I had originally posted this on Digital Photography Blog but wanted to expand on this post more in depth.

As a photographer myself, I get asked a lot, what's it like to be one, how to start and etc. While I could share my experiences, they are only one person's experiences, hence I wanted to list some websites that constantly help me improve my craft and give me insights beyond my own small slice of the world. I also included a small snippet about how each site helps me.

The Digital Journalist
Famed photojournalist and the guy who realized he had the first pic of Monica Lewinsky with Bill Clinton in his archives also runs an excellent website that brings light to innovative storytellers who use various means to get across t heir point.

SportsShooter
SportsShooter from the outset seems like a rather narrow niche site to read through, however, the forums and articles on this site are outstanding not only for sports but for other genre's of photography when learning how to be a pro is of the utmost importance.

Photo District News
The photo industry bible of who, what, when and where. If you are a professional and want to know who the movers and shakers are, this is a must read for networkers.

RobGalbraith
Rob Galbraith is a Canadian based photojournalist who worked for a newspaper to be the first paper to go all digital. Since everyone was so new at this, he started his website and well regarded handbook on how to get the most out of digital for newsrooms and photographers.

Musarium
Formerly called Journal E, this website was co-founded by one of my professors and his associates in the quest to display innovations in storytelling. Merging, text, photos, sound and video, Musarium is a cutting edge showcase for those who are pushing the boundaries of storytelling.

National Press Photographers Association
American Society of Media Photographers
Professional Photographers Association
These industry groups exist to serve it's membership through education, lobbying and supporting other endeavors to further the art of photography. Being a pro photographer today is harder than ever, although pros are in competition with each other, many recognize the fact that standing apart vs. together is a recipe for disaster.

Pictures of the Year
The best that photojournalism has to offer from the past year. It is always an awe-inspiring of photography and many newbies and veterans can learn much.

National Association of Photoshop Professionals
Not all of us are as gifted with cameras as we are behind the computer with our mouse and tablets. NAPP is for those who cut their teeth learning Photoshops myriad ways.

Poynter Institute
This is the preeminent journalism think-tank for all kinds of news gatherers. This is not pie in the sky theories, these are time tested, hard earned wisdom from running a daily newspaper as it's proving ground.

This is only a small sample of the sites I visit, however, I hope it leads to more interest in the craft of photography and not just the technical aspect of this great art. Each one offers a different aspect to the field. I tried to stay away from purely technical sites that just do reviews of cameras and focused on the sites that talk more about how to get better photos and the profession of photography.