My idea to produce a photography guide is getting a little out of hand, and it’s all Albert’s fault.
He came round last weekend to ask some questions about cameras. He was planning a purchase and foolishly thought I knew enough to give an opinion. Of course, my current enthusiasms meant that I strongly recommended a Micro 4/3s camera, such as the Panasonic GF1 or Olympus EPL-1. Apparently I was convincing because today he went to Bangkok and bought both! Good man, he won’t regret it (or at least I hope he doesn’t or else I am in deep shit).
During our chat he was honest enough to admit that he knows bugger all about how a camera works, other than you turn it on, point it at something and then press a button. He wants to learn how to use his new cameras properly, and I want to help him So I kicked off the idea that had been brewing for a while, a guide to the basics of photography.
And, with breaks for essential shopping and popping down to immigration to make my pointless 90 day report, I have been working on it for the last two days. I even went out to a temple yesterday to take some illustrative photos. These two show the impact on depth of field from using apertures F2 and F8 (if it is not clear which is which, you need the guide).
Also been trawling through my archives to find some shots to use. This one illustrates something to do with using a low shutter speed (this was at 1/20th of a second). Actually, I am not sure what it is illustrating, I just like it.
Up to page 30 now (sorry Billy) and covered the basics. Now planning a “little bit more than the basics” section; not sure if/when I will finish.
A fundamental required skill of my previous life was to use PowerPoint. I have produced hundreds and sat through thousands. For my guide I am using Apple’s Keynote which is similar in concept. Some aspects are easier and more fun to use than PowerPoint, but there are a couple of PowerPoint features I miss (grouping objects for example). Anyway, the end result can be output as a PDF, so that is how I intend to share it with anyone that might be interested, down-loadable from this site.
Was going to go and create some more wise guidance now, but they have just released an update for the Angry Birds game on the iPad, so creativity will have to wait….
Comments 🔗
2010-06-30| Ian Scorer saysI’m a follower of your blog (it’s great by the way, posts always bring a smile and often real laughs too) but I’m also keen on learning more about photography. I’ve struggled to find an accessible guide online which isn’t either totally dumbed down (and therefore completely boring) or super-technical (and therefore completely boring). I’m very interested on seeing what you’ll turn out on the guide, and I’m definitely a potential paying customer too so please do see it through to completion (I know how enthusiasm can sometimes wane a little, especially in the middle of a project).
2010-06-30| Spike saysThanks Ian. Paying customer, that would be nice; but I don’t intend charging for it.