photography advice...?

Hi Rachel,

I am the same, I love taking wildlife photos.

As to advice about cameras and taking photos.....firstly, it depends what type of photos you are after. I don't think it matters too much which camera you have as long as you know how to use it. And the only way to do this is to keep taking photos. Don't be afraid to change the settings. Just keep changing them and take loads of photos and try to see what works and what doesn't.

I have a Canon EOS 400D and a Canon Ixus 960 and both work well for me. But not until I used them on a regular basis...... :)

I was always keeping my EOS camera mainly on Program mode (semi-auto) and only changed over to fully manual last year (scary).

If you do purchase a DSLR this Site was very helpful for me:
http://stopshootingauto.com/

There are many tips out there but I think the BBC Site has one of the best:
http://www.bbcwildlifemagazine.com/masterclasses.asp

I have just started visited Rye Meads regularly now so don't be afraid to ask, either here or when you are out there taking photos.

Good luck!

Best wishes, Graham

Hi Rachel,

Good questions.... The answers I don't know, but I know people that do! I've asked Keith and Vicky and they say: if you are interested in getting more involved in wildlife photography its worth getting an SLR camera with interchangable lense. The quality in the lense is more important than the camera. If you are planning on doing plants and insects the lense and camera will both need to have macro settings.

This is alot of stuff if you are getting going, so perhaps something to work up to... There are lots of great little digital cameras with in built zooms that would work for you. Here at the reserve we have a little Nikon Coolpix with 8.1 megapixels and a 3.6 zoom - this works really well for us all the pictures I've uploaded on here were taken with this camera.

About the camera courses at Rye Meads - I'm working on it! :) I would love to have wildlife photography courses, I just need to find someone to lead them. I would like to get one started quite soon, so hopefully soon!

Lou

Hi, louise hope all is well.

i have a friend who does online course's and onsite course that you could do or maybe have a talk to him about doing one at rye meads. He could maybe  help you there.

Also i would like to say  i never knew of steve before i took the course but now we are good friends and i would like to recommend him to everyone. link below for his website. Please mention my name barry jones so he know who put him forward..

many thanks

http://www.artescapephotography.com/ 

http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/ArtEscape-Photography-Courses/377039636288?ref=ts

Hi - I think the important thing is to know what your budget is, at the moment at least. After all, we can't all afford thousands of pounds on top end Nikon's and Canons. In my opinion the best starting point is a superzoom bridge camera. These are small and relatively light and will give you the equivalent of at least 450mm telephoto in 35mm terms. Cameras such as the Leica lensed Panasonic DMC FZ range are superb and Fuji and Olympus do some good ones as well. These can take stunning shots in good light and can be bought for around £150.

Next up would be any of the budget DSLR's with a 300mm zoom kit lens. This would probably cost more in the 500-£600 price range. And so on!.

i always think a good thing is after thinking of a suitable camera look on somewhere like Flickr for a group using that camera and see what can be achieved.

My Flickr is http://www.flickr.com/photos/dcweather/sets/72157618004801757/

Earlier ones are with a Panasonic superzoom and after July 2009 a budget DSLR.

Hope this helps and good luck, Dave.

Hi Rachael...

There are a number of entry level DSLR camera's on the market so you are spoilt for choice.  

Here's a link to a review site.

http://www.whatdigitalcamera.com/equipment/reviews/1/digitalslr.html

Personally, I use a Nikon and I am very pleased with it. A DSLR is more versatile, yet it is also possible to get stunning shots with a compact. What is important is how much you can afford and what type of picture you want to achieve. Prints of A2 size require a minimum of 8mp.

Once you have your DSLR the most important next step is to select your lenses. Lenses are more expensive than camera's so you need to select wisely. For example, if you want to get really close up shots of flowers or tinay animals, then you will need to have a macro lens. On the other hand, if you want to get sharp photographs of birds in flight, or get close to shy animals then you need a good telephoto lens.You can use a wide angle for tame animals.

There is the advantage nowadays that you can hire a lens from companies like Lenses for Hire at a fraction of the cost so you can evalutate a lens before investing in it.

http://www.lensesforhire.co.uk/contact-us--about-us-2-w.asp

Here are a couple of links to my flickr sets red foxes and brown hares. For  these I have used a 150-500mm telephoto lens.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/digiluxphotography/sets/72157623577366224/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/digiluxphotography/sets/72157623867977992/

There are of course certain rules in photography, but you need not follow these slavishly because photography is an art (as well as a science) where, by using light, you are communicating your own inner vision to the world and so what matters is what feels right for you.  You should never shy away from experimenting and above all, if you enjoy it and are in synch with the subjects you are photographing , you will be able to get some stunning shots most of the time.

Thanks - that's all really helpful!  I've a big birthday coming up so have already started dropping some major DSLR hints ;-)

thanks again

all the best,

Rachel

Ooh Rachel - I hope that the DSLR hints are going in!
YOu'll have to let us know if you get one and what you get!

Lou

This isn't a comment about photography... but welcome to the forums Nicky! :)