So, the short version is that I just inherited a new camera. And it's pretty awesome, compared to what I'm used to. It's a Nikon D80. Problem is, it's such a GIGANTIC step up from where I was that I don't even know where to begin. I've snapped a couple photos in auto and program mode, but now I want to start learning about some of the other features/uses of this camera.

Where's a good place to start, both technique wise and also good sites for an absolute BEGINNER to learn the basics?

Illegally download the new Morbid Angel album and then delete your system 32 folder and all shall be revealed.

I did #2. I skipped #1, not much of a Spineshank fan.

Brian Peterson's Understanding Exposure is the best book to learn from, IMO.

I'll check this one out.

I'm struggling through the manual right now. There's a lot of features on this camera. I feel like a total boob, I have no idea what half this shit does.

weird, I posted a reply to this and it isn't here.

the manual is mostly useless.

Fuck the manual, go for the book and the manual will make more sense later.

exactly what pam says. you need concepts first so when a anual says "change fn3 to apply auto-ISO settings with minimum shutter" you know what that means.

Thanks.

Any other books, or websites? I forgot to mention, two things I'm especially interested in is LIGHTING and BLACK AND WHITE stuff.

Also, I was given "Magic Lantern Guides" Nikon D80 book by Simon Stafford and the Magic Lantern AF Speedlight book by the same guy. It's like a really in depth version of the manual. I got the AF speedlight also. I'm afraid to even look up what this rig costs, I don't want to know. I think I've got the coolest dad in the universe.

Also, WTF is an "Expodisk"? There's one in the bag. It's like a weird fractal-y wite disc that looks like it goes over the lens.

nice! I have never seen one of those IRL. It helps you with getting your white balance right.

http://www.dpreview.com is the site I go to for all my camera technical/bitching forums.

Bookmarked.


I forget what model, but the reason my dad traded up was for some new Nikon model that has a full sized sensor. He showed it to me, it was pretty badassed.

If you're shooting digital, it's better to go black in white using channels or a black&white adjustment layer. Shooting in grayscale sucks.

(in photoshop of course)

only take pictures of dicks and abortions or false.

Actualy, I you has ps, get the silverfox plug in if you really are serious.

If your dad's cam is about the same size as the d80, then I is the d700. If it is extremely bigger it is probably the d3 (which is what I shoot with) or the d3s (which is the camera I would get if my d3 fell in the ocean), or if he is fucking rich, the d3x. I'm waiting for the d4 to come out.

Funny that you re reversed. My dad shoots d80 and I shoot d3

I have to agree with the above, you need to do black and white with layers. Don't use the camera settings. This is all photoshop stuff. Film is the best for black and white in my personal opinion. But I do change things in photoshop sometimes.

Also I would start shooting in manual mode. The colors are so much better. I am more of a canon fan, but does that have a built in light meter? Landscape type shots are a good place to start, they tend to be a bit easier.

I will try and find the tutorial online I used, I think I have it save on another computer. Once I find it I will post it.

manual mode doesn't affect colors at all. manual mode affects exposure, not colors.
You can manual change the colors with the whitebalance and using the exposedisk, but even with that, if you shoot RAW it's all up to the program that you use to decode and display everything.

Perhaps he meant that if you shoot on auto, you can't manually adjust white balance on many cameras.

you can from a RAW.

Sorry I don't explain things very well....:( But yes RAW will let you do a lot more but you do need a good post processing program. I use photoshop but I know there are others.

I can only shoot landscapes and architecture, I have tried shooting shows and it is total disaster.

Any FREE non-illegal options in lieu of Photoshop?

Gimp

I need a way to hook the Nikon to my phone, so I can upload shots to my photobucket account from wherever I am.

Also, walked around Plymouth for a bit. Tomorrow, I will be getting up REALLLY early to shoot the harbor, burial hill, the Jenny Grist Mill, and possibly the re-done Nelson Park with all the little kiddies playing in the sprinkler. (The boring kinda shots MSD wouldn't like)

Any tips before I do this?

Also, how can I get photos like THIS:

Expodisc? Neat, I played with on at the PDN expo but they're stupid expensive.

If you want to learn strobe, you need to go to strobist.com and start from the beginning of Lighting 101. There isn't a better site on the internet for the glories of off-camera speedlights.

As for websites, if you can get by the inherent girl/downhome midwest mother-centeredness, the Pioneer Woman has some great, simple articles on the basics. Start here.

http://thepioneerwoman.com/photography/cat...ry/basic-photography/what-the-heck/

There's also digital photography school online, however I find most of the advice on there to be written by soccer moms with digital rebels and other idiots.

GIMP blows goats. go to adobe's site when you are ready and dl a demo of ps to play with it. there is a reason it is still king.