Learning More about Photography
One of the easiest and best ways to improve your photographic skills, of course, is to keep taking pictures — lots of them! But this is only one way to grow in photographic skill. Raising your proficiency also means spending some time studying the process to learn more about techniques as well as the technical side of picture taking. There is always something new to be learned, particularly in the realm of digital photography, and you have plenty of resources at your disposal. You'll find specific suggestions for most of them in Appendix B.
If you don't have an instruction manual for your camera, buy a how-to guide. Even if you do have a manual, how-to guides are often easier to understand than the manuals are, and they'll present information that goes beyond what the manual can offer.
Ranging from in-depth discussions on specific aspects of photography such as nature to detailed information on using your camera equipment better, how-to guides let you tackle the aspects of photography that interest you the most. Experts in their chosen field write many of these guides, while some are more general guides published by film and camera manufacturers.
Large-format books on photography are great resources for studying the techniques of the masters, and they may inspire you with new ideas for taking your own shots. There is a wealth of these books available, ranging from the documentary black-and-white images of early photography to the avantgarde techniques that comprise the photography of invention.
There's perhaps no better way to keep up to date on what's going on in the world of photography than reading magazines that cover it. If you're looking for new equipment or new techniques, you'll find them here, along with coverage of new technology and anything else pertaining to taking good pictures. Some magazines focus on a specific aspect of taking pictures, such as studio photography; however, most are designed to meet the needs of a general audience.
Photography is also a popular subject online, although some of the sites deal more with selling equipment than providing tips and techniques. Remember that you should always take what you read online with a grain of salt, unless the site looks and feels somewhat commercial in tone and content. Some of the websites put up by amateur photographers as part of their personal home pages can be pretty opinionated and egodriven, but many sites now contain great information about the newest equipment and techniques. Of particular interest are photography forums where people discuss their own experiences with cameras or accessories.
