Any tips for a beginner?

[Bambi]

as with any camera and lens you need to figure out the parameters under which is works well and what the limitations are and how you adjust. I suspect with the bird photo above that the shutter was a bit slow leading to the blur. the seeds are in focus while the bird is not. the wrench and the cat shots seem fine.

[NikonUser]

as with any camera and lens you need to figure out the parameters under which is works well and what the limitations are and how you adjust. I suspect with the bird photo above that the shutter was a bit slow leading to the blur. the seeds are in focus while the bird is not. the wrench and the cat shots seem fine.

Thanks Bambi, it didn't help that it was misting in the bird photo either . The weather was NOT on my side that day.

[canonjen]

familiarize yourself first with the camera controls then start from there

[cindiaugustine]

I did a 365 project when I was first starting out. It doesn't matter whether you use a DSLR, a camera phone or a P+S, the point is that you take a photo (or more) everyday. It really keeps you thinking about photography and pushes you to get creative because after a few months it can get challenging to find something to shoot everyday if you aren't thinking creatively.

You can set yourself some challenges, like a weekly theme, or get friends to suggest something like: photograph your dinner everyday for a week, or get an action shot of your cat. Whatever. There are lots of sites out there to help with inspiration.

The equipment you use is not really all that important in the end. It's how you use it that matters. Learning to see is where great photography starts.