Any good amateur photographers?

[PeggyGa]

I am hopeless at taking pictures, I have tried to you tube research it, tried to read books and blogs but still turn our rubbish.

any top tips?

Get a bridge camera or a dslr digital camera, use auto or semi auto setting and basically just take photos of what ever you like, then when taking them becareful to get focus lock rather than blurred photos, then build your skills from there.

Yes these days phone cameras are quite good too,

If trying to get a decent dozen for my annual calendar I must take hundreds. Occasionally I get a good shot first time, but often it needs cropping, straightening or whatever. I don't mess with exposure.
What are you trying to achieve? Is it just the technical side (exposure, focus) that's going wrong? Or composition?
Somethings do not photograph well without some equipment. I've never managed to capture frost particularly well or certain light conditions. I'm standing there looking at a beautiful scene and take a pic and it just doesn't capture the atmosphere. I would then need a proper camera (I use my phone) with different exposure times etc.
if you really want help you need to do an in person course, not online.

I did an evening course at a local college and it massively improved my photography. Instead of taking 4/5/6 shots, I stop and look at the image in the viewfinder and think before pressing the shutter.

I also bought a fairly basic entry level Canon DSLR, which has got fairly simple controls and a good auto mode for when you're struggling with light balance etc.

I have ayearwithmycamera.com/ saved from seeing the link here but I haven't got round to starting it yet.

I suppose it depends what you mean by 'good' photographs.

It's hard to take nice photos of children or animals as they move around or might not be against a photogenic background.

I produce what looks like nice photos when I'm out walking but they're only snaps with a phone camera of nice scenery, I have no technical skill and they're not proper 'good' photographs where you see great detail of a bird in a tree or whatever.

But I am wondering if phone cameras have got so good that you can take truely great photos with the better ones as you see far fewer people out with giant cameras than a few years ago where it seemed like just about everyone had a 'proper' camera. Or it's past as a phase/hobby. Or at least it's just far easier and most people don't to lug around a proper DSLR camera.

digital-photography-school.com/ This is a handy site with lots of tips and tutorials.

I just want to take a decent picture. I can’t seem to upload my shit pictures!

those sites look good

When I started photography, it was and is a side hobby based on the topic urban exploration that intrigued me to take up photography.

Then I'll admit I need more practice with the technical side e.g. Aperture ect.
As it stands I use auto, semi auto mode, so I can alter the light balance before I take the photo, then I don't use the rule of thirds ect for composition, instead if I think that photo at x time looks ok for the photo shoot at that time then I take the photo, I usually prefer different angles and I try to do close up details e.g flowers, but sometimes it's a mix on how they come out, the most I got editing wise was enhancing the colours and adding similar to hdr effect and then that's about it really.

All self taught through experience and just taking photos really, done two weddings, and they came out ok, used a mix of bridge, phone and dslr cameras on the day.

Best advice, your photos may not be great, so keep trying and experimenting.

Some examples

Thank you!

You could try your local camera club? Or there are really good courses with a company called Photography for Parents. It’s all online but totally personalised with feedback etc.