My Nikon D5000 ...

[Amberglass]

You're not bugging me, Warren. I am happy to help. P mode is basically auto mode but allows tweaking the settings to a certain degree. (Stop reading Ken Rockwell settings, it's a joke when he said "P" mode means auto professional results). M mode is fully in your control. In answer to your question about Primes; primes are fixed focal length lenses that can not zoom. You have to zoom by using your legs to move in closer or farther away to achieve the composition you want.

In regards to apertures and numbers, it's the opposite Warren. The lower the numbers, the wider the apertures allows more light in and less depth of field it will create. The higher the numbers, the smaller apertures which allows less light in but greater depth of field.

Yes f6 is smaller than f4. Watch this video Warren, it will explain how depth of field is affected by the size of the aperture. Depth of field is also affected by the distance you are from the subject, and the distance the subject is from the background (say if a wall/bushes is behind the person), also watch the other videos:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRJMisfK_-Q
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orbI9...eature=channel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwqaV...eature=channel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4L5-...eature=channel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1dor...eature=channel

Highly recommend that you purchase a copy of Bryan Peterson's book: Understanding Exposure: How to Shoot Great Photographs with a Film or Digital Camera and the 35 mm f1.8G prime. It will literally open your eyes and get you going where you need to go.

[Warren]

Hey Amber, you gave me some great stuff. I am sure that I will have more questions after I have had the time to check out those videos. Thanks again for your help, I really appreciate it.

[Amberglass]

Two more for you Warren,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCg35T7pr2w
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vuC_D...eature=channel

Again, my pleasure.