Hello,

I just registered myself as a member. I am new to DSLR photography and am just learning. I often come to these forums to seek information and thought it might be more useful to join. In my many visits to this site, I have had the chance to see that many of you are excellent photographers and/or professionals or aspiring professionals. I would love the opportunity to "sponge" off your knowledge. The big question is...

Would you find me annoying or would you welcome the very basic questions that are sure to come.

I have the following equipment:

Canon Rebel XT
50mm 1.8 lens
Alien Bees B800 Flash Unit
Umbrella
Brolly Box
Varous Backdrops

I would appreciate your honest response as to whether newbies such as me are annoying. If so, I'll continue to read the forums from the "outside looking in" until I learn more and can contribute more.

Thanks!

Melissa, welcome to PhotographyBLOG!

Please feel free to ask anything that you like, our members and myself will be more than happy to help if we can.

Hi Melissa,
Welcome to the 'blog' !
I am sure you will find everyone very eager to help in any way they can, you will find members with all skill levels here from beginers to experts, and all of us are more than willing to try and help where we can!
So, don't worry, I am sure you will soon feel right at home!
I look forward to seeing your photos!

Steve (smw57)

Hi Melissa,

I think that from your description of yourself, you're exactly the sort of person who could benefit most from this site. I'm sure that you would be a great asset to the site. You would certainly learn a lot as an active member, and much more quickly than if you were to try and learn it on your own. Welcome to the family!

you will be most certainly welcomed.

i joined about a month ago and I've had so much help and encouragement. everyone is very friendly and will offer some very helpful constructive criticism (which you can ignore freely too). as a complete novice myself, I understand how it can be a bit intimidating putting work on show, but soon you'll get right into it.

i still have no idea what is happening when people talk about ISO, DOF, F-Stop, but whenever i have a question there is always people ready to help. and i'm learning so much from the other members.

join us melissa

Hi Melissa

As someone who has only just become an owner of a digital SLR camera last week, but has been using this site (as a member) for a few months now (with pics from an old manual SLR) I would definately encourage you to join and become an active member. This site is not just a showcase of outstanding work (although there is lots of that) but a friendly welcoming place for people of all levels to show their work, have it critqued and critique others.

I do believe that in order to improve your own photographic skills and creativity it is just as important to look at other peoples' work and comment on it - there is no right or wrong comment that can be given on a photo I don't believe, as it is a very subjective activityat the end of the day - but I know that I for one have benefitted from taking the time to look and think 'why do I like that', or 'what would make that picture better?'. It makes me think about my own photography more.

Obviously it's great to have comments on your own work as well, and it gives you such a buzz when people like it! I don't find this a particularly 'geeky/technical' site (no offence to geeks) which would probably intimidate me a little, although there is room to discuss different techniques, but as someone who still really focuses on composition, ideas and captured moments I feel really at home here and have had lots of good feedback and encouragement.

Look forward to seeing some of your stuff!

Angela

Thanks to everyone for the extremely nice comments. I do feel very welcomed here and look forward to participating more on this site and improving my photography. I wish had more time to spend with this site and taking photos but as a mother of two working full time it can be hard sometimes.

Right now I am tyring to get my set up just right to take holiday pictures of my kids and some of my family's kids, etc. The questions should be flowing soon....

Anyway, thanks again for the warm welcome, I look forward to spending time on this site!

Melissa

Hi Melissa

Melissa, you are an old hand, I joined after Christmas and put a few Sports Shots on, but for doing Studio Work, I am the Village Idiots Apprentice, I have now purchased some courtney lights and have started experimenting and having gone digital, I can see the results immediately, and my model doesn't answer back. Its great having a Cabbage Patch Doll left behind when the daughters move on. I have always asked people at work who are interested in photography what I have done wrong, and now I can ask the world for advice. Don't be afraid to ask


Brettonmick

I certainly have been made to feel welcome on this site and have really learned quite a bit already. Most of my work is portrait style photography of loved ones. I really want to post some pics on the site and get feedback, however.....they are mostly of my children and immediate family which feels to weird to put on the internet. If I ever get lucky with a cool landscape piece or random person, I'll be sure to post it. In the meantime, I am enjoying the site and the people. By the way, I too have had the odd toy left behind long after my children grew disinterested. Some of my best shots are of teddy!

Good luck with the site!

Melissa