In article <4fitcr$kfu@rs10.tcs.tulane.edu>, jelliott@rs6.tcs.tulane.edu says... (most deleted, about getting started in photography)

>Also, I lack the knowledge of what to buy (e.g., 35mm or medium format?
>which features? what brand? how expensive does it need to be? what >equipment is necessary in addition to the camera itself?).

The idea of a basic course at a community college is a good one.
Reading back issues at the library of some photo magazines can get
your feet wet in photography and acquaint you with some of the terms,
but there is maybe too much emphasis on the latest whiz-bang gadget,
lens, or camera - too easy to get immersed in photo equipment commercialism. Buying an older manual camera and a lens or two
(Pentax, Nikon, Canon, and Minolta bodies and lenses from the 70's
are generally good, and cheap - and it is better for learning to use
a manual body, especially if it has a "depth of field" control [most
did in the 70's]) and playing with it can teach you a lot (try to get the manual for the camera, if possible - the good ones were mini-courses in basic photography). After a bit, look around for film bargains (outdated film, cheap processing "specials", etc.) and start shooting. Slide film will teach you a lot in a hurry about exposure, especially if you keep notes. A cheap 10x magnifier will teach you a
lot in a hurry about hand-holding techniques and optimum apertures
and shutter speeds to use for getting sharp images. Good luck, and
have fun with it!
Hope This Helps