 • Buy this item from our featured Merchant - Featured Price: $19.99
 |
Product Reviews:
The Digital Photography Book |
Rating: 5 (out of 5)
Summary: Quick and simple photography tips
Comments: I am really enjoying this book. The tips are quick and simple resulting in better pictures. Great book. |
Rating: 5 (out of 5)
Summary: A great book
Comments: I have always been a "dabbler" in photography however 6 months ago I decided to take it a bit more seriously and treat myself to a Digital SLR. This will be my second photography book, the 1st being the "Nikon D40 Field Guide".
I really liked this book..........I guess you want to know why?
This book is a great "wide and general" book. The way it is written is as a series of recipies/advice on how you would shoot a particular shot. It is grouped together into logical chapters: weddings, sports, portrait, landscape. Each is a page long and focuses on1specific thing. The style is supposed to be as if you had asked a specific question: "how do I do....XXXXX". You get the answer. there is a drawback to that which I'll come back to.
To me, that is a great way to layout the book. You can - as I have just done - read through the whole book and pick things up. Then later on, when you have that specific question you can come back to 1 page rather than have to search through the whole book.
As I said, I am an enthusiastic amateur. The book is certainly written in an amateur style - there is no myriad of complicated ackronyms or goobildygook. I certainly purchased up a lot of great information from the book.
Things to note or beware of:
A lot has been written about Scott's writing style and humor (or lack of). Personally i did not mind it. I did not find it insulting at all. To me it seems like he's trying to breakdown the barrier of the super-elite techno geek - which no doubt he could be given his extensive experience. Apart from the 1st chapter it's not that prevalent: if you read Brien's review that's practically all of it that he's pulled out.
The main criticism for some will be that he doesn't explain in this book WHY you do X, Y or Z. I understand that criticism and it's true, however that would make for a much longer book. This book aims to give you a little bit of knowledge on a wide variety of subjects.
In my mind you need to balance this book out with 2 others: 1 book that is specific to what your camera can do (like the D40 field guide above) & 2 an uber-techie book explaining exposure.
The book is general and may focus on areas you aren't that interested in. The wedding photo section, or shooting flowers section or the sports section (where he starts by saying you will need $$$$$$'s of gear to do sports well) will not be of interest to eone. However it's still great to read those sections and understand a little bit more about photography.
This book is only 1 tool in your photographic arsenal. IMHO it does that job well. |
Rating: 4 (out of 5)
Summary: Great for beginners
Comments: I am a bit torn on rating this. My wife loved this and the second volume, however much of it (65%) was so basic for me that it did not add much value. The balance was great. If you are brand new to the world of SLRs I would say it is a must have. |
Rating: 5 (out of 5)
Summary: I Can See The Difference
Comments: I recently brought my 1st digital slr and was looking around for a book that would explain how to get the best out of my camera.Scoot kelby has written this book so well,he gets straight to the point.He gave me lots of tips that I would have never thought of.I have had this book for 24hrs and I can see the difference in my photography.I would be still clueless without this book.And as for his jokes,I do not have a problem with them.I actually think hes funny so if you pass this book up you will be missing out on a lot. |
Rating: 5 (out of 5)
Summary: Great intro for dSLR owners
Comments: Yes, he thinks he's a lot funnier than he is... however this book is full of great info for beginning digital photographers. I especially like the perspective that he offers on accessory equipment. He explains where the additional equipment will help so that you can prioritize your purchases.
And, note that this book is really set up for dSLR owners. Point and shoot camera users could benefit from the advice on composition, lighting, etc., however he quickly progresses to talk about add-on lenses, flashes, etc. That really will only serve to taunt point and shoot owners. |
