How-to Books - Page 5

Monte Zucker's Portrait Photography Handbook

Monte Zucker

Amazon Price: $23.07 List Price: $34.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Amherst Media, Inc. Amazon Marketplace: 32 new & used starting at $20.00

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 20 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Not as Good as You Might Expect from Monte 3 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

Because it was written by Monte, I really wanted to love this book, but in the end it is just a so-so introduction to portrait photography.

There are a few useful tips, and many excellent example photos, all reproduced in Amherst Media's characteristically excellent quality, but there really isn't a lot of information here.

The book is 128 pages, but because of the space the example photos take up and because it is sparsely typeset in relatively large print, the actual content is about what would typically fit in a 40 page book. This would be a real rip-off at the list price, but not quite so bad at Amazon's discount price.

The photo captions are simply a rehash of a line or two from the main text (which sometimes appear to be randomly selected). There is no exposure or other EXIF data included in the photo captions, which would have aided in understanding his use of lenses and aperture. There are no formal lighting diagrams, only a few "behind the scenes"-type shots showing a wider view of how he took the corresponding shot, but these are often missing lights and other key elements of the shot which detracts from their value.

On the positive side, he does boil-down posing to two basic poses with a few minor variations, but even these explanations would have greatly benefited from a few clear diagrams and better correlation with the example photos.

Editorial Review:

Master of portraiture Monte Zucker presents page after page of essential photographic lessons to enable photographers to achieve and exceed their financial and artistic goals. Providing instructions on how to conduct a well-crafted client consultation, readers will learn which angles of the face to photograph, how to pose the body, where to place the camera, and the proper positioning of lighting equipment in order to cultivate an emotional connection with clients to produce an ideal image. Chapters with expert advice on digital imaging cleanup and finishing techniques, clothing and makeup selection, and location and studio backdrop options to reinforce portrait concepts are also included.

Digital Nature Photography: The Art and the Science

John and Barbara Gerlach

Amazon Price: $16.47 List Price: $24.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Focal Press Amazon Marketplace: 42 new & used starting at $14.50

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 25 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Very disappointed...few direct references to Nature Photography 1 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

I was really looking forward to this book. I wanted an interesting book introducing the topic of nature photography. What this book is in reality is an introductory book to photography itself. Sure there are a lot of amazing photos, but nothing about how they were obtained.

I realize photography is photography but why would I want a book nature photography that has chapters dedicated to how to pic a digital camera?!?!?! I have done that, I wanted info on the topic in the title. I have plenty of books on exposure, composition and shutter use...and one chapter on "Carrying Your Photography Gear"...again, huh?

This is an excellent book for someone just starting out in photography who does not have other references and/or no clue how to use the internet to learn the basics. If you want shared experiences and philosophy about nature photography...THIS IS NOT FOR YOU....or for me.

I simply cannot fully express how let down I am by this misleading title and extremely basic content. I was going to leave a 3-star rating because the info is solid but, after more thought, given there is essentially zero reference to the implied topic of nature photography I am giving this 1-star. Just a shame...

Editorial Review:

Over 50,000 photographers can't be wrong! John and Barbara Gerlach finally write the book their workshop attendees have been asking for!

Digital Nature Photography is a how-to guide for photographers who want to take their work to the next level. Written by professionals with over 20 years experience, the Gerlachs reveal enlightening techniques for shooting nature images in the field. The combination of artistic approach and impeccable technique will help you capture your next great image.

·Learn what equipment works best in the field, and why, as well as tips for superb shots
·Create sharp images at capture with detailed instructions for digital exposure
·Master the three factors that lead to excellent images: technique, subject and situation

Lighting Photo Workshop

Chris Bucher

Amazon Price: $19.79 List Price: $29.99 Usually ships in 7 to 11 days By: Wiley Amazon Marketplace: 46 new & used starting at $15.00

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 10 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

A guide recommended for any general photography collection. 5 out of 5 stars.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful.

Chris Bucher's LIGHTING PHOTO WORKSHOP tells how to use the camera to capture atmosphere and images through a better understanding of light's properties and how the camera works to incorporate it into special effects. From working with natural light to creating mood with artificial light, chapters use plenty of color photo examples - packing nearly every page - as they explain how light can be mastered. The author's commercial photography work lends a business approach to a guide recommended for any general photography collection.

Basic Technique Well Explained, Good Examples 5 out of 5 stars.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful.

I own this book and "Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson". Both books are outstanding with regards to emphasis on Basic Exposure Techniques. Chris Bucher has provided plenty of illustrations, and wherever applicable he has commented on camera technique and ability of post processing to fix incorrect exposures. Plenty of systematic exercises to practice technique. Book is well-priced, and every enthusiast will benefit from a few tips. Very well priced. Must have for an amatuer...

Editorial Review:

A rigorous practical guide to photographic lighting techniques, complete with hands-on assignments

Offering digital photographers a complete course in photographic lighting, this book covers everything from using flash systems and studio lights to working outdoors in bright or low-light conditions. Full-color examples show how the right lighting can enhance color, improve contrast, and open the door to new creative possibilities.

Portrait Photographer's Handbook

Bill Hurter

Amazon Price: $23.07 List Price: $34.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Amherst Media, Inc. Amazon Marketplace: 42 new & used starting at $16.29

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 24 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Disappointed 2 out of 5 stars.
2 of 7 people found this review helpful.

I saw the high ratings for this book and thought it would be great to add to my collection. While the pictures are vivid, the book is a disappointment. The focus seems to be primarily on digital photography. If you're using digital then this book might be good for you. I was hoping to have a book that offered insight into both. My focus is film. It always has been and always will be, as I love working in the darkroom. I enjoy to learn primarily from film based books because I have a chance to see what can be done without relying on viewing the image in the digital viewing area. I also get to see what work is done in the darkroom as opposed to PhotoShop. This book deals too much with both digital and PS editing techniques. As such, it's not a book that will go great on my shelf and I'll probably end up selling it in a garage sale someday. A waste of money as I am sure I won't get as much as I paid for it.

If digital is your medium then this book might work for you. If you're looking for great film techniques you may want to look into another book. Or at least look at an older edition of this book.

Editorial Review:

Combining time-tested practices with contemporary methods, this guidebook details the fine art of capturing formal and casual posed images. With advice and guidance from the finest and most decorated portrait and wedding photographers in the country, this instructional discusses subjects such as lighting in the studio and on location, improving improvisational shooting techniques, and how to retouch images in the post-production process to create truly flawless looks. A chapter addressing the common problems in taking portraitures—from working with subjects with glasses to subjects that vary in size, facial features, and skin tone—is also included.

The Kids' Guide to Digital Photography: How to Shoot, Save, Play with & Print Your Digital Photos

Jenni Bidner

Amazon Price: $9.95 List Price: $9.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Lark Books Amazon Marketplace: 42 new & used starting at $5.56

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 5 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Wow! What a Great Book! 5 out of 5 stars.
18 of 18 people found this review helpful.

While there may not be a "perfect" guide for digital photography, this one comes as close as I've ever seen.

It covers everything from choosing a camera (and how to get the most out of it) to editing, printing and even using the web.

It even covers areas that many adults seem to have problems with, like the "Reality Check" regarding built in flash.

Focus, composition, exposure and even ISO are all covered. Granted, some subjects are just touched on rather than discussed in depth but remember the intended reader. (In my case, my 12-year old.) If the kid really wants to learn about any given subject there are countless specialized books to be found.

Overall I have to say that I highly recommend this book.
I'd even go so far to say that I would even buy it for an adult, especially one that might be a bit technophobic.

Editorial Review:

Digital photography is hot, and kids want to get in on the fun. This comprehensive instructional guide, created especially for youngsters, tells them exactly what they need to know to capture those birthday parties, school events, sleepovers, and family vacations. Every important question gets an easy-to-understand answer: What’s a pixel? What is resolution and why does it matter? How can I make computers, scanners, and printers work with my camera? Children will get creative with software that alters and enhances images, and learn new ways to add text, adjust color and brightness, and change a background. Fifteen appealing projects, from turning snapshots into puzzles to crafting unique CD covers, photo magnets, and digital scrapbooks, make this a no-brainer for the budding photographer.

ASMP Professional Business Practices in Photography, 7th Edition

American Society of Media Photographers

Amazon Price: $23.10 List Price: $35.00 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Allworth Press Amazon Marketplace: 31 new & used starting at $20.79

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 9 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Photographers!!! 4 out of 5 stars.
3 of 6 people found this review helpful.

Every photographer wanting to become pro should get this book! :) For a photography book....it lacks nice pretty pictures. It's mainly just plain text, but good info.

Editorial Review:

At last! The eagerly anticipated revised edition of the photographer’s "business bible" is here, fully updated with the last word on key business practices, industry standards, and resources. Up-to-the-minute coverage now includes digital asset management; metadata standards; the role of Internet, FTP, and e-mail technologies; the impact of media consolidation on assignment and stock photography; and much more. This indispensable guide covers the full range of business and legal questions that photographers might have, with comprehensive advice from the ASMP, the foremost authority in the field. In eleven in-depth chapters, more than two dozen industry experts explore pricing and negotiating, ethics, rights in traditional and electronic media, publishing, and much more. Business and legal forms, checklists, and an extensive cross-media bibliography make this the one reference book that deserves a place on every successful photographer’s bookshelf.

Inside the Vatican (National Geographic)

Bart Mcdowell

Amazon Price: $12.24 List Price: $18.00 Usually ships in 24 hours By: National Geographic Amazon Marketplace: 45 new & used starting at $7.44

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 16 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

This lavishly illustrated guide through the Vatican captures the people, the treasures, and the inner workings of the center of the Roman Catholic Church. Bart McDowell takes readers through centuries of Vatican history, describing the days of the Roman Empire, the glorious years of the Renaissance, the power struggle between Church and State that endured from the late 7th century until 1929, and much more. Since the center of the Roman Catholic Church is also the world's smallest nation, McDowell explains religious matters, such as the process of canonization, and governmental operations of the Vatican-highlighted by a visit with Pope John Paul II as he attends to his many daily duties. Photographer James L. Stanfield spent nearly a year inside the Vatican with unprecedented access to its museums, ceremonies, and people. His full-color photographs show art that few visitors to the Vatican have the chance to see-works of such masters as Michelangelo and Raphael-and provide private viewings of Pope John Paul II's quarters, the necropolis beneath St. Peter's Basilica, and world-renowned libraries. Through these beautiful and exclusive photographs and the revealing text that accompanies them, Inside the Vatican celebrates a small, dynamic community unique in the world.

Closeup Shooting: A Guide to Closeup, Tabletop and Macro Photography

Cyrill Harnischmacher

Amazon Price: $16.47 List Price: $24.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Rocky Nook Amazon Marketplace: 44 new & used starting at $15.26

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 16 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

Close-up photography is one of the most fascinating areas in photography. This illustrated guide will take the reader on a journey into the wonderful world of small, smaller, and smallest objects and show him how he can capture their beauty with photographic images. Each step of the way will be carefully explained; how to choose the right equipment, how to use ambient light or create artificial lighting, and how to conceptualize and frame the perfect shot.

Whereas the nature photographer is exploring facets and structures in his environment, the "table top photographer" is trying to shoot a small object, a product, or a small treasure for display on the web (e.g., eBay) or in print. Here, the choice of the appropriate lighting and backdrop, and the creative use of the camera's features are key to a perfect image.

Cyrill Harnischmacher explains all aspects of close-up shooting for both inside the studio, as well as outdoors. This book is filled with beautifully illustrated examples and detailed instructions on how to set up a system and workflow for successful close-up photography.

Magic Lantern Guides: Pentax K20D (Magic Lantern Guides)

Peter K. Burian

Amazon Price: $13.57 List Price: $19.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Magic Lantern - Model: 1600593798 Amazon Marketplace: 39 new & used starting at $12.08

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 4 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

A bit better than the original owner's manual. 2 out of 5 stars.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful.

This book goes step by step into every single feature, function and adjustment possible in this camera, but nothing else. I does explain most in layman's terms.

I would have liked practical examples being showed as illustration for certain features or settings. I think a book of this matter should have them, as is the only practical way to show what this or that does to your pictures and what to expect from every setting and function available.

Better than the Manual 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

This book is a must have for anyone who purchases the Pentax K20D. While it is a near mirror of the actual manual, it is written in such a manner that can be understood by any and all.

Again, A must have.

Editorial Review:

This brand-new Pentax has major, new features, and this Magic Lantern Guide helps photographers make the most of every one.  It covers such exciting upgrades as the low-noise, high-resolution CMOS sensor; the Live View that provides a real-time preview of a scene on a large monitor; a series of picture style options for creating different effects; a Dynamic range Adjustment option; plus a greater variety of post-processing alternatives than ever before.

Adobe(R) Photoshop 7.0 Classroom in a Book

Adobe Creative Team

Amazon Price: $34.64 List Price: $54.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Adobe Press Amazon Marketplace: 62 new & used starting at $12.62

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 66 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

When it comes to digital imaging software, Adobe Photoshop has long set the standard. Thus, when a new version of the popular program appears, designers tend to stand up and take notice--hen get down to the serious business of learning about it! And for that, there's no better place to turn than the book from the people behind the product: Adobe Press' Adobe Photoshop 7.0 Classroom in a Book.

Using the same style of self-paced instruction employed in the best-selling previous edition, this comprehensive set of Photoshop lessons provides everything you need to dive into the world of print, Web, and graphic design with Photoshop 7. Completely revised to cover all of Photoshop 7's new features (including the new Healing Brush, color correction commands, and file management tools), the book starts with an introductory tour of the software and then progresses on through 16 lessons, covering everything from Photoshop's interface to more complex topics like color management, Web graphics, and photo retouching. You'll find step-by-step instructions for a variety of projects (from beginning to advanced) and review questions at the end of each chapter to reinforce what you've learned. Easy-to-use project files on the accompanying CD-ROM complete the package.