Newbie needs advice :)

[mpcoco]

Hello everyone!
I love photography and want to learn everything there is to know about it. I read comments from users and have no idea what they are talking about usually. So, my questions is: Where did everyone learn what they know? School? Books? Learned with age? What is the best books/programs to learn the most for your money. I have a Canon SX10 IS... not a SLR, but I think I can still learn how to manually work the thing to get some experience before buying an SLR... I hope. Hopefully I can get some good tips and advice, I am looking forward to your comments. Thanks in advance! MP

[Eastree]

I owned my DSLR for about a year before I tried to learn anything about it. (snipping the rest of that story)

But then I found a photography magazine in a lobby, and it explained some things in a way that just ... clicked. I soon found myself staring wide-eyed at gear ads, wishing for almost everything that was offered.

I came home that night and started looking up my camera and lens online. You'd be surprised what's out there.

Though you have a point and shoot camera, you still have a great opportunity to learn a LOT.

I'd suggest going to a local book store (or wherever your best periodicals selection may be). Flip through some photography magazines. Some only talk SLR; some cover point and shoot cameras as well. At least read a bit.

Also do some research online about your camera. "Canon SX10 IS tricks" might surprise you with the search results. Or at least read the manual and step your level up a bit at a time.

Don't rush things TOO much. Be sure you feel comfortable with what you're doing.

[Free]

My ex had a film SLR and I pottered around with that years ago, but near all I've learned has been from here and Google. Read the beginners section of the DPS blog and you'll pick up heaps

[Laurence]

I had a boyfriend many years ago give me my first film NikonFM and he taught me all about the camera and how to take pictures. I did take a few classes are one time. Moving to Digital was easy after learning from a film camera. I read my manual, and a book by Bryan Peterson "Understanding Exposure". I did learn alot from the members on this site. They are very helpful.

[Nicole]

I learned heaps from a combination of Google and trial and error. I did a lot of searches for "photography for beginners" and "photography 101". That led me to sites like DPS (yay!) and a lot of other site that were also helpful. I started out shooting in automatic, then I learned about how aperture and shutter speed work and I moved on to Aperture priority (Av) mode. I shot on that for quite a while and eventually moved on to manual. I think you can learn a lot from the internet *if* reading and trying is your style of learning. There's also a lot to be said for youtube if videos better suit your style of learning. I think the best way to learn really depends on how you enjoy learning (hope that makes sense!)

And here's the DPS blog section for beginner tips to help you get started Digital Photography Tips and Tutorials

[oldwolf]

i was born with a camera in my hand. that made the delivery a bit hard on my mum and it was hell when they started to bottle feed me. i kept on dropping the bottle on my head because i couldn't get the damn camera out of my hand so i could hold the bottle.

j/k

reading books and websites, trial and error, looking at other pictures and trying to deconstruct the lighting, trial and error, talking to other photographers and picking their brains, did i mention trial and error? hehe

started learning with a film camera but it was a bit on the expensive side. thank god for digital!