After getting your DSLR: Improving
IMPROVING: 19. How to improve further?
1. Get focused on what you like
2. Reading books
3. Practice more
4. Post pictures and get feedbacks (as mentioned earlier)
5. Take lessons if you want.
6. Learn post processing
IMPROVING: 20. Finding an area of interest
Picking something you like is important as you can focus more on the techniques specific to that field, usually based on the subject, its lighting and its size/speed. You can then invest accordingly in necessary equipments for that field. Field that you can go into are not exhaustive but includes
- by specialised equipments & techniques, discussion on
underwater photography, IR/UV photography, night photography, lomography
Salon Photography: An approach that fosters craftsmanship and classic rules to things like composition and color and often subject. It is closer to "fine art" photography than to photography as an Art because rules in the later can change. (Quoted from Pico Digoliardi). Basically, people would submit their prints for judging and display to salons all over the world and ... more people would judge the entries and choose what would be displayed. (Quoted from Randall Ellis). The 1/3 rule, good contrast in color, textures and form; illumination, the right time of the day, nature of subject matter and crystal clarity of images taken - all these factors were a MUST elements before a clear consideration of a "good" photograph.... In short, Salon is about the golden rules, contrasts, compositions and well titled - that what everybody says. (Quoted from Leonard Foo)
Salon Photography in Southeast Asia (by Leonard Foo)
Salon Photographic competition in Europe versus the States (by Chris Hinterobermaier)
The following is quoted from Mr. T. O. Lee
"In Hong Kong, hobbyist photography can be broadly classified into two main categories: the salon photography and the contemporary fine arts photography, mainly differentiated by their styles.
Salon photography focuses on the basics, such as the golden rules, the rule of one third (proportion of water or land against the skyline), contrasts created by colours, textures, lighting and the nature of the subject matter. Composition and technical skills are important elements. Photographers put much emphasis on beauty and atmosphere. And a title is very important to tell the viewers the intention of the photographers.
The contemporary fine arts photography does not wish to follow the style of the salon photography. It goes along with the contemporary trend in the international fine arts development and tries to make some personal breakthroughs for self-expressions, through experimental exercises. Some of them make use of other media for presentation of their works. Creativity and originality are the important elements. Some photographers even don't mind that members of the public do not understand their works. The participants are mainly visual artists, designers, art directors, design school students and lovers of visual arts, including advertising photographers and professionals.
Naturally they do not see beauty and atmosphere as the prime elements, and do not care too much about the golden rules, contrasts and composition. A title is not important. Most photographs are entitled "Untitled". They do not wish to influence the viewers and block their imagination with a title. They belief that different viewers of different cultural background and perception should be allowed to interact freely with the images to make their own interpretation, which is entirely personal. Hence they strongly object the common practice of some salon photographers to add Chinese poetic verses, water brush paintings and personal seals onto their works to imitate the ancient Chinese hand paintings scrolls. To them they don't look too natural."
IMPROVING: 21. Where else should a newbie start reading?
- READ THE STICKIES, so that the moderators and various forumers effort are not put to waste
Start saucing your interest with books and magazines. Go to page 1, point 6 Useful reading
.
IMPROVING: 19. How to improve further?
1. Get focused on what you like
2. Reading books
3. Practice more
4. Post pictures and get feedbacks (as mentioned earlier)
5. Take lessons if you want.
6. Learn post processing
IMPROVING: 20. Finding an area of interest
Picking something you like is important as you can focus more on the techniques specific to that field, usually based on the subject, its lighting and its size/speed. You can then invest accordingly in necessary equipments for that field. Field that you can go into are not exhaustive but includes
Setting a direction: quoted from Olivier Follmi
You must first learn about who you are to find out what type of photographer you will be and how you look at things. Are you an outgoing person or more introverted? Do you like nature, the sea, the mountains, the desert, the jungle, cold or hot weather? Do you see life in close-up? Do you collect portraits from magazines? Do you dream of travelling? Are you captivated by war stories? Do you have a fascination for sporting events? Do you spend time at modern art exhibitions?
By asking yourself this type of question you’ll be able to work out what sort of photographer you are and avoid going into a field where you will be unable to give of your best.
- by specialised equipments & techniques, discussion on
underwater photography, IR/UV photography, night photography, lomography
Salon Photography: An approach that fosters craftsmanship and classic rules to things like composition and color and often subject. It is closer to "fine art" photography than to photography as an Art because rules in the later can change. (Quoted from Pico Digoliardi). Basically, people would submit their prints for judging and display to salons all over the world and ... more people would judge the entries and choose what would be displayed. (Quoted from Randall Ellis). The 1/3 rule, good contrast in color, textures and form; illumination, the right time of the day, nature of subject matter and crystal clarity of images taken - all these factors were a MUST elements before a clear consideration of a "good" photograph.... In short, Salon is about the golden rules, contrasts, compositions and well titled - that what everybody says. (Quoted from Leonard Foo)
Salon Photography in Southeast Asia (by Leonard Foo)
Salon Photographic competition in Europe versus the States (by Chris Hinterobermaier)
The following is quoted from Mr. T. O. Lee
"In Hong Kong, hobbyist photography can be broadly classified into two main categories: the salon photography and the contemporary fine arts photography, mainly differentiated by their styles.
Salon photography focuses on the basics, such as the golden rules, the rule of one third (proportion of water or land against the skyline), contrasts created by colours, textures, lighting and the nature of the subject matter. Composition and technical skills are important elements. Photographers put much emphasis on beauty and atmosphere. And a title is very important to tell the viewers the intention of the photographers.
The contemporary fine arts photography does not wish to follow the style of the salon photography. It goes along with the contemporary trend in the international fine arts development and tries to make some personal breakthroughs for self-expressions, through experimental exercises. Some of them make use of other media for presentation of their works. Creativity and originality are the important elements. Some photographers even don't mind that members of the public do not understand their works. The participants are mainly visual artists, designers, art directors, design school students and lovers of visual arts, including advertising photographers and professionals.
Naturally they do not see beauty and atmosphere as the prime elements, and do not care too much about the golden rules, contrasts and composition. A title is not important. Most photographs are entitled "Untitled". They do not wish to influence the viewers and block their imagination with a title. They belief that different viewers of different cultural background and perception should be allowed to interact freely with the images to make their own interpretation, which is entirely personal. Hence they strongly object the common practice of some salon photographers to add Chinese poetic verses, water brush paintings and personal seals onto their works to imitate the ancient Chinese hand paintings scrolls. To them they don't look too natural."
IMPROVING: 21. Where else should a newbie start reading?
- READ THE STICKIES, so that the moderators and various forumers effort are not put to waste
Start saucing your interest with books and magazines. Go to page 1, point 6 Useful reading
.