New to photography

<p>Hi,</p>

<p>I am new to photography, but like most I have snapped several pictures through the years on my personal camera and on my phone. Wanting it to take it more seriously I am curious to learn more, but don't know where i should start reading about photography. All the references to lense sizes, exposure amounts, etc is just a big confusing mess. So for anyone just learning where is a good place to go to learn about photography online, especially for digital camera photography? Thank you for your time!</p>

 

<p>A good place to start would be with the "Learning" tab at the top of this page. </p>

<p>http://www.photo.net/learn/</p>

<p>Start with the section on "Basic Photography Tips". Reading the section linked to in the first paragraph "Basic Photo Tips: Aperture, Shutter Speed, and ISO" will get you started then go where ever your interests dictate.</p>

<p>I'm brand new to the hobby as well. Just a few weeks. <br>

I picked up a Nikon D5300, which seems to be a good fit for me. My best advice so far is to just try things out and learn as you go. I've been picking up new tricks every session. </p>

<p>+1 to Dick's recommendations. Don't worry at first about making amazing images. Just work on understanding the basics of exposure: Aperture, Shutter Speed, and ISO settings, as well as Focus. Once you have a working understanding of these principles, then you can begin working to apply them to your images. Start out using the Aperture Priority (A, on Nikon) setting on your camera, and single-point autofocus, and then experiment by adjusting one variable at at time to see how it impacts your images. If you do this in a systematic way, you will quickly begin to see how each of these settings impacts the result. Setting your DSLR on "automatic" defeats the purpose of the DSLR. You might as well just use a point-and-shoot. Find tutorials that make sense to you, both here and elsewhere, and work your way through them. And, make sure to have some fun along the way. Don't be afraid to come back and ask questions. Happy trails and good luck.</p>

<p>+ 3 on basic photography tips<br>

Check out the photography section at your <strong>local library</strong> - they are now online too!<br>

And then start using basic settings and experimenting on your <strong>Canon</strong> DSLR or mirroirless</p>

<p> </p>

<p>As an alternative to the learning section here, if you prefer a book, I think one of the best books to get started is Bryan Peterson, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1607748509/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_dp_ss_1?pf_rd_p=1944687582&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=0817439390&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=X87DRQJAV38D01JE5P7F">Understanding Exposure</a>. It's a very clear and concise explanation. For more learning on composition, I much like the book <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Photographers-Eye-Composition-Design-Digital/dp/0240809343/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1464854956&sr=1-1&keywords=the+photographer%27s+eye">The Photographer's Eye</a>, by Michael Freeman - but this might be a bit a handful if you're just getting started. I did however learn an awful lot from it.<br>

Another thing that can be worth checking if there are any basic photography courses locally, or maybe groups of photographers that organise trips/shootings together, to get some peer support and "live" feedback. There is a lot available online, but sometimes learning together with others helps you stay stimulated, inspired and may give you new, fresh ideas.</p>

<p>Don't obsess over the technology. Sure, it's important but it will come. Put your camera in program mode and have fun. Shoot what appeals to you. You will soon learn what works and what doesn't. Then, take one feature - such as depth of field - and play with it until you get it. My wife is a math major and has sat through my basic photography class at least a dozen times, and she still doesn't really "get" f stops. But she's sold many photos and has won awards in shows. But she knows what she likes to shoot, and what will make a nice photograph. A good eye and good light will beat technology any day.</p>

<p>I'm fairly new to photography and I've come to the conclusion that a good imagination is a far better asset to taking good shots than technical knowledge. </p>