Book Description

50 Fast Photoshop "X" Techniques for is an immensely useful book for anyone wanting to take advantage of the very latest release of the world's top digital imaging tool, Adobe Photoshop.
The techniques are valuable to both pros and hobbyists alike - they enable everyone to enjoy successful creation of fine art images and prints! The step-by-step and richly illustrated collection of awesome techniques are easily accessible and understandable to users on every level.
This is a new kind of Photoshop book-one that can help both casual users through professional users save time while creating professional quality images and effects!
ABOUT THE CD-ROM
CD-ROM is packed with low-res versions of all images from the book, allowing readers to follow along with the techniques. Tryouts and valuable utilities are also included. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Disappointing
Disjointed and seemingly written for the Windoze only crowd, give this book a pass and spend your money more wisely elsewhere.

For my Digital Photography Class
I read almost everything published, books to magazines. As a book for entry level digital photographers wishing to progress, this is the best book. I learned a few things too. Well done.

Ignores Mac
While I like the book, the fact that it is ignorant of Mac (9 or OSX) commands is disappointing. Basically, Photoshop books today respectfully address and discuss both PC and Mac issues. This is standard. All the great Peachpit Press books, for example. If I had known that the author was a PC guy and not going to address any of this, I would not have purchased it. The cover makes no mention of this. Additionally, there are other errors in the book as well (as in directing you to a disk file which is misnumbered).

Maybe this is my pet peeve, but I wasted time today figuring out how to do this stuff on a Mac when I wanted to be figuring out Photoshop techniques instead.

There are other books which are just as good...if not better. Next time I'm sticking with Scott Kelby for this type of book.

Trixie McGuire MyMac.com Book Review
Intended user: Beginning to Advanced

I knew just by thumbing through this book that I was going to enjoy the time I spent reviewing it. And then when I read these words on page two of the introduction - "If I had to make a single recommendation about how to quickly learn to successfully use Photoshop, it would be to learn all about those few features that you need to use to get your work done - and ignore the rest." - I said where was this book 5+ years ago? Oh sure there has always been instructional books similiar to this, but most are bible length epics and just as cryptic as the bible itself.

The book comes with a CD-ROM that not only includes:

* 50 sets of "before" and "after" images
* A Photoshop tryout version: 6.0, but hey - beats having to download.
* An ebook.pdf of the book that you can keep on your computer.
* A slide show of all 50 techniques
* A companion webpage: called www.reallyusefulpage.com, and
* You can even email the author himself - right from the CD.

The first six chapters are set up as a Photoshop bootcamp, to help you become successful with the last 44 techniques. Even if you are an experienced user o f Photoshop, I recommend - as does the author - that you complete all six techniques in Chapter 1 before trying any of the other techniques. Then you will have the required knowledge to try any of the other techniques in any order that you want .

Take a Peek at All the Information Packed In This Book:

Chapter 1 - Photoshop 7 Fundamentals - Techniques 1-6:

Configuring Photoshop, Controlling Image Window, Automamating Tasks, Creative Experimentation, Calibrating Your Monitor, and Configuring Basic Color Management.

Chapter 2 - Correcting, Enhancing, and Restoring Digital Photos -Techniques 7-13:

Quick Image Correction, Advanced Image Correction, Increasing Color Saturation, Restoring an Old Image-(my personal favorite), Removing Noise or Grain, Sharpening Digital Photos, and Adding Information to a Digital Photo.

Chapter 3 - Working In Black and White -Techniques 14-19:

(2)Converting a Photo to B&W, Burning and Dodging with Masks, Using Scaling Masks to Speed Edits, Isolating and Extracting Detail using Values, and Selective Focusing.

Chapter 4 - Creative Experimentation - Techniques 20-25:

Hand-Painting a Black and White Image, Creating a Pseudolsolarization, Adding a Traditional Darkroom Texture Screen Effect, Fixing Images with a Digital Graduated Neutral Density Filter, Simulating an Infrared Film Effect, and Creating a Toned Image.

Chapter 5 - Combining Photos in Montages, Collages, and Composites -Techniques 26-29:

Creating Photo Objects, Making a PhotoMontage, Combining Bracketed Photos, and Using a Mask to Create a Collage

Chapter 6 - Fine Art Techniques - Techniques 30-35:

Total Color Transformation, Using Filters to Create Fine Art Prints, Coloring a Digital Sketch, Creating a Pen Ink Sketch Using a Watercolor Wash, Creating a Digital Painting, Creative Use of Filters and Commands.

Chapter 7 - Using Plug-Ins to Add Impact to Your Photos - Techniques 36-41:

Using Image Correction Plug-Ins, Using Grain Surgery to Remove Digital Noise, Convering Color to B&W Using Convert to B&W Pro, Creating Artwork with Buzz.Pro 2.0, Using a Pen Tablet and Pen Palette 1.0, and Using Special Effects Plug-Ins.

Chapter 8 - Making Photographic Prints - Techniques 42-47:

Using Print Preview (Picture Package and Contact), Increasing Image Size to Make Large Prints, Using an ICC Profile When Printing with an Epson 880/1280 Printer, Getting Fuji Frontier Prints Made, Using Shutterfly's Online Printing Service, Getting Lightjet 5000 Prints from Calypso Inc.

Chapter 9 - Creating An Online Gallery - Techniques 48-50:

Creating an Online Gallery, Creating Animations Using Digital Photos, and Creating an Image Map.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone from beginners to professionals who work with Photoshop everyday. Not only is it loaded with detailed, reference information - (and CD) - it's also a [great price]BR>MacMice Rating: 5 out of 5

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Trixie McGuire ...

Extremely useful for learning cool stuff in a fun way.
There are two kinds of Photoshop books I buy, large expensive reference books (usually one per version I upgrade to) and specific technique books. The reference tombs I refer to when I’m trying to get something done and can’t figure out how to do it. They aren’t fun, but do provide needed guidance. Then there are the books (like this one) that are fun to sit down with and learn as I actually work on images. By the time I had done about a quarter of the techniques in the book I found that my Photoshop skills had really grown in areas that I’ve always found confusing before. And in several cases I found better ways to do stuff that I thought I already knew a lot about.

I usually don’t have much use for the CD’s that come with books, but this one has the before and after example pictures for each of the techniques, and I found it really helpful to open the actual files that the examples use and work through the steps, seeing the changes as the image is transformed. On the other hand, why anyone would want to use the trial version of Photoshop included on the CD, I can’t imagine. But the whole book is on the CD as an e-book, and that makes it possible to do some cool searches.

Overall I’m really impressed with what I was able to get out of this book, and with the enjoyable way it’s all presented. Lots of creative techniques, good background details about what the controls in dialog boxes do, and a painless workout of Photoshop’s more complex and powerful functions. Definitely a cool way to learn about Photoshop 7. ... Read more

Book Description

Stephen Green-Armytage, author/photographer of Abrams' enchanting Dudley: The Little Terrier That Could, has now produced a unique adult book, introducing the bizarre and beautiful world of exotic ornamental chickens. His startling pictures present an international selection of breeds ranging from the Bearded Silkie and the crested Polish to the majestic Phoenix, whose tail feathers can exceed 10 feet in length.

Chickens of all sizes, shapes, and colors parade through these pages, as Green-Armytage captures the surprising and expressive personality of these amazing birds. For breeders, this will be a volume they must own; for everyone else, it will be a revelation, prized for the sheer enjoyment of the striking photographs and the extraordinary animals they portray.

STEPHEN GREEN-ARMYTAGE's photographs have appeared in many books and magazines. Author and photographer of the Abrams book Dudley: The Little Terrier That Could, he lives in New York City.

165 photographs, 160 in full color, 9 x 10" ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Extraordinary is absolutely correct!
If you have any interest in beautiful birds of any species, I suspect you will like this book. The photography is of the highest quality and Mr. Green-Armytage has a wonderful way of presenting the birds as special characters, not just standard poses. He has done a wonderful job of selecting a wide variety of lovely chickens from both British and American poultry shows. There is just enough text to whet one's interest in the breeds. Unfortunately, the index only has page numbers for the photos. Descriptions of the birds need to be hunted up on your own. But you bought it for the photos of lovely, strange and cute/funny birds.

If you thought chickens all look alike-think again!
I recently picked up a copy of Extraordinary Chickens & was delighted with both the photo layout & the treatment of the subject. The author (who some may remember from the photo article on chickens in Life magazine in the early 1980s)consulted with chicken experts & exhibitors around the world to produce this feast for the eye - a wonderful collection of the bizarre & the beautiful - most people will be astonished at the variety of colors, shapes, & sizes available in the world of the pure-bred exhibition chicken.

More than Extraordinary, it is brilliant!
The book teaches, it enlightens and it delights. The photographs are truly extraordinary and not just for the aficionado of rare poultry. The entire book is simply a feast for the eye and with very useful text. A perfect gift for the chicken lover in your life.

note card size
Buyer beware - these note cards fold to 3"x5".

all the pretty chickens
What's not to like? This book contains many lovely photographs of chickens. Chickens can be beautiful, too, you know. They are not just senseless creatures pecking in the dirt until their lives are one day summarily ended on the chopping block. They like to dress it up and step out on occasion, just like everybody else.

Now, this tome should not be read as some type of argument for a chicken eugenics, whereby the beautiful and unique are spared, while the homely, the overly-wattled, and the splay-footed are consigned to the workhouse, laying eggs for your McMuffin in silence and disgrace. Far from it. This book is a celebration of all chickens, for all chickens.

Vive la chicken. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Tuscany's hill towns and countryside have enthralled inhabitants and visitors for centuries--the golden light in the afternoons, the grape arbors, and the rolling hillsides dotted with rustic farmhouses and villas. Private Tuscany invites us into these dwellings, giving us a glimpse of how life is lived in this warm, inviting place.

The homes featured in this gorgeous volume are as enchanting as the Tuscan towns and hillsides they're built on. Many embody a style we've come to associate with Tuscany: dark-timbered kitchens with dried herbs and garlic ropes hung from the rafters, original terra-cotta tile floors, large-windowed living rooms, and artfully frescoed walls. There are centuries-old furnishings crafted by skilled Italian artisans and elegantly manicured gardens containing hidden grottos and classical statuary. But the homes also reflect the special touches of the people who occupy them. For instance, a theater lover displays his exquisite collection of miniature theaters in the salon; the daughter of a villa owner paints traditional murals on the walls and mosaic patterns on the floors.

Simon McBride's photographs skillfully capture the magic of these Tuscan homes and feature a variety of residences, from simple farmhouses to grand villas and palaces. The book's four chapters divide the homes into types: rustic, classic, grand, and modern. An index at the back serves as an introduction to Tuscany's pleasures, providing contact information for sampling the region's wine and produce, fine dining, hotels and houses, gardens, and crafts.

Several of the homeowners featured in Private Tuscany have gone to painstaking lengths to restore these buildings after decades, or even centuries, of neglect. The results, from the simplest farmhouse kitchen to an elaborately frescoed dining room, are breathtaking. --Kris Law ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Beautiful, inspiring,full of memories of Italy
This book was so lovely. It contains exquisite photos and many, many ideas applicable for my own home. Great decorating ideas. I've shared this book with other people who have been equally inspired by the warm, gracious, elegant living portrayed throughout. Highly recommend this book for yourself or gift. A lovely way to remember past visits to Italy or inspire a personal visit in the not too distant future.

A visual feast!
A beautiful book -- I enjoyed it much more than Tuscany Interiors which I also own. The houses range from simple to elaborate and -- of course! -- the landscapes and gardens are gorgeous. This is a great book from which to "lift" Italian decorating ideas. ... Read more

Book Description

Digital Compositing for Film and Video is a hands-on, practical, how-to guide that addresses the problems and difficult choices faced by the professional compositor in real-life situations. It presents techniques, tricks, and solutions for dealing with badly shot elements, coloration artifacts, and mismatched lighting that bedevil actual compositors working on real shots. Readers are offered in-depth practical methods for matte extraction, despill procedures, compositing operations, and color correction--the "meat and potatoes" of all digital effects.






Compositing is the artistic blending of several disparate elements from a variety of sources into a single image while making all the component elements appear to be in the same light space and shot with the same camera.When confronted with a bad composite any observer will recognize that something is wrong--the artist will know what is causing the problem, and the technician will know how to fix it. A good compositor must be both an artist and a technician.

Written by a senior compositor with over ten years' experience in both feature film and broadcast television, this book offers a broad range of alternative solutions that will save hours of fiddling with composites trying to get them to look right when the basic tools aren't working. A companion CD-ROM provides examples of the many topics covered in this book.

Loaded with practical tricks, techniques and alternative solutions to the common thorny problems faced by today's compositorsCompatible with Adobe PhotoshopWritten by a senior compositor with over ten years of digital compositing experience ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Concise technical information!
I really struggled through the first chapter, but after that is stared to make more sense. This book is very technical, and many topics like 10-bit logarithmic color are definitely complex concepts, but generally the author does an excellent job of explaining them as simply as possible.

Explanations for what is happening 'under the hood' of a lot of compositing tools are explained, as well as how to achieve them manually. Stuff like keying, despill, unsharp mask, and defocus operations. I've read the 2 other main compositing textbooks available on Amazon.com, I would say this is definitely better than "Digital Compositing In Depth", and slightly better than "The Art & Science of Digital Compositing". It's definitely the most detailed and technical of the 3 books.

I wouldn't recommend this for a beginner, it'd be more suited to someone who has composited for a few years and wants to better understand the underlying concepts of their compositing software.

Fabulous resource.
The author has done a great job of taking most if not all the tricks and tips and combined them into one excellent book.
Film and Video is completely explained and the reader gets a great idea why they are so completely different.
This book is an A+ must have for anyone wanting to know more about the compositing process.

One of the best compositing books out there...
If you consider yourself an upper intermediate level user or less, I'd recommend this book. Among many other things that it does quite well, it explains what procedural keyers like Primatte are doing and shows you how to accomplish the same kinds of processes manually. You will know what each of the many keyers in After Effects (and other compositing apps) are doing and the logic behind each. You will also learn where best to use each based on the situation at hand. It also takes you through many other areas like matte extraction, despill procedures and color correction. After reading it, you will understand scientifically what is going on under the hood of your favorite imaging and video apps. To me, this is the "Photoshop Channel Chops" of 2001. What David Biedny's legendary PCC book did for Photoshop artists a decade or so ago, this book will do for compositors today. I have seen other books handle this subject, some do it well but none as good as this one. Well-written and very easy to understand -- though there are definitely places where you will have to reread passages to understand what's being said. But if you commit to reading it with more than a cursory perusal, you'll walk away a master. Highly recommended. Five Cows.

Ron Lindeboom
creativecow.net ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Animal portraits
Walter Schels fotos are stunning portraits of creatures great and small. They provoke a whole range of feelings on the viewers side, some are witty, some proud, some rather funny, clever, serious etc., but always admired beings in their own rights. The book is a statement of the authors underlying love for the animal kingdom.

Recommended for photography and animals enthusiasts!
Walter Schels' photography of animals provides oversized, black and white pages filled with close-up portraits of farm animals and others, displaying striking differences in features and expressions. Artists with a special passion for animals will find this packed with diverse images which, when seen under one cover, do a fine job of displaying animal characteristics and animal art. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Great Book
I'm shocked by some of the negative reviews. This book has been in print for many years and gave me the foundation for my professional work. I photograph dogs (as a second career) and this book is great! I used to read it over and over again.

Poorly written, hard to follow, boring
This book is poorly written and is boring in my opinion. There are many other books on this subject that you should consider. Look at the Nation Geo or Kodak books. The writer's of this book do not know how to teach. Once you look over it, this book will sit on your shelf never to be opened again.

Excellent introduction to the basics of composition
This is an excellent resource providing both insight and instruction. It also explains the artistic side of photography and shows various effects of composition, lens and selective focusing e.g.The pronciples descibed apply to the whole gamut of photography black and white, print vs slide, medium format, 35 mm etc. Every new and not so new photographer should have this in their library.

Well organized, and professional
This is a very well organized and concise book on photocomposition. It has a very thoughtful progression of the covered subjects, taking the reader from basic concepts of graphic design to the practical presentational and psychological principals. From the 5 main chapters of the book I found chapters 2 "Graphic Controls" and chapter 5 "Total Control" the best chapters from the point of view of richness of presentation and its practical value. The other chapters seemed to me shallower and less focused. I share the dissatisfaction of other reviewers with the presented photographs. Even though I understand that those photographs are carefully selected not for their extreme photographic value, but rather for their association with the subject of the topic they are presented for, I assume that the authors could had done a better job of finding or making more appealing pictures. Without a rich set of photographs this books seems to be a bit more "theoretical" then a book on photography, I believe, should be.

On the other note, I noted that despite the very careful selection and sequence of presentation of the main subjects, most of them are not covered as deeply as they deserve to. This being a disadvantage on one hand could easily be considered as an advantage, because the book does not overwhelm the reader with details, leaving enough space for creativity.

Overall I consider the book to be very useful and educational, especially for high end amature and beginner professional photographers.

Despite some criticism presented, I still rate it with 5 stars, which I think the book fully deserves.

Very Good but not the best
This book has a very good discussion of Photographic Composition covering all the basics needed for those desiring to improve. The pictures are excellent and illustrate the principles well. However, some of the discussion lacks the depth that I would like.

The best book I've found is "Image:Designing Effective Pictures" by Michael Freeman. This has a thorough discussion of all the techniques with excellent illustrations and diagrams. Unfortunately, it is no longer in print. I was able to get a used hardcover copy in very good condition for [$]. It's a must read for those desiring a firm grasp of the basics. Worth treasuring. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Jane Goodall is the most famous primatologist, possibly the most famous field biologist, of the 20th century. Her chimpanzee research did more to increase human knowledge of the lives of our closest relatives than that of any other scientist. It's in large part due to her example that primatology is the closest thing to a female-dominated science.

But in 1986 Goodall gave up fieldwork for a higher, more pressing calling: rescuing chimpanzees from inhumane conditions in captivity and preserving the species from extinction. Jane Goodall: 40 Years at Gombe is a pictorial tribute to her life, her studies of the chimpanzees, and her unflagging efforts to motivate human beings on their behalf.

"Every individual matters. Every individual has a role to play. Every individual makes a difference." Goodall began her research by giving the chimpanzees names, by observing them as nonhuman individuals. Her activism is directed toward the human individuals: scientists who use apes in research, Africans who live near wild apes, children in Africa and in the industrialized world who can learn to value other creatures for themselves. Goodall says of this last project that "I think Roots & Shoots is probably the reason I came into the world. Yet I couldn't have done it without all those years with the chimpanzees and an understanding that led to a blurring of the line between 'man' and 'beasts.'" --Mary Ellen Curtin ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Excellent tribute to Goodall's life and work
_____I bought this book for my girlfriend, who is a huge fan of Jane Goodall. But I find myself picking it up and reading through it a lot. This book is an excellent read, for the casual animal lover as well as those with a deep interest in primatology.

_____The book covers much of Jane Goodall's life, including biographical info, historical research milestones, and even those special moments that make Goodall the concerned activist she is. It has well-written text and beautiful, high-quality photos. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in Jane Goodall, especially those who do not know much about her and would like a starter reference book.

A Worthy Devotion to an amazing Woman!
At 14, I admire and sulute Ms. Goodall! Her work and devotion to some the most fascinating of animals is absolutely stunning! I think that over her 40 wonderful at Gombe, she has developed a beautiful relationship with these animals, and you can definetely see and feel their love with this book! Everyone who has ever read her dazzling books or has any knowledge or admiration for Jane's hard and unmistakably hard work will enjoy this timeline of a stunning woman's life in Africa! Enjoy! ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (8)

Great informative and entertaining book!
As far as I'm concerned, this is a must have 4th book to the Ansel Adams series of The Camera, The Negative and The Print. It is very informative to read about not only the circumstances in which Adams made these black and white photographs, but also some of the technical and even emotional factors.

Great reading for anyone interested in photography (mostly landscapes and medium and large format).

The book and photographs are well printed and seems sturdy.

Superb Case Studies
If you want to learn photography and you would prefer to learn (or supplement your learning) by intensive case study, this is the book for you. Ansel Adams is a master at controlling composition, light and perspective, and he conveys his unique methodology admirably in this book. This book covers much more than his epic landscapes -- there are a lot of still life, portrait and architectural case studies. And he's not just discussing the zone system, but also everything else involved, including packing the right equipment, leaving at the right time, and hunting down the right subject. And above all, patience and persistence. The photos themselves are reproduced with admirable tone, sharpness, and contrast, as they are in all the books in this series. And although there are only forty of them, each case study runs two or three pages in addition to a full page photo. And if you like this, check out Ansel Adams' classic three part intensive introduction to photography, in the same series as this book: The Camera, The Print, and The Negative.

How Did You Make That Photograph, Mr. Adams?
An essential book for all photography fans!

In 1983, Ansel Adams picked 40 of his most memorable and diverse black and white photographs as examples of his work. For each one he wrote a brief essay that described the circumstances of deciding to photograph the subject, how he came to prepare for the photography, his companions, special challenges that occurred along the way, how he selected the composition, tricky light and shadow conditions encountered, technical details of how the image was captured (equipment, film speeds, settings, filters, lenses, etc.), technical details of printing the image, and the surprises he experienced.

In the midst of all this, he shares his philosophy of life, nature, and the art of photography. It's like attending a master class with a genius. Even if you know nothing about photography, this book will open your eyes to new ways of seeing and experiencing the world around you.

For those who love these images, the stories that accompany them will broaden and deepen your appreciation of what Mr. Adams accomplished. If you are not a technically-oriented photographer or fan, realize that only about 20 percent of the material is primarily technical. The technical parts are very interesting, but the rest of the material is even better.

Mr. Adams did draw the line at one point though. "Absent from these pages [is] a statement of what the photograph 'means.'" His reason: "Only the print contains the artist's meaning and message." In other words, the work should speak to you for itself.

He does point out some limits to his essays that you should keep in mind. He often doesn't remember when he made a particular photograph. Friends would remind him that a certain print was published in a certain publication in 1934 and he had dated it as 1936 elsewhere. He also did not keep notes of how he made the image after the negative was developed. So all of the technical notes and dates are probably off a little. That's all right in many cases. You are not a historian, and you are probably not going to use glass plates. Modern equipment is much different from what Adams used, so you will be making major adjustments anyway.

His style of photography was one adventure after another. You'll be climbing with him through snow-clad forests in freezing weather, and suddenly he's down to his last exposure. Which filter should he use?

In fact, in many cases, Adams was gambling on how the image would turn out because he would not get a second chance. It's like reading a detective story, in which the story begins with a flashback sequence of how the mystery ends, like Sunset Boulevard, because the finished image is there is its duotone beauty.

In other cases, the experiences of Edward Weston helped him avoid mistakes. As a result, you get to see his delightful, dramatic images of dunes in Death Valley.

As usual, the Little, Brown pages are often too small for the images. Despite my annoyance at this limitation, I did not grade the book down since the essays are so wonderful (of more than five-star interest) and are the real reason for reading and examining this book.

I would suggest that you read The American Wilderness before reading this book. That will give you a context for understanding what Mr. Adams is talking about in these essays. The essays assume a certain level of familiarity with the people, philosophies, and locations involved. The American Wilderness can provide that background for you.

After you have swum in these wonderful stories, I suggest that you write an essay about something you have done that contains high drama and meaning. Then share that essay with someone who would appreciate know the whole story. How can others learn as rapidly and as well as possible if your experiences (successful and unsuccessful) are lost?

Keep your mind open for opportunity! It's all around you!

One word... Inspiring!
Forget "...every photographers library..." This should be in every library. It's one of the ten best books I've ever read. Yes, I'm an amateur photographer but this book is way deeper and of so much more value than just knowing which f-stop he used.

This is a beautifully illustrated book of short stories chronicling the adventures of a master as he passionately pursues his craft. It's a love story with nature. If this book doesn't inspire you to climb a mountain or to sit beside a stream for a few hours, I don't know what will. If it also inspires you to photograph your little corner of creation, there's plenty of insight in these pages as well.

Technically Helpful and Entertaining to Read
This book is an inspiration for all of us whose photos don't look like they were taken by Ansel Adams. It shows the painstaking effort that went into some of his great photographs, and the sheer luck that captured others.

The technical descriptions are very interesting and helpful for anyone who wonders how such great prints were made. The more personal stories behind finding the images really give you a sense of what it means to make great photographs. Add in Ansel Adams' personal feelings about the art of photography and you've got a book every photographer should read. ... Read more

Book Description

With the over 50 at-a-glance pricing charts that this smart companion offers, photographers are sure to tailor their pricing to any sales or licensing situation, including new media and niche market deals. Plus, this classic trade reference tool provides a wealth of time-tested information on everything from estimating prices, identifying pricing factors, negotiating fair deals, and much more.

PRICING PHOTOGRAPHY enables photographers and photography buyers to * know which fees and expenses may influence the price of a picture or licensing deal
* structure prices to fit any type of market and usage
* respond to offers/demands professionally and from a position of strength
* define prices in a way that guarantees long-term profitability
* negotiate with an understanding for the other side’s needs and goals
* create up-to-date model releases, contracts and other legal documents,based on the legal forms included in this book. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

an invaluable guide for photographers
An invaluable guide for photographers providing information on pricing, negotiation and business behavior with clients, A very good book

An essential book for pro and would-be pro photographers
I'm called a veteran photographer these days, but I learned a lot from the newest edition of this book. It's easy to forget expenses when estimating or billing, and the book shows you how to avoid such pitfalls. There are many new stock uses relating to the web etc. and I now have a basis for pricing such uses. If you are starting out, read the book carefully, it's as good an introduction to the business end of photography -- that is of course about making money -- as you will get. If you know a photo student, give it to him or her as a graduation present. Highly reccommended.

Gold mine of information
I'm a professional photographer so I have experience in pricing, but until I read this book I didn't realize how much more there was to learn. I have picked up a lot of subtleties in negotiating techniques which has given me increased confidence in dealing with clients. Another plus for me was the language rights section. By using the careful, precise language when writing an invoice I am now avoiding some pitfalls in the permissions I grant to clients. The pricing charts are a great reference so I can see where my rates fall in comparison to the national average. Sometimes I even show the price charts to my clients so they can see what a good deal I'm giving them! The book is a gold mine of information -- all spelled out in photographer-friendly language.

Practical Pricing
"Pricing Photography" is the perfect book to take the mystery out of charging for your photo assignments and stock sales. As a staff photographer for a university, I know my photography techniques. However, I have been wanting to branch out into some commercial jobs without being sure how to handle the business and pricing aspects. This book opened my eyes.

The tips on negotiating really remove the intimidation of talking money with a client. The price charts are helpful, but it's the advice that makes the book such a boon for me -- it is friendly, practical and usable.

Title and abstract are misleading
When I bought this book, I was looking for info on how to price a photo assignment for sale. The title and short abstract of the book led me to believe this would be a great reference for my purposes. However, when I got the book, the first few paragraphs pointed out that its focus was on assignment stock photography, not for pricing photo assignments in which the finished prints are to be sold to individual clients. If I were submitting stock photos to publishers, it would be a great reference for me. It gets 2 stars only because it didn't suit my purposes at the time. ... Read more

Book Description

This photographer's guide to creating successful model portfolios encourages a dynamic, diversified artistic approach and shares essential knowledge about the modeling industry, portfolio basics, and agency requirements. Photographers learn how to work with models for the best possible results, create and refine a standout portfolio, and sell that product to agents in the United States, England, and Asia. Three actual portfolios are included to help photographers conceptualize, sculpt, and refine their own portfolios to maximize their client's reach in the industry. Photographers learn why particular images were chosen for opening and closing shots, how to arrange the interior images, and what constitutes an appealing design. Featuring information on working with women, men, and children, this book will help new and experienced models and photographers alike in getting the results they desire. ... Read more

Book Description

In Sticks & Stones, Lee Friedlander offers his view of America as seen through its architecture. In 192 square-format pictures shot over the past 15 years, Friedlander has framed the familiar through his own unique way of seeing the world. Whether he's representing modest vernacular buildings or monumental skyscrapers, Friedlander liberates them from our preconceived notions and gives us a new way of looking at our surrounding environment. Shot during the course of countless trips to urban and rural areas across the country, many of them made by car (the driver's window sometimes providing Friedlander with an extra frame), these pictures capture an America as unblemished by romanticized notions of human nature as it is full of quirky human touches. Nevertheless, man's presence is not at stake here; streets, roads, façades, and buildings offer their own visual intrigue, without reference to their makers. And in the end, it is not even the grand buildings themselves that prick our interest, but rather the forgettable architectural elements--the poles, posts, sidewalks, fences, phone booths, alleys, parked cars--that through photographic juxtaposition with all kinds of buildings help us to discover the spirit of an Architectural America.

No living artist is more in touch with the look and feel of American towns and cities than Lee Friedlander.--James Enyeart Essays by James Enyeart.

Clothbound, 11.75 x 12.75 in. / 216 pgs / 192 duotones. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (10)

The book is like taking course in photography
Brenda is a terrific teacher. Her book is written in easy to understand language. Her variety of techniques discussed and beautifully illustrated will keep a photographer busy for a long time. For the beginner it is like taking a course in creative photography. For the more experienced photographer it is a wonderful review.

Creative Nature and Outdoor Photography
Brenda Tharp is a gifted nature photographer and teacher. Her images bring a sense of freshness and unique perspective not found in more traditional collections of outdoor photographs. Aspiring photographers, from the beginner to the advanced amateur, will find this book extremely helpful.

I can't understand why everyone else gave this book 5 stars
I bought this book sight unseen, based on the strength of all the 5-star reviews below. My mistake. It's a decent enough book, with lots of nice photos, but in my opion it certainly doesn't deserve a 5-star rating. There isn't anything in this book that isn't in dozens of other photography books, and there's nothing outstanding in it. It's not a bad book at all, but it's not a great book either.

Delightful
This is a delightful book in which concepts for creative photographs are cogently explained and illustrated with consistently strong images. This book could well have carried a subtitle something like -- "A Composition Toolkit". Very useful -- perhaps even inspirational -- for all skill levels.

Take More Creative Photos!
This book is well written and easy to understand. It includes a ton of great photos, which illustrate the points Brenda is making. My photographs have definitely become more creative and unique because of Brenda's tips. Her book challenges me to look for photos that aren't my "normal" compositions, which has resulted in getting more creative and satisfying photos. ... Read more

Book Description

Photographers learn how to gauge the needs of their clients before placing them into a stale, preconceived "women's," "men's," or "children's" pose that hardly fits the client's personality or preferences. Provided with a two-pronged approach to fail-safe posing, photographers learn first to determine what the mood of the portrait should be and how to use an appropriate posing genre-traditional, casual, glamour, or journalistic. Photographers are then shown how that genre can be used as a basis to produce a pose that best suits the client, allowing them to create dynamic yet natural-looking pose that the subject-and the intended recipient-will love. ... Read more

Book Description

Portrait and wedding photographers will find scores of proven-effective strategies for starting a new studio or improving an existing one in this thoroughly updated edition of an industry classic! Filled with real-life insights only a professional studio photographer would know, The Business of Studio Photography provides practical advice and surefire strategies for every aspect of operating a photography studio: from choosing a location, financing, and equipping the business to pricing jobs, negotiating with photo labs, and selling to the public. There are scores of no-nonsense guidelines for devising short- and long-term business plans, handling paperwork effectively, conducting public relations and self-promotion programs, and more. This updated and expanded edition includes an all-new section on the use of digital photography by the studio photographer, as well as completely updated lists of websites, equipment, books, and other photography resources. The book also features dozens of sample equipment checklists and forms, all ready to copy and use immediately. This is the definitive one-stop reference of professional tips and techniques for every studio photographer! ... Read more

Reviews (6)

must have book
If you are just getting started in a photography business, you have to have this book! It is step by step on starting up,getting going, then running your buisness. This man Knows what he is doing and he tells you like it is. I use it every day, my business will be open soon and i give this book a lot of credit! I highly recomend it.

Read, and then re-read this book periodically!
This is a MUST READ for anyone thinking about entering the studio photography business. But it's much more than that... you can re-read this book (or at least select chapters) and keep learning more. There are so many tips, ideas, strategies, and just plain solid advice, that one reading cannot absorb it all. Even after years in the business, I make a point of browsing this book every 4-5 months.

An excellent blend of business savvy and specifics tuned
Any interested in studio photography as a business will find Edward Lilley's Business Of Studio Photography to be an important guide to building a studio photography venture from the ground up. From choosing a location and equipping it to pricing work and catering to the wedding, portrait or commercial markets, Business Of Studio Photography provides an excellent blend of business savvy and specifics tuned to the studio photography world.

The Best I Have Seen So Far....
This is the best book on how to run the "business" aspect of a photography studio that I have seen. It's obvious that the author is very experienced in the profession and the book is loaded with tips and personal experiences that will save you time, stress, and money. I thought I could just open up a photography business and be successful, but after reading this book I found out that there was a lot I didn't know. I'm still going to pursue a career in photography, only now I'll be much smarter about it. READ THIS BOOK if you are thinking about making a living in photography!

Very Informative Book!
This book is full of helpful info. Covers all aspects of starting a photography business. It was my #1 guide in getting my photography studio up-and-running. I'm afraid it is becoming alittle dated, however. That is my only reason for giving it 4 stars instad of 5. I would be wonderful if Lilley would write an updated - into-the-21st Century-Version!! ... Read more

Book Description

For four and a half years, Pamela Constable, a veteran foreign correspondent and award-winning author, has traveled through South Asia on assignment for the Washington Post. Following religious conflicts, political crises, and natural disasters, she also searched for signs of humanity and dignity in societies rife with violence, poverty, prejudice, and greed.

In Afghanistan, she made numerous visits while the country suffered under the hostile rule of the Taliban, attempted to reach the capital in a convoy that was ambushed and saw four journalists killed. She finally moved to Kabul in late 2001 to chronicle the country’s post-Taliban rebirth. In Pakistan, she covered a military coup in 1999, immersed herself in the mys-terious world of Muslim mosques and academies, and discovered both the extremist and tolerant faces of Islam. In India, she attended one of the largest spiritual gatherings of Hindu pilgrims in history and then rushed to the horrific aftermath of a devastating earthquake. She repeatedly visited the Kashmir Valley, where Pakistani-backed Muslim guerrillas are waging a seemingly endless war with Indian security forces. In Nepal, she covered the crown prince’s massacre of the royal family and journeyed to remote villages where communist rebels brought rigid moral order to life. In Sri Lanka, she explored a tropical paradise where reclusive insurgents trained children to become suicide bombers in pursuit of a utopian ethnic homeland.

Between extended sojourns in South Asia, Constable returned to the West to reflect on the risks and rewards of her profession, revisit her roots, and compare her experiences with Islam, Hinduism, and Christianity. Her book is a uniquely personal exploration of the rich but solitary life of a foreign correspondent, set against a regional backdrop of extraordinary political and religious tumult. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

My own fragments of grace
it is a good book. and this good book has a good title - The Fragments of Grace. i live in new delhi and commute everyday to a 9-6 office. in the morning rush hour, as my bus crosses over the yamuna river, we always get stuck in a traffic jam....the buses in which I travel are always clogged tight with sweating commuters and it feels like hell......in such a distressing situation im always reminded of nazi cattle cars used for transportation of jews......at times while trapped inside these baked tin drums, i happen to look out from a side window and see the calm, dream-like, majestic dome of emperor humayun's tomb standing just across the road.......somehow someway it always make me feel beautiful about myself. while being crushed, pulled, pushed and mauled by surrounding commuters, I always try to frame a phrase that would exactly describe that nice feeling on seeing that beautiful monument. but the quest for that perfect articulation always eluded me.......thankfully, pamela constable's book-title did that job for me......humayun's tomb stands out like a 'fragment of grace' even as all sort of maddening chaos continue to fret and fume round it........

there are many decent writers around but a good writer is one which helps to articulate the reader's own feelings and perceptions even if that was not the intention in the first place.....so i was very moved and almost screamed out saying 'hey, this is me' when constable talked about her parents: 'even when we are in the same room, we remain worlds apart".......or when she confessed "seeing friends and mates they were never able to accept"......such paragraphs in this intensely personal memoir made me pause and think about my own parents and about my own life.......and ms constable was bang on target when she said that her parents still try to "improve the way i look and dress'......how does she know so much about me and my parents? how come she took my innermost perceptions and family secrets out of ME and translated them into words for HER book?

Each chapter in the book deals with her sojourn in some south asian country and ends with a deeply intimate interlude. reading the latter made me slightly uncomfortable, hesitant and anxious. it was like as if i had secretly tip-toed into somebody's attic one sleepy afternoon and was going through personal correspondence with half my alertness distracted towards the door from where that 'somebody' can enter anytime and catch me redhanded........at one point when constable wrote about a sudden in-your-face meeting with a long-lost journalist friend, once very intimate, in a crowded press conference, i felt embarrassed as if i was intruding into her privacy. indeed it makes for a very brave and kind person to write so gracefully about events so personal. thankyou pamela.

i may be sounding melodramatic but i loved the ending of this book. it was a gradual close. it was like a fading piano tune echoing from the stone walls long after the concert has ended and the audience has returned home....

finally if pamela constable happens to read this review, i want to tell her that many a times i have passed over that yamuna bridge on the banks of which lies a shanty where the elephants live. everytime i pass over that part of the city, i always instinctively look down under to wonder about those sad-looking elephants. i even made a guess after looking at some hoardings that it must be a muslim settlement. now after reading this book , whenever i will pass over that bridge again, i will know that delhi's total of 23 elephants camp there and that i know the name of at least one mahout who resides there - ghayar ali. constable should know that I too have noticed that place, that tiny fragment of grace.

really it is a book not to be borrowed and read but to be bought and read and re-read....

Insighful, compelling, important
I read this book in one day, just could not put it down. Pamela Constable has led what by any measure is an extraordinary life, full of courage and compassion. Her descriptions of the places and people she encounters in her work are lucid and lyrical, and brought to me an level of understanding I have not previously been able to manage for myself.

Brilliant
coming from pamela constable, expectations always run high. and just a decent book won't do. as someone who has almost religiously followed her articles on south asia, one expects nothing below a 'fine' book. weighed down by the baggage of such high hopes, ms constable's book on south asia has come at a time when the bookworld is already cluttered with emotional outpourings (sometimes too sentimental for a coherent and sensible read) from western correspondents who sounds either too patronising or too much in awe of this part of this world with all its engrossing exotica of soulful sufidom, AK-57 style violence, religious fanaticism, pathetic poverty, terrible tragedies and so on. not surprisingly as i opened the book, i had already started feeling a partial sense of disappointment fearing that this well-intentioned book too will end up as a hugely inflated exercise in self-important all-knowing arrogance of one of those foreign correspondents.......

now the surprising part: all my fears were uncalled for. one of the best thing about pamela constable is obviously the fact that she is a great reporter and has a clever skill of unravelling the story behind the headlines in a very unobtrusive, unreporter-like manner.....that is in a very humane and sympathetic way..... but good correspondent she may be, she is even a better writer. a very good writer indeed! and 'Fragments of Grace' proves just that thing.

as a book-lover perennially struggling to somehow reconcile his books-buying sprees with his limited personal finances, i strongly insist that this book is worth it. if there's is one book you want to buy this year, then let it be this. it has to be part of one's private library! i assure you that there wont be regrets. in this book, we see south asia through ms constable's eyes and it looks fascinating. most of the books, especially by correspondents reporting from hotspots of the world, tend to be of current-affair variety (think all those books about iraq, Afghanistan currently clogging the bookshelves) which usually manage to sustain interest till the time their biggie-big newspapers shift to some other headlines and some other editorials. such books are engrossing to read, indeed riveting and at times enjoyable, but they are then placed back on the shelves never to be taken out. 'Fragments of Grace' tends to be different. it is a book that may be contemporary but happily it also has a eternal quality about it. something that will linger on in the heart and mind long after one has finished reading it. even for those much-informed folks who think that srilanka is in south america and nepal lies on north of Botswana. even they will love this book. yeah!

anyway im planning to read it yet again......read it! ... Read more

Book Description

Your digital camera is more than new incarnation of your old film camera. Yes, it still produces photos, but it also offers new outlets for creativity, including instant gratification of seeing your photos now, the ability to experiment without worrying about expense, the technology to fine-tune your photos with advanced professional techniques, and the means to share your work instantaneously with anyone, anyplace in the world.It's no wonder that digital cameras are outselling traditional cameras for the first time ever. But the question most digital camera users ask is this, "How do I get from taking 'decent' photos to doing the things I'd really like to do? How do I tap into that potential?"Digital Photography Hacks is your passport to taking the kind of digital photos you've always aspired to.Written by Derrick Story, photographer and author of Digital Photography Pocket Guide and other books, it goes beyond the standard fare of most digital photography books--such as camera basics, understanding memory cards, and when to use a flash--to the things that professional photographers have learned through thousands of shots' worth of experience, years of experimentation, and fiddling and hacking.The book includes a foreword by photographerRick Smolan, author of America 24/7.With exquisite, full-color photos throughout, the book presents a collection of tips, tricks, and techniques for photographers ready to move beyond the basics.And if you don't have the latest in digital camera photography, this book will show you how to extend the life and functionality of your existing camera.All the hacks in the book are platform-agnostic, designed for use on both Mac on Windows-based computers. You'll find 100 proven techniques in the areas of:

• Daytime and nighttime photo secrets
• Flash magic
• Digital camera attachments
• The computer connection
• Photoshop magic
• Fun photo projects
• Camera phone tricks

Reviews (9)

Tips for the serious amateur
"Digital Photography Hacks" can be viewed as a supplement to the author's 2003 book, "Digital Photography Pocket Guide". While "Pocket Guide" is a basic introduction to digital photography, "Hacks" is a collection of real-world tips and solutions to everyday problems encountered by digital photographers. It is another addition to the growing set of "Hacks" books published by O'Reilly Media.

The 100 tips and tools are organized into 8 chapters covering camera attachments, daytime and nighttime photo secrets, flash photography, photo projects, computer-based photo processing and organizing, and a special section on camera-phone photography. A number of hacks cover traditional photographic techniques not new to digital photography but useful to any photographer who wants to improve one or two steps above mere snapshooting. The bulk of them, however, relate specifically to the new digital photography world. The most interesting are those pertaining to camera-phones which have outsold regular digital cameras in 2002. The author demonstrates how to get the best use out of camera-phones despite their limitations in resolution, power, and features. Hack #75 explains that the prime value of camera-phones is in their immediacy allowing unique opportunities to obtain images. This hack reinterprets the traditional photography maxim that the "best camera" is the one you have in your hand when a special event is occurring.

Hack #79 cleverly shows how one can communicate in a foreign country by displaying pre-loaded images in your camera to the natives in lieu of learning and speaking a foreign language. Everyone will understand the meaning of the photos. Load up your disk with images of toilets, taxi cabs, and cheeseburgers! #83 discusses how to set up and run a photo mo-blog - which is the mobile version of a traditional blog site. Portrait-taking amateurs will learn how to improve their people shots with pro-style lighting effects (#41-43) and Photoshop manipulations like whitening teeth and eliminating red eye and skin blemishes (#16, 69-70).

Learn how to add music to movies and slideshows (#61) and analyze meta-data (EXIF format) contained in most digital photo formats (#28).

This book doesn't have the natural writing flow of Mr. Story's "Pocket Guide", as the Hacks were contributed by a large handful of experts, but it is a nice resource for those many digital photographers who need guidance or inspiration in using their cameras.

Check out the chapter on camera phones
When I first looked at this book, I assumed it was a hundred nifty tricks in Photoshop. Because that is the standard digital image editing tool. But in actuality, only 13 of the hacks involve it. Because digital photography is more than just editing an image.

First and foremost, it involves capturing an image, and all that this entails. From what I can tell, over half the hacks discuss this. Several are independent of whether you might be using a digital or analog camera. Like creating a maximum depth of field. The techniques for this probably predate Ansel Adams.

Story makes a good overall point in his book. Digital photography is more than bit editing of an image. Many ideas learnt over decades of photography are still applicable. Ideally, you would use Photoshop only as a last resort.

But there are some hacks about the latest hot thing. Camera phones. What these lack in resolution, they make up for in other dimensions of ubiquity and ease of use. Because of their increasing importance, Story devotes an entire chapter to them. Some of you will head straight here.

Great resource for the amateur photographer
"Hacking" has a different meaning to the photographer than it does in the computer world. This book is about hacks the way it is used in the world of photography and not the way it is used in the world of computers. When a picture doesn't come out quite like a photographer intended they often make changes in the darkroom via masks, burning, and other techniques. This is photographic "hacking" - enhancing and changing your digital photographs in ways you may not have thought possible to achieve the results you want.

The first chapter focuses on digital camera attachments and how to use them to produce better results. From there the author leads the reader into various techniques of outside photography, nighttime photography, and flash techniques. Once you understand how to get the best picture it is time to change it into a work of art. For this process the author discusses the magic of Photoshop and how it can be used to achieve almost any effect you can imagine.

This is a book for the amateur digital camera user who wants to create a professional looking result. If you are an advanced Photoshop user the part of the book about camera use could be helpful but the Photoshop portion doesn't cover even a tenth of what Photoshop is able to do.

"Digital Photography Hacks" is highly recommended for the amateur digital photographer and anyone else interested in creating photographs instead of taking pictures.

Great Fun!
Any book that gets you to put it down several times to immediately try out some of the hacks is a good book in my opinion. I set the book down for Hack #25 - Painless Infrared Photography. I grabbed my digital camera and a TV remote and 10 seconds later I discovered I have a camera that can take infrared photographs. Cool!

There's also a cool hack that inspired me to make my first QuickTime VR movie (albeit not a very good one) by stitching together a bunch of panoramic shots with Photoshop. There are plenty of fun ideas from using everyday objects as lens filters to flash hacks. The hacks are all over the map, too. Hacks for Camera Phones, camera attachments, Photoshop hacks, Fax from your digital camera...

If you're looking for a fun book that is bound to inspire you to come up with your own hacks, this is your book!

Take casual or hobbyist photography skills to another level
This book from the O'Reilly hack series differs from the other in that it has color images. Since there are colored images, the headers are blue instead of traditional black and that's why the book costs a tad more than the other Hacks books. The landscape photos are spectacular.

The first series of hacks covers tripods, travel-sized to one made for a bike. As expected, learn how to capture magic with flash and take professional portraits with a two flash-setup.

The hacks aren't just hardware-related. Receive tips on taking daylight and nighttime photos with and dealing with kids, whiteboards, passport photos, panoramas, and other objects. Almost 100 pages cover using the computer and software like Photoshop to manipulate images.

A chapter covers camera phones, providing creative ideas for their use. The chapter is brief, so those without an interest or a camera phone won't feel like a few bucks have been wasted. The next time you're bored, go to the projects section near the end of the book for ideas on what to do with photos. Such projects are guaranteed to keep you busy for hours and having fun in t