Intorduction

Some of this introduction, if not all

is barrowed from one of the books I read, now here it goes..

The D5100 is an amazing bit of technology and a very capable tool for creating photographs

that you will be proud to show others. The intention of this blog is not to be a rehash of

the owner’s manual that came with the camera, but rather to be a resource for learning

how to improve your photography while specifically using your D5100. I am very excited and

honored to help you in that process, and to that end I have put together a short Q&A to help

you get a better understanding of just what you can expect from this blog.

Question: is every camera Feature going to Be covereD?

A: Nope, just the ones I felt you need to know about in order to start taking great photos.
Believe it or not, you already own a great resource that covers every feature of your camera: the owner’s manual. Writing a blog that just repeats this information would have been a waste of my time and your money. What I did want to write about was how to harness certain camera features to the benefit of your photography. As you read through the blog, you will also see callouts that point you to specific pages in your owner’s manual that are related to the topic being discussed. For example, in Chapter 6, I discuss the use of the AE-L button, but there is more information available on this feature in the manual. I cover the function that applies to our specific needs, but I also give you the page numbers in the manual to explore this function even further.

Question: so iF i alreaDy own the manual, why Do i neeD this Blog?

A: The manual does a pretty good job of telling you how to use a feature or turn it on in the menus, but it doesn’t necessarily tell you why and when you should use it. If you really want to improve your photography, you need to know the whys and whens to put all of those great camera features to use at the right time. To that extent, the manual just isn’t going to cut it. It is, however, a great resource on the camera’s features, and it is for that reason that I treat it like a companion to this blog. You already own it, so why not get something of value from it?

Question: what can i expect to learn From this Blog?

A: Hopefully, you will learn how to take great photographs. My goal, and the reason the
blog is laid out the way it is, is to guide you through the basics of photography as they relate to different situations and scenarios. By using the features of your D5100 and this blog, you will learn about aperture, shutter speed, ISO, lens selection, depth of field, and many other photographic concepts. You will also find plenty of full-page photos that include captions, shooting data, and callouts so you can see how all of the photography fundamentals come together to make great images. All the while, you will be learning how your camera works and how to apply its functions and features to your photography.

Question: what are the assignments all aBout?

A: At the end of most of the chapters, you will find shooting assignments, where I give
you some suggestions as to how you can apply the lessons of the chapter to help reinforce everything you just learned. Let’s face it—using the camera is much more fun than reading about it, so the assignments are a way of taking a little break after each chapter and having some fun.

Question: shoulD i reaD the Blog straight through or can
i skip arounD From chapter to chapter?

A: Here’s the easy answer: yes and no. No, because the first four chapters give you the
basic information that you need to know about your camera. These are the building
blocks for using the camera. After that, yes, you can move around the blog as you see
fit because those chapters are written to stand on their own as guides to specific types of
photography or shooting situations. So you can bounce from portraits to landscapes and
then maybe to a little action photography. It’s all about your needs and how you want to
address them. Or, you can read it straight through. The choice is up to you.

Question: i Don’t see any chapters DevoteD to viDeo. Do you cover that?

A: I know that one of the reasons you probably bought the D5100 was its ability to capture HD video. I have covered some basic video setup information in Chapter 2, but I really wanted the focus of this blog to be the photographic capabilities and possibilities. Don’t worry, though; read the next Q&A and I think you’ll be happy.

Question: is there anything else i shoulD know BeFore getting starteD?

A: In order to keep the blog short and focused, I had to be pretty selective about what
I put in each chapter. The problem is that there is a little more information that might
come in handy after you’ve gone through all the chapters. So as an added value for you,
there are two bonus chapters: Chapter 11, called “Pimp My Ride,” and Chapter 12, “D5100 Video: Beyond the Basics.” Chapter 11 is full of information on photo accessories that will assist you in making better photographs. You will find recommendations for things like filters, tripods, and much more. Chapter 12 will lead you through some video tips and techniques to make your D5100 videos even better. To access the bonus chapters, just log in to or join Peachpit.com (it’s free) and enter the blog’s ISBN on this page: www.peachpit.com/ store/register.aspx. After you register the blog, a link to the bonus chapters will be listed on your Account page under Registered Products.

Question: is that it?

A: One last thought before you dive into the first chapter. My goal in writing this blog has
been to give you a resource that you can turn to for creating great photographs with your
Nikon D5100. Take some time to learn the basics and then put them to use. Photography,
like most things, takes time to master and requires practice. I have been a photographer
for many years and I’m still learning. Always remember, it’s not the camera but the person
using it who makes beautiful photographs. Have fun, make mistakes, and then learn from
them. In no time, I’m sure you will transition from a person who takes snapshots to a photographer
who makes great shots.