There are lots of books and websites. You need to learn how a camera works, how to work it, but also what makes a good picture, and you learn that mostly by looking at pictures.
You want to get a camera that you can set manually--focus, shutter speed, f-stop. You want to learn how these things work, how shutter speed and f-stop interact, etc. Then just go out and take pictures! Learn by doing. 8^) Most cameras today have automatic modes, and they work pretty good too, but you want to master these things for yourself so you have more control. You don't need a really expensive, fancy camera, at least to get started. Just about any camera will do so long as you can override the auto modes and set it yourself.
Digital photography is nice, partly because the pictures cost virtually nothing. You don't have to peer through the viewfinder and ask yourself 'Is that worth 25 cents?' You can take ten pictures where you would have taken one, and try different settings. You can do a lot of experiments.
And you don't have to spend hours in a damp darkroom with your fingers in toxic smelly chemicals. You can process and edit pictures on your computer screen MUCH more easily, adjust contrast and levels, and all that stuff. Shooting and processing are both half of photography, it is half art and half science.
A lot of places have photography clubs where you get together, show each other pictures, and talk about them. You can learn a lot that way. Also community colleges and adult education places have photography classes, which is a good start, then after that you can learn more on your own.
Or google 'photography tutorial'. I'm sure there's a ton of stuff.
