3. Learn the Ropes
Tap the collective know-how of the best shooters.
Once you've got a camera, you must learn how to use it. A font of basic knowledge is About, which covers everything from getting started in digital photography to how to photograph nudes. "For amateurs, I like Take Great Pictures," says photographer Michael Yamashita. Besides the basics, the site recently featured articles on underwater photography, shooting tornadoes, and photographing high-speed events like car races.
Go into more depth at the Luminous Landscape, maintained by pro shooter Michael Reichmann. Most notable are its columns by professionals and tutorials on subjects ranging from creating digital panoramas and understanding depth of field to night photography and matting prints.
Another site of use to professionals and amateurs alike is Fred Miranda, with articles, reviews, essays, and forums. The site, run by a freelance photographer, delves deeply into technique and equipment issues but still covers basics, including recent articles on "The way I shoot my flowers" and "Digital photography in the wilderness."
A site that helps take the fear out of flash is Strobist. "It has great ideas for lightweight flash and lighting solutions for photographers on the go," says Krist. Don't miss the primer called "Lighting 101."
Another good blog is the Online Photographer, "my favorite website," says Westergren, "where you can find discussions on all aspects of photography." The site tends toward advanced discussions but also links to fascinating projects such as "Life Vicarious: 448 days around the world," a photo documentary that commenced in September.
Check the website of your camera manufacturer for helpful resources. But also look at independent sites devoted to your brand, such as Nikonians, for Nikon users, and Photo Workshop, focusing on Canon equipment. Is it really necessary to steep yourself in all the technical aspects of photography? "Yes," says Guariglia. "You have to know how to work your camera really well before you can do anything."
