Lesson #1 Simple Shapes and Lines

[Bridget :)]

Here's the start of our own online photographgy class. Try practicing shooting in manual, outside. You can do it, don't be scared. ;) I will provide a few tips or suggestions, examples, but the biggest thing will be practice, practice and practice. No prizes, no penalties. The only awards you'll be getting is that you'll notice that the quality of your shots will - hopefully - improve.

I will begin these weekly assignments and specify a theme. You will have to go out and shoot. :) Once again, there will be no As or Fs, no awards or disqualifications. Simply put the theme to the back burner of your mind and have your camera with you.

Now, without further ado - this week's (and our class' first) assignment:
Simple Shapes and Lines.
Circles, triangles, squares - any basic geometrical shape will do.
Recommendations: try to avoid "rectangles", such as buildings or window panes.

Try to post your findings as replies to this thread. There is no expiration date, but next week we'll have another theme, so I suggest you start working on your shapes and lines now:-)

Some Examples:
http://www.betterphoto.com/gallery/dynoGall2.asp?catID=361
http://www.betterphoto.com/searchResults.asp

Begin posting!!! Do as much as you want!!!

[Kasey_Lynn]

I will see if I have time this week to try it but im using Auto if I do.

[EthanNLillysmama]

all i have is a digital camera, i take super good pics but know nothing about photography lol. i did take 2 classes in school and did pretty good!

[EthanNLillysmama]

oh yeah................... my batteries are dead!! this sucks cause i had a picture i wanted to take!

[Bridget :)]

you gotta try in manual Kasey...that's the whole idea. Just try it! :)

[Kasey_Lynn]

Nah... manual ain't my kind of thing. Im happy with my Auto :)

[Raquel]

im with ya on that kasey!

[EthanNLillysmama]

can i make my digi maunal???

[Raquel]

SOME HAVE IT SOME DONT i think its the more pro cameras that do you've have to check your camera if it has a M its a manual mode

[Bridget :)]

Ok..the whole point on this was to learn manual. That's fine...just make sure you note it. Thanks!

[MissLiss460]

But not all cameras have manual.

[Bridget :)]

ok, nevermind. I was aiming at DSLR users...but just let's make it EVERYONE, any setting!!!! I won't give any more boring information. ;)

[EthanNLillysmama]

well i dont know where my camera is so i just took a few pics with my phone with the subject if thats fine.

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff305/tiggerchubby/063009_165200.jpg

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff305/tiggerchubby/063009_165201.jpg

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff305/tiggerchubby/063009_165301.jpg

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff305/tiggerchubby/063009_165600.jpg

[MissLiss460]

Too cute! Your phone takes great pics!

[EthanNLillysmama]

my internet doesnt let me see the pics clearly so i dont know how good they are lol. my phone makes the pics blurry alot of the time also.

[Chris]

My camera doesnt have Manual either so I will wait until another lesson.
I dont have a cool camera:(

[MissLiss460]

Dont worry Chris! Cool cameras are nice to have but DH and I are looking to buy a p&s to take places. I dont like hauling around such a big camera all the time!

[Bridget :)]

Love the last one!!
Chris, we aren't going to do manual...if they have it, I would love for them to try, but you don't have to have it!
Liss- I just bought my hubby a Canon p&s so we could take it places I wouldn't to drag my big one too.

[Kasey_Lynn]

Oy, need I remind, there is nothing wrong with automatic focus. Some people like it, some people don't so let's try and keep these lessons more open to different kinds of users with different kinds of cameras, that way more people can join in and participate in the photography forum! :)

I want another P+S, right now I have my phone which has a 5.0mpx camera built in and that's what I usually use. Liss, like you I do get annoyed with lugging around a big camera bag with all different lenses. Especially if we are just going to the park or whatever where I just want to take casual pics...

[MissLiss460]

Yea that is when it gets annoying for me when I just want to take the kids somewhere and cant carry them and my camera!

[Raquel]

i know i hate lugging mine around to the park. my friend was saying nikon has one thats small but similar to the d90 i think she said its the coolpix or something like that

[EthanNLillysmama]

i have just apoint and shoot sony camera thats digi and i love it to death!!! but my phone will work for now lol

i didnt know if my pics were good enough for the subject cause you said lines and shapes but no rectangles but yeah a cribs bars are rectangle like i think? lol plus i threw a cute baby into the pic

[Bridget :)]

After just doing a lot of research...I decided against Nikon...Canon came out on top after going through it all.

Anyway...back to topic. Post your pictures here! We can start another thread for P&S camera talks. :)

[MissLiss460]

Raquel I heard the coolpix is supposed to be good too! Im gonna have to look into it a bit more.

Cassie Cute babies never hurt! :biggrin:

[Sarah]

I have Coolpix. It is probably 5 years old. It is a nice camera. If I was going to get a new camera, I would probably get another Coolpix.

[Raquel]

i'm gonna look more into the coolpix. but as i'm printing pics my mil sent me (she has that camera) some of the quality sucks. but then again it could be her (not to be mean or anything).

[Bridget :)]

photos ladies...

[EthanNLillysmama]

am i the only one who posted pics?

[Bridget :)]

yup...I am going out to do mine...it rained all day yesterday.

If you do decide to shoot in manual, please share your settings.

[EthanNLillysmama]

i love taking pics but know nothing about photography lol took complicated for me. i wanted to do it as a career but i dont care about lighting and what not lol i just naturally take good pics

[Bridget :)]

Then you like natural light and that's okay!

[honey23]

I was going to try to do your lesson Bridget but I guess mine doesn't have manual either. I will definitely participate in the lessons my camera will allow!

[Bridget :)]

You don't have to have manual...just post your pics. If your camera does have manual, all I saying is to try it. It's fun!

[MissLiss460]

I have Coolpix. It is probably 5 years old. It is a nice camera. If I was going to get a new camera, I would probably get another Coolpix.

That is good to know, because it is rare that someone sticks to the same kind of camera when they upgrade, so that means it is a really good camera! :)

Cassie- I dont know anything about artificial lighting and stuff but I am making money off of my photography now! ;)

[Marissa]

I have a p&s and I hardly use it lol, I just got to spoiled with the quality of SLR pics :0) I am not afraid of Manual but most of my pics are of G and he is fast and I don't have time to be focusing on him, I use auto for the most part unless I feel like practicing but there is always a blur and I hate that, then I lose a great pic :-(

[Raquel]

auto is just a lot easier since it sets everything for ya

[Bridget :)]

this was a flop!

[*~Kiana~*]

I don't think it was a bust....
at least for me....I just have a point and shoot digi camera....
I'd love to still try...but wasn't sure if you are doing lessons for people that want to do pro pics and have pro cameras.....

maybe you could state at the beginning of your lesson if it's for regular joes or pros? LOL

[Char]

Good idea with the phone pics Cassie!

Maybe I will try that since I don't have a real camera anymore :(

[Chris]

Then I will try and find something this week to take a pic of

[Char]

Ok, these are so amateur and I did them with my phone, but I wanted to try and participate. lol

So be kind..

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e107/charity0720/Blinkies/07010921511.jpg

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e107/charity0720/Blinkies/07010921491.jpg

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e107/charity0720/Blinkies/0701092150a1.jpg

[Bridget :)]

Great ideas Char!!!!! Love them!

[Char]

Um thanks. They're pretty blurry, but oh well. lol

[BryKayMom]

IDK how to do manual on my Easy Share Z760....any tips

[Bridget :)]

To find out if your camera has manual, check your manual...
Easy Share Z760, says it has manual- under scene modes
http://www.kodak.com/eknec/PageQuerier.jhtml?pq-path=6772&pq-locale=en_US&_requestid=7999


Check this out...don't be overwhelemed, it just takes practice, practice, practice! I am still learning lots!
http://www.infoborder.com/Digital_Cameras/Kodak/easyshare_z760.php

[*~Kiana~*]

okay I tried it too........

back of a chair that my DD is sitting in
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y203/PoeticMom77/July022009001.jpg

magnet on my fridge
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y203/PoeticMom77/July022009002.jpg

my PC tower case
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y203/PoeticMom77/July022009003.jpg

[Bridget :)]

I love your tower case...so cool!

[*~Kiana~*]

thanks....hubby just got it for me last month....he build PCs and found the tower online

[Char]

cool tower case Kiana!

[*~Kiana~*]

thanks Char...I'm smitten with it myself!!

[Tracy]

Okay, here's one from me. Its my kids' tire swing. I used the auto program but manual focus.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y175/LittleManCam/004.jpg

[Bridget :)]

That's an AWESOME one! LOVE it!

[EthanNLillysmama]

no rectangles lol im sure it dont matter!

how you making money off your pics now? i soo want to do that but dont know how