Book Reviews

[ricktas]

Have you read a good book on Photography, Photoshop, Paint Shop Pro or any other photographic related matter? How about writing a short review and placing it in this thread for other members to read.

Remember to include the book title, the authors name, the publisher and the ISBN so that other members can easily order a copy if they like your review.

[Machew]

I read a great book a few months ago. It's the National Geographic Photography Field Guide written by Peter K. Burian and Robert Caputo. It was both informative and interesting and covered a huge variety of topics. It also has plenty of mini biographies on National Geographic photographers. Here's a look at the contents:
Essential Basics
Getting started with photography
Composition
Cameras
Lenses
Light
Electronic flash and accessories
Film
Exposure and metering
Gear and maintenance
A World of Subjects
Weather
Sam Abell Art and Photojournalism
Landscapes
People
Jodi Cobb Beyond the Barriers
Annie Griffiths Belt Getting Close to People
Architecture
James L. Stanfield Making History Come Alive
Festivals, Parades and Sports
Michael Yamashita Capturing the Essence
Close-up Photography
Motion - stopping it, using it
David Alan Harvey Finding the Symbol
Evening and Night
William Albert Allard The Cultural Essay
Making Photographs Under Pressure
Underwater
David Doubilet Visual Impact Underwater
Animals
Chris Johns Working on Wild Turf
Aerials
Adventure
Michael Nichols Environmental Photojournalism
Computers and Photography
Useful Information
Preparing for travel
Displaying and organising your photographs

I think I'll be reading this one again very soon.
Here are the essential details:
Name: National Geographic Photography Field Guide
Authors: Peter K. Burian and Robert Caputo
Publisher: National Geographic Society
ISBN: 0-7922-7498-9

[hoffy]

Now, this one is probably not going to mean much to most of you.

But I cannot recommend enough the following book for A100 users:

The Complete Guide to Sony's A100 by Gary L Friedman.
ISBN 0-9790196-0-5
Available as either an ebook, black & white printed or colour printed from www.FriedmanArchives.com

Now, you might be thinking "another manual by a tech house", but this is where you are wrong. Gary has lived & breathed Minolta for a very long time & he knows the system in & out (for the un-initiated, Sony bought out the Minolta SLR arm & their camera's still contain a very visible Minolta influence from the ergonomics to the A mount lens mount)

the big plus for me is the de-mistifing of the wireless flash system. Very much looking foward to getting my new flash on the 25th (hint hint Santa!)

& please also note, Gary has just released his guide on the new A700. If you are a new owner of the new Sony, take my word, it would be well worth the effort of obtaining this book

Cheers
Ashley

[Briancd]

Title: Understanding Exposure - Revised Edition
Author: Bryan Peterson
Publisher: AMPHOTO Books
ISBN: 0-8174-6300-3

This is a must have book for those learning photography. The author provides an easy to understand explanation of how to get the best exposure. With plenty of examples of the many aspect of photgraphy from landscape, portrait and macro style. He explains how to make the most of light and shows examples of the use of frontlight, backlight and sidelight.

This is a book that I read over and over again to refresh my knowledge.

[Briancd]

The manual that came with the camera that you are using.

[avian]

If you are into nature photography I could recommend:

Arthur Morris - The art of bird photography
Arthur Morris - The art of bird photography II (CD version only, no books)

His website is http://www.birdsasart.com appears to be a little full of himself when you read some of his comments and also heard from a few bird photographer friends from around the globe, but his images are enough to shut any critic up!!!!

He is my main inspiration for improving and leaerning.

[Cal]

The manual that came with the camera that you are using.

Thats soo funny... havent heard that one in a little while!

[TassieSnapper]

Landscape Photography
Peter Eastway
Lonely Planet
ISBN 1-74059-669-2

This is a cool book. It has the first few chapters on the basics of digital photography, stuff that you guys will all know about lots. But the third chapter of this book covers hints and tips for all the possible locations that you could shoot landscapes with full colour examples from Peter Eastways work and the lonely planet library. It includes the details of the shots which is also useful. I found that it is a cool book for ideas if you are stuck for something too shoot. Great book.

It covers the following landscape locations: Sunrise and sunset, skies, storms and bad weather, rainbows, lightning, mist and fog, rain, snow, mountains, deserts, the coast, forests, flora, details, rivers, waterfalls, lakes, reflections, twilight, night, silhouettes, aerials, famous places, human scale, buildings in the landscape.

There are also a few others in the lonely planet series on various topics - travel, people etc

[vetna_gal1]

the understanding exposure book how much is that n is it at libraries?

[ricktas]

the understanding exposure book how much is that n is it at libraries?

You should be able to search and find it using the info supplied above by Brian. I just went to www.dymocks.com.au and put the ISBN in, here is the result: http://www.dymocks.com.au/ProductDet...=9780817463007

[Kym]

Mastering Digital Photography by Michael Freeman
Hardcover 640 pages; 24.2 x 21.4 x 4.6 cm; 2.1kgs; 2000 colour illustrations
Publisher: ILEX ISBN-10: 1905814429 ISBN-13: 978-1905814428
Prices from AU$40 to AU$98

From the fly sheet:

This comprehensive volume is the fruit of a long and uniquely distinguished photographic career. Micheal Freeman has long been recognised as being not only a unique talent behind the viewfinder, but a gifted and supremely clear communicated. Here, for the first time, is a comprehensive thematic guide covering every aspect of his craft. Opening with an introduction to the workings of the modern digital camera, the book continues through examinations of natural light, artificial lighting, portraiture, reportage, action shots, landscapes, macro, studio work, colour, black and white, printing and display. Thousands of Micheal's own photos illustrate his thinking, with step by step worked examples making the topics accessible and instructive. Everyone serious about improving their photography can learn something from this must-have volume.

and I agree.

I picked up this book on special earlier in the year ($40). It's big and has a tonne of information. Mastering Digital Photography is better used as a reference book than a read it book, although I sometimes browse it just for fun. It surprised me as to both how simple Michael Freeman presents information but also to the depth of that information. He spends a lot of time talking about light and colour which then leads into very interesting ideas for creative photographs. If you are into light and colour theory then this book has it in spades.

On the down side; as much as it has great ideas and inspirational images, Michael Freeman does not explain enough of the how-to. If you like Scott Kelby you may not like Michael Freeman for the reason he does not detail the how-to and has a drier reading style.

In summary I think it is a good reference book for ideas and creativity if you have a clue as to how you can execute those ideas. My rating 7/10 - good value if you get it at the lower end of the price scale.

http://www.amazon.com/reader/0782142..._dp_ptu#reader (Table of contents)

[Jcas]

I have just purchased this book and I am loving it.

Bryan Peterson's Understanding Photography Field Guide.

He is the author of the well known Understanding Exposure, Understanding Shutter Speed, Understanding Close-Up Photography,Learning to see Creatively, Understanding Digital Photography and Beyond Portraiture.

This book is an all in one guide combining main ideas from all the other books.
I am enjoying it immensly, it has just been released but i have no doubt it will end up as popular as the others are.

[Chilli]

I have just purchased this book and I am loving it.

Bryan Peterson's Understanding Photography Field Guide.

He is the author of the well known Understanding Exposure, Understanding Shutter Speed, Understanding Close-Up Photography,Learning to see Creatively, Understanding Digital Photography and Beyond Portraiture.

This book is an all in one guide combining main ideas from all the other books.
I am enjoying it immensly, it has just been released but i have no doubt it will end up as popular as the others are.

Thanks Julie, i just bought this book, i love it and highly recommend it.

[wiggles]

For all of you birdos out there that live around or in Victoria this is a great book to read
ATM it's my mini bible on all must go destinations for birdwatching in Victoria, Australia

It's called "Where to see birds in Victoria" by Birds Australia edited by Tim Dolby, Penny Johns and Sally Symonds

I bought it off the CSIRO shop online for $29

ISBN 978-1-74175-736-1 Allen & unwin

Its small so you can travel with it and the photos are fantastic. It tells you the details on where to go with acurate Melway info and they even describe the tracks and what time of the year is best to go etc

[andrask]

Since composition hasn't been mentioned, the two books I find helpful are:

The Photographer's Eye: Composition and Design for Better Digital Photos by Michael Freeman
Photography and the Art of Seeing: A Visual Perception Workshop for Film and Digital Photography by Freeman Patterson

The first deals with a wide range of compositional elements and the basics for given photographic situations from the need for planning in an action or "decisive moment" street shots to the design of still life. I particularly like his later discussion of your intent as a photographer i.e. whether you are wanting to please as many viewers as possible using safe, tried principles or to be seen as original by breaking most accepted guidelines to blaze a unique trail for yourself.

The second book is appropriately named a workshop as it gives many exercises the reader can carry out to get the eye to see something special in otherwise mundane subjects or locations. A great eye-opener particularly for those new to abstraction and geometry.

[mkooper]

The Genius of Photography
Gerry Badger

Also comes with DVD

After watching the series on ABC 2 I just had to get the book. Brilliant.

[wiggles]

Images of a timeless land by Peter Lik they are a collection of his panos from Australia. Just superb

[macmich]

hi all
has any one had a read or heard any feedback on photoshop elements 8 for dummies
and if so is it worth getting
i am just starting in editing and apart from quick nfix the rest is above me
cheers macca

[wilto]

has anybody read anything on creative lighting i did see a thread on it a little while ago but have forgotten the title, but just remember it being reccomended.

[WorkingClassHero]

has anybody read anything on creative lighting i did see a thread on it a little while ago but have forgotten the title, but just remember it being reccomended.

Haven't seen the thread you're referring to but this book I've seen highly recommended on many occasions. I've actually got a copy myself but haven't got around to reading it yet.