Book Description

Teach Yourself Photography is packed, from cover to cover, with priceless hints and tips on all aspects of photography. This book gives beginning and amateur photographers alike the complete lowdown on everything from buying equipment to developing film to presenting finished pictures. And it covers the latest developments in digital and Advanced Photo System (APS). The book's large, full-color format makes it an easy-to-use reference.

Reviews (5)

Incomparable! All you'll need to get head-start & keep going
If I had to pick one book for a beginner to learn the basics of photography, this would be the one. Whether film or digital, it presents the basics in logical easy-to-grasp order. The illustrations are not just works of art, but each make a point pertinent to the topic [like comparing depth of field with wide angle or tele lenses], stimulating the reader to give it a try. This author possesses that unique knack of presenting difficult material in an understandable, pleasantly conversational, manner - assisted by attractive sketches and relevant photo's. Not the least, the high quality paper makes reading easy, and the photo's glow. The occasional Briticism is good for a chuckle, and adds to the charm [yes, the author uses both metric and US measurements]. To repeat, whether you use film or digital cameras (or both), this book presents the basics, and presents them simply, attractively, completely, and very well indeed. It's a lot of book for a very modest price.

Although the fundamentals of photography remain unchanged, equipment changes over the years - and that's where the present (2003) printing shows it's 2000 origins. Digital cameras, in particular, have changed: an illustration of a "modern" 1.4 MP camera, and comments about memory 'as much as 256 kB', make the digital chapter seem undeservedly dated. Even so, the advice offered is as sound today as it was a few years ago. This superb introductory text deserves revision and updating -- keep it going Mr. Frost!

Great Book for Both SLR and Digital Cameras
I just received the book today and am amazed at how much USEFUL information is in this book. Having both SLR and digital cameras, this is the book that I've been looking for. The illustrations are simple, precise and very easy to follow. It's not written specifically for professional photographers, but for amateurs like me who just want to better understand my cameras.

Great for beginners
I bought this book because I just bought a Canon G2, and wanted to learn the basics to take advantage of the features of my new camera. Prior to this book, I have no idea what aperture or depth of field mean. I finished this book in one sitting -- very easy and engaging book to read for beginners. I like how it covers many of the common scenarios, such as shooting at night, shooting at mid-day and when to use manual adjustment to accommendate difficult shots. I can say now after reading the book, I feel confident to take on the many features of my camera, and I'll definitely come back to it for reference in the coming days.

There is no better book helping you to understand the basics
Two friends (who are professional photographers) were telling me that there are too many books on photography on the market that turn a comparably simple task into something complicated. Shrouding the relations of aperture, shutter speed and film sensitivity made it difficult for me to improve my skills. But this book explained the basics of proper exposure so easily, giving good advice for even the most difficult light settings that I now have the courage to use more and more often manual settings instead of the program mode of my SLR.
This is by far the best book on photography for people that want to learn the basics and move on from point & shoot to a more creative way of taking pictures.
This is a must have book!

To the point and beautifully Illustrated
This the one book that taught me more about how to use my SLR than the camera's manual itself. The step by step approach and the logical arrangement of chapters makes it a book that really teaches you photography. I also liked the way Mr. Frost uses two photographs to illustrate a filter. One take without the filter and then the same one with a filter. Also explained very well is how longer lenses reduce depth of the photograph and small helful tips on increasing your depth of field. An encompassing book, the last few chapters tell about how a slide show can be made more interesting and how to take care of your equipment. The peppering of photos and illustrations make you want to go out and take pictures using the methods shown. A good buy and money well spent. My only gripe is that I preffered the smaller size of the previous edition as it fit easily in my kit bag. ... Read more

Book Description

"The nude has always been a source of inspiration and one of the main themes of photography." The introduction to this small brick-format book—the shape alone already makes it conspicuous—briefly and concisely describes the special quality of this title. Various perspectives of the naked body are presented to the observers’ eyes, representing the diverse interpretations of photographers from all over the world. The motifs Man, Woman, and Pair open up a world of the senses that has much more to offer than just a nude that one can touch. This artful feast for the eyes is a must for everyone. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Woody
This book gave me a bone. Unfortunately, some of the pages now stick together and the only pictures I can still get to are the gay ones. That sucks. Are any of these chicks in videos?

A great collection of nudes from photographys best.
I came across this little book during one of my frequent trips to the photo section of my local Borders and had to pick it up. Mainly due to is very small size.
I was soon trapped flipping through the hundreds and hundreds of pages of beautiful nude photographs, unable to put the book down.
The only text in this book is a bit at the beginning and end and then the name of each photographer before you see their work. Thats it. No rambling text, just great nude photos.
This collection feature many of the worlds best nude photographers and is broken down into three sections. Female nudes, Male nudes, and couple nudes. It really cant get much more simple that that.
The book is printed on good gloss heavyweight paper, as you would expect to find in photo monographs and has a sturdy hardback.
Although a great collection of photos and printed well, I am a bit disappointed in the book size. It only measures about 3inches by 3inches, and because of the large number of photos inside, the weight of the book tends to deteriorate the binding fast if viewed a lot. Also, I have found it hard to find a good place for this tiny book on my shelf. It just doesnt fit in very well. But becuase the book is so good and the downfalls are few, I only took one star.
I still feel that all nude photography fans should purchase this book for their collection at its very cheap price.

High quality paper, beautiful photographs.
The first 60% of this book consists of photographs of women. The next 20% is of males, and the final 20% are couples (gay, lesbian, and straight).

The vast majority of the photographs are black & white and consist of young and beautiful models. There is such a variety of different images, and the same model is rarely used twice. Sexual overtones are definitely apparent throughout the book, along with a few closeups of genetalia.

It is a short book (in terms of height) but it is also quite thick. The photographs take up each entire page and the only text is the artist name at the beginning of each new group of photographs.

Amazing little book
For such a small book -- it measures just over 5"X5" -- this holds a whole lot of great pictures. From the ordinary to the sensual, this book is worth looking at. It really made me want fruit (see pages 28 and 29)!
However, for being a book based solely on perusing, the small size is rather off-putting. It's not the detail that gets lost in translation, but the impact. However, the perfect price for this lets me wholeheartedly recommend this title for those that are interested in photos of nudes. ... Read more

Book Description

Shows readers how to retouch, color correct, manipulate, and combine images using Photoshop "X." Readers will learn to create cutting-edge special effects for the Web or print. Deke McClelland's easy and approachable writing style demystifies even the most complex Photoshop tasks.
The Photoshop "X" Bible fulfills the promise to the reader of being "100 percent comprehensive, authoritative, and what you need." This classic Bible covers it all, from "Apply Image" command to "ZigZag filter." ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Definitely NOT the bible
First of all it's very disappointing that the publisher has stopped adding a cd with 'the bible' (which used to be the case in previous editions). As 'the bible' aims for beginner and intermediate users it's always nice you've got the pictures in the book on cd, so you can compare your results with the result you should aim at.

Secondly there is not nearly a word about 'Image Ready' in this book. When you bought this book expecting to learn how to make animated gifs or weboriented design you will be very disappointed because knowing Image Ready is necessary to complete this task. The title 'the bible' is there for misleading, as Image Ready comes standard with Photoshop for weboriented tasks.

Thirdly, Deke has a chapter by chapter approach which although he throrougly explains all the functions of a certain item, this does not lead to exercises in combination of all the parts. Combining the parts is exactly where Photoshop is at it's best.

Motivating new users of Photoshop is best done by project approach, as you learn more and will be more motivated to experiment when you understand the interaction between different techniques, but this is where the book fails miserabely. Deke has certainly an enormous knowledge about Photoshop, but the approach he takes for leading new users into the graphic domain will only lead to boredom. Definitely not recommended for new users, as you will very easily get bored by the academic approach.

Go for a basis project oriented approach and you will gave fun learning Photoshop, go for this book and you will get overwhelmed and demotivated.

It's not a holy book, except if you only use it as a reference point (and in this case I would go for the professional edition).

it's not the "wanna be" edition
I am shocked by the handful of bad reviews I've seen here. I am going to suppose the bad reviews are written by people whose idea of using Photoshop means applying enough filters until it looks cool. My friends, it's called the "Professional Edition" for a reason; if you would take the time to read the Preface you would find it clearly explained. Deke McClelland is the best Photoshop instructor, period. This book deserves more than 5 stars!

Content Worthy of its Title
Photoshop is a gem of a program. To extract its maximum editing value for your photos, you will have to dig. For most of us, that entails a book that contains a trove of techniques that use the program's brushes, color correction, effects, masks, filters, layers and distortions.

As a novice Photoshop user, this is the first volume I consult when I have a question. More often than not, I find an answer. Plus, I also find an understandable explanation. The result is two fold. First, I accomplish the effect I want with my image. Second, I recover a jewel that can be applied to a future problem.

Many of my most daunting challenges are rendered simple after consulting this book. In my mind that is the only book worthy of the appellation "Bible."

Comprehensive, yes - but comprehensible?
After dabbling in Photoshop for a while the thing that has become most clear to me is that it isn't an easy program to learn, and no doubt it isn't an easy one to explain either. So I won't blame Deke McClelland for not turning me into a Photoshop genius overnight (which he didn't) - but even if that is too much to expect of any book, this one is a mixed bag in more ways than that. On the plus side, it certainly is comprehensive. Just about every option available in Photoshop is explained - and that is the major downside at the same time. This book is very much written from the viewpoint of the program, not that of the user. If you want to know how to achieve a particular effect, you will just have to browse the 1000+ pages hoping you will stumble on the right tools. Reversely, you may read many an explanation of a tool without ever getting into the clear why you would want to use it. For instance, the chapters on selections, paths and masks made it abundantly clear to me that there are some 5,000 or so ways of selecting part of an image in Photoshop, but I remained in the dark as to which ones are useful under which circumstances. Much of the text on paths and masks actually seemed highly esoteric to me. I can understand that it is impossible to illustrate each and every option visually, but unfortunately the illustrative examples that are given often don't seem to be very compelling (e.g., the possible use of stroking a path is demonstrated by the creation of a tapering line underneath an image of a planet, an effect that could just as easily have been achieved with a simple paint brush.) In fact (and ironically), the graphics are one of the major weaknesses of the book (just take a peek at the hideous cover!). I found them mostly unimaginative, and often too small and badly printed to show up the differences between several effects they were supposed to demonstrate.
The accessibility of the book is not helped by the fact that after introducing a function, the author stops naming it and reverts to a mere mention of the keyboard shortcut - so when you're new to this, soon enough you no longer know what he is doing (also, I would urge the publisher to please create separate Windows and Mac editions of this book: the ubiquitous additions of the Mac alternative to Windows shortcuts is highly irritating!).
The order of chapters/subjects doesn't seem to be guided by any pedagogical considerations. Layers are not discussed until page 633, even though (as everyone who has ever tried Photoshop or any similar program knows) you really can't do anything at all without an understanding of this function. The style of writing is informal and chatty, and by page 500 or thereabouts the author's facetiousness started to wear thin on me. Maybe after I have gained more experience with Photoshop I will come to appreciate more of McClelland's suggestions. However, as a novice, plowing through this book yielded to me no more than 8 or 9 new insights that I found directly useful.

Brilliant reference book!
Deke McClelland has done it again! As an Adobe Certified Photoshop Instructor, I felt compelled to write this review in lieu of the others. This book does what it is supposed to and that is explain why and how things happen in Photoshop 7 (YES, it is a reference book - similar to an encyclopedia). There are two types of books you can buy for graphics programs: reference and tutorial. Those that try to combine both come up short. This one sticks to its purpose and is written in a humorous/ fun way, not with the typical 'put me to sleep encyclopedia method'. It is a must have for the Photoshop library. ... Read more

Reviews (27)

Comprehensive, informative and readable
I found this to a great book for the budding close-up photographer. First, it is very comprehensive, covering all areas of macro know-how in enough detail to get you going. It takes you through, step-by-step how to control your macrophotography to achieve various effects, with lots of sage and practical advice along the way. As other reviewers have noted, his writing is incredibly clear and easy-to-read. I found his explanations to be very intuitive, and several times whilst reading I thought "yeah, but what about...", and, boom, there was the answer in the next paragraph. Impressive. Some suggestion its getting out of date, but really (aside from some equipment examples, which are precisely that anyway) this stuff doesn't get out of date. Its written for film photography, but even if you're doing digital macro, the majority of this book (exposure,tripod use, flash, framing, background control, etc, etc) is still equally relevant. Gripes? Hard on the credit card - I know I need a decent tripod each time I refer to it (and a new lens, and a...)! And spending too much time reading it rather than taking the bloody photos! Its really good.

An Inspirational Book
This book is worth the price for the breathtaking images alone. More importantly, John Shaw's ability to explain complex photographic issues and techniques with clarity makes this one of the best "how to" books I have ever read on any topic.

Here are a few of the book's features that I especially appreciate with each re-reading:

1. Thorough technical details beside each shot; 2. Emphasis on appreciating nature, and enjoying nature photography; 3. Appreciation of good photo gear for its effectiveness and convenience, combined with suggestions for improvising to reduce expense (such as how to shoot arresting closeups without investing in a macro lens); 4. Lots of Nikon-specific equipment references, but mentions Canon equivalents; 5. Ethical, urging photographers not to harass creatures or damage plants in the wilderness; 6. Did I mention the breathtaking images?

His newer "Nature Photography Field Guide" is also brilliant,and equally full of superb images, valuable tips, and further inspiration. There is little overlap between the two.

"Closeups in Nature" opens up a new world of perception and expression for photographers. Treat yourself or a photographer friend to a copy.

Close up on Closeups in Nature
One of the most readable books on closeup photography has to be Closeups in Nature. Each chapter, while dealing with the subject, goes into very understandable detail on how to go about taking photographs of the little things. Each chapter describes using different types of equipment, from the most simple and inexpensive products, to the very precise and obviously costly. Most of us, I'm sure, fall somewhere in between. He also covers not only types of film, but the differences in film brands. If you truly have a passion for this type of photography, Mr. Shaw's book is a "must read."

All you need to know and more
Like all of his books excellent text with clear, easy to understand concepts and instructions. This has definitely improved my close up work or at least removed several of the mistakes I use to make.

Excellent Book, Well Written, Awesome Photographs
John Shaw's were the first books I read on photography, after the Canon camera manual, and his books are the absolute best you can find.
The photographs are brilliant, no doubt. But what makes this book special is that almost each photograph is explained. You not only get to see great photographs, but also get an insight into what went into the composition of the photograph itself. Small things like using a tripod, not relying too much on filters, and the use of macros rounds off this excellent book.
This book, John Shaw's Landscape Photography, and 'Nature Photographer's Complete Guide to Professional Field Techniques' make it a must-have for any budding as well as experienced photographer.
If you have read some of his other books (like the ones I mention above) you may find some concepts being repeated, but they are so essential to good photography that they are well worth being read and re-read.
Go ahead, beg, borrow, or buy this book. (No, do not steal :) ... Read more

Book Description

This book describes the major aesthetic image elementslight and color, space, time-motion, and soundand how they are used in television and film. Zettls comprehensive coverage of aesthetic theory and his inclusion of effective visuals and examples place this text in a class by itself. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

motion graphics professor
"Sight, Sound, Motion: Applied Media Aesthetics explains the WHY of film and video production. If you're looking for HOW then turn to another book."

I would disagree with the above review. Only by learning WHY first, can we learn HOW later. This book is more than a cookie cutter approach to film and video. If you want to "click and drag" your way through an editing program, then true, this book is not for you. Add this to your collection if you want a book that teaches how to see and create film. Sight, Sound, Motion: Applied Media Aesthetics has staying power.

Fundamental book on the theory of the moving image
This was the assigned textbook for my digital video 2 class, and it is simply wonderful. Zettl is a very knowledgable man on the subject of creating images for film, video, and even new media. (Zettl's text Video Basics 3 was used in my digital video 1 class as well) This book lays a solid foundation for the theory behind how and why the viewer perceives the moving image, and how the filmmaker and video producer can create more pleasing and coherent productions.

While the biggest complaint I've heard about this book is it's over-reliance on theory, it still does a good job of contextualizing theory into practical application. Thus the title of the book: APPLIED Media Aesthetics. Although I haven't read any of Eisentien's theories behind filmmaking, I suspect that Zettl's treatment would compete rather well, and is probably more accessible for a modern reader.

This book covers all the bases from color and light, time and space and structuring audio to image. Zettl succintcly deconstructs the intelligent mind behind the images and sound of our cultures film and television productions.

Sight, Sound, Motion: Applied Media Aesthetics explains the WHY of film and video production. If you're looking for HOW then turn to another book.

The Filmmaker's Bible of Aesthetics or What Works and Why
This is probably the most important textbook a film production student can have on his/her shelf. NOT for how to work with actors or how to light a scene, but for understanding the underlying reasons of why things work due to our learned aesthetics and Western sensibilities.

Professor Herbert Zettl has written the most concise manual on why we has film viewers percieve things the way we do. He explains in detail (and layman's terms) how our aesthetics have been formed to interpret the dynamic medium of film and television.

How editing of action from shot to shot creates the illusion of continuous motion. How stagelines work so not to give the effect that your actor is jumping around from one side of the scene to the other. How to crop your shot BETWEEN the bodies natural cut-off points (i.e. neck, elbow, waist) to prevent the actor from looking like a disembodied head or torso.

This book is cover-to-cover insights into what we as viewers take for granted when we watch a good filmmaker's work, but may not consider when faced with the daunting task of mounting a film production and the on-set "reality" problems that dominate the filmmaker's mind when shooting a film.

I first read this book when I was in film school twenty years ago. Since then I have directed many professional film productions and I still review it before starting a new one to refresh myself.

Just as Syd Field's book "Screenplay" is the bible for screenwriting, "Sight Sound Motion" is the bible on understanding what works in film/video and why. ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description

Avoid the time-consuming task of image editing by taking great pictures from the get-go.Dave Huss walks you through the fundamentals of taking great digital photographs by dispelling digital photography myths and teaching you how to maximize all camera features available to you. Discover how to take clear, sharp, professional-level photographs every time; use light wisely; use flash photography to your advantage; match your camera to your computer; share your photos, and much more. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Excellent Guide for the Beginning Photographer
This book is a great resource for someone looking to learn more about digital photography. It is especially helpful if you have a camera that is more than just a "point and shoot" and can change your settings manually. The chapters are very well organized by topic and are filled with professional tips for getting the most out of your camera. Everything is explained in language that an inexperienced photographer can understand, and the text is accompanied by many full-color illustrations. While many other books that purport to be overviews of digital photography devote a lot of pages to "post-processing" images with software (like Adobe Photoshop), this book focuses almost entirely on the art of composing and taking good pictures.

Superb Resource for all Digital Photographers
I bought this book for my son, who is new to digital photography. After receiving the book, I quickly realized that it would be a superb single-volume resource for all persons interested in digital photography, whether newcomers or more experienced professionals. So, I immediately ordered a second copy for my own use. The book is well-organized and packed with helpful hints, notes and warnings. The reader can quickly locate a topic of particular interest and find numerous photo images which portray the finer points of digital photography. At the same time, the novice will find the text very readable, user-friendly and easy to follow. ... Read more

Book Description

This highly respected text, now in paperback, has been thoroughly updated and revised. It introduces a logical theory of photographic lighting --- one that teaches beginning photographers to predict results before setting up lights. This is not primarily a how-to book with only set examples for photographers to follow. Rather, Light: Science and Magic provides the reader with a comprehensive theory of the nature and principles of light to allow individual photographers to use lighting to express their own creativity. Numerous photographs and illustrations provide clear examples of the theories delineated within the text, while sidebars highlight special lighting questions.

Although styles of photographic lighting continue to change, Light: Science and Magic does not go out of fashion because it is not based on style; rather it is based on the behavior of light. These principles will not change until fundamental physics does.

*Now in paperback
*Highly respected text on lighting theory covering the principles, applications, and equipment for informed lighting decisions
*Sidebars highlight special lighting questions ... Read more

Reviews (15)

Photography is all about light
Whether you're a beginner with a point-and-shoot or a professional with a huge investment in equipment, you need to know how light works. This book can teach you everything you need to know. It has both theory and practical guidance. The authors don't tell you which lights to use in a given situation -- they teach you how to determine what lighting to use to achieve the effect _you_ want. And they help you select lighting equipment.

To be fair, it's not always an easy read (there's a lot of theory and some math/physics to wade through), but it's worth the effort. I saw the difference in the next roll I shot. I only wish I had found this book a few years ago...

Outstanding and Essential!
Fil Hunter and Paul Fuqua have written a truly essential reference for product photographers and an outstanding educational text for all photographers. Light, Science and Magic teaches its readers the principals of lighting. It describes in detail how to light surfaces, metal, glass, liquids, extremes (black-on-black and white-on-white), and people for different effects. These subjects were chosen because they are reputed to be the most difficult subjects to light. But because the book emphasizes the principals of lighting, those lessons can be applied to all lighting situations. The examples in Light,Science and Magic are in-studio, but the principals apply out-of-doors and anywhere that there is light. You don't need to have a background in studio photography or a knowledge of lighting equipment to understand and benefit from this book. You need to have only a good understanding of exposure and camera operation. Information on basic lighting equipment is found in the appendices for those who are unfamiliar with studio equipment. Because the principals of lighting apply equally to film photography and digital image capture, most of this book's content will not go out of date. No photographer should be without the knowledge in this book. If you can absorb all of the book's content, there is nothing that you will encounter in all your photographic adventures that you won't know how to light to get the effect you want. It is well worth its price!

if you are a photographer - buy it!
Learn how light and lighting really work so thta you can create the looks and effects you want. This book explains the principles of lighting in a very easy to understand way. It does not contain a ton of lighting diagrams to copy.

Once you understand the principles, you own them. You will be able to light - with a little practice.

The Best Book On Studio Lighting Fundamentals
This is NOT a book with a bunch of recipes for lighting specific subjects.

Instead, this is a book on what photographers really need to know to effectively light just about anything in the studio.

This book talks about types of reflections and the nature of reflected light. You will learn how to light people, very reflective metal, transparent glass, and and various combinations.

I am a professional photographer and this book gave me a better foundation on WHY to light things a particular way. I feel much more confident in my lighting skills and I think my work has improved. (If only someone would write a similar book on how to get clients to pay faster!)

The book flows from simple to complex in a very logical and easy to follow way. There are plenty of relevent diagrams and example photos too.

If you do any studio work with artificial lighting this is the very next book you should by.

You realy learn ligthing with this book
The authors teach how the light works and its relationship with the objects that it illuminate in a plain language.
Using several examples, they teach how to light the most common and harder subjects.
You won't find recipes of how you must light, but you will learn how and why to light in a specific way.
Really a very good book. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Some people make their living with a camera, and for these people the maturation of digital photo technology means a significant shift in their trade. The Photoshop Book for Digital Photographers is for people who are already adept with a camera, and pretty much up to speed on the peculiarities of digital photography, too. The book teaches these people how to use Adobe Photoshop, the standard photo-editing software package. More accurately, the book explains how to use Photoshop for the kinds of work professional photographers do.

Case in point: The removal from photographs of what are politely called skin blemishes. Author Scott Kelby (the editor of Photoshop User offers two strategies: One you can use to remove all traces of a mark but which requires a fair amount of time, and another procedure that delivers "pretty good" results and which can be done on many pictures (such as a set of class portraits) rapidly. Kelby teaches by means of heavily illustrated procedures, each between five and 20 steps long and spanning several pages. A good way to use this book is by scanning the table of contents for a procedure that interests you (say, "Fixing Underexposed Photos," or "Pro Wrinkle Removal"). This will enable you to spot Photoshop techniques you hadn't considered. --David Wall

Topics covered: How to use Adobe Photoshop if, for you, the program is one tool out of many in a photographic kit. Tricks teach you how to recolor hair, whiten teeth and eyes, modify unflattering body contours, dodge and burn, apply filters for effect, assemble panoramas, and do a score of other slick photo jobs. ... Read more

Reviews (70)

Scott the Master of Photoshop!
Just received this incredible book. From the wonderful acknowledgement page I knew this was going to be different. This is what all digital photographer's who use Photoshop have been waiting for. Scott's witty style of pacing you through the steps makes it so easy. Well written, well conceived. Covers all the issues that a digital photographer new or seasoned to the game could ask for. Scott Kelby has the style that makes you go WOW.... that was easy enough. Plenty of tips for the pros. Covers all the best of Photoshop 7 plus the new Adobe's Camera RAW plug-in. From organizing your work to photo touch-up to preparing your work for presentation to special effects this book has it all. Scott Kelby has written so many great books on Photoshop and to me this tops the list. This book will be well worn in no time. Thank you Scott for sharing your knowledge to all of us who enjoy Photoshop.

Great, even if you aren't a pro...
The Editorial Review begins: "Finally, a Photoshop book that is written expressly for professional photographers and hi-end serious amateurs that doesn't talk about F-stops, exposures, and how to frame a shot (you know all that stuff already-if you don't-I hate to say it, but this isn't for you). "

I don't know any of that stuff about F-stops, exposures, etc., but this book absolutely IS for me. I'm not a professional photographer, but I am on my third digital camera.

I've worked my way up, over the last 4 years, from beginner photo manipulation software, through Photoshop Elements to Photoshop itself. I use Photoshop because it does the things I need to do. What Scott Kelby's book did was show me some of the less obvious ways to get things done. Some of the easier ones were amazing.

This is an excellent book that is intended for anyone who has a copy of Photoshop and needs to get digital photos fixed. It is very accessable. You can open it anywhere and follow the steps in any chapter and successfully adjust your own photos using Scott Kelby's instructions. He designed the book so each chapter is independent and none of them require that you read the chapters before it to understand what he is trying to accomplish. If you can follow along with the pictures, you can do what he is teaching. He believes in lots of screen shots and even though his screen shots show Macs and I'm using a PC, Photoshop is Photoshop and I can follow along. He gives both the PC and the Mac commands for every Keyboard shortcut he uses. This is great for me because I generally need to learn something that is buried in the middle of the book, and I don't have the time or patience to read four or five chapters to understand how to get it done.

I own several Photoshop books, and I've never seen some of the techniques he teaches in those other books. He also teaches some advanced general Photoshop techniques and he makes those easy to understand too.

Worth every penny...

Nice practical book
I have bought a number of photoshop books, and this is one of my favorites. It basically shows you how to do some specific tasks, such as color correction and other retouching techniques. The book takes you step by step through the process. People looking for books more akin to manuals will not like this book. I picked up a number of tips and am still working to incorporate his suggestions.

Best book on photoshop
Ignore all earlier comments about the book being too basic. These guys don't know what they're talking about. This is the best book on Photoshop I have ever read. It gives you real world settings instead of publishing pages of useless Phd-thesis-type(basic) information on specific features, e.g., USM, WITHOUT recommended settings. These real world settings require a pre-requisite knowledge of the features; WHICH is why the book is considered an intermediate-to-advanced book. Photographers looking for detailed explanations of each and every feature should just read through the HELP document or basic texts published by Adobe.

The Best PS Book for Digital Photographers
The moment I leafed through this book I was impressed. I picked up several useful tips in the first few minutes perusing it. This never happens - usually I look through a PS book looking for things that I don't know already.

Scott Kelby doesn't waste time telling you how to take a photograph, but rather gets to the meat and potatoes of digital post processing. This is great for me, as I need to make the most of my time and this book has helped me to do that.

Also, I really enjoy Mr. Kelby's writing style, and am oh-so glad that he came out with this book - it's the best thing to come along for digital photographers like myself, who have a working knowledge of PS but need to squeeze as much as possible out of the program.

My sincere thanks Mr. Kelby! :-) I love this book! ... Read more

Book Description

Here's the classic "bible" of forms and checklists for every situation a professional photographer may face.Thoroughly expanded and updated to cover the Internet, this brand-new Third Edition contains 31 forms, each ready-to-use as is, or easily tailoredto fit any situation.Photographers will find contracts for wedding, portrait, and assignment photography; property and model releases, assignment estimates, confirmations, and invoices; delivery memos; license for Web usage; nondisclosure agreements; and much, much more.An accompanying CD-ROM provides electronic versions of these forms, ready to use on both Macs and PCs. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Great Book!
Great book as a reference tool. Why reinvent what others before us have used? Using actual forms and a CD to personalize, this is a great tool for all photographers.

A very good resource.
This book, Business and Legal Forms for Photographers is a very valuable resource. I completely recommend this book for anyone getting into photography as a profession. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Richard shares his quest with us all
Richard has access to places most people do not. Take, for example, His Holiness the Dalai Lama. His Holiness is not accessable to you and I on the level that Richard has. Richard shares private photos, such as plate 63 where His Holiness is in meditation. The photo alone portrays a depth of intensity that the experience offers. Richard also has a true sense of the tragedy of the Tibetan people and can deliver that in a light that few people can ever grasp, even after several trips to the region. Richard is the Pilgrim and we are fortunate to be able to see things in a way he does. Very few photographers can say that of their work. Perhaps it is due to his experience in film, perhaps as a result of his practice as a buddhist, maybe just because the openness of his sharing is felt in his work, regardless of the medium. Thank you my friend for sharing your life with us and a wonderful book.

Truly inspirational!
This is a fantastic book! The photographs stir a number of emotions in you. Only a true artist like Mr. Gere could convey these feelings and capture them in his shutter. The book also features excellent text and was a very nice present. I think everyone should peek at this book. A great book for religious souls and open minds.

These images broke my heart.
This book was exactly what I expected from such a sensitive and intelligent man. Thank you, Mr. Gere. We need our hearts broken now and then.

pictures of compassion
I cannot look at this book without crying. It is very beautiful yet pierces my heart with sadness, I believe that the plight of Tibet is the canary of our planet. This book is about an amazing and gentle people and my hope and prayer is that it will generate more compassion . The text is very direct and simple and is not next to the photos but at the back. One quote stuck in my mind, "It's all ego." You can see these photos with your heart and they will melt it, if you are open.

Pictures with soul
The pictures are not supposed to show images but meanings. That's exactly what they do. They are visual metaphors, inviting us to see what is not visible. The first one, more than any other, in its deep beauty, allows us to catch a glimpse of a spiritual state or an epiphany. If I had taken it I would feel forced to share it with everyone, as Mr. Gere kindly did. ... Read more

Book Description

Setting Up Your Shots is a complete visual encyclopedia of creative camera set ups and moves every filmmaker and cinema fan will want to own.

Over 100 storyboards with simple descriptions have been especially designed for this book. They show filmmakers, home video buffs and cinema fans how to achieve an incredible number of effects, images and compositions.

This book is presented in an elegant horizontal format to create the proper cinematic perspecitve. It also provides over 135 references to great shots from classic movies, including:
- Titanic
- Blade Runner
- Star Wars
- Vertigo

KEY FEATURES:
* A visual guide to hundreds of camera moves
* Features over 300 original illustrations and storyboards
* Draws examples from many classic films, eg Titanic, Blade and Star Wars ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Good but not essential for novice filmmakers & film buffs
I purchased Setting up your shots basically because it tells and gives you a storyboard shot of differnt camera techniques, Crane shots and editing techniques. For these things I found this bok to be a blessing because it explained a lot of different shots that i didn't know. It also explains them in a very straightforward manner and sites several movie as examples. So why three stars? Mainly for two reasons. One problem with this bookm is that it doesn't tell you how to get some shots. ex. various crane shots. What kind of crane? Another problem is the fact that the author suggests you go out buy book on certain subjects say, composition but he doesn't mention any by name. Overall I did like the very straightforward explanation of different shots. This is a decent book( not essential) that film buffs may appreciate more than fimmakers.

Does exactly what it says
This book is intended for new filmmakers, film buffs and as reference for experienced filmmakers. It introduces the reader to many types of shots and opens one's eyes to many possibilities. Unfortunately, it seems that the negative reviews about this book are centered around it being too simplistic or basic. I believe those reviewers did not understand the intent behind this book and missed the point entirely. I think all subjects should start with the very basics and describe what the goal is first, then one can address how to achieve it technically (which is not what this book is necessarily about). If I had any complaints, it would only be a couple of minor points. The first is that there are a few technical words used, but are not defined for the reader, who has to then look elsewhere to understand them. Next, although the authors clearly state that they had to invent many terms to describe certain shots, there is no way to distinguish which are the standard terms and which are the made-up ones. Otherwise, this is an excellent first step for any new filmmaker and also a great reference for finding the perfect shot for any scene you need help coming up with. And most certainly, I am not going to complain that is was too simple to read and clearly illustrated! I wish all books were written this straight forward!

Setting Up Your Ignorance
This is without a doubt one of the most worst books I have ever read. It is written for a child and has a tone which will be insulting to anyone who is intersted in professional film making.

In some cases the author is simply incorrect in his terminology. The author is a wannabe film maker who has a snowball's chance in hell of ever doing anything other than to write this innane piece of crap.

This book was obviously not written by a professional film maker, but by an amateur for amateurs.

The illustrator claims to be a "professional". The illustrations for this book are equally bad.

Don't waste your time or money on this waste of paper.

When you're trying to explain what you want for a shot...
...open this book and point to the page.

A previous reviewer complained that all this book does is show the shot. Presumably that person wanted a to-do list of which knobs to turn, what equipment to set up, how much the rentals should be, etc etc etc.

When I write a shooting script, I use the camera terms here as *verbs*. "Dolly past [character] and Spin Around" Anybody in the crew who does not understand is handed the book. Quickly I get "Oh, THAT's what you mean."

In fact I bought more books for that purpose alone.

Gee, what a shame it's not in color photographs. Gosh it might even be better in 3D. How about virtual camera moves holographiclly jumping off the page?

Get real. This is an idea book. Look. Get the idea. Get to work.

Got it?

Movie Shots
"An illustrated quick-read overview of all the basic shots and camera movements that will help any director design a visually exciting movie." --RMS ... Read more

Book Description

Adobe Photoshop Elements 3: 50 Cool Ways to Create Cool Pictures covers all the new tools that Photoshop Elements 3 has to offer users of all levels who want to edit, store, share, and archive their digital images. Photoshop Elements 3 includes new edge tools, easier organization and layout tools, and better tools for red-eye reduction. With a focus on what the average photographer really wants to learn, author Dave Huss covers all of these tools in this practical, fun guide to learning Photoshop Elements 3. This book covers both the Macintosh and Windows versions of Photoshop Elements 3.

Book Description

If you want to work with your traditional film images electronically, this is the guide that will finally show you how you can do it. "Mastering Digital Scanning" takes a photographers viewpoint to the topic of digitizing, managing, and enhancing film-based images. Youll learn how to use your scanner's options to your best advantage and how to perfect your image once it becomes digital. You dont have to give up the advantages of conventional photography to enjoy the ease of digital manipulation! ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Exactly what I was looking for in this book
I had some experience in scanning slides and negs, but this book helped me a lot. It had exactly what I was looking for in terms of information, explanations, tricks, techniques, and background material. I believe this is the only book being sold that is dedicated to film and slide scanning for the "average Joe" so anyone who wants to improve their scans should look no further.

Comprehensive look at film and negative capture
This is an excellent introduction to capturing digital images of transparencies and negatives, but it also serves as a valuable resource for the more experienced worker. It includes everything you wanted to know about this topic, and quite a few things you did not know you needed to understand, so I'd say this was a very comprehensive book. I can't recommend it highly enough to everyone interested in scanning.

Best scanning book I've seen.
I'm an experienced 35mm photographer switching to digital scanning, and I found this book to be the perfect complement to my scanner's rather basic instruction manual. In a clear and straightforward manner, it addresses a wide multitude of scanning situations, from the most basic to the most complex. Each of the things you need to know is concisely explained and extremely well illustrated in a most logical progression of sections. The table of contents and index are wonderfully comprehensive and make finding what you want as simple as possible. I'm very pleased that all of the illustrations were are color. All in all, this book is most highly recommended for both the beginner and advanced scanner users.

Great introduction to film scanning!
Wonderful book. Lots of solid information about scanning slides and negatives, well presented, good illustrations, plenty of ideas on what to do with your scans. Anyone who wants to learn more about scanning can't go wrong with this book. Tells about scanning with both flatbed scanners and film scanners, and I own both, so this worked for me. I've been scanning for more than a year now, and still managed to learn some valuable tips. It helped me get improved results.

Very good scanning book.
I looked all over for a book about scanning slides and was very glad to find this one. It had all the info I needed and was very easy to understand. This book is good for beginners and intermediate readers, because it contains both good introductory material as well as more advanced tips and tricks to help you get the best quality scans from your film.

I liked the software recommendations and description of how film scanning works. I was able to get better results scanning slides with both my Nikon film scanner and Epson flatbed scanner after I read this book. Thanks for a great book. ... Read more

Book Description

Produce the kind of images that would otherwise demand a professional photographer or darkroom—or both. Through a series of tutorial projects, author Julie Adair King shows readers how to light shots, choose the right camera settings, use camera accessories and photographic software, and much more.You’ll learn step-by-step to use your existing digital camera for professional results. Set up a home studio, create a 360-degree panoramic image, learn low light and action photography, work in black and white, and adopt many other professional techniques. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Expertly shows just how to light shots
Through a series of tutorial projects, Julie King's Shoot Like A Pro! Digital Photography Techniques expertly shows just how to light shots, choose the right camera settings, use camera accessories and photographic software, and so much more. Shoot Like A Pro! Digital Photography Techniques deftly explains how to set up a home studio, create a 360-degree panoramic image, work in low light, action photography, black and white, and a great many other professional techniques. This 256-page compendium is very highly recommended for amateur and professional photography instructional reference collections. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Did the clothes make Jackie, or did Jackie make the clothes? Decide for yourself: Jacqueline Kennedy: The White House Years is a stunning catalog of some of Jacqueline Kennedy's most important dresses as worn during her years as first lady of the United States. As visually sleek and elegant as Mrs. Kennedy herself, the book offers a beautiful analysis of the stunning, simple outfits that typified the Jackie style and brought a breath of sleek modernity to the White House after the somewhat frumpy fussiness of previous first lady Bess Truman. Released to coincide with the 40th anniversary of Kennedy's "emergence" as a style icon, the book presents an eclectic selection of suits, evening dresses, daywear, and accessories from the John F. Kennedy Library and Museum collection. Divided into cities where each item was first worn, the gowns, suits, and dresses are first presented alone in a full-page color photo. Each is then accompanied by various photos of Jackie wearing the item and detailed design notes, history, and anecdotes behind the outfit.

These photos give a wonderful context to the clothes, and it's clear that Jackie's carriage and persona injected life into these garments--which sometimes appear markedly different from what one might deduce as each item's "personality" when simply viewing it alone. For example, a pale cream embroidered silk Givenchy evening gown looks dull and somewhat dowdy when seen alone, but the accompanying photograph of Jackie wearing it while cuddling a newborn John Kennedy Jr. transforms the dress into something feminine and timeless. Or a very simple, innocently pretty pink shantung evening gown by Guy Douvier becomes arrestingly sexy when she wears it with nothing but white gloves and a Palm Beach tan. Contextualizing and interpreting Kennedy's style is an important part of this book. Featured are essays on Jackie and her effect on the world of style by Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr., Kennedy friend Rachel Lambert Mellon, and the book's author and Vogue editor at large, Hamish Bowles. Jacqueline Kennedy: The White House Years accompanies an exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. --Marisa Lencioni, Amazon.co.uk ... Read more

Reviews (14)

Jacqueline Chic
This is a "must have" book for anyone who loves the beauty, style and grace of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, fashion and history. The beautiful fashion photography with insightful essays showcases the former First Lady as one of the 20th century's fashion icons. Her clothing, simple and modern, yet classically elegant, created by major designers of the time such as Oleg Cassini and Givenchy, reflects her visionary fashion savvy. This book will make you ask do clothes make a person, or does the inner soul and outer beauty of a person, such as the former First Lady, make the clothes?

MOST EXCELLENT
Excellent EVERYTHING!!!
A must for jackie AND caroline fans...i figure she did a lot for this and chose some GREAT photos...esp. the last one, in my humble opinion.
THE BEST PHOTOGRAPHY!!!
I LOVE IT!!! and was shocked when i actually saw it after the few not-so appreciative reviews.
TOP SHELF BOOK/TOMB.
THANKS to everyone who was behind putting this out. As my grandmother would say about such a great book, "It lifts you up." (she said that about the Sotheby's Auction catalog of JBKO's Estate.
THANKS and LOVE TO ALL!!!

Quality, Youth, Beauty, Style and Culture in the White House
Caution: If you like looking at lots of photographs of early 1960s designer dresses, you will probably like this book. Otherwise, this is probably not the right book for you.

During the presidential election of 1960, Ms. Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy made an immense impression on American society. At 31, she was a dramatic contrast with the vice president's wife, Ms. Patricia Nixon, and recent first ladies (Ms. Mame Eisenhower, Ms. Bess Truman, and Ms. Eleanor Roosevelt). She was much younger than these women, was pregnant with her son, John, and seemed like someone who came from another world. Ms. Kennedy was highly cultured, interested in the fine arts, attractive in a way that showed up well in photographs and on television, and wore gorgeous clothes of the sort usually only seen in the best fashion magazines.

Once in the White House, her differences from other first ladies became more apparent. A major effort to redecorate the White House with authentic pieces ensued, Lafayette Square's appearance was conserved, entertaining began to feature people from the world of fine arts, the Rose Garden was redesigned, and the clothes she wore became even more magnificent. A great deal of the sense of Camelot certainly came from Ms. Kennedy.

I was disappointed in the book. For someone who had such a wide and important influence on America, the book barely seemed to scratch the surface. It is almost as though a decision had been made to create a book about her dresses on state occasions, and to mention and show all of the other influences she had as little as possible.

This book minimally and partially captures the impact she had on our national consciousness. The best essay is found in the foreword by Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr. who provides a good overview of the influence of Ms. Kennedy (as described above) and her husband, the president, more broadly on the arts (including efforts that helped lead to the National Endowment for the Arts and Humanities, the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., and providing a temple from Egypt to the Metropolitan Museum in New York). Most of the book is visually devoted to her clothing during state occasions, with notes about those who created the clothes. A typical section has color photographs of the clothing on mannequins, Ms. Kennedy wearing the clothes at an event, and a black-and-white image of how she appeared in the context of the whole event.

The clothing captures what was called at the time, the Jackie look. Most of the dresses are by Oleg Cassini, Givenchy, Chez Ninon, and Gustave Tassell. There are also lots of examples of her hats (often pillboxes by Halston). The outfits are usually as simple and conservative as possible in solid colors, made special by perhaps one elegant bow or sash. Unfortunately, these sections have little material about Ms. Kennedy's views on these apparel, designs for the clothing, or thoughts about how to coordinate them with shoes and accessories.

What was most impressive to me was the success with which she selected outfits that fit in with the nations she was visiting. In France, the elegance of Givenchy enveloped her. In India, bright pastel shades made her look like part of the jungle flora. I'm sure the host nations were delighted to see their specialness magnified in her efforts to be an attractively dressed guest.

But these clothes are unremarkable without Ms. Kennedy. Like a well-known fashion model, she enhanced the clothes enormously with her youth, vitality, personality, and trim figure. So, for me, the book's real value was in seeing the many photographs of Ms. Kennedy. I especially liked the candid photographs, either talking with guests or playing with her children.

How can we recapture a sense of uniquely American style and good taste in ways that will bring approval?

What are the ways that the president and first spouse should set a good example for the rest of us?

An elegant blast from the past!
When I took this tome out of its mailer & began to turn its pages, I suddenly remembered my own set of formal white cotton gloves - long since discarded - so reverential was the aura emanating from this glossy artbook.

Jacqueline Kennedy kept it simple - most of her clothes were in solid colors with only huge buttons, cockades or discreet stylized bows, scarves, shawls or frogs for detail. In the Travel Chapter we see the simplicity of her wardrobe & her passion for colors.

Combining original & new photographs, this volume presents images we have rarely seen, as well as photos that have become a part of our national consciouness. The final one of the President & First Lady together in the open touring auto needs no words - we all know what happened next.

Certainly a treasure of memories - where we were, what we wore, what we wished we could wear. I never realized how Mrs. Kennedy acquired her wardrobe assuming, incorrectly, that she always wore top-of-the-line haute couture - when in actuality she wore "knock-offs", sometimes chosen by her mother-in-law.

For anyone who cannot make the pilgrimage to the 40th Anniversary Exhibition at the John F. Kennedy Library & Museum, Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York & who craves visions of those much-mimicked fashions of yesteryear.

An unexpected pleasure
After reading some of the reviews for this book stating it was dull and offered nothing of particular interest except alot of talk about A line dresses and cuts on the bias, I was apprehensive about wasting so much money on it.However having bought nearly every book published on Mrs Onassis I went ahead and ordered it anyway.Upon opening it I was pleasantly surprised. It was well set out,interesting and with many fine photos I had not seen, to illustrate the somewhat dry text.But the most facinating aspect of this book is to actually see what these dresses looked like in colour....after seeing numerous black and white photos of the Kennedy reception at the Elysee Palace and to hear the pink straw dress worn by Mrs kennedy described, it was mesmerizing to actually see it...no wonder she was described as radiant....and the most amazing thing is that Mrs kennedy dresses were sometimes even more interesting when viewed from the back...the intricate drapery and patterns.The photo of her in a backless sundress on the Italian Riveria is a revelation as it was worn in 1962 and was so ahead of its time...this book shows that Jacqueline kennedy had true style and is worthy of the mantle of fashion icon even though she would probably want to be remembered for her more substancial contributions.A very worthwhile addition to any devotee's library ... Read more

Amazon.com

Each Classroom in a Book features consistently well-written and conceived lessons, part of Adobe's official training and certification program. They guarantee solid instruction, taking readers step-by-step through professional-level projects with topnotch artwork. Adobe Photoshop 7.0 Classroom in a Book book assumes no prior knowledge, and beginners will benefit from the slow and deliberate pacing. However, more experienced Photoshop users won't find it difficult to speed ahead through familiar material and there's a thorough index for troubleshooting specific problems. They'll find new techniques to make their workflow more efficient, and, perhaps, "unlearn" any bad habits (for example, getting a better grayscale conversion for a color photo by using the Channel Mixer rather than clicking "Mode > Grayscale").

Chapters cover the fundamentals: the work environment and help resources; making selections (with the wand, lasso, and marquee tools); using layers and masks; working with the pen tool and other vector graphics techniques; retouching and color correcting; selected effects like hand coloring; color-management issues; and creating images for print or the Web. Areas new to version 7 include working with the File Browser, using the new paint engine to create custom brushes and patterns, and working with the healing brush and cloning stamp.

All lesson project files and fonts are on the companion CD-ROM. Each lesson begins by outlining what will be learned and how long the project should take, and ends with review Q&A. The color section not only shows finished artwork for several projects, but also includes some useful reference pages: a toolbox overview (with color illustrations of what each tool does), a layer blending mode sampler, and a set of images helpful in color management.

In addition to the above topics, the book also shows how to create slices and optimize images in both Photoshop and ImageReady, make rollovers and animations in ImageReady, and use droplets for batch processing. You may not become a power user after these tutorials, but you'll certainly have a firm working knowledge of Photoshop upon which to build expert skills. --Angelynn Grant ... Read more

Reviews (33)

SOLID PHOTOSHOP BRIDGE FOR BEGINNERS AND INTERMEDIATES
Just like its name indicated, this book is by every means a true classroom in a book. Its coverage is extensive; and includes all the new tools and features of the software. Both Mac and PC users will find detailed narrations, which took care of their respective platforms vis-a-vis the Photoshop 7.0.
Beginners would enjoy its step-by-step guide, while intermediate and advanced learners would appreciate the spectacular design tips that its CD-ROM offers. Every aspect of the software was highlighted: including all those image-editing and tone-enhancing features. First-time Photoshop users would cherish how this book simplified the Advanced Web Workflow of the software, including all the compliance, integration, and flexibilities of the image management system.
Other than being too simple and straightforward, there is hardly anything to accuse this book of. Hence, I will advise all the graphics geeks, who wouldn't stomach its elementary methodology, to check-out more advanced texts like: QUE'S Special Edition of "Using Photoshop 7".