new comer to outdoor photography
 

im looking to start getting serious in the photography business and have been talking to a few guys who know their **** and they said that one of the best things i can do is get onto a forum and talk to more people about how to get started. i do alot of duck hunting and ice fishing and take tons of pictures during each. any info on how i can getstarted out there or even just a place where i can put some of my pics for people to see.any info at all would be appreciated

RE: new comer to outdoor photography
 

Howdy CanadaSlammer69. Congrats on getting into outdoor photography. I just started last year myself. http://www.americasoutdoorsman.com/aoforums has a Nature Forum and Photo Gallery that helped me out getting started quite a bit. Its nice to be able to go out and take some pics and post em up for others to view. Theres a couple others on there that get some really great pics of all kinds of wildlife and scenery. Good luck and will be looking forward to seeing some shots from you.

RE: new comer to outdoor photography
 

Well CanadaSlammer69prepare youself for a ride. :D Photography in very addictive and very frustrating. I will tell you since you brought it up, it is very hard to bea true "photographer" meaning that at least51% of your income comes from the images you shoot. Very few are able to do it. Without getting too in dept, you have to be bettter at business and marketing than you do at photography. Most people that want to be photographers aren't. Thus why there's a lot of hungry photographers. Business wise, I can't really help you that much as I'm a horrible businessman because I have a hard time charging 2K for a print-which is what you have to do.

Your friends are correct, surround yourself w/photographers and sit and watch. Study thier images and listen to their critiques. Some may be harsh, but those are generally the ones that make you better.

www.naturephotographers.net is a great place to sit and watch. Study the images and read all the critiques. Look at Brad Hill, Mark Admus and Dan Walters, I think they are all on that site if I remember correctly. If you're interested in shooting deer, Fred Thompson is on there (not the actor/senator) and he just got done w/a series on whitetails.

www.photo.net is another good site to read their forums. Their forums will help you learn a camera inside and out. Just like w/huntin' you have to know your equipment. Tom Mangelsen is said to frequent that site under an alias name. He very well might be the best nature photographer alive now.

Hope this helps.