Book Description
Digital video cameras have become more affordable and reliable than ever, and with the help of former television producer, editor, and cameraman Colin Barret, new owners of this hot technology can produce a memorable video right at home. Barret offers the fruits of his expertise in a thorough, practical introduction that covers it all. In addition to advice on choosing a camcorder and tips on getting the most out of its features, illustrated tutorials explain how to shoot creatively and master techniques such as point-of-view, close-ups, cutaway shots, and effective lighting. Spice up the sound by incorporating audio tracks, and find out how to create special effects. There's even a detailed description of how to set up a fully functional home editing suite.
Customer Reviews:
For anyone who wants to start using a video camera.......2007-09-13
I would recommend this book as a start here before anything else. Even though you'de have had a camera for months and years but just shoot movies where the ones you share it with are happy to get away from it. Buy it, it teaches you in very in an easy non jargon way how to do things looking good and impress the audence. It is good when people ask for a copy after they've seen the movie. And you hear they wantch it over and over. I love this book it is brilliant.
So-so and a little dated.......2007-08-05
I was assigned this book as the text for an intro to digital video grad class. The book was okay, but not especially impressive. It was redundant in some places and some of the information seemed dated. It's a very general book, so it's appropriate for a class where the instructor doesn't know what kinds of cameras or editing programs students will use.
However, if you're looking for a book to help you with the program and camera you have, you can probably find something more specific to your situation.
The title is a bit of a misnomer as well. There are no step-by-step guides or lessons in the book.
It's not a bad book, but it's not great either.
Nice Book..........2007-06-30
I liked the presentation, organization and the the printing of the book wich I consider is of the highest quality, It also has good color ilustrations and photos, I didn't find errors of any kind. But even when I'm a beginner videographer, I consider the information contained in the book is very general and the book is oriented to explain that "there are easy ways of making things..., that you can use several good applications available in the market for you..." But I would have liked the book explained: "ways of making... and the steps for finishing your projects.." I mean the book lacks of "How to...or the step by step for beginners". But in general is a good book. Please be aware of that...So you won't be disapointed.
Excellent for today's high quality digital video .......2007-06-25
I'm a semi-pro photographer of stills, based in film, now dSLR's and so I understand fairly well photographic considerations in acquiring good images! This book will easily help beginners and existing still photographers bridge the gap into Digital Video capture. Going beyond just understanding the latest advances in digital camcorders, the book guides you through actual processes of capturing good story-telling footage, things that we see in broadcast everyday, but probably don't give much of a thought as to how video was captures, sequenced and edited. I was really looking for such a guide as a starting place as i just purchased a Sony HDR-HC7 mini-DV camcorder ... and needed to know basic camera operation, as well as shooting techniques and video editing techniques. The book is VERY well laid out, simple to read and find headings and TIPS as needed - I think I'll pull from this volume a great deal of useful information and wish to thank the author!
Excellent book to learn Video Photography without the jargon.......2006-05-20
After an extensive research I tried my luck and bought this book (as I could not preview the content), and I am really impressed with it. This is the perfect book for someone who really wants to learn video photography, as opposed to just learning to buy the greatest gadget and press the right buttons, thereby capturing worthless video.
I am an advanced amateur photographer for the last 15 years, and I know that taking good photo is 90% work of the mind - finding out the perfect frame and the perfect moment to shoot a great photograph, and 10% work of the hand to use the camera. Most of the other Digital Video books focus mostly on the later 10% aspect. Not this book - It teaches you extensively what to look for in a good video and how to get them.
The book is divided into 5 sections:-
- What you need to know about your camcorder
- Step-by-step shooting techniques
- How to shoot great home movies
- Step-by-step digital video-editing techniques
- Showing and sharing your movies
The sections about "shooting techniques" and "great home movies" are the largest in this book, and that's what I liked. The author is a professional in this field (former television producer, editor and cameraman), unlike authors of other books who are either wannabe movie producers or small movie makers. The other books instruct you to write down a storyboard on paper which is not feasible in a vacation movie or capturing unpredictable activities of your newborn. Here you will learn how to think so that you can create a great story on the fly.
This book is filled with lots of tips used by professionals, one good example is: not to use the zoom during shooting. Most professional productions do not contain zooming sequence. They take a wide angle shot to show the background, then next shot they show a close up of the subject, the zooming being done off-camera. Lots of zooming sequence is the typical sign of a poor home video.
On the whole, this is a perfect book to study before diving into the world of serious video photography.
Book Description
You have a digital camera, now what? Thanks to memory sticks, docking stations, computers, image editing software, and printers, using your new digital camera can be frustrating and intimidating. With Absolute Beginner's Guide to Digital Photography, you'll learn everything you need to know to take great digital pictures and share them with friends or family.
Author Joseph Ciaglia, a teacher and award-winning landscape photographer, first gives you a quick start guide to using a digital camera so you can read a few step-by-step pages and then go from picture to print in moments. He then uses everyday, easy-to-understand language to explain exposure, focus, lighting, file formats, file storage and organization, how to use Adobe Photoshop Elements and iPhoto to edit and improve images, printers, specialty photo papers, and how to get your photos on the Web and in email messages. After reading this book, even the most digitally challenged shutterbug will be able to produce high-quality digital photographs!
Download Description
Though the digital camera is one of the hottest selling gadgets on the market today, the technology can be intimidating and frustrating to first-time users. To new users, going from click to pictures with a digital camera can be overwhelming thanks to memory sticks, docking stations, computers, image editing software, printers, special papers, processing stations at the store, plus all the confusing terminology.Joseph Ciaglia, a teacher and award-winning landscape photographer of New Mexico and the Southwest, gives readers a quick start guide to using a digital camera so they can read a few step-by-step pages and then go from picture to print in moments. Absolute Beginner's Guide to Digital Photography, using everyday and easy-to-understand language, explains exposure, focus, lighting, file formats, file storage and organization, how to use Adobe Photoshop Elements and iPhoto to edit and improve images, printers, specialty photo papers, and how to get your photos to the Web and email.After reading this book, even the most digitally challenged shutterbug will be able to produce high-quality digital photographs without hesitation.
Book Description
A guide to the leading image-editing software for nonprofessionals, this book guides even those who are novices at digital imaging on how to use Adobe Photoshop Elements to perfect their images and present them in creative ways. Each tool and feature of the software is presented in short lessons that facilitate rapid learning and avoid technical jargon. Beginning with basic operations, amateur photographers learn how to open images from a scanner, digital camera, CD, or other source, then name and save files. Also covered are viewing options and simple techniques for undoing any mistakes, as well as how simple it can be to make basic improvements to correct the overall color of images and fix photos that are either under- or overexposed. Retouching and preparing images for output are also explained.
Customer Reviews:
Great Starting Point.......2006-03-13
After having a version of Photoshop Elements included with one of my digital SLRs, I thought it might be a good idea to learn how to use the program. I was surprised with all that can be done with this inexpensive program. The author carefully explains the tools and how to maximize their use. After reading this book, I am confident that I can make many of my corrections and manipulations in Elements and not have to rely on the pro versions of Photoshop. Photoshop Elements and this book is more than enough for most photographers.
Great for beginners.......2005-08-20
I bought Elements 2.0, had Adobe's manual, and checked out 3 books from the library to learn how to use it--Teach Yourself Visually (Woolridge), Adobe Photoshop Elements 2.0 (Andrews) and this one. This is by far the easiest one to use to get started. At first I thought one of the other two books would be best, but this book, which initially I put aside as having too little information, is what I ended up starting APE2.0 with. It gives you just enough information on the different functions to get you started with the program in a logical order, with short explanations, brief but thorough instructions and visual samples so you can see the results and compare. I found the other 2 books from the library simply didn't go into the basics as well and the visual is simply confusing when you don't know what you're doing or what you're doing it with. The manual with the program--forget about it! Maybe once I'm comfortable with this book and have expanded a bit more with the others, maybe when I'm absolutely desperate for information I can't find anywhere else--maybe then I'll look at Adobe's manual.
If you're an absolute newby to Adobe Photoshop Elements, this is a great starter book. And I say this with some knowledge of Microsoft Photodraw 2000 and various other photofinishing software--I didn't start out a total novice. After just a couple days I am creating photo projects with Adobe that I never thought I could do with an inexpensive (compared to full grown Photoshop!) program.
Book Description
Now, digital newcomers hoping to turn their ordinary photographs into eye-catching art finally have a book created just for them! This very accessible prequel to Airey’s more advanced Digital Photo Art expertly guides beginners through the wonders of digital image-making, and gives them a toolbox of creative possibilities.With plenty of visual examples to illustrate every technique from painting to printmaking, she explains how to transfer digital photos onto a variety of surfaces; craft a collage masterpiece using simple image-manipulation software; and convert color images into moody black-and-white studies or faux watercolor “paintings.”
Customer Reviews:
Good for absolute beginer to digital photo programs.......2007-10-01
I flipped through the book at a camera store before I puchased from Amazon. At the store, it looked like a great book. The projects looked interesting and I thought it would be fun. Didn't have time to read any of it at the store though.
After getting the book from Amazon, I realized that the instructions were extremely simple. Most of the instructions are how to do something (like resize, etc) in Photoshop - not what I expected. If it was just the instructions for the projects themselves, the book would probably be about 50 pages and I would only have wanted to pay $10 for it.
For someone that doesn't know photoshop and wants to do some interesting digital art - this book would be great. For me, it was great to get some new ideas and techniques for the craft projects - I just wish so much wasn't focused on editing in photoshop.
Great book for Experienced Artists as well.......2007-08-20
This is a fantastic book. I bought one of the author's books, then another, but avoided the "Beginner's Guide" (I didn't consider myself a beginner) until my sister, an experienced art photographer told me it was great. It is so well written and explained that a beginner would have no trouble following it, but it opens new doors and explores new avenues for experienced digital photographers who are making fine art. It inspires you to try new creative ways to present your vision.
Book Description
New to Photoshop Elements? Learn everything you need to know to make your pictures perfect with Absolute Beginner's Guide to Adobe Photoshop Elements 2. The book covers all aspects of the software (including the new features "borrowed" from the new Photoshop 7), offering you quick and easy explanations on controlling the software for the results you want. Photoshop Elements provides easy access to powerful editing tools and connects users to online output services as well as options for Web and print output. Absolute Beginner's Guide to Adobe Photoshop Elements 2 shows the beginning user how to maximize all these features and more!
Download Description
New to Photoshop Elements? Learn everything you need to know to make your pictures perfect with Absolute Beginner's Guide to Adobe Photoshop Elements 2. The book covers all aspects of the software (including the new features "borrowed" from the new Photoshop 7), offering you quick and easy explanations on controlling the software for the results you want. Photoshop Elements provides easy access to powerful editing tools and connects users to online output services as well as options for Web and print output. Absolute Beginner's Guide to Adobe Photoshop Elements 2 shows the beginning user how to maximize all these features and more!
Customer Reviews:
Tells What You CAN Do But Not How To DO It!.......2003-12-23
I just bought this book at a local Border's yesterday. I figured with the title of the book it would be exactly what I needed since I just got Photoshop Elements 2. However, once I got it home and sat down at my computer with it, I realized it is not helpful at all. It tells you a bunch of neat things you can do with the program, but never tells you HOW to do it. I would recommend the book by Phillip Andrews instead.
Don't buy this book.......2003-08-11
This book is full of "You can easily do..." verbiage with very little "how to" or examples. Anyone who is reasonably familiar with software can click and mouse-over to find out what the buttons do. That's about all the book covers. I wish I could recommend a better book but I'm still searching.
Book Description
Providing new Adobe Photoshop users with concise, practical information on this world-standard software, this book shows photographers how to manipulate photos for print media and the Web. Techniques show photographers how to avoid common mistakes and frustrations while creating high-quality, imaginative images, and each topic is broken down into short, easy-to-digest sections with clear, jargon-free discussions and plenty of examples. Topics covered include basic image editing, selection techniques, using layers, and creating original artwork. This edition contains all new images and screen shots, many of which are available for download from the publisher's website.
Customer Reviews:
Great beginner's guide!.......2007-09-06
I really enjoyed this book ,it was easy to follow and I learned alot from it. I had no prior experience with photoshop what so ever, but now I can say that after reading this book I know the basics of the software. Thanks alot Michelle 4 writing a beginner's guide 2 photoshop!!!!
An excellent primer.......2006-09-09
Michelle Perskins' Beginner's Guide To Adobe Photoshop, 3rd Edition provides an excellent basic set of structured lessons to help beginners with photography background enter the digital world of Photoshop editing. Here are foundation lessons on everything from rendering and resolution to file formats and working with image enhancements. Combine these with basics on how to remove dust, dirt and scratches from a picture and you have an excellent primer.
Great Beginner Guide to Photoshop.......2006-03-13
This is a great beginners guide to Adobe Photoshop. The author takes the time to explain all of the important tools in this comprehensive software program. You will certainly gain many valuable insights in how to improve your photographs.
Not Enough Detail.......2005-07-03
I wanted to get a strong but basic overview of all the features of Photoshop. Based on other reviews I thought this book would be great. The section on filters tells you what filters are available, but doesn't go through the differences between any of them. The theme throughout most of the book is: Play with all of them to see what the differences are and if you make a mistake, there's always the Edit>Undo command. If this is the way you want to learn, don't bother buying the book. I was very disappointed.
IT"S NOT WHAT I EXPECTED.......2005-05-24
Being computer literate but novice in photography I bought the book expecting to be hand-held, as a toddler; It turns out that I am much more of an expert in photography than I expected: All the information presented in this book is absolutely common sense, there is no reason to pay in order to get advice on "what is a tool; what is cropping, etc". What this book is missing is the absolutely first and last steps, and the most important: how do you bring an image into photoshop from your camera and, how do you save an image outside photoshop, after you edited it.
The book deals perfunctorily with the resolution, but not with how to change and save the image after you modify it for emailing, which i think is much more important than dedicating 2 pages to LIQUEFY. In conclusion, this book dedicates way too much time (and paper) to advanced details (and does not explain them sufficiently to be used well) and way too little on the real basic stuff. IF YOU KNOW NOTHING ABOUT PHOTOSHOP AND EXPECT TO GET A RUNNING START, THIS IS NOT THE BOOK TO DO IT!
Book Description
This unique guide uses a step-by-step pictorial format to fully illustrate the steps required to take great digital images-from how to hold the camera to basic exposure and flash photography to cleaning and caring for the camera. Fledgling digital photographers learn how the camera stores captured information and converts it to an image, how to adjust the camera's settings to ensure correct exposure, how lens settings can be altered to dramatically improve compositions, and how various lens accessories can add a special effect, help to improve compositions, or eliminate unwanted color casts. A simple, straightforward presentation of techniques and appended illustrations make this a practical reference to be reached for again and again.
Customer Reviews:
All pictures.......2007-03-17
I got this book for my intro to photography classes I've been teaching. My students are mostly moms and dads who simply want to learn the basics of camera operation, functions, settings, and a few techniques. This book was helpful to everyone in my class because it's full of pictures, with just enough words to get the point across. A truly good basic photography book. Highly recommended!
As intuitive and user-friendly as a photography instructional manual can possibly be.......2005-12-05
Now in an updated second edition, Step-By-Step Digital Photography: A Guide For Beginners walks the reader through digital photography basics, from how to hold the camera to ISO camera settings, photography tips, tricks, and techniques, applying filters, camera care and cleaning, all about digital memory cards, and much more. Written in jargon-free prose, and dividing each nugget of information into a numbered paragraph with a full-color photograph to illustrate the point, Step-by-Step Digital Photography is as intuitive and user-friendly as a photography instructional manual can possibly be. Highly recommended.
Average customer rating:
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A Beginner's Guide to Digital Video (Digital Photography)
Peter Wells
Manufacturer: AVA Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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The Little Digital Video Book
ASIN: 2884790373 |
Book Description
Two hundred and eighty images, taken from actual digital video projects, pack this portable handbook, which covers the complete spectrum of digital video production. Starting with an overview of the various types of digital equipment, formats, and basic digital processes, the focus is placed on 3 key areas: shoot, including preparation, camera movement, and sound and lighting basics; edit, covering storyboards and timelines, trimming, titles, and special effects; and share, burning to disc, sharing digital content on the Web, and more. With advice on surviving and thriving in the digital production “real world”—including how to find an audience and work as a freelance professional—this is an absolute must for anyone wanting to get a foothold this new yet growing medium.
Book Description
Home computers are becoming darkrooms, as millions discover digital imagery. Hundreds of practical tips and simple techniques accompany over 300 digital images to inspire your imagination. Follow the instructions on simple digital enhancement and sophisticated-looking image manipulation. Master the basics of using a scanner to transfer photos onto your PC, then make still images from your video, camcorder, or layer disks. Dramatically improve your photos! See how to: Eliminate redeye, improve sharpness, create depth. Delete scratches and dust. Change formats. Add brightness and contrast. Correct color, repair damaged prints. Introduce artistic and humorous effects. Combine images. Create postcards, posters, and calendars. Use digitals on emails, Web pages, and digital slide shows. It's a whole new virtual, visual world!
Customer Reviews:
A broad overview with no specifics.......2003-05-07
I bought this book based on a well written 5 star review. Being a beginner at digital photography myself I figured this was the book for me. I read the book from front to back the day it arrived. However I found very little information that I could actually apply to take better pictures.
On the plus side the book is very well structured and presented in a nice user-readable fashion. It's a full color book with plenty of photographs to illustrate his textual information. The pictures also give nice examples of 'good' and 'bad' photos. As a very rough overview of what to look for (lighting, composition, etc) when taking digital pictures I would say this book does a good job.
However, on the minus side I found this book very lacking in practical information on *how* to go about using the information he presents and taking better digital pictures. Sure, lighting is very important and will make or break your picture. But tell me how I should go about doing this.
If you are looking for a book on what do look for when taking digital pictures I think this book will work ok for you, but be very ready to experiment and make a lot of mistakes. However, if you are looking for answers, or information on actually how and/or what to do to take better pictures you'll need to read more information elsewhere.
A great all-around first book on photography with digicams.......2002-06-06
This is a terrific first book on taking photos with digital cameras. The subtitle is 'A No-Nonsense, Jargon-Free Guide for Beginners,' and that is exactly what this book is. It is very clear, easy to understand, and very well illustrated (in color) with examples to make it easy to get the author's points.
The strength of this book is that it provides an excellent introduction to the fundamentals of photography. After a short section covering hardware and software, the first main section of the book covers photography, with a 2-page spread on each major point. For example, the first one covers lighting. If you don't get lighting right, nothing else matters - and so many people waste time and film shooting in bad light, or mis-using their flash. He goes on to discuss exposure, composition, depth of field, point of view, and many other essentials. Each of these is clearly (if briefly) explained, with excellent illustrations.
The other major section of the book is an exploration of the digital side (both technically and creatively). In a similar fashion to the points on photography, the author walks through key techniques which can be used to manipulate images on a computer.
My strong bias is that people should focus on taking good photographs rather than on technology. It takes too much editing to make a bad shot acceptable, and editing will almost never give you a really great shot if you didn't get the fundamentals right. This book is written by an experienced photographer and writer, and it shows.
A few notes on what this is NOT:
- It's not a guide to buying a digital camera. But research on what to buy is better done using websites, as the offerings change too quickly.
- It's not a detailed guide to how to use any particular software. This book covers the highlights of image editing on a computer, and gives you an idea of what can be done, so you know what to try and look for on your particular software.
Digital Photography may even seem too simple the first time you pick it up, but that is deceptive. If you master what is here, you will be a very good photographer - because the author knows what he's talking about, and how to explain it simply, and has wisely focused on the key points.
If you are already an experienced film photographer and want more detail on the digital side, consider Freeman's Complete Guide to Digital Photography as an alternative to this.
Now is a good time to give this a try, and Bavister's Digital Photography is great if you want to learn about both the digital and the photography elements. It is a good choice for an adult, or a smart teen with that gift of their first camera.
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A Simple Guide to Digital Photography (Photography for All Levels: Beginners)
Bill Corbett
Manufacturer: Amphoto Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
General
| Photography
| Arts & Photography
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ASIN: 0817458905 |
Book Description
Digital photography promises many advantages over traditional photography: almost-instant results, greater exposure latitude, and a substantial savings over the price of film. In order to master the art of digital photography, however, aspiring photographers must learn new skills that at first seem complex and confusing. A Simple Guide to Digital Photography covers everything the reader needs to become an expert with this new technology. Written in a no-nonsense, easy-to-read style, this valuable guide simplifies the complex and demystifies the mysterious, making entry into the world of digital photography as painless as possible. The book is packed with dozens of tested techniques and proven procedures for choosing digital cameras and lenses; using flashes; selecting the correct exposure, light, and composition; even editing your work. Very comprehensive and completely up to date, this is the perfect reference for the aspiring photographer anxious to enter the digital age!
Customer Reviews:
Too basic and outdated.......2004-08-30
When the description says "beginner", it means it. Most of the book is dedicated to topics geared toward someone who has not yet purchased a digital camera. I was expecting something to teach me how to get the most from the one I have already bought. Plus, given the rapid improvements in technolgy, a lot of the comments he makes are now incorrect or irrelevant (digital SLR's start at $4000, for instance).
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