Student > Student & Amateur Photography
Starting out:
In my opinion, probably the best place to start as a student photographer is to get some prints of any images you have previously taken. I believe this to be a good starting point because any new skills you learn from this point forward can be compared to previous attempts and help you realise your acheivements. It can also be interesting to see what sort of images you used to take with an 'untrained' eye.
Following this (as I am still frequently reminded) you should really hit the books. If you aren't really much of a reader (like myself) it doesnt really matter at first because it is photography books you are looking at so you can just flick through the pictures and you dont need to read anything. By doing this you will gain lots of inspiration for your next shoot and you will begin to get new ideas on composition. When you feel you hit a wall with this, its time to actually read the words next to the images.
In photography you are painting with light, it is likely that it wont be long before you feel the need to read up on new techniques because what you already know just doesnt cut it. Make sure that you know your camera inside out and are familiar with different camera formats and lenses and know what piece of equipment is for what. You learn new things every day and I still dont know many of the basics but as long as you know what you need to know to keep moving, then all is fine. You will no doubt be keen to get out and about with your camera and I would definately advise this. Photography is something I personally feel is best learnt on the job-so get out with your camera and work on personal projects.
Personal projects:
Personal projects are essential, I am terrible for leaving my camera behind because I am lazy but- as soon as I arrive at my destination I tend to be greeted with that sinking feeling *I should have brought my camera*. I am trying desperately to get into the habit of having a camera with me, you dont have to take heavy equipment, a small pocket camera can still take decent pictures and will allow you concentrate maybe on your composition whilst the auto settings take care of everything else for a change. Just because you cant be bothered taking your camera with you doesn't mean you are a rubbish photographer, or that you aren't cut out for the job but like myself i think you really need to do something about it. Personal projects can be anything such as: documenting your travels, photographing different species you come accross,aiming to take an image that sums up the moment.
I am still in that dreaded snap-happy mode, I take lots and lots of pictures when doing personal projects. For me though, it really works! I know every book out there probably advises against it, but it really helps to build my confidence in using my camera: quickly changing settings, learning to adapt to suit conditions and changing my composition to see whats more effective. Unless you are working on film, or only have one small memory card with you why not? It means more time afterwards narrowing down images, but I allow time for it because thats how I like to work. No, I do not always work like this, especially not if I was working for a client but for my personal work it really helps me along.
So basically the advice I am offering in this really long boring piece of writing is practice practice and more practice! And then just a bit of reading.