EdStone

<p>1. Follow the advice above.<br>

2. 365<br>

Take a picture every day for a year (several different exposures and angles). It doesn't matter what it is but put some thought into it. (I'm still working on items around the house.) Remember that regardless of what you are photographing your subject is light (and the shadows give the photo the depth). Review them for not only what you did right but how they could be improved. Every 3 or 4 months go back an review from the beginning. What have you improved on? What is still a problem?<br>

3. Get decent photo editing software. There are some good free ones out there, but IMHO, I would suggest the latest version of PhotoShop Elements to begin with.<br>

4. Enjoy!!</p>

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<p>I have a AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D lens from B&H photo that I truly love and have used it for portraits on both FX and DX cameras with very good results. At the current price you could get this and your 105 macro and have a greater choice of lens. </p>

<h3 data-selenium="itemHeading"><a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/247091-GREY/Nikon_2137_Normal_AF_Nikkor_50mm.html" data-selenium="itemHeadingLink"> </a></h3>

<p>Debbie,<br>

James Dainis has a good point about testing your lens.<br>

If you can afford it Adobe Lightroom has a panel for lens correction that you may want to investigate.<br>

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<p>What Dave said.<br>

Also try these two links<br>

<a href="/column/jonsienkiewicz/missing-pages-column/depth-of-field/">http://www.photo.net/column/jonsienkiewicz/missing-pages-column/depth-of-field/</a><br>

<a href="/column/jonsienkiewicz/missing-pages-column/aperture-priority-shutter-priority/">http://www.photo.net/column/jonsienkiewicz/missing-pages-column/aperture-priority-shutter-priority/</a></p>

<p>Brian<br>

I have a Nikon D3200 that I really like, and it will be able to just about anything you want to do as a beginner including decent video. <br>

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/856049-REG/Nikon_25492_D3200_DSLR_Camera_With.html<br>

It may be more than you want to pay but you should consider it. You should shop around and maybe you can find it somewhere cheeper</p><div></div>

<p>I've been in and out of photography for years and now that retirement is around the corner it would be nice to finally start getting serious.<br>

Please stop by <a href="/photos/EdStone">http://www.photo.net/photos/EdStone</a> and leave any comments that are appropriate.</p>

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