5 comments about Canon EOS 5D Digital Field Guide.

1. When I bought the 5D I quickly realized I wanted something besides the Canon manual. There are very few choices out there so I took the chance on this. For very little money you get an easily read, well rounded book about the 5D. I found it pretty easy to navigate around, and it answered all the questions I had.
   It is clearly geared more to the newer DSLR user and covers different type of photography (i.e. event, portrait, etc) which is not quite what I would expect in a field guide but the information is accurate and will be very helpful to newcomers. See the review just before mine for detailed information on chapters, etc. The best of limited choices and I definitely recommend.



2. Canon -EOS 5D
   Digital Field Guide
   By Bryden D.
   
   this field guide for the Canon 5D is basically aimed at the DSLR amateur and prosumer photographer.
   It is obvious that the writer worked with this camera for some time before writing this book.
   The technical advantages of the 5D are presented in four major sections that really make it easy to understand and follow.
   
   Part 1. " Using the canon EOS 5D "
   Part 2. " Selecting and using lens - Working with Canon Speeslites."
   Part 3. " Shooting with the EOS 5D "
   Part 4. " Appendixes A & B "
   A- Canon CMOS Sensors and Processors
   B- EOS 5D Specifiacations
   
   Lowrie writes in a way that easily explains most of the technical fatures of th 5D.
   Although not perfect, this book is a good choice to help make it easier to understand some of the clipped explanations used in the Canon 5D User Manual.



3. The book did a thorough job of covering all the features of the Canon 5D. I thought the subject matter was organized logically. Charlotte has obviously worked with this camera a lot. The book discusses info such as issues around Picture Style values being different within each Style, you won't find this stuff in the camera manual.
   
   The writing is usually very clear, not super dry, and provides practical data on setting up this camera for different subjects. Comments about religious themes in the book (in another review) seem to relate to wedding photographs being taken in a church. Duh! Go figger...
   
   The book speeded up my learning about using the camera and I would buy it again.



4. This book is well written and well laid out. There are chapters covering just about every conceivable topic! I am nearly done reading this book and already it has helped me to determine a number of upgrades this year, including a couple of new lens. Much kudos to the author and I will be watching for new books from her in the future.
   
   If you have a 5D get this book! I have bought all the others.. and they remain mostly unread on the shelf (or lost!). The color illustrations inspire and I have learned some new techniques by reading this text.
   
   My one question is, are Canon Picture Styles *really* passed along when you set your 5D to RAW mode? The book says this is so, but I thought it was just for JPEG. Mind you.. I don't use Canon's DPP software (I use Camera RAW from Adobe with Photoshop instead) so maybe that is where a Picture Style will come through. Also.. I *think* they may show in Lightroom too (just started using that). Anyway.. this is more a question that a cricism of the book. Anyone having more details on this, feel free to add a comment!
   
   Bottom line.. you will enjoy this book. If in doubt go look at a local copy 1st. You won't want to put it down and leave it behind if you do.



5. The author answers a range of questions commonly asked about the Canon EOS 5D but the book's layout is clunky and the flow of technical information requires patience when sorting through it. There are also editing errors. For example, the author refers to chapter 12 when discussing RAW and JPEG and there is no chapter 12. From the book's dedication to many of the photos used as examples, there's a very noticeable religious theme. She also relies on a large number of photos taken at a family wedding. I found these and other photos simplistic, cutesy and distracting. How do I grade it? Disappointing, especially after such a long wait due to publishing issues.

4 comments about The Photographer's Guide to Vermont: Where to Find Perfect Shots and How to Take Them.

1. We recently returned from a week in Vermont. Unfortunately, the weather was variable, but we did manage
   to visit a number of locations suggested by David Middleton in his "Photographers Guide to Vermont". The
   book was well-written and very helpful. The images included were wonderful. David's pro tips and side
   trip suggestions added another dimension to our trip. The book was very readable with some touches of
   humor.. We look forward to our next trip to Vermont, where this book will be one of
   the first things we pack. We are members of a competitive camera club, always on the lookout for great picture locations. It was almost like having our own guide. Thanks, David.
   Barbara and David Pike



2. The book served as a useful companion on my trip to Vermont in October 2006.
   It helped me do the groundwork which turned out be a great time saver .
   It seems that the book needs editing as some of the landmarks appear to have changed.I would like more details to help locate Farms around Woodstock which is one of the prime reasons photographers travel to Vermont.
   Another thing which adds to the difficulty is that you are mostly driving on back roads which are not be very clearly marked .



3. Say you decide to do photography in Vermont and you dont know where to start. Dont look furthur. This books will save you tons of time. I used this book to chart my 6 day trip. It worked out great and I am so happy that such a book exists. The book can help you to plan your entire trip. The only think I found was it dint have a lot of hidden road information. If the author can add that it would be great. I had to pick that up from the Vermon Fall Forums on the internet. I got the other book describing Maine and now I am planning to get the oregon one. I hope the author will have one out for Alaska and other states.



4. If you enjoy photography, especially in Vermont, then this is the book for you. I have enjoyed Mr. Middleton's photographs in Vermont Life and found the photos in this book to be even more fantastic. Vermont is a beautiful place and this book will tell you the best spots and the perfect times in which to photograph there. If you need further inspiration take a look at the authors Nature of Vermont, which is an exceptional book as well.

5 comments about Adobe Photoshop CS3 A-Z: Tools and features illustrated ready reference.

1. when you forget how to use a tool or how to do something in photoshop this is great to have around better than going to the manual to figure something out



2. Even a casual reader can get tips from this book because a single topic is covered just on that page. If you have a question about a technique or are unfamiliar with some of the terminology, this is a great reference book.



3. Excellent Photoshop guide .All Photoshop users should have this reference
   sitting alongside their Computer as an instant companion when delving into Photoshop
   Highly recommended



4. This is a concise, well-written quick reference for Photoshop CS3. I would say, as someone who takes the ACE exams when they are newly released for each version, that this book would be helpful in studying for the ACE exam but not sufficient on its own.
   
   All of the major features and dialogs are covered but some of the important functions associated with a given feature or dialog, are not. For example, there is a column about the Channels panel, but no columns or descriptions relating to some of the important functions held within the Channels panel, such as the ability to create a Spot Channel. There are of course many other examples, many of which are specialized but nonetheless important features that anyone serious about Photoshop will want to know, ACE exam or not.
   
   I've also noticed a few layout and typographical errors (for example sometimes section headers for two different functions, will mistakenly show the same menu tree / shortcut. IOW, the layout person cut and pasted, but never updated the text).
   
   Overall however, this is an affordable and worthwhile reference to have, especially if you're not as concerned about the specialized functions or hidden commands within a given panel or dialog. The quality of the binding and paper are very good and the image reproduction is decent. I would recommend the Photoshop CS3 On Demand book because of its added depth, but it is riddled with errors.



5. Photoshop is not known for it's easy user interface or help files. There are many tutorial books that take you step-by-step through common tasks, but this is finally the book to let you quickly look up all those little things you can't remember. The book starts with about 20 pages of step-by-step summaries of common tasks (importing photos, selection techniques, retouching, etc) then the remainder of the book is an alpha listing of every Photoshop feature. Each feature has a consistent format showing a small before and after photo, the menu path for the command, the shortcut key for the command, what versions apply, "see also" and where needed a screen shot of a dialog box. There is no index - it's not needed. this is a handy size and it stays out now when I am using Photoshop.

No comments about Stieglitz: Camera Work (25th Anniversary Special Edtn).

5 comments about Iceland: Land of the Sagas.

1. A beautiful book combining stunning photography with an in-depth historical, literary, and cultural examination of Iceland. This book manages to be heavy on both text and photographs.
   Recommended for those interested in Iceland, but it is not a travel guide-type book.



2. This is an absolutely gorgeous book...the photographs inspire one to call Icelandic Air and make a reservation asap! Iceland, a placenot to be missed!



3. Awesome photographs and well written, you will want to visit this wonderful landscape.



4. I recently visited Iceland for a a couple days enroute from Europe to the US and found myself enchanted by the country and its people. Returning home, I immediately wanted to purchase a book that would give me a better understanding of the culture, the land, and the history. This book has it all, and has filled me with interesting facts and stories, not to mention the beautiful visuals the photographs give. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in or loves Iceland.



5. Well, I must admit a slight "prejudice" regarding this book. I bought it because I've already read all the other books by Jon Krakauer (and loved every one a bunch!). But, this book is quite different from any other that Krakauer has been involved in. Right on the front cover it says "Photographs by Jon Krakauer Text by David Roberts" so I guess I shouldn't really have been all that surprised by the "difference." In fact, I have no choice but to believe that virtually everything that Jon Krakauer lays his hands on turns to gold somehow (this book is no different in this regard), since he absolutely has to be a severely super-experienced pro explorer, mountain climber, skier, paddler, writer and now, photographer, as well, judging from all he's written. If anything, he "under" emphasizes the feelings and emotions, at least, for those of us who've had at least a small taste of the miseries, dangers and pitfalls-- weather can play a big role-- that befall nearly every person who does these things. At some point, if your heart is in it at all, you'll get the crap scared out of you big time, unless you are completely out of your mind, either due to drugs, insanity or whatever. Krakauer is amazing at writing about all of this and more, but you'll find none of that in this book, at least none written by Krakauer. Nonetheless, as I said, Krakauer does anything and everything to perfection and with class, and in this book the text by David Roberts is nothing to boo-hoo at all. He is the equal of Krakauer in his own writing style and he tells great stories which are parts of the endless "sagas" that go on for centuries there, part of ordinary everyday life and culture for an Icelander, but a strange curiosity for foreigners from afar. Krakauer deferred to Roberts here most likely for a couple reasons; because he thought Roberts knew more and could write easier and with better results regarding Iceland, and he probably wanted to focus on developing yet another great natural talent of his own, photography, especially in such a surreal and amazingly different place that most peoples of the world aren't very familiar with. I'm guessing here, but the end results are superb. I know there are the little issues of content and various criticisms about whether they covered Iceland in a "balanced" and "informative" way, or whether the photos really represent the "true Iceland" that you'd see and experience should you take a "normal" vacation there (if there is such a thing). But those types of travel info books can be gotten by buying the title "Iceland" from any number of companies like Frommers or Fodors to many lesser known and more colorfully illustrated travel books that may or may not have as current of info as these well-known ones. I'm sure this is NOT the genre that Roberts and Krakauer had in mind when doing this book. Their book should be in that genre, too, but is very much more than that and I can definitely recommend it for anyone interested in Iceland, whether you have been there, are going there soon or maybe never will go there, but just want to know about the place. This title must be on your Iceland (or Jon Krakauer or David Roberts) list, whether short or long!

5 comments about Digital Negatives: Using Photoshop to Create Digital Negatives for Silver and Alternative Process Printing.

1. I've used Mark Nelson's technique with some success, but wanted to try something to give me more control. I found the concepts pretty straight forward, but the basis approach was very similar to Mark Nelson's e-book. If you want to try digital negatives, this book or Precision Digital negatives from Mark Nelson directly can get you started.



2. I selected this book, rather than that by Burkholder - the master, because it was a more current print, and had more up to date hardware information. Most importantly, it promised support from a unique website. The website does not work. I feel that the book is offered under false promise. No doubt, the book is very useful - but if I pay for a burger with cheese, I expect a burger with cheese. And by the way, the editing is quite poor - many typos escaped the proofreader (if there was one).



3. Dan Burkholder gets the credit for introducing digital negatives for contact printing processes several years ago, but it is Ron Reeder and Brad Hinkle who have finally worked out a system that produces extremely repeatable results. Now photographers everywhere can easily harness the power of Photoshop to create stunning prints using just about any contact printing process available. I have personally used this book to create salted-paper prints, van dykes, cyanotypes, and silver gelatin prints with pleasing results.
   
   I teach alternative processes year round in Denver, Colorado, and as any instructor knows, the easiest way to hook a student on something new is the accessibility of the process. Even my darkroom shy students are taking notice of the work a small handful of pioneering students are experimenting with at our school using this excellent text. One student exclaimed to me just last week "this book will save the darkroom".
   
   If you are looking for a system to harness the power of Photoshop with the beauty of a hand-crafted print, this is the best resource available!



4. This book has been a long time coming. after spending countless hours on my own, then experimenting with another well known book by dan burkholder (who has some good ideas but ultimately is outdated and there are really only a few pages that deal with 'inkjet negative' making.) this book has answered many of my long standing questions of how to create your own curve for output and then be able to check your work for accuracy. to many resources tell you to buy one specific printer (which by the time the book is printed has been discontinued), one specific ink, and one specific printing media (OHP was discontinued by its manufacturer), and if you do not then their cookie cutter curve will not work exaclty correct.
   
   so thank the authors for sharing this information in a very down to earth way. it has opened a new door in photo printing for the masses.



5. The website is not accessible, last two days. There is no contact info to resolve this major issue. To obtain critical information and instuctions thoughout the book the website is the only source. I am inclined to give a 4-5 star rating for the book if it had information that was advertised.

No comments about Elliott Erwitt's New York.

No comments about The Call of Trains: Railroad Photographs of Jim Shaughnessy.

5 comments about GIMP 2 for Photographers: Image Editing with Open Source Software.

1. It nicely covers the 2.4 version of gimp. The book is well structure and pleasant to read. It covers all the basic functions of the gimp.



2. I found this book a good start for beginners but not sufficient to address the need of intermediate or advanced image editors. Well written but poorly binded.



3. The book is very well written and provides a lot of background information that is helpful.
   
   For instance, in primary school (pardon the pun) we were taught about primary colours and how Blue plus Yellow gave you Green. The RGB system however has Red, Green, Blue as its basics, and Yellow becomes a Red Green composite.
   
   I enjoyed it, and will obtain the basic online GIMP documentation and another text from Amazon to get me going.
   
   I want to create some derivative sketches from photographs, and creating layers which derive from the original, and merge together to form a basic sketch.
   
   I was looking for a 'cookbook' approach, but this book tries to give more depth without getting so technical that you lose interest.
   
   Thanks Klaus Goelker for writing it.



4. This is a book that I did like. And yes Grokking the Gimp the online book is about as good and free. But if you want a book by your side for gimp. Get this book.
   
   Sherm



5. The Gimp has evolved over the years, with pieces tacked on here and there to add features that help it keep pace with Photoshop (at a much lower "price.") Originally a program written by propeller-heads for propeller-heads, the program has actually become useful for photographers who don't have a computer-programming bent. Even so, the interface can be confusing, and that's where this excellent book comes in. It helps you sort out all the features of The Gimp so you can get up and running and actually use this program. Then, it shows you what you need to know to move into more advanced image editing. Highly recommended.

5 comments about Lighting for Portrait Photography.

1. I loved this book it is great, I haven't tried every illustration but I love the layout, and the ones that I did try are excellent I own numerous amouts of portrait books but I find myself reaching for this one the most.



2. This book leans towards the "artistic" elements to portrait photography (which I love). If honey dripping and being licked from fingers (non sexual way) or a portrait of a model with egg suspended over her face are not yours (these are the extremes of the book, most others are more realistic)and you are looking for improving your family photos or posing seniors, you may want to look elsewhere, although you will still likely benefit from this book. If you want to see how some very "non ordinary" ie exceptional photographers achieve their results, this is it. I enjoyed it very much and it is basically a diagram book. An image is shown, then little keys show where (and what type) lights, gobos, flags, etc were placed and the cameras settings for the shot are diagrammed -excellent. this makes the book a quick read and a great reference, I've read it once but as soon as I finish a few others I have left to read I've got this on the "return to read" stack.
   
   Also, worth noting for anyone who noticed and may be sensitive to nudity and get the wrong idea. If you click on Amazon's "look inside" feature, in the table of contents section it shows a topless photo (as of this writing).In the revision of the book I have, 2007, purchased from amazon, that photo has been replaced. There aren't any nudes in the book, that I remember. Just in case something like that is offputting to you I thought I'd mention it. In fact I think that photo has no place in the book, not because it's a nude, which is also why, but because it's not up to the caliber of the rest of the book either. There are some flat out great portraits in this one.



3. 
   
   At the middle of last year I opened a photo studio. So, I can say, I'm still beginner int this topic. So, this book was very helpful for me to gt advance knowledge about art of making great photos.



4. This book is great if you are just starting out in portrait photography. There are detailed light diagrams and a lot of awesome portraits to choose from.



5. I am a portrait photographer and I pull this book out all the time to review lighting set ups and get inspiration. A definate must have for any photographer. I especially love that the book extensively covers one and two light set up and using foamcore bookends. You don't need a bazillion lights to create amazing images.