o_drtom]

my sisters a professional photographer, she never did a course in it, she was just really good and took loads of photos and worked realy hard to get herself out there
her last photo sold for like 75 grand (jeepers!)

[o_sh4x]

Right now I got the 18-70 f/3.5-4.5 with a 70-300APO from sigma. I also have the 50 f/1.4 from nikon and I'm trying to get my hands on a 18-200VR but they are hard to get right now.

I don't have filters right now but I'm shopping for a great circular polarizer.
I also got the SB-600, 1gig card, 2 batteries and the remote with some other acc.

Anyways, I'm pretty good at learning stuff by myself so I don't think classes would do me any good to be honest. I'm the kind of guy that reads stuff in books, online, etc and try it on the field to progress.

I understand your point about film camera but I disagree. I've never really had any camera before my D70s and I never really took pictures before. People around me say that it's amazing the results I got in such a short time. I know that digital helped me get better faster. There's no way that I would be this good if I started with film.

Also, you don't see much pro using film anymore for business. It's just way too slow compared to digital. So yeah, I'm not really interested in film right now and I don't think I will ever.

I will definately keep on reading some books and I think the exposition project is gonna help me alot to move forward.

[o_ginger lord]

Film developing blows the socks off digital.

However digital is a lot easier to use but you will never get the same "feel" as film with any of the current digital cameras, film is just so special. Shame its going out.

[o_sh4x]

Maybe one day we will be able to achieve the exact same results with digital, you never know.

[o_mescalito]

If you're planning to get into photography, don't even bother with film unless you wanna try it for educational purposes..
You aint gonna miss the magic feel to film if you havn't been into that shit for some time.

See, film is expansive and time consuming. With digital you can do 10000 trial and error shots and waste 0 penny in the process. Try to do that with film. +plus with film there's tha hassle of different type of film for different type of shit. With digital you just program all that stuff (ISO etc.).
All IMHO o/c.

[Decs]

Film vs digital (high end like canon 1Ds Mack II and stuff like that) is just like the LP vs CD and similar discussions

For most things im 100% for digital over film, but i think pictures taken with vintage gear and processed the old school way has alot of soul.

[mervaka]

my god. i cant believe the lot of you are saying film is not worth the bother? just go to a gallery and compare a good MF shot against a good digital shot. the film shot will look better, i guarantee you. yes digital is easier, but thats by no means reason to dismiss film photography. pros arnt all dSLR users. theyre all quite split, and the ones that don't go for shear quantity still use film. a medium format camera is equivalent to about 100mp in digital terms. so yeah, film wins on almost every front.

also, dont forget the different styles of film available. 160VC is some amazing shit! the reds and yellows come out so vibrant.

i only bought my dSLR for the convenience. i'm still planning on buying a bronica some time in the future.

[Circuitous]

Cool thing about film? No fucking pixels.

[o_ginger lord]

Personally, I think if you start with film you become a better photographer. You have to learn all the methods rather than let a camera decide to do it, even on Manual you still don't have as much choice.

You simply have to learn it right with film else you waste money. You can't just quickly take a picture, look at it and go "nope, dont like that" with film. You have to plan it in your head, set it up etc. Then develop it correctly and print correctly, which is quite a relaxing process imo.

Once you have a good background in film, the transition to digital should be easy. If/when I get a DSLR (new car comes first) I'd always keep my ancient Pentax within reach.

[Decs]

Mervaka, im not saying im against Film, i was just that for my usage theres no doubt that digital is the way to go. I see now that my post can be a bit missleading haha, but my point was that it all depends on what you prefer to work with

[mervaka]

Originally Posted by Ginger Lord

Personally, I think if you start with film you become a better photographer. You have to learn all the methods rather than let a camera decide to do it, even on Manual you still don't have as much choice.

qft, couldn't agree more.

decs, i didn't mean to be rude btw

i agree though, for your application of photography it's ideal, but for arty,wedding photography, film is the dogs bollocks.

[o_sh4x]

film for wedding?????? are you crazy lol

[o_ginger lord]

This is my serious face

o_o