Learning the basics of photography is all about (lighting, known as) exposure. For those developing their skills, I highlighted just a few reading links as a quick reference. It's also easier to understand exposure with some examples rather then simple explainations or text alone. The uh-huh factor or "now I understand" improves with image show & tell approach. Here are a few links you can use as a starting point or as a refresher:
Shutterbug and
Picture Correct and
Photo Net and
Luminous-Landscape The key is to familiarize yourself with the various exposure options and simply go shoot in the backyard (your Exposure Lab) purposely using various exposure settings. Today with dgital cameras and image editing software, you can quickly learn by trial and error and get a much better grasp of lighting/Exposure. Shoot and view the results with the intent of observing how the different exposure settings impact the image. Exposure changes can provide a range of results from suttle (acceptable) and/or dramatic (disaterous). See and learn in the backyard lab before you tackle the rest of the world and you will be pleased with your results and more importantly understand why. Also, after you clearly understand the relationships between Shutter speed, aperture (f/ stops) and ISO, you will better appreciate the flexabilility RAW capture affords vice the JPEG option. The key is not to depend on the altering powers of RAW captured files alone, but instead to nail your exposures from the start. So shoot, look and learn. Shoot, shoot, shoooot!
