You know, the best way to learn is just the way you're doing. To just fool around, try every ding'a'long, push every button. Photography books gives good technical information how camera works, how different apertures and shutter speeds affect to image. That knowledge is important to know. To know how, you gotta know why. Only one advise, if the place is perfect and its gonna be special pic, shoot as much as you can, and always take few with program or auto-settings. Normally, I shoot with program mode, and slightly modify settings, depending do I want to blur background, do I want dark or bright pic etc. But with crappy Sony DSC-P1, I use auto-settings always and create effects I like with Photoshop. Its not so good camera you know. .n