Question Rergarding Photography

So for quite sometime I have been browsing this message board since a lot of you guys are really talented when it comes to photography. It's just fun looking at photos, so anyways for the longest time I wanted to get into the field for fun. However, I don't really have the time or money to do a photography class in college.

So my question is photography something you can learn all on your own? Like maybe look at tips online but besides that, no help from someone in real life? I don't know anyone that is into digital photography so I can't get help and this discouraged me.

Also, what camera would you recommended for someone on a budget? And just the camera. I wouldn't really have extra money for lenses or anything else for a while so what camera would you guys recommend for a beginner?

Also, is there any website you guys would recommend to get started?


Sorry for making this so long and thanks to those who read and respond. :]

You can try to learn on your own but you should post you results on a forum for advice. Your work will improve.

If you want to go for serious photography, buy a DSLR. There are a few good low-budget models. Like Pentax K10D/K100D,, Canon 350D/400D, Nikon D40/D60, or a olypmus. It depends on your preferences.

I've never had classes and never really followed tutorials
If you want a cheaper DSLR I would go for Pentax *IstDS/DS2, Canon 300D/350D, Nikon D50/D70. They are older models but just as good as the newer ones, maybe without fancy things you don't need, like live view, more than 6mp, etc.

I've never had classes either. I've learned everything myself except for one lighting setup which I read about at photoflexlightingschool.com. :P It's all about experimenting a lot and posting your stuff online to get criticism. And for lenses, there is a really really cheap 50mm 1.8 lens for several brands. That lens is very good for portraits. I developed my skills and style pretty quickly because I bought studio lights early, only like 5 months or so after I bought the camera. Learning to control light is the key to the style I'm into so if you're interested in that then I'd recommend buying some cheap studio flashes when you've learned to handle the camera.

I've taken art classes, and i took a half a semester photo course. But i didn't learn anything in the photo class i didn't already know from gfxvoid.
Post here a lot, because if you do you'll learn a lot very quickly.

@ martin: I was thinking about getting that lens pretty soon, i know it's cheap but I've heard raves about it; with the exception of the build quality. have you ever used it before?

I don't have it but my friend has the Nikon one. It's pretty sweet for that price but it kinda breaks if you look at it.

Yeahhh the cheap 50/1.8's are made of plastic
once you get to 1.4, and for canon their £800 1.2, build quality improves.
If you buy a cheap lens then id say buy a rubber lens hood, and keep it on at all times, that way if you drop the lens front element first, it wont necessarily break ;)

Would you guys recommend getting a DSLR asap or use a point and shoot for a while then go for a DSLR?

Just go for the DSLR.
Point and shoots are crap, basically.
Bridge cameras are good, but so expensive you might as well get a DSLR.
The sensor in a DSLR is alot larger, so it can record more detail, and you can get depth of field unlike with p&s's

Okay. Thank you all for your help thus far. :]

Would this camera be a good (decent?) choice:

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/produ...uct_id=5607412