This is the second in a mini-series of lessons from my photographic life.

Mostly, these are habits that I'm working to improve on, or correct. Some of them are habits I've seen in others.

If you've got any suggestions, please drop me a line.

Don't bother learning your camera. Auto mode is set up by experts, they know more than you ever will.

Digital SLRs have a great Lazy mode. It's pretty good at figuring out what to do for most situations.

Of course, the key words there are "pretty good" and "most". If you learn what your camera is capable of, in many situations, you can do better.

Now, of course, your manual is your first point of call for learning about the rest of what your camera can do - but if you're anything like me, the manual is pretty dry reading - and not exactly inspiring. Not only that, but it's overly full of jargon. Bleh.

Fortunately, there are other options

Nikon users have Nikon's DigiTutor, and the Nikon SLR Learning Center.

Canon provides Enjoy! Digital SLR Cameras

Of course, everyone has google - don't be afraid to use it, it can teach you much

The other option is the way I've always gone - rely on the web in general, combined with the manual, combined with getting out there and shooting. Learn by experience, how your camera handles certain things, what that button or menu setting does. It's digital, it's not like you're wasting film!

At the very least, learn about the other modes your camera offers, how to use them, and what their limitations are. Portrait mode will often fire the flash as a front fill, but there are times when you won't want that to happen. Sports mode will increase the aperture and the shutter speed, to give you more of a chance to catch that action, but your depth of field may end up quite shallow. Landscape mode broadens your depth of field, but make sure you're either using a tripod, or well braces to avoid camera shake.

Your photography will thank you for it.