Newbie Questions!

[Philuk]

ok im fairly new to photography to a certain extent. but i aint iif you know what i mean. i am new the proper photography is what im trying to say i think lol. i am always taking photos of cars and such when i goto meets and things but i have lways used AF on the camera. im wanting to get more into it and get better pictures. i am currently using a Finepix S7000 which is fine for what im trying to achieve atm. maybe looking at getting something better nearer xmas. whats does everything mean. talk basic to me people! i want the best photos of static cars and im willing to learn these things! what do the SP, P, M, S buttons means. when people say it wants to be 100ISO, SS 125, f11 what does that mean? thanks for any help guys

i understand it might take a post thats 9 pages long to answer so if thats the case can you recommend anywhere that i can read up on it online or even can someone recommend what settings i should have the camera on to take these sort of pics :)
here are some of the picsi took the other night.
http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff116/Philuk56/sc22/DSCF1743.jpg
http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff116/Philuk56/sc22/DSCF1680.jpg
http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff116/Philuk56/sc22/DSCF1696.jpg
http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff116/Philuk56/sc22/DSCF1708.jpg

[IrishBill]

I got my head around most stuff by reading 'The Digital Photography Book For Dummies' and 'Landfords Starting Photography'. Learning what the settings do is easy enough, but learning how to use them is somewhat harder.:ocx

[PHIL THE FRAME]

great first posts, im no expert at taking car shots but this is how i would present my cars,these are my own shots and presented in a template i got free in a photo magazine, what do you think?:)

[PHIL THE FRAME]

just to add, don`t be afraid to get down to the ground level, and take shots of the cars best features up close,get the car in whole if the background allows it in other words no clutter or distractions, and as to the settings on your camera either read the manual or try each setting and remember the outcome, in other words experiment with the settings and learn from them, just enjoy the experience:)

[Jayne_yorks]

The best advice for the settings would be to read the camera manual and then practice. Even if you don't read it from cover to cover just get the basic idea then i find the best way to learn is to use it. Btw the prices at that cafe are daylight robbery :)

[WaterMarc]

Its probably no consolation but I have been reading my cameras manual more or less constantly for the last two years in between the odd magazine and a whole lot of internet reading.........from a beginner (me!) to what some of the peeps on this forum can do is a huge chasm and you are in wonderful hands if you stick with the forum and dont be afraid to invest some time learning along side the questions you may ask. These poeple really know what they are doing and want to help.

Remember, with digital you just bin the mistakes so snap away using all the wrong settings for as long as it takes to learn what they all do - it only costs time and the icing on the cake for learning about the settings is the pictures you want when you want them.

I am also looking for a "bible" book of photography, all the settings and jargon explained - any further recommendations would be welcome to me also.

[ozonepirate]

So many people I know take care like they are using film cameras still. Just try loads of stuff and take hundreds of pix and delete the ones you don't want. I've done some product shoots with cars before and my advice to you is concentrate on the car, and look whats in the background as the less distractions there are the better!

[pegasusl]

IF it's ok to post this PDF in here....this might help you a bit.

It covers Aperture, shutter Speed, and ISO and is a very basic tutorial on "Exposure" I wrote a while back. It's not too wordy, and it introduces the basic concepts of much of what you've mentioned.

Hope it helps! If so GREAT :Dm If not....let me know and I'll try to make it better!

[IrishBill]

'Digital Photography Bible' by Dan Simon. Have'nt read it yet, but I have it. I'm still on Langfords book! I hope that helps.:)

[LeeRatters]

i'm into motoring myself so i do enjoy car photography - though only static so far ;)

personally, i think the background makes a big difference but at shows & meets etc there isn't normally much choice on that matter. quirky angle also work too imo & don't be afraid to get in low down or close - you don't have to include the whole car in every shot ;)

as for the settings..... as said just try them out. for static shots i normally select AP aperature priority to control depth of field if i want to & let the shutter speed take care of itself - just keep an eye on it though ;). don't be afraid to use the macro mode either if the 7000 has it - i use the s95000.

i went out the other night & took some car photo's so once they are done i'll get them up in the 'and the rest' section i expect.