dirtpusher Loc: tulsa oklahoma

Learn your camera. Example!

Take tripod an camera. set a tin can out on a brick. Use every adjustment the camera has so you see every effect each setting has.

Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

Sure, that can get the how, but doesn't lead to the what. One still needs to have a 'vision of an image' unless it is just going to be a lucky shot.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

Yes, and developing a vision takes two things: experience making photographs (every experience is an experiment of sorts), and looking at lots of great photographs.

It's been said that creativity is really just combining the best of the past in new ways. As photographers, beyond learning the "technocraft," we must prime our subconscious minds with tens of thousands of really well composed, well timed, intelligently and tastefully executed images. Then we must go out and make images!

Don't take, don't shoot, MAKE.

Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

Yep!

dar_clicks Loc: Utah

Others have mentioned practice and working on composition. During all that practice, pay attention to light! Sometimes the composition can be just fine but unless there is something about the light on the scene that is providing unusual qualities, the shot may remain ordinary. Early morning and late evening can sometimes bring exceptional lighting to a scene.

dirtpusher Loc: tulsa oklahoma

That another learning curve. Composition. You have to have perspective on what you want.

dirtpusher Loc: tulsa oklahoma

Over cast, sunny, cloudy, sometimes it a guessing game till you get more practice

bkellyusa Loc: Nashville, TN

Thank for all the replies. I am impressed and very thankful for how many people have responded so quickly.

G Brown Loc: Sunny Bognor Regis West Sussex UK

Stop buying books and take photographs....There comes a point in all learning when you have to put theory into practice.

Not only do you need to use the camera but you have to get feedback on your images - critique not 'that's nice'. So post on critique section, join a photo club, work with another photographer. Facebook likes is not an option.

Discover your niche - the thing that gets you out of bed in the morning and keeps you working late at night. Then work on it.

Start NOW....not tomorrow

blackest Loc: Ireland

Two very good links thank you Linda i enjoyed reading them.

Bill_de Loc: US

That's the best answer you will get!

If you have thick skin and can put up with some rudeness, post a lot of your images, starting in the gallery and then in the specialty forums on this site. Ask for honest critiques and advice for improvement when warranted.

--

boberic Loc: Quiet Corner, Connecticut. Ex long Islander

There as a phrase that's used in golf (as well as other things). Analysis makes for paralysis. You are tied up in theory. As others have said--time to go out and shoot, shoot, shoot. Don't worry about mistakes--that's why the delete button is there.

PalePictures Loc: Traveling

Here's what I would say.
The more specific your goal the more likely you are to achieve it.
Saying I want to go to the next level means what?

Here's the way I approached the problem of improvement.
I found the best images in the area that I wanted to go and used that as my benchmark.
The more I looked at those images the more I realized how those images were different than what I was producing.
I read things specific to what I wanted to do.
I didn't want to be pretty good at many things. I wanted to be really good at a couple of things.
I choose to specialize in B&W portraiture. I had readily available subjects on the street.
I used World class B&W portrait photographers images as my benchmark.
Karsh was one.
A good place to go is 500px.com or viewbug.com to find the things that are appealing to you.
The basics of photography are quite simple. The devil is in the details.
Keep in mind there is a difference between a photograph and an image.
For me getting the photograph was the easy part. Processing the photo to create a style that was specific to me was a very long pursuit.
The real question is
What specifically do I want to do...and how far do I want to take it.....
Defining your goal as the next level(IMHO) is not specific enough.
and by all means don't follow your passion....have a passion for whatever you do.
Here's a link to my stuff.
http://russelkins.com/portfolio

Elliern Loc: Myrtle Beach, SC

As others have already said, it is now time to go out and use your camera. Take as many shots as you can of a variety of subjects. Learn the ins and outs of your camera and what settings work best for you.

I would also suggest you:
... join at least one good camera club
...Go on shoots with others of your level and higher.
...Compare your work with theirs. (Yours may be better)
...Enter many competitions and see what wins and what doesn't...and why.
...Offer your work for critique by a variety of photographers.

You may find that you are better than you think you are. Or you may find an area where you still need more practice/learning.

In addition to photo outings and competitions, a good camera club will have a variety of speakers and workshops with hands on practice and critiques.

Also post your images on a variety of online sites such as UHH and others and ask for honest critique and how to improve your shots.

Good luck and have fun using your camera.

dirtpusher Loc: tulsa oklahoma

You can meet up with others into photography in your area on meetup.com

https://www.meetup.com/topics/photo/us/tn/nashville/