Balboa Loc: NJ

get familiar with your camera and if you plan on shooting wildlife practice shooting moving objects.
I started by practicing shooting sea gulls because they are plentiful in my area and predictable.

ramseynet

No, rjwallace. You're just an asshole.

Pkfish Loc: Wilson Wy

Go out and shoot. Find someone to hang out with that is willing to mentor. Go out and shoot. Get a program on your computer to look at your images. Save some and try to make the next batch better. Go on some photography web sites and see what good photographs look like. 500PX ,1X.com. Fred Miranda, Ugly Hedgehog, etc, Mostly go have some fun, it’s more about taking the pictures than actually having them. Also don’t pay attention to some of the grumpy A H`s on this site.

dyximan

What beginner would dare chime in to a responses from such an ASS like you. You could have encouraged him to take classes talk to the people who sold him the camera asked him to look into various publications but instead you decide to belittle, disrespect and humiliate him for his ignorance unlike your stupidity, lack of compassion. and understanding. Perhaps you forgot what it was like to be a beginner or were you born an Ansell Adam prodigy.

Toment Loc: FL, IL

Dear OP:
Ignore the bad posts. They don’t teach anything. Use this forum daily; you’ll learn a lot! Good luck on your new path and have fun👍😄

jaycoffman Loc: San Diego

All the answers are good except the ones criticizing you. We need to look at the question and answer the best way we can and not just jump on the person for perceived imperfections in the form of the question (my own opinion).

I tried reading and looking at the manual(s) but for me only time improved my pictures. I just took my camera out as often as I could and I shot and shot and shot and every day I downloaded my images and tried to figure out how I could improve. Gradually I started reaching for the right controls automatically and I started being able to understand how to navigate the menu. Now the things I normally do when shooting are automatic although I am still learning different things as I need to.

That worked for me but we each have our own preferred way of learning.

global

No he’s just a prick

dyximan

Op as stated ignore the mean spirited, but learn there are. Number of people on this site like this. As I find this site to be more of a technical site then an artistic site, For me my opinion only. You know how you best learn, you may like videos, googling etc. classes at you camera store or adult ed school. I enjoy meet up groups. And photo clubs. But shoot away and then ask for help and explanations as to what why when and where. But shoot shoot shoot and have fun.

ken glanzer

Get a mono-pod to carry & a tripod for home use but still learn to "squeeze the shutter button" & you will be able to get a good shot with 1/100 or less if ever needed. Too slow a shutter speed will ruin every shot. Bracket your shots (set the camera to do it) then see if the light meter was fooled, see what object or objects were too dark or too light in area that caused an over or under exposure. Even with A.Adams zone system & light meter techniques he still bracketed-I saw his negs. It cost more to bracket with film but it assured you got a good neg & didn't have to reshoot it later that may not be possible. Bracketing doesn't cost you with a digital camera like it did with film but assured proper exposure. The big saving was time as you could check exposure immediately not having to develop the film to see what you got. Bracketing requires more film changes wasting time or a lost shot. Bracketing with digital requires only a few seconds. To see if your shutter speeds were high enough, point of focus was right on & proper depth of field, blow it up in the computer. Sometimes an over or under exposure .5-1 stop may improve the shot. I often even compare a light meter reading with what the camera suggests. If you use the Spot meter reading on people, do it on their face (same light zone) each time for consistency. Experiment with what your camera light meter area is set at. Exposure techniques have really improved but there will still be an occasional wrong exposure. Strive for 100% right on--it can be evasive. Always use a lens hood. Without it a lens cap is a must to use with time delay. I like the rubber collapsible ones. Check your lenses before shooting if they are clean. Make sure your camera is level on horizon or buildings. Revisit older shots from time to time in the computer. Put different types of shots in different files. It all will soon start of come together.

Clapperboard

Please somebody tell
R
I aywalla
C e to be
K ind

juanbalv Loc: Los Angeles / Hawthorne

LWW Loc: Banana Republic of America

Doubling down rude belligerent behavior I see.

Seriously, WTH is your problem?

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

Join a local photo club.

GBrcka Loc: Albuquerque, NM

Just practice a lot and please disregard the smart ass and demeaning replies some jerks feel compelled to leave you. Just consider the source.

spencerp

where there's a Google, there's a way. Seriously, though, there are no shortcuts. Read, shoot, read more, shoot more, especially if shooting digital. If there is a local camera club, or photography club, join it, ask questions, take part in activities. There are tons of web sites out there; search around and find some you like. It has been said that "experience is the fruit of long patience..." Have patience, have fun and shoot away.