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
Product Description
The Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Book was written with photographers in mind. Best-selling author Martin Evening describes Photoshop Lightroom s features in detail from a photographer s perspective. As an established commercial and fashion photographer, Martin knows firsthand what photographers need for an efficient workflow. He s also been working with Photoshop Lightroom from the beginning, monitoring the product s development and providing feedback on the public beta. As a result, Martin knows the software inside and out, from image selection to image editing to image management.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent book of Lightroom.......2007-10-01
Martin Evening's book The Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Book is an excellent guide to using Lightroom. This book is aimed towards professional and advanced amateur photographers and provides excellent instruction on how to start using Lightroom as part of your digital workflow. It is more geared towards Mac users that PC, however Evening does provide instructions the PC users. It is a more technical book that Scott Kelby's book The Adobe Lightroom Book for Digital Photographers. Whereas Kelby shows you more tips and tricks, Evening is a master of explaining the technology behind Lightroom in clear, easy to understand prose. The book is laid out in a logical manner taking you from Import to Finish of your photos. All in all, The Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Book is indispensable for those wanting to get the most out of Lightroom.
Already out of date--and you pay for the update.......2007-09-10
This book was fine for Lightoom 1.0, but Lightroom 1.1 came out just when the book did. The publisher (Peachpit Press) should be ashamed for knowingly selling this out-of-date edition. Lightroom 1.1 is so different that Peachpit Press has had to post a 188-page PDF to document the changes. So to fully use this book, you have to buy it, then download the 188 page supplement, then print all 188 pages, then flip back and forth between the original book and the supplement. Peachpit is making us pay for buying its obsolete book by esentially self-printing a supplemental mini-book. This is like buying a Honda Civic with air conditioning, then finding out that you have to mail in a certificate for the air conditioner and then install it yourself. Wait for Peachpit to issue a revised book that covers Lightroom 1.1. I'm sending mine back--this was such a blatant ripoff by Peachpit.
Is it really necessary.......2007-09-06
A few months later, with version 1.1 of Lightroom out, book is incomplete. IMHO, manual that comes with the Lightroom is plenty enough to get you started.
An insightful book for creative photography.......2007-08-26
This is an excellent introduction to Adobe's new product. It gives a comprehensive explanation of all technical details with emphasis on artistic possibilities. The book is not intended for complete beginners -- some familiarity with basic principles of digital photography is assumed. On the other hand, a careful description of many new and ingenious techniques will delight even the most advanced photographers.
Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Book.......2007-08-04
The book provides a step by step guide to the Lightroom program in an easy to read format and without overuse of technical terms . The tips on each page are excellent, giving a useful guide,comment or shortcut on the detailed subject of the page.The diagrams are well designed & the captions boxes are very clear in their descriptions.
Overall it provides a clear & well balanced explanation of the new Adobe program and I would certainly recommend it to anyone purchasing the new Lightroom program.
Book Description
Creating memorable photographs is a process that starts before you edit an image in Photoshop, before you capture the image, even before you pick up the camera. You must first approach the subject with the proper sense of perception, with the ability to visualize the finished print before you commit a scene to pixels, but still be flexible and spontaneous. Master Fine Art photographer Vincent Versace has spent his career learning and teaching the art of perception and how to translate it into stunning images. In Welcome to Oz, he delves into what it means to approach digital photography cinematically, to use your perception, your camera, and Photoshop to capture the movement of life in a still image.
- Adapt your workflow to the image so you always know how best to use your tools
- Turn a seemingly impossible photographic scenario into a successful image
- Practice âimage harvestingâ to combine the best parts of many captures to create an optimum final result
- Create black and white prints that have the look, feel and ârichnessâ of traditional silver prints without ever leaving the RGB color space
Customer Reviews:
Dust collector big time.........2007-09-24
A postprocessing photoshop book. But a bad one of its kind. The first example he uses is a portrait of an female actor he tries to make better in photoshop. It ends up with very very yellow skintones. Im surprised he didnt see it himself before publishing. He uses a lot of time, too much, explaining about selective focus done with gaussian blur and layermasks. Why not get a fast lens and save all that paintwork- it didnt take me to OZ!!
3rd Party Req. not mentioned.......2007-09-12
After much anticipation and excitement....This book requires third party plug-ins, to complete the lessons as described..only good for 15 days. Sorry to say I am disapointed because nowhere in the Descriptions, Editorial reviews etc... does it mention this oversight!!!. I'm feeling kinda deceived right about now!!..... made it to page 17.
Not for the faint-hearted.......2007-08-27
In my opinion, this book is aimed squarely at the photographer aiming at exhibition quality work, with no concessions. Having said that, there is a lot of valuable information for others as well. It requires a willingness to push the philosophical boundaries of the ethics of manipulated image, because Versace's approach is to take multiple shots of the same subject from subtly diferent viewpoints, then combine them to produce a single image that matches his artistic vision. He is quoted as considering Photoshop an imagination enhancer, and says in his forward that one of his aims is to teach the reader to be able to make magic, starting at the point of capture. Indeed, this is what he proceeds to do. His methods require that you take pictures of subjects that move you, capture the image with spontaneity while being able to conceptualise the end result, and have advanced Photoshop skills. He then offers an insight into the ensuing conversation between photographer and image, with a great deal of the "how" and the "why" along the way. The final results are stunning, but the process is somewhat tortuous, and not for the faint-hearted. This is not your generic "how-to-do-it" Photoshop book, but a glimpse into what drives one man's quest for as near to perfection as possible. It wasn't what I expected - I bought it on the strength of the review in Photoshop User - and it won't be one of the books that lives by my Mac for constant reference. It will, however, be one to which I refer to be reminded of the potential of digital imaging towards which I might aspire for my art prints.
I gave it 5 stars because Versace succeeds in what he set out to do. It won't be for everyone, though.
Versace is amazing.......2007-07-24
This book is excellent. Rather than writing another how to use Photoshop book, Vincent Versace teaches you WHY you use Photoshop and some of the key techniques that can make an incredible difference in your digital photography. If you already have a basic understanding of Photoshop then this book will help you kick it up a notch!
No what I hoped for.......2007-07-23
This book is aimed at photographers who have never worked in a darkroom before. If you have started working as a photographer in digital, there is a lot to be learned from this book. However, if you know how to dodge and burn, and you know how to do it in Photoshop using layers, you will find nothing new here.
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
This full-color book is designed to tap the exploding market in serious digital photography with over 250 pages of new and beautiful photos, essential photography how-to information and no-fail formulas for getting great digital pictures with the newly announced Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi/400D. It goes above and beyond competitive digital SLR books with step-by-step techniques that cover exposure, composition, and professional shooting tips on perspective, impact, and more. Charlotte K. Lowrie, author of two previous Digital Field Guides (see below), is an acclaimed photographer who was managing editor of editorial content for MSN Photos and now writes online instructional content for Canon.
Charlotte K. Lowrie (Woodinville, WA) is a freelance editorial and stock photographer and an award-winning writer. Her work has appeared in Popular Photography & Imaging and PHOTOgraphic magazines, and she is the author of the bestselling Canon EOS Digital Rebel Digital Field Guide as well as Adobe Camera Raw Studio Skills, the Canon EOS 30D Digital Field Guide, and Teach Yourself Visually Digital Photography, Second Edition, all from Wiley. Charlotte also teaches photography classes through BetterPhoto.com.
Customer Reviews:
Not quite what I was looking for.......2007-09-29
I bought this book with the intention of learning more about my Rebel DSLR. I am pretty disappointed with this title.
The first issue I have with this book is the photos are entirely uninspiring. Next, everything you need to know to get started is available in the Rebel manual, which I have read and just paid for again apparently.
If you've never taken a decent photo before in your life, if you've never used an SLR of any type, if you've need a very rudimentary understanding of the histogram, apertures and shutter speeds, or if you've managed to lose your Rebel XTi Manual from Canon, you might want to pick up this title.
Otherwise I don't think there is anything offered here you can't obtain with experimentation and experience.
Great field guide.......2007-09-24
Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi/400D Digital Field Guide
This is an easy-to-read "how to" for Digital Rebel XTi users. Ms. Lowry is easy to understand and concise throughout this book, and I find that I turn to it quite often when shooting in different settings than I am used to.
If you're unfamiliar with your Canon XTi/400D, this really is the book to have!
A great book for a beginning digital photographer.......2007-09-21
This book is well written, especially for a beginning photographer such as myself. Well stated review of the photographic essentials, lots of good recommendations concerning lenses, styles, settings, and a fairly complete list of all of the "knobs" that are available in the Digital Rebel. The last chapter has a lot of great examples and experiments that are fun to attempt. After reading this book, I keep it in my camera bag for reference, and have been having a lot of fun shooting volleyball and football games for my kids, as well as trying my hand at some more "artistic" styles of photography and having some mild successes after only having the camera for 3 weeks. Spent one evening with a half full glass of wine, and a lamp, shooting low light shots, and trying all of the applicable "knobs". Very informative, and gave me lots of good ideas for utilizing the camera's capabilities.
Very good Easy to understand Book.......2007-09-21
This book is very easy to read and the writer speaks in plan english language. I have only read a couple of chapters but I found all of the instructions easy to follow. There are some photography projects in the later chapters that help you to understand more about how the camera functions and how you can get some great pictures from the Rebel XTI.
Little more than a rehashed manual.......2007-09-02
I found this guide to be far too basic to be useful. Important topics are glossed over and they are covered in a sequence that will help a new user adapt to taking pictures. A more robust treatment of the cameras features or differences from point and shoot models would have been much more helpful. This is a book to buy used or get from the library.
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
For serious amateur photographers who already shoot perfectly focused, accurately exposed images but want to be more creative with a camera, here's the book to consult. More than seventy techniques, both popular and less-familiar approaches, are covered in detail, including advanced exposure, bounced flash and candlelight, infrared, multiple images, soft-focus effects, unusual vantage points, zooming, and other carefully chosen ways to enhance photographs. The A-Z format make sit easy for readers to find a specific technique, and each one is explained in jargon-free language. Top Tips for each technique help readers achieve superb results, even on the first attempt.
Customer Reviews:
Basic.......2007-10-04
Very basic book, mostly for those who are absolute beginners in photography or for point-and-shooters that are upgrading to SLR.
Great Book for Users.......2007-09-27
I purchased this book after reading reviews and having people suggest this literature to me. I have to say that the author makes it very straightforward, concise and comfortable to read. For a amateur photographer, this book is a gem and I highly suggest reading it just to familiarize yourself with the basic conceps of exposure and how you apply it to both digital and film photography.
If You Can Only Afford One Photography Book, THIS IS THE ONE!!!.......2007-09-26
I purchased this book over a year ago and have since bought several more copies to give to my friends that are into photography. It is by far one of the best books out there for teaching ANYONE about correct exposures!! It's a very easy read, I have read it through at least three times, and this guy knows his stuff. There are so many beautiful full page color photos to demonstrate what he is talking about and he gives his settings for all the shots. If you are just starting out in photography, or have been into it for a while, I feel EVERYONE can learn something from this book. After reading this book, obtaining a 'proper exposure' in-camera clicked for me. I gained a thorough understanding of shutter speed, ISO, aperature/f-stop, light, composition, depth of field and many more very important aspects of photography, everything made sense, opened up new creative doors for me. I still don't always achieve the perfect exposure, but I do have complete control over my camera and settings, the whys and how-to-fors. If you can only afford ONE book, this is the one. I rarely do book reviews, but this one deserves it! I submitted some of my own photos above, using various techniques in photography, all learned from this book.
A must have.......2007-09-26
No question, this is an excellent book. I am a intermediate level photographer, it is filled with great tips. Stop reading this and buy the book!
That is what I wanted! All-in-one book for amateurs who want to master photography - both digital and film.......2007-09-21
Well, I never expected to write a review, but I did because this book is what I was looking for. I've been using camera for decades now, but I was mainly point-and-shoot photographer. Yes, everybody liked my pictures but I really did not know how to be consistent in the results. So I got myself a new Nikon D80 and undertook to learn how to take pictures with full control over the process. I browsed through Amazon in search of "become a concious photographer book for dummies" and I ended up buying this book and Ansel Adams's "Camera".
This book has everything you need to move from amateur to prosumer photographer. It expalains what is exposure and light and how you can control it. It gives you hints on metering and some basic special techniques. What is very important is that it gives you plenty of color pictures with short stories on how they were taken and data on exposure parameters so you can check how they impact the final result.
So get this one if you would like to buy one book which would allow you to undersatnd how to take beautiful and creative pictures! I guess that when you finally get it and read it you will be hungry for more information. But then you can get books on specific subjects - here - you have all the basics that you need.
Product Description
MAGIC LANTERN GUIDES: NIKON D80, Simon Stafford, A Lark Photography Book Simon Stafford's photographs have been used widely in newspapers, books, calendars, and magazines. Completely self-taught, he has built up a wealth of experience over the past twenty years with both film and digital cameras. Throughout his photographic career he has used the Nikon system extensively, and is now the Technical Editor to the Nikon Owners' Club International's Nikon Owner magazine. The new, mid-priced Nikon D80 replaces the Nikon D70s/D70 which was the subject of the best-selling Magic Lantern Guide ever! This model features a 10 megapixelsensor, up-sized 2.5" LCD monitor, and 4.5 fps capability.
Customer Reviews:
Nikon d80 Guide.......2007-10-03
This book is worth the price. I looked at a number of guides for the D80 and found this to be the best for me. More info than is contained in user manual. Easy to understand, contents set up easy for uses.
WOW!.......2007-09-13
Everything you ever wanted to know about the Nikon D80 is in there! This book definitely helps you learn about all the advantages of using your dslr. If you own any camera, get the accompanying book and you will improve your shots dramatically!
Magic Lantern Guides: Nikon D80.......2007-08-01
Good, clearly written & understandable manual for the Nikon D80 Digital SLR camera body. I was very disatisfied with the manual provided by the manufacturer,(Nikon). Internet manuals are too laced with author's personal opinions & bias's. The Magic Lantern Guide is presented in a manner that genuinely helps the reader master the multiple settings required to sucessfully use this camera body. A digital SLR has many more adjustments for the user to master than does the equivalent film camera making fairly frequent referral to an understandable reference mandatory. This Guide definitely fills that need.
Great info.......2007-07-24
This book has a lot of extra info from the user manual. The book gives a lot of depth to all of many features of this camera and also gives some interesting back stories.
The author does not like auto features at all, but I found that the auto features work rather good on this camera. But he goes into the manual setting in great detail.
The index is rather poor but it is laid out so that you can find stuff okay.
I learned three or four solid things from the book so it was worth it.
Thorough and clear, but not creatively helpful.......2007-07-21
While I strongly disagree with those who so vehemently criticize Nikon's D80 manual (I actually think it is quite well written and very helpful, and refer to it often), I do think that this Magic Lantern guide is a must for D80 owners.
By the time I had finished my first reading of this book, I had a thorough and in-depth understanding of the workings of my Nikon D80 camera. The suggesions which accompany many of the sections were somewhat helpful, but nothing to write home (or even to Mr. Stafford) about.
Other than the many and annoying "typos" and poor editing (commented on by others, as well), the main shortcomings of this book (in order of importance) are: 1.) it provides little or no creative information about using the D80 or improving your photography with this camera generally (although, to be fair, that is not the reason I bought the book in the first place); 2.) there are not nearly enough illustrative pictures, and none are in color (which I understand is a printing cost-saving measure); and 3.) the index is much to meager - it could have been twice as long.
Still, I highly recommend this book to D80 owners (whether, like me, you have previously used a film or digital SLR, or you are completely new to SLR and/or digital photography). This is a valuable tool in learning your D80 and in making it more than just a "point and shoot" camera.
Book Description
Digital photography has arrived once and for all. No longer do photographers have to be defensive because they prefer digital. Thanks to new technologies, digital cameras at all ends of the price spectrum can rival their film counterparts. If you have shifted from traditional to digital photography, and need to know what's different about shooting digital, this is the book for you. Now in its third edition, this bestseller has been fine-tuned and updated to provide you with the most current information on today's cameras that you'll find anywhere. Whether you're new to photography, or new to digital photography, you'll learn how to take the best possible shots. Even though your camera may pack an image sensor instead of film, taking good pictures still involves understanding apertures, shutter speeds, and metering techniques, as well as a few other issues that film shooters don't face. Fortunately, digital cameras also provide some unique tools to help you get the shot right the first time. Covering everything from the inner workings of your camera to the subtle intricacies of your image editing software, the book is divided into four sections. The first section provides a basic technical foundation that will prepare you for the rest of the book. It details the basics of how digital cameras work and gives you a quick photography primer. The second part explores everything you need to know to make an informed decision about which camera, computer, and software is right for you. In section three, you'll progress to the nitty gritty of shooting, including metering, choosing the right exposure, using histograms, flash photography, and much more. In the final section, you'll learn about digital editing and correction techniques, along with the various methods for outputting your images (print and electronic). If you're new to photography, you'll learn the basic theory that photographers have studied for decades, as well as the latest tools and techniques mad
Customer Reviews:
Excellent reference book.......2007-10-03
Good presentation of basic facts of digital photography. Especially valueable I found the chapters that explained how cameras and digital cameras in particular work and what should be taken into account when selecting your camera.
More advanced topics like editing images with your computer are also covered in an easy to follow fashion. Even though you might not do an awful lot of editing it's good to know where to find the guidance.
This book is most suitable for someone who is not very experienced in photography but reasonably technically oriented and wants to create better quality images taking the best out of his or her camera.
I'm told it's "just what [he] wanted".......2007-09-26
I got this for my friend's birthday. He is fast becoming a very skilled digital photographer and is ready to hone his technical capabilities. I selected this book entirely on others' recommendations. The feedback from my friend is very positive, and I expect to see his work in print any day now! :-)
I love this book!.......2007-05-13
I found this book extremely helpful, having just purchased a digital SLR. It is easy to read and very informative. I would recommend this book for someone that does not know a lot about digital SLR, but is familiar with a film SLR.
Very informative book........2007-04-01
This book answered all the questions my wife and I had about photography. It was easy to understand for a beginner and it goes into intermediate/advanced topics.
good for beginners.........2007-03-09
i took it for my photography class. I love it!! it's good for beginners, too..
Books:
- Agile Web Development with Rails, 2nd Edition
- Aim for the Heart
- All Saints: Daily Reflections on Saints, Prophets & Witnesses for Our Time
- An Inner Silence: The Portraits of Henri Cartier-Bresson
- Anatomy for the Artist
- Art Deco 1910-1939
- Art of Technique, The: An Aesthetic Approach to Film and Video Production
- At Home in Mitford/A Light in the Window/These High, Green Hills/Out to Canaan/A New Song/A Common Life (The Mitford Years 1-6)
- Atget
- August Sander: People of the 20th Century (7 Volume Set)
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- American Mourning: The Intimate Story of Two Families Joined by War, Torn by Beliefs
- The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down
- The Dork of Cork
- Sunflower Houses : Inspiration from the Garden - A Book for Children and Their Grown-Ups
- Talking Back to OCD: The Program That Helps Kids and Teens Say "No Way" -- and Parents Say "Way to G
- Scientific Computing
- The Glass Castle: A Memoir
- America's Bishop: The Life and Times of Fulton J. Sheen
- Spoor of a Gofer: The Big Tobacco Era, Radio's Golden Age, and TV Through Its Teens
- Combat Carriers: And My Brushes With History : World War II : 1939-1946
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)
