Getting into Photography

I've been taking pictures lately with my HP 3MP digital camera and I've been
getting a lot of compliments on my picture taking ability (even from a
professional photographer). Unfortunately my digital camera is a P&S with
very limited settings I control. I do have a Canon AE-1 Program 35mm camera
lying around that I've had for close to 20 yrs now. I've never been that
interested in photography until now (the compliments help). What I would
like to know is, is the AE-1 Program a decent amateur 35mm for me to start
out with? If so, should I just go out and start taking pictures and playing
with the settings (making notes of what I did of course) to see what the
results would be?

Dave




David G. Stinner

"David G. Stinner" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:FjsLa.37643$(E-Mail Removed) et...
> I've been taking pictures lately with my HP 3MP digital camera and I've
been
> getting a lot of compliments on my picture taking ability (even from a
> professional photographer). Unfortunately my digital camera is a P&S with
> very limited settings I control. I do have a Canon AE-1 Program 35mm
camera
> lying around that I've had for close to 20 yrs now. I've never been that
> interested in photography until now (the compliments help). What I would
> like to know is, is the AE-1 Program a decent amateur 35mm for me to start
> out with? If so, should I just go out and start taking pictures and
playing
> with the settings (making notes of what I did of course) to see what the
> results would be?
>
> Dave
>
>

The AE1 is a fine camera to start with. But rather than just taking notes
on settings you've tried, why not just buy a book on basic photography to
get grounded on the basics? It is actually pretty easy.

John

"David G. Stinner" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:FjsLa.37643$(E-Mail Removed) et...
> I've been taking pictures lately with my HP 3MP digital camera and I've
been
> getting a lot of compliments on my picture taking ability (even from a
> professional photographer). Unfortunately my digital camera is a P&S with
> very limited settings I control. I do have a Canon AE-1 Program 35mm
camera
> lying around that I've had for close to 20 yrs now. I've never been that
> interested in photography until now (the compliments help). What I would
> like to know is, is the AE-1 Program a decent amateur 35mm for me to start
> out with? If so, should I just go out and start taking pictures and
playing
> with the settings (making notes of what I did of course) to see what the
> results would be?
>
> Dave

If you can afford it, get a better digicam with manual setting capability.
It has advantages for a learner over film. You can see the results quickly,
with helps learning. You'll even learn from the small images on an LCD
screen, for example in setting exposure.

It costs you nothing to take many pictures, unless you print other than the
few best. In fact, if you do some back-of-envelope calculations, you'll
find that it is cheaper to learn on a digicam than on a film camera.

Part of learning photography is learning to improve photos in the darkroom.
You can do it on a computer with excellent software that sells for about
$100, with no ocnsumabe costs until you print the few you like best,

x-no-archive: yes
"Patrick L." <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:zN9Na.24843$(E-Mail Removed) rthlink.net...
>
> David G. Stinner <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:FjsLa.37643$(E-Mail Removed) et...
> > I've been taking pictures lately with my HP 3MP digital camera and I've
> been
> > getting a lot of compliments on my picture taking ability (even from a
> > professional photographer). Unfortunately my digital camera is a P&S
with
> > very limited settings I control. I do have a Canon AE-1 Program 35mm
> camera
> > lying around that I've had for close to 20 yrs now. I've never been
that
> > interested in photography until now (the compliments help). What I
would
> > like to know is, is the AE-1 Program a decent amateur 35mm for me to
start
> > out with? If so, should I just go out and start taking pictures and
> playing
> > with the settings (making notes of what I did of course) to see what the
> > results would be?


No point in reinventing the wheel. Instead of trial and error, buy some
books. Michael Freeman's "35mm Handbook" and "John Hedgecoe's Photography
Course" come to mind. Kodak's "The Joy of Photography" and "How To Take
Good Pictures" are filled with practical information, and are worded so even
novices can understand the concepts.

Try to learn one thing at a time. Master the concept. Your photos will
show some degree of improvement immediately. Don't try to immerse yourself
in everything at once--you will be overwhelmed. Remember that any image is
better than no image. No image is, theoretically, "perfect." Start with
the tools at your disposal, and better tools will become available to you as
you progress.

You might also check out the Agfa online photo courses:

http://www.agfanet.com/en/cafe/photo...ont_index.php3