At Nola Nerd Couple, we’ve always loved sharing our nerdy family adventures—whether it’s at comic cons, traveling, or exploring our beloved city of New Orleans. LRecently, we decided to take on a new challenge: learning photography. Learning photography in New Orleans makes for some amazing shots!
Photography has always been a part of our story. From capturing cosplay at conventions to documenting our parenting journey, the photos we take help us connect with our readers. But as much as we’ve enjoyed snapping pictures with our trusty iPhones and six-year-old Sony point-and-shoot camera, we knew it was time to level up.
So, we invested in a Nikon D5300 DSLR camera and embarked on a photography journey—right here in the vibrant, photogenic city of New Orleans.
If you’re thinking about learning photography and don’t know where to start, we’re here to say: If we can do it, you can too!
Why Learning Photography in New Orleans is Perfect!
New Orleans isn’t just our home—it’s also an amazing place to learn photography. Whether you’re a beginner or a pro, the city offers endless inspiration. From the colorful streets of the Bywater to the lush greenery of City Park, there’s no shortage of unique backdrops to practice your skills.
As beginners, we’ve found New Orleans to be the ideal classroom for experimenting with our new camera. Here’s why:
- Vibrant Colors and Textures: The city’s historic architecture, street art, and iconic landmarks provide endless opportunities to work on composition.
- Diverse Lighting Conditions: From the soft morning light in City Park to the dramatic shadows of the French Quarter, New Orleans challenges you to master different lighting scenarios.
- Dynamic Subjects: Whether it’s a second-line parade, a quiet bayou, or a bustling comic con at the convention center, New Orleans offers subjects for every type of photographer.
Choosing the Nikon D5300 for Our Photography Journey
After researching countless cameras (and snagging a great Black Friday deal), we chose the Nikon D5300 DSLR camera to kickstart our photography journey. Here’s why it was the perfect choice for us:
- Beginner-Friendly Features: The automatic settings make it easy for newbies like us to get started, while the manual modes provide room to grow.
- Versatile Lenses: The 18-55mm lens is great for everyday photography, while the 70-300mm lens lets us zoom in for more detailed shots—perfect for cosplay portraits and wildlife photography.
- Video Capabilities: It shoots high-quality video and has a microphone port, making it a great tool for our unboxing videos and convention coverage.
If you’re looking for an affordable, beginner-friendly camera, the Nikon D5300 is a fantastic option, especially for families learning photography together.
Learning the Basics of Photography
Let’s be real: buying a camera doesn’t instantly make you a photographer. Learning photography requires patience, practice, and a willingness to embrace your mistakes. As total beginners, we’ve been focusing on mastering the basics:
- Understanding Camera Settings: Learning to adjust shutter speed, aperture, and ISO to create the right exposure.
- Experimenting with Lighting: Figuring out how natural light, indoor light, and even New Orleans’ famous gas lamps affect our photos.
- Improving Composition: Practicing how to frame shots in creative and visually appealing ways.
We’ve found great resources online, including photography blogs, video tutorials, and courses on Lynda.com. But the real learning happens when we take our camera out into the city and experiment.
Practicing Photography in New Orleans
To practice, we’ve been exploring two of our favorite spots in New Orleans: City Park and the Bywater. These locations are perfect for beginners because they offer a mix of natural beauty and urban charm.
Bywater
The Bywater neighborhood is a colorful playground for photographers. With its vibrant murals and eclectic architecture, it’s the perfect place to practice composition. Mrs. Nola Nerd Couple has a great eye for framing shots, and her photos from the Bywater (taken in full auto mode) turned out beautifully.
City Park
City Park, one of our favorite spots to visit at anytime of the year. is a photographer’s dream, with its winding pathways, serene lagoons, and iconic oak trees draped in Spanish moss. It is even more enchanting during Celebration in the Oaks.
During our visit, we experimented with:
- Manual Settings: Adjusting shutter speed and aperture to capture the park’s natural beauty.
- Lighting Conditions: Testing how morning light affects the mood of our photos.
Some shots turned out great, while others—like a blurry photo of a groom walking away from his bridal party—reminded us there’s still a lot to learn about shutter speed and f-stops.
Lessons Learned from Our Early Photography Adventures
Here are a few things we’ve learned so far:
- Mistakes Are Part of the Process: Some photos were underexposed, overexposed, or blurry—but each one taught us something valuable.
- Happy Accidents Happen: A vibrant photo of flamingos in City Park is one of our favorites, even though it wasn’t planned.
- Experimentation is Key: Trying different modes (Auto, Shutter Priority, Manual) has helped us understand what works best for different situations.
We’re still figuring things out, but every outing with our camera brings us closer to our goal of taking better photos.
If We Can Learn Photography, So Can You
The biggest takeaway from our journey so far is this: you don’t need to be perfect to start learning photography. It’s easy to feel intimidated by all the technical details, but the best way to improve is by diving in and practicing.
Here are some beginner-friendly tips we’ve picked up:
- Start with Auto: Don’t be afraid to use automatic settings while you get comfortable with your camera.
- Take Your Time: Photography has a learning curve, so be patient with yourself.
- Practice, Practice, Practice: Bring your camera everywhere—whether you’re exploring your city, attending a comic con, or hanging out in your backyard.
We’re excited to keep learning and sharing our progress, and we hope to inspire others to do the same.
Why Photography Matters to Us
Photography isn’t just about capturing moments—it’s about telling stories. Whether we’re documenting a comic con, exploring the streets of New Orleans, or traveling as a family, our photos help us share our experiences with you.
As beginners, we’re not aiming for perfection. Instead, we want to show that learning photography is possible for anyone, even if you’re starting from scratch. If we can do it, you can too!
Key Takeaways
- Perfect for Beginners: New Orleans is an amazing city to learn photography, with its vibrant colors, diverse lighting, and dynamic subjects.
- Camera Recommendation: The Nikon D5300 is a great entry-level DSLR for families and beginners.
- Embrace the Journey: Mistakes and experimentation are part of the process—don’t be afraid to learn as you go.
Call to Action
Are you learning photography in New Orleans or planning to start? We’d love to hear about your experiences! Share your tips and stories in the comments below. Let’s learn and grow together.
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