Cameras and Photographs Books

This book offers some great tips and ideas that are easy to incorporate into your normal photo taking. Some tips are common sense, and others offer a different perspective on things. You can read the book in under an hour, and immediately start improving your photography. The book is especially good for amateurs who never seem to be able to get the right shot, and also offers good ideas for more seasoned photographers. I highly recommend it!

As a working pro, people often ask me how to take better pictures. I simply give them the guidelines Nick gives in this book, and then point them to a copy of it. He talks in accessible language, with no jargon, and no special tools needed. You can apply his thoughts to pictures you take with a disposable camera.

More importantly, Nick shows you what he would do... and he took the photos in the book with his wife's point and shoot. By showing you what the average person would do and what he would do, it helps you learn how to compose pictures. But what makes Nick special is that he also shows you not a thought process, but a heart process, one that takes photography out of the realm of souvenir shooting and into the place where people make emotional connections to the moments that make up our lives and our families. This is the genius of the book: You learn how to feel with a camera as an extension of your heart.

I have yet to see a friend look inside this book, even just to skim it, and not come away as a better photographer.

I love Nick Kelsh's how to books. I've always considered myself a good amateur photographer but some of his tips have transformed my photography. A must for every person who wants to capture special moments forever.

This is amazing book. In simple language, it explains how to make good photos with any camera. There is no deep technical analysis (Like Ansel Adams in "The Camera", "The Negative" or John Shaw's Nature Photography Field Guide). There are no guidelines how to improve your creativity (like "Learning to See Creatively: Design, Color & Composition in Photography or Photography and the Art of Seeing" by Freeman Patterson or "A Visual Perception Workshop for Film and Digital Photography" by Bryan Peterson). This books are great but doesn't answer simple way for simple questions (like questions many my friends asked me). Book covers most common shooting situations and explains how to avoid common mistakes and make your photo looks much better and more interesting. I red a lot of books on this topic (good books), but they mostly dedicated to people who want to become professional photographer or photo artist. Even I already know all ideas presented in this book, it was helpful for me to read this.

Nick Kelsh's books have seriously inspired me to kick my photography skills up a notch without overwhelming me. I saw the titles to his books in Lasting Memories magazine and knew I wanted to read them. They are a quick read which was encouraging since I have a newborn and started with his book on how to photograph babies. I'm already putting into practice what I've learned from all of his books and I think my photos are greatly improved.

I have been using Lightroom since it first came out. I've used it effectively but always knew there was more I could get out of the software. This book just brought it to life! I'm a professional photographer and I love taking pictures, not reading text books; so I've always left it up to my wife to read them and then explain to me how to do what I need done. This book, however, is easy to find subjects of interest, and then follow the clearly written instructions. I found the book's design of using Notes, Tips and Cross References particularly helpful. It's the only Photoshop/Lightroom book I use.

Adobe Photoshop Lightroom & Photoshop Workflow Bible by Mark Fitzgerald is an indispensable text for today's digital photographer. I have been working with Photoshop for over a decade and Lightroom for the past 2 years. As I have transitioned between film and digital photography, going all digital 3 years ago, my post production needs have changed dramatically. The right software added to knowledge of workflow management coupled with post production skill is key to success. Lightroom is an incredible program that has allowed me to fully leverage the power of digital photography while Photoshop remains the premier program for serious digital image post production.

I have found Lightroom to be essential for managing workflow and Mark's book essential for understanding Lightroom. With the complexity that comes with modern software, an instructor like Mark is a rare find. I find his teaching style intuitive and his technical explanations digestible, being distilled down to the important necessities. There are some places where I would like to find more information (like addressing the limitations of watermarking and slideshow output in LR), but usually I find I am looking for features that are not yet fully fleshes out in Lightroom. LR 2.0 is a major improvement on the first version of Lightroom and I look forward to future upgrades of this relatively new software.

Photoshop is a beast. What can be done with Photoshop is nothing less than incredible. I have been self taught on Photoshop through the years and subsequently missed learning many of its key elements. Adobe Photoshop Lightroom & Photoshop Workflow Bible by Mark Fitzgerald has gratefully filled in many of the holes in my knowledge that are essential to harnessing the power of Photoshop. Here, Mark's style was indispensable as he took me through the steps that are most important to me as a Professional Photographer.

With the power and flexibility of both of these programs can come confusion at times. There are different ways to accomplish the same result so which way is best? A streamlined workflow is essential to being successful with your digital photography. The real value of Mark's book for me comes from increased productivity and more joy in the process. Having settings and preferences customized, presets and metadata at my fingertips, knowledge of the process and best practices in my workflow has allowed my photography to reach new heights. I have always enjoyed the process but the software can be frustrating at times. Mark has erased any frustration from my process and for that I am grateful.

I can not recommend this book enough. The volume of images with digital photography can be crushing for both amateur and professional photographers. Being able to quickly manage your images and then knowing how to retrieve the ones you want is essential. Mark will get you to the point where shooting is fun again, your images look fantastic, and the workflow is second hand nature, freeing you up to concentrate on those aspects that bring you the most joy.

I have been a commercial advertising photographer for thirty-five years. I started shooting digital in 1995. One of the things I learned early on is that if you don't have your digital asset management under control you can lose your shirt on the back end. In this book, author Mark Fitzgerald lays out a comprehensive road map using the powerful combination of Lightroom and Photoshop to manage my images. Quality and speed (in that order) are the two primary goals when it comes to processing my images. Mark has shown me how to use these two powerful tools to add a creative touch of custom processing to my files quickly and with the knowledge that I am archiving them in a reasonable way. This has become my workflow bible and its home is right next to my computer where I refer to it often.

I agree with all the previous reviews... this book is great!

Mark Fitzgerald covers everything! He literally goes over every aspect of the workflow from start to finish (Lightroom to Photoshop). In addition, he adds "tips and notes" throughout to highlight key points. I feel like Mark gives us all the tools in an easy to find/ learn/ chronological Bible.

I want to keep my response simple and concise, like Mark keeps his books.

Also, I highly recommend Mark's other book... Photoshop CS3 Restoration and Retouching.

I am a professional photographer that has used Photoshop from the beginning and Lightroom from the first Beta version, and I thought that I had a pretty good understanding of my workflow. I picked up Mark Fitzgerald book and started working through the chapters. Mark has a wonderful way of teaching and I was able to streamline the work that I was doing and learn new techniques that made keeping track of my images so much easier. This book is a must for anyone, beginner or pro, that wants to work smart.

Excellent Book, helpful and a resource I will use for a long time. And if you need a photographer for your work while you're learning he is great. Very helpful, thorough, and professional and the photos were excellent.
Thank you Steve and I will buy his next book.
Cynthia James

Until 11/03/08 there were seven 4-5 star reviews of this book. Where did they go?

This is without a doubt one of the best books I've ever purchased. Not only is the subject covered in great detail, but the best kept 'secret' of this book is that the first 71 pages is a wonderful guide to digital cameras & digital photography in general. I'm sure I will be referring to this book often as I photograph jewelry & collectibles and so should you. Now stop reading this and go buy it already!

A very useful book. Well presented information. Covers many different types of materials to be photographed. Includes discussion about camera use first, in general. Would have liked more about photographing large sculptures. Overall, very good.

This is a wonderful book for those who wish to photograph their work in the most professional way possible. Mr. Meltzer takes you gently by the hand, assumes you are starting from scratch and gives an outline of the various types of digital cameras, how they work and compares them to film cameras -- all in an easily understood way. He then goes on to talk about other equipment, lighting, a bit of colour theory and different methods of photographing. If you need help photographing your art, this is the book to buy!

Before bying this book, i think i loaned it about 40 or 50 times at my local library. Benvies way of passing his knowledge to his readers is exceptional. This book is a 1'st class learning book, for he who wants to know more about nature photography in general, it commes all the way around, there isn't much that isn't discribet in the book. Ofcourse it dosn't goes very deeb on all subjects, but it is a very good overall book for, both the beginner and he who has come further. If i only could own one book, this would probably be the one.
Kim T, Denmark

As an amateur nature photographer intent on getting to the next level, I have purchased quite a few books on nature and wildlife photography. Many of them are not specific enough and provide too much general photography information. This book is different. To start with, the images are outstanding. This guy is an expert at DOING. That's the kind of teacher I want! Most importantly, the book is full of HOW and WHY. This book is chock-full of tips and information on what works, what doesn't, and how to do it. I found this book more helpful than John Shaw's Nature Photography Field Guide. Although I liked that book, I found myself a little disappointed when I finished it. It didn't have as much "meat" as this book does. I highly recommend it. And the price is a steal!

It has been quite long since John Shaw's books that I come across another gem which I would like to have on my bookshelves.
This one is well written and organized. It is to the point (very different from Galen Rowell's) and it's really helpful for those who have little time and are impatient.
The author shares techniques, viewpoint and practical ideas --- very much like John Shaw's books.

Niall Benvie's THE ART OF NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY is both informative and inspiring. Benvie believes that photography is an art, but nature photographers are artists in a different way because they are more preoccupied with capturing the subject at hand rather than expressing the self. The book includes excellent tips on preventing mistakes before the shutter is released-not an easy feat for a person involved in nurture photography. He offers basic advice about composition, lighting, flash, and the like as well as tips for active subjects (animals, weather, etc. have no respect for photographers as anyone who has attempted to photograph outdoors can attest to). While the book is a godsend for film photographers, he also includes detailed information for digital users which makes the book useful to photographers using both formats. Since people purchasing the book from Amazon will not have the opportunity to see all the sumptuous photographs in this book, believe me when I tell you that the photographs alone are awe inspiring and could lead a reader from the couch to the field in no time.

Perhaps what makes Benvie's book unique is his support for the amateur, which is most likely the customer who will purchase the book. While Benvie believes that professional photographers make significant contributions to nature photography, Benvie also believes that amateur contributions add a great deal as well since amateurs are less interesting in pleasing clients and more interested in presenting a vision of the natural world to others. Certainly Bevie's book will help amateur photographers who hope to do just that-present nature in all it's glory through photography.

Many books on outdoor/nature photography are simply a showcase for the author's photos and a bragging exercise in the gear he/she uses.

Benvie takes a more open approach -- almost giving the store away. Skipping over the most basic elements of photography, he provides practical advice on technique and creative vision. He isn't shy about using digital processes to enhance images -- not adding or subtracting visual elements, but manipulating the image so that it represents what the photographer saw, overcoming the limitations of film and photo paper.

Highly recommended. And his photographs are exceptional. Kudos to his publisher for the high quality printing.

This is a great book for beginners or people who always seem to wonder "Why do everyone else's pictures always look so much better than mine?" The best thing about it is that it's short on text and long on visual examples. For visual learners, it's a dream.

This is a great book on photographing children, covering basic rules of good photography (eg, the rule of thirds) as well as more specific ideas particularly applicable to children. I especially liked that this book is full of photographic examples: every page has at least 2-3 photos displaying various options, which helps the reader to immediately get a clear visual sense of what makes for a "good" picture of children. The author begins by focusing on general principles such as composition and light, then moves on to address more specific topics, including photographing infants, setting the stage, and taking candid shots. He also focuses on picture-taking for special occasions, from sporting events (including how to position for each sport) to birthday parties to holidays. Finally, there is a small but helpful section on scrapbooking. Although this book covers children of all ages, it would make a great baby shower gift (which is why I bought it). Overall, this is an excellent picture-taking guide which I think would serve to help virtually anyone improve their pictures of not just children but people in general; highly recommended!

I was skeptical about whether I would learn anything new about taking pictures of my kids, but this book is great! Clear and concise rules are provided in an easy-to-read layout, with most lessons spelled out in a 2-page spread and accompanied by examples of both what not to do and what to do.

The author covers rules of composition and light, as well as techniques about where to place yourself to get the best shots. There are also sections specific to shooting sports, birthday parties, and holidays.

Very useful!

I was skeptical, but am glad I bought this book. It's easy to understand, and changed the way I see before I shoot. My pictures are actually worth looking at now. Good one.

A friend loaned this book to me with the recommendation "There are some decent tips in here." I initially put the book away, thinking that my two high school photography classes had been enough instruction for something as simple as taking snapshots of my daughter. Turns out I was wrong.

The book is filled with practical advice. And more importantly, each tip is illustrated with side-by-side photos to show what happens if you do it right, and what happens if you don't. With each chapter you learn a new tip or technique, understand the "why" behind it because you see it in the many photo comparisons, and you begin to internalize it. I imagine with time and a little practice, the tips will become second nature for me, and then I'll loan the book to someone else.

One last note. This isn't a book for photography buffs with big gear bags. All the photos were taken with a basic 35mm camera and no special lenses, and I found the content highly relevant for my own photography, which is 95% shot from an everyday Olympus digital camera.

This book is a wonderful compilation of the early panoramic cameras, and includes both pictures of groups and sweeps of landscape. The large size of the book allows for close examination of the photographs; in some cases the negatives have been cropped, but this is also noted in the text.
An engaging history of this camera and the pictures it produced. It makes a great coffee table book as well as an historical document for those interested in the photography.

This is a wonderful book not only for photographers, but also for those interested in timeless pictures of Americana. I found the subjects to be most interesting, as they are indeed captured moments in our history.

The book is also of special interest to those interested in Cirkut cameras; I own one and was very glad to be able to obtain such a specialized book that demonstrates what the cameras were capable of in skilled hands.

The book is very impressive, with multiple fold-out pages that do justice to the ultra-wide format photographs that are reproduced. The printing is first rate and everyone that I have shown the book to has been pleased with it.

The above headline pretty much sums it up. Sorry for ending with a preposition ( I should have said "an" to be silly).

The author obviously has a deep respect for the history of photography. The images, reproductions, and explanations are excellent. This is a beautiful book that every panoramic photographer could relish for many years to come.

I have an interest in panoramic photography, currently own a Widelux camera (can take a 120 degree pano on 35mm film), and am looking to buy a Kodak Panoram which performs similarly but on 120 format film. If I could afford a Cirkut camera, and the film and chemistry costs, I'd have one.

I'm also a history buff.

"America by the Yard" combines history and panoramic photography in a series of stunning images that seem to draw the viewer in. Consider it a series of graphic, high-resolution photos showing America growing up from circa 1900 to almost 1950.

The photos have so much detail, and so much width, that the photos continue to reveal new details each time I "read" it.

When showing the book to friends and co-workers, it has the same effect on them: lots of "oooohs" and "aaaaahhhhs" and exclamations.

An amazing book. I can't reccomend it highly enough.

I can't say anymore than what's been said by the other reviewers except that this book should be packaged with all cameras and accessories. I'm looking forward to learning more from Mr Hess in future publishing's.

I am literally blown away by this book. I have read many books on photography in general and never got the insight that Hess provides here. Not only can I use my A700 fully now, I have a much better idea how to shoot pictures than I ever have. This is simply the best book on Photography I have ever read. Well written easy to understand and a very enjoyable read. The author uses his own photos to subsidize his points with great affect. Ebay auctions, weddings, sporting events, concerts, events, portraits....all are covered here with excellent advice that can be used by all levels of users. This book is one I will refer back to for years for tips.....highly reccomended!

Very well set up guide. Plenty of info. with out lots of techno babble. A outstanding users gude for the new DSLR user, even vetern shooters will find it handy due to the depth of features and functions of the A700. The color photos are better then black and white as in many guides. The last third of the book is broken down into sections on 22 specific styles of photography. This also includes a "on your own" practice assignment.

If you were to own just one book on photography essentials and advanced tips then this should be it. The chapter on lighting is especially valuable for those wanting to take the best photos for every type subject. And speaking of subects the chapter on that is a must.
I know this will be my photographer's bible for years to come.

I'm very impressed by this book. Not only does it tell me how to set up, maintain, and utilize the camera, but it also offers a HUGE range of professional advice on how to take better pictures. From composition to color, technical adjustments to common sense, Alan Hess reminds us that taking better pictures is easy! Noteworthy is his obvious passion for his work, and his ability to share that enthusiasm (and lessons learned!) with others. Anyone with a camera can benefit from the easy to read tips inside this book, but those with an A700 will breeze through the set-up and immediately be able to better capture any shot. Personally, i'm impressed with the range of subjects covered that i can apply to my daily use- travel shots, candids, pets, concerts, scenery. I'd recommend it to anyone!

Adobe Camera Raw Studio Skills is a great resource for CS2 users. Each Chapter is written by an expert in that particular area. Yet each chapter is equally easy to read and follow. One of the bonuses of this book is that it integrates Adobe Camera Raw with Bridge and Photoshop, so there are tricks and instructions that incorporate all three to get your desired results.
Along with through instructions of all the Adobe Camera Raw tools, it covers workflow, HDR, blend modes, black and white conversions, advanced use of free transforms and a host of others.
The name suits it well-Studio Skills. After reading it, you may feel as if you do have your own studio!

Unbelievable what Charlotte K Lowrie managed to realize with in my opinion the best book on the subject.She brings together eleven of the best widely known top photographers who share their techniques & tips with you to achieve your skills;
This wonderful illustrated book is a MUST on your bookshelf!!
The layout is fantastic,the photos beautiful and the tutorials from each of the specialist tremendous.
Camera Raw is taking back the control that photographers had in the black-and-white darkroom and "Studio Skills" brings you in the darkroom of this eleven gurus.What pleased me especially is that in 348 pages I could deal with the know-how from these artists.From Workflow and image evaluation(section 1 page 4-61)to Image processing techniques(section 2 page 66-268)to end with Add finishing touches in ps(section 3 page 276-295)all you ever wanted to achieve is explained.An overview of each photogapher-contributor(including Charlotte Lowrie)is given at the beginning of the book with his/her speciality,clients,career and the techniques they demonstrate in this book referencing the page where you can find them.Thanks to the editor's permission you can search inside the book this is a great advantage to make a decision before buying this bestseller!
An handy format,glossy paper,great photograps and above all extremely useful techniques(look at the resume above what's on the back-flap)

The appendix A explains in detail Adobe Bridge(page307-316)Appendix B Getting to know Camera Raw (page 317-329)Appendix C all about updates and downloading Camera Raw plug-in update(page 331-332)Appendix d a variety of professinal organizations offer support a selection by category(page 333-336)
Finally the advantage is that you'll deal with several"visions"from the best professinals on the stage!!!!!
Charlotte we 're asking for more books on this high level.

Being a Raw enthusiast I have read many books and articles concerning post processing using the Adobe Camera Raw Converter.
Even though this book only uses Adobe Photoshop CS2 as the basic Raw converter there are gobs of information that will help guide you through the Camera Raw process from Raw capture to final printing. When and if you upgrade to CS3 the additions to the Raw Converter can be easily be integrated into your workflow.
This book is broken down into three major sections with chapters that provide step by step techniques by various professionals on How to use - Adobe Camera Raw. These major sections are: Workflow and Imaging Evaluation, Image Prtocessing Techniques and Add Finishing Touches in Photoshop.
The presentation used by the author is excellent and should be in my opinion,very helpful to anyone considering using the Adobe Camera Raw Converter. With that said, I highly recommend this book.

Adobe Camera Raw Studio Skills is a MUST for anyone using Adobe Photoshop. Charlotte Lowrie has assembled a host of great contributers, including herself, and has compiled a vast array of knowledge. The book is written in a very logical format, and covers just about everything you want or need to know about Adobe Bridge and Adobe Camera Raw. The appendices at the back of the book include information about Adobe Bridge, Camera Raw, How do download and install plug-ins for Camera Raw, and finally, websites for variety of professional organizations that can provide additional training and information. This book really does belong on any digital photographer's reference shelf.

I've purchased and read probably 10 or 12 book on digital photography, but none of them has been as enjoyable or helpful as this book. It is organized in an extremely user-friendly way: on the left page is a beautiful photo the author has taken, and on the page opposite it is a short essay or tutorial which highlights and explains something important about taking digital photos. His insights and suggestions are extremely helpful, and often go against the more common recommendations found in such books. For example, the author explains very compellingly why it is usually preferred to shoot in high resolution jpeg rather than RAW. High praise for this book. I read it cover-to-cover, and found a lot of very useful information -- and enjoyed his gorgeous photographs on every page.

I have read many books on nature photography, but this one inspired me to go and "shoot, shoot, shoot". Mark Hatasaka skips the jargon laden technical stuff and gets you motivated. His gorgeous photos and "you only live once" view, inspire you to use a pocket camera or a SLR. Just look at the cover shot Mr. Hatasaka took with his Nikon Coolpix 995 digital camera. The proof is in the pictures.

I know other books are considered "nature photography bibles", I read them all. But, if your are an amateur like me who loves to shoot nature photos, read this book. After following, Mark Hatasaka advice, I have taken photos I am very proud of.

This very lucid book convinced me the quality was there in digital photography. The author deals with the economics and megapixel issues. I searched through many other books on the subject. This is the one I selected. Author has another book on the subject, too. Published later. The present book deals with megapixel issues and quality. I subsequently purchased a mid-level Nixon DSLR and have been happy with the resulets. A higher-end Canon printer produced very fine results. Subtle tones were reproduced well in color work. I look forward to other books by this author. I could no longer afford the film(prints and slides) and processing. Now I can shoot, edit, store and print only the best. I paid for my digital camera in a few months savings on film. Just wish I could afford a Leica digital body since I have the glass! This book will NOT talk down to you! Well worth the price of admission if you are thinking of going digital.

I've purchased and read many digital photography books and this is by far one of the best. Not only are the photographs "coffee table quality" but the book is chalk-full of practical ideas to make it possible for any other photographer to create their own wonderful photographs. Thanks to Mark for the lessons and for sharing his outstanding work!

I tried many books for beginner with Digital Camera's and this one is about the best of them and give you extra ideas to explore.

I teach computer skills at an elementary school and one of my coworkers saw this book on the PBS teacher site and said I had to have it. She was so right. My students were fighting over my only copy so I went to the principal and got some funding to buy a book for every computer station. My students have learned real computer skills in this book and had a lot of fun while doing it. Gaines teaches many of the techniques through experimental learning and the results are both instructional and hilarious!

Get this book if you want your kids to laugh while they learn!

I got this book from the library, but I liked it so much I am going to order a copy for my 13 year old. This book is both interesting and informative. It's a great beginner's guide in a fun wrapper. Yes, you can learn how to do some crazy things and make some weird photos. But more important, there are plenty of useful tips on how to take better photos to begin with. The short sections hold your attention, the plain English makes it easy to understand, and the pictures and humor really illustrate the point. Great for tweens/ early teens with their first digital cameras. Heck, I learned some stuff and I've owned digital cameras for nearly 10 years.

A wonderful book for anyone who is interested in digital photography. The author makes it sound so easy!! The pictures are delightful, and the text very informative. A great book for anyone interested in digital photography.