When I was a young child, many many years ago, I learned photography from the library (and a teacher in Jr.High to whom I'll be forever gratefull). I still look through the magazines at B&N, and occasionally buy one. The books on "Digital Photography" seem, IMO, mostly crappy. Donald had a rant here awhile back about folks not looking up basic techniques, or worse, posting WRONG information. What are the resourcses you'all have found helpful? I tend to tell folks to find a photograpger they respect, and learn everything they can about how the works were created. But this does not seem too satisfying to someone who just bought a new digi with n^35 possible adjustments. Maybe we can beg cynlee to post links in the Resource Area?

Doug is the HTML wizard... but we'll be happy to post some recommended links in the resource center seems luminous-landscapes comes up quite often

Post any links here or in any new thread and I will make a new page for this. There is one that was left over from before under resources under the banner.

"The happiness of a man in this life does not consist in the absence but in the mastery of his passions."

first book i read was Digital Photography for Dummies. i learned photography from my teacher in high school...never read any books...he just gave me hands on instruction on camera operation and in the darkroom. i've studied art informally since i was pretty young. read a lot of books just always been one to dive into art books. in college, i took basic art appreciation, studied the masters and so forth. i wanted to study fine arts...wanted to go to a private art school in Indianapolis (Heron School of Art i think is the name)...one of my unfulfilled dreams. sigh as for photography magazines, been looking at Lenswork to study fine art photography...which is the direction i'd like to go. i look at other photography magazines too. i have found it helpful when people upload if they tell what settings they use and what postwork was done. i can learn a LOT that way. Actually, i think that helps me more than anything. i have tons of stuff i read online. i was at the bookstore a week or so ago...spent hours browsing thru the books trying to find a good one to buy. i gave up. i would like to have a list in the resource center. that would be nice. i just can't sit and read a lot at once. i read my manual every day...over and over and over.

books and mags I love...I love all the info, and have learned much from all the mags/books. I have also learned that hands on work is key to applying the information. Seems to work w/me. I heard life is the best teacher...whatever thatmeans...anywyas...I may need a bit more...reading and applying in the "real world". Evne experimentation w/o any regard to books, learning new tricks....I find expeerimenting is the best way to learn. Back before there were photography books and online tutorials...people had cameras w/out autofocus and had to learn everything by trial and error. -Jeff :-)

Attached Link: http://www.shortcourses.com/

I learned most of the basic stuff long time ago when I was at school and university. I always opted for photography courses as recreation from my regular subjects of maths & physics. Since regaining an interest, when I discovered digital, I have avidly bought books anytime I browse a bookshop and see something that looks interesting on anything to do with photography. On the last visit I bought: Light & Lighting by Michael Freeman. I also get photograhy magazines each month. Resources on the internet are numerous and a search will soon reveal enough pages to keep people busy for a long time. However as a basic guide - I will give one link as above.

And every one said, 'If we only live,
We too will go to sea in a Sieve,---
To the hills of the Chankly Bore!'
Far and few, far and few, Are the lands where the Jumblies live;
Their heads are green, and their hands are blue, And they went to sea in a Sieve.

Edward Lear
http://www.nonsenselit.org/Lear/ns/jumblies.html

I'm like Shelia and can't sit down and learn a lot from a book all at once. I like to read a bit then go out there and take lots of shots and figure out what I've done right and what I've done wrong then read a bit more. When I was at school photography wasn't a course option (small town in New Zealand) and I've only in the last few months purchased my first ever manual settings camera. Wish I'd done it years ago but there was always something else that money was better spent on sigh. So now I'm gradually learning the basics. I haven't purchased any books or magazines yet but look forward to other peoples recommendations being available. I've picked up some basics from the forums, people advising what settings and postwork they've done on uploads and also from you kind people here ... Noeline :-)

Noeline :D
 
~Predictably Unpredictable~

Attached Link: http://photoinf.com/

This link has a whole list of other links dealing with PHOTO COMPOSITION - look under the "Latest additions" heading.

Attached Link: http://www.luminous-landscape.com/

Not just his web site but his DVD are the best. In the last 6 months my level of photography has shot up, just though buying the back catalog of luminous landscape DVDs. I buy 1 when I can afford it, they are invaluable, plus by buying them you support the web site which is free. I don't know if it is because I have severer dyslexia, but being shown techniques rather then reading about them, I seem to pick it up straight away.

Eggiwegs! I would like... to smash them!

GREAT links guys! I've already done some reading! Richard (Onslow)...read on the articles there about shooting wildlife. interesting, looks they they're using a tripod most of the time; i rarely do. good advice there about light and wind too. can't wait to read more. Richard (Azy)...i also learn much better by being SHOWN techniques than READING them. I think i might buy some of those DVDs!! Joe, that site looks GREAT...read one article already and plan to read more! Thanks guys!

Books mainly and a really nice photographer that I must have driven mad when I was a boy. How does this work? What does this do? Why do you use this and not that? etc etc, you get the point Well he taught me darkroom to shut me up, taught me how to do things I didnt understand, little did I know, I was his saviour, he hated the darkroom, and I loved it, I developed almost all his B&W film for quite some years. He is no longer here, but he will always be to me. Still got some of his books. He taught me almost everything I know about photography, and I still know very little, still learn something everyday, although these days white balance and Photoshop seem to be the main subject matter. Problem is now IMO in the modern world is that everyone wants everything right now or yesterday.

The Truth is Out There

Just yesterday I checked out two phtography books from my librafy. ONe i on special effects(mostly digital stuffcp,(emphasize on the PC stuff)...the other is a bit more traaditial field phtographyl, and the theme consists of a vaariety of assignments designed to help the reaaer hit the field to learnn, and experiment as suggested by the book. The latter book is film oriented, the former is digital. should be cool -Jeff

Well I started 3 months ago from scratch and, so far, I've learnt mostly from this forum! But also other sites about photography and a 'lil from magazines. Internet is such an amazing tool! Yep!

yes...Pascale, that reminds me, thankx 4 brining that up^ :-) The Photo forum has been a most invaluable learning source...and one of my favorite past times. I love Renderosity..The entire website rules...and is also one of my favorite pasttimes. I think it is better than college any day of the week. the Internet is full of useful info too. :-) -Peace/Jeff :-)

nevermind me guys... just throwing this in here from another thread for future reference for us to list in the resource center... Learning to Light: Easy & Affordable Techniques For The Photographer by Roger Hicks and Frances Shultz http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0817441794/qid=1117364203/br=1-6/ref=br_lf_b_6//002-0839844-0998462?v=glance&s=books&n=2080

back again with some more after doing a [search] here: Understanding Your Camera's Meter: A Mini Tutorial http://www.renderosity.com/messages.ez?Form.ShowMessage=2164558 Doug... think we can get the tuts together in a seperate list... i'll see what else we have on those back in the archives SITES- http://www.shutterbug.com/ www.betterphoto.com http://www.outdoorphotographer.com/content/books/index.html BOOKS- John Shaw's "The Nature Photographer's Complete Guide to Professional Field Techniques" and "Closeups in Nature". "Encyclopedia of Digital Photography" "The Art of Night Photography" "Photography" by London and Upton "The Confused Photographer's Guide to Photographic Exposure and the Simplified Zone System" by Farzad. "Photoshop CS Book for Digital Photographers" by Scott Kelby "Photographers Guide to Photoshop" by Thomas.

hahahahahha l shouldnt laugh.. but l so love you shelia.. digital photography for dummies.. only you could be so sweet and innocent..could l please borrow.... havnt read the whole link.. but shelia just dropped a line.. sorry for laughing.... will save links to info.. for another day.. onslow and cindy.. :).. cant take no more technical info.. ...:)

I Discovered the secret of the sea in mediation upon the dewdrop ... Sand and Foam Gibran

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i'm just adding this here for now Nikki so Doug & I can add it to the Resouce Center later :] (in a bit of whirl myself right now)

I should read that Cynlee. Meters confuse just about more than anything else inexistence. Perhaps I should consider a hand held meter some day. Not yet...maybe if I achieve a higher level and really know what the hell I'm doing. YOu see...I am a control freak. I know for now the built in meters do and expceptional job...and they can be "tricked" either for better or worse. I just have not much of an idea yet. I am still trying to figure best meter choice...and I realize so many vairables..