digital photography learning curve

What is it that you need to learn? The photography part is almost the same. Perhaps you could take a Photoshop course at a local community college.

 

You will have not a large learning curve. You have already learned.

Have funnnnnnn !!!!!!

 

Hey Jeff,

The camera and lenses are only half the technology you'll need to learn. Since you already are proficient with a camera that part will come easy for you.

The other half is the computer and software part. While there are a bunch of programs that can work with digital photos, there are two that really excel with processing photos from a Nikon camera, Photoshop and Nikon Capture. And they can be used together if you like.

There are three books I recommend for learning the software (in addition to the manuals that come with the programs.) First is The Photoshop CS2* Book for Digital Photographers by Scott Kelby. It's a cookbook for all kinds of photographic like manipulations of digital images using, um, Photoshop.

If you choose Nikon Capture to process your RAW (oh yes, did I mention, shoot Raw) files, then you will need to read and understand Digital Photography, Acquisition and Techniques by Ron Resnick. This is definately NOT a 'for dummies' book. If you choose to use Photoshop's Adobe Camera Raw to process RAW files, read Real World Camera Raw by Bruce Fraser. In fact get and real all three.

Have fun!

* Photoshop CS2 is the latest. There are versions of Kelby's book for PS7, CS and Elements.

 

Learning curve

Jeff,
It is daunting, isn't it? I started using PhotoShop with a scanner to restore old photographs. The stumbling method I chose to learn, "Well, let's see how we can fix that?!" method is not very efficient. I wasted a lot of time. There are so many ways to get similar results that one can get into some really bad habits in a hurry. I would agree that a intro course is a good way to start. Perhaps the two best pieces of advice I can give are: 1) Develop a routine workflow and stick with it. My basic workflow is as follows:

Raw conversion
Adjust levels
Color correction
Repair any "Defects"
Size image
Sharpen
Print


2) Don't do anything until you calibrate your monitor - if you don't you'll waste so much time, ink and paper fighting color problems, you might as well just go beat your head on the driveway.

 

I second that!