Advice for a Noobee getting started

[Billy Ocean]

I posted some of my photo's from baseball spring training on a few other message boards. Apparently somebody that runs a NY Mets fan website saw my pictures and liked them, he asked if he could post some of my pictures on his website because the AP photo's were too expensive. In return I asked if he could get me some press passes to future games so I could get on the field and get more pics. Well he couldn't get press passes for The Mets games but he did say he could get passes for several minor league parks. I'm real excited because this will be my first experience having my photo's posted and the press passes will be a really cool experience. At this point I just want to learn and put together a decent portfolio (and of course have some fun watching baseball). I shoot with a D-Rebel and will be purchasing my first new lense shortly... Obviously a telephoto of some sort. So even though there's no money involved I feel like I'm getting started on a great hobby that'll make me happy.

My first step is setting up an online gallery and getting the new lense. Does anybody have any advice for me in general about sharing my pics and shooting sports, and more specifically does anybody have any advice on setting up an online gallery and a good lense for sports? Any books I could read for inspiration in photojournalism?? Copywriting my work so to protect it from people using them without permission? Any advice is appreciated, I have very limited experience in photography but I have a creative eye and desire to learn... :)

As always I apprecaite any help you guys can give me. I'm so excited!!!! Thanks.

[tim]

Congratuations, i've had a couple of pics published which I sold, it's a real buzz eh? Try not to get into the habit of giving your photos away, it sets a prescindent that might prevent you selling the images later. On the other hand getting experience is always good.

JAlbum (http://www.jalbum.net) is great for making a gallery - take a look at the site linked from my profile, I have like 4 seperate galleries on my site made with JAlbum. It can put a watermark on each image, which is about the best you'll get wrt copyright. Alternately there are a few image gallery programs, gallery on sourceforge.net or the Pekkas exhibit engine.

What lens are you thinking? There's obviously the 70-200 range, Sigma and Canon, or the 100-400. I don't know what you'd need for that sport. Either way it sounds like you'll have a lot of fun :)

[Billy Ocean]

Thanks Tim. When I was younger I was involved in painting murals, and I really used to get off on people talking about my work or coming up to me on the street and sharing their feelings about my artwork. For personal reasons I stopped painting... having these people contact me about my photo's brought back some great old feelings of sharing the view of the world through my eyes (even just for a second). Sharing emotion through creative expression is awesome!!!! I really get a buzz off it!!!

I figured I would share my photo's with this one particular website because it works for both of us,and I can agree to do it for one full season and then move on. I get experience, access to games and shots I couldn't get from the bleachers, and a bit of exposure for my work also ... they get pictures. Plus I'm sharing with my fellow Mets fans :)

On a personal note I actually have you and a few other on this site to thank for this, because if you hadn't responded to my thread about picture recovery I wouldn't have had those pics. So, Cheers Tim!!!

Right now I'm thinking about a fast 70-200MM not $ure if I'll go wiht a Canon or Sigma on my first lense, figured I ask around and get feedback.

Thanks for the advice on Jalbum I'll check it out over the next few days and get back to you.

Cheers!

[tim]

This review (http://www.slo-foto.net/reviews-56.html) should help you decide on a lens, and you're more than welcome to my advice. People were very helpful to me when I was a beginner (less than 6 months ago), i'm just paying it forward :) Special mention to Bob G, who was especially helpful :)

You learn a lot really quickly here, plus the quick feedback of digital and exif information make for an incredibly short learning curve. Developing a mild obesssion and spending most of your free time thinking about photography helps too ;) Post in the photo sharing forums here, people will give you opinions which often help you develop too.

[Billy Ocean]

Thanks again Tim. I like the looks of the Canon Zoom Telephoto EF 75-300mm f/4.0-5.6 EF IS Image Stabilizer USM Autofocus Lens. Seems to cover all my needs and looks to be in my $$$$ range. The Canon 70-200/4 L USM looks good also but is probably out of my range.

[tim]

The 100-300 is a better lens, but doesn't have IS. The 75-300 is only 1st generation IS, but it's better than no IS. Even better is using a tripod. I think the Sigma 70-300 (or 75-300, I forget) APO Super Macro II is better value.

[Billy Ocean]

I think the IS will be pretty important for me, especially shoting sports from a distance. What do you mean by first generation? What about my CF card... If I increase to the ultra II will it increase the speed with which I can take pictures. I usually get a burst of about 4 pics and I'd like to increase that somehow. What do you think?

[tim]

First generation was Canon's first shot at doing it, it should be ok I rekon, never used it myself. Yes, a faster CF card might help a bit, have a look at this site (http://www.robgalbraith.com/bins/multi_page.asp?cid=6007) for details. The 20D has a big buffer so it won't benefit as much, but if you're holding your finger down it'll write out images faster and you'll be able to do continuous shooting for longer.