I used to prefer my Sony Cybershot P&S because it was simpler to use. I was intimidated by our Pentax DSLR and I always handed it off to my husband while I used the P&S. Well, the P&S began to die and I figured after owning a DSLR for a year, I should probably learn how to use it. So here is my path of learning to use my DSLR—it’s not the camera that takes good photos, but rather the user who knows how to use the equipment to take good photos.
(These are all straight off the camera, unless otherwise noted.)
Oct 6, 2009 Not understanding composition and used onboard flash
Nov 8, 2009 Beginning to understand basics of composition but still using onboard flash
Nov 21st After I read my camera manual and started using the creative settings instead of auto (cropped only)
Nov 29, 2009 Still not understanding indoor photography and still using onboard flash
Dec 6, 2009 Began reading photography forums but I didn’t have the equipment to take indoor photos. Understood more about composition, avoiding limb chopping, and not using onboard flash. Still not shooting in manual.
Dec 30, 2009 Finally branching out into manual and understanding more about settings and using the light in my house due to a lack of lenses and external flashes
Jan 2, 2009 Purchase Lightscoop, but still blurry photos
Jan 4, 2010 Beginning to find my style of ‘capturing the moment’ and learning to fix white balance in post
Jan 7, 2010 Telling a story
Jan 17, 2010 Trying to do studio photoshoots without studio equipment
Jan 22, 2010 Testing a friend’s Nikon D90 after my Pentax died 
Jan 23, 2010 Purchasing a Nikon D90, 50mm f/1.8 and SB600 Speedlight
Jan 31, 2010 Learning speedlight to improve indoor photos
Feb 3, 2010 Working on perspective
Feb 12, 2010 Working on outdoor photos
Feb 21, 2010 Attempting another studio photo shoot
Feb 27, 2010 Working on telling a story
Mar 10, 2010 Working on focus on the eyes
March 19 Remembering to focus on other details besides faces
March 27, 2010 Giving up on studio photo shoots and embracing my style with candids
April 7 Photos for a friend
April 13 Understanding depth of field and how it can add interest to a photo
April 23 Learning about silhouettes and backlighting
April 25 Learning to get composition right in camera and not rely on editing/cropping. Experimenting with macros without a macro lens. Understanding lens distortion and wide angle.
April 26 Understanding sunflare and backlighting
Apr 26 More macro and silhouette
May 15 Inanimate objects and using location to help tell a story
edit:
May 25 Working on close-ups
May 29 Capturing motion
June 1 Getting exposure right in camera
June 5 Another studio photo shoot
June 16 Purposeful limb chopping
June 18 Confident using full manual outdoors with high overhead sun
June 19 More macro
June 22 Working toward reducing editing heavy hand
(Before)
(After)
I’ll be interested to see what the next 9 months brings!
