Lots of people ask me where to learn more about photography. Here are some great resources that I use regularly:
1. NatureScapes.net - It has free content, but you get a lot more by joining. The forums give you access to top-notch technical, artistic, and business talent in the field of nature photography.
2. TWIP (This Week In Photography) - TWIP is one of several podcasts shepherded by the Pixel Corps (which I recently joined, but haven’t worked my way into yet). TWIP also has a blog and other activities in Flickr. They are striking that fine line between advanced photography and beginners. If nothing else, listening to their weekly or so podcast is a great way to hear different people’s opinions on photography — as if you happened to walk into a room with a handful of smart photographers yacking on some topic.
3. Luminous Landscape - Michael Reichmann’s site is simply full of great articles, equipment reviews, and opinions from both Michael and other authors. Michael has some great friends, like Jeff Schewe and Alain Briot to name just two. The Luminous Landscape Video Journal (LLVJ) is a quarterly or so, professionally produced, video program which you can subscribe to for a nominal fee. It used to be distributed by DVD, but is staying ahead of the curve with all-digital distribution now. (Bravo!) The Camera to Print video tutorial is worth its weight in gold (but only if you pretend that it actually has weight and weighs a lot…)
4. LensWork - Brooks Jensen sets the bar high for everything he does. LensWork is primarily known as a magazine featuring fine art black&white photography. But you can also subscribe to the extended version which arrives as a CD/DVD with audio interviews, extended galleries, and lots of other goodies. PLUS, Brooks does a “bursty” podcast with short essays on photography that are sure to inspire (or confound).
Each of these resources reflects a different way of getting information and spans a wide variety of photographic interests. Do I read other things? Sure. I’ve got five or six things (including two podcasts) on Adobe Lightroom alone that I track regularly. But the four above are the core that provide ideas, entertainment, and the technical background I need to practice my craft. They work for me. They may not work for you. But if you haven’t given them a look, they are definitely worth sampling.
My final recommendation, whether you are photographer or not, is Art Wolfe’s “Travels to the Edge” series, making its way around PBS. If you can watch it HD, do so! I think I’ve seen each episode five times. And now I just have to visit the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge!