5 comments about Master Lighting Guide for Portrait Photographers.

1. There are only a few books that I find myself going back to reference over and over. This is one of them. Many light placement diagrams with the resultant photo make this an excellent quick reference guide. The author stimulates the reader to attempt new combinations.
   My only objection is the use of many white bookends. Those are not staples in most studios. Also, reflectors do not accomplish the same result. I would have preferred more diagrams without the bookends. Maybe I will buy my own now. But, where to store them.



2. This is a book that you must have, If you are interested in Studio and Portraits. As far as I red other book reviews, very often people are asking for good setups and details. Here we are with someone who was aming open the secrets. You have a lot of really good and standards examples and fine technics.



3. I purchased this book based on the recommendation of another photographer. I have found the book to be well written with excellent illustrations and guides. The only shortcoming, if it can be called such, is the persistant reference to film based cameras and their settings and controls. The text seems to have been written more to help someone who uses, or used, film and has little experience with a digital camera. This does NOT make the information any less relevant, just a little harder to grasp on the initial reading. With study and persistant application of the lessons, I found, and continue to find, the book to be very helpful. I am quite glad I ordered it and would give it very good marks.



4. This book jumps straight into the different techniques and does not explain simple lighting concepts much at all. I also thought that the styles blurred together and he didn't separate them out enough and explain the differences between each one.



5. I bought this book thinking I would be able to easily set up a studio from it.
   I found this book extremely informative BUT on a medium to high-end level.
   It is not really a practical guide for the beginning photographer however, I am sure I will be refereing it to in the future.
   Chris Grey explains how he set up his lighting in order to get the shots he shows in this book.
   My problem was that most of his sets are based on the photographer buying many many different types of reflectors, lights and flags etc.
   He does not really explain the simple, beginners studio.
   He does not explain for low ceilings etc.
   He shows his shots and explains how he got them so if you have the same set up, the same size room etc, you too can reproduce these shots.
   While it is a well written book, I found it to be on a high level.
   If someone is already at this level of lighting equipment, then he already knows all the info on ratios Chris writes about.
   Great reference guide and enjoyable to read.
   Not for the beginner who wishes to use it as a guide to setting up his first studio.

5 comments about Apple Pro Training Series: Aperture 2 (Apple Pro Training).

1. This is a great learning tool to learn Aperture, it takes you step by step



2. If you own and mac and if you want to master Aperture 2...this book is for you.
   
   The content of the book is completely up to date and it teaches you the marvelous wonders of Aperture....this is the future of photography. shoot in RAW mode, edit, and put it out there.
   
   I love this book - although I have to say my review is in its infancy. I have just started learning Aperture and reading this book. Watch for more information in the future.... I just wanted to get something in so that you would at-least consider getting this book.
   
   I dont know the author nor have I read any other books on Aperture...so this may be somewhat of a one handed bias opinion type thing...
   
   My 2 Cents...



3. This is an excellent value for the money. It takes you step by step through the process of working with aperture 2. THe DVD that comes with this book is invaluable in learning how to use this program to its limits. It is excellent from beginner to advance user. One of the better books in Apples Pro Training series.



4. if you're trying to teach yourself [ like me ] and hit a snag -like not being able to drag & drop keywords - then the learning is over [ page 92 for me ]. there is no way to contact ben long or the other authors. now, this expensive book gathers dust. a little support goes a long way for a joe snap like me.



5. This is an excellent instruction book for Aperture 2.
   The book is thorough and well written. I use this program
   daily and have learned a great deal.

5 comments about The Big Penis Book.

1. Oh dear. I am a 70 year old woman and I just happened across this big penis book in my son's room. My son is 45 years old and still single. I think he might be gay. That said, his big penis book is now in my room under my bed. So now my 45 year old single son is probably gay and angry. Well, he should get a job anyway or at least go find some real penis and stop reading about them in books like this. Good Lord this is a big penis book. And I love a big penis. And so does my son, apparently. I give this book ten thumbs up. I can't believe I never knew he was gay. He should get a job. Maybe as a dancer. Anyway, if you like a big penis, you will like this big penis book. Lord there are big penis's in this book. I mean big. Oh dear.



2. Ouch....is the only thing I could think of while flipping through this book. Quite amazing...girls, boys, you'll learn how big they can get. OMG. I enjoyed the pictures. But I would not enjoy them in me. I am a straight female.



3. Well, an artistic look at what most people want to talk about and see, but will not! Great work!



4. As a gay man, yes, I have a penis fascination. And having come of age in the 70s-80s, I'm familiar with the studios that provided most of these pictures. But after having my porn-nostalgia moment and looking and page-after-page of phalluses - most attached to unattractive men - I came to find this book more funny than erotic. The poses and the photographic settings of these pictures are really quaint by today's standards, or just downright scary and creepy, if you think about it. It's an amusing archive of gay porn from the 30s to the 80s.
   
   The book itself is way overpriced for what it is. The editorial content is superfluous, and sometimes inaccurate. And the mylar cover was damaged in shipping as well. Wait for this book to go on discount.



5. I'm a straight woman and I LOVE this book! I don't care if the men featured seem gay, a penis is a penis. Awesome book, awesome photography.

5 comments about Nikon D40/D40x Digital Field Guide.

1. Very detailed guide for how to use you D40x camera. It gives you information easy to follow for beginners as well as pros. It has helped me to know some short cuts that are excellent for when you are in hurry to take that great pic.



2. This book has been useful.
   Ironically the pictures in it are kind of corny and not always impressive, but I surmise that it is because they serve as examples of very specific techniques.



3. I bought this with my D40 and it is much easier to read (and more user-friendly) than the manual that comes with the camera. It has great diagrams and examples, and the section on shooting in different situations is helpful.



4. This book is filled with great pictures and details. Easy to find what you are working on at the moment.



5. I think this book should have been the manual for the camera, because it has nice pictures and it is pretty clear. However, i don't think it has any additional information, so I can't recommend it.

5 comments about Complete Guide to High Dynamic Range Digital Photography (A Lark Photography Book).

1. This is the best HDR book I have read. It covers all the important issues of HDR and gives your the tools to execute dynamic images.



2. This book is definitely worth reading if you have photography background but are just getting into HDR. I've been a professional photographer for over 10 years, but just started playing with HDR for personal projects. This book provides a solid introduction to the concepts of HDR and the tools that are currently available on the market.



3. A very informative book with brillant photography,a great guide to getting started with high dynamic range photography for all levels of photograhers.Easily explains all aspects of high dynamic range and the post processing that is involved with the different programs that are available for doing this type of photography.



4. I have been looking for a book that gets right to the heart of HDR photography. I have read several books on the subject or what was to have been on the subject only to find out there was very little actual HDR instructions in these books. I decided to try one more when I bought this book, and I wish I would have bought it first. This book in very informative on all aspects of HDR photography and is not an introduction to photography like some of the others I read. If your interested at all in this type of photography and you want full and complete instructions, this is the book to buy. Excellent study book, and the photos inside are really beautiful. This book has ignited a very very deep interest in me to get out and start using the techniques explained. Get this Book



5. I will recommend this book to any person interested on the subject.
   The best book I read this year inspirational and motivational reading.
   The author is a gifted teacher. I'll give it six stars.

5 comments about iPhoto '08: The Missing Manual.

1. David Pogue has always been a favorite of mine. I have his earlier books on Apple OS-X 10.3, 10.4 and 10.5 and always found them to be very useful. The key to this type of book is in the index. You don't read a book of this nature, but instead you pull it off the shelf when you have a problem and for this the index is crucial. You need to find an immediate reference for your problem there in order to locate the solution and in this regard David Pogue has always been tops.
   
   I can highly recommend this volume as well as the OS-X Missing Manuals by the same author.



2. No question this is the must have reference for mac products...bought the iPhoto and OSX Leopard manuals together...shipped fast too.



3. Had to consult the manual only once and found what I wanted. This manual is just about the only option should anyone need any help and prior to any calls to customer service.



4. I have learned so much from this book. The book is very well written and gets to the point in a simple and easy way to follow.



5. This book has saved me a ton of time and answered a lot of my questions about iPhoto and I am only about a third of the way through the book so far. It is a real joy. Questions that Apple staff in the local Apple store were unable to answer to my satisfaction are amply covered in this book. While the first section on fundamentals of digital photography is more basic than I need, still I got some useful information out of that section. I gained an understanding of the workings of the iPhoto image files - original and modified - and on how iPhoto interfaces with Elements 6.0. I also bought the Missing Manual for Elements 6.0 and find the two albums play well together.
   
   Things that I previously was unable to figure out became clear within a short time thanks to the Missing Manual for iPhoto '08. I feel more confident that I am going to master the photo processing software and spend much less time at the iMac while doing a better job of editing and printing my images. A great value because it translates right into time saved. Much easier than using on line help and tutorials because the manual asks the questions that I was unable to even think to ask - and then proceeds to answer the questions. I am very pleased with this book. I have over 15,000 images in iPhoto now and feel that I will soon be in command of the images and not the other way around.

5 comments about In the Blink of an Eye Revised 2nd Edition.

1. This is NOT a "how to" book for what some students may be looking for, but it is however, the best book I've read on the "ART" of editing. Insightful and well written, it helped me to really understand when to make a cut that works and when to avoid those that don't work. I would recommend it to all my friends who are editors.



2. This book has a wealth of information for the inexperienced and beginner, film editer, or anyone who is looking for a good book on the subject. I have found it to be very helpful, as I am still learning how to do professional editing!



3. are walter murch books overrated? at least there's no trace of michael ondaajte (spelling?) here.



4. This book is considered a "must" for all editors. Murch is pretty famous for his work and style so, in my opinion, I agree it's worth the read (and worth having). My book arrived on time and in the condition promised!
   
   Satisfied customer overall!



5. The book arrived quickly, in great condition, was a great read and at a good price. Would definitely buy from them again.

5 comments about Photoshop Elements 6 For Dummies (For Dummies (Computer/Tech)).

1. I just recently bought this book and hemmed and hawed around as to whether to get this book or the Missing Manual.
   
   I'm glad I went with this book. It is simple and easy to use and it seems to go into detail on some areas, yet missing something on other areas.
   
   By playing around with the program once I've read how to do something, I find I can go further.
   
   I picked up on some helpful hints immediately when I first started reading this book and am keeping my side notes to refer back to.



2. I have used this book to help me edit my pics and it is really helpful.



3. Having used the Dummies books before, with great success, I was very disappointed in this book. There are several instances where what the book states does not mesh with what is actually happening with the software. I bought this book about a week after I'd bought Photoshop Elements 6, after realizing the online help was next to no help. I don't know if it's the authors' fault, or perhaps the software itself - it is certainly not intuitive, when taken with other programs I've worked in (both PC and Mac - programs like MS Word, MS Publisher, QuarkExpress, etc.). Whatever the cause - maybe a combination of both? - the whole process of using the book and the software has been a very frustrating experience. I would not buy another book by either of these authors again, given my experience with this one.



4. I purchased Photoshop Elements 6 after reading several excellent reviews on the product. When I received my copy from Amazon, I had trouble getting it to work on my new computer so I called Adobe for technical assistance. According to Michael from Adobe, the product number on my box is not in their database so they could not help me. Michael stated that the software must be fraudulent.
   I contacted Amazon and the customer service rep (who by the way had horrible English) did not act like it was a big deal that your company may have received illegal copies of the Adobe program and are passing them on to your consumers.
   I would like someone from management to contact me at dabgarner@gmail.com or (904)894-1054.
   Thank you.



5. Book is okay but using the Adobe Elements web page showing "how to" videos is much easier to understand. Also Adobe offers a $79 video workshop which is worth the money if you want to learn. I probably would not buy the book again.

3 comments about A Short Course In Photography.

1. If you are talking a College level course that utilises this book as the main text, I truly pity you. You will learn more by simple self research via the internet and using your camera over the duration of the course than this book could ever teach you. By the final chapter you are left banging your head into your desk wondering why anyone would ever choose this offal as a required textbook. Don't believe me? Read Chapter 9 and notice that the vast majority of the text is simple poetic musings followed by references back to previous chapters, as the authors were too bloody lazy to expand upon their meager ideas. Pathetic.



2. I've been using SLR's & digital cameras since early high school, including use for some publication work. This book gives good, basic information, and would be good for a novice just learning to use a film-type camera. My copy is dated 1979, so it includes nothing about digital photography. The other reviewer referred to Chapter 9 as being nothing more than verse or poetry. That is somewhat puzzling as my copy only has 7 chapters. Also, unless there have been more current editions, this book is too dated to ever be used as a textbook for any current college course. However, if you are just looking for a basic reference on basic, film-type photography, or are a new hobbyist with a film camera, this book is certainly adequate, and one could do worse.



3. I didn't realize that it would take three weeks plus, so I didn't have it quick enough for my class, so order quick! Otherwise all is good.

No comments about 21 Nights.