cyclespeed Loc: Calgary, Alberta Canada

I got my chuckle for the day, thanks.

rook2c4 Loc: Philadelphia, PA USA

Undoubtedly practice is key, but I think you need to insert at least one "Study Manual" into the list.

Rab-Eye Loc: Indiana

Great response.

SusanFromVermont Loc: Southwest corner of Vermont

It would be a good idea to first study the manual, and try things out for yourself. Do a lot of reading and watch tutorial videos. Perhaps then you will realize why the question you asked elicited such a variety of responses!

We have all been beginners, and everyone approaches the situation differently. You have a camera that requires that you know what you are dealing with - a steep learning curve if it is your first DSLR. So start doing some research, learning enough on your own to ask good questions. The one you asked is rather vague because there are no good precise answers (as you have heard already from others!). Also, you did not give any indication of your photography skills, background, history of camera use, etc. That makes it even more difficult to give you a reasonable/sensible answer...

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

If you go read a sampling of my over 5500 messages here, you will probably come away with a different sense. I get PM'ed on a regular basis by folks thanking me for my insights and direction. I'm not intentionally rude... just direct, assertive, analytical, detail-oriented, restless, by the book, intuitive, thoughtful, and yes, a bit judgmental. And unapologetic, on all counts. Photography and writing are the cores of who I am, and all the roles I've played, since 1968.

The best advice I ever got about photography came from two extremely blunt, direct, plain spoken people — my high school yearbook advisor for four years, and my manager during my early career, who was a highly talented art director. They were brutally honest about what it would take to get better at my craft. They were nearly ALWAYS right! The poke only hurts if you refuse to grow!

The RTFM admonishment has been around the Internet since the days before the 'World Wide Web', when there were nothing but chat rooms and bulletin boards for geeks. It was always understood as a friendly poke, meaning that the person asking the question needed to take a little personal responsibility for his/her understanding of the topic at hand. Those of us on the 'net back then weren't normal... We were mostly very serious about what we did, and didn't waste expensive bandwidth beating around the bush. If the information you need is already right in front of you, or downloadable, why should someone else read it to you?

Unfortunately, now that the 'net is fully mainstream, many do not understand that friendly poke. Again, I don't mean to be rude. I'm perfectly willing to help those who help themselves, and I do it on a daily basis.

The manual is *always* a good place to start. It's painful to read JEnglish (Japanese, badly translated to English), but they put ALL the good stuff about the gear in there. They just don't tell you WHY it's there. You have to learn that elsewhere, and through testing and experience.

Of course, photographic education is a lot more. Most folks have a choice — use a smartphone, or buy an adjustable camera and keep it on 'A' or 'P', or buy that adjustable camera and apply real knowledge gained through reading, testing, doing, viewing.

I'm serious about the time commitment. It takes a lot of practice, study, examples, and intense reflection to get really good at anything.

Allie

Thank you, Ginny.

tdekany Loc: Oregon

You definitely get the "most ignorant" award.

1 - do you not realize that every camera comes with its own raw converter? (FREE)
2 - do you not need a computer to look at JPEGs? ($$$$$)
3 - did you not pay for the computer you are using to see your snaps? ($$$$)
4 - why do you think camera companies include "RAW" capture as an option?
5 - do you not know that there are FREE post processing programs?
6 - do you not know that your computer comes with a program that will open raw files?

All this means is that shooting RAW costs the same as shooting JPEGs. Not a penny more.

kfoo Loc: Arkansas

I appreciate all of the comments, I can take brutal if is constructive.Thanks everybody. I try to learn something everyday. I really appreciate the eclectic opinions and I have a choice to make and try each.

Impressionist

Pick up or download Bryon Peterson's Understanding Exposure along Julie Adair King's Nikon d7100 For Dummies. Both are excellent resources to have in your library and on your smart device. You have a camera that will take you far. The danger is in not understanding terms and being afraid of mistakes. Avoid the word most. Everything fits together. Have fun with the process. Times comes when it all comes together and we get full of ourselves, only to see work that makes us humbled. Welcome to the forum.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

It is remarkable. Unfortunately, photography is this huge, bottomless pit of possibility. It has simple principles, but learning to apply them effectively is elusively difficult and time-consuming.

Some people catch on quicker than others. Some never get it. Most of us learn to commit to things we want to learn or do.

Best advice I EVER got was to take personal responsibility for my own knowledge and success. As Earl Nightingale said, back in the late 1950s, "We become what we think about." As Malcolm Gladwell pointed out in his book, "Outliers," successful people are exceptionally good at focusing on a single topic or skill over a long, long period of time.

As my Dad told me when I was 8, trying to assemble my first Heathkit radio, "You can learn to do almost anything by reading. Read the manual all the way through before you start." He was right! The radio worked fine, the first time I turned it on.

Rab-Eye Loc: Indiana

Good for you! Now grab your gear and do a lot of shooting, and don't be afraid to post questions here. What else is this form for? By the way, I second the suggestion to buy Understanding Exposure, or anything else by Bryan Peterson, for that matter. I also subscribe to his podcast through Adorama TV.

Debbie Gomila Loc: Long Beach, Mississippi

👍

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

Good book suggestion... Many here will second that.

YouTube is FULL of videos on photography. Creative Live, Tony Northrup, Digital Rev, and The Camera Store TV are some good ones. Also, http://www.jkost.com should be one of your bookmarks if you get into Adobe software (Lightroom, Photoshop, Bridge...) Julieanne Kost is one of my favorite trainers. I've seen her live, several times, and her site is awesome.

photophly Loc: Old Bridge NJ

Practice...Practice...Practice...Practice...Practice......when U get those 5 down...
Practice some more.

Fotoartist Loc: Detroit, Michigan

It's not white balance if you shoot in raw because you can change that in post-processing.
Don't forget to have your flash set right (and make sure it fires) if you are going to use it.

The big 6: Subject, lighting, background, interest, composition, technique.