yeah pretty much just fooling around is the key to do, and if you want good newb style B&W just find some everday thing in a time where there is a alot of shadow and light
you gotta always set ur apperture or f stop right with the shutter speed, and focus properly (unless u want it blurry), is it a 35mm? always read the light meter. and use black and white, u get sick photos, snow photos are sweet in b+w