the best place to start is by reading the maunual that came with your camera - then just experement with the settings and it will be obvious what all the different settings do..

for example I often shoot with an overley high level of light going into the camera, with a dark filter on the lens...

its all trail and error - just read the maunal and have fun expermenting..

I think the first thing to do is figure how to do things 'by the book' - with regard to white balance etc... then with this new found knoladge you will learn how to put your own touch with uniqe fottage..