Since launching this forum a few days ago, we have already had over 200 posts! This has been our fastest growing forum ever and that means that there is a lot of interest in the topic of becoming better photographers. That makes sense because ATP is such a photo-heavy site and we all want to take the best photos we can take.

So, I want to have a little bit of clarity on why this forum exists, and how we want to use it. This forum is to help people understand the technical aspects of photography. If you have a point and shoot camera (or treat your camera as one!) and you're happy with it, then this forum probably won't do much for you.

his forum will be used to provide education and give answers to people who want to understand all the various controls that their cameras offer. That means aperture, shutter speed, ISO, external flashes, lens types (macro, prime, zoom, etc.) Again, if you are happy to just point and shoot on auto mode then this forum isn't going to be much help for you. But if you want to know what the A, S, and M modes do, and you want to know how to get that blurry background with a perfectly focused subject, and so forth, then this is the place to be.

@greene suggested, and I agree, that if you post example photos, that it would be helpful to include some information about the photo. (Which camera you used, what lens, and if on manual mode, what were the settings.)

Due to the technical nature of the discussions, it's going to be important that we stay on topic. Off-topic posts that aren't about the subject being discussed will be deleted by me. I don't expect that we'll have any problems with that, though.

I'm really enjoying this forum and look forward to much more great threads in the future! I've already learned some new things myself, and am enjoying sharing some things that I know. Thank you to everyone who has already joined the discussion and made this forum such an early success.

Good advice Dave.

I'd also like to add, as I've stressed, get your camera manual or download it. You'll need it to understand how the various functions work on your camera and how to access them.

Also, and I can't stress this enough, go slow. Don't try to learn everything at once. Take a section and learn it, get comfortable with it, own it and let it become second nature to you.

The main reason people end up tossing their manuals in a drawer is because it's information overload and so much easier to put that camera on automatic.

That's what I'm doing. I bought a new camera a couple of weeks ago because my old one up and died. Even though I understand how to use most of the features I'm having to relearn where all the buttons are for making adjustments and learn about new features.

Dave, there are those of us out here with what you might term point and shoot cameras, that have features that we do not know how to use to our best advantage. Are you saying that this is not the place to ask questions about that?

If so it could be when I requested we add a forum it has been transformed to a forum for only an advanced user?

Someday I may be able to afford a fancier camera but for now I want to know how to take the best picture I can with the camera I have. Is there no room for that on this forum?

Point and shoot means you don't have or don't want any advanced options for your camera. If you camera has features and you want to learn about how use them, then you're in the right place.

Dave, thanks for the clarification. I was misinterpreting your earlier post too, thinking that you meant the forum wasn't for folks with point and shoot type cameras.

My camera (Canon PowerShot SX50HS) has a lot of different settings and features but according to my husband it's still considered a point and shoot type camera. As Anne suggested, I plan to study my camera manual one section at a time .... I'm sure I'll have a few questions along the way.

Anything that is not a DSLR is generally considered a point on shoot, but these days almost all cameras have at least some additional feature other than just full auto. I think a lot a people just default to auto because, maybe they are intimidated by all the features and terminology.

Who me???? But I am getting a bit more informed. Thanks to the interest and features offered on this site.

Horntoad said: I think a lot a people just default to auto because, maybe they are intimidated by all the features and terminology.

Yep ... that sounds like me; I've had a big problem with hitting the wrong button, dial etc., messing up the settings and then can't figure out how to get it back to where it was and I end up having to wait for my husband to get home to fix it for me. I think Anne's tip about taking one section of the manual at a time and learning it before going onto something else is great advice.

plantladylin said: Yep ... that sounds like me; I've had a big problem with hitting the wrong button, dial etc., messing up the settings and then can't figure out how to get it back to where it was and I end up having to wait for my husband to get home to fix it for me. I think Anne's tip about taking one section of the manual at a time and learning it before going onto something else is great advice.

Now you've hit on a different problem, Lin. Photography concepts are really not that hard. But learning how to operate your individual camera can be. I have been into photography for nearly 40 years and have a pretty good grasp of how things work. It was fairly simple with film cameras but trying to figure out all the features on a digital and how to navigated all the menus, that's a pain. I don't think the designers ever use a camera out in the real world.

Boy isn't that the truth, Horntoad? Somehow over the weekend my husband accidentally switched mode to B/W and I'm now trying to figure out if I can reverse photos he took back to color. (Nikon S9400). Sigh.

Bonehead,
I don't think you will be able to reverse those photos back to color that were taken in black and white mode, don't think that is even possible in an advanced photo editing program, but it might be possible, I have never heard of it though.

Thanks, I poked around through my menus and didn't see anything either. It was actually in one of those B/W with only purple being picked up effect modes. I've had that happen more than once, inadvertently jog the top spin dial to something totally NOT what I was planning on. Live and learn. It was just photos of a patio demolish project and came out in B/W with only my DIL's halter top in color. A bit weird but fine. Maybe even artsy, who knows.

Horntoad said:
Now you've hit on a different problem, Lin. Photography concepts are really not that hard. But learning how to operate your individual camera can be. I have been into photography for nearly 40 years and have a pretty good grasp of how things work. It was fairly simple with film cameras but trying to figure out all the features on a digital and how to navigated all the menus, that's a pain. I don't think the designers ever use a camera out in the real world.

I feel the same way. Every time I pick up my very nice dslr, I miss my Olympus OM-1 in the worst way. I think a camera company that could make a digital camera as simply elegant as that one was would make a killing. The problem is I've been seduced by all the digital wizardry, and being free of film and processing costs.

I am exploring the use of my iphone, some people are making serious photos with them.

Perhaps it would help if we had (maybe as a sticky) a 'dictionary' similar to this one:

http://www.all-things-photogra...

That way, before asking a question, perhaps folks could look up the word/term/abbreviation, etc. in a similar dictionary?

Thanks for the link. That is helpful.
I started my own bit of glossary in a file when I see something here or online that turns a light on, I clip and paste it into my file.

If you are talking about a dictionary for the entire site I am not sure the photo terms would fit?????
But I could be wrong?

So glad to have a Photography forum. I love to read, post, ask questions. I am always wanting to improve my skills.

Thanks, Dave and all that help!

I've been "somewhat" following the photography forums as time allows and now that the photo contest is over I've been commenting on some of my "many" favorites from it. Just because I haven't said anything about other photos does "NOT" mean I don't like any others!! I've taken the approach of critiquing composition, depth of field and clarity (focus), as well as point of interest, the technique used and overall subject matter---is it interesting or not? So, please, DO NOT be offended if I didn't mention yours!!! And, especially, please don't be offended if I made any suggestions about improving any particular photos. Personally, I welcome others opinions because I want to be always improving---and that's why feedback is invaluable to me.

I studied Fine Art and a little photography at USCA. Of course, that was back in the day of dark rooms and stinky chemicals---love that smell... Critiquing of our work happened on a daily basis.

I lost my favorite camera to a detrimental miss-hap and have been pushing the temporary one I have while saving up for the one I want.

Thanks Everyone!

We've kind of been in a lull in this section lately...but I expect that to change soon.

I have a half formulated post on a fun flash idea (with decent results) that I'll try to get posted over the next few days.

With winter upon us here, maybe I can devote a little time to getting better at this craft mechanically. And I'll post the results of my adventures in hypothesizing.