My nephew makes an angel in the freshly fallen snow at a park in Madison, Wisconsin.

At any given moment of any given day there are thousands of new photographers tweeting on Twitter about photography. Many ask interesting questions, but many more ask the same questions over and over again. More often than not they are the same questions I had when I first made my foray into photography.

I am by no means an expert, but through a lot of trial and a whole lot of error I have come to learn a few things along the way. And if people ask the same questions over and over again on someplace like Twitter, I’m pretty sure many more ponder the same questions in private.

1.) What’s the best book to read for someone purchasing their first dSLR?

Simple question; easier answer. The most valuable book (by far) is the owner’s manual. Too many new dSLR owners fail to read the owner’s manual. They think they can start-up and use their new dSLR right out of the box just as they would a new stereo component or TV. dSLRs are much more complicated and have so many more features to offer than other electronics. And failing to grasp all of your camera’s functions will severely limit yourself as a photographer. Even the pros read their manuals from cover-to-cover…repeatedly.

If you spent hundreds (perhaps thousands) of dollars on a new dSLR and always use the “automatic” mode you probably should have never purchased a dSLR in the first place. dSLRs are designed for ultimate creative control. And understanding the creative controls of your camera is fundamental in making good photographs. If you aren’t interested in knowing all your dSLR can do for you, you might be better off sticking to a simple point-and-shoot camera.

Once you are done reading the owner’s manual, read it again…and again…and again. Only after that should you begin thinking about graduating to a good photography book. And when you do, read “Understanding Exposure” by Bryan Peterson. Trust me.

2.) I have $600 and want a new dSLR. What’s the best dSLR I can buy?

Fail. This is the worst possible question a new dSLR buyer can ask. Why? Because if you do, you have it all backwards. Your first question should be, “What will I photograph?” When you know the answer to that question you can then start building your complete dSLR system around your actual needs.

When preparing your budget plan on spending at least 30% on at least one quality lens. Generally digital cameras become old and obsolete after only three or four years of service. Technology gets dated, features are updated, and shutters fail. A lens, on the other hand, is crucial component in the machinery of a camera and they can last a lifetime. More to the point, a good lens can has much greater impact on image quality than a camera. A kit lens is to photography what a pair of rabbit ears is to high-definition (HD) television.

dSLRs generally do all of the basics the same. Yes, some do those basics better than others, but your lens impacts clarity, sharpness, color, autofocus speed, the softness of the background blur, depth of field, and oh so much more.

If you plan on photographing portraits, you will want a “fast” lens. A “fast” lens has a very large maximum aperture or f-stop (i.e. f/1.2, f/1.4, f/1.8, f/2.0). Kit lenses, which are often bundled with entry level cameras, are never fast (i.e. f/3.5, f/4.0, f/5.6). If you want to photograph landscapes, you will probably want a wide-angle lens (i.e. 10mm to 35mm, depending on the camera’s sensor and crop factor). Kit lenses are seldom very wide. If you want to photograph wildlife or sports, kits lens rarely have a very “long” focal length (i.e. 200mm or greater) and they seldom focus fast. A kit lens, by design, is the lowest common denominator…not bad, but not particularly good at anything.

3.) Should I buy Canon, Nikon, Sony, or Olympus?

It depends.

All of these companies make fine dSLR cameras, but Canon and Nikon have been doing it much longer than Sony and Olympus. Because of that fact alone I often encourage people to stick to Canon or Nikon. Canon and Nikon also offer a wider range of lenses, accessories, and resources.

When it comes down to Canon or Nikon, consider what other people close to you are using. If a majority of them use one brand or the other, it is wise to buy that same brand. Doing so will enable to you to swap components and share information. That said, it is no secret I am a huge fan of Canon’s products. After purchasing dozens of lenses and many different camera bodies, I have yet to find a reason to use anything else.

4.) What accessories should I buy for my new dSLR?

There are so many different accessories on the market. Don’t be duped into buying crap you don’t need. Believe me, many of them are a colossal waste of money. Some of them, however, are absolutely necessary. I generally encourage new photographers to buy one (or two) extra batteries, more than two memory cards, a good camera bag, a Giottos Rocket Blower, lens pen, remote shutter release, polarizer filter, lens cloth, and a solid tripod. Everything else can wait until you get to know your camera better.

Steer clear of UV filters unless you are absolutely paranoid about protecting the leading element (i.e. glass) of your lens. Personally, I hate them. I have much better results without them. I ask you, “Why would you want to put a cheap piece of glass on the front of your finely tuned and precisely engineered lens?” Also, it is not uncommon for light to bounce around between the UV filter and the front element of a lens, which adversely affects your images. If quality photographs are important, it is my advice to skip the UV filter.

5.) How can I become a better photographer?

The internet is full of information for novices. Read up! Also join a photo sharing site such as Flickr. Participate in some forums, post your photographs, and solicit comments. Generally the more popular your photographs are on Flickr, the better you are doing as a photographer. Positive (and negative) critique helps to hone your skills. Also strive to read one new photography book each month. Go on photo walks with other photographers. Find a mentor; a more experienced photographer who is willing to share his techniques and what he or she has already learned. And lastly, take a lot of photographs. Bracket everything, take notes, and practice, practice, practice.