Depends on your budget and what you’re up to, to be honest, but here’s my general purpose advice:

In general, start with something like a kit lens (one of my Nikon cameras shipped with an 18x55mm inexpensive kit lens, I still use it a ton) with zoom capacity, and either get a fixed focal length lens (i.e., 35mm only or something) or use the zoom lens like a kit lens when you’re ready. In other words- set the focal length to something with the macro focus, and leave it there- avoid the temptation to zoom in and out for at least some shoots. I often set the kit lens I have to 18mm and just leave it there at it’s widest zoom length while strolling down forest trails. Either way, you learn to focus with your feet instead of the zoom capacity (that’s what you do with a prime lens anyway) which to me is very important- eventually you just instinctively know where to stand to frame your shot. Do that and practice on subject matter that doesn’t move around a lot at first- landscapes, streetscapes, flowers, whatever- at first and try to learn artistic composition technique as soon as possible, the way a painter would.

Once you’ve got the hang of using that sort of setup, figure out what subject matter you’re interested in and then go grab other lenses like long lenses or a wide angle ones. They’re often pricier than the above setup, but necessary for certain types of work.

There ARE general use lenses that go from wide angle to far zoom but they can really be pricey. What are you planning on shooting in terms of subject matter?

I’ve been around from the old peak oil scene’s days back in the 2000’s (2005? 2006?) when I was in my early twenties? It doesn’t make me lonely, even though becoming aware of it all did cause me to lose most of my friends (they’re still trying to party it up, I think, successfully), and almost nobody’s really turned up to replace them since then. Loneliness doesn’t bother me like it used to, but ignorance and apathy and the toxic positivity that says to wish it all away and get yours while you can is really irritating.

I don’t talk about it to anyone anymore offline, because that strikes me as a painfully pointless way to make my lot even worse than it’s already been made.

I am here as a Reddit refugee. I’ve noticed a lot of the communities here that interest me haven’t hit any sort of critical mass for participation sadly…but I check in most days anyway.