GREAT EGRET AND SHADOWWildwood Park Lake, Harrisburg
 

As most first time photographers the learning curve is steep.  To be proficient at anything you need to do something 10,000 times or so they say.  I read the manual and only really understood about 1/4th of it.  I decided shooting aperture priority because that's what I thought I should be doing. I had an expensive lens that was F4 and should be used that way.  Set the shutter and let the ISO on auto.  It worked at first but I couldn't figure out why things weren't in focus at F4. (DEPTH OF FIELD)  Photographers in general are a friendly bunch and more than willing to help when ever possible.  To date I have only met one jerk. I think he was compensating for total lack of skill.   As I chased birds all over the place I met more and more photographers.  At first You don't know what to ask.  It shouldn't be what F stop or shutter are you shooting.  Listening to others prompted questions especially on the definition on terms.  I would run home and do a internet search because I didn't want to admit I didn't understand.  If you want a first thing to learn after learning how to turn the camera on and off it would be shutter speed, F stop and ISO.  Each one plays an important role and can not be dismissed as a minor player in correct exposure.  You also have to understand that everyone has their own way and expensive equipment doesn't mean expert.  I was getting decent pictures shooting the way I was so why change?  I made friends with a fellow photog who took great pictures and shot in the film days when you had to know something about those three things that control exposure.  He shot totally manual and convinced me it was the only way to shoot.  I want to make something very clear. 
 

Depending on the equipment there is no one way and sometimes auto settings are just fine.  Especially when you are going on a trip of a lifetime and haven't taken 10,000 clicks.