No Pressure

[Lawrence]

One big advantage of being a newbie and finding a forum like this with so many helpful souls is that it takes all the pressure (granted it is self made indulgence and the need for more toys that creates the pressure) off buying more gear.

Besides learning about photography and my capabilities with my D5100 (which seems to have no limits other than me) I am also still trying to find out what my ideal subject is. So until then shopping around on the Internet simply learning prices and spotting bargains is a lot of fun. The credit card remains safely in the wallet and I am enjoying myself.

​The bad news is my photos stink - at this point!

 

[snaphappy]

You are right there are such wonderful helpful people here. I learn so much lurking in the threads, looking at others photos for ideas and things to work at. I don't know I'm always wishing I had something else but unfortunately there is no gear that will make me a great photographer LOL Slow and steady to learn my camera and hope to get better. Hoping Santa brings me some PP software though

 

[Rick M]

One big advantage of being a newbie and finding a forum like this with so many helpful souls is that it takes all the pressure (granted it is self made indulgence and the need for more toys that creates the pressure) off buying more gear.

Besides learning about photography and my capabilities with my D5100 (which seems to have no limits other than me) I am also still trying to find out what my ideal subject is. So until then shopping around on the Internet simply learning prices and spotting bargains is a lot of fun. The credit card remains safely in the wallet and I am enjoying myself.

​The bad news is my photos stink - at this point!

The best thing you can do in the beginning is master what you already have. Many of us waste a lot of money "finding ourselves" in the gear area. Learn your style/forte before you spend any money. Everyone's pictures stink in the beginning, post them and we will help you learn.

​Happy Shooting

 

[Don Kuykendall_RIP]

Looking a lots of photos here and elsewhere is a great start. Look at enough and you will start to see a trend in what you like. What photos call to you and demand you shoot them? Start looking for a style in photos you see here. You will start to see different people here have a style they like to shoot in. The better the photographer the easier it is to see their style. Start shooting and trying to see what your style is and work to improve it. Good post processing hardware and software is pretty much needed to really excel in any photography that you will want to do and I really think it is as important and any camera hardware you might want past the good DSLR. Your D5100 is a great tool to start with.