Getting fields of a content type in template file - creating a slideshow
If I understand well your question, I guess that node.tpl.php is more suitable for use templates per content types an control over individual fields:

page.tpl.php: Default theme implementation to display a single Drupal page.

node.tpl.php: Default theme implementation to display a node.

About how to name your templates according your needs, see this documentation: Drupal 7 Template Suggestions http://drupal.org/node/1089656. Regarding your case, I guess, a template for content type, the name could be node--slideshow.tpl.php. see this answer that have information related with node.tpl.php.

and about how to see your fields, the same link to the answer have one example:

I have a field called field_demotext1, then this is the way that I can use to call their respective value inside any custom html zone of a node layout:

print $content['field_demotext1']['#items'][0]['value'];


whit print_r($content); (or dsm($content); if you use Devel module) you will see fields that can be pulled. this screenshot is using dsm($content); related with the example;



Render Drupal API is an alternative to the previous way. In this way you does not need seek the file using dsm() or print_r()

print render($content['field_demotext1']);


Also, seems that field_view_field is another alternative to render Drupal fields. see this related document:

I hope information be useful.