all help welcome....

hi everyone, i have recentely had a camera as a gift and want to try and take som nice and original pics. any help would be welcomed.

also id like to hear any comments on my pics,eg good,bad etc.....

Hi Darren. Welcome to POE, you will find a very happy, helpful and varied bunch here. Lots of banter and plenty of forum interaction. Feel free to join in the fun, you will be very welcome

But as to your question, my initial thought is WOW what a huge question! ! ! ! . However there are a lot of very competent photographers on POE as I'm sure you will have noticed if you've had a quick through the site.

A very good, and relatively cheap, start would be to buy one of the 'one off ' magazine publications aimed at Photography Beginners, around £10 mark availalable in most good bookshops / bigger newsagents, Smiths, Menzies etc..

 I'm sure you will get a good response from us at POE, we are here to help if possible. But we will need to know a bit more about you and your camera though. What camera do you own? What sort of subjects do you think will be pointing the camera at? This will help the members help you...

Digital is basically free once you have your camera and a couple of memory cards, get 2 or 3, you cannot have enough and they are relatively cheap nowadays. Not like the good old days of film, when it cost money everytime you released the shutter. You can go out and take as many pics as you want, if you fill a card simply put a new one in and carry on. Drop the images onto your computer, reformat the card, preferably in camera, and away you're ready to go again.

So let us have a bit more info, but above all get out there and take pictures. It's the only way. To start with just set the camera to AUTO or PROGRAM and blast away.You will gradually learn by your own mistakes and the help you will get from us. I know from my own short time with the site there is a monumental wealth of experience here. So take some pics, upload them and let us help you.

Look forward to hearing from you again, and seeing some pics

I have had my camera for 12 months and I am still learning...When you take a picture don't just take 1 of the subject take a few and on slightly different settings each time, you will be suprised that what you see on the camera screen can be quite different to what comes up on your computer screen and as Dave said don't be afraid to "blast" away, out of 20 pics you might find that only 2 or 3 are any good, that's what the professionals do too.

The main thing is to get out there and have fun with your camera, I must admit I didn't really find the magazines helped me, but, I havn't got a massive zoom, big lens or filter gizmos (wish I had) and they all seemed to focus on the bigger named cameras...you did't say what camera you have, I'm sure that there will be someone on here with the same or similar that will love to share a few secrets and helpful hints with you.

The main thing is don't be afraid to experiment and ask for tips....

I couldn't even navigate my way around this site at first, but asked for help and it came in bucket loads, don't be afraid to ask, a very friendly happy bunch of people here...

HAPPY SNAPPING

Hi Karen   exactly the same as you do in WORD or similar

Highlight what you wnat to colour than click the A on the tool bar at the bottom and chose your colour....Hey Presto simple

If I can do it ! ! ! ! !      The B also changes to BOLD type

Hi Ron

Might get a bit of time over lunch break but fairly busy today but will certainly have a look and see what help we can offer

Thanks Ron, will have a peek at them....

Thanks Dave, will try to add a little colour to some of my posts