If I wanted to take up photography as a hobby, what would you recommend - serious answers please?

I'm not exactly the artistic type and I don't have any expensive photographic equipment. However, I've been thinking about getting into photography as a hobby - using a digital camera, not film. I currently have a 5.0 MP camera with a 3x optical zoom. I've played around a bit with the various features and learned how to take decent pictures in various conditions. And I do have a decent tripod.

I guess one of my main questions is whether I should immediately try to buy a digital SLR camera or if the one I have would be adequate to start.

And once I am taking pictures, are there specific subjects or concepts I should focus on. Or is it more just getting out there and taking pictures?

You dont say your location, but if you are in the UK most tech colleges do a cousre in photography and it is not to costly.
I did it last year and it was brilliant, and the college supplies 99% of the equipment too.
Enjoy

Start slowly if you really want to become a hobby photographer.

You might want to participate in online photography forums where you can post your photos as well as comment on photos of others. one such site is www.pbase.com

You could also find it useful to look up a photography book. There are a lot of things to learn... how to frame a picture, how to campture motion, edit photos, make photos from multiple images, etc.

Good luck.

First i know this may seem off subject but read Billy Letts' book Where The Heart . Then take a simple photography course for digital cameras. also talk to different sales people at places where digital cameras are being sold.

When I retired, I took up outdoor ( wildlife) photography. I have SLR camera with wide angle, zoom, 50 mm and a lot of coloured lenses. I am going to buy a macro lense for very small things.
It is a very time consuming hobby - waiting for just the right shot. Almost all of the pictures are thrown away so it pays to use slides as they are cheaper.
When I do get a real good picture, I get it blown up to l5" x l2" and now have quite an amazing portfolio. Feeding the animals and birds is a neat way to have them come close. And shoot, shoot and shoot. The trick is clarity of the eyes.

If you want to buy a digital SLR, you need to have at least a knowledge of basic photography for you to be able to make full use of the dslr. You can learn it in schools or from a photographer. You can search forums on the internet that can help you. Like photography-on-the.net. But It would be better learning it from a photographer or from a school. I learned my basic knowledge in photography at school, it is one my subjects.
I believe you can use the camera that you have for practicing framing and finding interesting subjects.
About specific subjects, you can check again the forums. Begin what the things you like or like to do. If you like going outdoors, you can try landscapes or nature photography. If you like the City and the people around try urban or street photography, that way you don't have to really go out in the wild. I like taking pictures of just about anything, when it's people I like candid shots. Happy shooting.

If you are interested in taking pictures you already have what it takes to have photography as your new hobby. Start with the equipment that you have, as photography becomes extremely expensive the more you get into it... (There is always that new gadget you just gotta have)
As for what subject to take pictures of take pictures of the things you enjoy or appreciate the most. If you have always admired the city you live in start there. Maybe it is your family and friends that you want to photograph. Sometimes it is fun to take off the wall pictures of things that most people would not expect. Soon your new hobby will be an art and you will no longer say that you are not exactly the artistic type. Have fun with your new hobby! Who knows maybe this will lead to a new profession for you!

there are two paths, trail and error self teaching, or the worldwide proven fastest and best method of learning things like maths or science or say a branch of the 2 "photography" - goto school - nite school for hobby stuff, if you want to learn fast and well

wanna learn fast goto photography school and learn black and white film first, wanna learn slow just do what everyone else says - look for a nite school course in "digital photography" is a good idea for a hobbist

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You need a digital SLR (D-SLR) so that you can see and as large a DPI Pixalation you can get. Then just play enter competitions and enjoy. have fun.

When the camera is the obstacle in furthering your photography, then buy another one. Just get out and shoot and judge your work carefully. Get opinions from friends and family and take them with a grain of salt.