Product Description
This book takes you beyond showing you which sliders do what to reveal the secrets of the new digital photography workflow using Adobe Lightroom, and he does it using three simple techniques that make this just a great learning tool: 1) Throughout the book Scott shares his own personal settings and studio tested techniques he s developed using Lightroom for his own photography workflow since well before Adobe released even the first Beta version. He knows what really works, what doesn t, and he tells you flat out which tools to use, which to avoid, and why. 2) The entire book is laid out in a real workflow order with everything step-by-step, so you can jump right in using Lightroom like a pro from the very start and sidestep a lot of productivity killing road blocks and time-wasting frustrations that might have tripped you up along the way. 3) In the last two bonus chapters Scott visually answers his No.1 most-asked Lightroom question, which is: Exactly what order am I supposed to do things in, and where does Photoshop fit in? Scott teaches this by showing every step of the entire process, from the initial shoot to the final prints. Both chapters start with an on-location photo shoot, including full details on the equipment, camera settings, and even the lighting techniques. You ll see it all as he takes the photos from each shoot all the way through the entire workflow process, to the final output of the 16x20 prints for the client.
Customer Reviews:
Good information, if a little too "cute".......2007-10-04
Scott Kelby is one of the most prolific technical writers in the business. By his own acclamation he is the world's #1 best-selling author of all computer and technology books, across all categories. That means a lot of people must like his books and buy a lot of them (either that or he's really rich and just publishes tons of them that sit in warehouses somewhere). So what's his style like? How about up-beat, jocular, full of punny side remarks and allusions intended to be humorous, forever positive, anything is possible, never boring...unless you get just a little tired of the incessant pandering to keep the reader's attention. But he knows the software and is good with tips on how to make it work, and even though he's a Mac evangelist, he takes the time to address cross-platform issues whenever they come up.
The software. Adobe Photoshop Lightroom is destined to be one of the most popular imaging programs Adobe, or anyone else, has written. To a certain degree it will very likely slow sales of the full version of Photoshop, not because that is an inherently flawed program, but because Lightroom takes a more streamlined approach in often more intuitive and elegant fashion to basic and intermediate digital imaging needs. It makes a great front end for downloading files, sorting and labeling, making quick and effective adjustments, cataloging and managing the files, and purposing them for output to print, web, or slideshow. In doing all this it doesn't replace Photoshop because Lightroom omits complex targeted adjustments, compositing, or layers, so there are very good reasons to use Lightroom in concert with Photoshop for a full-fledged imaging workflow accommodating efficiency when minor adjustments are enough, and effectiveness when an image simply requires complex work.
The book. In a nutshell, Scott's books work very well for a beginning and intermediate audience. Every individual learns in a different fashion, but the trend of the time is to be simple and visual. Scott accomplishes that through design and method. Throughout the book there are lots of pictures and screenshots with explanatory text along the outside of the pages. The ratio is about 1/3 text, 2/3 pics. And the method goes right to the heart of communication by picking a subject and then taking you right through it step by step. Most of the explanations are lucid and thorough, conveying a lot of info in a short time, and lots of clever suggestions are offered along the way. The coverage is pretty thorough. Of course reading a book does not make one a software expert; that takes lots of serious study and hands-on practice. But again, if you follow all the steps all the way through the book, you should gain pretty good facility with Lightroom.
Shortcomings? Sure; several. For one, software often changes faster than books can be published about it (that's not the book's fault of course). With this one you can register with Peachpit.com (parent of the publisher New Riders) for updates, which is a strong step in the right direction. With regard to style, I could do less with some of the humorously-intended but somewhat tiresome banter, but that's just a personal preference; don't let my view get in your way if Kelby's style helps you learn. Finally, some folks really need to know not just the "what" or "how to" but also the "why;" not too much of the "why" here. On the other hand, if all the "whys" were addressed the book would be twice as long, get boring, and probably be bought and read by far fewer people.
Conclusion. A bright tome that deserves space on the bookshelves or most new Adobe Photoshop Lightroom users, especially those who learn well from a light-hearted, mostly visual presentation. Not a bad reference for advanced users either. All in all, solidly recommended.
Not bad.......2007-10-03
This doesn't go into a great deal of depth. It is great for what it is, a good introduction to using Lightroom. However, don't expect to become a Lightroom pro with this. What I wanted was an introduction to Lightroom, and that's what I got, so I am happy with it.
Great Instructions, easy to learn.......2007-09-26
As all other Kelby's, this one too gives you all you need to learn a Adobe Program in an incredibly fast way. If you don't like the intro's before the chapters, just don't read them. Personally, I like them to distract a little bit in between. Start up your program, open the book and a few hours later you're really on the go! Perfect!
Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Book for Digital Photographers,The (Voices That Matter.......2007-09-25
Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Book for Digital Photographers,The (Voices That Matter)I found this step-by-step how-to book very helpful. It does a great job of organizaing work flow and explaining exactly what each of those dozens of sliders do to the photos. Requires a lot of time to apply, so if you are serious about using Lightroom, this is for you. I found the bits of humor enjoyable, some may not. I would like to see the screen shots a bit larger, my old eyes find 4 pt font difficult, but the text is easy and logical.
Awesome Read!.......2007-09-24
If you don't have Adobe Lightroom, I suggest you buy it ASAP. This program is absolutley AMAZING!!! And once you buy the software, get Scott's book on it! Just as all Scott's books accomplish; it takes you step by step through the whole program so you can be on your way in no time!!!
Rich Nortnik Jr.
Visualization Artist, Illustrator and Designer
The Shaw Group, Inc.
Book Description
Scott Kelby, the man who changed the "digital darkroom" forever with his groundbreaking, #1 bestselling, award-winning book The Photoshop Book for Digital Photographers, now tackles the most important side of digital photography--how to take pro-quality shots using the same tricks today's top digital pros use (and it's easier than you'd think).
This entire book is written with a brilliant premise, and here’s how Scott describes it: "If you and I were out on a shoot, and you asked me, 'Hey, how do I get this flower to be in focus, but I want the background out of focus?' I wouldn't stand there and give you a lecture about aperture, exposure, and depth of field. In real life, I'd just say, 'Get out your telephoto lens, set your f/stop to f/2.8, focus on the flower, and fire away.' You d say, 'OK,' and you'd get the shot. That's what this book is all about. A book of you and I shooting, and I answer the questions, give you advice, and share the secrets I've learned just like I would with a friend, without all the technical explanations and without all the techno-photo-speak."
This isn't a book of theoryâit isn't full of confusing jargon and detailed concepts: this is a book of which button to push, which setting to use, when to use them, and nearly two hundred of the most closely guarded photographic "tricks of the trade" to get you shooting dramatically better-looking, sharper, more colorful, more professional-looking photos with your digital camera every time you press the shutter button.
Here's another thing that makes this book different: each page covers just one trick, just one single concept that makes your photography better. Every time you turn the page, you'll learn another pro setting, another pro tool, another pro trick to transform your work from snapshots into gallery prints. There's never been a book like it, and if you're tired of taking shots that look "OK," and if you’re tired of looking in photography magazines and thinking, "Why don't my shots look like that?" then this is the book for you.
Customer Reviews:
hilarious book!.......2007-10-02
my boyfriend loved this book that i bought him. it had great tips and the writer is hilarious!
Too basic.......2007-09-29
The review is as much about the author as it is about photography. This is not a book for a photographer who wants to master digital techniques. It is intended for a beginner and offers a good introduction to photography. It can get very annoying if you have some familiarity with general photography.
a good book for someone new to cameras.......2007-09-28
I bought this for my wife who wants to learn to use something other then an instantmatic type camera. I had bought her a Z6 and she didn't know where to begin with all of these functions, but didn't want to be shown by me or anyone else how to use it.
The book has helped a lot, now she looks up how to do something and feels she has learned a lot about taking pictures. A lot of practical information without dwelling on theory.
Good reference if you don't want the technical jargon.......2007-09-27
I would say that different people feel differently from Scott's humorous writing. In the beginning, he already highlighted that he is talking like a friend. The fact is I feel that :)
First chapter is a bit... following chapters start to go into the topic with advise that really help out for beginner. We may have heard but we tend to forget; we may have looked how the pro does but we tend to overlook.
I give 4 stars in beginner's point of view.
Skip this book.......2007-09-26
Yes skip this book, Scott doesn't give you much in this book, I mirror the other reviewers who got really sick of his waste of time first page of every chapter (him trying, but failing, to be funny) There are much better ways of spending your money and your time
Book Description
Achieving accurate skin tones is one of the most challenging tasks in digital photography. Master this challenge with professional photographer Lee Varis as he covers a range of skin: women and men, young and old, various tones, in-studio and outdoors, tattoos, and more. His step-by-step tutorials and before-and-after illustrations demonstrate various techniques for topics such as digital-specific lighting challenges and what can and cannot be done in post-process.
A free CD-ROM accompanies the book and contains sample image files to use while following the tutorials, plus equipment recommendations and technical reference materials that enhance and reinforce the instruction.
Order your copy of this practical guide today and get a complete start-to-finish approach to integrating everything from posing models to shooting and retouching candid scenes.
Customer Reviews:
Very helpful.......2007-09-25
I agree with the other 5 star reviews. The only thing I'd like to add is part of the foreword by Gerald Bybee:
"If you're looking for pointers on shooting nudes or tutorials on photographing sexy models in the desert, this book is not for you. There is already a plethora of those pseudo-technical books explointing the throngs of photo voyeurs. Lee isn't about exploitation of our society's fascination with naked skin. Lee's fascination is simply with digital imaging technique focused on the practical application of photographing people, who coincidentally are primarily dermal by nature."
If you are like me and don't want a book full of nude models sitting around the house, then don't let this book's title keep you from buying it. There is a thumbnail of the most nude picture in the book on the cover (3rd down on the left side) and is the image of a woman's back. Lee Varis does a good job of talking about and showing examples of skin without including pictures you may not want your children seeing.
great book.......2007-09-24
Great book mostly for post processing in photoshop. Espesially about how to treat skincolor. Also a littel bit of how to light. Many usable photoshop techniques. Just get it!
EXCELLENT book.......2007-09-07
One of the most focused books on lighting and Photoshopping people I have ever read - it's very advanced, but well explained. This book will help you push yourself when it comes to this subject. Refreshing and different approach in his writing.
the book is great.......2007-09-05
The book is very helpful. The book is based on Photoshop CS2, so if you're like me and still using CS, some of the tutorials won't work.
A good read.......2007-09-05
I can say I am happy with the book for the price I paid ($23) It is not worth the full retail for myself (newbies will get a lot more out of it) I was hoping it would go into more detail with making correct skin tones, it is sadly only a chapter long, but is a great chapter. The retouching chapter is ok but not for high end retouching, Katrin Eismanns book on retouching (3rd edition) has a lot of great "high end" pore by pore retouching techniques, the ones in this book are good for quick portrait retouches, also a great section for tattoo's and even applying tattoos to the skin. All in all its a good book just don't expect a ton of advanced techniques.
Book Description
Anyone still think that Adobe Photoshop Elements is a toy version of the real thing? As the most popular photo-editing program on the market, Photoshop Elements not only has Photoshop's marvelous powers, but also has capabilities the mothership lacks. Each new version includes more tools designed specifically for today's consumer digital photo enthusiasts. The latest edition, Photoshop Elements X, solidifies the reputation of this superb and inexpensive product with new scrapbook features, a link to online photo services, and many other improvements.
In fact, there's so much to Photoshop Elements that it can be quite confusing at times. That's precisely why our Missing Manuals are the bestselling books on the topic. Adobe provides a pamphlet and some help files; our book, now in its fourth edition, carefully explains every feature the program has to offer (something no other book has done) by putting each one into a clear, easy-to-understand context.
Photoshop Elements X: The Missing Manual covers the Windows version of Adobe's workhorse and gives you the low down on a host of new features:
- Learn to create multiple page documents, custom photo layouts with frames, and highly customized layouts for scrapbook projects
- Master the new editor for Layer Styles, which lets you customize individual layers in a photo
- "Attach" your photos to areas of a Yahoo! Map so your friends and family can see the pictures you took in specific places
Author Barbara Brundage also introduces you to a new sophisticated tool called "Curves" to adjust the color and contrast in your photos, and shows you how to burn multi-session CDs and DVDs. As always, she lets you know which features work well, which don't, and why -- all with a bit of wit and good humor. Although the book progresses from simple to complex tasks, you can easily jump around to learn specific techniques, such as creating photomontages (composites), restoring old photos, preparing images for the Web, and archiving. More than a dozen downloadable images let you practice using the editing tools right away!
Customer Reviews:
Photoshop Elements 5.0 The Missing Manual.......2007-09-29
This is a must have. Covers everything the other manuals miss, and gives pertinent information others miss. Well written, easily followed and understood. Pick a topic and go, or read it from front to back.
Good information, but needs more step by step instructions........2007-09-24
Lots of information but some of it assumes you already know how to use it. Can get to what you want to do with some digging.
Outstanding reference for Elements users.......2007-09-20
I did quite a bit of research on Elements 5.0 books, and I ended up choosing this one because of the great reviews it had gotten. Excellent choice! The book is very easy to understand, and I can't imagine tackling Elements 5.0 without it. It gave me the good start I needed in understanding and effectively using the software. Barbara Brundage is an excellent author. She's great at writing in a way that gives you the info you need while avoiding the techno-speak that many software developers use. If you have Elements 5.0 and need a good reference....or a good way to start using the software...this is your book.
Photoshop elements the lost Manual.......2007-09-05
Ok, I'm not the professional photographer and having said that, I'm not the editing guru either. So, I bought photoshop elements 5.0 for my computer which runs vista, it runs great. I'm sure i have only touched on a small part of the of the software, because it's a bit overwhelming at first, this book helps take care of that feeling. I came across this book and WoW, now i get it. Good luck with the book. I go to the chapter that i need help with during my editing mess. haha... Amazon you rock!!!
Photoshop Elementa 5: The Missing Manual.......2007-09-03
I have read several books on editing photos and I have found that Photoshoshop and the missing maual goes step by step with the software in easy sef ecplainable senteneces tha even a necomer can understand.
Book Description
With his friendly, accessible style, photographer and writer Ben Long takes you on a tour of the ins and outs of Nikon's powerful new photo editing program, which can be used with any digital camera! Real World Nikon Capture NX is packed with the kind of detail you can't get anywhere else. Long knows which features are important, like how to make selective corrections to an image with just one click, and what you need to know to get your work done. His expert advice will help you take great pictures, then organize, edit, and output them successfully. In Real World Nikon Capture NX you'll learn how to:
- Compose stunning digital images from JPEG, TIFF, and raw format photos
- Learn to correct color and tone using Capture NX’s state-of-the-art adjustment tools
- Use nondestructive editing techniques
- Create a comprehensive and efficient workflow for processing images
- Configure Capture NX for color management
- Use advanced editing features such as control points and selection brushes
- Output your photos to a variety of media, including print and the Web
Customer Reviews:
Ok!.......2007-07-06
It was slow but was recieved on time. Book binding came loose but book still great.
Worth the price and the time for new NX users..........2007-05-25
I bought Nikon Capture NX as soon as it was available, intrigued by descriptions and magazine reviews, and hoping to speed and enhance my RAW workflow. Unfortunately, the accelerating press of work, the need to get post processing done on a never-ending stream of images caused me to put off making the switch from the old Nikon Capture 4.x.x lest my fumbling and incompetence with new software slow or affect the quality of my work.
Up front I'll say that his explanation of control points (U-Point Technology, as NIK puts it) was worth the price of admission. So yes, I'm fully satisfied that I've had my money's worth out of this book. Also, I'll say that his elementary explanations of curves, levels, and histograms was worthwhile; most users of imaging software already know the information on some level, but his blunt, unadorned explanations was refreshing, and I took something of value away from reading his perceptions on these subjects.
However, unlike some other reviewers, I didn't find the book to be particularly well written, assembled, or edited. It had a rush-to-market feel to it throughout. There are references to "sidebars" that are not really sidebars; some may have been referred to but left out. At least I was unable to find a couple of them, flipping back and forth through the pages repeatedly and in vain. Also, I get tired of imaging software books written by and primarily for dedicated Mac users. PLEASE...don't get me wrong; I think Macs are wonderful. I have previously owned several. But despite the fact that artistic types and imaging professionals comprise a larger percentage of Mac users than the market as a whole it's a Windows world, like it or not. I would prefer to see Windows screen shots used and Windows keystrokes emphasized. It's niggling, but there it is.
Bottom line: If you have or intend to purchase Nikon Capture NX but haven't used it yet, buy the book and spend an evening with it. If you've already adopted the software and made it a part of your daily or weekly workflow, you probably won't find the same value.
Capture NX - Real World.......2007-05-12
The book is well written, easy to understand following the authors instructions.
One minus point: the book is poorly bound, after using it for one week it started to come apart.
Real World guide for a Really Great Program!!.......2007-04-11
I'm not sure what the other 2 reviewers were expecting from this book but I found it to be a great guide for my workflow.
Mr. Long cuts through the clutter and gets to the brass tacks on how to use this program quickly and easily.
Sure, as the other reviewer alluded to, he doesn't go as deep as the manual-but using this book in conjunction with the manual is a 1-2 punch. Anytime I want to learn more on any of the subjects he covers, I go to my manual. This isn't a replacement for the manual--it is a supplement to the manual.
Learning the ideal use of Control Points (worth buying Capture NX alone for this feature!) and getting a real persepective on the software makes all the difference for me.
The section on selection brushes cleared up a lot of confusion for me and opened up a whole new world for my photography.
Thanks to Capture NX and this book I'm spending far less time in Photoshop and other programs and getting a finished, deliverable picture while keeping an archive of all of the steps along the way.
[...]I can't wait to see Vincent Versace's new DVD set coming out as well.
Buy this book, you won't regret it.
Michael
Not much more than a user manual.......2007-04-10
My first impression was received when I picked up the Amazon.com box and felt how light it was. This CAN'T be it. I'm used to the REAL WORLD series containing very thick and detailed books. I was surprised by the 220 page book, and felt that $35 was probably a little steep, but looked on the bright side - a 220p book is a heck of a lot easier to tote around than a 400p bible. I put my impressions aside and dug in.
Ben divides the book into 8 chapters: 1) Intro; 2) Basic Theory; 3) Interface & Basic Workflow; 4) Preparing to Edit; 5) Basic Image Editing; 6) Advanced Image Editing; 7) Version Control and Batch Processing; 8) Output.
Basic Theory is a quick intro to terms like Raw, jpeg, white balance, non-destructive editing, and it walks the beginner through reading a histogram. The Interface & Basic Workflow chapter introduces users to the NX toolbars and defines the steps in a basic workflow as: Importing, culling, adding metadata, sorting, editing for "picks", outputting and archiving. Ben gives a brief description of each, such as "you can import your images directly from your camera using a cable connection to your computer. Nothing new here, and it has very little to do with Capture NX. However, this could serve as an informative overview for someone just beginning digital photography.
Chapter 4, preparing to edit, is a basic (very basic) overview of color management. This is, again, geared toward the beginner, and not very specific to Capture NX. It doesn't go deep, but this is a book about NX, not Color Management. So, about 75 pages into the manual we finally get into Chapter 5 and editing with NX.
In Chapter 5, Ben walks us through his recommended sequence of edits: Geometric corrections, remove color casts, adjust tone & contrast, perform color correction, final tweaks, sharpen for output. He introduces us to the tools used to make the edits and does a good job of clarifying the difference between Base Adjustments and Edit Steps and why (whenever possible) Edit Steps should be used instead of Base Adjustments. Rotating, straightening, cropping, flipping and resizing are covered, as are auto levels, auto color, and levels and curves. While most of this book is geared toward the beginner, I didn't feel that there was enough of an explanation within the levels and curves section to give a solid understanding to the beginner. If you are looking to learn NX levels and curves, you are probably better consulting a Photoshop book like REAL WORLD PHOTOSHOP CS2 and taking that understanding to the NX curves tool.
In all, I was pretty disappointed by the depth of the material. This book spends too much time teaching you how to do basic things like rotate and crop (if you can't figure out how to do this yourself, you are in trouble) and doesn't spend enough time discussing techniques like how to sharpen in NX. In fact, Ben glosses over image sharpening in about two pages by giving a brief definition of Intensity, radius, and threshold, but not mentioning how he uses these three settings to create sharper images for the web or print output.
In Advanced Editing, Ben walks through creating masks for image edits, and through color control points. Finally, the Batch Processing and Output chapters look at these features within Capture NX. Note: I've found batch processing to be very slow, but the book offers no hints on how to speed it up.
In all, I was disappointed with the content. There aren't many books available on Capture NX and it would have been great to have a comprehensive bible around this tool. Unfortunately, this book is more like an expanded version of the Nikon (Nik) manual and offers little new material to someone who has played with Capture NX and knows a little about photo editing.
Other notably missing topics are: Optimizing your PC to use NX, troubleshooting NX, any tips & tricks, creating templates or sets. Overall, for a very good software product, this is a disappointing guide.
Book Description
Get the most out of Lightroom with Tim Grey as your guide by reducing the time and effort you spend storing, selecting, and editing your digital images. Adobe’s new Lightroom software, together with this practical guide, explains everything from importing and cataloguing to processing and archiving. Whether you’re a professional photographer or advanced amateur, you’ll find ways to work efficiently with Lightroom in order to improve your productivity and get the results you want.
Customer Reviews:
Product walkthrough.......2007-07-05
This is a well written book, however talks less about workflow and more about Lightroom. if you are new to light room I highly recommend this book as it is a great introduction to the product and a walkthrough on all of it's features 1.0 (does not cover 1.1).
If you are looking for workflow and already know lightroom.... this book will teach you a few things you didn't know. I suggest taking a look at your local book store first to see if it is right for you.
Excellent intro to using Lightroom.......2007-05-29
Most folks who've been around digital imaging for any length of time know Tim Grey. An engaging, energy-filled, computer whiz who used to teach for George Lepp at the Lepp Institute of Digital Imaging and then got hired by Microsoft to head their professional photo expansion effort, Tim has a rare talent for clear, insightful writing about complex subjects. He's parlayed that skill into a whole series of books, of which this is one of his latest, and it carries on the tradition of being very thorough and easy to read and understand.
The topic of this book is one of a new breed of image editing tools that takes a fundamentally different approach to working with digital photo files from the King Kong of the industry, Adobe Photoshop. While Photoshop still is the industry leader by far, it has several serious drawbacks, including expense, complexity, and a very steep learning curve.
Enter Adobe Photoshop Lightroom. The concept for this new tool is to provide a more user friendly, efficient end-to-end workflow within one program that includes editing, optimizing, cataloguing, and output, allowing the photographer to spend less time in front of the computer and more time actually taking pictures. There are competing programs from other companies with a similar goal - Apple's Aperture (strictly for Macs), and LightZone from Light Crafts (for both platforms), but only Lightroom has near-seamless cross compatibility with Adobe's other creative products.
Lightroom has strong promise. One of its leading attributes is that it works nondestructively. When you make editing changes to images you are not altering actual pixel values within the image file but only adding a set of instructions for changes you wish to make and shows those effects on the fly. This makes files much smaller than when you create multiple variations in Photoshop, many times with many layers resulting in huge files. Many of its tools are both clever and intuitive as well, speeding the way to a polished product in less time.
There are some limitations however. While image adjustments are well mechanized, there is no provision in this version of the program to apply them selectively to parts of the image. For this type of work the file must be exported to another editing program. Also, there is no means for working on more than one monitor. A favorite approach for many who use Photoshop is to use two displays with the image on one and the palettes for various adjustments on the other; can't do that at this point with Lightroom.
Will Lightroom catch on? Very likely, especially for those photographers who yearn for a tool that gives good, quick results that increase their productivity. And when the global adjustments available within Lightroom aren't enough, it's easy to export to another tool for that kind of work. In addition, the simple digital asset management capabilities may be enough for someone whose file storage and cataloguing needs aren't too great. Furthermore, this is version 1.0, and there is every expectation that the program will grow and improve as the new conceptual paradigm gains acceptance, particularly with serious competition from at least two other quadrants.
So, how valuable is Tim Grey's take on the subject? About as good as it gets, I'd say. Tim has a rare talent for clarity of expression that leaves little doubt about what's being described. Throughout his books he makes suggestions about settings and states his personal preferences so someone new to the program has a place to start, which is far preferable, in my view, to just describing all the choices and leaving one hanging without a clue where to begin. If you purchase Lightroom, or are even just considering doing so, you should also acquire this book. It will save hours and hours of figuring it all out on your own and give you a running start toward becoming an expert with one of the best new editing programs.
Tim Grey's Lightroom book.......2007-05-24
Tim's effort is a noteworthy in clarity of writing style. Realistic workflow approach and sequencing in this book makes Lightroom's use far more understandable. Tech-writing of technical subject-matter always is a difficult job. Tim does it exceptionally well. Oddly, Tim's book... is the very material that - should - be included within Adobe's $300 product under the "Help" menu. User tips picked up from the book make it a worthwhile purchase. LR itself... the jury is still out on that issue. Noteworthy features, but quirky Raw conversions and exposure values and color balance readings. A product that attempts to be the proverbial "Swiss Army Knife" with the inclusion of many many functions... the number count tends to overload the user, even get in the way.
Great visual guide.......2007-05-17
There are so many Lightroom books available but I waited for Tim's because of his writing style. He's a technical guy who can also make us "visual" people understand.
Lightroom Workflow.......2007-05-13
A great book! Easy to read and helps make sense of Adobes new product. Tim Grey is one of the most knowledgeable experts on Lightroom and other
Adobe products for photographers. This bood will be an ongoing source of reference as I work in Lightroom. I would highly recommend it to anyone starting in Lightroom.
Book Description
Today's digital cameras provide image data files allowing large-format output at high resolution. At the same time, printing technology has moved forward at an equally fast pace bringing us new inkjet systems capable of printing in high precision at a very fine resolution, providing an amazing tonality range and longtime stability of inks.
Moreover, these systems are now affordable to the serious photographer. In the hands of knowledgeable and experienced photographers, these new inkjet printers can help create prints comparable to the highest quality darkroom prints on photographic paper.
This book provides the necessary foundation for fine art printing: The understanding of color management, profiling, paper and inks. It demonstrates how to set up the printing workflow as it guides the reader step-by-step through this process from an image file to an outstanding fine art print.
Customer Reviews:
Fine Art Printing.......2007-10-02
This was a very in depth study of principals needed to handle art printing--and the price was fantastic!!
Incredible book on printing.......2007-08-23
I've always struggled to produce prints that match what I see on the screen. This is th best book I've ever read on the subject. It covers everything in great detail, and is very readable. For the first time, I'm able to produce prints that match what I'm seeing on the screen.
A Very High Quality Publication.......2007-07-09
Producing exhibition quality photographic prints on an ink-jet printer requires a knowledge of many areas - printers, papers, inks, color management, editing software, handling and preservation. This outstanding book covers all these topics with the authority of experts. The authors' in-depth knowledge enables them to distill the essence of each topic into very concise prose, which is a pleasure on both the first reading and for subsequent reference. I have tried using other books on producing exhibition quality prints and found them wanting. With this book, I have quickly taken my prints to a new level.
As a minor issue, there are a number of places where a good editor could have tightened up the prose, added a clarifying sentence, or removed a germanic grammatical construction. Maybe for the next edition the authors could engage a more discerning editor. However, this does not affect the book's overall clarity.
One of the pleasures of this book is its design, with beautiful examples of the authors' own work, and a very extensive list of references for further information.
Outstanding digital printing resource.......2007-04-01
The final product for many photographic creative artists is the making and exhibition of high quality prints. In the past, particularly with color prints, this was usually relegated to third-party printing agencies and service bureaus, but with the evolution of today's photo-realistic inkjet printers it is now possible to achieve stunning results right in one's own small office or studio. It's hard to describe the deep satisfaction of watching a perfect inkjet print emerge that is the product of one's considerable investment of time and creative energy.
The convergence of desktop computing power with wide-gamut, archival-quality inkjet printers has returned creative control to the artist. But along with control comes the weight of personal responsibility, and learning to use this sophisticated equipment takes a lot of time and mental resources. Many authors have addressed the general issue of digital image output, but none that I've read previously have done as good a job in bringing together and covering both thoroughly and with rare clarity the myriad of factors relating to the making and finishing of exhibition-quality fine art photographic prints.
There are many issues involved. The concepts of light and color and how photographic input and output devices encode and translate color is fundamental to the process, underscoring the absolute requirement for a carefully calibrated and profiled color management system throughout one's entire workflow. Types of ink affect not only how prints appear under different lighting conditions but how long they'll last. Papers come in an almost endless variety of types and surfaces, both of which impact final appearance and longevity. How one prepares a file in the selected image editor also has a large impact on final output and extensive methods are detailed for achieving optimum results. Specific printer operations are covered with screen shots of dialog boxes that make some otherwise obscure choices very clear. Several specialized printing programs are also discussed, including Qimage and two RIPs (raster image processors). Last but not least is an extensive resource listing providing internet contact information for many of the products discussed throughout the book. This has special merit today due to the speed with which technology advances, often quickly dating what is set to print in a bound book.
If you are serious about making the highest quality photographic inkjet prints for display, there is no better reference piece than this book to increase your knowledge of the subject. Very highly recommended.
If What You See Isn't What You Get, You Need This Book.......2007-02-20
This handy, easy-to-use book by Uwe Steinmueller and Juergen Gulbins leads the reader gently into the expensive and complex world of Fine Art Printing.
Your first question for Fine Art Printing might well be: Why bother? Why not have your large format prints done professionally?
For instance, Epson, one of the brands discussed in the book has come out with a new, UltraChrome K3 line of inks and 13- 44-inch-wide printers. From my experience, these printers do indeed produce studio quality prints and prepress proofs. With prices ranging from $850 to $5000, they are affordable within the context of commercial production. Nevertheless, it might be a risky investment if you don't have a good grasp of the process and mechanics of printing.
This book bridges that gap. From a very basic level of color, lines per inch to materials and inks to more complex CMS management and software manipulation, this books covers the subject in enough depth to give you a real understanding, but it doesn't drown you're your interest in a flood of super-technical details.
One of the most common problems in printing is the disparity between what you see on your monitor and what comes out of your printer. Color management and monitor calibration are huge in printing and these subjects are covered well in this volume. (If you need more, specific information he publisher, Rocky Nook has another excellent offering: Color Management in Digital Photography.)
The whole process is fascinating - seeing the scene, taking the photo, moving the photo to the computer for processing, outputting the photo to hard copy. The question is: Does your print convey the story/feeling you wanted to share when you initially took the photograph?
One thing about the book amused me. It is replete with color illustrations and many of them purport to show before-and-after and/or the application of various effects. It's probably just my tired old eyes, but in many cases I was hard-pressed to see any difference. Nevertheless, when I tried the suggested techniques on my own work, I saw the results and was very pleased with them.
The fact remains that the more you learn about the printing process, even at a very basic level, the happier you'll be with the hard copy version of your photos.
Book Description
• Readers love Peterson's easy-to-grasp bad image/good image pairings—and every photo in the book was taken with a digital camera
• Covers every popular genre: nature, people, sports, interiors, travel, and more
Using his popular bad image/good image pairings of real-life examples, Bryan Peterson takes the reader through all the techniques need to succeed with digital photography in every popular genre: nature, people, sports, interiors, travel, low-light conditions, travel, weather, commercial portraits, macro, and wildlife—even how to use creative tricks such as reflections. As a bonus, Peterson explains, in straightforward text, the techniques of Photoshop as well as the basics of publishing, printing, and archiving and storing for personal or professional use. Full of great examples for beginners and serious photographers, Understanding Digital Photography makes it easy to create great digital pictures every time.
Customer Reviews:
Great resource.......2007-07-04
This is one of the best books on photography I've read so far. Lots of great tips and ideas. I really like the down to earth language he uses to explain his concepts.
Excellent book for self-improvement.......2007-06-08
The book is written in plain English, easy to understand and very enlightening.
I would recommend to amateur photographer and even beginners who like to know more about Digital photography, Photoshop and more.
Nice for the beginner.......2007-05-17
For the digital newbie, or photography newbie for that matter, this is a nice intro book. I'm sure that a lot of the techie issues that other reviewers are calling Mr. Peterson to task on will be addressed in a 2nd edition.
There is enough information on photographic concepts and techniques to redeem the book for some of the technical flaws regarding digital images (See Rennie Petersen's review for info on the techie stuff).
If you haven't read "Understanding Exposure" by Bryan Peterson I'd highly recommend it.
Ignore the digital techie parts.......2007-05-01
I purchased this book when I got my first camera and knew nothing about photography but quite a bit about the physics of light and computers. This book helped me take some great shots because it does a great job of explaining, in simple to understand terms, photography basics and provides a plethora of pictures to illustrate the concepts. If you are a rank beginner, this book will walk you through aperture, f stops, the basics of exposure and basic composition to produce good photos and I highly recommend it for that purpose.
The technical aspects of the book -- both digital camera components and computer formats -- range from dumbed down to the point of being overstated to plainly wrong, an issue covered in several other reviews. However, they do give enough of an introduction to allow one to understand better, more accurate and more detailed discussions of technical components. If you know nothing about the "digital" (as opposed to film) side of cameras and formats, it serves as a readable introduction to the meaning of the terms. Be aware that most of the information beyond what the terms mean is wrong.
If you are anything more than a rank beginner I suggest you skip this book. If you are just starting out and more than a little intimidated by the seemingly complex world of "taking a good picture" then you will the book of value.
Excellent first book.......2007-03-29
This is a really great book to start off with. It explains all the basics and more. Easy to understand and full of great ideas and techniques, interspersed with humor. Sound ideas that will help you become a better photographer. Excellent style of writing. I've really enjoyed and have have learned from his books.
Book Description
Nude and beauty photographers can find the invaluable high-impact techniques in this exhaustively illustrated manual that covers everything from compositional tips for clothing, accessories, and poses to more technical challenges such as lighting, lens selection, and exposure, demonstrating how to produce stunning, world-class images using minimal equipment without accruing a burdening investment. Beginning with the Four S's of glamour photography (sexiness, sultriness, sensuality, and seductiveness), amateurs and professionals alike are shown new ways to achieve beautiful shots, with additional tips on working with models that include methods for accentuating assets while minimizing flaws and initiating comfortable working relationships. Photographers are also shown how to turn their hobby into a successful career, or enhance the productivity and income of an existing business by honing marketing and advertising skills and mastering the art of generating business by referral. Based on the author's popular website (www.garageglamour.com), this guide offers helpful instruction to creating glamorous, sexy images like those seen in Playboy, Maxim, and other men's magazines.
Customer Reviews:
Great Book.......2007-09-27
In my opinion this is one of the best Glamour's books on the market. I bought this one almost an year ago and I read the book few times. I like the fact that everything is explained on easy to understand language and they are a lot of pictures to support all of the techniques used. I think that this book is worth every cent i paid.
Everything you need.......2007-09-25
With the things I learned in this book I have been able to go from taking pictures to taking photographs. It basicly takes you through all the steps needed to learn this fine art. The author has put together a well thought out masterpiece. It is extremely easy to read and is beutifully illustrated. A++++++++++++++++
I also recomend picking up Mr Gomez's book "Glamour Photography" they go very well together
Lots of interesting information, not many great samples..........2007-09-03
The information in this book was pretty good and I did walk away with a few new things to keep in mind. However I was disappointed that much of the photography was either not particularly well shot, or lacked variety in the style in which they were shot. This is subjective though, some people might love the photography in this book, but I didn't personally find it appealing and didn't really find anything that would inspire my own work in the future. I'd give it a 3.5 if I could, but a 4 will have to do.
Not for the beginner.......2007-07-05
The title of this book led me to believe that this would be a simple to undersatnd book, keeping things on a basic level. I found good information in the book, but this is not for the beginner. The book talks about using helpers to hold light reflectors, etc. This is way beyond the simple do it yourself basic book that I was looking for. This is for the more advanced person looking to improve on their already basic knowledge for this type of photography.
It Doesn't Get Any Clearer Than This..........2007-06-26
There is a LOT of info in this book but honestly, it doesn't get any easier than this. Follow the suggestions, practice what he's writing about and you can't help but get better. You'll be impressed at how quickly and dramatically your shooting will improve. I'm not getting compensated here, I'm just telling you what happened with my shooting - it got better fast.
Book Description
"Clear, concise, lively, well-organized and opinionated."—Popular Photography and Imaging
In this thorough revision of his best-selling guide, Rick Sammon covers all the steps in the digital photographic process. The book teaches basic technical picture taking and the art of photography, plus introductory and advanced digital techniques.
Orchestrating over 1,000 images into easy-to-read lessons, Sammon uses an approach of "learning to see and seeing to learn" with pairs of images, software screen shots, and the best photographs from his own shooting assignments.
New for this edition, all the image editing tips feature the popular Adobe Photoshop® Elements®; file format discussions now include working with Camera RAW files; and more than 170 new color images have been added. 1000 color photographs.
Customer Reviews:
As good as they say, but let's correct a misquote..........2007-09-30
New photographers will appreciate the fact that most of Parts I, II, III and VII in this 445-page book, a total of more than 250 pages, is about photography subjects other than digital photography per se. These subjects include sharpness, autofocus, the rule of thirds, using flash, and so on. Understandably, though, experienced film photographers who want to move on to digital photography, or those who already have books on general photography, may see it differently. So I am in sympathy with reviewer "A Photographer, Planet Earth" when he complains "first they want to teach you a little basic photography..." then it's on to "Photoshop tricks".
Readers who want to focus on the "digital" in digital photograpy might want to look at "Complete Digital Photography" by Ben Long and "Digital Photography, Expert Techniques," by Ken Milburn.
Sammon's digital photography book deserves its good reviews, because his obvious enthusiasm for the medium transcends the book's faults, or perhaps what some would call its overly broad approach. There is only one error that Sammon's enthusiasm does not transcend. He misquotes one of the world's greatest photographers, the late Henri Cartier-Bresson, about his philosophy of image-making. Each of Sammon's chapters begins with an italicized quotation. So when you see, at the top of Lesson 15 on page 87, this comment attributed to Cartier-Bresson -- "To me, photography is the simultaneous recognition, in a fraction of a second, of the significance of an event" -- you may think that is what Cartier-Bresson really said.
But that is not what he said. In the preface to his book "The Decisive Moment," Henri Cartier-Bresson wrote, "To me, photography is the simultaneous recognition, in a fraction of a second, of the significance of an event as well as of a precise organization of forms that give that event its proper expression."
To get the first half of this quote right, and omit the second half entirely, is to miss the whole point, and in doing so to seriously misinform young people about Cartier-Bresson's actual philosophy. It is a philosophy that the photographer lived for many years as he wandered Europe on foot. The Frenchman's well known work actually does reveal a talent for organizing circles, ovals, arches, and other shapes so as to enhance the meaning of the photograph! What he did in recognizing the meaning of an event and *at the same time* organizing shapes and forms within the frame so as to express that meaning is incredible. Study his photos with his stated philosophy in mind and you will only marvel more. He didn't just teach it; he lived it.
Sammon is an admirer of Cartier-Bresson. That being the case, I hope that in the future he will be more careful how he quotes him.
I'll close with a compliment. Sammon has an enviable rapport with his subjects -- and these include people from all over the world. I admire this quality of Sammon and his book, and I think you will too.
Easy to Read & Understand.......2007-07-19
I've only recently begun shooting pictures digitally. I took a short class on Crime Scene Photography that scratched the surface, but I wanted to learn more. Rick Sammon writes in a very conversational way that makes his book fun to read and easy to understand. This book is great for the beginner and the advanced alike. There are countless tips on general photography as well as editing your photos in PhotoShop. This book is certainly worth the time to read and re-read. I keep it around now as a reference.
An enjoyable but not completely satisfying read........2007-06-12
I'm giving this book four stars based almost solely on Rick Sammon's enthusiasm. He is obviously a person who enjoys what he does and likes interacting with others. His writing was lively enough so I read the book in one afternoon. The bottom line problem with this guide is the same bottom line problem I'm finding in all digital photography guides I've encountered. The first thing they want to do is teach you a little basic photography knowledge and the next thing they do is tell you how to use Photoshop tricks to create "artful photos" that, in effect, minimizes the need for knowledge of basic photography. Photography is more than tricks and "secrets of the pros" and Photoshop is a fine tool for photographers to augment their work. Unfortunately, most digital photography teaching vehicles today emphasize the ghastly and tasteless manipulations in Photoshop and fail to emphasize learning basic camera technique. To Rick Sammon's credit, he does provide a measure of how to use tools available for in-camera control as opposed to relying solely on Photoshop corrections and manipulations in post production. But when the chapters on the various Photoshop tools and manipulations come into play, it's still a lot of ghastly and tasteless trickery that takes center stage.
The higher quality, professional and advanced amateur digital cameras that are available today are so sophisticated, it's difficult to really screw up your pictures if you have a basic grasp of photography and how to use the camera's features. Despite this, a lot of people are screwing up their pictures in post production by relying on photo editing software. Sammon's examples in the Photoshop Elements portions of this book point this out very clearly. The "before Photoshop" photos are often preferable to the "after Photoshop" photos. I'm not speaking of basic operations such as minor color corrections, cropping, sharpening, etc. I'm speaking of the use of filters and borders and the cut-and-paste collages that Sammon often refers to as "artistic" which are, in fact, perfect examples of over-processed pseudo-art.
I'm not really picking on Rick Sammon here. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I've enjoyed Sammon's writing and photography in other publications as well. It's just that we really don't need more people playing around with their computers to create the photographic equivalent of black velvet paintings.
A must read Digital Photography book for everyone.......2007-06-08
I bought this book about 3 months ago . This book as well as its earlier edition changes my concept about digital photography. One thing that I am missing in the 2nd edition is the absence of Adobe photoshop CS2 treatment. I think that would be more attractive option. The approach of Rick Sammon is wonderful. He covers picture for almost all the remote corners of the world, specifically Asian and South American countries. I strongly suggest this book for everyone involved in digital photography.
Enjoyable / Informative Book.......2007-06-08
I attended a seminar by Rick Sammon just a few weeks ago and had to get his book. I'm new in digital photography and his approach is straight forward and entertaining while being very informative. Highly recommended.
Books:
- Aftermath: World Trade Center Archive
- Alchemy of Nine Dimensions: Decoding the Vertical Axis, Crop Circles, and the Mayan Calendar
- Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life
- Apple Pro Training Series: Logic Pro 7 and Logic Express 7 (Apple Pro Training)
- Art of Bird Photography: The Complete Guide to Professional Field Techniques (Practial Photography Books)
- Atget's Paris (TASCHEN Icons Series)
- Avalanche: A Sheriff Bo Tully Mystery (Sheriff Bo Tully Mysteries)
- Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 8, Issue 1
- Can I Keep My Jersey?: 11 Teams, 5 Countries, and 4 Years in My Life as a Basketball Vagabond
- Cesar's Way: The Natural, Everyday Guide to Understanding and Correcting Common Dog Problems
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl
- The Keepers of Truth: A Novel
- The Cat Who Went Underground
- Signing Time! Board Book Vol. 1: My First Signs
- Rough Beauty
- Solid State Chemistry and Its Applications
- The Rise and Fall of the Great Powers: Economic Change and Military Conflict from 1500 to 2000
- Words for Pictures: Seven Papers on Renaissance Art and Criticism
- Sacajawea
- Always in My Heart : The World War II Letters of Ann and Coleman Harwell
General
| Photography
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
The Adobe Photoshop CS3 Book for Digital Photographers (Voices That Matter)
The Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Book: The Complete Guide for Photographers
The Digital Photography Book
Adobe Photoshop Lightroom for Digital Photographers Only (For Only)
Skin: The Complete Guide to Digitally Lighting, Photographing, and Retouching Faces and Bodies
![Adobe Photoshop Elements 5.0 [OLDER VERSION]](http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/B000HLV59W.01.THUMBZZZ.jpg)
![Adobe Photoshop Elements 5.0 Premiere Elements 3.0 Bundle [OLDER VERSION]](http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/B000HLT4TU.01.THUMBZZZ.jpg)
