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Photography (101 Essential Tips)
Michael Lanford Manufacturer: DK ADULT ProductGroup: Book Binding: Paperback Similar Items:
ASIN: 0756602246 Release Date: 2004-04-19 |
Book Description
Covering all facets of photography and video, this practical guide features step-by-step photography and easy-to-understand information on the basics.Customer Reviews:
boring.......2007-03-19
Smart Little Book.......2006-10-30
Great tips for the stubborn novice.......2006-02-18
Don't let the small size fake you out!.......2004-07-07
great little book.......2003-07-17
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Digital Photography Essentials: Point, Shoot, Enhance, Share
Erica Sadun Manufacturer: Sybex ProductGroup: Book Binding: Paperback Similar Items:
ASIN: 0782141773 |
Book Description
The Perfect Companion for Your Digital CameraCustomer Reviews:
Anyone can edit photos with this book.......2003-01-18
This book is definitely a book for beginners in the world of digital photography, and is for those with a low-end, point and click type of camera. Not everyone wants, or needs, a top-end expensive complicated camera.
Features.
This soft cover book has 249 pages printed on high quality paper, with clear images and a CDROM containing Adobe PhotoDeluxe 4.1, a full program with no limitations which can be registered.
PhotoDeluxe will enable image enhancement and manipulation and is a very good way to get the most from your snaps. It is a very simplified, but not a simple program, and is a major reason for getting the book.
Along with this program come a variety of time-limited demos that you can use to see if they will make your photography experience better.
Book Description.
Digital Photography Essentials is a book which is aimed at the new user to a new way of photography. It contains a colour section covering all the black and white images scattered throughout the book.
Chapter 1 is taken up with descriptions of how to go about taking the best shots getting the light right, and positioning either yourself or your subject.
Chapter 2 delves into which camera you should get, and more importantly, why. It also explains how and why things work, such as batteries and how to care for them, memory management etc.
Chapter 3 is the section on using the free Adobe PhotoDeluxe program supplied with the book, which you will use for all the exercises in the rest of the book.
The program gives great image enhancement and manipulation abilities to the photographer, so if the image is not quite how you wanted it to look, you can change everything about it.
This program is not complicated, but has many features of high-end photo retouching programs without having to learn industrial strength features that you may never use.
You learn to do things like swapping faces or backgrounds, and, more importantly, how to use layers. This feature allows images to be altered without destroying the original image if your selection does not suit.
Chapter 4 once again delves into the world of photo correction techniques. This is not as daunting as it may sound as PhotoDeluxe can fix things automatically. This leaves you free to dabble with settings once you know what each feature does. Sometimes automatic settings are not quite what you had in mind.
Here you start using filters to add impact, or remove unwanted parts from an image. Learn to remove red-eye, which is often a feature of images taken with a flash.
Chapter 5 teaches you to create panoramas, 3D images, and enlarge your images.
From this point on the book introduces the demo and time-limited plugins and filters, which can be experimented with.
Panoramas are used often, but what is not stressed is that panorama photos need to overlap by at least 25%, or more. This gives a much better chance of lining up features when joining the images. Use a tripod for getting good panorama shots. Tripods can be cheap but they do keep your photos level.
Chapter 6 is all about printing, printers and paper, and presenting your images for someone else to print them for you.
The resolution of an image is important when printing, or sending to the web. Both use opposite ends of the spectrum for their purposes, and you need to know which to use, luckily this is not complicated.
Chapter 7 is about presenting your images on CD and DVD, and on interactive photo albums and slide shows. A lot of this chapter is about different commercial programs for the burning and display of your images.
Chapter 8 is about sharing images over the web, and introduces the ideas of screen size etc, but resolution is also important as monitors only show at 72 dpi.
Chapter 9 introduces a lot of different ideas for using your new digital camera remember photos cost nothing, so there is plenty of scope here.
It is possible to use your digital camera to make a slide show presentation, document your belongings, or the contents of a box, or an accident. You can even photograph documents instead of using a scanner.
Chapter 10 is dedicated to craft ideas that you can create with your camera. The list here is really extensive.
Chapter 11 teaches how to transform images and create new and exciting things that you hadn't considered, check magazines and see how ads are manipulated for inspiration.
Using PhotoDeluxe you can make slide shows and share them with friends. You can even make a colouring book from your photos using the filters in the program, make calendars, or animate images.
Chapter 12 is spent introducing you to third-party programs so you can see what is available.
Bottom Line.
Not a book for an advanced photographer, as it is aimed at the beginner, which it does admirably, like a text book.
The inclusion of Adobe PhotoDeluxe is a compelling reason for purchase, but the book opens up many exciting possibilities that you may not discover by yourself.
The lessons are simple to follow, you don't have to learn new skills. Non computer-literate people can cope with the fun things that they will find to do. This book is like a text book on the use of PhotoDeluxe.
Learn to correct faults in photographs and create something new. All you have to do, as the author stresses, is to take as many photos as you can. It will cost no more and you have more choices to play with later.
Too much emphasis on commercial programs has reduced the rating, but the book is good, and the bundled software is great to start with. You may find you never need to get another program anyway.
© Tim Skyrme, 2003...
Use your digital camera in ways you never thought about.......2002-11-21
BOOK REVIEW: The CD was the first thing I looked at. It contains 18 programs! WOW! Most are trials but some are shareware and the biggest plus is that PhotoDeluxe from Adobe is FREE! Yes sir! The whole program on the CD - no cost whatsoever and the programs are as follows: PhotoDeluxe, Photo Elements, Funhouse, Flip Album, Thumbs Up, CompUpick Pro, DVD PictureShow, GIF Animator, Genuine Fractuals PrintPro,HotText, Still Motion Creator, PhotoPrinter, PhotoImpact, PhotoVista Link, PaintShop Pro, Orasee Link, Nero Burning ROM, and JPEG Compress.
For the ability to try before you buy any of these programs, except, of course, PhotoDeluxe, this makes the book worth its price. Yet, by using these programs and using the tips and ideas from the book, you can create pictures that are worth a thousand words.
The best place to start is at the beginning and that is exactly what Ms. Sadun has done. Chapter one talks about the best way to get a good picture such as lighting and backgrounds. If you don't know which camera to buy in the first place, the next chapter will give you some good advice. Also, think your camera is only for picture taking? WRONG again. Ever go into the mall only to come out and you can't remember where you parked? Had you had your digital camera alone, you could have taken a picture of the locator markings and all you would need to do is look at the "review pictures" on the camera. Of course we all know the camera can be used for insurance purposes of accidents and the damage done but what about witnesses or even what was said if your camera has a sound-recording feature?
What else is your camera good for? Need stickers or how about a jigsaw puzzle to keep a child busy? Remember "Shrinky Dinks"? This can be used to make charms for a bracelet from photos you have taken. What grandmother wouldn't want one of a monthly recording of their newest grandchild? This list can be endless - just use your imagination.
Now that you have PhotoDeluxe installed on your computer, do you know how to use it? If not, check out Chapter 3 and 4. When a particular photo effect is discussed, there are pictures of before and after of how they should look. Don't forget to get motion into your photos with the Gif Animator.
Have I touched on the whole book? Not even close but you can by getting your own copy of Digital Photography Essentials today and see what I didn't tell you about.
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The Digital Video Manual: An Essential, Up-to-Date Guide to the Equipment, Skills
Carlton Books Manufacturer: Carlton Books ProductGroup: Book Binding: Paperback Similar Items: ASIN: 1842225154 |
Book Description
Packed full of color images and easy-to-understand diagrams. The Digital Video Manual is an essential reference for anyone looking to make their first video or to take their production to a new level of expertise.
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An Essential Guide to Bird Photography
Steve Young Manufacturer: Guild of Master Craftsman ProductGroup: Book Binding: Paperback Similar Items:
ASIN: 1861081936 |
Book Description
Customer Reviews:
Solid advice for novice and expert alike.......2004-06-08
He also gives some good advice for equipment that might be less costly for those of us without the income to support supertelephoto lens habits. I had not heard of the photoadapter setup he shows, but will probably explore this option.
Most of all, he gives excellent advice on all aspects of bird photography; equipment and film selection, location and approaches, and various techniques. I found his liberal use of side by side photos showing the same bird shot with different techniques and approaches to be very helpful. Mr. Young is not afraid to share his mistakes as a teaching tool. He also includes a chapter on archiving, so that one can begin to learn from mistakes made.
All in all, I have gained much from this book and highly recommend it. For me, the one downside is that he is based in the UK, so he is talking about birds and locations there, but this added a bit of fun, as he discusses shooting such rarities as the American robin!
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Jim Church's Essential Guide to Composition: A Simplified Approach to Taking Better Underwater Pictures
Jim Church Manufacturer: Aqua Quest Publications, Inc. ProductGroup: Book Binding: Paperback Similar Items:
ASIN: 1881652181 |
Book Description
The author shows how to find and choose subjects, position and guide models, and take the pictures.Customer Reviews:
Terrific underwater photos don't just "happen"........2006-03-19
Start here and you can't go wrong.......2002-10-31
TIMELESS TEACHINGS.......2002-01-01
"Something Here for Everyone".......2001-06-10
The relevance of all this, however, is that I am largely self-taught and that always leaves me wondering if I am missing some of those basic lessons that would have been explained on the very first day of any professionally run photography course. "Jim Church's Essential Guide to Composition" goes a long way to fill any gaps there might be.
This book has two outstanding qualities; Firstly, it is written by a man who really does know about every aspect of underwater photography. Secondly, and most important of all, however, Jim Church has the power to explain his knowledge in words we can all understand. In so doing he has produced a book for the professional underwater photographer and the amateur diver alike. If you have just bought your first camera and are about to embark on a very expensive trip to try it out, this is your in-flight reading material. Believe me, you will come home with better pictures - I did.
"Jim Church's Essential Guide to Composition" is a 9in x 6in paperback book containing 136 pages, 80 colour photographs and 8 line drawings. Each photograph and drawing serves a purpose and are used to explain each of the many lessons involved with composing underwater pictures and, basically, the difference between taking a good photograph and not. All of which is, of course, supported by the non-technical information imparted in an easy-to-understand style.
The book begins with absolute basics - and what could be more basic than explaining the function of the human eye and then adapting that information in order to provide a better understanding of the function of a camera lens. In short, this is a book about "stepping stones" and each time a relevant point has been explained and demonstrated, the book builds on this knowledge as we step forward onto another stone for even greater knowledge of the subject in hand.
In Summary, this is one of the few books I have ever read which achieves exactly and precisely what it sets out to achieve and is made all the more valuable because the Author is a man who knows his stuff and is able to explain things without getting bogged down in technical jargon.
Five Stars are not enough for this little gem.
NM
Another Good Effort from Jim Church.......2000-09-09
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Essential Wildlife Photography Manual: Successful Digital & Film Techniques for Creative Photography
Chris Weston Manufacturer: Rotovision ProductGroup: Book Binding: Hardcover Similar Items:
ASIN: 2880468086 |
Book Description
Invaluable for amateur and professional wildlife photographers keen to improve their work, with the newest techniques and digital equipment Publishing News, UKThis is an invaluable manual for wildlife photographers keen to improve and update their work with the newest techniques and digital equipment.
The Essential Wildlife Photography Manual takes a spectacular photographic trip, from tropical rainforests to the polar extremes of the globe, revealing the myriad creatures and how to perfectly capture them. Chris Weston covers the basics--including essential information on transporting kit overseas--as well as understanding and photographing the best of wildlife subjects. His down-to-earth, practical approach consolidates a huge amount of technical information into easy-to-read, step-by-step chunks.
Illustrated with world-class photography throughout, The Essential Wildlife Photography Manual boasts practical case studies from top international lights Art Wolfe, Jim Brandenburg, and Paul Harcourt-Davies, who reveal the secrets of their trade. This gives an insight into the world of professional wildlife photography, while there's also essential information on working with biologists, zoologists, and researchers.
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The Essential Lighting Manual for Digital and Film Photography
Chris Weston Manufacturer: Rotovision ProductGroup: Book Binding: Hardcover Similar Items:
ASIN: 2940361282 |
Book Description
Light is the primary raw material for photography, and learning to use it creatively is one of the key skills required for better picture taking. The Essential Lighting Manual for Photographers offers a complete guide to mastering the art, empowering the amateur photographer and enabling the professional.The Essential Lighting Manual for Photographers is organized thematically by types of lighting and lighting technique, with practical and inspirational illustrations from popular subjects such as portrait, landscape, natural history, travel, close-up, architecture, interior and animal photography. Technical information covered includes: methods of metering light and achieving correct exposure, and why reflectors are so important; the use of natural daylight, both indoors and out; the use of artificial light; and creative techniques to push photographic results beyond the realms of 'the snapshot'. The book also contains a detailed but clear guide to studio lighting equipment.
Customer Reviews:
a good place to start.......2004-09-17
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Jim Church's Essential Guide to Nikonos Systems
Jim Church Manufacturer: Aqua Quest Publications, Inc. ProductGroup: Book Binding: Paperback Similar Items:
ASIN: 1881652041 |
Book Description
Jim Church, noted pioneer takes you beyond Nikonos V, RS owner's manuals for great underwater photos.Customer Reviews:
Correction for URL given in Prior review.......2003-12-01
It really is essential.......2003-12-01
Room for a lot of improvement, but still essential.......2001-06-12
More explanation and pictures could be given of the equipment and configuration. A new underwater photographer with a camera is overwhelmed by the array of arms and attachments, but there is one paragraph on arms and brackets that basically says, "Get the best," without as much as figure to show how one looks or attaches to the camera. Then you get descriptions such as "attach the strobe arm so it tilts toward the camera body." Tilt in what plane? What does a strobe arm look like?
There are statement and procedures that seem odd to an experienced photographer. It is suggested that manual strobe exposure, which is typically only dependent of distance and f-stop, is also a function of subject brightness. The procedure for using TTL flash starts with looking up the flash distance for a full-power manual flash to set the f-stop. If you're going to do that, you might as well not use TTL (although this method does maximize depth of field, but, of course, this is not explained.) The TTL electronics are then used as little more than a proper exposure indication, and if you don't get a proper exposure with your camera set to the edge of the exposure range, you're to burn more film at another f-stop until it works.
This books focuses on the Nikonos V and the now-discontinued RS. Even though the author considers the IVA to be "a dud," the III and IVA are still viable cameras that a beginner, the audience for this book, is likely to have because of the lower procurement cost. (Currently on eBay, a V with 35mm lens runs about $475 while a IVA with the same lens is about $250.) An appendix on the features, and how operating and maintenance differ for these models, would be very useful. Church has written on these models in previous editions, so it shouldn't be difficult.
So, what is good about this book? The color photographs are very good, but are more of result examples than actually showing the equipment, but are inspirational. The guidelines on positioning strobes and estimating distances is invaluable, as are the maintenance sections. If you bought a used Nikonos without a manual, note that Craig Camera sells the manuals for a IVA for $20 while the book currently retails on-line for less than that. If you're trying to decide between the two, I'd get this book. This book also seems to be considered by many to be the definitive guide to Nikonos photography, and my search shows few, if any, other underwater photography books dedicated to this one line of cameras. So, like the title says, even though I feel that there is a LOT of room for improvement, this book may be, indeed, essential for the Nikonos beginner.
A great book.......2000-09-09
Excellent Info for Beginner to Intermediate U/W Photogs........2000-07-27
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The Essential Underwater Photography Manual: A Guide to Creative Techniques and Essential Equipment
Larry Tackett , and Denise Tackett Manufacturer: Rotovision ProductGroup: Book Binding: Paperback Similar Items:
ASIN: 2940378223 Release Date: 2007-04-03 |
Book Description
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Essential Underwater Photography Manual: A Guide to Creative Techniques and Key Equipment
Denise Nielsen Tackett , and Larry Tackett Manufacturer: Rotovision ProductGroup: Book Binding: Paperback Similar Items:
ASIN: 2880467373 |
Book Description
"An excellent guide for both novice and experienced underwater photographers."Amateur Photographer magzine, UK
Diving is a popular hobby that attracts more enthusiasts every year, and many divers are keen to record the wonders they see underwater.
In this beautifully illustrated, practical guide, underwater photography gurus Larry and Denise Tackett draw on their years of experience and learning to share everything the snorkeller and diver needs to know to capture the beautiful diversity of life beneath the sea. Underwater includes essential advice on choosing the right equipment, and in straightforward language discusses lighting, creative composition, making the most of a subject and macrophotography, showing how the basic principles of photography change when shooting underwater.
Underwater includes practical exercises, reassuring advice, illuminating anecdote, and, of course, awe-inspiring photographs. Welcomed and acclaimed by both the photography and diving press, this book is perfect for those new to underwater photography, it also offers both inspiration and up-to-date new techniques for the more advanced.
Customer Reviews:
Beautiful ideas for photos.......2007-08-25
Excellent.......2007-05-12
The "Ultimate" Underwater Photography..........2005-06-07
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