Hi, I am a complete newbie to DSI spotters and should hopefully be joining the spotters army soon.

I currently own a Nikon D40, which is a beginner's SLR but a decent one nevertheless. I am a novice and never really thought about getting a more expensive camera. I was just wondering if being a complete novice would make me disadvantaged? I have been interested with photography for quite a while and know the basics of photography more or less.

Also, are spotters given a particularly assignment?? And if so, do I have any co-spotters that'll work with me?

Thanks a lot!

Disadvantaged ? deppends on how u are working.. Jumping on peoples necks and shuving the camera right in there face.. might not be the best aproch maybe.
other then that dont think so as long as u take good pictures. Doesnt matter what camera u have.
It doesnt mean that if u have a Canon Eos 40d u take better picures just because u have a more expenisive camera then a 300d. U can still take better pictures with a crappy one sometimes then with a pro cam. its all in the hand of the spotter.

About special assignment as a spotter well. if u work as a pro spotter u might. but then u mostly get paid also.
Most of us spotters are like the lone wolfs. work alone. but u get to know a few of us when u been around for a while.

This is just my words. i might be wrong on a few points but still..

Also depends how much photography you have done. I've been an avid photographer for over 20yrs but only 7months on club work. There is a learning curve to this.

Do you understand how to use your camera? (if not, read the manual and then read it again)
Do you have an external Flash? (if not, get one, very important for low light work)
Do you know how to use the Flash and how much flash photography have you done?

Best advice i can give, have a look at other togs favourites (we all do it) so you can see the diff styles and what makes a good pic.

On My DSI page Dr-Dax I've put some of my fav pix on my profile page.

Read the manual of your camera, know how to use exposure priority and aperture priority, even full manual.

Learn about bouncing your flash (only possible with ext flash),

Best advice, just go out and take pix, try all the settings of your cam, find out what works well and not so well.

It just takes practice, learn from mistakes you make to become better.

Spotting at events is usually easy, just turn up. At larger events or more popular events, ask the organisers if it's ok to come and take pix. Usually they'll say it's fine.

Always check if there is anywhere they don't want you to go. Sometimes the DJs don't want togs close to them.

If in doubt, ALWAYS ASK. If you ask, usually you'll get access to the DJ box, or closed off areas.

Learn how to use Photoshop (elements or CS3) or at a push Paint shop pro (not as good as Photoshop)

I'm sure you'll recieve lots of advice on here.

Hi, im fairly new to dsi & spottin aswel, but im not really aiming to be any good at it, just like taking pics of a good night out, good memories frozen in the spur of the moment, but ive noticed i take some cool fotos by accident. light shows & lazers usually look good, & when you see people dancin fast with glow sticks usually make some cool images. theres a settin on my camera that says night-flash usually works well, makes things look blurry, especially with the glow sticks in shot. my cameras old & only 3.5 meg pix, which is quite rubbish compared to the most out now, but still does wat i want it 2 do. you prob know all this anyway. Theres a top-spotter from this way (S.Wales) who i think has become a personal photographer for M.C Wotsee of Hardcore fame & now goes everywhere with him. His name, Offiteyes, what a name & very well known in the harder clubbin scene. What music you mainly into?

theres some very good advice above.

many of the spotters on here use compacts so having a entry level SLR wont disadvantage you. learn how to use the camera inside and out especially in the dark.


the site doesnt work like that. in essence all spotters are just clubbers who bring there cameras along to events they are going to. no one gives out assignments. dont expect anybody to email you telling you to cover a certain event.



any idea's whats happened to ant, havent seen him in ages and he hasnt uploaded anything new in months?

Yeah i know, think he won a competition or sumthin & became an exclusive photographer for Evolution club & M.C Wotsee, i might be wrong on that but sure i read it up or heard it somwhere. Prob has a contract sayin hes not allowed to spot for anyone else now, including dsi.
Good luck to him anyways watever hes up to.
Just goes to show that you can go far as a spotter if you put the effort in.
Fair do's he was always top spotter when i used to check up on dsi now & then before i got myself online.

evo's no more and cant imagine him signing anything like that. but you never know.



a better example would be Marc-de-Groot

some of the highlights

the sun

britian's next top model

I heard bout that but dont want it to be true lol. they shut down before then re-opened & always hoping it to re-open again, what a club, that was :(
Oh yeah, seen that guys name around a bit aswel,
so you really could get far as a spotter then, not bad for just havin fun init.
Cool!!

,

Soz, didnt catch that. lol

I sent it by accident lol

wasnt de groot a tog b4 being on dsi?

Not so much.

fair enough fair play to him then

Not at all. Hes a DSI made man ;)

I remember his first outing at the Whitehouse, all fresh faced and inexperieced lol I think it was the same day as the C4 filming...

That was his first day out with an SLR-type camera for sure - I think it was a Fuji bridge.