So, I realize the chances of going pro from skateboarding are like 1/1000 but I still want to be involved in the industry and lately I've been leaning towards photography, I've always been into it, just more into nature. So, with that said, my question is: What is a good beginner camera under $300(if there is one)?

you could start off with a film SLR and a relatively cheap lens, then move up into the digital world of DSLR's. film cameras are pretty cheap, and easy to find. check out these sites and look in the used department.

www.bhphotovideo.com
www.adorama.com
www.keh.com

I can't find anything in my price range... Know any other good sites?

I was browsing Keh earlier today and know for a fact that there are dozens of cameras suited for what your looking for and within your price range on that site alone.

This is what I did though, and heartily recommend it to anyone starting out, I went to a thrift shop, found an old Minolta Slr camera body with a 50mm lens for 50 bucks and bought it (Canon and Nikon are great choices as well). Just try to get the simplest camera you can get really, as long as it has adjustable shutter speeds, iso, and aperture you're set.

Next, go to your library, bookstore, or search engine of choice and read up on the basics of photography: what different techniques do and are used for, how to acheive certain effects, even the basic operation of your camera.

Lastly, get out there and shoot! This is the best way to learn. Just, remember have fun and be open to advice. It might hurt when someone tells you that your doing something wrong or that your photos aren't great, but hopefully they can guide you in a better direction. Just try to listen to anyone and everyone that has an opinion and you decide which opinion to follow.

For the record, the camera I have now (and love) is on Keh, its under 35mm Minolta manual focus, then under camera bodies (or outfits) its the x-570. There isn't really anything special about my camera though, many companies make a barebones slr system that can be had for cheap. Also, the camera i got for 50$ in a thrift store is going for about 150+ on these kinds of websites...so keep that in mind.

Also you might want to check out buying a cheap digital slr camera, this is good, because they are more expensive at the outset, but after you throw down some money for the camera, a couple lenses and some memory cards your pretty much set. With film cameras its cheaper to buy (usually) at the outset, but in the long run will cost more.

I'm biased towards film though, I feel that many DSLR's are too automated and allow you to get good looking photographs without much knowledge or effort. I think its more useful to learn the basics of photography before you move into the more automated realm, this will make your pictures much stronger in the long run.

umm go to http://radioshack.com

they have some pretty good cams there, i believe there was a mini dv one with like 20x optical and 800x digital which is insane and i think had 40 fps, and it pretty good, i suggest you get one that uses dvds and not tapes

then buy it online if you like or go to a radio shack and tell them about it and they will get it for you even if they dont have it, theyll have to order it from another store

This is the photography section, your talking about a video camera.

I use Sony Cybershot and I think it's pretty good for a low price.
And the odds are more like 1/100000

I can't find anything in my price range... Know any other good sites?

http://www.keh.com/OnLineStore/ProductList.aspx?Mode=searchproducts&item=0&ActivateTOC2=false&ID=&Size=&BC=NK&BCC=1&CC=&CCC=&BCL=&GBC=&GCC=&KW=
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=search&A=search&Q=&sb=bs%2Cupper%28ds%29&sq=asc&ac=&bsi=&bhs=t&ci=3017&shs=&at=Brand_Nikon&basicSubmit=Submit+Query <--- those are the camera bodies, lenses below http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=search&A=search&Q=&sb=bs%2Cupper%28ds%29&sq=asc&ac=&bsi=&bhs=t&ci=3018&shs=&at=Brand_Nikon&basicSubmit=Submit+Query look for something in the 28-70mm range
http://www.adorama.com/catalog.tpl?op=itemlist&cat1=Used&cat2=Nikon%20Manual%20Focus&cat3=Cameras <--- those are the cameras, lenses below http://www.adorama.com/catalog.tpl?op=itemlist&cat1=Used&cat2=Nikon%20Manual%20Focus&cat3=Lenses look for something in the 28-70mm range

Here is the Camera i'm interested in: http://www.adorama.com/US%20%20%20%20299637.html?sid=12107269271195350

Here is the Lens: http://www.adorama.com/US%20%20%20%20158384.html

Total: $148

But also, I told my mom about this, and she told me it would be a pain getting the pictured developped all the time and getting them on the computer, what would you guys do?

Getting them on the computer is so simple.

Getting them on the computer is so simple.

Do I just scan them on? and does the set up I like look good?

you have pretty much two options to get the photos onto a computer
1. get the film processed and printed, then scan the prints in a flatbed scanner
2. get the film processed and scan the negatives using either a flatbed scanner that can scan negs or a dedicated negative scanner

Since, your just starting out, I'd recommend a flatbed scanner with neg scanning capability, they are fairly cheap; around 100-200 for a fairly decent one. Then you also have the option to scan prints and negatives.

My printer allows me to scan

well then...use it to scan your prints

http://www2.panasonic.com/consumer-electronics/shop/Cameras-Camcorders/Digital-Cameras/Lumix-Digital-Cameras/model.DMC-FZ8K_11002_7000000000000005702

That's my camera I love it. It's a great beginners camera. It's pretty easy to figure out. You can use it for basic pictures or you can do some real photography with it. I've never had a film camera, but I think that digital would be easier for a begginer.

i was in this situation also. i did a lot of research and read many articles. They said that if you buy a cheap camera first your just wasting your money because then you have to buy 2. use your parents until you save up for a good one