Well, if you throw enough sh.t at the wall some of it will stick! If you're
wanting to learn about photography it's not good practice to just fire away
in the hope that you might just get something useable - obviously if you're
photographing sports it's a little different. Yes do get out there and take
photos and have fun but think about what you're doing too so that you can
remember for next time in order to improve your skills. If you were to just
shoot wildly (I'm not implying that you did Travis) you won't learn a thing
other than familiarity your image browser and editing software!!

BTW even if you're shooting on film, it's relatively cheap compared to the
value of capturing the moment.

Overall, get out there and have fun!

Craig.

Here is another tip I was given by a good friend just after I started.
Imagine every shot you take will cost you £10 to have developed and printed.
It soon stops you wasting your time taking 300 shots to get 3 good ones!

There are many paths for a newbe to take in order to learn photography and
eventually become a photographer.
In my case I could not talk about my job in the USAFSS so I took holiday
pictures with the $10.00 twin lense Ansco box camera my Dad gave me before I
left for four years in Europe.
I did typical tourist shots and then, at the time did not know, was a street
photographer snapping away at the "natives" during Octoberfest and other
uniquely European holidays. Pushed the camera to its limits and bought my
first serious camera .... a RolicordVa which I still have (1957 the year I
bougth it). I learned all the tech stuff in the base photolab from the
German who was hired to run it.
After my tour of duty I went to The Art Center College of Design, before it
moved to Pasadena (and much cheaper). While going to school I worked as an
assistant for Sheedy and Long Photography. They had the ABC-TV publicity
account and were stringers for Sports Illustrated.
After being production manager on Dateline: Hollywood, I moved to New York
and was Arnold Newmans assistant for a year and then went out on my own.
All during those formative years, if any of my friends saw me without a
camera they assumed I didn't feel well, which was not too far from the truth
for when sick I did not make/take photos.
The only time I got .... drunk or partied ... was if someone else foot the
bill for ALL available funds went into my photography. I always had my own
darkroom even if it meant painting the windows with black paint so I could
make prints in the bedroom/livingroom/bathroom.
I really love photography and with the coming of the digital age the biggest
problem choosing what project I want to do .... digital video ... digital
stills .... anything having to do with making images.
My mom is a writer and we are going to make one of her short stories into a
short film.
This is my web site: http://www.tom-elliott-photography.com. There are
photos from all of the above periods and my commercial assignments.
As to choosing one or two shots to conserve film, well that is a valuable
techneique. In Art Center you were not permitted to do anyassignments on
anything smaller than 4x5. In your senior year you could use something
smaller. 4x5 view cameras are not the fastest thing and you have to slow
down and be very methodical. They restricted you to one film, one film
chemical, one paper grade, one serface. SuperXX, DK50, Single Weight Glossy
Bromide, Grade 2. Not a forgiving combination. Everyones work was displayed
at the same time. A great learning experience.
The main thing is to do what your heart wants and needs. Shoot for your
heart, if you don't you will die. Your death can be slow and painfull or
quick, but you will die. Yes you do have to pay the rent ... however
consider shooting for your heart one of the most important things to do,
like eating and breathing.
Yours,
Tom

"shoot, shoot, shoot, shoot!"

Of that 300, I have 3 awesome

***********************************************************************
Travis:  I wish to disagree with you.  I once thought that too, and looked
into taking the New York Inst. of Photography correspondence course, but
decided I would just shoot, shoot and shoot.  Later I saw that my
photography was not improving, I was just making the same mistakes over and
over and over.  I took the NYIP course and although I'm not saying that is
the best route to go, it is one.  I think some sort of professional
education is best.  As for your 300 to 3 ratio of good shots, I would expect
that out of a 36 roll of film.  Even if only one roll produced one good
keeper, three rolls would only be 108 shots and that is far from your 300.
Not to discourage you, maybe those are some really super shots.  It would be
interesting to make them available on the web and let others show you how to
improve them.  There are things that just shooting will not teach you, for
example, depth of field or some other things that I can't think of the names
right now.  Because photography is the capturing of light, you need to
understand how to use it to bring out what you want.  How to tell the story.
There are things that you can do with your camera that will make people
think you are a pro if you do them right.  Getting the occasional great
picture will not help if you are asked to shoot a friends wedding and take
900 shots only to end up with 9 good ones.  Get some good books on
photography and you will learn to get more out of the hobby than you thought
you could.  Have fun.  Ric.

Hi Travis,
While I agree with your premise to an extent, most "pros" - and I am not
one - will tend to
disagree. They feel that if anyone takes that many shots, they are bound to
get a few "fantastic" ones just by chance if nothing else.
However, practice - with some knowledge of what you are doing and trying to
achieve - is very important. But "shooting" for shootings sake does not
teach much.
I have been into photography for over 35 years. Mostly for personal usages
and memories. I have done some work for friends and relatives and am
currently finishing the NYIP course. Not the best - I do miss the
interaction of a regular school setting - but I have learned quite a bit.
Regaards
Steve

Travis, what lens do you have?  Is the 18-55 the one included?  I am
thinking about an XT and was curious.

Mike