Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

wegriffin8642 Loc: Houston, Tx

Wow, rjay, all I can say is Kowabunga...

anotherview Loc: California

Welcome. My 2 cents: Study composition and exposure along with the importance of subject.

In my view, everything in photography flows from these three variables.

I put composition at the forefront because even a so-so photograph will look its best if properly composed.

Bear in mind that learning the craft of photography requires years to master.

You may wish to study artificial lighting, too, for it allows for more photographic opportunities.

Consider taking a workshop or two both in DSLR camera operation and in photo-editing. These workshops will speed your learning and give you confidence.

Learn from your mistakes and successes.

As a final suggestion, let me say that you may wish to learn photography using the gear you have now instead of buying more and more gear in hopes of improving your photography that way. Gear comes second to camera skills in producing worthy photographs.

Good luck.

srt101fan

Hi emionieus; welcome; a couple of thoughts:

(1) "If you want to be a better photographer, stand in front of more interesting stuff" (a quote from National Geographic photographer Jim Richardson, recently posted in https://petapixel.com/2014/05/29/70-inspirational-quotes-photographers/ ). I like this quote. For me, subject/content is most important. Of course you need the technical know-how to present your subject in the best way.

(2) You will get (and have been getting) excellent advice on UHH. But do keep in mind that a well-meaning adviser may have a strong bias towards one or another form of photography that may not match your needs. Someone who shoots only with the camera on a tripod (and there seem to be a few around here!) cannot be expected to provide good advice for, say, "Street Photography". So, figure out what kind of photographer you want to be and how you will use your photos; listen to the advice of more advanced photographers in topics that match up with your photographic interests; ignore the rest.

Have fun!

Red Sky At Night

One thing I learned from people on this forum is that lighting is everything.
One thing I discovered on my own is background is so important. A beautiful capture can be lost in clutter. And yes, you can post process it out of there but it is so much easier and tremdously faster if it just isn’t there in the first place.

anotherview Loc: California

The voice of experience worth heeding to go in the right direction.

nutentloop Loc: Virginia

I will also add that in addition to the practice and self analysis that you find a formal photo class near you. This class will give you more direct and immediate response to your work with a pro giving you advice.

47greyfox Loc: on the edge of the Colorado front range

Perhaps, there should be a policy of vetting all questions through you for suitability? You must live alone.

anotherview Loc: California

A formal class in photography may or may not properly train an aspiring photographer. I hear from others that such a class may include the history and philosophy of photography. An interested person can pick up this information later. A photographer does not need it in the beginning.

As well, some photography teachers insist that a student of photography must first learn film photography in order to become a competent photographer. This dogma one does not have to experience when learning modern digital photography.

Consider instead taking a workshop or two both in DSLR camera operation and in photo-editing. These workshops will give you a foundation and confidence.

Further, some photographers (mainly old school, it seems) insist that one must use a tripod for best results when doing photography. In fact, the advent of image stabilization has dramatically reduced the instances necessitating a tripod. In general, most photography today does not require a tripod. Of course, one must still use sound hand-holding technique when shooting without a tripod.

That said, a tripod may prove totally necessary for doing some photography -- for example, time-lapse photography.

Again (for those who need to hear it), the craft of photography has two main parts: skill and gear. Skill trumps gear (and mode) in doing photography.

Grab your camera and go! Learn from your mistakes and successes.

Good luck.

riderxlx Loc: DFW area Texas

Welcome to the forum. I am new also, joined a couple of months ago. This is a great site and a wealth of good knowledge and information.
Please keep in mind EVERYONE started out as a beginner.
You will see here a very wide range of experiences and focuses the members speak from.
As in ANY online forum there are going to be a few assholes which should not deter you. There are way too many great and wonderful people on this forum with an abundance of feed back which will help get you going in any direction you want to go.
I need not offer any of my thoughts since so many good responses have already been posted. But I will say out of all of them, yes, read your cameras manual and learn the functions.
Just like learning to drive a car. Jump in and start having fun.
Again, welcome to the forum, you will find this a treasure chest of good people and support.
bruce.

mikeroetex Loc: Lafayette, LA

Adjust the meds RJ. It was obviously an innocent question. Not everyone is as professorial and accomplished as you. Not to mention as cranky and rude.

gwilliams6

Hundreds of helpful free video tutorials covering all areas and aspects of photography. enjoy them and go out and shoot.
I use these with my university photography class students, many whom have never used a camera before except their cell phones. Cheers

https://www.adorama.com/alc/series/exploring-photography-with-mark-Wallace

https://www.adorama.com/alc/category/AdoramaTv/

RickTaylor

[quote=emionieus]Hello! I’m sorry you see my question “insulting”. I didn’t mean for people to tell me everything. That’s impossible. I’m just trying to expand what I already know. I’m also not ashamed of what I posted. There’s nothing wrong with asking for advice. I just now logged on and checked this. I could give you some advice though, and that would be if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say it at all! However, thank you too everyone else who commented. :)[/quote
He must not be able to find his happy shoes! It is unfortunate that some people are just miserable

LWW Loc: Banana Republic of America

What an insulting response.

If you don’t want to help someone then don’t post.

LWW Loc: Banana Republic of America

Shoot a scene with some depth, such as columns or posts in a row from one end of the row.

Shoot in aperture priority and auto ISO, at your widest aperture ... lowest f number ... aiming at the first object, then the second and so on.

Then try the next f stop and repeat the process.

Review how depth of field and distance change the result.

By studying the results the settings will mean more to you than arcane numbers on a foal or in a viewfinder.

Next shoot an action scene in shutter priority, a waterfall or something and start at several action shots at your fastest shutter speed ... then drop the shutter speed by half and repeat until you get to a full second.