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Learn DSLR Photography

Why Learning How to Use a Camera is a lot Like Learning How to Play an Instrument

July 13, 2021 by Mary Buck

I teach people the fundamentals of photography so they can use their cameras to tell stories, create art or

do whatever they want with their camera. Some of my students want to take better pictures of their kids or improve their travel photography. It really doesn’t matter what the purpose is

One thing remains true…Practice makes perfect

With a musical instrument, one creates music, and with a camera, one creates art.

I have been teaching photography since 2011 and I have come to the following conclusions:

  • The more one practices, the better one will learn how to use their camera.
  • Practicing photography creates muscle memory. If one does not practice, the muscles will have difficulty remembering, and one will not progress.
  • Brain and hand coordination increase with practice as ones’ fingers intuitively turn a knob or push a button to make creative controls on the camera.
  • Learning the apertures, shutter speeds, and ISO (exposure triangle) is as powerful in learning the craft of photography as learning the musical scale is to music.
  • Learning photography takes time and determination, just like learning how to play an instrument.
  • Lastly, photographers and musicians are artists and use the power of their art to express themselves.

How long does it take to learn photography?

There is no set time and each person learns differently. In my six-week private lessons, I assign homework so the student can better absorb the material from the previous lesson. It could take longer if the student has never been exposed to the basic fundamental building blocks of photography. I tell my students to expect six months to a year, to learn the basics of photography.

What is more important? A good eye or technical ability?

Learning photography is a mix of the right brain and left brain. I prefer to teach the technical stuff first, so the student can grasp that information before they dive into the story-telling aspect of photography. Once the technical information is processed, it becomes second nature. I believe learning the fundamentals of photography first is crucial before focusing on art, composition, and story-telling.

How does one get started with photography?

I would start by learning some of the basics of photography. The internet is free, and there are tons of YouTube videos. I would recommend finding a specific video for a camera and then renting a camera first before investing. The best way to learn photography is through practice, perseverance, and motivation.

Learn more about my photography workshops

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Filed Under: Blog posts, Creative Photography Techniques, Learn DSLR Photography

Gimme Some Bokeh

October 14, 2020 by Mary Buck

bo·keh

/bōˈkā/

noun

Photography

noun: bokeh

  1. the visual quality of the out-of-focus areas of a photographic image, mostly as rendered by a particular lens.
  2. “a quick, visual survey of the foreground and background bokeh of a variety of lenses.”

Creating a bokeh in a photographic image is a technique that can have a positive impact on an image.

Bokeh is also known as a shallow depth of field, selective focus, or a blurring background. This process helps define the subject, and the remainder of the image becomes a negative space.

What are the three methods of creating a bokeh?

First, the most commonly used method is choosing a wide aperture: the wider the aperture (2.8 is wider than 5.6), the greater the blur. If you are interested in achieving a creamy background, choose a lens and aperture to give you the best results. Below are examples of images that illustrate the effect.

Notice the amount of blur and f/2.8 and lack of it starting at f/8

The second method for creating a bokeh is choosing a long focal length lens. The focal length is defined in millimeters, and The longer the focal length, the narrower the angle of view, and the higher the magnification. The shorter the focal length, the wider the angle of view, and the lower the magnification. For example, if you have a 70-300mm lens, the longer focal length of 300mm will provide a more noticeable bokeh than a focal length of 70mm. Below are examples of a 200mm focal length, a 400mm focal length, and a 600mm focal length.

200mm lens f/4
400mm lens f/5.6
600mm at f/4

The third method is the proximity to the subject. The closer the camera is to the subject, the blurrier the background will be. This procedure can present a focus issue, so make sure you use your single AF points.

Not sure what AF Points are? Check out my online courses and private lessons.

Filed Under: Blog posts, Landscape Photography, Learn DSLR Photography, Photography Tips

Sunset Pictures at the Beach

August 11, 2014 by Mary Buck

Sunset in Destin Sunset Pictures at the BeachThe Golden Hour in Destin

One of my favorite places to go in Destin is the Florida Panhandle. I recently visited the area for a vacation mixed with business and pleasure. The photo on the left is part of the pleasure.  It was taken right before sunset. This time of day is known as the “Golden Hour” as you can see from the photograph.  The Golden Hour is a fallacy however because it really only lasts about 10 minutes. I love the image because not only does it capture the golden hour, but it also shows foreground and texture. What’s a walk at the beach without a camera?  It is like milk without cookies.

For more information on DSLR photography check out the online course.

To view my portrait photography site visit Lightscapes Portrait Studio.

To view my fine art photography site visit Mary Buck Photography.

Filed Under: Blog posts, Learn DSLR Photography Tagged With: digital slr camera, natural light photography, sunset photos

Learning Digital Photography Boosts Memory in Seniors

June 13, 2014 by Mary Buck

iStock_000007096141XSmall Learning Digital Photography Boosts Memory in Seniors

It’s all about challenging yourself and stepping outside your comfort zone. That is the findings of The University of Texas at Dallas which tested seniors engaged in less demanding skills vs. those who learned a new skill such as photography, photoshop, or quilting. (yes, quilting).

According to the study, photography and Photoshop are tasks requiring very specific memories for verbal instruction and complex reasoning as one learns to use the equipment and the software to edit high-quality photos.  I don’t quilt, but apparently, it requires abstract thinking and reasoning skills.  The research group tested seniors in other activities which are less demanding and are more social-oriented.  “Only the quilting and photography groups, who were confronted with a continuous and prolonged mental challenge, improved their memory abilities,” Park said.

I am thrilled with the findings.  I see more and more seniors taking my courses at Studio 2.8 Learning Center and am amazed at their passion for learning something new.  I offer discounts to seniors for any of my classes.

For more information on DSLR photography check out the online course.

To view my portrait photography site visit Lightscapes Portrait Studio.

To view my fine art photography site visit Mary Buck Photography.

Filed Under: Blog posts, Learn DSLR Photography

The Importance of Self-Assignments

May 19, 2014 by Mary Buck

flower shot with macro lens The Importance of Self-Assignments

Self-Assignments are important to improve a skill level. Someone once said “it only takes a few months to go from a bad photographer to a good photographer, but it takes years to go from a good photographer to a great photographer.”  I started photography in 1975 and 39 years later, I am still on the journey of becoming a great photographer.

Learning photography is time-consuming, but it is much more interactive and available than it was years ago because of the internet.  I have been trapped in a comfort zone for a long time because I specialize in portraits. I have not dabbled that much in landscapes photography until recently. I have found it to be very addictive, relaxing and inspirational. But I feel like I still have so much to learn.

Last week I traveled with my sister to the Southern cities of Savannah and Charleston. While we were at one of the plantations, I asked to borrow my sister’s macro lens. I felt like I was seeing the world in a different light for the first time. It was incredible the detail I could see. I have now decided to rent a macro lens for a month and see what else I discover.  This led me to start thinking of what else I could learn this year and began to chart out “self-assignments”. I didn’t take too long to fill my calendar.

So my journey starts in June with macro lenses and continues until the end of the year with new discoveries. I will blog about it and you can follow me and learn with me.

For more information on DSLR photography check out the online course.

To view my portrait photography site visit Lightscapes Portrait Studio.

To view my fine art photography site visit Mary Buck Photography.

Filed Under: Blog posts, Learn DSLR Photography Tagged With: dslr photography, DSLR Photography tips

Learn How to Use Your On-Camera Flash

March 24, 2014 by Mary Buck

 camera flash Learn How to Use Your On-Camera FlashI just added a new online course to Studio 2.8 Lightscapes Learning Center on how to use your on-camera flash to improve your portrait photography. The instructor is Neil van Niererk, one of the best instructors in the world on flash photography. I bought his book a couple of years ago, and learned so much, about how to effectively use flash indoors (and outdoors) to improve my photography. Neil breaks down the complexities of flash photography into seven simple lessons that you can watch over and over again.

For more information on DSLR photography check out the online course.

To view my portrait photography site visit Lightscapes Portrait Studio.

To view my fine art photography site visit Mary Buck Photography.

Filed Under: Blog posts, Learn DSLR Photography Tagged With: camera flash, flash photography tips, photography with flash

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