Need a Good Book!

[burkdog]

I need a good book to get me going, learning the basics through intermediates of digital slr photography. I'm just getting started and am feeling a little lost.

I bought the camera, what now???


:wink:

[robertwgross]

In many areas, a local community college will offer photography classes in either traditional equipment or digital equipment. Composition is the same.

---Bob Gross---

[CoolToolGuy]

Digital Photography For Dummies - I'm a film guy who put the hobby aside for several years. When I wanted to get back into it, I started with the Dummies book. There may be better books once you get with it, but I think that will get you started.

Try to find the latest version you can. I have the 4th version.

Have Fun
Rick 8)

[SnJPhoto]

There are 2 great books I've got and read.

The Digital Photographers Handbook by Tom Ang
Complete Guide to Digital Photography by Rick Sammon


Both are great books. I would recommend the Rick Sammon's book first. BTW - they both favor Mac/Apple computer systems in much of their explanations. Although they are really universal to the PC and Mac platforms using Photoshop.

[robertwgross]

The Digital Photographers Handbook by Tom Ang


I agree. I read it and liked it, but it is getting a little long in the tooth now.

---Bob Gross---

[OmeRobbie]

I m very satisfied with National Geographic photography fieldguide or the digital photograhyguide version.

Both books explain vey well all the basics illustrated with a lot of photo's

[Rowla]

I'm reading "Shooting Digital" by Mikkel Aaland.

Ready for a long and hideous URL?
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0782141048/qid=1077628984/sr=1-2/ref=sr_1_2/102-4540619-8162562?v=glance&s=books

[Sketcher]

I'm reading "Shooting Digital" by Mikkel Aaland.

Ready for a long and hideous URL?
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0782141048/qid=1077628984/sr=1-2/ref=sr_1_2/102-4540619-8162562?v=glance&s=books
How about a really short one ---> CLICK ME (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0782141048/qid=1077628984/sr=1-2/ref=sr_1_2/102-4540619-8162562?v=glance&s=books) <--- which goes to the same place! ;).

[Moses]

I'm reading "Shooting Digital" by Mikkel Aaland.

Ready for a long and hideous URL?
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0782141048/qid=1077628984/sr=1-2/ref=sr_1_2/102-4540619-8162562?v=glance&s=books

Hey Rowla! Nice to see you here!

I wanted to ask what you thought of that book? I just ordered these two:

Learning to See Creatively: Design, Color & Composition in Photography 1 $16.59 Shipped

The Adobe Photoshop CS Book for Digital Photographers 1 $26.59 Shipped

Both from Buy.com with free shipping and no tax.

[5 Type]

I'm reading "Shooting Digital" by Mikkel Aaland.

Ready for a long and hideous URL?
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0782141048/qid=1077628984/sr=1-2/ref=sr_1_2/102-4540619-8162562?v=glance&s=books


I wanted to ask what you thought of that book? I just ordered these two:



The Adobe Photoshop CS Book for Digital Photographers 1 $26.59 Shipped

Both from Buy.com with free shipping and no tax.

Take a look here : http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=25970

[CanonUser]

Each of the following books contributed a different aspect to my understanding of Photoshop. Search for the latest revision, though the names stay the same. I've read them many times over, with each revisit, something always pops out due to the gained experience I have with PS.

Photoshop Artistry (Barry Haynes - Wendy Crumpler) - New Riders
Exceptional detailed instructions on histogram, calibration, and image correction. Great illustrations and gorgeous print quality. There are screen shots of all levels/curves/histograms involved with an example in a lesson. An excellent book for the advanced photographer.

Photoshop For Photography (Tom Ang) - Amphoto Books
Great instructions on photo correction & creative processing. The lessons are written for beginning & intermediate level photographers, so there are much less detail and explaination presented comparing to the Photoshop Atristry book. A beautifully printed book on glossy paper.

Photoshop X Savvy (Steve Romaniello) - Sybex
A dry & dense book with BW photos for illustrtion. It's my "slow cook" book, meaning I'd return to the book from time to time and just read a section here & there. The explainations are detailed and easy to read, however.

Photoshop Restoration & Retouching (Katrin Eismann) - QUE
The title siad it all. You'll approach your protrait photo with a new perspective with this book.

Mastering Digital Printing (Harald Johnson) - Muska&Lipman
What do you do when your masterpiece looks like piece of junk when printed? Printing correctly is a whole new ball game.

The PS Book For Digatal Photographers / Down & Dirty Tricks (Scott Kelby) - New Riders
At first look, these 2 books are filled with dazzling techniques. The D&D is bursting at the seam with PS special effect tricks. It's very usefull at times. The Digital Photographers book, on the other hand, is a mixed bag. All of the techniques are excellent for those who just starts to use PS. Once your experience gets to the advanced level, some of the techniques seem to be limited and not vey productive. Some of the ones labeled "For Pros Only" are infact amateurish. The funny thing is Mr. Kelby is the Editor-in-Chief of the Photoshop User magazine. Every month, this magazine publishes some of the the best tricks out there for the PS junkies. And yet, some of the ones appeared in the Digital Photographers books are utterly disappointing. I guess Mr. Kelby did not want to use techniques published in other PS books authored by (both friendly & non-friendly) authors.

Photoshop User magazine - a NAPP publication
www.photoshopuser.com
It costs $10 a piece, and I look forward to get my copy every month. A shameless plug for Scott Kelby & associates, as some of the articles are based or lifted from one of their published books or DVD. On the other hand, many PS tricks appeared in the magazine are just amazing.Every piece of information is usable even for the most discern PS user out there. Worth every penny.

These are my personal favorites. I have many more books on the shelf. Like I said before, each book brings a little to the table, and none of them provides all the answers to my questions. Plus, the book may be readable to me, but not to you. So spend an hour at the book store and read a chapter or two before paying for it.

Regards,
Alan

[scottbergerphoto]

Four absoloute must reads for learning photography IMHO:
1. The Confused Photographers Guide to The Simplified Zone System of Exposure by Farzaad.
2. Natural Light Photography, Kodak Workshop Series
3. Mastering Flash Photography by Susan McCartney
4. Accurate Exposure with Your Meter for free at http://www.kodak.com/global/en/consumer/products/techInfo/af9/
Scott

[evilenglishman]

this question should be in the Post processing and printing forum :wink:

[burkdog]

Thanks everybody. I've now got a long, long list of books to check out. I will definitely buy some of those books, and may look for the rest at my local library.

Thanks again.
:lol: