Megapixels Don't Matter....It's The Photographer That Does.....

I have been taking photo's with a digital camera for the last 3 years I have been using a Nikon dslr (D70s) It only has 6 megapixels but in my opinion takes great shots(See video)

You don't need expensive equipment to take decent shots OK I cheated a bit by using photoshop to get the desired effect but pics straight out of the camera are usually better than most modern compacts costing twice as much as I paid for my d70s.

If you're halfway interested in photography you should get yourself a cheap secondhand dslr (mine cost £150) the best way to learn about photography is to shoot as much as you can don't just take a couple of shots of one subject shoot 10 or 15 at different exposures and angles then choose the best ones and edit in  any digital software if needed.

Don't go down the path where the more megapixels the better start with a cheap camera and shoot everything you see, trust me your photography will improve dramatically.

I reckon that every 40 or 50 shots I take I will get one shot I like, and when you have a decent collection of photo's you should join a photography website like Digital Rev for instance, here you can post your shots and other like minded photographers can see your work and like or comment on your photo's, it's easily the best way to learn, and you can get idea's from looking at other people's photo's.

I would start by looking at second hand camera website's and reviews of cameras on you tube, The make of camera does not matter they are all good at what they do, don't get drawn into thinking the better the camera the better the photo, if you do that you will probably waste a lot of money on expensive equipment that will probably end up at the back of your wardrobe, start off cheap and if you get bitten by the bug then later you can get another camera that suits your need.

Living In Shared Accommodation - Pro's and Con's

I have lived in shared house's for about the last 8 years, I have had some weird housemates but also have made some great friends along the way, If you are just about to get a room to rent make sure that
1- All the bills are inclusive(TV license,electricity,gas,council tax)
2 - Make sure it has got internet as a lot of landlords and agencies don't supply it, you need wireless internet it makes life a lot easier
3 - Make sure you get decent cupboard space in the kitchen because when people leave the other tenants move their stuff into the empty space, don't be afraid to move other people's things to put your stuff away(but ask first)
4 -  Before you get to see the place officially plan a visit at night to see what the neighbourhood is like
5 - When you get to see your room make sure you check everything including the mattress and the bed (mine had stains and broken rungs) you can ask for new items.
6 - If you are using an agency as a landlord check online http://www.uklettingagent.co.uk/reviews/
     and see if your agency is there (my agency is crap and when I leave I will definitely be writing about them as will most of my housemates.
7 - Be sociable, don't lock yourself away you can make some good friends but don't be pushy or get in peoples way you have to give people space
8 - Check your contract thoroughly
9 - Does the house have a cleaner, if not is there a rota where everybody does their bit.
10 - Does the house have access to a garden or a living room for all to share (mine doesn't have either and its amazing the number of new tenants who have moved in asking how to get to the garden or where is the living room?)
If you have any questions about house sharing I will definitely answer them.