Tutorial Ideas

[claireg]

Are there any image or video editing tutorials you want Digital Photographer to cover in the magazine or on the CD? Now's the time to voice it!...

[ALwin]

How about a guide on 'how to prepare' for a project:
- in the studio
- in the field
- in a foreign country
- in the wild

or even 'precautions' to take when doing certain types of work.

[D Pentney]

I'll second the idea of preperation information, particularly the idea of researching a location to shoot assuming you've never been there before.

I think as a wider comment, and this might sound harsh but it really is just an obsevration, all magazines have too much basic information. I consider myself pretty much a beginner, so I'm not coming at this with any aloofness, but a lot of information seems to assume that the people buying the mag have literally just picked up a Dslr for the first time. Ok, you have to cater for everyone, but I could go and by a beginners book that will cover all of that for less than a tenner. By the time I've got to the end of it, I'll know about DOF, the rule of theirds, leading lines, and shutter speed. I really don't need to have it fed to me month after month in bite-size pieces. I think you have to assume the readership has a basic understanding - and for those new to it, why not have something online to refer them back to? A beginners guide thats done once and for all, and whenever you mention a key skill you can have a footnote with a link to tell them what it's all about.

I'd like to see a more behind-the-scenes look at taking a picture, like a walk-through of the day, which would show the evolution of how the photographer got to the final print. And. critically, why that photographer chose one thing over another. In fact, the 'why' or the choices a photographer makes would be of great value to me when I face a variety of ways to capture a scene or portrait. For example; telling me I can get large DOF using f16, or small using f4 is all well and good.. but I'd like to know why would I wish to apply one over the other. In other words, I'd like to have an insight into the mind of that photographer from the worst test shot to the finished article. And I'd like to see a progression and short critique of all the bad images, not just the best ones.

In a lot of ways, I would prefer the less tangible, and harder to put into words, thoughts and inspirations that go through the heads of pro's as they go about their work to the literal 'how-to' instructions of using a tripod for long exposures.

[ALwin]

I'll second the idea of preperation information, particularly the idea of researching a location to shoot assuming you've never been there before.

I think as a wider comment, and this might sound harsh but it really is just an obsevration, all magazines have too much basic information. I consider myself pretty much a beginner, so I'm not coming at this with any aloofness, but a lot of information seems to assume that the people buying the mag have literally just picked up a Dslr for the first time. Ok, you have to cater for everyone, but I could go and by a beginners book that will cover all of that for less than a tenner. By the time I've got to the end of it, I'll know about DOF, the rule of theirds, leading lines, and shutter speed. I really don't need to have it fed to me month after month in bite-size pieces. I think you have to assume the readership has a basic understanding - and for those new to it, why not have something online to refer them back to? A beginners guide thats done once and for all, and whenever you mention a key skill you can have a footnote with a link to tell them what it's all about.

I'd like to see a more behind-the-scenes look at taking a picture, like a walk-through of the day, which would show the evolution of how the photographer got to the final print. And. critically, why that photographer chose one thing over another. In fact, the 'why' or the choices a photographer makes would be of great value to me when I face a variety of ways to capture a scene or portrait. For example; telling me I can get large DOF using f16, or small using f4 is all well and good.. but I'd like to know why would I wish to apply one over the other. In other words, I'd like to have an insight into the mind of that photographer from the worst test shot to the finished article. And I'd like to see a progression and short critique of all the bad images, not just the best ones.

In a lot of ways, I would prefer the less tangible, and harder to put into words, thoughts and inspirations that go through the heads of pro's as they go about their work to the literal 'how-to' instructions of using a tripod for long exposures.

And I second this. And not just researching a location, how about undergoing security training/preventative measures if the location is a conflict/danger zone, getting vaccinations, choosing what gear to bring and how to pack, so on. Not all photographers are self-employed, some work for agencies and organizations that sends them around the world. And how about tips and guidance that could be useful for approaching different cultures, or different situations.

And yes I agree about the question of whether the 'basic info' is necessary to be included in almost every issue. After all, any beginner who buys a DSLR will reference a few books:
1) The manual that came with the camera
2) Either online or at a book store will look up a beginners guide to photography
3) A book that covers slightly more advanced information such as composition, lighting and learning some special techniques/tricks.

[Chris Humphreys]

And I second this. And not just researching a location, how about undergoing security training/preventative measures if the location is a conflict/danger zone, getting vaccinations, choosing what gear to bring and how to pack, so on.

Please don't take this the wrong way Aung, but you seem to be quite pre-occupied with conflict / danger photography. Just wondered why, it is after all a pretty specialist field?

C

[ALwin]

And I second this. And not just researching a location, how about undergoing security training/preventative measures if the location is a conflict/danger zone, getting vaccinations, choosing what gear to bring and how to pack, so on.

Please don't take this the wrong way Aung, but you seem to be quite pre-occupied with conflict / danger photography. Just wondered why, it is after all a pretty specialist field?

C

I just want them to put something completely different from the usual stuff

And because I work for an UN related International Organization and am friends with the official photographer who covers these types of photography, so I want to learn more, hear the experiences of other photographers who do this kind of work.

Oh and I am only using 'conflict' as an example. Of course it could be other types of photography that is done in 'high risk' locations, such as scaling a mountain or documentary photography done in a rain forest or coal mines, etc.

[HayleyEPaterek]

Alwin, you have stated a few times this week that you don't read DP or subscribe anymore which is clear as all of what you have posted above has been covered and in recent issues.

Here's what you may have missed

In 112 we covered shooting in hostile environments as we sent a freelancer Angelica Jopson on a 'shooting in hostile environments' course. She also interviewed photographers who work on the frontline with plenty of advice on staying safe, ideal kit to use etc

In Issue 103 we interviewed Christian Pondella who shoots in extreme environments
In issue 103 Jodie Tyley went behind the scenes on a fashion shoot with James Nader which covered the entire shoot process
In issue 110 documentary photographer Ben Hodson was interviewed by Natalie Johnson about photographing in the middle east
In issue 112 we interviewed Platon who illegally skipped the border into Burma to get the first offical photograph of Aung San Suu Kyi
In issue 113 we covered the London riots in the news section and interviewed a photographer about his experiences
In issue 114 Adam Hinton spoke about photographing in the slums within India and South America, he was held up at gunpoint
In issue 105 Claire Gillo spent the day with a Navy photographer on board H.M.S Albion

In ALL issues when interviewing pro photographers we ask and cover questions with the body text about their processes and how a shoot typically works, particularly within the big feature and pro portfolio section.

In regards to covering the basics, the magazine is aimed at enthusiasts and pros so yes sometimes we breifly cover the basics but rarely is it too beginner. The masterclass section is always varied and regularly features photographic techniques that suits an enthusiastic level of photographer.

If however you have any EDITING tutorials you would like to suggest please feel free to post below...

[ALwin]

Oh thanks, I guess I have to go back and check them out. My last issue was 113 so will be re-reading what I missed, though the 115 issue about Claire spending a day or so on a Navy ship, I thought that was in a previous issue? 115 hasn't even come out yet.

[D Pentney]

Sorry, I slightly misread the title of the post.. my mistake.

In terms of editing, and I don't know anything about the video aspect, I'd say this is an area I spend least amount of time on. Thats not to say I'm not interested, it's just there's so much information on the net it makes this section redundant for me. Now, I guess you could almost say that for anything as it's all out there, however the difference is it's good to have a read about taking pictures when I'm on a train or there's nothing on TV, but I find there's no point reading about editing unless I can do it as I go. So I'm literally sat at my PC with the mag infront of me - therefore, I could just as easily go online and access the thousands of tutorials on there. Adobe has so much information it baffles the mind, then youtube, then all the other sites, No offense, but isn't it all covered there? I know it's part of the digital experience (and I'm biased because I don't really enjoy this aspect) but you're going to struggle to add something extra. And, on top of all that, if you really wanted to read about it, then there are publications that solely deal with editing. I know this isn't what you wanted to hear, and I'm sorry it's so negative because normally I like to suggest as much as criticize, but the fact is you're giving up page space to cover topics that I can get anywhere, in nearly any format - and mostly, for free.

Perhaps what I'd find most helpful is again, something a bit more like a discussion. When sharpening, what's a good level to increase to? Different views on how much saturation is acceptable before it gets silly. Things like that. I know it's all subjective, but there must be industry standards, and isn't all photography subjective at the end of the day?

Picking up the idea of talking about prepping to go into dangerous areas etc, it's too big a subject to cover as part of a magazine and I don't think it'd be responsible to suggest people have a crack at it off the back of a bit of reading. Being ex-army, I can tell you it's an absolute curse having idiots with cameras getting in your way while you're trying to do a job and protect them from themselves because they've seen a 'great shot'. Several times I've seen said photographer get off lucky by being on the recieving end of a 'bad shot' - a good one would have killed them.

Likewise, trying to show people the best outdoor equipment to take on a prolonged outdoor excursion would, and has, filled books. Being into this myself I can tell you there's as much debate about fabrics as there is about lens filters.. and don't get me started about zips. It's a subject too big to cover

[claireg]

Oh thanks, I guess I have to go back and check them out. My last issue was 113 so will be re-reading what I missed, though the 115 issue about Claire spending a day or so on a Navy ship, I thought that was in a previous issue? 115 hasn't even come out yet.

Sorry that should be 105 not 115. Thanks.