Looking for a Pentax instructor/helper

SpecialK · 07-01-2015, 06:07 AM

Originally posted by Scott_G

Folks:

dial set to Auto...

Any suggestions would be helpful!

The biggest thing you can do is get the dial off Auto. That mode does not allow you to make any input - most importantly exposure compensation. For now, try using P mode that works similarly to Auto, and allows you to change settings, and you can shoot in raw if desired. Worry about composition and exposure first.

normhead · 07-01-2015, 06:36 AM - **1 Like**

Lots of good ideas here, but, there are about 40 different identified learning styles, and reading is a very inefficient learning device for about 30 of them. I assume everyone on the forum are efficient readers, but for many of us, it's worth our while to have some kinds of hands on learning experience.

And for some people, reading can never replace hands on.

Scott_G · 07-02-2015, 07:48 PM

Holy schnikies! All you folks are awesome. I really appreciate the considered advice. I do have a couple books, but I find watching, listening and playing along really make things sink in for me. Yeah, just getting it off auto is that first, big step. I will definitely look into all of these. Thanks so much, everyone.

dstar · 07-02-2015, 10:57 PM

I think another good idea try Kelby course online
Cost may be 150$ per year
But you have access to hundred online superior classes and instructors
I use several year very interesting and great class
Plus several discount for photoshop and Photoshop magazine

mag07 · 07-03-2015, 02:38 AM

Originally posted by Scott_G

Holy schnikies! All you folks are awesome. I really appreciate the considered advice. I do have a couple books, but I find watching, listening and playing along really make things sink in for me. Yeah, just getting it off auto is that first, big step. I will definitely look into all of these. Thanks so much, everyone.

In this case, I'd have a look for some photography workshops. No idea how it works in the US, but most towns in EU, medium and big in size, have some sort of workshops w/fieldtrips on offer. Some paid, some free. I'd have a Google for 'photography groups in town X' and see what comes up.

I'd still read the basics. If you're not a reader as such, skip the books, go for short articles on the web. Ask yourself: do I know what ISO is and how it works, same for Aperture and shutter speed; and what are the synergies between the three factors. That's really all you need to understand for frustration free start (so short reading while having a play with the camera to know how to adjust each of these settings - just turning your dials and pressing buttons until you can modify all three alone and in respect to one another) . As you learn more from other sources with which you are comfy, you just might find yourself wanting to read more about the camera anyhow

Best of luck

slip · 07-04-2015, 04:47 PM

Scott Kelby has a series of small manuals that have to do we DSLRS in general but it has a lot of "right to the point" helpful information. It is a set of 4 but darn if I can remember the name! Maybe someone can chime in here please

Randy

dstar · 07-05-2015, 09:03 AM

Digital photography part 1-4 Kelby
costco or amazon

slip · 07-05-2015, 06:06 PM

Originally posted by dstar

Digital photography part 1-4 Kelby
costco or amazon

That's the name

Thanks!

Randy

redcat · 07-06-2015, 01:15 AM

about Kelby series, I find that the 5th part is the best (Part 5: Photo Recipes), it shows the final image and then explain the settings for that final image

very useful !

Scott_G · 07-07-2015, 01:23 PM

Signed up for the on-line photo course out of Australia. So far the big thing I've gotten out of it is that I don't need to worry about a lot of settings since I shoot RAW anyway. Also, the Kelby 5-part series arrived today, and I'm about half way through book #1. Oh - and I've taken quite a few crappy photos while playing around with the settings on my K30. Woo hoo!

**arnold** · 07-07-2015, 04:43 PM

Originally posted by Scott_G

Folks:

Not sure if this is the exact forum I should be posting in but. . . I'm tired of being ignorant. I use my K30 to mostly take PR photos. Everything's in focus, everybody famed medium, dial set to Auto. ::sigh:: I want to be more artistic with my camera, use it with less than 20 flood lamps at once. I'm tired of relying on either a bright day or Lightroom. I'm ready to play with light and shadow, content, and all that other fun stuff.

What I'm looking for is some handholding, I guess. Either a pre-recorded video class covering the K30 specifically and photography in general, or a Pentax "expert" - someone who knows more than me and can communicate it - who's willing to work with me for a few hours until I can get stuff through my thick skull.

Any suggestions would be helpful!

It is easy to get bogged down in all the options available in modern cameras. It may help you to remember that there are three basic settings apart from ISO.
1) Focus
2) Aperture setting
3) Speed setting

Keep these basics in mind to avoid being swamped by secondary details. After all, this is all that earlier cameras dealt with anyway. Once you anchor to the basics, you can venture into options which may suit you. Not all will.

07-02-2015, 10:57 PM	#19
dstar Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Albuquerque NM Photos: Albums Posts: 475	Try this I think another good idea try Kelby course online Cost may be 150$ per year But you have access to hundred online superior classes and instructors I use several year very interesting and great class Plus several discount for photoshop and Photoshop magazine

07-04-2015, 04:47 PM	#21
slip Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: 2 hours north of toronto ontario canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,535	Scott Kelby Scott Kelby has a series of small manuals that have to do we DSLRS in general but it has a lot of "right to the point" helpful information. It is a set of 4 but darn if I can remember the name! Maybe someone can chime in here please Randy

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07-01-2015, 06:07 AM	#16
SpecialK Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: So California Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,481	Originally posted by Scott_G Folks: dial set to Auto... Any suggestions would be helpful! The biggest thing you can do is get the dial off Auto. That mode does not allow you to make any input - most importantly exposure compensation. For now, try using P mode that works similarly to Auto, and allows you to change settings, and you can shoot in raw if desired. Worry about composition and exposure first.

07-01-2015, 06:36 AM - 1 Like	#17
normhead Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Near Algonquin Park Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 40,451	Lots of good ideas here, but, there are about 40 different identified learning styles, and reading is a very inefficient learning device for about 30 of them. I assume everyone on the forum are efficient readers, but for many of us, it's worth our while to have some kinds of hands on learning experience. And for some people, reading can never replace hands on.

07-02-2015, 07:48 PM	#18
Scott_G Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Syracuse, NY Photos: Albums Posts: 87 Original Poster	Holy schnikies! All you folks are awesome. I really appreciate the considered advice. I do have a couple books, but I find watching, listening and playing along really make things sink in for me. Yeah, just getting it off auto is that first, big step. I will definitely look into all of these. Thanks so much, everyone.

07-03-2015, 02:38 AM	#20
mag07 Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Posts: 60	Originally posted by Scott_G Holy schnikies! All you folks are awesome. I really appreciate the considered advice. I do have a couple books, but I find watching, listening and playing along really make things sink in for me. Yeah, just getting it off auto is that first, big step. I will definitely look into all of these. Thanks so much, everyone. In this case, I'd have a look for some photography workshops. No idea how it works in the US, but most towns in EU, medium and big in size, have some sort of workshops w/fieldtrips on offer. Some paid, some free. I'd have a Google for 'photography groups in town X' and see what comes up. I'd still read the basics. If you're not a reader as such, skip the books, go for short articles on the web. Ask yourself: do I know what ISO is and how it works, same for Aperture and shutter speed; and what are the synergies between the three factors. That's really all you need to understand for frustration free start (so short reading while having a play with the camera to know how to adjust each of these settings - just turning your dials and pressing buttons until you can modify all three alone and in respect to one another) . As you learn more from other sources with which you are comfy, you just might find yourself wanting to read more about the camera anyhow Best of luck

07-05-2015, 09:03 AM	#22
dstar Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Albuquerque NM Photos: Albums Posts: 475	Digital photography part 1-4 Kelby costco or amazon

07-05-2015, 06:06 PM	#23
slip Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: 2 hours north of toronto ontario canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,535	Originally posted by dstar Digital photography part 1-4 Kelby costco or amazon That's the name Thanks! Randy

07-06-2015, 01:15 AM	#24
redcat Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Paris Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,939	about Kelby series, I find that the 5th part is the best (Part 5: Photo Recipes), it shows the final image and then explain the settings for that final image very useful !

07-07-2015, 01:23 PM	#25
Scott_G Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Syracuse, NY Photos: Albums Posts: 87 Original Poster	Signed up for the on-line photo course out of Australia. So far the big thing I've gotten out of it is that I don't need to worry about a lot of settings since I shoot RAW anyway. Also, the Kelby 5-part series arrived today, and I'm about half way through book #1. Oh - and I've taken quite a few crappy photos while playing around with the settings on my K30. Woo hoo!

07-07-2015, 04:43 PM	#26
arnold Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Queensland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,294	Originally posted by Scott_G Folks: Not sure if this is the exact forum I should be posting in but. . . I'm tired of being ignorant. I use my K30 to mostly take PR photos. Everything's in focus, everybody famed medium, dial set to Auto. ::sigh:: I want to be more artistic with my camera, use it with less than 20 flood lamps at once. I'm tired of relying on either a bright day or Lightroom. I'm ready to play with light and shadow, content, and all that other fun stuff. What I'm looking for is some handholding, I guess. Either a pre-recorded video class covering the K30 specifically and photography in general, or a Pentax "expert" - someone who knows more than me and can communicate it - who's willing to work with me for a few hours until I can get stuff through my thick skull. Any suggestions would be helpful! It is easy to get bogged down in all the options available in modern cameras. It may help you to remember that there are three basic settings apart from ISO. 1) Focus 2) Aperture setting 3) Speed setting Keep these basics in mind to avoid being swamped by secondary details. After all, this is all that earlier cameras dealt with anyway. Once you anchor to the basics, you can venture into options which may suit you. Not all will.