Product Description

Customer Reviews (71)

Useful Tips but..
Some very usefull tips on flash bounce and ETTL flash metering. A little redundant at times. Could've been written more clearly.

Hmmm.... There is nothing interesting.
Just waste of money. It is boring and nothing interesting. I gave three stars because of quick shipping but now this book in my garbage.

Great Book with Good Examples
I had heard about this book a few times over the months but did not believe that on camera flash could produce a good image without heavy shadows of extra shine. I had gone to a workshop of a well know wedding photographer and was convinced the only way to get fantastic shots was with a secondary off camera light source (umbrella). After reading the this book the first time, I experimented with with bounce and was thoroughly impressed with the results of the half snoot bounce. I read it a second time and incorporated Neil's techniques into my work flow. I have had more than a couple of people tell me my indoor shots look like they were done without flash look natural.
I particularly like the way this book shows extra example of the shot with an under or over exposure of the shot.
If you want to use bounce flash and kick your shots to another level buy this book, read it a couple of times and try some of the techniques.

Superb!
I bought this book with no idea of what flash photography was.After the first reading,I was able to realize what I was missing.With the help of Neil's simple instructions YOU can get stunning photos on almost every situation.I can't help reading it over and over again for advice on how to set my speedlight,get correct exposure,frame my subject,look for better backgrounds,or deal with difficult lighting scenarios.Highly recommended book,and much more to come on his web site.

On Camera Flash Review
This is well written and easy to follow. I definitely would recommend to fellow photographers looking to better their lighting skills ... Read more

Product Description
The go-with-you guide for creating strong compositions every time you take a photo

Composition requires purposeful placement of elements within the frame, including backgrounds, foregrounds, main subjects, and much more. It can take years to acquire strong compositional skills. That's where Composition Digital Field Guide comes in. Packed with full-color photos, this handy guide teaches you how to bring together photographic elements to produce photos that are unique, creative, and memorable.

• Addresses the skills required to master the art of good composition when taking digital photos
• Walks you through framing your images carefully, which is the first key step in capturing a strong photograph
• Features hundreds of stunning and inspiring full-color photos of people, wildlife, and landscapes
• Includes the newest feature of the Digital Field Guide series: a removable color checker card to help ensure true color in your photographs

It will be difficult to keep your composition while reading the invaluable advice in Composition Digital Field Guide! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Who knew how much I didn't know?
I'm a big fan of Mr. Hess' book on exposure, so I snapped up this book as soon as it came out. I thought I knew a lot about composition, but this book has taught me so much more. Like the exposure book, it's well-written, comprehensive but easy to understand. Lots of great photo examples. Mr. Hess even includes a free gray and color-checker card. Highly recommended.

Great book
whether youre a beginner or been doing it for 40 years, I feel like the information in this book is full of things that you need to know or need to be reminded about as a photographer. And as a bonus, its also full of a wide variety of brilliant photography.Its not just focused on one type of genre oh photography, but touches on on several to show remind you that the tools it offers carry across to every type of photography.Easy read and valuable knowledge ... Read more

Product Description

Learn the secrets of fine art digital photography

Produce captivating and high-quality photographs easily and consistently with help from this invaluable guide, based on renowned photographer George DeWolfe’s most popular workshop. Inside, you will learn his “16-bit workflow” technique for mastering the craft of printing fine art photographs. You will also discover how to set up a successful “closed loop” environment--one in which you handle the entire photographic process yourself, sending nothing out for processing, manipulating, or development. Learning the qualities and techniques essential to creating a digital fine print with light, substance, and presence requires skill, experience, time, and vision. George DeWolfe’s Digital Photography Fine Print Workshop puts all of this expertise at your fingertips.

Customer Reviews (14)

DeWolfe is a true craftsman
I have taken the workshop from George when this book was first published. Both greatly enhanced my photography. More specifically George shows you an easy way to create a workflow, essential for us traditional film photographers. I have also worked in the field with George and he practices what he preaches as it relates to the techniques in this book. This is a great book, read it study it, and read it again as I have. It will only make you a better photographer!

Advanced Photoshop users
I recommend this book for advanced photoshop users and photographers. It lacks a lot of in between information, but I still enjoy the book and have learned a lot. George DeWolfe is an outstanding photographer and we can learn so much from ones like him. If your new at photoshop and want to learn photographic work flow easily, the book I recommend is "Photoshop Artistry for photographers using CS2 and Beyond" By Barry Haynes. This book is based on his workshops and explains things in real simple terms. Barry Haynes writes articles for Photo Techniques Magazine, this is where I learned about his books and workshop.

Essence of fine-art photography
Essential, hugely informed, lucid guide to fine-art photography by a master dedicated to his craft. Vital.

Don't Waste Your Money
Firstly, I never write reviews, but I felt I had to for this one. Before I start I feel I should give my credentials. I have spent the last three years working as an assistant to a fine art printer working on traditional print projects for numerous big name photographers.

I bought this book after seeing that Mr Dewolfe teaches up at the Cone Workshops and after reading the good reviews on Amazon. That was a big mistake!! This is the reason why it is good to check books out in a store before you purchase.

The book is very weak. I had read "Real World Photoshop CS2" prior to this, so I had a very good benchmark. RWP CS2 is a truly excellent book on using photoshop. Dewolfe's book is poorly laid out, repetitious (very), contradictory and gives limited examples of valuable technique. I gained nothing from reading the book and bored quickly of his preachy style. Here is an example:

"The print has another dimension that I call presence. It has almost nothing to do with the technical side, but it is a matter of craft, that careful blend of aesthetic judgment and technical skill."

Now tell me if that is not a contradiction. Who edited this?

Another thing that bugged me is that the book feels like an advert for the line of Optipix plug-ins that he is associated with. He mentions them almost constantly (there is an advert on the last page if you missed the hundreds of references throughout the book).

Please, please, check this out in a bookstore before you make up your mind.

Comprehensive coverage of digital photography
Reviewed by Bruce Herman
Member of the Alaskan Apple User's Group
Anchorage, Alaska

George DeWolfe's Digital Photography Fine Print Workshop is a significant departure from any of the other digital darkroom books that I've read. It was easily the most challenging because it presented so many new ideas in such a short book (255 pp.). Most other books rely heavily on global corrections that emphasize curves whereas DeWolfe relies more on levels, even for color corrections. Other authors apply local corrections with masks, but DeWolfe prefers to brush on corrections using the History Brush. Digital Fine Print Workshop was one of the most rewarding books about print making because it made me think about my photographs in new ways. This book grew out of the workshop that DeWolfe teaches

DeWolfe begins with an overview of what constitutes a digital fine print. He defines the terms brightness, color, contrast and so on, and then introduces the workflow that will be the central focus of the book. He gives a series of examples that provide the reader with a basis of distinguishing the good from the not so good for each of the qualities just defined. DeWolfe says that he has had a lifetime of developing his own appreciation of these characteristics. So it's a bit of a leap for a reader to expect to come up to speed by viewing a handful of photographs reproduced in a book. Here DeWolfe might have referenced some photographs on the Internet to give the student a bit more background.

Two aspects of DeWolfe's overall approach that set his book apart from most other digital print making books are his emphasis on separating the mid-tones and his concern for the quality of light in the print. I think that understanding these factors alone are likely to lead to vastly improved prints.

The second part of the book, titled "The Workshop," constitutes the core of the book. It is in this section that DeWolfe explains and illustrates in detail his personal vision of achieving the fine art print from a digital photograph. The workshop focuses on digital photography beginning with bringing the digital files from the camera into the computer and ends with making the print. DeWolfe covers techniques for dealing with both RAW and jpeg image files as they come off the camera. He does not mention scanning, although one could reasonably follow the workflow for jpeg images. In any case, he works with 16 bit files, which he claims allows him to use levels in Photoshop without encountering the gaps that arise when working with 8 bit files. My personal experience was that 16 bit files did not entirely preclude gapping, but it was not as bad as it would be with 8 bit files.

DeWolfe performs his artistry in two phases. He begins with global changes and then fine tunes the resulting photograph with local changes. One of the tools that DeWolfe uses is a plugin called Optipix. Although he discusses some techniques that substitute for Optipix, I found that using Optipix often made a step more likely to work as described. I would recommend purchase of this plugin ($139) if you wish to carefully follow DeWolfe's workflow.

It was in the application of the local corrections that I found the most difficulty in DeWolfe's approach. DeWolfe uses the history brush to make local corrections to almost all parameters of the photograph. He eschews masks as tools for graphic artists, preferring the history brush because it forces an artist to commit in order to move forward. Each reader of this book will have to make his or her own assessment of this view.

The Fine Print Workshop concludes with a brief description of what is required for a digital darkroom, including setting the preferences in Photoshop. This part of the book seems to be an attempt to broaden the appeal of the book to beginning digital photographers. Considering the level of complexity in executing the steps in the workshop, this almost seems out of place. That portion that deals with the software and hardware will be out of date long before the techniques described in the workshop pass into irrelevance.

DeWolfe's book grew out of the week long workshop by the same name that he teaches. Reading the book is not likely to be as good as taking the workshop, but it's far, far better than just reading the generic Photoshop how-to book. Despite the fact that I don't necessarily agree with all aspects of DeWolfe's workflow, I highly recommend this book. Just be sure to leave a reasonable amount of time to absorb the material and give it a fair appraisal. ... Read more

Product Description
Named One of Shutterbug Magazines Top Digital Imaging Books of 2008!

Capturing an image and getting the right exposure is critical and Jeff Wignall recognizes exposure as the secret for creating an image that captures a vision and shares it with the world. When you apply his techniques with patience, experimentation, and a focus on the outcome, you will begin creating images that reveal not only what you saw, but how you felt when you saw it. In fact according to Shutterbug magazine Exposure Photo Workshop “may be the best book yet written about exposure.” By learning to work with natural light as well as when to use flash you will confidently capture action, night scenes, rainbows, sunsets, and reflections like never before. With stunning images, Jeff Wignall shows you how to perfectly expose pictures in even the most challenging existing light conditions, including poor weather, using a flash, and even a section guiding you through using multiple wireless flash units. You can upload your own images to Photoworkshop.com and get feedback from other photographers.

Wignall starts by explaining the fundamentals of exposure and why it’s important. This leads into learning the basics of exposure controls. By the end of chapter 2, you will know how to control the exposure on your point-and-shoot or digital SLR camera. Chapter 3 walks readers through measuring light using just about any light meter and Chapter 4 delves into lens apertures and depth of field. The focus moves to shutter speed and subject motion. After Chapter 6, you’ll have the knowledge and confidence to turn off your camera’s automatic settings and take manual control. Wignall then examines natural light exposures, discussing the intricacies of light quality, light direction, and time of day. As you approach more advanced exposure options, you’ll need the troubleshooting advice provided in Chapter 8, covering difficult situations such as metering challenges, handling contrast, and creating dramatic silhouettes. With more advanced techniques mastered, you can then approach night and low-light conditions and then examine special considerations such as the weather and natural phenomena. The book finishes strong with a comprehensive look at all things flash photography. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (24)

excellent book
I've learned a lot from this book. It is very useful and easy to follow.

Successful Last Resort
I'm long past due for the review of this book, especially considering that it's responsible for my continuing interest in photography. Had I not stumbled upon Jeff Wignall's book, I would have given up for the last time.

I studied film, slr's, web sites, photography forums and the most "popular" authors, and came to the conclusion that I must be too dense to ever be more than a point and shoot snapshot guy. Then as a last resort, I noticed a review of this book that seemed to indicate that this might help.

A few days later, and 4 chapters in, I could duplicate/imitate any shot in this book with a Panasonic FZ28 with no problem. Suddenly, everything made sense. Now I know what "they" are talking about. It may well be that Wignall's approach is much better suited to the point and shoot, and easier to relate to, but it has to apply better to a dslr also. Simple, straightforward, no trips to foreign lands and exotic locations. Just go into your backyard or down the dirt road, frame the subject, adjust exposure, set white balance and shoot. Like learning to ride a bicycle for the first time. Pedal, balance and steer. He'll give you a push, you can do it.

It's hard to explain or believe the difference this book has made in my photos and my understanding of how to take them, but without a doubt, Jeff Wignall and the Exposure Photo Workshop are responsible. If you "want" to learn, you "will". I finally did.

A Fantastic Book on Exposure
I am a fairly experienced photographer, but I knew I still needed to know more about properly exposing photos. So many of my photos were washed out, too dark, or had muted colors and I was struggling to figure out how the pros worked around it. After reading this book I am now taking fantastic photos that I wouldn't have been able to do before.

The book is easy to read with lots of photos that are well explained in the text. The author, Jeff Wignall, has written the book, not only for the beginner, but for more experienced photographers as well. He managed to make what is often a dry subject come alive with his good sense of humor and clever way of writing.

If you are struggling with learning how to capture a scene in vibrant colors with the least amount of post editing, this is the book for you. Regardless of the type of camera you have, whether a dslr or a small point-and-shoot camera, Jeff Wignall explains the methods of how to manipulate or fool the sensor. I learned how to take photos that looked on paper the way I actually saw the scene in person. I also learned how to get creative with my slr and purposely take photos that in past photos were taken by accident.

I recommend this book to anyone looking to advance in their photography.

Great Book, But Kindle Users Beware
This is a great book for understanding what all those features on your camera do and how to use them to take better pictures.It does a good job of removing the fear of using anything but "auto" mode on your camera by explaining clearly how to use features like aperture priority and shutter priority to take the picture *you* want to take, not a picture the camera thinks you want.It also covers white balance, depth of field, scene modes, dark scenes, and flash photography, along with other miscellaneous topics.

There are plenty of sample photos to go along with the descriptions, and all the photos are notated with the settings that were used to take the picture.One disappointment is the relative lack of comparison photos.It would have been nice to see more side-by-side comparisons of the same photo taken with different settings to show how the setting being explained can affect the end result.

Note for Kindle users: there are lots of photos in this book and while the Kindle hardware does display the photos, they don't really show up in a way that lets you fully appreciate what is being demonstrated.The only real benefit to the photos on the Kindle is as a reference point so you can understand the context of the image descriptions.It gets worse in the sections of the book dealing with color, since the Kindle does not have a color display - images of supposedly beautiful sunsets look like nothing more than gray cloudy days on the Kindle.

However, if you can overlook that and use your imagination with the photos, the text is where the important stuff is.You really need to apply what you've learned from the text by actually taking your own photographs anyway.

Great Book
There are many great photographers and there are many very knowledgeable photographers, but Jeff Wignall is also a teacher and that made this the book that enabled me to both understand the concepts and apply the detail. I especially benefited by Jeff's continual comparison of point-and-shoot, compact, super-zoom, and dSLR cameras. ... Read more

Product Description
This comprehensive guide to taking fantastic landscape photographs shows readers how to get a professional looking finish to their own digital SLR photography with advice from five expert photographers. All the essential techniques and equipment for landscape photography are covered in depth in an easy-to-follow format. Experienced and aspiring photographers alike will love the expert tips and hints as well as breathtaking inspirational photography from top photographers including Tom Mackie, Darwin Wiggett and William Neill. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (13)

Well written, well illustrated, helpful
We discovered while on vacation several years ago that my wife has a natural talent for landscape photography.Since then I have bought better and better cameras for her.This fall I purchased a Canon XSi with multiple lenses.She was already taking remarkable pictures.But this book helped her to have less throw away shots and more of the WOW shots.

Extremely good resource
This book is quite possibly one of the best I've ever read on photography.The authors start out with a general introduction and discuss the various equipment (camera, lenses, tripods, etc) they use and then jump right into the meat of the topic with controlling exposure/aperture, histograms, RAW, etc.From there it goes more into lighting conditions, weather, color temperature, then landscape composition and so on.I feel all the information is laid out in an easy to understand fashion, so it's effective for less-seasoned photographers, but at the same time stated concisely enough for experienced ones not to get bored.

One of my absolute favorite aspects of this book is that they do a very good job of showing you the different effects you can achieve my modifying parameters such as exposure/aperture/etc and you can see the results in each photo side-by-side.In addition every picture I remember seeing had the equipment and exposure settings listed right underneath, allowing you to easily see how they captured each shot.All of this wonderful knowledge focused around the art of landscape photography makes for an excellent book.

A side note: The book isn't long, you can read through it fairly quickly (140 pgs but thick stock - good print quality).Also, the photographers do use primarily Canon equipment so that is what is discussed under the first section (sorry Nikon users).Shouldn't be a problem either way though, the actual photography information itself is camera-agnostic.

Great reference book
I like this book. I bought it after reviewing it at a bookstore before I saw it online (including the reviews).

I like the way it is setup.Each author covers an area.I love the way they talk about the equipment and the settings for each shot and how they achieved it.

The only pet peeve I have is more driven by the book release timing.All of the photographers presenting use Canon.I believe this was because at that time Nikon had not come out with the D3 or D3x.Just my Nikon bias showing....

Buy it.It will make you a better photographer.

Extremely well written and presented
After reading over a dozen books on landscape photography and HDR tools I am finding this one to be the best so far.The way it lays out the information and illustrates it is incredibly useful at the time that I am trying to create pictures.

Approval from Amateur Photographer
I am an amateur photographer and have been for two years. This book speaks to me as such without making me feel stupid or inferior for not having a career as a professional photographer. I give this book great praise for the information found within it. Although world-renown photographers are speaking to the reader about their personal field experiences and expertise, it is written in straight-forward language that amateurs may understand.

The book begins with an introduction of the five photographers and why they all prefer digital SLR systems over their former film systems. The next section includes the equipment used by each man to actually make the shots they get. They then provide concise dialogue of controlling exposure (chapter 1), understanding light (chapter 2), composing landscape images (chapter 3), landscape locations (chapter 4), and landscapes in black and white (chapter 5).

The book is not a series of drab or artistically subjective photographs that make you wonder, "Well, that picture looks nice/interesting...but how did they actually achieve this?" The photographs included in the book are essential in outlining their varied techniques and I love this book for their method in doing so.

Rather than just place pictures throughout the book with painfully vague captions stating, "See how the light plays a role on the landscape?" or, "Simplicity at its best," they actually have full captions accompanying every photograph detailing: 1. the location, 2. their critique of their work with additional tips and techniques, and 3. (THE MOST IMPORTANT) the camera equipment they used to take it and the shot information (i.e. Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II, 70-200mm lens, 1/15 sec at f/11, ISO 100)!! Every single picture has captions to that effect and it is extraordinarily helpful to see what literally makes a good landscape photograph.

The book does not supply you with endless technical details throughout the narration, so don't expect an all-encompassing book about photography. This book is specific to real landscapes found in the real world with minimal post-processing and nothing more. No slight-of-hand, no smoke and mirrors, just real testimonials of professionals who use digital SLRs as though they were film systems - but with digital perks.

An example of this is when David Noton explains in a caption that he spent four days staking out the best conditions for just one photograph. They didn't take a few snapshots and splice them together in post-processing to make a digital fake. This book showcases genuine professional photography!

Similarly mentioned by another reviewer, the layout of the book does not make me feel as though I stumbled upon a "world-renown" photographer's highbrow portfolio and soiled it with my inexperienced, amateurish eyes. The book is straight-forward and written by guys who know their stuff and, more importantly, have the humility to translate their work for amateurs to understand.

The pictures are aesthetically pleasing and envious. The captions and narrations are readable at every competency level. I would recommend this to anyone serious in elevating their landscape photography. ... Read more

Product Description
Over 50,000 photographers can't be wrong! John and Barbara Gerlach finally write the book their workshop attendees have been asking for!

Digital Nature Photography is a how-to guide for photographers who want to take their work to the next level. Written by professionals with over 20 years experience, the Gerlachs reveal enlightening techniques for shooting nature images in the field. The combination of artistic approach and impeccable technique will help you capture your next great image.

·Learn what equipment works best in the field, and why, as well as tips for superb shots
·Create sharp images at capture with detailed instructions for digital exposure
·Master the three factors that lead to excellent images: technique, subject and situation ... Read more

Customer Reviews (31)

Art and science it is.
I have been a John Gerlach fan for many years and still have amidst my photo gear a typewritten exposure guide that he handed out during a seminar I attended many years ago in Orlando. His emphasis then, which is repeated in this book, is an emphasis on getting the picture right in the camera - not depending on Photoshop to "rescue" haphazard results. Exposure and sharpness are critical and he demonstrates how to achieve the results. Comments on equipment are interesting since he shoots Canon and his wife who is now his partner in these endeavors shoots Nikon so you can gain insight into both systems. He will also reference Sony and Pentax now and then but on a more limited basis. Tips on composition are also quite helpful.

An excellent book to get the basics down but also some great content for those, like me who have been doing this for many years. (47 in my case) The cover shot alone is enough to keep one inspired!

Two areas might disappoint. First, there is little discussion of the use of software like Photoshop. As he points out, there are plenty of books on the topic and he would rather be out taking pix as opposed to siting in front of the computer. The second area that might disappoint is that there are no pictures or illustrations of equipment or accessories. This was less of a problem for me as an experienced photographer but some may wish to see exactly what a particular item such as an "L bracket" for off camera flash or a flash extender looks like. (I understand that given the rapid changes in technology that material may become dated - as opposed to the photos which are timeless!)

I found reference to this book in his column in Nature Photographer and ordered this and the one on landscape photography. Both were worthy purchases.

Somewhat disappointed...
I haven't finished the book yet, but am not really excited about it. It has some beautiful photos and good information, but where is the EXIF info on the pictures?When I'm looking at an instructional book, I'd like to know what settings were used, not just a 'stop down, open up, etc...' description.It actually aggravates me that this info isn't with the pictures, which is not a good thing when I'm trying to learn something from your book.

Another informative book from the Gerlachs
I am definitely a fan of John and Barbara Gerlach's, because they are wonderful teachers! As with their Digital Landscape Photography book, this book offers information on in-camera techniques that will save you time in post capture, I do not enjoy sitting at the computer for hours on end, trying to fix something I did not get right in camera and when I studied at school, this was definitely something we were taught, "get it right In camera" which takes knowledge and then practise to hone your skills. You will gain the knowledge from this book. There are those, now that the digtal and photoshop era has arrived, that believe close enough is good enough, cause it can be fixed later, not true, not if your serious about your photography. This book covers the skills, equipment and knowledge needed to take magic photos of wildlife, insects, flora and panoramas. it covers it all. Flash is something I have been wanting to master and a necessary component to nature photography, this book explains flash as the only light source, the main light source and as the secondary light source, multiple flashes and how to set them up, how to expose for each situation and they explain it so well, that I know, if I just go and practise what i have read, it won't be long before I am using flash with some degree of proficiency. I have found purchasing books written by these two gifted teachers, of great benefit in my pursuit of knowledge in this feild. They give sound advice on such practical and necessary things like, Carrying your Photographic Gear, pitfalls to look out for, simple things like, making sure your quick release plate is in the clamp properly on your tripod, maybe you only got one side in, I have done this myself and luckily, discovered it, before I had my camera fall to the ground, disaster! I was surprised to read that this happens a lot. Have you heard of a plamp, I hadn't, it's a plant clamp, how often have you tried to photograph a flower that is moving in the slightest breeze, or its in slightly the wrong position? a plant clamp could be the answer. They explain lenses and there uses, for differnet situations, there are sections on composition, leading lines, light, colour temperature, manual exposure, manual focussing, when and how to use aperture priority and shutter priority successfully. I have never used either of these, favouring manual, but through reading this book, I can see good reason for using one or the other, in certain situations. I love the fact that they remind us to tread carefully in nature, mind where you put your feet! There is so much to cover, that it would take all day to discuss, my advice is, buy the book and study it, you won't be disappointed!

Well written, good layout, and current
Recommended for (although not exclusively):
Digital photographers, beginners to digital cameras/dSLRs, nature photographers wanting to improve their skill level.


Comments:
Having read many photography books, from John Shaw's Nature Photography Field Guide to Mountain Light: In Search of the Dynamic Landscape, Tenth-Anniversary Edition, I find the sheer fact that the Gerlachs' book focuses on digital photography is worth buying the book alone.

They give details, in a simple and easy to understand manner, for the /digital/ photographer.Yes, it is useful to read about prints, negatives, and so forth, but they are to a certain extent, not as meaningful for a photographer with a digital camera (or, these days, for those who've never even handled film!).

However, the most important observation that I can make about this book, is that the technical details are easily understood by the amateur photographer.Other books, such as The Camera (Ansel Adams Photography, Book 1), can easily leave you scratching your head.Well worth the money!

Outstanding, in spite of the poor editing
A number of folks have downgraded their ratings of this book because of the poor editing.I have read some 20 photography books over the last couple of years and I would have to say this is one of the best.I agree the editing is very poor, among the worst I have see in a professional publication.But I was able to look past that and throughly enjoy this book.I learned alot from it and will likely read it again.If they were to issue a second edition with better editing I would probably buy a copy that is how good I found this book to be.Don't throw the baby our with the editor's bath water. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (1)

I never received the book
I am very disappointed because I should have received the book by September 27,2010 and it's October 4 and still no book.I ordered two other books with this one and they arrived three weeks ago.This seller is not responsible at all.I sent and email and they say it should take more time.No tracking number was provided. ... Read more

Product Description
For serious amateur photographers who already shoot perfectly focused, accurately exposed images but want to be more creative with a camera, here’s the book to consult. More than seventy techniques, both popular and less-familiar approaches, are covered in detail, including advanced exposure, bounced flash and candlelight, infrared, multiple images, soft-focus effects, unusual vantage points, zooming, and other carefully chosen ways to enhance photographs. The A-Z format make sit easy for readers to find a specific technique, and each one is explained in jargon-free language. Top Tips for each technique help readers achieve superb results, even on the first attempt. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (772)

It was okay
I guess unless you are in the classroom enviornment then it isn't really helpful.I thought I understood it and tried to tweak my camera settings and it was a big mess... so I think I will stick to Auto until I know for SURE what I am doing.

It did teach me a couple things that I was interested in doing though.

A must have for Starters
This book was amazing. Just after reading the first couple parts of it I had understood more than from the classes that I have been taking in college. Will help you understand more about photography in a shorter amount of time.

Learning Photography
With this book, and because of this book I can easily say I take better pictures. I own a Canon G10. I got sick of owning a $500 camera that I never took of Auto Mode. After buying this book, I planned on doing a cross country drive. Stopping at the Grand Canyon, Colorado River, doing some hiking in Utah. After reading this book, I learned how to operate my camera in Manual, how shutter speed, ISO, Aperture go hand in hand with each other. Learning this, I've taken some amazing shots that I will gladly hold on to for the rest of my life. It might have been luck of the draw, but while I was changing the dials to make sure I was getting the correct exposure, I can't help but think it's this book that helped me understand it all.

A million times thank you.

Good communication
The item took a while to get here (3 wks) the USPS lost the first shipment but the seller contacted me early and often to make sure the one he re-sent got to me. It was a bit bent up when it got here but I doubt it was the seller's fault. Great seller, maybe not the best shipping method.

Photography 101
This was a pretty good read.It isn't as basic as the Scott Kelby books, but it is more indepth.He uses a lot of photographs to help explain whatever subject he talking about as well as giving the details of the shots.It's a good book if you are fairly new to photography.If you've been shooting for a while and figured a lot of it out by tial and error, this may not be the best book for you. ... Read more

Product Description
More than ever, particularly in this day of online media, architects and designers are increasingly faced with exciting and critical marketing and publishing opportunities. Simply documenting a project is no longer enough. Successful design practices are providing high-quality images to architecture magazines, newspapers, and websites. But well-executed professional photography can be expensive and, depending on the project, you might not always want to spend the extra money. Fortunately, the digital revolution in photography has made it possible to do-it-yourself, and in a way that is compatible with the new demands of digital printing and presentation.

Architectural Photography the Digital Way teaches the reader how to take first-rate photographs of buildings, inside and out. Step-by-step instructions help you learn how to choose the right kind of camera, to use it effectively, and to enhance and manipulate your images. This complete course begins with an introduction to the world of digital imagery and its unique aesthetic considerations. Included are detailed instructions on how to photograph building exteriors and interiors of every scale and in any lighting condition. Advanced chapters cover areas such as perspective correction and other features made possible by image-editing software. Illustrated with a wealth of color photographs and diagrams, this clearly written, easy-to-use handbook will be your indispensable guide whenever you pick up the camera. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Slow start but worth it in the end
I ordered the book hoping it was going to jump right in and give me some advice on things I didn't already know.Well, while it didn't do that immediately it was nice to refresh some of the information I already understood.Mid way through the book is when the real architectural advice kicks in.Nothing too technical, but still good solid information.

Anyone can learn from this book
I've read this book twice through and am about to go through it again, taking copious notes or underlining.Regardless of your experience (and I'm an experienced architectural photographer), there's a lot to learn from this book.My feeling is that anyone who thinks the information is too basic or elementary is probably too egotistical to learn from anyone.Even more educated photographers can pick up nuances about the details of how cameras work and what a digital image actually is.Moreover, Mr. Kopelow's methodical explanation of his workflow is educational and fascinating.

I would hope that architects and others in related fields will read this book and have a greater appreciation of what it takes to create a top notch image.

I agree with others who think the images and format are a bit small.I also would have loved to see more detail in some sections such as how to use the transform tool and cloning to straighten an image.Since the book was written, HDR has evolved even further and now software like Photomatix makes it even more valuable.I'm sure the next edition of this book will include more about this.

for the right audience
I was a practicing architect for 30 years before becoming an architectural photographer. As the negative reviewers have stated (with such passion) experienced photographers will find this book elementary. Regardless, I highly recommend it for those starting out in architectural photography (digital or otherwise) and for designers who want to photograph their own work. The chapter on the author's post processing workflow is worth the price of the book alone.

Good for seasoned pro or beginner.
Basically replaced his previous book, but with the digital tips, like shooting tethered. I picked up a lot and I've been in business 24 years, but more architecturally the last 2.

extremely disappointing
Unfortunately, this book is a waste of time and money for anyone who is serious about learning anything significant about using digital technology for architectural photography.Here's why:

1. The book has 135 pages.77 pages are dedicated to information about
equipment, digital work flow and post shooting.The informationin these 77 pages is widely available in other, more complete, sources and only serves as padding in this book.

2.Significant portions of each page are blank. But many of the photo illustrations are so small that they can not convey the kind of information that someone needs to evaluate them. On page 58, there are several photos sized at .375 square inch (a postage stamp is .8 square inch). Although other pictures are larger, they are so small that they do not illustrate enough information.Why is not the wasted, blank space on each page used for larger, easier to read photos?

3.The use of High Dynamic Range (HDR) photography, the digital technique of combining the useful segments of more than one exposure, is of important consideration to someone contemplating the extreme brightness range of many architectural interiors and some exteriors.The author devotes only 1/2 page of text (if you consider the blank area), and 1 photo slightly larger than a postage stamp and 3 others .06 square inches in size to this important topic.

In the middle ages, alchemists would write books about their experiments but withhold essential information that would have allowed the reader to duplicate the process.The author of this book, who apparently is an experienced architectural photographer, has succeeded in upholding the archaic tradition of these alchemists.


... Read more

Product Description
Don't be fooled by the title. Digital Photography for Teens doesn't make a half-hearted attempt at teaching the fundamentals of digital photography. It doesn't stop at the basics and it doesn't assume that as a teen, you aren't capable of tackling advanced topics. Instead, it focuses on the things that teens want to get out of digital photography. Photography is a technical field, and this book covers numerous aspects of shooting great photographs. Each chapter builds upon skills developed in the previous chapters, following the natural process of digital photography: setting up the shot, taking the picture, transferring it to your computer, editing it, and prepping it for the screen or print. If you're ready to progress beyond snapping simple pictures, then your journey starts here! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Great gift!
This is a nice book, easy to follow but with good details and photo examples. Bought as a birthday gift for my 13 year old niece and she liked it. ... Read more

Product Description
You can freeze that one moment in time

Sports photography gets you up close and personal with the action you crave, the athletes you idolize, or the activities that make memories for your children. It also provides plenty of frustration for amateurs and professionals alike. How do you shoot on a rainy day? What about the crowd at the finish line? Can you capture the tension as the ball trembles on the rim? You can, with the professional advice these experts provide. No matter what your sport or level of expertise, this book can make you a better digital sports photographer.

• Benefit from the advice of more than 20 top sports photographers, including Terrell Lloyd, official photographer for the San Francisco 49ers
• Learn to handle bad lighting, weather, fast-moving athletes, flash limitations, and other challenges
• Identify key things to consider when switching from film to digital
• Get specific advice on how to shoot a wide range of sports: extreme, outdoor, indoor, competitive, recreational, and more
• Discover ways to sell your photos and manage legal issues
• See dozens of full-color examples illustrating professional tips and techniques
• Take great photos with any kind of digital camera, from a point-and-shoot to an SLR
• Find out how to get photos onto the Web easily and quickly

Customer Reviews (18)

Out of Date
I purchased this book awhile back, but left it laying on the shelf. Started reading it this past week. Covers the material fairly well, but the digital camera has advanced since this writing. Also I found it to be very general with little to no get in their face type information.
I have not gotten much from this book.

WASTE OF MONEY
Don't buy this book.
I did and am VERY disappointed. The photos are very uninspiring in general, and very little useful knowledge.

Instead get "Sport and Action". A much better book.

Great Book for Sports Photography Enthusiasts
This excellent book very clearly targets "enthusiast," part-time, and semi-pro photographers taking photos of sports. It's clearly not intended or marketed for the pro, who will know most of what's here, or for the beginner, for whom there's more information than they need. But, for the weekend warrior sports photographer, parent, or person intent on learning and practicing digital photography using sports as subject matter, it's perfect.

The best things about this book are that it is a) filled with sports info from a wide variety of sports photographers each specialized in their own area; b) it is very readable and conversational; and c) written by a photographer who knowledgeably shares his experiences and techniques and doesn't talk-down to readers.

I got a lot out of the general sections of this book, and from the sports-specific sections that interest me and relate to what I shoot (mostly bicycling). It made some photography concepts really clear in a way that I had not found in other books I've read on photography.

It was an enjoyable and informative read and continues to be a valuable reference for me.

Nothing More than Common Sense
If you're brand new to shooting sports or photography in general, then this isn't a bad book.It covers alot of the basics acrss different sports that if you'r not familar is a decent introduction.However, if you've ever been on a sideline shooting as I have for the last few years - you'll learn very little new that will make you're pictures better.I learned more in a 20 minute conversation with a real sports journalist than I did reading the book.My recommendation is to rent this one from the library or buy it used if you have to have it.My copy is now for sale on ebay.

0 Stars - I actually threw this out
20pp on what a great int'l fencing photographer he is, followed by fluff, then a rehash of some digital darkroom basics.Absolutely a disappointment; publisher's marketing group pulled one on us with this title.

(BTW, great work in the photos; sounds like a good guy) ... Read more

Amazon.com Review
Product Description

The art of macro photography-photographing small objects or super close-ups of small sections of big objects-yields fascinating results, but shooting at this level brings its own set of challenges. Now you can shoot close-ups with confidence and creative flair with this information-packed guide.

Renowned photographer Harold Davis provides pages of field-tested techniques on focus, depth-of-field, exposure-even the appropriate equipment to use for this unique niche of digital photography. The book includes stunning and intriguing examples of his work to illustrate concepts.

• Walks you through the basics of macro photography, whether you're capturing an insect, a flower, a close-up of the texture of a pine cone, or more
• Shows you how to overcome the challenges of this type of photography, such as using the appropriate equipment and how to handle focus, depth of field, and exposure
• Takes you beyond the fundamentals to help you develop your own creative style
• Informs and inspires you with the author's own stunning examples of macro photography

Join the vast and beautiful world of small photography with this essential guide.

Amazon Exclusive: Photography Tips and Techniques from Harold Davis

How to Use Shadows to Enhance Your Composition

How to Use LAB Color for Black and White Effects

Professional Photography Techniques from Harold Davis

Amazon Exclusive: Interview with Award-Winning Photographer Harold Davis

We hear you’ve written some new digital photography titles. What’s the story behind these books?
Wiley Publishing is releasing three new books of mine, Creative Close-Ups: Digital Photography Tips & Techniques,Creative Night: Digital Photography Tips & Techniques, andCreative Composition: Digital Photography Tips & Techniques. My idea with these books was to help people become better photographers by presenting the subject of digital photography in a different way.

What’s different about your approach?
They say that cameras don’t take photos, people do. It’s really true. Someone with a great eye can take masterful photos with an inexpensive camera. Therefore, it is important to know something about photo technique, but the really amazing thing is that we can conceptualize and come up with these bits and bytes that make up a photo—and they can be meaningful to people. I try to help people come up with images that are relevant and meaningful. Cameras and hardware are just tools.

What’s with all the photos in these books?
Well, everyone likes to look at striking images, so one thing my photos do in these books is get people’s attention. However, the photos play another role as well. Each photo in my book is accompanied by the story of how the photo was made and the technical data related to the photo. That way, if you’re not ready to dive into the text itself, you can learn a lot just by browsing the photos.

My feeling is that you truly do learn about photography by looking at photos. It’s much more important to look at images you admire and try and figure out why you like them than it is to read about photography. The photos in these books are baked into the DNA of the teaching strategy. By browsing through the pages, someone can learn a great deal and have an enjoyable visual experience at the same time.

What’s the most important thing that readers can get out of your new books?
I want to inspire readers to be the most creative and best photographers they can be. If you pick up one of my books, I hope you can make use of the technical content and see how the photos relate to some of your own work. The most important thing, however, is to take the ideas in the book, get out there, and do some really peddle-to-the-metal creative photography.

... Read more

Customer Reviews (27)

Better instruction is available elsewhere.
After reading Bryan Peterson's Understanding Close-Up Photography I found this book at my local bookstore.Thumbing through it I saw that there were macro techniques explained for Photoshop and quickly decided to purchase the book.Well, there are two techniques that are quite well explained, but other than that I can honestly say that I found nothing else useful through the whole thing.Most of the book seems to be the author telling you what he likes to shoot (flowers on black background, flowers on white background, still life, etc.) in a short paragraph, then a few example shots with a brief synopsis of what you're looking at and what the author "feels" about the shot.He mentions a handful of items that are useful for shooting close-ups or macros, but never goes into any detail about their application.Much more disappointing than that, everything that he describes that would be new and exciting (i.e. digital painting) is left completely unexplained and the reader is given a reference to another book, of course written by this same author.I strongly recommend that you purchase Peterson's book and leave this one on the shelf.The only reason I'm giving it two stars is because I did learn a new technique in Photoshop (focus-stacking).Now, I think I'll find someone or somewhere to donate this book.

Creativity Ideas
I rate this book a 5 for the new ideas and methods of making macro photographs. Mr. Davis is an excellent writer who's instructions and suggestions are easily understood and followed. I particularly like the sections on flowers. I love flowers and the book presents several methods of closeup flower photography that I have not yet tried. The photographs are beautiful and inspiring. There is a section on photographing in the studio, which also gave me some new insights and ideas. I think the book is a worthy investment if you're looking to expand your macro/closeup portfolio of techniques and photos.

Great book!!
I have enjoyed and been inspired by Harold Davis's books for years.Harold's books are focused on creativity, visualization and an attempt to inspire the photographer.He sometimes includes a small Lightroom and/or Photoshop tutorial in his books but his books are definitely "just another how-to Photoshop" book.Harold is focused on the art of making great photos and the craft behind creating memorial images in a clear manner.

If you are interested in bringing your art to the next level, Harold Davis' book is a great place to start.Harold clearly describes how to approach your subject creatively and describes the tools and skills necessary to fulfill your creative vision.I highly recommend Creative Close-ups.

Help with getting closer
There are many books written on the subject of close up photography but I haven't seen any that are as comprehensive as Mr. Davis's work. His detailed explanation of high dynamic range (HDR) and focus stacking were wonderful. I've seen other examples of how HDR works but the book takes it one step further with information on how to manually manipulate seemingly drab layers into a masterpiece.
Another feature I really loved is his detailed coverage of various types of equipment he uses and recommends such as lenses, extension tubes, filters, etc. The book also does a terrific job of explaining the use of this equipment. Equally remarkable is the ability to give down to earth explanation of focusing, exposure, lighting, aperture and depth-of-field.
The book has a very logical lay out and is easy to transition from one section to the next. The uses of many inspiring images to illustrate a point are well done. I feel that any photographer with basic skills could use this book to achieve some wonderful results.

Inspired!
After reading "Creative Close-ups" I can't wait to get to the wildflowers springing up in the desert and try some of the many superbly described and illustrated techniques for close-up and macro photography Harold Davis includes. He efficiently covers the basics - cameras and settings, lenses and extension tubes, tripods, lighting and flash, aperture and depth of field and criticality of focus, and then tells exactly how they're varied and applied to each of the >200 images included. Each image has a purpose - showing something a little different to try whether photographing insects, flowers, water droplets, abstractions, reflections, or studio close-ups. His flower photography variations are most inspirational - covering lighting methods, settings and background colors - white and black - to emphasize shape, color, texture and transparency. His descriptions and illustrations of HDR flower photography and focus stacking techniques are so clear they beg to be tried.

I'd have liked a few photos of actual equipment setups, but this is still a 5-star book for me.

It's an easy to read book I'll browse through whenever I'm thinking macro and looking for something new to try.

... Read more

Product Description
You already know digital photography basics. Now you’d like to go beyond, with shortcuts, tricks, and tips that let you work smarter and faster. And because you learn more easily when someone shows you how, this is the book for you. Inside, you’ll find clear, illustrated instructions for 100 tasks that reveal cool secrets, teach timesaving tricks, and explain great tips guaranteed to make you a better digital photographer. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (20)

Good Book, Great Price, but not solve my low light problem
It seems a good book.Pretty well organized and informative.I think I got it for $1.80 or something like that, a fantastic price.

Was hoping to find tips on better photos in low light and at night.It did not help much in that regard.Not because the info was inadequate.But because most digital cameras in my category, simply don't have the ability to work well in low light or at night.

My Panasonic DMC TZ5 is a great camera, as reviews suggested.However it does not have much ability to manually set shutter speed or aperture.The 2 dozen preset "mode" options include night portrait, and "starry sky".The Starry Sky has abut 3 presets for long exposures.None of those is practical for hand-held pictures, on the go.They're for tripod, stationary scenes only.

I guess a digital SLRwould help for low light, and night photos.But I used a film SLR for many years, and tho the camera was a good one, I didn't have much luck in low light with that either.

An excelent learning tool
I bought this book to brush up on different techniques which I had not used for years. The book is well written and has learning aids for photographer's of all skill levels. It is a book designed to guage the difficulty level and an explaination of how to achieve the desired results. A good book for novices to the skilled photographer.

Great product!
Great book and very easy to read and understand!I love the clarity of the information and the photos add to the ease of understanding.This is the type of book you are able to pick up and use the information right away!

Highly recommended!

great book
This book has some great information about phototgraphy. You will find some new ideas with this book!

Digital from A to Z
This is a great book, all the basic for Digital photography from A to Z, very clear and easy to follow up step by step. If you start into Digital Photography this is the book you need to read and remember: practice, practice and practice. ... Read more

Product Description
So you’ve made the jump to digital photography and you’re having a ball with your new camera, right? Now, you’re wondering just what it would take to make your photos a little more than just snapshots. Well, Digital Art Photography For Dummies is a great place to find out!

You’ll not only discover great new ideas, you’ll see the effects in full color. This book will help you

• Get fabulous, well-exposed photos, no matter what your shooting conditions may be
• Tweak, edit, and enhance your images to create something a lot better than what you started with, or maybe something entirely new
• Produce gallery-worthy art prints that people are willing to pay for
• Find out if it’s time to upgrade your computer to handle graphics work

Sound like fun? This plain-English guide makes it easy, too! You’ll find out just what makes a picture artistic, how to plan and set up a good photo shoot, what kinds of tools are available in Photoshop to help you enhance or even completely revamp an image, and how to be sure that what comes out of your printer meets all your expectations.   Best of all, this book is jam-packed with full-color images that show you just what you can produce. You’ll find out how to

• Select the right digital equipment
• Shoot in color, black-and-white, and at night
• Choose subject matter that fits your style
• Understand and use your camera’s settings to get the best shots
• Photograph landscapes, people, action, and just about anything else
• Create special effects in Photoshop
• Improve the quality of your photos or turn them into true works of art
• Mat and frame your work for maximum effect

If you’re comfortable with your digital camera but want to find out more about creating cool effects in Photoshop, you can jump directly to Part III and discover tips and techniques that turn ordinary pictures into extraordinary art. Or maybe you’ve been trying to get better nighttime photos. Part II is all about setting up your equipment and getting the perfect shot. Like all For Dummies books, Digital Art Photography For Dummies is designed so you can go directly to the part that most interests you.

Whether you’ve been thinking of selling your work or you just want to create a knock-their-socks-off family gallery that your relatives can view online, this book shows you how to take your photography hobby to the next level. Even if you just want to look at the pictures for inspiration, you can’t go wrong! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

great book to help learn composition
this is a great book to help a person learn about composition, and how the artists also did it. it is a great book to help you to understand what makes and art photo and what does not.

Excellent Work
Matt Bamberg's book Digital Art Photography for Dummies is an excellent resource for both the beginner and the advanced student of Digital Photography. I have read the book and of especial interest to me were the numerous overt and subtle suggestions about technique and execution. Suggestions which I have used to great effect to dramatically improve my own compositions and to better concentrate and focus my shots.

In addition I really benefited from the suggestions regarding how to process and enhance your work, post shooting. One of the more important foci of the book regards how to transform your work from more simple photographic imagery into more complex renditions which can be considered artistic. Matt explains these techniques for image modification easily and logically and it was not difficult with the right equipment and software for me to begin experimenting with altering my works to produce far more spectacular work. Work which others have expressed interest in. I have even become my church photographer and have recently had other people ask me to undertake photographic assignments on their behalf. In addition I have started the process of taking previous shots and altering them for inclusion into my written works, as graphic enhancements to my writings.

However the book also contains a myriad of techniques which are useful and helpful for the amateur and for the individual who uses photography as a part of their other work. I am often involved in investigations and through some experimentation and adaptation I have used techniques suggested and explained by Matt in order to clarify, focus, and render my investigative photographs far sharper, clearer, and more relevant for my clients. So the book has indirectly benefited me professionally as well.

I have enjoyed Matt's book, have visited his blog and site, and found him to be an accessible and helpful author. Additionally he obviously knows his subject matter and is therefore professionally well-qualified. He seems very experienced and yet eagerly experimental, two traits I like in any individual who is trying to teach me something new.

I have Matt's book and consider it a valuable addition to my personal library on the subjects of both art and photography.

I recommend the book.

Jack.

Digital Art Photography For Dummies (For Dummies (Computer/Tech))
This is a great book for anyone using digital photography -- whether
you are just starting out or have some experience.There is something
for everyone!I found it to be a great source of information when it comes
to Photoshop.Of all my Photoshop books, I find I reach for this one the
most.It is permanently planted by my computer for quick reference when
I need it. It has GREAT editing tips and is easy to read and comprehend.

Going digital...making art...this book shows you how!
I know Matt Bamberg's writing and love his blog (digitalartphotographyfordummies.com).If you're new to photography and confused by all the terms, Matt takes you through the basics (although he says the book assumes you know the principles of photography, he patiently explains the technical stuff).If you're a seasoned pro, skip the refresher course and just enjoy the fabulous photos--which, by the way, everyone will appreciate.

I'm the outgoing vice president of NLAPW Palm Springs--we were honored to be among Matt's first speaking engagements--and have seen our members create beautiful digital art photography.Thanks to Matt's book, I now know how it was done!Artists seeking to sell and exhibit their work will find great career guidance.For other shutterbugs, the book will eliminate some of those photos that you cringe at later (I know I have a few!)

The image manipulation tips in Photoshop are extremely valuable.This is a terrific book, even if you've only toyed with the idea of doing digital photography.Matt's vivid, lively prose makes this a pleasurable read.

You must get "Digital Art Photography for Dummies" if you shoot digital.
If you are a digital photographer that is starting out or trying to get into the "art" side, then this book is for you.This book is well written, easy to understand, and full of excellent images and great walk throughs.I can tell that Matt is very comfortable with this topic and is an expert in his field.It touches on many easy ways for new shutterbugs to expand their knowledge without taking the fun out of photography.His Adobe Photoshop knowledge is also very useful when post processing scans of film, slides, or negatives as well as existing digital images.
Matt, thanks for your time and energy in writing this book.I will recommend it to both family and friends. ... Read more

Product Description

A full-color guide to the art of digital portrait photography

Portrait photography entails taking posed photographs of individuals or set scenery and is the most common photo style among the most novice photography hobbyist to the most advanced photographer. With this easy-to-understand guide, bestselling author and professional photographer Doug Sahlin walks you through the best techniques for getting professional-quality digital portraits.

Packed with hundreds of full-color photos and screen shots, this book discusses best practices for taking formal portraits, wedding photos, event photos, casual photos, and more. You'll examine the difference between using the built-in flash and natural lighting and take a look at the benefits of upgrading to a photo lighting kit and pro backdrop.

• Portrait photography is the most popular style of photography
• Features helpful information for everyone from beginner hobbyists to advanced photographers
• Shares insider tips for selecting equipment and choosing from the various tools for portrait photography
• Walks you through working with a wide range of subjects, including children, pets, and wildlife
• Discusses lighting and editing images
• Takes a look at ways to create a portrait that is suitable for framing

Make sure your subjects are ready for their close ups with this fun and friendly guide to digital portrait photography. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Gives the basics
Good book for the basic beginner digital photographer. I would say that with the tidbits present it might even be good for the prosumer. Not a bad read as most dummies books are not. I would recommend if you are new to digital world.

A Bit too Elementary
I know its part of the "...for Dummies" series, but its a bit too simplistic.Anyone with a smattering of experience with a prosumer DSLR already knows about 90% of what is in this book.If you just picked up a point and shoot camera for the first time, it has great information.Its probably my fault for expecting a bit more depth--what a dummy I was for buying this book! ... Read more

Product Description
With over 400 of the most closely guarded photographic “tricks of the trade,” this boxed set—consisting of The Digital Photography Book, volume 1 and The Digital Photography Book, volume 2—is the ultimate resource for anyone who wants to shoot dramatically better-looking, sharper, more colorful, more professional-looking photos every time.

Scott Kelby, the man who changed the “digital darkroom” forever with his ground-breaking, bestselling The Photoshop Book for Digital Photographers, now tackles the most important side of digital photography—how to take professional-quality shots using the same tricks today’s top digital pros use (and it’s easier than you think).

These aren’t books of theory, full of confusing jargon and detailed concepts. These are books on which button to push, which setting to use, and when to use it. Each page covers a single concept on how to make your photography better. Every time you turn the page, you’ll learn another pro setting, tool, or trick to transform your work from snapshots into gallery prints. If you’re tired of shots that look “okay,” and if you’re tired of looking in photography magazines and thinking, “Why don’t my shots look like that?” then these are the books for you.

... Read more

Customer Reviews (57)

Great books !
These books are fantastic.There even more helpful if you have a Canon or Nikon.You'll pick up tips that will help you as you want to improve your photography.Everything is practical and hands on.It's fun reading.I dogtagged and earmarked many pages for re referencing.It's from the pros to you.Nothing technical, just here's how you do it so go give it a try. I highly recommend these books for your photo library.

The Digital Photography Book for All
Scott Kelby created a great digital photography guide when he wrote these series of books. Volum one and two gives photography information that is in plain english without the Technical jargon that most beginners don't undersand. The helpfull tips in the last chapter of these books are designed to get the potential photographer to create the same conditions and adjustments on their camera to obtain the same results as Scott did when he achieved the displayed photo on the particular page. I recomend these books to all who want to learn photography.

Great book
This is a great book if you are looking for extra hints and tips. I love the way Scott Kelby writes in his books, it really feels like he is speaking straight at you with his little funny comments here and there. I carry these around with me when I am trying to learn something new so I can recall back to it when needed. Great Book!

Point and Shoot---and Get a Good Shot
I've actually read all 3 of these books.
I bought them to help my kid--a beginner with his SLR--in his Photo class in high school, and in my opinion, they'll help him a lot.
For me, however, the "basic" points in the books were like review of grade school (I learned to shoot back when everything, on every camera, was manual....)And yes, I could have skipped the humor and been just as happy, but it did not detract from the information in the books.
These books are stuffed with solid information.

For my kid, the beginner, a lot of the information was spot on--particularly the recommendation to read the book "Understanding Exposure" (by B. Peterson)--because if you don't understand exposure, you don't understand photography. Everything in this book is plainly spoken. No unexplained jargon. Nothing confusing.

Kelby covers a lot of ground, everything from techniques (which he calls "recipes") for photos to hardware (like lenses), and he spreads it around among examples drawn from travel photography, portraits, macro, sports.

The explanations are short and to the point. He shows you a photograph, then tells you how to accomplish the same effect; this is great for beginners.
Most pages contain tips--some in boxes--that you might otherwise spend hours trying to figure out, or end up sorry you didn't know to start with. (Like, oops, don't go changing your lens if it's at all dusty outside...)

Better yet, Kelby explains how to work your camera--admit it, digital dSLRs with all their knobs, buttons and overkill menus are a pain to figure out when you're a beginner--and he gives specific instructions for a few popular Nikon or Canon models; other books often show only one brand of camera and if you've got another, tough for you, you'll still be confused. These books include photos of the camera bodies/dials/buttons and menus. You won't be confused.

Bottom line: Easy to read. Easy to understand. Clearly illustrated. Excellent index. Great for beginners and less-experienced intermediates. Good for general intermediate photographers. Not necessary for very experienced or art-school-educated photographers.

Great choice!
The books are great and I am going to get the third edition, soon. I like them very much, and are complementing each other.
Also they are, do-this style, and there is not much useless info about the camera, that we all know.
Only important stuff. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (16)

Joy Of Digital
Great book! The photos in this book are amazing as well as the information. I feel as though, i'm learning a lot more than i thought i would out of the book than the notes my professor is passing out. BUY IT!

The Best Introduction
Of all the publications I've looked at for the newcomer
endeavoring to get seriously acquainted with digital
photography, this one book is by far the best!

First book for the novice photographer
This book was very helpful in learning the basics for me as a novice. I would suggest the following order for a novice:
1. "The Joy of digital photography" by Jeff Wignall
2. "Understanding Exposure" by Bryan Peterson
3. "The digital photography book" by Scott Kelby

Nice read but not very useful on a practical level
This book is an enjoyable read for sure.Mr. Wignall's humor and lighthearted style of writing lightens up a subject that can get rather technical.While you don't want to get a book that is a dry as a text book, I suspect that you do want to actually learn something when buying books in this topic area.

As far as what you will learn and how useful this book will be depends on what you want to gain in knowledge.I found this book to be a general overview of digital cameras; digital point and shoot as well as dSLRs, their functions, some basic photography concepts and photo editing.

A multitude of topics are touched on in this book and the author tries to cover a little of everything.Too little on too many different subjects to be of much practical use.

If you are using a P&S a lot of the book doesn't really apply to you and is therefore not very useful.Most of what is covered regarding digital P&S cameras is done for you automatically, or you can either figure out on your own after taking a few pictures or you can learn in the manual.

If you are new to using an dSLR, there is not enough info to actually learn anything.The photos are beautiful but no info such as aperture or shutter speed is included.And as I stated before, there are many nice intros on many useful subjects but they are just that, intros.

If you are just starting your journey into the world of photography with a dSLR I suggest starting with the following three books in addition to your camera manual:

Understanding Exposure and Learning to See Creatively by Bryan Peterson

and the Magic Lantern book written for your particular camera.

Knowledgable author, excellent introduction
This is the book I bought for a friend who is just getting serious about digital SLR photography. Wignall covers all the basics and some intermediate stuff with obvious enthusiasm, and he knows his stuff. Maybe he tries a little too hard to be funny here and there, but not teeth-gnashingly so. Pleasing design, good choice of sample pictures, high print quality, not too geeky. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (5)

Kids and cameras
I'm buying this for a 11 year old that is getting his first digital camera soon. This is a good little book for beginning photographer.

The Perfect Gift
This book is very informative and easy to understand.My daughters love it. They are both into photography and I am a photographer.

Kids guide to digital photography
Wonderful guide for kids, and those of us who are starting with photography.Great descriptions and clear directions.

great book for kids or beginners
this book covers the basics.easily written for a kid to understand.my daughter is 11 and that seems about the right level for her.i wish it covered more setting up a good composition.it covers the basics on camera use and scanners and fixing photos after in the computer.i wish photo books would stick to teaching how to take good pictures and not so much on fixing them up in the computer afterwards, but every book seems to spend a lot of time on that.overall, its the best book i could find for a kid.it's written in language that i think they will relate to well.

Wow!What a Great Book!
While there may not be a "perfect" guide for digital photography, this one comes as close as I've ever seen.

It covers everything from choosing a camera (and how to get the most out of it) to editing, printing and even using the web.

It even covers areas that many adults seem to have problems with, like the "Reality Check" regarding built in flash.

Focus, composition, exposure and even ISO are all covered.Granted, some subjects are just touched on rather than discussed in depth but remember the intended reader. (In my case, my 12-year old.)If the kid really wants to learn about any given subject there are countless specialized books to be found.

Overall I have to say that I highly recommend this book.
I'd even go so far to say that I would even buy it for an adult, especially one that might be a bit technophobic. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (17)

Excellent Balance of Capture and Post Processing
This book provides an excellent balance of capture and post processing best practices.There is a good amount of information about how to light images properly using anything from simple reflectors like lastolight or california sunbounce to canon speed lights to a full on review of tons of broncolor lights and light modifiers - everything from broncolor ring flash to lightsticks, para, and satellite reflectors.Then he covers how to simply and easily perform all teh actions necessary in photo shop to create beautiful final images.This is a one stop shop reference book.

Great book
A lot of good info here. Just overlook the stuff the editor/publisher should have caught.

Re-edited?
My copy has the same ISBN, but a different cover than the one pictured.

All of the editing errors mentioned in the other reviews seem to have been fixed.

Useless To Me
I paid $30.00 for this useless book. I could have had a nice steak. I expected simple diagrams and how to's about setting up a home studio......wrong.

Great instructional book and a good value.
I suppose I'll start off by saying that I had bought this book at a B&N retail store and paid MUCH more.

Some of the other reviews cover the books educational format style (bite sized chunks) so I won't be repetitive here. What I will say is that the first chapter of this book really puts the nail in the coffin for traditional film cameras. I've never seen such a well thought out analysis of all of the capabilities that Digital brings to the table. No longer will you have to field questions from digital photo skeptics.

Another interesting note is that none of the photos in this book are NOT particularly breath-taking. Don't buy this book with the expectation of seeing fabulous photos. It's true purpose is to show you how to "work" with pictures and make better use of your camera as a tool. From that perspective, this book is a real winner.

I'd suggest this book both for serious SLR beginners as well as seasoned photographers who have made the switch to digital within the last few years.
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Customer Reviews (1)

Color photo examples accompany tips on metering, exposure and more in this outstanding guide
Focus on Digital Landscape Photography provides quick, easy techniques for a range of scenes, telling what any digital photography needs to know from using camera tools to check images in the field to reducing shadows in forest shots or enhancing landscapes with built-in flash. Color photo examples accompany tips on metering, exposure and more in this outstanding guide.
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