Average customer rating:
- Just like magic
- Edgar of Virginia
- The Photoshop Book for Digital Photographers
- Wow. Thank you, Scott Kelby!
- Must have for beginning photoshop users
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The Photoshop Book for Digital Photographers
Scott Kelby
Manufacturer: New Riders Press
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ASIN: 0735712360 |
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.
Book Description
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).
This new book, from Photoshop User magazine editor and bestselling author Scott Kelby, starts at the moment your digital camera photos come into Photoshop, and he shows you the Photoshop pros techniques for managing, correcting, retouching and outputting your photos to knock your client's socks off, and turn you into a Photoshop production wizard. This book is absolutely ideal for traditional photographers who are making the jump to digital photography, and Scott's casual, step-by-step, plain-English style makes even the most complex Photoshop techniques seem so easy and accessible. It's the type of book that makes you smile and think "Ahhhh, so that's how they do it" and then immediately you realize "Hey, I can do this!"
The entire book is graphically rich, in full color cover-to-cover, and best of all it's packed with real-world project-based tutorials that will take you through the process of sizing your images with the proper resolution (and the secret to doing so without losing image quality), how to deal with High ISO noise, blue channel noise, and other common plagues introduced by digital cameras; you'll learn how the pros color correct their photos for output on everything from inkjet printers to printing presses, and the secrets to getting perfect fleshtones no matter where it¿s output. You'll learn the sharpening techniques today's top digital photographers use, and how the leading retoucher's perform "digital plastic surgery" in Photoshop, plus professional facial retouching techniques using Photoshop 7.0's amazing new tools.
Plus, you'll also learn how to manage your photos, "digital dodging and burning" tricks, dealing with common problems, making client presentations within Photoshop and on the Web, and the inside tips on how to work faster and more efficiently than you ever thought possible. If you're serious about digital photography and Photoshop, this is book you've been waiting for.
Customer Reviews:
Just like magic.......2007-06-13
Reading this book is like having a magician take you back stage and showing you how all the tricks work.
I'm an advanced beginner, thoroughly enjoying photography again. I used to do my own B/W developing and darkroom work but had to give it up. Now I have a digital camera and digital darkroom, and a great way to [re-]learn and update my skills. This book explains things in exact terms "use these settings" to accomplish task A rather than "this is what the xxx menu item does" followed by "this is what the yyy item does" etc.
It was perfect for me, thanks.
This book is an excellent product that meets its goals and audience needs perfectly.
Edgar of Virginia.......2007-05-28
I've referred to this book so many times the pages are nearly falling out. Well written and illustrated. Technique after technique is presented with excellent clarity. Five solid stars!
The Photoshop Book for Digital Photographers.......2007-05-20
Photoshop is a really complex piece of software. This book does what it says - it picks out the parts of Photoshop that are important to digital photographers. What I particularly liked was the way Scott gives you the correct settings to get you going. Too many books just tell you to make adjustments giving you no idea where to start or even what the various adjustment will do. If, as a digital photographer, you need a good, sound introduction to Photoshop this is the ONLY book you will need.
Wow. Thank you, Scott Kelby!.......2007-05-05
I learned a lot from this book, and I love the straightforward, here's-how-to-do-it approach. Worth every penny.
Must have for beginning photoshop users.......2007-02-25
This is quite possibility the best photoshop book I have ever read. Does it cover everything in great detail? No, it doesnt, but then again, that is NOT the purpose of this book. The purpose of the book is similar to a cookbook: If you want to accomplish 'A', the do steps 1-12.
After reading this book (twice) I have pitted my skills against a friend that is a professional graphics designer with 4 yrs of Photoshop experience. When it comes to correcting digital or scanned photos, not only do I finish much faster then her, the results are just as good and in some cases better.
Book Description
Michael Freeman has a well-deserved reputation for effectively explaining the concepts behind digital picture-taking to a variety of audiences. Here, he turns his attention to the professionals and advanced hobbyists who are making the move from traditional to digital and want help mastering the technology and meeting their clients' new requirements. Freeman thoroughly answers the most frequently asked questions about the basics of digital capture, from cameras and computers to storage options, printers, and scanners. Photographers will learn the different file formats and how to save images for print or publishing on the web. They'll explore valuable software tools and basic image processing programs that fix common problems, and see how to improve pictures using an assortment of cropping and filtering techniques. The smart, detailed advice will give photographers confidence as they enter this new digital world.
Customer Reviews:
great book.......2007-05-18
I liked this book so much. I am still reading it and enjoying every page .
Best book on photography in decades.......2006-04-19
This is one of those books that you will want to read and then reference. I have been a film SLR photographer for decades and now am on my second generation DSLR. This book reminds me of my old Kodak Photographers Handbook and my Nikon SLR handbook. I think I will use the Pro Digital Photographer's Handbook for many years.
Michael's information about sensor technology compared to film and how lense design affects this is one example of the depth of topic in this great handbook. He also covers the digital workflow from simple (little to no editing) to complex (steps for client based work). The color management section was very useful to calibrate all my devices.
I highly recommend this book for the photographer who understands the basics - depth of field, apertures, shutter speed, etc. (Although he has a great section about sensor size and depth of field).
Buy it and enjoy it!
You need this book.......2006-03-08
So, you want to be a professional photographer? If so, you need this book to provide the kind of information you'll need when starting out. It contains all the nitty-gritty details that are an essential part of learning to turn pro, including information on meeting the needs and expectations of your clients. That's the kind of practical business advice you won't find in other digital photography books.
The amount of useful information in this book is amazing.
Great Book .......2006-01-30
This is a well written digital photo book. It's a great for beginners and reference for experienced photographers. I strongly recommend.
Excellent read and resource.......2005-10-23
In transitioning from film to digital, I needed some books for a quick transition and to avoid reinventing the wheel. I don't have a lot of time, so a focused and detailed reference that could rapidly take me to a functional level was needed. I was very happy with the accessibility and the level of detail presented. I read the whole thing, but realize that I will need to go back to it to get the full value from it (e.g., when I find the need for a particular technique or action). It does address workflow, but that is not its focus, which I would describe as more of a broad, but sufficiently detailed introduction to many issues and techniques available to the digital photographer.
Book Description
Digital photographic technology has created a surge in the popularity of nude photography. Mastering Digital Nude Photography contains ideas and techniques that will develop your creativity and challenge you to expand your boundaries. This book examines photography of the nude for the serious photographer - one who already possesses visual imagination and creativity, but is ready to take the work in a new direction. It explores a range of photographic styles, including erotic, glamour, fetish, bodyscape, and art nude. You'll cover each important aspect of creating your initial image in the camera. Then examine postproduction through discussion of digital image manipulation and the opportunities that the computer offers for experimentation in creating your final work of art.
Customer Reviews:
The worst book on the subject ever!.......2007-07-31
This book is without a doubt one of the LEAST helpful books I have seen. It goes back immediately! Not only is the photography uninspiring, but the information contained is all but worthless ("there's a long tradition in the use of food.." "this playfully quizzical look suggests a good working relationship between model and photographer..." ) Far from being instructive, it reads more like stream-of-consciousness photo-babble from cover to cover. RUN - don't walk - away from this one!
Beautifully presented.......2007-02-03
I found that the book was very well presented. Only a small portion of it deals with taking pictures. The rest deals a lot with how to deal with all the other aspects of nude photography. I found this as an invaluable resource not just for nude photography but for all photography involving models. I especially enjoyed the sort of conversational approach he takes in his writing style.
Overall I highly recommend this book, the only downside were the frightened looks of people who saw me watching it.
Mastering Digital Nude Photography.......2006-08-01
If you are seriously interested in taking photographs of beautiful naked models, then this is the kind of book you won't be able to put down. It's rammed full of insightful little tips and tricks and amusing anecdotes. Explaining everything in a coherent and concise manner, from how to approach potential models, right through to tweaking and correcting the final print, without ever becoming patronizing or overly techie.
An exceptionally good read, a very useful reference book and a fine collection of pictures too. I'm sure I'll be returning to this fantastic book, time and time again.
A Excellent Read.......2006-07-31
I have all 3 of Rod's books. The first 2 were all about the information and were rather impersonal in his approach in showing you. This book rather has a very personal touch to it. Its like he is sitting with you explaining everything one on one. It is chuck full of information and a lifetime of experience. All you have to do is read and learn from it.
Chris
Poor.......2006-06-23
I thought that the book will examine the techniques in deep detail, hence the "Mastering" in the title, but I was wrong.
The book is poor edited and has very vague information. Maybe it should take out the "Mastering" from the title and put a "Amateur".
Book Description
Updated with a new focus on digital imaging technologies, the new edition of this guide for photography professionals discusses how to improve lighting, digital capture, and client posturing techniques in the camera room so that less time is spent making computerized corrections in the digital darkroom. Posing and lighting strategies for minimizing perceived faults in the client's appearance, such as under-eye circles, bald spots, and tummy bulges, are provided, along with techniques for gracefully addressing and resolving potential appearance problems without demoralizing the client. Pointers are also given for effectively using Adobe Photoshop for the image problems that remain, including information on digitally removing braces and smoothing stray hairs.
Customer Reviews:
Corrective Lighting Posing & Retouching for Digital Portrait Photographers.......2007-09-20
This book is wonderfully written. It answered most of my questions and some I had not thought of. I would recommend this book to anyone having trouble getting that perfect shot.
Get this book!.......2007-08-03
Information in here will help you hide the flaws that make people not buy your portraits! Get it... learn it by heart and use it to drive up your sales even on tough-lower-self-esteem-having clients. By all means a must own!
Information for Every Type of Photographer.......2007-03-31
I learned so much from this book. It was very well written.
Corrective Lighting, Posing & Retouching for Digital Portrait Photographers.......2006-07-31
Excellant introductory look at Portrait Photography. Part of the art of getting a good result in portraits is the skill of posing your subject correctly & in such a way that you can overcome any flaws etc. Excellent book for Portrait photographers wanting to do more & develop their skills
Great book for getting the best photos of your subjects.......2006-06-30
Great book not so much on lighting as it is on positioning your subjects so when you do snap the shutter they are posied to look their best. This can be hard for folks overweight, this book explains how you can position just about anyone to make their photos look better and they will feel better about it.
Book Description
In this fully updated third edition, award-winning photographer and bestselling author Tom Ang offers concise, practical, easy-to-use information and advice to help readers create truly extraordinary images.
Customer Reviews:
Great all around book for the beginner.......2007-02-12
Digital photographers handbook.
This book is about the preparation that goes into planning trips, the digital darkroom, file maintenance and to a certain extent the composition of the photo.
The photos in the book are ok but not great. They are normal day to day shots that most people take but I think thats part of the concept of the book was to use photos that most people could take so that they don't think to themselves "I cant take that shot". As an example there are shots of kids playing on a beach.
Where this book hits the mark is in it coverage photo manipulation, the hardware involved and how it works, cameras, computers, memory cards and card readers as well as software applications used in image manipulation. In detail it covers how a camera works. How lens's work. The book also describes how to compensate for environmental and lighting conditions and what can be done upfront while taking the picture to minimize any negative effect of light or environmental condition.
One of the helpful things about this book is that he uses the same photo in various stages of manipulation so that you can see what the effect is going to look like in all the stages of manipulation that he describes.
Also covered in the book are different conceptual ideas of photography like photo journalism, architectural photography, macro photography and landscape photography to name a few.
Overall this is a good book for the person just getting into digital photograph but I'm not sure that it will be of much use to the intermediate to advanced photographer thats already familiar with digital image manipulation.
Book Description
Packed with more than 400 photographs, technical tips, and personal insights, this inspirational guide helps outdoor photographers make the most of their digital camera. With a concentration on the different techniques required by the digital format, each page explains how to create professional quality photos of all the popular subjects: urban and rural photography, street portraits, architecture, and more. Manage such challenges as excessively bright skies and find out how to take full advantage of nature’s beauties, such as the warm golden light found at daybreak and dusk. Expert information reveals how to enhance the image by using filters such as grads and polarizers, along with computer and image-editing software. There’s added advice on composition, framing, and setting the scene.
Customer Reviews:
Hodge-Podge.......2005-01-31
You would think that a book whose title includes the words "Digital Photography Expert" and the "definitive guide for serious digital photographers" would give you hints about using digital cameras. This book doesn't do that.
It has a few good points. The typography is excellent with plenty of white space and clean layout. The pictures are good. And several times the author uses a series of pictures to build up to the best picture of a subject, just as a photographer in the field might develop his vision of a subject.
Now the bad points. The book is thrown together by mixing a lot of different learning points without relationship to each other and treating them in a superficial manner. It's as if no one ever told the author about making an outline of his teaching points before starting to actually write.
Then there is the approach to digital, or rather a lack of it. One would expect that this book would suggest a way that the digital aspects of photography could be used to enhance the taking of nature and landscape photographs. Instead the author completely ignores the nature of digital cameras. For example one of the most important devices a digital camera may contain is a histogram to allow you to adjust exposure. (A histogram is graphic representation showing the distribution of light values in a picture.) A good book would tell you how to use the histogram. The author's only reference to a histogram is to tell you that shots of the sea can be tricky and one should check the histogram. In the glossary, the author does explain what a histogram is in language similar to the parenthetical expression used a few sentences earlier in this paragraph but he never tells you how to use the histogram.
But wait. There's more. Often he perpetuates myths that are just wrong, or at least require more information to be useful. For example he says that telephoto lenses have less depth of field then wide angle lenses, which is not true if the image size of a subject on the sensor is the same, or that split neutral density filters don't work with telephoto lenses. And the essential nature photography skills he leaves out are legion. There is no mention of the use of flash or any of the so-called "rules" of composition.
I can't suggest a single book that will provide you detailed information on both landscape and nature photography and digital photography. However for a comprehensive, well-organized approach to nature photography nothing beats John Shaw's "Nature Photography Field Guide" even though he doesn't mention digital. To see how to capitalize on digital cameras' characteristics I recommend "Shooting Digital" by Mikkel Aaland. And if you are interested in wildlife photography, which Freeman purports to explain, but ends up ignoring, you could do a lot worse than reading the late Bill Silliker, Jr.'s "Master Guide for Wildlife Photographers."
Don't waste much time with "Digital Photography Expert Nature and Landscape Photography"
Pretty pictures only - very little information.......2004-09-13
I'm not sure how this book (and author) can state that this is the "Definitive guide for serious digital photographers". If I went on useful content it would only rate 1 star (the lowest rating allowed) but I liked some of the pictures, so I was generous and gave the book 2 stars..
Here's a sample of what "Serious Digital Photographers" will find interesting about this book. The terms "f-stop" and "shutter speed" are mentioned 4 times each in this book. Could it be that these aren't things that serious digital photographers care about? Perhaps they just aren't important when it comes to taking landscape photos. Oh well, the author probably thought we wanted to just look at his pictures instead of taking our own.
Another of the author's valuable suggestions include taking pictures in the morning or at twilight for more interesting light effects. I'm sure rare nuggets like this are sure to come as a big surprise to photographers everywhere. Do yourself a favor and skip this book. Try John Shaw's landscape photography if you want a much better book.
Product Description
Before the digital era, many hours were spent in the darkroom tinkering with chemicals. Now, handcrafted prints can be easily created with a basic desktop workstation and inkjet printer. With clear, uncomplicated instructions for setting up a workstation, testing different papers, and creatively interpreting photographs, The Digital Printing Handbook offers no-fail advice for choosing equipment and materials, controlling image quality, and troubleshooting print results. Then, step-by-step projects demonstrate how to create a variety of digital printing effects, from the basic essentials to more advanced techniques.Each technique is simplified to work with all recent versions of popular software, including Adobe Photoshop. What's more, they're all explained in clear, jargon-free text that's easy for beginners to follow, yet thorough enoughfor veteran artists. This guide also features an exciting range of color recipes for recreating amazing darkroom, vintage, and alternative print processes; proven advice for using a variety of printers, papers and inks; and a comprehensive reference section. The Digital Printing Handbook is both a handy reference and a source ofinspirationthe definitive darkroom manual for the digital age! A jargon-free guide to creating an array of digital printing techniques Demonstrates simple as well as more complex projects step by step Digital printing is the next logical step when learning and mast
Customer Reviews:
Digital Photo Instructor.......2004-12-09
This is an excellent book for the creative photographer filled with images and ideas presented in a clear, concise manner. The good and the bad. The concepts Daly teaches are timeless, but the techniques have been changed by the advancement of Photoshop and printers.
A Digital Printing Primer For The Digital Darkroom.......2003-02-18
Excellent reference on how to set-up your computer monitor and printer to get the best possible photographic prints. It is well written and provides pictorial guidance and how-to's. The section on color techniques has provided me a more clear understanding of color management and approaches with my digital camera photos. It also has a very useful chapter on references & resources.
The book was right on target! Great book!.......2003-01-31
I was looking for some help in printing photographs to my inkjet.
There were many issues I didnt understand in color management.
This book was great for me as it discussed every detail including
color management, differient types of papers, file formats and
print quaility issues. In addition were some good PhotoShop tips
for improving your photo prior to printing. Glad I bought it!
OK as a first book.......2003-01-24
This isn't a bad book. It's a little basic. It might function well as your first book to answer elementary questions about digital printing.
I found the sections on color management to be a little thin. If you are looking to graduate to the next level, and want more in-depth knowledge and a better interpretation I'd recommend Photoshop Artistry.
Beyond LPT1.......2002-12-04
As the age of digital photography has dawned, more and more serious photographers have begun to use Photoshop software to manipulate their photographs. But even after going through the arcane tricks of "levels" and "curves" they sometimes have difficulty transforming what they see on their monitor to what comes out of their printer. Even more committed digital photographers wonder if there are alternate ways to use the technology to create art. This book is aimed at the audience of advanced Photoshop users.
This is not a tutorial for photographers to learn Photoshop. For that I recommend "Photoshop 7 Artistry by Barry Haynes". Instead, this book is aimed at what happens when a file manipulated in Photoshop gets sent to the printer.
The section that I believe will be of most interest deals with printer color management. Photoshop users want to insure that what they see on their monitor will be what they get on their printer. Most Photoshop books discuss using Adobe Gamma to adjust a monitor but few give the details of calibrating a printer. In just 8 pages Daly tells exactly how to set up a profile for your printer so that your monitor and printer will match up. That alone makes this book worth the price.
For photographers interested in going beyond sending the command to print a photo, this book will offer a number of ideas. Some will be quite practical, like a discussion of monochrome printing techniques, or instructions on how to make a CD cover for the CDR on which you might save a photo file. Some will be of interest to the photographer looking to push his work into a more artful stage, like a discussion of how to create a rough-edged negative border around a print. And some will serve to remind us of just how far we can push our photographic art, like discussions of overprinting old manuscripts or creating a hand-bound book of photographs.
The book is not without fault. The discussion of custom printing modes is much too cursory. And even though printed in 2002, the book only refers to the 6.0 version of Photoshop. On the other hand, given the general nature of the discussions, in most cases, this is not a serious limitation.
If you are not interested in tinkering with your computer to get a better digital photograph, this book isn't for you. But for the Photoshop user who wants to get more out of his or her printer, this book focuses on that task more clearly and concisely than any other I've encountered.
Book Description
Suitable for all level of techniques, this is the ultimate photographic handbook for the 21st century! This handbook encourages traditional photographers to experiment with new technology while inspiring experienced users to reach new heights. Readers learn how to get the most out of this new technology that's transforming the world of photography. From improving casual snapshots to learning the secrets of lighting, composition, and digital image manipulation, this book provides a practical, yet in-depth approach on producing better photographs. The Digital Photographer's Handbook includes comprehensive information on the most up-to-date equipment, software, and accessories.
Customer Reviews:
Good basics, but very biased........2007-10-05
My daughter checked this book out of her school library and I had to read through many parts because she was confused about what the author said. The author can make wonderful examples and visual illustrations to help understand points, but in others it is too simplified; almost a "that's how it is, don't wonder anymore" type of feel.
The first 1/3 of the book is great for touching on each necessary basic, but that's all. I highly recommend you do not buy this book, rather check it out from a library if you are getting into photography for the first time. There are many more good books out there that you will want to buy and keep that give much more practical information.
I am also not impressed with the author's biased sense of what equipment you need. For example, he praises Macs, whereas he gives you the impression that if you use a PC (he makes you feel that all PCs are Windows, showing his lack of knowledge for other Operating Systems) you won't have good results at all. This is bunk as most talented photographers (meaning the ones who are really making a living at it) know that good photography relies on the skills of the photographer - not the tools they use. I wonder if he knows that Macs are basically PCs now that they are using Intel architecture? Does he know what RedHat is?
Again, this book is great for a library but not for the home bookshelf. Check it out for a few days, read the high points, then get a more thorough book for study.
Comprehensive, clear, and concise.......2007-08-23
Covers an amazing range of topics, completely, but briefly. Discusses hardware, artistic theory, lighting, software, settings, landscapes, portraits, and many more topics. The only weak area is in the use of software to manipulate photos, mainly because much more space would be needed. The photos are great and often help one understand the underlying principles. I found this book to be very helpful.
Educational Book.......2007-05-13
Purchased for course. Good book with great examples. Easy read and easy to follow. MysticBleu
Good update to a useful book........2006-01-02
I was pleased to see that this excellent book has been updated. It's always been one of my favorites, with just the right mixture of technical detail and useful information.
Not the Bible of Photography... but helpfull.......2005-12-23
It is pretty basic, and does have a lot of information that doesn't really apply to what the book intends to.. As the computer information, viruses and stuff like it.
Also, if you are looking for a book that will teach you all the technical information about photography.. This is not the one.. It will go through the basics of photography but not with a lot of details... Airball on this one.
Lots of information about equipment, history and rules of "HOW TO"'s to take a good snapshoot.
There are other books in order to explain more about technical and principles of photography which this one does not cover pretty well.
Book Description
An acclaimed professional photographer, with a display of more than 400 beautiful color images, shows how to get close-up and personal with a digital camera. Michael Freeman teaches amateurs how to meet the challenges of this very special type of photography, with plenty of information on the ins and outs of magnification, parallax control, and depth of field. See how to apply selective focus to enhance the subject and make it stand out from the background. Such issues as using found and commonplace objects and capturing the beauty of shadows, all receive detailed attention. With technical tips and software retouching projects too, this guide is simply an indispensable resource for the avid digital photographer who wants to take great close-up shots.
Customer Reviews:
Good overview. Too general as intro. instuctional resource. .......2007-07-30
As another reviewer who gave it 2 stars, I agree that this is more of an "overview of the field" than a practical "how-to" book. For example, I picked up this book to find info about choosing the best macro lens(es) for flower close-ups, and to learn about the differences among most popular options (50 mm vs. 100 mm. macro properties); instead, the author goes into detail about using elaborate setups with lens extension rings (p. 14-15) and even provides a table with extension types and magnification each provides, but does not discuss the basic macro lenses available on the market to advanced amateurs and professionals alike...
The diagrams that explain different lighting setups are helpful, but much of the book deals with setups and types of photography that will only interest specialized professional studio photographers (e.g. sections on museum reproduction and cataloging photos of coins, shells, gemstones and pearls, and reproduction of manuscripts / prints and paintings). Even in those cases, it seems that this is way too complex for an amateur, and yet not specific / detailed enough to be of use to an experienced (or aspiring) specialist. I was hoping this would be the same level of detail and quality as the same authors excellent book on black and white photos (in the same series), but it's not even close. It is certainly worth a look, if you can find it at the local library, but not something I would recommend buying.
Far Off.......2005-02-09
This is a book that attempts to cover the entire range of close-up photography from close-ups of gems to close-ups of insects. As I read this book I kept wondering what audience the author was trying to reach and what he was trying to teach that audience.
The book is laid out in individual sections of two facing pages. Each page contains text and photographs or diagrams. The layout resulted in beautiful typography but almost seemed to interfere with a coherent development of any subject because of the desire to shoehorn the material into the two-page format, when clearly some subjects required extensive development that couldn't be so limited.
Moreover the level of detail was not enough to help a beginning close-up photographer in the basic tasks or an experienced photographer in complex tasks. Instead the book was most useful as an idea book about what is possible in close-up photography.
Often the author offered opinions without any substantiation. For example, he regularly indicated that single lens reflex cameras were best for close up work, but never explained that that was due to the difficulty of framing a close subject due to parallax errors with a camera whose viewfinder is not on the lens axis.
There is also a lot of bad information here. For example at one point he suggests manually calculating exposure for a flash picture. I found this incredible given that fact that most digital cameras provide for some sort of automatic, through-the-lens, metering of electronic flash.
But then I should not have been surprised. Undoubtedly every publisher now wants photography manuals pitched at digital photographers. Indeed the title of this book is "Digital Photography Expert Close-up Photography", and the cover states that it is the "definitive guide for serious digital photographers". And yet there is not a single mention of what I consider to be the most useful tool offered by digital cameras, a histogram of light values to aid you in calculating exposure.
Finally, much of this book is devoted to something other than close-up photography. For example, the discussion of rocks and stone features pictures of a slot canyons and petroglyphs all of which appear to be at least 10 feet distant from the camera.
I don't want to suggest that this book is totally without merit. Scattered throughout the book are tips that a close-up photographer might find useful. For example the author suggests it may be possible to achieve depth of field by compositing several pictures of a small object in editing software, each with a different focus point, to create the appearance of sharpness where a single image would not succeed. But for someone looking for a well-conceived, total approach to the art of close-up photography, using a digital camera, this book is not a help.
Close Up Work is a Different World.......2005-01-16
Cameras and lenses are normally designed for and indeed used for standard photography at standard distances. When taking pictures at normal distances standard equipment, standard techniques work well. When you move into pictures where the image is the same size or larger than the object being photographed the whole picture changes. The equipment, the lighting, and the techniques are different.
Michael Freeman is a consummate master of close work. In this book he goes into the equipment and more important the concepts that become important in photographing things may be too small to be seen through the naked eye. He is a professional photographer and has had numerous difficult assignments to photograph. In this book he discusses several of his projects and the extraordinary efforts he had to go through to get the final result.
The book is less a tutorial than a series of examples of pictures and the detailed setup required to produce them.
A Great Reference & Learning Tool.......2004-09-19
This book has examples of any type of close-up photography you can imagine, plus tips on how to take pictures of each type of object. It also reviews some of the basics of the techniques behind it. It is very light however on talking about the tools, especially the lighting tools.
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Books Index
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