I bought a dSLR last December (on-line) and had previously never done more than focus and shoot. When I rec'd the camera and saw all the buttons - WOW. I bought a "dummies" book for my particular model. Evidently I'm dumber than a dummie. The local university offers continuing ed (non-credit) photography courses for a very reasonable fee. The first course of classes covered the camera settings. The second course of classes taught composition. I have MUCH yet to learn, but the courses gave me enough basis that I can now understand the dummies book. I found that having a real live human being in front of me of whom I could ask questions was invaluable.

Both instructors preached most of what has already been advised to you here. Mainly PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE.

My bank statement said: No More Lenses!! :(

I lived in Evansville for 8 years, moved to the Gulf Coast 29 yrs ago. I always enjoyed Metzger Zoo. The zoo and the brain sandwiches at Octoberfest are the two things I remember most. By the way -- I didn't eat the brain sandwiches, just stared agog as other people did!
Good pics!

On my Canon, the delete button re-centers the focusing square.

Thanks UP-2-IT. I was at that hangar several years ago. The planes, the USS Alabama, and the bay should provide plenty to shoot. Now, if it would just stop raining. I get to P'cola pretty often and was going to check out photo ops at the Naval base, but after hearing all of Keesler's restrictions I haven't been in a big hurry to check it out. I'll have to find that museum, though. The Gulf coast has plenty of beautiful scenery to shoot, but I'm kinda thinking I have enough seagulls. They photo bomb everything!

There are plenty of pictures taken and posted of the Blue Angels -- at least there were before sequestration. At Keesler AFB they recited a list of things on base which I could not photograph; foremost, anything on the flight line.

Selling the guns! I didn't think of that! Do you think my husband will mind?