Order a "for dummies" guide.Don't wait for the Nikon D-whatever, have fun now!http://www.flickr.com/photos/j_wijnands/..

Go to your local library and see if they carry this: "Understanding Exposure" by Bryan Peterson..

Http://www.amazon.com/...63003/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_k2a_2_img/103-9645596-2334248..

This question gets asked a lot, and thre are no easy answers..

Lots of people seem to by PEterson's book, and then we see lots of questions trying to get clarification on what he writes. A lot of his book is film-based, and that mixes things up..

Your best bet is to go to a big book store, and use your eyes..

Look inside cvarious books if there are a lot of pictures of computer screens, it will be heavy on post-processing, and you don't want that..

If there are pictures of negatives and explanations of film formats well, skip that..

IF mostly thre are phtos of people and places with comparison shots beside them ;; people sharp at a high shutter speed and blurry at a slow one, for instance; now you are getting somewhere..

Two good names: Tom Ang (be careful of too much computerness; he has several books) and John Hedgecoe becareful that it's a modern "digita;l" book..

Film and digital principles overlap, but you might as wel get a 2006-2007 book that emphasizes digital...

When I was fourteen, I'd have said "Guides" every time (something about those blue uniforms), but now I'm almost forty years older, Books are about all I'm good for..

Have a look at Scott Kelby's new "The Digital Photography Book" - Amazon UK has a movie trailer for it which makes it sound as though it was written for people in exactly your situation..

Peter - on the green island of Ischiahttp://www.pbase.com/isolaverde..

Just looked, Amazon USA don't have the video, but the Customer Reviews are exceptionally good, 199 of 274 with 5 stars..

Just search there for Scott Kelby and it'll probably be the first result..

Peter - on the green island of Ischiahttp://www.pbase.com/isolaverde..

One of my favourite books which I still pick up every now and again is.

"The Basic Book of Photography"by Tom Grimm & Michele Grim.

I have a well thumbed '04 edition and it covers both film & digital techniques & equipment..

I like this book b/c I've noticed myself forgetting things lately, and it's nice to have a reference which isn't overly technical, or bogged down with details, and can refresh my memory with just a few glances..

Cheers,WB.

My .02..

Gnugent wrote:.

Go to your local library and see if they carry this: "UnderstandingExposure" by Bryan Peterson..

Http://www.amazon.com/...63003/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_k2a_2_img/103-9645596-2334248.

I agree with gnugent. In addition I would suggest you purchase a book that is written for your specific camera and goes into more detail on what features to use on your camera and when to use it..

The manual that came with your camera probably tells you what the buttons, switches, dials and menus are for, but not when or how to use them..

FINE PRINT: I reserve the right to be wrong. Should you prove me wrong, I reserve the right to change my mind...

There is a digital photography book by Petersen that covers exposure in depth and has a ton of overlap with understanding exposure book but skips everything film related..

Tom Ang has a new book How to Photograph everything that I thought was well done..

Terryhttp://tbanet.zenfolio.com/..

On top of everything posted here, I have assembled a list of book recommendation threads (for faster reading you may want to switch each thread to flat view since they are usually short with only a dozen or so messages):.

Http://forums.dpreview.com/...forums/read.asp?forum=1002&message=23682051.

Comprehensive 2007 speculation and predictions: http://1001noisycameras.blogspot.com..

That may be of some help..

The first is an easy to understand tutorial by Bill Huber of the Olympus Talk Forum. ( Click on the Thumbnails ).

Http://www.pbase.com/otfchallenge/the_basics.

This allows you to compare/practice settings..

Http://www.photonhead.com/exposure/simcam.php.

And finally this is an online site that has fairly comprehensive chapters that can be printed and kept for later reference. (click on each chapter and there will be subcategories.).

Http://www.shortcourses.com/using/Joe B..

Best wishes.

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