Desert Landscape : Without much thought: Cropped and Edited by Picasa

[KWM]

Hi, I bought DSLR Nikon D5200 a couple of weeks ago and I want to learn photography basically mainly to get good portraits of family and sometimes landscapes. This is a casual shot of desert landscape i took a couple of weeks ago. I have it edited in Picasa by"I am feeling lucky" button. Sun was harsh and time was around 1000 hours.
As a beginner where should I start i.e., portraits or landscapes or anything else?

[Shadowman]

Hi Tayyeb,

Start with what interests you the most; although still life can really help as you learn the basics.

[Manfred M]

Tayyeb - photography has a very wide range of genres and as a beginner you have a clean slate to work with, i.e. you have no preconceived notions about what you like to take pictures of and what does not interest you. That is not something that you can establish at the beginning and I would suggest that you shoot anything you find interesting as that is the only way you are going to figure out what does and does not interest you.

When I started out in photography, I mainly shot people. Athletes, entertainers and portraits. I then started traveling and got into landscapes and urban landscape photography. I tried macro photography, birds and sports and found that I really did not enjoy that type of photography. I have evolved into working with flash (small flash and studio flash), doing studio shots, street photography and photojournalism and have ventured into video and video editing as well.

All I can suggest is that you get out there and shoot, edit and enjoy photography!

[Geoff F]

I would start by reading all the tutorials here on CinC. Then shoot everything; but the most important part is to work out what went wrong on the failures. When you know what you are doing wrong you will be well on the way to becoming a good photographer.

Try to stay away from the full auto settings and work with Aperture Priority or sometimes Shutter Priority.

Eventually you will settle on some personally preferred subjects, as Manfred mentioned.

Regarding these two images. The first one looks OK and the second isn't too bad although you were unfortunate with the sky. Sometimes this is unavoidable so you just have to accept what is in front of you or, as I often do, turn around and walk away.

There are a few things which may help for this sort of scene once you gain in experience; such as some form of HDR Merge. But let's not get too technical at this stage.

[Kaye Leggett]

Hi Tayyeb. I started my photo journey 3-4 years ago. For me the first thing to learn was my camera. As I am progressing I have learned what I enjoy capturing and where I don't. But as Manfred says, over time that will change.

I like your first image. The contrast between the desert and the oasis is striking. Maybe you could develop that theme?

[Mike Buckley]

You've already received some great advice about getting started, so I would like to add that these two images demonstrate that you have a natural talent for seeing attractive compositions. Even if that is your only strength right now (it probably isn't), you've got a better start on photography than almost everyone who first takes up the craft.

[KWM]

You've already received some great advice about getting started, so I would like to add that these two images demonstrate that you have a natural talent for seeing attractive compositions. Even if that is your only strength right now (it probably isn't), you've got a better start on photography than almost everyone who first takes up the craft.

Thanks

[KWM]

I would start by reading all the tutorials here on CinC.

Thank you. I have read some of the tutorials and will be reading again and again as I progress.
Using manual settings is my goal too.

[Mike Buckley]

Using manual settings is my goal.

At the risk of appearing flip when I'm really not being that way, I suggest that your goal should be making effective photos regardless of the method. Use of manual settings is just one method and in certain situations is not the ideal method.

[KWM]

At the risk of appearing flip when I'm really not being that way, I suggest that your goal should be making effective photos regardless of the method. Use of manual settings is just one method and in certain situations is not the ideal method.

Well said and will keep that in mind but since I bought a DSLR so I want to be able to use the power features it has to offer which are not available in my Nexus 5 camera.

[Wavelength]

Nice images to begin with . Landscapes, flowers etc have the advantage that they never show impatience.But you must then need to care the light, the position of Sun, harshness of sunlight etc. Trial and error is a very good method. Must try familiarizing the manual too

all the Best