Was Photography as hard for you?

Yeah, once you get the basics down, it becomes second nature.

Im going to try harder to be patient, and take one step at a time. I just really hate the AUTO button and try hard to stay away from it if I can. But will go on AUTO if you guys think thats best... but just for a little bit.

When you are on a stroll through the woods and don't know what to expect, Auto is a good choice, at least to get some kind of shot. Then you can decide what setting you need to get a better shot.

Scotty wrote: Yeah, once you get the basics down, it becomes second nature.

but there is always something new to learn!

Slow down and don't have too high of expectations. Coming here with your concerns is just what you should be doing.
I started as a kid, worked for a pro photog a couple years in my early twenties, assist and a lot of processing. (Lab/darkroom)
Pretty good filmer, however when I went digital, there was a new learning curve I wasn't expecting, especially post.
You don't need to go "auto", just use aperture priority and think first. It will come......

effron wrote: Slow down and don't have too high of expectations. Coming here with your concerns is just what you should be doing.
I started as a kid, worked for a pro photog a couple years in my early twenties, assist and a lot of processing. (Lab/darkroom)
Pretty good filmer, however when I went digital, there was a new learning curve I wasn't expecting, especially post.
You don't need to go "auto", just use aperture priority and think first. It will come......

Aperture Priority is one of the best things ever made.

Even starting out young with 120/220 film and then all the years of film the hardest thing I found to learn was shooting action with a Nikon FE2 and manual focus lens. Started shooting pre-focused areas at the rink and as my wife reminded me that a good shoot for me was to get 4 good frames out of a 36 exposure roll back then. I used to read everything i could get my hands on in order to speed up the learning curve. Now I look back on those pix and am amazed at how far the technology and what I learned has come. It's a good suggestion to take a look back to see where you were oh-so-long-ago every once in awhile. Digital is it's own animal vs. film but I'm glad to have had the experiences because it gives me a perspective to grade my evolution from snapshooter to where I am today.

Taken in 2007 Cyclones vs. Trenton Titans

Taken last week Cyclones vs. South Carolina Stingrays

Scotty wrote: Yeah, once you get the basics down, it becomes second nature.

Didn't take me too long to understand the basics. Now I can't seem to put the camera down. lol

Zafonia wrote: Im going to try harder to be patient, and take one step at a time. I just really hate the AUTO button and try hard to stay away from it if I can. But will go on AUTO if you guys think thats best... but just for a little bit.

Actually, I do not think Auto is best. I think it's worse. IMO, if you bought a DSLR, then take it off auto. There are times you may need auto, because you just can not get the correct exposure and you need a quick shot. (not that auto will always give you that correct exposure, but it's better then nothing) But you bought a DSLR, learn it. Otherwise, IMO go back to a P&S.

Baydream wrote: When you are on a stroll through the woods and don't know what to except, Auto is a good choice, at least to get some kind of shot. Then you can decide what setting you need to get a better shot.

Scotty wrote:

effron wrote: Slow down and don't have too high of expectations. Coming here with your concerns is just what you should be doing.
I started as a kid, worked for a pro photog a couple years in my early twenties, assist and a lot of processing. (Lab/darkroom)
Pretty good filmer, however when I went digital, there was a new learning curve I wasn't expecting, especially post.
You don't need to go "auto", just use aperture priority and think first. It will come......

Aperture Priority is one of the best things ever made.

Thank you guys so much for posting on this thread. It helps me knowing im not the only one that has had problems starting out.

I don't know how hard and confusing it was for you but it was a new adventure for me. There are always mountains to scale with new ideas and the addition of lighting after finally getting a decent grasp of shooting in shutter/aperture and manual modes. Either way, I have fails and I have successes and with every one of them, I learn something new! Have fun with it!

Don't beat yourself up ever....each person learns from their passion. I never took a class took , I worked for a photographer 30 years ago and I took a class in high school...I don't care about f stops and I shoot by emotions...and I teach my students the same... maybe I'm crazy...but I also make money...I'm in demand and I'm shooting a bike event Saturday..my advice if you love what you do you'd do it no matter what and keep doing it till you got it not right but perfect...sometime it takes years..but for me it only to 6 months...I wish each of you the best of luck in your field...

I found the instruction manuals confusing until I practiced enough that some of it started to make sense. Now I'm into underwater photography and it's so much fun - even learning is fun!