Budding photographer in need of advice!

[Welshgirlyx]

I am just starting out (at the very beginning). I absolutely adore photography and would love learn much more about it and eventually make it into a career. At the moment I just dont know where to start. Does anyone have any advice on courses /how to gain experience / books / websites / computer software etc? How qualified I would need to be to work as a part time (as i am a shift worker at present) assistant? Please help me get started!

[jno]

the Daily Telegraph says it's offering booklets (or some sort of supplement) every day, starting today for a week, on 'how to photograph everything'. I have no idea what's in them but you might like to buy a paper and have a look.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/portal/main.jhtml?v iew=CAMPAIGN&grid=A1NoGoogle&pg=/ETHtml/conten t/promotions/2008/06/06/photography_guides/sev en_photography_guides.jhtml

[cariad84]

The Open University do a beginners digital photography course you might be interested in:

http://www3.open.ac.uk/courses/bin/p12.dll?C01 T189

[filimbouk]

Buy or borrow a simple compact digital camera with a view screen on the back. Then, on a nice sunny day, have a walk round your local park, or some other nice location, and start taking snaps! With a digital camera you can view the pictures you just took and take a better one if not satisfied. The only way to get a feel for composition, a sense of light and colour is to do it.

[terambulan]

Or London parks in summer.....for a bit of papparazzi - quick cash from tabloids!

Summer Windsor Polo - for royalty papps. ie Yesterday with Presidnt Bush!

Must invest in good telescopic lense digital camera!

Ask POW Charles for �2k from his POW Trust fund for entrepeneurs.........'tis limited to 'color' but u could be lucky.

[saxy_jag]

I'm currently studying the OU course that Cariad linked to, and I can thoroughly recommend it. It cost me something like �165, I think, and is a ten-week course that covers all the basics of photography and digital editing, plus you get a free copy of Photoshop Elements. It's quite intense - you'll need to spend an average of four or five hours a week working on it, but if you're interested to begin with, then that'll be no problem for you. It's all taught online and rather than get tutorials, the support comes from the others on the website and on the accompanying forums.

The Daily Telegraph books are, I think, extracts from Tom Ang's 'How to Photograph Absolutely Everything'. Lovely book, covers basic techniques and has some lovely examples, and well worth owning for its own sake. It's currently doing the rounds in those boxes of cheap books you get on staffroom tables once in a while.

[Welshgirlyx]

Thanks everyone you have all been very helpfull and cant wait to get started! Keep the helpful tips coming!

[Welshgirlyx]

saxy_jag, i have already read up on the open university course and am definately interested. I am just wondering what type of course work / photography is involved and how much? Is a lot of time spent outside? I am very eager but just trying to figure out wether i am able to fit it around my full time job at the moment before i commit, your advice is much appreciated!

[saxy_jag]

Much of the work involves reading through the relevant week's pages on the course website, doing short on-screen activities and watching the short video tutorials (about how to use Photoshop). You're encouraged to complete a short photographic assignment each week and post your photos to the course website for comment by fellow students. This last part isn't compulsory but very beneficial.

Assignments are focused around things like photos of objects that form letters, photographing things from unusual viewpoints, choosing subjects for colour, light effects or motion blur (which you're taught via the website).

The study weeks run from Wednesday to Tuesday, so it gives you the weekend to think about going out and taking photos.

There are people of literally all abilities on the course, using everything from camera phones to full blown DSLRs. I'm using a compact with a fair variety of manual settings, although I'm now getting to the point where I want to do more than it'll let me and I'm thinking of upgrading - it gets you like that.

I would advise anyone to brush up on technical maths before starting. There's some heavy work on fractions and ratios quite early on in the course which can be quite daunting if you're not expecting it.