If you want to learn playing an instrument you need to practice & play. At the beginning it would sound awful - belive me, I try to learn playing my 44 guitars ;-)

 

It is ok to read some books about how to play, it is important to listen to music but at the end everything is about playing by yourself. 

 

Same with photography. It is ok, to know everything about your camera or cameras in general. Beein a specialist in optics and knowing everything about lenses is sooooo cool. Reading 5 photo magazines each week is ok and helps the publishing companies to survive.

 

BUT - it wont improve your photographic skills!

 

To get better you need to go the hard way - DO IT. Take your camera and take pictures. Make mistakes, get crazy about them and try again. Look at your pix and ask yourself what is good and what could be better. Then start again......

 

Choose a theme to avoid taking only any snap shots - unless your goal ist to take only any snap shots.

 

Themes might be nature, water, buildings, animals, people....you name it....

 

Compare your results to samples you might find in books, magazines or the internet. Find out what you want to transport with your pix, find your own style....

 

Start showing your pictures to other people - not only photographers. Ask for their opinions and stand their critics, it will make you better & stronger.

 

I took my first pictures more than 40 years ago, and I take at least one picture each day. Also I go through my collection of photo books from time to time to get new inspiration. I'm still a student of photography and I will be till I take the last picture.

 

To make a long story short - DO IT! Not only when it is about taking photos.