Good Photography Book

The Nikon School of Photography Handbook would be a good start. Better yet, take the Nikon School course. I've taken it twice. It's not as Nikon-centric as you might expect.

And, of course, learn Photoshop or other quality photo editor.

+1 thanks to Matt! That was an awesome deal and I’m glad we were able to work something out where I could buy that lens off of him. The Fisheye adaptor is next on my list.

I had some of the same questions and received some helpful tips and reading material suggestions on this thread.

thanks, yea i'm really excited

I'l check out the photography thread. (forgot there was one)

This will go against conventional wisdom. Use the user manual for the specific camera.

Print the entire manual out and read it, page for page. The manual will describe each control and what it does. You practice each example, and pay attention to the results that you get.

–B.G.–