1. i wanna learn how to do the photo effects.
2. can you send me a link that can guide me in making photo effects?

Which photo effects are you talking about?

Perhaps you should concentrate on the basics first, then build up from there:

Learn about your camera !!!!

Read your manual !!!! Read it several times, and practice in between.

Attend a class, read some books, read/watch online tutorials.

The major camera manufacturers (like Canon, Nikon, Olympus etc) all have very useful sections on their website for learning about photography.

http://www.usa.canon.com/dlc/controller?act=HomePageAct

http://www1.nikonusa.com/slrlearningcenter/index.php

http://www.olympusamerica.com/cpg_section/oima_learn_center.asp

Understanding at least the basic principles of photography (as well as being familiar with your camera) will enable you to make the most of your gear, and will make a HUGE difference to your images.

mainly for a first camera and for portraits and abstract pictures?

Are you sure it is a digital photography course? There are several students in my film photography class who thought it was a digital course.

It will be up to your instructor as to what type of camera you have to have. If it is a digital course, you will have to check to see if you need a DSLR or if a compact with advanced features like aperture and shutter priority will work.

I have always loved taking pictures of people/portraits and landscapes but, this time i would like to take photography seriously so, I want to learn a lot more, get ideas from people who are in the field. and also please recomend a gread book for digital photography. thank you

If you want to interact with people who are serious about photography you should try the following…

http://photo.net/

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/

http://www.largeformatphotography.info/

I have got a new digital SLR. I’m looking for something like "digital photography for dummy" but not too dummy (I’ve taken lots of pictures with consumer digital camera for a few years). I’m especially interested in learning taking better pictures with kids and babies.

Assuming that you got a good digital SLR that, like regular film SLRs, provide you with the same functionality that other serious hobbyists have, e.g. aperture/shutter speed settings, replaceable lenses etc. I would recommend that you consider a blend of books and materials that focus on both generic photography techniques as well as the "digital-ness" of your camera.

First of all, as the owner of a digital SLR, you need to be totally familiar with your camera’s operating manual. Search on Amazon.com on the exact model of your camera to locate the "advanced" guide for your camera. For example, I’ve attached the advanced guides for the Nikon D70 digital SLR. (If you have a different digital SLR, just search for that one.)

That is important because digital cameras all have as part of their complexity the computer programs that run it. Compared to traditional film SLRs, these cameras have more "manufacturer/camera-specific" details that are essential to know.

Beyond that book, I’ve also attached two digital photography guides. They won’t be able to tell you too much more than what the "advanced guides" tell you plus what you can learn from other generic photography books, but I’ll let you be the judge of that.

Finally, I’ve attached a few photography books that focus on composition and basic technique. No matter what your equipment is, photography is an art. It’s not the brush that makes a painting masterpiece, it’s the creative genuis of the artist. Learning the nuts and bolts of your camera is only learning the absolute basics of the skill. You’re not going to have fun and enjoy photography until you focus on something other than the camera itself. Hence, don’t just get books on how to use your camera. Get books on how to create great photographs. I’ve attached a few books on that too.

Have fun!

Hi, I am amazed by tilt-shift photography. It is interesting to see how easily our mind is tricked and misinterprets scale. I was wondering if there is a technique which achieves the opposite of tilt-shift photography, which can trick the mind into perceiving miniatures as real size. Is this possible? And has this technique a name? Thanks!

The reason why our minds are tricked is because the photo has an unusually thin depth of field, which is normally associated only with close-up photography, not architecture or landscape. You can also tilt it in a way that gives you more depth of field, such as the effect shown here in the middle of the page: http://www.dpreview.com/lensreviews/hartblei_120_4_pc_n10/page5.asp

As you can see, however, the image is still very macro-looking. Another reason why macro photos are almost immediately recognisable is because of the perspective- almost, if not all macro lenses are in the medium-telephoto category. Telephotos compress features, giving macro shots their "distinctive" look. There really isn’t a way to transform macro photography into "normal" photography.

I just got a new nikon digital camera the nikon d-3000, and I have gotten very interested in photography now. This camera seems to have a lot of bells and whistles, but i don’t know what most of the features are. It looks very complicated. I am employed full-time and I don’t really have time go back to school. If I must return to school, how long will it take for me to get a certificate in photography?

You can learn photography without going to school for a certificate although there are many who believe it is the best way to learn. I personally am completely self taught in all facets of photography. Still have a long way to go but I’ve done fairly well in the past year I’ve been at it.

To start with your learning take some to read the manual first. Play around with settings, see what each thing does. Experiment and don’t be afraid of crappy pics at first. It’s expected. Consider visiting sites like Digital Photography School to study up on composition, exposure, lighting, etc. You won’t become an instant expert or overnight professional but with some time spent studying and learning you can eventually come out with good shots.

I wish you luck. Photography is a wonderful hobby.