Digital Photography At As Level?

[Caleb]

basically just started college, and was wondering if anyone had done photography and whats expected?

ive had my first lesson but was more of an intoductory, i was told on enrollment we'll be taught everyything we need to know etc.

but is it worthwhile buying a dslr, and are there any tutorials for photoshop?

just the first lesson kinda put the shit into me as i had the feeling a few others were wayyy ahead of me.

[Haz]

A film SLR will be far better, and a much smaller investment than a dSLR.

As for photoshop, I found it a bit wierd when I did my As Photography, I'm fairly confident with it, however I barely used it for my projects, because I far more enjoyed using film, thus I rarely scanned in images. Photoshop really isn't the be all and end all of the As, it really is just a small part.

[smelly joe]

Best bet would be to speak to fatmike about this.

he's just done his first year doing photography and he's got it dialled, pretty sure he got a A

i wish i took photography, best of luck to you.

[F-Stop Junkie]

Never done any formal photography courses, but I'd certainly suggest film, and something as manual as possible. Olympus OM-10 for example.

This will force you to really consider what you're doing. Working with film as well will reinforce this.

I think with digital, it's way too easy to go <click> nope <click> nope <click> nope.... If you take enough shots of anything, you'll end up with a couple of decent ones. Going out with 36 frames and no way of checking what you've got straight away will really make you think about what you're doing and ensure you understand it.

Plus bits and lenses for them are dead cheap, they have a retro cool, and much less likely to get nicked.

Also, if you buy a cheap Canon dSLR and lenses, then decide you want to go Nikon once you've finished, you've got a lot of expensive kit to junk. If you want to try a Canon 50mm lens, it'll probably cost you £40-£50 used for the F1.8. One for an OM-10 will probably be about £5 with another body thrown in

[Mark W]

A film camera would probably be a better bet. If you want to get the jump on the others and your education, just try and track down something like a basic Praktica or similar SLR on eBay. Buy some b+w film, and just go out and shoot some pics. There's a wealth of information on the internet (and on here ) about the fundamentals of photography, but nothing really beats practical experience. For me, my A-level photography stuff meant that I HAD to use a film camera for my course, but I'm glad I did. I learnt a lot more by using an SLR than just by using a digital camera, it just gives you a solid grasp on exposure and so on when you have to really think through your shots 'cos you only get one shot (I know it's not literally one, but with dSLRs you can just take a hundred test shots and then pick whatever's best), so you have to make sure you do it all right. The main thing about film SLRs though is that the developing aspect of it really is The Shit. For me, developing pics was the most fun aspect of it, really. Going out and shooting pics was nice, but the 15sec period between the 30sec and 45sec mark when the paper's in the developing tray and it starts to come through is rad. It's just a really good experience, and if you're going into photography I'd definitely recommend at least shooting and developing one roll of film at least just to have that experience under your belt.

Photography examiners also seem to find "real" camera work to be good too, so you'll probably fare better using that. If you use a digital camera and Photoshop to do test shots or to try and elaborate on initial ideas then use a film camera to get the final thing dialled, you'll get good marks. It's basically what I did for my last year, and I managed to get an A in all of my modules for the second year.

EDIT: Quick check - is your course actually "Digital Photography" or is it just "Photography"?

[Rob_P]

A level photography has been the only 2 years of education I have REALLY enjoyed!

For the first year I wasn't really that bothered as I didn't take much interest in it as I do now, taking pictures using the colleges (crappy) digital camera was good fun, also learning to use photoshop along the way.

I started off by using the colleges camera, which is a olympus digital zoom thing, it's alright but obviously having your own camera has a huge advantage. After one year had passed I got a Fuji S5500 for my birthday which was awsome! Could then not have to worry about signing in and out the colleges cameras which you could only take home for a certain time. I wouldn't say a DSLR would be the best thing to get, it's going to cost you a lot of money and unless you know how to use it properly your certinately not going to get the best pics.

Especially if you don't already really 'do' photography as a hobby already, it's like trials, start from the bottom and work up.

As for Photoshop, my teacher was a PS god!!! So I learnt a lot through him, he was also the coolest guy on earth which made lessons a doss. In lessons we never really did much 'teaching' if you like, we were just set projects to get on with, we would all sit at a mac and do any cutting/sticking on the tables in the middle.

Most of the time we just surfed the net, went on msn or researched.

A LOT of the project is research! That used to get to everyone, it wasn't so much about your photos (well it was) but it was more about how much research you did, how famous they were, how you based your own styles and ideas around theirs. Then photoshop did play a big part in what you did, in class or at home I was always editing the photos I had taken then sticking them in my book. You also get bonus points for showing how you edited them, like do a screen print (command + 4 on a mac) of each stage.

Also you get bonus points for writing quick paragraphs about the photos you've researched, write about composition, colour, depth of field etc etc.

It may work completely different at your college but thats the way it was at mine anyway, sorry i ranted a bit there

My projects in order:

First year

1. mini introduction project was "your journey to college"

2. Myself (hobbies, friends, activitys etc)

3. Illustrating text (pick a piece of writing, song and illustrate the words/lyrics with photos)

4. Exam: Rural and urban environments (show the contrast between) I did transport

Second year

5. Food (I did people buying food, went to markets, butchers etc)

6. Landscape

7. Exam: Everyday life

For the last exam, as an example I did different everyday activities and represented them in not so obvious forms, simple things like singing, for that I did a local bands lead singer screaming down the mic at a local gig. Drinking I did a hobo downing a bottle of cider. Cycling, so I did trials, ermm smiling I did a portrait of my cousin eating an ice cream. You get the idea

So basically thats what to look out for, it'll be a big big help if you find it interesting and want to develop your ideas and technique rather than having to.

The first exam you get 4 weeks prep then a 5 hour exam where it's basically the same as a lesson, editing and putting together final pieces. Second exam is the same but 15 hours over 3 days.

Don't buy a digi slr just for college, you'll do perfectly fine with a good digital such as a Fuji.

For the first year I got a C as I wasn't that into it, then in the second year I realized I wanted to do well in it so worked my dick off and got an A overall, sorted.

Good luck and if you need any more Qs answering don't hesitate to ask.

[Mark W]

Word about the evaluation part. Make sure you write something - anything - about any pic you use. You used it for a reason: say why. Extra marks + it helps you develop your critical thinking, which helps your photography.

Not keen on Fuji cameras, but I guess that's the same as anything - just try stuff out and see what suits you.

[Tomm]

Not keen on Fuji cameras, but I guess that's the same as anything - just try stuff out and see what suits you.

I ain't keen on any of these super zoom cameras to be honest. On paper they look nice but I really don't like using them so much. My girlfriend has a Panasonic FZ7 and it's fantastic for the money, but there's just something about it that I don't like. Using an SLR is much nicer. But the FZ7's lens is waaay sharper than the Canon SLR kit lens, and it's got an awesome zoom. The thing I don't like about the image quality is the fact that anything above ISO 100 is really, really noisy.

[Rob_P]

Well come onnnnn guys I didn't mean a Fuji exactly! I meant one like it, the equivalent, whatever trev.

I just had a fantastic experience with mine, some of my favourite photos were taken with it. The image quality is reem on it, photos just come out like you want them too (sounds crazy but you know what I mean)

I also didn't realise by the time I wrote my essay 2 other people had posted a fair amount too

[F-Stop Junkie]

I'd still suggest film. I think Rob has grown up as a child of digital - apologies if this is wrong Rob - so doesn't appreciate what shooting with film can do to your thought processes.

I remember when I used to shoot trials events with film, and I'd get a box of slides back from Fuji, and I'd go through them. The elation of a great shot tempered by disappointment of the shot that was out of focus or wrongly exposed. The thought that it could have been great, enhanced by 3 or 4 days of waiting for the postman to bring the slides back.

Heck, I nearly cried when a roll from Koxxdays had a scratch in the emulsion through every single frame

More of my thoughts on this here.

In a way, it's good to slow down the process of taking photos. It gives more time for thought, and knowing that you can't see the result means you have to get it right. You bracket, you try different angles. You don't just fire off a dozen shots and see which one looks best in Photoshop.

As a I said before though, the cost of old film cameras is next to nothing. Look on eBay and you can find a bargain!

[Mark W]

That is a f**king a bargain! That's even tempting me, although 'cos those stupid f**ks are already bidding on it with 2 days to go it probably means it's gonna go super high

[F-Stop Junkie]

That is a f**king a bargain! That's even tempting me, although 'cos those stupid f**ks are already bidding on it with 2 days to go it probably means it's gonna go super high

It won't go super high. It'll top out at maybe £20-£25. For that price, it's almost disposable.

[mr ailsbury]

We wern't allowed to use digital for AS until right at the end of the year which was wank!

just get a film slr thats the safest bet because you can always put them on the pc and photoshop them iff you needed to plus they cost a fair bit less than digital slr's

photography was easily the best subject I took last year the rest were dead boring compared to it...

just one thing though make sure when you do the research/analysing photo's etc that you write as much as possible about evrything because the research makes up alot of your marks in the end... I realised this last year, i got really good marks for my practical but because I didn't put the effort into the research I droped loads of marks and bought my grade down ahh well lesson learned I'll just make sure I get it done this year...

You could always go into Jessops and ask, they were really helpful when I bought my digital slr gave me loads of info and even gave me a memory card half price and loads of free printing vouchers which was cool

Edited September 7, 2006 by mr ailsbury

[Si-man]

We wern't allowed to use digital for AS until right at the end of the year which was wank!

just get a film slr thats the safest bet because you can always put them on the pc and photoshop them iff you needed to plus they cost a fair bit less than digital slr's

photography was easily the best subject I took last year the rest were dead boring compared to it...

just one thing though make sure when you do the research/analysing photo's etc that you write as much as possible about evrything because the research makes up alot of your marks in the end... I realised this last year, i got really good marks for my practical but because I didn't put the effort into the research I droped loads of marks and bought my grade down ahh well lesson learned I'll just make sure I get it done this year...

You could always go into Jessops and ask, they were really helpful when I bought my digital slr gave me loads of info and even gave me a memory card half price and loads of free printing vouchers which was cool

2 words that dont go together, never buy a card from them, they charge about 4 times the price of most online shops.

[Caleb]

yeah mark was right im afraid pretty certain it has to be digital, ive been offered one with the flash not working and the metering not working for a price i can afford but would them factors be that important?

i was thinking maybe get it for now and learn all the basics and get a better understanding then upgrade maybe ?

[Mark W]

If it doesn't have any light metering, you're gonna be in a bit of trouble unless you get an external light meter. Otherwise, you'll just be fully guessing and it'll be hard as hell to get any decent pics...

[Howard Hughes]

To start off with defiantly go for a film camera, as mentioned above it will make you think more, instead of snapping away etc...

The first two projects I did on a btec were pinhole and transparency film - both great ways to help to you understand how a camera works and about exposure and the other technical aspects (getting that out the way before doing the creative stuff).

I'd recommend shooting a load of transparency film as its so sensitive, to help you see how different light temperatures effect the colouring in images, also because it is so sensitive it will teach you to bracket your shots/see how it effects an image directly, rather than having it altered in the printing stage.. You could do this on colour negative film, but unless you do the printing yourself the lab will correct the colours and exposure unless your exposure is way off and beyond repair (unless you specifically ask them not to, and even then the colours you get from the print won't be as perfect/accurate as a transparency).

Oh and another benefit of transparencies is the quality is a lot better than conventional print film.

Side note: You may have to send your slide film off to a pro lab, rather than a snappy snaps type place as they won't do the E6 processing (or very rarely)... I recommend metro in London (the one just off of oxford street - last time i checked it was open 24/7 - great service)

Any way, have fun.

Edited September 7, 2006 by Adds

[mat hudson]

It won't go super high. It'll top out at maybe £20-£25. For that price, it's almost disposable.

yer right http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Olympus-OM10-SLR-cam...1QQcmdZViewItem

[Mark W]

I bet ChloeHines is just a friend of the seller just bumping the price up.

Either that, or she's actually doing it to win, in which case I need to get her address just to shout at her that she's a f**king pleb...

[rocktrials]

ive just finished school and did GCSE photography came out with an A, and A level got a C

however, as we are a school and not a college, (one of the few schools i think which do it) we didnt do digital, but full b+w chemical, film cameras.

i started with praktica for few years, then moved to a canon 300v film slr, then ive finished now, am looking to purchase a nice digi slr for travelling

[Caleb]

just wondering are there anyways of getting a decent digital slr without spending £400?

if im getting one i want a proper one not just a slr style.

not bothered about new/second hand as i cant afford to be.

is it worth me trying an slr before spending the full whack on a dslr, even though i can use a film slr for my course?

[Howard Hughes]

yeah, you could get a nikon d50 for that kinda price new... or look for a canon eos 350d or nikon d70s as both have just been replaced with some new models.

or, if you want secondhand, keep an eye out for nikon d100, fuji S3 pro, canon eos 10d or if your lucky a 20d...

plenty of choce, and you can't go wrong with any of the above.

[Tomm]

yeah, you could get a nikon d50 for that kinda price new... or look for a canon eos 350d or nikon d70s as both have just been replaced with some new models.

or, if you want secondhand, keep an eye out for nikon d100, fuji S3 pro, canon eos 10d or if your lucky a 20d...

plenty of choce, and you can't go wrong with any of the above.

The 10D doesn't take EF-S lenses, so you have to buy the more expensive Canon lenses. And they're pretty old now. I wouldn't buy one, anyway. And you won't get a second hand 20D for that money.

[F-Stop Junkie]

The 10D doesn't take EF-S lenses, so you have to buy the more expensive Canon lenses. And they're pretty old now. I wouldn't buy one, anyway. And you won't get a second hand 20D for that money.

Eh? EF-S arn't just cheap lenses, the Sigma DC range will work just fine with a 10D. Plus there's plenty of Canon lenses which are reasonably priced which it will take just fine. There are also some damn expensive EF-S lenses!

Don't forget that non-EF-S lenses will also work on Canon film bodies, as well as the more expensive 1.3x and full frame dSLRs.

I think the 10D is a wonderful camera. It produces great images, has improved ergonomics and functionality over the 300D/350D, as well as a better built body. It may be a few years old now, but it's still as good as many other similar bodies.

If you have the choice of a new 350D, or a used 10D in good condition, I'd take the 10D.

[Caleb]

Are the old nikon D1's worth a butchers?