Common mistakes made by beginners ?

wasser · 05-17-2011, 07:36 AM

1. Forgetting to wind the film before opening the back plate.

2. I may not explain this one well, but film users should understand. Winding a foll of film midway so you can switch film type is awesome. Putting that roll back in and forgetting to advance the frame...not so awesome.

Wheatfield · 05-17-2011, 04:32 PM

Using the spot meter without learning what a spot meter does and how to interpret what it is telling them.

**birdman59** · 05-17-2011, 06:02 PM

Originally posted by Bramela

I have seen it so often: (if one could call it a mistake?)

> Taking a shot of a distant sporting event, or landscape, building etc, and engaging the in-built flash. WHY???

Next time the Superbowl is on, try to count the MULTITUDE of flashes from the stands. Amazing that many idiots could all score tickets.

slip · 05-17-2011, 06:22 PM

I think that the question I get asked a lot is "why are my photos blurry?"
when someone used to use a pocket digital camera they usually didn't need to worry about it as the depth of field was very deep..... then they get a dslr that can blur the background.. now they also have to now worry about slow shutter speed and missed focus (mostly clear background, blurry subjects) etc.
for some people the transition is a big step and getting a book or looking at the web about dslr cameras would help the most.

cheers

Mike Cash · 05-17-2011, 07:53 PM

Originally posted by JoeATL

Use flash on inanimate objects that do not move...

I use flash on inanimate objects quite a bit. Should I stop?

acrollet · 05-17-2011, 09:43 PM

My beginner mistake that I still make more often than I'd like to admit is failing to check the mode dial before firing away... and with the lock on the k-5's dial, I can't even blame it on mistakenly turning it anymore! ;-(

**Kerrowdown** · 05-19-2011, 01:00 AM

Both CBA & LBA.

**Kerrowdown** · 05-19-2011, 01:01 AM

Originally posted by Mike Cash

I use flash on inanimate objects quite a bit. Should I stop?

, good one Mike.

TOUGEFC · 05-19-2011, 01:11 AM

Originally posted by JohnBee

I once saw a guy use a flash when taking a picture of the moon

Every morning on the way to work(wide open back roads) i see the same lady on the same stretch of road shooting the sunrise from her car with a canon/kit lens with the flash up. Every morning i see her along the same road without fail, ive been using the same route to work for years.
I would have thought by now she would have got her self a tripod and turned the flash off.:ugh:

Bramela · 05-19-2011, 01:12 AM

Quote:

I once saw a guy use a flash when taking a picture of the moon

I have to say, that one takes the prize.

Thanks for a good laugh, (even though it is true)

NicoleAu · 05-19-2011, 02:01 AM

Originally posted by twitch

One of the dumbest things I've done is take a whole lot of long exposure shots with my tripod mounted camera. Only problem was I was on a floating wharf, so while my camera was rock solid compared to the wharf, the waves were moving the wharf up and down resulting in dozens of blurry images

You only make that kind of mistake once.

Haha I did the same for a waterfall picture on a deck that heaps of people were walking on. All those people thumping around meant I didn't get a single clearly focused shot and I didn't even think about it at the time!

I use flash outdoors on inanimate objects as well, I find it's good for eliminating shadows caused by the sun...

I can't think of any good beginner tips because I still think of myself as a beginner.

Nass · 05-19-2011, 02:36 AM

Buying more stuff, especially lenses, before becoming any good with the stuff they've already got. Ie looking for an increase of quality in their work through purchasing some expensive lens that they neither need nor warrant rather trying to actually become better photographers in the first place.

**Ash** · 05-19-2011, 02:43 AM

Originally posted by Bramela

Taking a shot of a distant sporting event, or landscape, building etc, and engaging the in-built flash. WHY???

Think about it Bruce... One day, when the ISO 2 exa-trillion sensor comes out in a camera, that pop-up flash will have the range of greater than what a telephoto lens can resolve to for a distant subject!

annemari · 05-19-2011, 03:03 AM

Making pictures of yourself holding your camera like it's compact one and then realizing that this ain't the result that you want and putting on the pop-up flash!

Gosh

And the girl who acted like that watched me with my white K-r like I don't know anything

This was kinda terrible

So I'm begging You! Please don't act like this!

Frogfish · 05-19-2011, 03:59 AM

Originally posted by birdman59

Next time the Superbowl is on, try to count the MULTITUDE of flashes from the stands. Amazing that many idiots could all score tickets.

A lot of P&S cameras automatically flash if the camera deduces they need it. No user error involved.

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05-17-2011, 07:36 AM	#16
wasser Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: northern ca Photos: Gallery Posts: 427	1. Forgetting to wind the film before opening the back plate. 2. I may not explain this one well, but film users should understand. Winding a foll of film midway so you can switch film type is awesome. Putting that roll back in and forgetting to advance the frame...not so awesome.

05-17-2011, 04:32 PM	#17
Wheatfield Moderator Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: The wheatfields of Canada Posts: 15,987	Using the spot meter without learning what a spot meter does and how to interpret what it is telling them.

05-17-2011, 06:02 PM	#18
birdman59 Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Marietta, Oh Posts: 116	Originally posted by Bramela I have seen it so often: (if one could call it a mistake?) > Taking a shot of a distant sporting event, or landscape, building etc, and engaging the in-built flash. WHY??? Next time the Superbowl is on, try to count the MULTITUDE of flashes from the stands. Amazing that many idiots could all score tickets.

05-17-2011, 06:22 PM	#19
slip Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: 2 hours north of toronto ontario canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,535	I think that the question I get asked a lot is "why are my photos blurry?" when someone used to use a pocket digital camera they usually didn't need to worry about it as the depth of field was very deep..... then they get a dslr that can blur the background.. now they also have to now worry about slow shutter speed and missed focus (mostly clear background, blurry subjects) etc. for some people the transition is a big step and getting a book or looking at the web about dslr cameras would help the most. cheers

05-17-2011, 07:53 PM	#20
Mike Cash Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Japan Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,950	Originally posted by JoeATL Use flash on inanimate objects that do not move... I use flash on inanimate objects quite a bit. Should I stop?

05-17-2011, 09:43 PM	#21
acrollet Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 351	My beginner mistake that I still make more often than I'd like to admit is failing to check the mode dial before firing away... and with the lock on the k-5's dial, I can't even blame it on mistakenly turning it anymore! ;-(

05-19-2011, 01:00 AM	#22
Kerrowdown PEG Moderator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Highlands of Scotland... "Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand" - William Blake Photos: Gallery Posts: 57,863	Both CBA & LBA.

05-19-2011, 01:01 AM	#23
Kerrowdown PEG Moderator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Highlands of Scotland... "Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand" - William Blake Photos: Gallery Posts: 57,863	Originally posted by Mike Cash I use flash on inanimate objects quite a bit. Should I stop? , good one Mike.

05-19-2011, 01:11 AM	#24
TOUGEFC Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Brisbane Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,561	Originally posted by JohnBee I once saw a guy use a flash when taking a picture of the moon Every morning on the way to work(wide open back roads) i see the same lady on the same stretch of road shooting the sunrise from her car with a canon/kit lens with the flash up. Every morning i see her along the same road without fail, ive been using the same route to work for years. I would have thought by now she would have got her self a tripod and turned the flash off.:ugh:

05-19-2011, 01:12 AM	#25
Bramela Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Newcastle Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,284	Quote: I once saw a guy use a flash when taking a picture of the moon I have to say, that one takes the prize. Thanks for a good laugh, (even though it is true)

05-19-2011, 02:01 AM	#26
NicoleAu Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Central Coast, NSW, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 539	Originally posted by twitch One of the dumbest things I've done is take a whole lot of long exposure shots with my tripod mounted camera. Only problem was I was on a floating wharf, so while my camera was rock solid compared to the wharf, the waves were moving the wharf up and down resulting in dozens of blurry images You only make that kind of mistake once. Haha I did the same for a waterfall picture on a deck that heaps of people were walking on. All those people thumping around meant I didn't get a single clearly focused shot and I didn't even think about it at the time! I use flash outdoors on inanimate objects as well, I find it's good for eliminating shadows caused by the sun... I can't think of any good beginner tips because I still think of myself as a beginner.

05-19-2011, 02:36 AM	#27
Nass Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The British Isles Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,402	Buying more stuff, especially lenses, before becoming any good with the stuff they've already got. Ie looking for an increase of quality in their work through purchasing some expensive lens that they neither need nor warrant rather trying to actually become better photographers in the first place.

05-19-2011, 02:43 AM	#28
Ash Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toowoomba, Queensland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,920	Originally posted by Bramela Taking a shot of a distant sporting event, or landscape, building etc, and engaging the in-built flash. WHY??? Think about it Bruce... One day, when the ISO 2 exa-trillion sensor comes out in a camera, that pop-up flash will have the range of greater than what a telephoto lens can resolve to for a distant subject!

05-19-2011, 03:03 AM	#29
annemari Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Tallinn Photos: Albums Posts: 107	Making pictures of yourself holding your camera like it's compact one and then realizing that this ain't the result that you want and putting on the pop-up flash! Gosh And the girl who acted like that watched me with my white K-r like I don't know anything This was kinda terrible So I'm begging You! Please don't act like this!

05-19-2011, 03:59 AM	#30
Frogfish Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Shanghai Posts: 4,490	Originally posted by birdman59 Next time the Superbowl is on, try to count the MULTITUDE of flashes from the stands. Amazing that many idiots could all score tickets. A lot of P&S cameras automatically flash if the camera deduces they need it. No user error involved.