No comments about Mastering the Nikon D300.

5 comments about The Photoshop CS2 Book for Digital Photographers (Voices That Matter).

1. Like many of Scott Kelby's other books, this is written in plain english and teaches with such ease, I wonder why it's not included with your copy of CS2?
   
   Scott Kelby has a way of teaching you to use this very complicated program that you'll be amazed at how fast you're editing your images like the pro's do.
   
   My edition looks like a tattered mess due to it's use and how many times I've thumbed through it to find a solution to one of my problems.
   
   If you own CS2, than do yourself a favor and buy this book



2. Yes, that's true!
   3 years ago I was a beginner with Photoshop.
   I read all the book and learned how to correct all my photos.
   People use to say that I take good photos.
   You can see some of my photos here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/oscarburd/sets/1524858/ .
   Hope you enjoy the book and the photos.



3. This is the best Photoshop book I've ever purchased. It was recommended to me by a fellow photographer. Scott Kelby is very straght forward, he shows you step by step how to do everything. He makes photoshop easy, I was overwhelmed until I read this book, I use it almost daily, I am no longer intimidated by Photoshop!



4. This book offers the novice and advanced user a non-technical approach without diminishing the important aspects. I am new to Photoshop and within 5 minutes of reading the first chapter, I could make a contact sheet and went forward from there, I'd recommend this book to any one who wants to learn Photoshop without all the technical jargon.



5. Absolutamente recomendable...
   Escrito en un ingles fluido, ameno y agradable de leer, Scott Kelby es capaz de trasladar al lector con enorme claridad y sencillez todo una serie de conocimientos, facil e inmediatamente aplicables.
   Libro didactico y practico, muy bien estructurado, con buenas imagenes y explcaciones paso a paso, claras y consisas. Me gusta.
   Estoy encantado de haberlo adquirido.

5 comments about Nikon Creative Lighting System Digital Field Guide.

1. I was looking to trade my sb800 for a metz, but after reading the book, which provided my super tips on the creative side i decided to buy a couple of SB800 as my portable flash system.
   (excuse my english but is not my native language)



2. Good help for a very complex unit, It will help you get the most out of ypur flash. Explains how the controls work how the TTL system works. all good stuff to know.



3. I bought this book hoping it could help me with controlling nikon SB speedlights SB800 and SB600 which I own with my new SU800 remote. This book deals mainly with using SB800 as the master to control other flashguns. It would have been better if it included the usefullness of the CLS with the use of SU800 as well because this is what it is all about! It is not as comprehensive as I thought it would!



4. I found the book too verbose. The marrow of if could have been condensed in a book half its size. As a practical amateur photographer, I ws looking for detailed advice on using one or several flashes, since I own a Nikon D200 and a Speedlight SB 600. When not extolling the system "the Nikon creative Lightning system is a very complex tool but alll of the complexities are taken care of whitin the camera itself", and similar phrases ocupying a good amount of text, the author talks mostly on generalities. I felt I did not get advise specific enough to actually put it to work in obtaining better flash photography.



5. I love this book. J. Thomas covers all the bases in this guide to your Nikon CLS. With lots of illustrations, FAQs, questions you'd never think to ask, I can't put this down. I purchased also David D. Busch's "Nikon D80 Digital Field Guide" which is excellent, but this Creative Lighting Sytem Guide is your direct link to photographic heaven. Don't buy into the naysayers neagative, neurotic reviews of "not enough bells and missiles". This guide will guide you through the minefield and morass of proper lighting. You'll be glad you got this. I certainly am!
   
   
   "Good photography speaks through silence"

3 comments about Daring to Look: Dorothea Lange's Photographs and Reports from the Field.

1. Anne Spirn's latest book is really quite outstanding. She combines the clear eye of a superlative photographer (her own) to write in limpid prose about the clear eye and conscience of another (Dorothea Lange's). This is not just a meta-documentary, a documentary of a documentary, it is also an examination of the changes that have been wrought in the United States over the last two to three generations, in the physical landscape, in the socio-economy, and in our moral landscape. Lange represented in her photographs some of the critical ironies in the fabric of America - the high mindedness of the WPA program, the debilitating material poverty of her subjects and equally, a spiritual nobility as revealed in the images and her notes. Lange herself, her photographs and the vast subject matter she made her essay are little known in the new generation. Anne Spirn has done the next generation a great service in tilling this soil anew.



2. Daring to Look: Dorothea Lange's Photographs and Reports from the Field
   
   A talented photographer who went from studio portraits to capturing the struggles and suffering of folks who lost everything in The Great Depression. This book demonstrates Ms. Lange's photographic and positive developing skills used to capture the feel of her subjects and their surroundings.



3. As someone who used iconic Lange photos in my American Studies classes for years, this book in one I wish I had had BEFORE I retired last year! Their are photos I hadn't seen, in areas I didn't know she worked and, most importantly, her 'reports from the field'. These notes and extended captions give tremendous background to the photos and would be very interesting to students.

5 comments about The Animation Book: A Complete Guide to Animated Filmmaking--From Flip-Books to Sound Cartoons to 3- D Animation.

1. If there was ever a 'textbook' for learning animation, this is it. I have several books on animation production, from cell to 3D, and this on the pretty much the backbone of them all. I am not a professional animator, though I wish I was. This book provides a plethora of reference films for various styles of animation (it's nice to have a somewhat comprehensive list of styles) and suggestions for production. Though, it does lean more towards the artistry of animation, rather than digital production techniques to turn a quick buck.
   
   I recommend this book as a primer for anyone who is passionate about animation as an art, hobby, or the first step in building an animation production house from scratch.



2. I just about wore out my copy of the original edition of this book years ago; i never got far into *doing* animation, but it really helped me to *understand* what i was seeing on the screen (as well as serving as a source of recommendations as to Good Things to look out for...)
   
   While this may not be quite the essential text for asiring animators that Will Eisner's "Comics and Sequential Art" (q.v.) is for would-be comics pros, it is a Very Good overview of the field as a whole, from techniques to materials to the creative aspects.
   
   There is, admittedly, not sufficient detail on any one subject to take one to a true professional level, but there is sufficient detail and commentary to let the tyro make a beginning in almost any aspect of animation (within one's financial limitations, anyway -- while costs are rather less now than they were in the day when film was the sole practical medium of choice, some aspects of animation do cost more than others to do) nd work at it enough to get an idea as to whether that's what she wants to do.
   
   And remember -- you might not intend to make animation your life's work; but Mike Jittlov was an accounting major who took an animation course because he needed an elective and it fit his schedule. The film he made for that course won him an Oscar nomination...
   
   Anything can happen, and this book is a good place to check it out if you think animation might be one of the "anythings" you'd like to happen to you.



3. This is a great book for both students of animation and anyone out there who just wants to know more about that thing called animation. Laybourne is very easy to read and goes step-by-step through various animation processes in such an accessible way that its almost entertaining.
   
   If you have a serious interest or just a passing interest, this is a great book!



4. I am using this book for background info for an animation unit I teach with my graphics students. It gives you a good overview of many different animation techniques. It answered a lot of my questions. This book is a good start, but you might also want to check out animation by preston blair, and Animation from script to screen by Shamus Culhane. Shamus will make an animator out of you by the end of his book.



5. Although it is almost impossible for a book to provide the most up-to-date info, this book tries it's best. I really think that an animation book should be specified (ie 2d, stop-motion, 3d, etc) in order to not "cheat" the reader out of more intense knowledge. However, if a broad introduction is what you seek, then this book will work (but there are less expensive books that will do just the same).

5 comments about Food Styling for Photographers: A Guide to Creating Your Own Appetizing Art.

1. From the original review on [...]: This recently published book is a fine how-to primer on preparing food for the camera. Bellingham is an Oregon-based stylist. Bybee is a Dallas-based commercial photographer. The detailed content runs the gamut: cold beverages, salads, pasta and sauces, burgers and sandwiches, grilled and roasted meat, vegetables, ice cream, desserts, breakfast and garnishing. My only complaint is not about the information on styling - which is comprehensive and easy to follow. Rather, as a food photographer, I am naturally interested in the sets and photo techniques used to create the hero shots. While there are a number of set shots and brief descriptions of how the shots were created, their small size and limited number suggests that they were an afterthought. Again and again, I wished that Bybee's comments on her vision and process had been greatly expanded into the ample amounts of adjacent white space. Clearly, the book was written primarily for food stylists. A more appropriate title would have been Food Styling For Photography. Nevertheless, Food Styling For Photographers is an important read for both students of food photography and styling.



2. Finally, there is a Food Styling book for Photographers. I took 2 food styling classes in LA before - the purpose was to understand how food was prepared for the camera and also to see how food photographers setup their lights. I love food photography and read many popular food blogs with their work. So when I know this Food Styling for Photographers came out, I can't wait to order a copy and I was very happy after flipping through the book.
   
   This book gives you many tricks of the trade and notes from photographers with lots of setup photos, both food setup and camera/lighting setup. The printing quality and the page layout are very good - the font size is easy to read, the color pictures are clear, clean and colorful. They gives you details on how to buy the food, how to prepare the food, how to assemble the food, how to plate the food, how to decorate the food, etc. They gives you before, during and final photos.
   
   I also own Digital Food Photography by Lou Manna and Working with Plate by Christopher Styler and David Lazarus. In my opinion, if you are interested in food photography, buy Food Styling for Photographyers and Digital Food Photography and you are good to go. Highly recommend these two books.



3. This is the best book of FOOD PHOTOGRAPHY I ever seen! I'm a still life and food semi pro photographer and this is my perfect book.
   
   I suggest this book to all the photographers .. not only for food photographers. Everybody in the sector must have this book.
   
   It's really easy and helpful!
   Thanks to the authors to share with everybody the secrets of food photography.



4. This book is an excellent way to get started in food photography. It has chapters dedicated to meats, drinks, ice cream, garnishings, and more.
   
   Each with a shopping list of what was used for the featured photo (or photos) for that particular chapter and tips for shopping for food photography in general which I found very interesting.
   
   It does leave out something which would be nice to have, such as how to prepare beer for photograpy but, they mention this would require a full book dedicated to it which I think is fair, I wouldn't expect someone to write a book on every item of food out there.
   
   Bottom line: A very buy. Well worth the price.



5. My status as a photographer is almost professional, since for the moment i work part-time however I LOVE food photography wich is why I decided to buy this book. I just got it 2 days ago and for what I've read its a must have book. (Also very much recomended: Digital Food Photography by Lou Manna) Just to give u an idea. These r the chapter titles: 1)Intro to Food Styling. This includes simple game rules, shopping tips, planing ahead, list of supplies often used and a how to versions on how to assemble your own food styling kit. 2)Sets and Settings. This includes tips for choosing sets and surfaces for food photography, table setting tips, working fabriks on set, and tips on how to make your image POP. 3)Chilling fact on cold beverages. This includes beverage choises, frosted glass techniques, making a frozen margarita, making and placing bubbles, and more. 4)Making a Salad for the camera. This includes salad ingredient selection shopping and handling tecniques, supporting techniques, fruit salads, how to dress a salad for photography, and more.5) Pasta and Sauces. This includes perfect pasta for camera, sauces and vegetables for camera, building your pasta food additions to pasta...6) Burgers, Sandwiches, and BEYOOOOOOND. This includes prepping tips for burgers sandwiches and patties, shopping tips building tips, on the set tips, bulding a half or cut sandwich for photography.7) Meeting meat..8)veggie perfect 9) ice cream for hot light (very interesting) 10) Desserts. 11) Breakfast for the camera 12) Garnishing basics. Like i said this is to give u an idea of what u will be purchasing. Happy buying and break leg!!

5 comments about Photoshop Elements 5: The Missing Manual.

1. i could never have mastered photoshop elements without it, very helpful and a simple read.



2. The book is well written,with a lot of information, however I am very disappointed as it is not a step by step tutorial, as I believed it would be. Yes, there are downloadable files/photos, but there is no step by step instruction to go with the photos throughout the chapters.
   
   If you are not looking for a tutorially written text, and just want dry information on how everything works in Elements, then you will be happy with this nicely formatted book.



3. I bought this to help me learn Photoshop Elements. Since getting a digital camera a few years ago & not having to pay for film mistakes anymore, I have taken a new interest in photography. I decided to invest in a good quality editing program but I hate having to rely on onscreen help to get somewhere. This is a very thorough (I think) chapter by chapter explanation of Elements 5.0 & it answers most of my questions. I would hate to be without it, even though I don't use it daily. It is a large book with plenty of color illustration and written very simply. It's not 100 percent comprehensive but there is very little that isn't covered - well worth the price.



4. This book is the most complete manual on a very useful program. I have yet to encounter a question this book does not fully answer.



5. I like the book, but currently have a library copy for my reference. I have only one negative comment. When the author starts to describe an action or step, suddenly she will veer off on a tangent, leaving me wondering where the rest of the text is ....oh, there it is, 2-3 paragraphs later. She really wants you to know all she does about Elements. I will be purchasing my own copy shortly regardless as I do think it is probably the best on the subject

5 comments about Photojournalism, Fifth Edition: The Professionals' Approach.

1. Excellent, easy to read book, with lots of stories and pictures. One minor thing that peeves me is occasional grammatical errors.



2. My version is a little older, but remains an excellent resource. There is loads of information about coverage of all kinds of events, from the uncomfortable tragedies to sports to developing story ideas for photo spreads. I don't know how much information the newer books have on digital imaging, but my version has very little. Not a problem, however, as the principals are the same. Like most other books, this alone will not teach you how to take great photographs. You can only learn that from experience. But this will help answer some of your questions if you are looking to develop a photographic style closer to journalism than fine art.



3. I needed this book for my photojournalism class and it was perfect. Brand new with CD color pictured.



4. the book came much sooner than the expected date!! and the book was in the condition expected! i recommend this seller. thanks a lot!



5. Excellent book! I put off buying it for over a year because I thought it was a bit pricey, but less than a month after reading it one of my photos made the front page of our local newspaper.
   
   The book covers everything you need to know to get started, topics include...
   
   - covering news, features, sports, politics & contemporary issues
   - narrative picture stories
   - finding features & catching candids
   - environmental & interpretive portraits
   - creative use of the strobe
   - digital shooting & darkroom techniques (Photoshop tutorials included)
   - concept photography & illustrations
   - newsroom politics
   - picture editing
   - shooting within the bounds of the law
   - controversial pictures & ethical discussions
   - expanded history of photojournalism
   - freelancing & business practices
   - internships and after
   
   If bought new the book also comes with a DVD featuring multiple documentary film shorts which to me is worth $20 alone.

5 comments about Portrait and Candid Photography: Photo Workshop.

1. This is not a bad book for an amateur who's only getting interested in candid portrait photography and wants some tips and ideas in one place. While I consider myself an amateur as well, I've been interested in candid photography for a good 2 years now, so I've been reading tips and advice on a ton of different photography sites, and I feel like this book did not offer me much of what I haven't already read elsewhere or figured out on my own, by trial-and-error.
   Plus, I already had a book on candid photography and was looking for something that would teach me a little more structure and posing, and I feel like this book failed at that. It did cover some posing tips, but "tips" are helpful for fine-tuning, not for learning something you're completely unfamiliar with. And I felt like these tips were not always well illustrated.
   I've since looked through Mark Cleghorn's book Portrait Photography: Secrets of Posing & Lighting (A Lark Photography Book) and it seemed a lot more along the lines of what I was hoping for, although I did not *read* the book thoroughly to really recommend it. I do, however, wish I'd gotten this book instead of Erin Manning's.
   My final but big complaint about this book is the quality of photos. The cover picture aside, they are AWFUL! I find that inexcusable in a photography book. They look like snapshots from a cheap compact camera, not like photos from a dSLR done by a pro. Some of them are so soft - they look out of focus. While it does not always hurt in the learning process, I do feel like part of the pleasure of learning about photography is viewing shots that take your breath away and make you want to accomplish something similar in the future. This book made me feel like I was already there (when I'm certainly not!). :-)



2. Strengths: Nice layout. Reads like a well instruction oriented lessons. Good glossary and index. Good photos and screenshots. Good bold highlighting of the number of the chapters and the titles on the top left pages makes for easy access and shuffling through the pages you want to find or browse. Good basic information about software and editors.
   Weaknesses: If your require more information about photographic software and editors Chapter 10 is a good start but you might want to use other books to sharpen those skills.
   
   Novice/Intermediate/Advanced
   
   Rating: 5/5
   
   Shooting portraits and candid photography is an art in itself. It is not just luck and takes much preparation. But how do you learn how to make better photos for portraits and candid shots whether for commercial, your business or just of family? This book is a good place to start.
   
   The author is Erin Manning, DIY Network host of The Whole Picture, who encourages photographers to take outstanding photos of people. This book represents the author's efforts to provide instruction in this area. She helps readers gain the skills and confidence to successfully use the digital camera as a tool to create and capture life's moments
   
   The 10 chapters include in-depth instructions and information about cameras, accessories, working with light, composing your pictures. I particularly like how the author details the information by focusing more concerning the using of your camera and using to its best advantage. Of course the technology and the basics are introduced. But what is even nicer, the reader can better learn to develop their artistic eye, using techniques that will help prepare for actual photography. Action shots are also covered. The last chapter 10, also includes some information about enhancing and sharing your photos (even includes information about using Picasa (Google) and iPhoto (Apple), Windows software , Adobe's Photoshop Elements and more.
   
   Working with lighting, location, angle, composition, physical characteristics, environment, and more , including the unique challenges of photographing babies, group activities, and action, are covered with insightful instructions. Every one of the ten chapter ends with an assignment that readers are encouraged to complete. Users can even upload their best image to [...] to
   
   
   Conclusions
   
   It is rare for a book to clearly show the photographer camera user how to study your subjects in their natural habitat. There are great ideas within this book which related to observing, reacting and interacting with your subjects and how make the photos come "alive". The techniques for improving photos of babies and children are very interesting and well done. Learning to capture facial expressions and learning how to tell a story with a series of candid photos is also included. There is a nice section concerning how to add interest to large-group shots.
   
   If you are looking for a great instructional manual that focuses on techniques for portraits and candid shots, this is a great book. The fact that the instruction is teaching tips and information are performed in several ways other then reading the tests give you a better idea of how to take better photographs. I recommend this book highly.



3. I found this book (And the entire Photo workshop series) to be very helpful especially to beginning and intermediate level photography hobbyists.
   
   It assumes no previous knowledge of photography, and explains such things as f-stop and how things interact to affect exposure without being overly technical.
   
   Each chapter ends with a "Lesson" or exercise to emphasize the subject of that chapter. And being able to combine the book with the website (Free membership) to upload your lessons for group critique (Sometimes including from the author) is a good way to improve you photo skills.
   
   Note that though this is part of a series of books, there is no sequence in reading them. For that reason, there is a degree of overlap in each book.
   
   That said, you really need to be using a SLR type camera to be able to have the control of the camera that many of the exercises require. A point-and-shoot may not allow it.
   
   But for the serious hobbyist, I would say this book (and series) is worth the money and time.



4. This book is AMAZING. It's both easy and fun to read. The assignments at the end of each chapter are brilliant!



5. This is my favorite photography book by far. While I feel I have an eye for design and color, photography has always seemed intimidating to me. The author of this book, Erin Manning, writes as though she is a friend and mentor guiding you through the realm of digital photography. While digital photography may be old hat to many - especially the techno savvy - not everybody is adept (and from what I have experienced, most are not in every capacity). Erin leads us through the basics, then goes on to explain things even the most "camera competent", will find utterly engaging. Erin pulls you in and brings out the innate artist in all of us, no matter what level.....and for those of you that actually do understand the art of photography, Erin will only enlighten you more. This is an "easy read" as it is written as though a friend is speaking to you, acknowledging your expertise while giving you a boost where you need it. A great book that I will definitely pass along (and that I will constantly refer to in the future). Good job, Erin. Best of luck.

5 comments about Beneath The Roses.

1. shows a spectacular level of creativity, not only from crewsdon himself but to all the other faces behind the scenes, that it surely takes, in order to pull off this type of procuction. like living stage sets, with nature and light used to such surreal advantage.



2. Beneath The Roses
   
   I saw a couple of pictures in Beneath the Roses and had to own it. I have never spent longer on a picture book, savoring four or five pictures for several days before moving on to the next batch. Readers (readers?) in the northeast will find themselves going "I know that street!". I have no idea why I found the pictures so fascinating but I surely did. I kept staring at them wondering "What is going on here?" and never figuring it out. Find this book. Look at two pictures. If you like them - buy the book! By the way, the production is great. Heavy paper and no centerfold breaks in the pictures.



3. In his opening essay of this volume of photographs, Russell Banks describes the cinematic qualities of Crewdson's work; in particular, how "the pictures are assembled and staged." Though not necessarily immediately obvious in all of the individual pictures, after looking for awhile the viewer does begin to recognize the artificiality of the moments. This is not necessarily a bad thing, however. In many cases, particularly when the setting is an exterior, it works very well. The eye searches out the odd detail in the landscape. In the interiors, however, it seems to work less well. In these, the overall effect seems to be oddity and garishness.
   
   More interesting is the theme of isolation that runs through these photos. Even in the shots where more than one person is present, each seems trapped inside their own space. Raised to an even higher degree in some of the wide exteriors, you end up searching out the individual who is nearly swallowed up by the rest of the picture. Perhaps it is that very searching quality required by some of the photographs that makes them the most moving of the group.
   
   When I first received this book, I wasn't sure if I would like it. I was first put off by the unwieldiness of its size--bigger than a normal volume and wider than it is high. As I looked through the photographs and grew to like many of them, I realized the importance of the book's size and shape--to take advantage of the movie aspect ratio Crewdson uses as well as the need for as much space as possible in his wide, detailed exterior shots.
   
   In fact, I went to see a gallery presentation of some of the photographs in this volume. The prints hanging on the wall were large, perhaps six feet or more wide, which I thought did much better justice to Crewdson's work. I found this experience to be of great benefit. When I came home and looked through the book again, I was moved to look even more closely at some of the pictures, seeking out that isolation and detail.
   
   Still, as I said, I think Crewdson's work is uneven. The exteriors, for the most part, greatly outdo the interiors and there is a tendency towards a garishness I don't like in some of his work. However, when he hits the right notes, his landscapes are as beautiful and interesting as anything I've seen.



4. The book is fantastic! However to my horror it was packed very badly and the book arrived scratched and a big chunk taken out of the cover. Amazon expects me to pay for all shipping costs to get a refund. Since I live in Australia the return shipping would surpass the value of the books sent. I emailed Amazon with this issue 2 weeks ago and NO REPLY!
   
   
   DO NOT BUY FINE ART BOOKS FROM AMAZON!!



5. The first thing Russell Banks mentions in the book's introduction is the comparison between Crewdson's work and Hollywood. Not surprising of course because the photos are produced like the movies only here it's one shot at a time. Looking at the fascinating production photos at the back of the book I'm reminded of Winston Link, another photographer who went to endless trouble for the one shot and mostly in small town America, too.
   
   Crewdson provides you with forty-nine content rich photos, you have to provide everything else and that is not difficult because the people and situations before your eyes pull you into their lives. What is she thinking, is she speaking to him, what is he doing, why are they together? I thought the small town setting ideal for these tableaux, the streets, houses and people seem to fit together and allow the viewer to focus on the characters. Maybe the plates should have been loose in a box making it easier for the viewer to create an ever changing scenario according to their sequence.
   
   I was rather disappointed though with part of the book's production. The photos, thankfully suitable larger than those in Twilight, are only printed in 175dpi. These images are saturated with detail and texture and I would have thought a minimum of 200 or preferably 250dpi would be necessary to bring out their quality. So many of them have a long depth of field but also feature some small detail or frozen action that is important: a person in a car, the items on a bedside table or people seen through the window of a motel room.
   
   Like Twilight the back of this book has chapters on Location and Soundstage, both have production shots (unfortunately not captioned) and drawings to show the amazing amount of work that goes into these photos. A look at the Production Credits also confirms this (and reinforces the movie connection) with Lighting, Best Boys, Gaffers, Key Grip, Special Effects, Prop Masters, Wardrobe, Transportation, Hair and Make-up, Casting, Catering, Legal and more. Oh yes, let's not forget Swamp Design by Buzz Gray, too.
   
   Overall a remarkable book but if you are new to his work have a look at Gregory Crewdson which includes twenty plates from Beneath the Roses.
   
   ***FOR AN INSIDE LOOK click 'customer images' under the cover.