New Digital SLR User Help!!!!!!?

Question

Hey

My father passed away a while back now i have inherited a bag of his Camera Equipment which includes a Canon 350D Digital Camera equipped with standard 18-55mm Lens, Sigma Flash Gun, a Tamron 70-300mm lens and a few other bits [chargers, filters etc].

My knowledge of photography is very basic, but i would really like to learn and really get into it, the questions i have are

Is the current equipment that i have is suitable for a beginner and can any one recommend a good starter book or website where i can learn the basics of photography and how to use my camera

Many Thanks

Answer 1

I'm very sorry that your father passed away. May God comfort and guide you and your family.

Classes in photography would be the very best way to learn to use the camera.

If classes aren't possible then begin by thoroughly READING & STUDYING the Owner's Manual for the camera.

These books should also be useful:

"The Digital Photographer's Guide to Exposure" by Peter Cope

"Understanding Exposure: How to Shoot Great Photographs With A Film or Digital Camera" by Bryan Peterson

"Hands-On Digital Photography" by George Schaub

"How Digital Photography Works, Second Edition" by Ron White

Someone on here will probably suggest you just take hundreds and hundreds of pictures and then keep the good ones. That is very poor advice since its unknown as to how you'll know which ones really are the good ones. Its what I call the "machine gunner" approach to photography - take 300 shots and hope you hit something. I encourage the "sniper mentality" - one exposure, one good picture. In other words, slow down, take your time, think about what it is you want to do and how to do it.

"Pictures are not taken, they are made." Ansel Adams

Answer 2

That's a nice setup for starting/learning photography. I've a canon400D and a couple of Canon lenses as well. you can check the photos I've taken using my kit: http://www.vijaykiran.com/topics/photos/

Check out these sites for strating to learn about photography.

http://web.canon.jp/imaging/enjoydslr/in...

http://photo.net/learn/making-photograph...

http://digital-photography-school.com/bl...

Enjoy,

Vijay Kiran

www.VijayKiran.com

Answer 3

That setup will be great for a beginner.

My suggestion to you is to keep your camera in "Auto" mode for the first little while. It'll make it so you don't have to worry too much about the right settings and you can spend more time worrying about composition and getting used to your lenses.

Once you're taking good shots on "Auto" mode I'd go onto some of the websites the other poster mentioned and read up on metering, shutter speed, ISO, and aperture. Once you get those down you'll have even more creative control over your images.