Learning about photography is far less constrictive than, say, learning about accounting, because a prime way to learn is by setting yourself a project and tackling it your way. You can consider your own interests when taking on projects and then find ways to look at your subject differently. For example, we know how Ansel Adams shot Yosemite National Park, but how you would shoot it might be completely different.
The Basics
The first thing to do when planning a project is to gather your equipment. You may not need a huge gadget bag, but only a camera body, flash and a couple of lenses. Gather lots of film, too, because if you get on a roll, you won't want to stop to go to the film store. Take extra batteries for your camera---if it needs them---and the flash unit.
Choose a subject for your first project that is a little unusual, some place that is a little challenging. For example, consider an old cemetery. While the subjects aren't moving, there are endless ways to photograph headstones, crypts and other aspects of cemeteries. Think about new ways to shoot an old cemetery.
For example, get down on the ground and shoot up. Or, shoot monolithic stones with figures from directly underneath rather than in a long shot. The focus of the cemetery project is to tell a story about that particular cemetery and what makes it special.
Living Things
Photographing plants and animals may not seem that exciting, but it takes talent and a good photographic "eye" to show nature in unconventional ways. You will want a fairly long telephoto lens for this and/or a macro lens for extreme close ups.
You don't have to go a long way to shoot this either. A local park or even a back yard will do. First, wander around the area with camera at the ready. Birds and squirrels will gladly pose for you just by being who they are. Flowers and trees can make interesting close ups.
Next, sit still. Find a relatively sheltered area where you have a good view of the area and sit there for a while. This will allow wildlife to go about its business without taking notice of you. The focus of the outdoor project is to see the mundane world from a different perspective and capture it your way.
This Year's Model
Get a friend to pose for you. Plan for at least a half-a-day shoot. Have several diverse settings in mind such as a park, a downtown area and a lake.
Shoot both close up with full awareness of your model, but also tell your model to wander and do things such as looking in shop windows or resting on steps or picking flowers while you are far away. While your model knows you are there, her being unaware of exactly where you are and when you are taking photos will provide you with more candid and unplanned shots. The focus here is to capture the many aspects of the person through different environments and shooting conditions.
Tags: your model, that little, when taking