A good monopod, or even a cheapie, is a good idea as well.
One thing I would strongly advise is to learn PHOTOGRAPHY first and not how to work a high tech camera.
As an example using CN41 B&W, only because it works out cheaper than regular B&W, take several rolls and shoot the same scenic in aperture priority at every aperture. This will let you concentrate on 1 function, the cam will set the shutter, and the scene. Shoot some scenes that are at a distance. Shoot some that up close. Shoot some macro. Shoot some with a strong foreground and some with a strong background.
This will give you hard results to look at showing you the effect of different apertures on depth of field at varying distances. Don't worry about the artistic results, just observe and learn.
Next I would shoot some moving objects on shutter priority and again use every shutter speed you have, even if you have to use some filtration to get perfect exposure or have to live with a little off exposure. Shutter priority will again give you only 1 thing to think about besides the shot. Again study how much blur or how stopped the action is at different shutter speeds. Again don't worry about artistic results, worry about getting an idea in your own mind of what does what and causes what.
Reading books are always good but IMHO nothing replaces viewfinder time.
Expect to make mistakes, it's all part of the process. Even those who post pics and have done it for a long time only show our keepers. From experimenting you will, I believe, come up with a few realy good shots just by accident. THAT is also an important lesson.
Good photography requires thinking outside the box. This is why I encourage everyone to learn photography before they trust their camera to make too many decisions for them. The camera in full auto mode is not adept at thinking outside the box.
Most of all however is to have fun. Getting a critique from another photographer is always good but remember...even if someone else doesn't like something but you really do, that's all that really counts unless you are trying to sell pics.
Once you get the basics like this down and can properly expose and compose a scene to your taste I would start shooting the same scene over and over with different filters and again study the effects which each have on the result.
Bottom line is if you shoot 1 roll a week for 6 months you are going to have a pretty good grip on what's what. If economics allow it of course you can accelerate that.
Once you have the basics down go at it. A good photographer with mediocre equiptment will produce better results than a hack with $10K in their camera bag so don't get all hung up on having the best possible lens in every class. As an analogy I could play Tiger Woods using a $4K set of Pings and let Tiger use an $89 set from WalMart and I'm pretty sure I would still lose.
One last thing is to not be afraid to try anything. Photography is an art of the so. Use both and you will be fine.ul and of the brain.
I hope this helps.
LWW
