Best Photography Darkroom & Processing
Since Lightroom 1.0 first launched, Scott’s Kelby’s The Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Book for Digital Photographers has been the world’s #1 bestselling Lightroom book (it has been translated into a dozen different languages), and in this latest version for Lightroom 6, Scott uses his same award-winning, step-by-step, plain-English style and layout to make learning Lightroom easy and fun. This is where Scott dramatically answers his #1 most-asked Lightroom question, which is: “Exactly what order am I supposed to do things in, and where does Photoshop fit in?” You’ll see Scott’s entire start-to-finish Lightroom 6 workflow and learn how to incorporate it into your own workflow. Scott is a photographer, designer, and award-winning author of more than 60 books, including Photoshop for Lightroom Users, Professional Portrait Retouching Techniques for Photographers Using Photoshop, Light It, Shoot It, Retouch It: Learn Step by Step How to Go from Empty Studio to Finished Image, The Adobe Photoshop Book for Digital Photographers, and The Digital Photography Book, parts 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5. His books have been translated into dozens of different languages, including Chinese, Russian, Spanish, Korean, Polish, Taiwanese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Dutch, Arabic, Swedish, Turkish, Hebrew, and Portuguese, among others, and he is a recipient of the prestigious ASP International Award, presented annually by the American Society of Photographers for “…contributions in a special or significant way to the ideals of Professional Photography as an art and a science.”.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"For example, tonality is one of the key steps in post processing images and the author provides enough detail so that you will not only be able to follow his instructions for dealing with the sample images, but also to understand how the process works. For long-time users of Lightroom, there are a few new functions, and Lightroom is so user friendly that the operation of some of the new functions, like panoramas and HDR, will be intuitive and not require explanation, so that those long-time users might think they don't need this kind of introduction. Experienced users may also find something they didn't know in this book."
"Here's the summary if you're in a hurry: Pros: -Easy to read but very good and detailed information. -Well laid out and organized. -Word searching in the digital version makes finding things a breeze. -A full photo shoot (for the cover of the book) is laid out and described, including the Photoshop editing. It is laid out in the order of things you would encounter if you were a first time user new to the program and to organizing your images. It works for me and I would especially recommend his books to beginners as they have a lot of information in small chunks. The beginning is dedicated to good organizational practices which I partially followed from the last edition. I used to be very casual about my hard drives and use them for a lot of stuff and lost pictures several times. There are a LOT of small tips, which makes reading through the book worthwhile even for those who have used Lightroom before. I found this book full of good ideas and techniques easily explained."
"Lightroom is primarily for professionals who make a lot of photos per day like the author Scott Kelby."
"Very good book for someone who switched from another program to Lightroom 6."
"I cannot find any reference for Window diagrams and this is disappointing as the little blue pull down boxes shown throughout Chapter One do not exist on Windows LR and this would be too confusing to my students."
This ebook will take you through ALL of the features of Lightroom CC, from start to finish in detail!
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Serge is a very intuitive photograher and has organized this book in a way that is easy to read, while at the same time being very informative."
"Excellent resource book for LR CC, which is now called LR Classic (go figure!"
"Love the projects you can do with the downloadable files he provides. Con: One of my biggest complaint/concern is that on some of his examples, like the mountain scene example, when working with the graduation filter and the radial filter it can be a bit confusing to a beginner whether to click on done, or not, before moving on to the next step which is to modify and/or change the results for those particular filters. My only other con is that I feel he should recommend resetting the settings in the localized settings panel pertaining to the brush tool before using that tool again on a new image."
"It's been good for me because I jumped into LR in the middle and needed to step backwards and file and retrieve things with ease."
"It's that passion that shines through in this book."
"Those looking for easy to understand and practical help for Lightroom, for Serge Ramelli has very good tutorials."
"Excellent book."
Over 200 step-by-step or do-it-yourself formulas Tips for mastering the "ingredients" of analog photography processing, namely the chemicals used to develop, fix, stop and tone Special technique contributions and stunning black and white imagery by professionals such as Bruce Barnbaum, Tim Rudman, John Sexton, and more. Steve Anchell has taught digital and darkroom classes at Oregon State University, and has conducted workshops since 1979 at institutions such as the International Center for Photography, Santa Fe Photographic Workshops, and UCLA.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"This is the real photography, the way the old masters of photography--those pioneers who turned it into a fine art--worked in the darkroom."
"yeah i know the darkroom days are numbered, but you'll never achieve a black and white print half as good as one developed on photographic paper Period."
"Well written and easy to access the subject you seek."
"this is a must for my darkroom and sits beside the Film Developing Cookbook."
"If you like the film photography, and have worries about the availably of processing chemicals this book eases concerns as it gives you the means to make your own chemicals."
"It is a book crammed full of easy-to-follow & understand recipes and tips for REAL photography, but beware, you may actually want to get your hands dirty if you read it!"
"Fantastic book and in great shape!"
"I learn from this book every time I open it."
Best Darkroom & Photo Processing
Since Lightroom 1.0 first launched, Scott’s Kelby’s The Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Book for Digital Photographers has been the world’s #1 bestselling Lightroom book (it has been translated into a dozen different languages), and in this latest version for Lightroom 6, Scott uses his same award-winning, step-by-step, plain-English style and layout to make learning Lightroom easy and fun. This is where Scott dramatically answers his #1 most-asked Lightroom question, which is: “Exactly what order am I supposed to do things in, and where does Photoshop fit in?” You’ll see Scott’s entire start-to-finish Lightroom 6 workflow and learn how to incorporate it into your own workflow. Scott is a photographer, designer, and award-winning author of more than 60 books, including Photoshop for Lightroom Users, Professional Portrait Retouching Techniques for Photographers Using Photoshop, Light It, Shoot It, Retouch It: Learn Step by Step How to Go from Empty Studio to Finished Image, The Adobe Photoshop Book for Digital Photographers, and The Digital Photography Book, parts 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5. His books have been translated into dozens of different languages, including Chinese, Russian, Spanish, Korean, Polish, Taiwanese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Dutch, Arabic, Swedish, Turkish, Hebrew, and Portuguese, among others, and he is a recipient of the prestigious ASP International Award, presented annually by the American Society of Photographers for “…contributions in a special or significant way to the ideals of Professional Photography as an art and a science.”.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"For example, tonality is one of the key steps in post processing images and the author provides enough detail so that you will not only be able to follow his instructions for dealing with the sample images, but also to understand how the process works. For long-time users of Lightroom, there are a few new functions, and Lightroom is so user friendly that the operation of some of the new functions, like panoramas and HDR, will be intuitive and not require explanation, so that those long-time users might think they don't need this kind of introduction. Experienced users may also find something they didn't know in this book."
"Here's the summary if you're in a hurry: Pros: -Easy to read but very good and detailed information. -Well laid out and organized. -Word searching in the digital version makes finding things a breeze. -A full photo shoot (for the cover of the book) is laid out and described, including the Photoshop editing. It is laid out in the order of things you would encounter if you were a first time user new to the program and to organizing your images. It works for me and I would especially recommend his books to beginners as they have a lot of information in small chunks. The beginning is dedicated to good organizational practices which I partially followed from the last edition. I used to be very casual about my hard drives and use them for a lot of stuff and lost pictures several times. There are a LOT of small tips, which makes reading through the book worthwhile even for those who have used Lightroom before. I found this book full of good ideas and techniques easily explained."
"Lightroom is primarily for professionals who make a lot of photos per day like the author Scott Kelby."
"Very good book for someone who switched from another program to Lightroom 6."
"I cannot find any reference for Window diagrams and this is disappointing as the little blue pull down boxes shown throughout Chapter One do not exist on Windows LR and this would be too confusing to my students."
Best Digital Media
Since Lightroom 1.0 first launched, Scott’s Kelby’s The Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Book for Digital Photographers has been the world’s #1 bestselling Lightroom book (it has been translated into a dozen different languages), and in this latest version for Lightroom 6, Scott uses his same award-winning, step-by-step, plain-English style and layout to make learning Lightroom easy and fun. This is where Scott dramatically answers his #1 most-asked Lightroom question, which is: “Exactly what order am I supposed to do things in, and where does Photoshop fit in?” You’ll see Scott’s entire start-to-finish Lightroom 6 workflow and learn how to incorporate it into your own workflow. Scott is a photographer, designer, and award-winning author of more than 60 books, including Photoshop for Lightroom Users, Professional Portrait Retouching Techniques for Photographers Using Photoshop, Light It, Shoot It, Retouch It: Learn Step by Step How to Go from Empty Studio to Finished Image, The Adobe Photoshop Book for Digital Photographers, and The Digital Photography Book, parts 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5. His books have been translated into dozens of different languages, including Chinese, Russian, Spanish, Korean, Polish, Taiwanese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Dutch, Arabic, Swedish, Turkish, Hebrew, and Portuguese, among others, and he is a recipient of the prestigious ASP International Award, presented annually by the American Society of Photographers for “…contributions in a special or significant way to the ideals of Professional Photography as an art and a science.”.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"For example, tonality is one of the key steps in post processing images and the author provides enough detail so that you will not only be able to follow his instructions for dealing with the sample images, but also to understand how the process works. For long-time users of Lightroom, there are a few new functions, and Lightroom is so user friendly that the operation of some of the new functions, like panoramas and HDR, will be intuitive and not require explanation, so that those long-time users might think they don't need this kind of introduction. Experienced users may also find something they didn't know in this book."
"Here's the summary if you're in a hurry: Pros: -Easy to read but very good and detailed information. -Well laid out and organized. -Word searching in the digital version makes finding things a breeze. -A full photo shoot (for the cover of the book) is laid out and described, including the Photoshop editing. It is laid out in the order of things you would encounter if you were a first time user new to the program and to organizing your images. It works for me and I would especially recommend his books to beginners as they have a lot of information in small chunks. The beginning is dedicated to good organizational practices which I partially followed from the last edition. I used to be very casual about my hard drives and use them for a lot of stuff and lost pictures several times. There are a LOT of small tips, which makes reading through the book worthwhile even for those who have used Lightroom before. I found this book full of good ideas and techniques easily explained."
"Lightroom is primarily for professionals who make a lot of photos per day like the author Scott Kelby."
"Very good book for someone who switched from another program to Lightroom 6."
"I cannot find any reference for Window diagrams and this is disappointing as the little blue pull down boxes shown throughout Chapter One do not exist on Windows LR and this would be too confusing to my students."
Best Photography Criticism & Essays
It begins with the famous "In Plato's Cave"essay, then offers five other prose meditations on this topic, and concludes with a fascinating and far-reaching "Brief Anthology of Quotations." All future discussion or analysis of the role of photography in the affluent mass-media societies are now bound to begin with her book. "After Sontag, photography must be written about not only as a force in the arts, but as one that is increasingly powerful in the nature and destiny of our global society.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Sontag writes intelligently without being bogged down in ideology or methodology."
"Required reading for every photographer."
"the essays are a good length; this is a good book to pick up every now and then if you love reading, but not all the time."
"Amazing book, if you are into photography you are gonna loved it."
"The book is a little dated as it does not consider the current world where everybody has a camera in there pocket and is posting pictures of themselves constantly."
"Sontag is brilliant, we know this."
"textbook is in good condition and with nice cover!"
"Insights into how we 'see' an image."
Best Photography Lighting
Final chapters show you how to integrate design through the delivered product, whether an album or slideshow, and continue nurturing clients after the wedding by expanding to baby and family portraiture. Packed with real-life examples, solid techniques, and stunning images from one of the wedding industry's brightest stars, this book will both educate and inspire photographers seeking to update their work and satisfy a new generation of brides. Jose Villa has been named one of the top 10 wedding photographers in the world by American PHOTO, one of the “hottest young photographers in today’s wedding industry” by Rangefinder , and among the “most inspirational wedding photographers in today’s industry” by Photo District News.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"It is simply written and full of useful advice that photographers of all genres can use as a source of inspiration and education to satisfy today's generation of brides. It is for the aforementioned reasons the I am thrilled to recommend, "Fine Art Wedding Photography: How to Capture Images with Style for the Modern Bride", by Jose Villa for film photographers interested in learning his craft as based on his experiences."
"When talking about Jose Villa the conversation always ends in some sort of undisputed agreement that he is an immensely talented artist/photographer, which he is. He has shared so much of his hard-earned, and insightful information, that if you read this book you will, no question about it, make better, more beautiful images, both digital or film."
"Well presented, well written, beautiful images, and I was able to take away at least FIVE things that I feel will help my wedding photography business in the future. There are principles that are involved on the technical portions of the book, esp when detailing about film speeds and types that many photographers do not deal with. That being said, if you plan on doing high end boudoir, there are a lot of principles that do carry over, which are used in this book. It has more detailed methods, more photos, and principles for a starting to mid level photographer. If you have over 2 years in the business and are moderately successful, this book will give you some tips, but in my opinion, it's not desk reference worthy."
"As a long time fan who has listened to podcasts, attended a platform and a master class of Jose Villa's at WPPI, I was ecstatic when I heard that he was coming out with a book."
Best Photography Equipment
Understanding Exposure has taught generations of photographers how to shoot the images they want by demystifying the complex concepts of exposure in photography. - Digital Photography School BRYAN PETERSON is a professional photographer, internationally known instructor, best-selling author, and founder of The Bryan Peterson School of Photography at www.bpsop.com.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Buy this book first."
"Since it was first published, Understanding Exposure has provided a friendly, easy, and accessible way for everyone to learn to use their cameras to create beautiful images. I've been in the photography business for almost two decades and this book has always been my first recommendation (more than any classes or any other book) when pressed for help with cameras. It's for a very good reason that the book has been so successful over the last decade - Peterson makes it easy to put away the camera manual and get the most important basics down to start taking consistently good images."
"He talks around it for the whole book like it's some magical thing but I had to go to Wikipedia to get an understanding of the what the triangle is and how to use it in a practical way. Try searching Wikipedia for "Exposure Value" or "Law of Reciprocity" under the "Science of Photography"."
"I picked up my first camera and this book at the same time."
"This book completely revamped my passion for photography and improved my photos tremendously."
"I bought this latest version for my daughter, the only real difference is the last chapter deals with flash usage."
"If you are used to your camera's Auto-something feature, forget about it, because this will really change the way you will set up exposures, leveraging your creativity."
"Easy read and very informative without being overly wordy."
Best Photography Reference
Understanding Exposure has taught generations of photographers how to shoot the images they want by demystifying the complex concepts of exposure in photography. - Digital Photography School BRYAN PETERSON is a professional photographer, internationally known instructor, best-selling author, and founder of The Bryan Peterson School of Photography at www.bpsop.com.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Buy this book first."
"Since it was first published, Understanding Exposure has provided a friendly, easy, and accessible way for everyone to learn to use their cameras to create beautiful images. I've been in the photography business for almost two decades and this book has always been my first recommendation (more than any classes or any other book) when pressed for help with cameras. It's for a very good reason that the book has been so successful over the last decade - Peterson makes it easy to put away the camera manual and get the most important basics down to start taking consistently good images."
"He talks around it for the whole book like it's some magical thing but I had to go to Wikipedia to get an understanding of the what the triangle is and how to use it in a practical way. Try searching Wikipedia for "Exposure Value" or "Law of Reciprocity" under the "Science of Photography"."
"I picked up my first camera and this book at the same time."
"This book completely revamped my passion for photography and improved my photos tremendously."
"I bought this latest version for my daughter, the only real difference is the last chapter deals with flash usage."
"If you are used to your camera's Auto-something feature, forget about it, because this will really change the way you will set up exposures, leveraging your creativity."
"Easy read and very informative without being overly wordy."
Best Photography Collections & Exhibitions
Following the remarkable success of the 50th year anniversary edition, we're pleased to present Playboy: Centerfolds, 60th Anniversary Edition . Paging through this colossal, chronological collection provides a breathtaking view of our evolving appreciation of the female form: from the fifties fantasy of voluptuous blondes to the tawny beach girls of the seventies to the groomed and toned women of today.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I bought this as a collectors addition."
"the case is an awesome way to store this very impressive book of photographs."
"Really cool to go back through history and see all the famous people posing nude."
"I did not unwrap the plastic cover so I don't know how the inside of the book looked since I purchased it as a gag gift for a young gentleman at the office."
"It's the positively most PERFECT size (A bit longer than your average book, but about the same width) for carrying around @ conventions for autographs or whatever else you may have in mind for it."
"the presentation and photographies of the book are beautiful ,nothing vulgar , very welldone mister Huge Hefner never disapointe me."
"Great book for anyone's Playboy collection."
Best Photographers, A-Z
Relive the extraordinary Presidency of Barack Obama through White House photographer Pete Souza's behind-the-scenes images and stories in this #1 New York Times bestseller--with a foreword from the President himself. During Barack Obama's two terms, Pete Souza was with the President during more crucial moments than anyone else--and he photographed them all. His books include the New York Times bestseller The Rise of Barack Obama , which documents the president's meteoric ascent from his first day in the United States Senate through the 2008 Pennsylvania presidential primary.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I'd like to say up front here that this is one of those reviews where I am struggling so hard to put thoughts into words, because of how many thoughts I have, and how difficult it is for me to express them. He was funny and personable, and every time I heard him speak I felt suddenly prouder and more patriotic. Because all the rest of that time I wasted being blind and hateful. I'm not really the kind that normally runs off to scrounge around for books they can't afford, but this is the second photography book of the Obamas I've done so for, and it captured my heart as much the second time, as it did the first. UPDATE: Thanks to so many of the kind, heartwarming offers, I have received a copy of this book."
"Well, I guess it is the idea of the unconditional love that I have personally felt by dogs.....and the fact that it least in my mind that is what our former President and First Lady gave us for 8 years. I pray that someday Obama haters or hopefully their children will view the pictures in this “must have” Obama memorabilia and appreciate not only the historical significance of this man to US and world history but also feel his unconditional love of America ; its history, culture and people in every page."
"Obama wasn't perfect, but seeing his two-term administration, not riddled by scandal or buffoonery, captured in this historic volume brought tears to my eyes."
"As I thumb through the pages, I realize how much of my vision of President Obama was formed by the photographs of special moments captured by Souza."
"In capturing the defining moments of the Obama presidency, Mr. Souza has given the common citizen a personal, vulnerable look into the remarkable 8-year tenure of the 44th president."
Best Professional Photography
Right along with changes in camera technology, photographers are witnessing shifts in the business landscape that can be a challenge to understand and navigate, whether they’re just beginning their business or growing it after 25 years of shooting. Best Business Practices for Photographers, 3rd Edition , is an updated and expanded version of John Harrington’s bestselling books on the topic. For the first time, Harrington brings together both Best Business Practices for Photographers and More Best Business Practices for Photographers , creating a complete and comprehensive guide for photographers starting, maintaining, and growing their business in order to achieve financial success and personal satisfaction. Whether you’re just starting a photography business or you’re a veteran shooter looking to improve your finances, Best Business Practices for Photographers, 3rd Edition , is for you. Harrington’s Best Business Practices books have long been recognized throughout the industry as the go-to resource for photographers, and this new, complete 3rd Edition is your key to a successful career in photography. John Harrington has worked for more than 25 years as an active photographer in Washington, DC, and around the world, working with both editorial and commercial clients.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Great book for aspiring photographers who need a bit of a reality check when it comes to the business vs art ratio."
"I think I have read it twice already and I will keep reading it over and over again until I get everything down!"
"This book has a ton of brilliant insight in it, and if you're studio art degree didn't have much business for photographers to it, then this is a must have."
"This is required reading for my photography business class, and I was happy to get it used for a fraction of the cost at my school's bookstore."
"A very comprehensive (if not a bit too comprehensive in some areas) and well written book."
"From his early tales John Harrington clearly had to sink or swim and learned the hard way; he offers the reader who wishes to make a business of photography the mindset that will allow success."
"I just finished reading "Best Business Practices..." and I must say, from my perspective of 40-plus years in the business -- as shooter, picture editor and director of photography -- the book is fantastic."
"I just got off the phone with John today with some questions and I'm even more thrilled I bought this book after our short convo."
Best Color Photography
Completely revised and updated throughout, Bryan Peterson's classic guide to creativity helps photographers visualize their work, and the world, in a whole new light by developing their photographic vision. His trademark use of color and strong, graphic composition have garnered him many photographic awards, including the Art Director Club's Gold Award and honors from Communication Arts and Print magazines.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"When i was reading the book it all seemed so basic and I thought I wasted my money, but after reading the book, and applying each lesson individually when taking pictures I can confidently say the book helped me grow as a photographer!"
"Interesting read, strong writing and great examples."
"The book prompted me to view things and people differently."
"I have all of Bryan Peterson's books."
"I am reading it through the second time now."
"This book has opened my thinking to different ways of composing, and in general really helped me to see the bigger picture while shooting."
"Very informative."
"Great Book!!!!!!"
Best Travel Photography
In My Holiday in North Korea: The Funniest/Worst Place on Earth, Wendy shares a glimpse of North Korea as it’s never been seen before. Through poignant, laugh-out-loud essays and 92 never-before-published color photographs of North Korea, Wendy chronicles one of the strangest vacations ever. “A death-defying adventure, filled with despair and tiny pieces of hope, and beautiful ― I wish I was as brave as Wendy.” (James Altucher Bestselling author, entrepreneur, podcaster ). Her intrepid desire to discover the reality behind the stagecraft escorts the reader through My Holiday in North Korea with words and pictures that render this mysterious country both knowable and unknowable, and always fascinating. Simmons’ insightful and funny storytelling evocatively captures the deception, corruption, humor and, ultimately, anguished humanity of a bizarre nation. But more than that, it is Ms. Simmons ease at being a traveler to distant and strange lands that gives this book its unusual insight into what people behind a real iron curtain think, and yes, feel.” (Maria T. Lemmon Novelist, a screenwriter, and the author of Confessions of a So-Called Middle Child, and Making It Up as I go Along ). “Writer and photographer Wendy Simmons shares a personal account of her vacation to one of the most reclusive nations on the planet, North Korea. During her journey she finds herself caught between an international crisis sparked by the release of the Sony Pictures film The Interview and accidentally crashing the ‘wedding’ of a North Korean bride to be.” (Gabriel Sanchez Buzzfeed ).
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"This book is funny for sure."
"Simmons's quips (read: "Driver nearly knocked Fresh Handler over for the girlie [pair of sunglasses]) throughout the book keep the dark subject matter light. I loved it straight through the end and fully felt the writer's pain: "...I could never stop wondering what kind of people my handlers could or would have been had they been born anywhere else."
"I felt like I was reading about Stalinist Russia where the people starved while the leaders lived in incomprehensible corruption and luxury and built obscene monuments to themselves."
"I felt like I was alongside Wendy on her journey navigating the absurdities of visiting North Korea. I recommend this as a great glimpse into the dichotomy that is North Korea and is particularly relevant considering our political climate, leaders on-going twitter wars, and of course nuclear testing."
"humorous, sarcastic voice - it's a quick read and a page turner because the tale she tells is of a very stange, oppressive, sad and disturbing culture."
"North Korea is definitely not a place I ever plan on visiting!"
"The book was interesting and an enjoyable read."
"The author is amusingly self-deprecating and the book is very funny, but true, without the author resorting to cheap cliched criticisms about "NoKO"."
Best Erotic Photography
500+ ORIGINAL PICTURES. NO STOCK PHOTOS. Many pictures include links to the full-size image so you can zoom in to see every pixel. First, beginner photographers will master: * Composition. * Exposure. * Shutter speed. * Aperture. * Depth-of-field (blurring the background). * ISO. * Natural light. * Flash. * Troubleshooting blurry, dark, and bad pictures. * Pet photography. * Wildlife photography (mammals, birds, insects, fish, and more). * Sunrises and sunsets. * Landscapes. * Cityscapes. * Flowers. * Forests, waterfalls, and rivers. * Night photography. * Fireworks. * Raw files. * HDR. * Macro/close-up photography. Advanced photographers can skip forward to learn the pro’s secrets for: * Posing men and women. including corrective posing (checklists provided). * Portraits (candid, casual, formal, and underwater). * Group photos. * Remotely triggering flashes. * Using bounce flash and flash modifiers. * Using studio lighting on any budget. * Building a temporary or permanent studio at home. * Shooting your first wedding. * High speed photography. * Location scouting/finding the best spots and times. * Planning shoots around the sun and moon. * Star trails (via long exposure and image stacking). * Light painting. * Eliminating noise. * Focus stacking for infinite depth-of-field. * Underwater photography. * Getting close to wildlife. * Using electronic shutter triggers. -- Philip Greenspun "Amazon" Award-winning author and photographer Tony Northrup has published more than 30 how-to books and sold more than a million copies around the world.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"What I love about it is that when you buy the book you get access to community forum and the Facebook page which is very nice, It has loads of useful information to improve your photography, I would highly recommend the book to anyone starting out in photography, very very useful."
"I have recently purchased a Nikon 3100 and bought the corresponding "dummies" book, which about matches my photography expertise. The embedded links and videos, as well as the ability to grab the sample photos and enlarge for detailed study (need an Internet connection for the latter two items) is invaluable to rank photography newbs like me. The videos are stuck in the appropriate place in the book, which leads to excellent learning flow as you build on the lessons. This is a refreshing change to the "quick scan, make a buck and forget" mentality that the big publishers follow. Tony has evidently not subscribed to the overpriced ebook mentality that has been the source of thousands of complaints on Amazon."
"I've learned a lot through the Stunning Digital Photography Facebook page, as well as Chelsea and Tony's live show, podcasts, and Youtube videos."
"I do know that it is is not just the "mechanics" that one can learn from a book that makes better photographs, but I think the concepts that have been outlined are extremely valuable to keep in ones repertoire and will make anyone a better photographer (maybe incrementally!)."
Best History of Photography
Relive the extraordinary Presidency of Barack Obama through White House photographer Pete Souza's behind-the-scenes images and stories in this #1 New York Times bestseller--with a foreword from the President himself. During Barack Obama's two terms, Pete Souza was with the President during more crucial moments than anyone else--and he photographed them all. His books include the New York Times bestseller The Rise of Barack Obama , which documents the president's meteoric ascent from his first day in the United States Senate through the 2008 Pennsylvania presidential primary.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I'd like to say up front here that this is one of those reviews where I am struggling so hard to put thoughts into words, because of how many thoughts I have, and how difficult it is for me to express them. He was funny and personable, and every time I heard him speak I felt suddenly prouder and more patriotic. Because all the rest of that time I wasted being blind and hateful. I'm not really the kind that normally runs off to scrounge around for books they can't afford, but this is the second photography book of the Obamas I've done so for, and it captured my heart as much the second time, as it did the first. UPDATE: Thanks to so many of the kind, heartwarming offers, I have received a copy of this book."
"Well, I guess it is the idea of the unconditional love that I have personally felt by dogs.....and the fact that it least in my mind that is what our former President and First Lady gave us for 8 years. I pray that someday Obama haters or hopefully their children will view the pictures in this “must have” Obama memorabilia and appreciate not only the historical significance of this man to US and world history but also feel his unconditional love of America ; its history, culture and people in every page."
"Obama wasn't perfect, but seeing his two-term administration, not riddled by scandal or buffoonery, captured in this historic volume brought tears to my eyes."
"As I thumb through the pages, I realize how much of my vision of President Obama was formed by the photographs of special moments captured by Souza."
"In capturing the defining moments of the Obama presidency, Mr. Souza has given the common citizen a personal, vulnerable look into the remarkable 8-year tenure of the 44th president."
Best Fashion Photography
This sumptuous book takes a decade-by-decade look at the world as seen by the magazine, stopping to describe the incomparable editor Frank Crowninshield and the birth of the Jazz Age Vanity Fair, the magazine's controversial rebirth in 1983, and the history of the glamorous Vanity Fair Oscar Party. Graydon Carter has been the editor of Vanity Fair since 1992.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"This is the quintessential "coffee table" book in my opinion."
"It holds endless fascination with its wealth of photographic material and accompanying narratives which entertain and inform."
"I saw this book at Pottery Barn and fell in love but I was curious to see if Amazon sold it as well."
"Wonderfully beautiful book."
"Excellent coffee table book."
"This is a beautiful book I have out on display that I actually also enjoy looking through."
"Love this book."
"This was also a gift and my niece loves it."
Best Digital Photography
500+ ORIGINAL PICTURES. NO STOCK PHOTOS. Many pictures include links to the full-size image so you can zoom in to see every pixel. First, beginner photographers will master: * Composition. * Exposure. * Shutter speed. * Aperture. * Depth-of-field (blurring the background). * ISO. * Natural light. * Flash. * Troubleshooting blurry, dark, and bad pictures. * Pet photography. * Wildlife photography (mammals, birds, insects, fish, and more). * Sunrises and sunsets. * Landscapes. * Cityscapes. * Flowers. * Forests, waterfalls, and rivers. * Night photography. * Fireworks. * Raw files. * HDR. * Macro/close-up photography. Advanced photographers can skip forward to learn the pro’s secrets for: * Posing men and women. including corrective posing (checklists provided). * Portraits (candid, casual, formal, and underwater). * Group photos. * Remotely triggering flashes. * Using bounce flash and flash modifiers. * Using studio lighting on any budget. * Building a temporary or permanent studio at home. * Shooting your first wedding. * High speed photography. * Location scouting/finding the best spots and times. * Planning shoots around the sun and moon. * Star trails (via long exposure and image stacking). * Light painting. * Eliminating noise. * Focus stacking for infinite depth-of-field. * Underwater photography. * Getting close to wildlife. * Using electronic shutter triggers. -- Philip Greenspun "Amazon" Award-winning author and photographer Tony Northrup has published more than 30 how-to books and sold more than a million copies around the world.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"What I love about it is that when you buy the book you get access to community forum and the Facebook page which is very nice, It has loads of useful information to improve your photography, I would highly recommend the book to anyone starting out in photography, very very useful."
"I've learned a lot through the Stunning Digital Photography Facebook page, as well as Chelsea and Tony's live show, podcasts, and Youtube videos."
"I do know that it is is not just the "mechanics" that one can learn from a book that makes better photographs, but I think the concepts that have been outlined are extremely valuable to keep in ones repertoire and will make anyone a better photographer (maybe incrementally!)."
"It is such an unusual book in that throughout the book (I got the electronic version) you can click on videos that further explain the technique he is teaching. He discusses and gives examples in portraits, flash photography, weddings, birding (one of my favorites), wildlife, night shooting, how to improve lighting, and landscape photography....and much more. For me, I could not have found a better book on photography."
"The book starts at the beginning and moves through all the basic elements of photography, covering things like quick tips, composition, depth of field, lighting, etc. After learning the basics, the book has later chapters that have detailed ideas for Portraits, landscapes, macro photography, photographing animals, weddings, night photography, underwater photography, HDR techniques, and more."
"The information that Tony shares in the book is for those that want to take their photography to the next level."
Best Nature & Wildlife Photography
“The Old West’s last glimmers flicker through this piercingly beautiful adventure, an unforgettable saga in which Preston, astride his horse Popeye, traverses the desert and mountain wilderness of Arizona and New Mexico retracing the trail-blazing 1540-41 expedition of Spanish Explorer Francisco Vasquez de Coronado in search of the legendary Seven Cities of Gold … In place of the mythical winning of the West, Preston unfolds a harrowing tale of loss.” –Publishers Weekly. And along the way he records stories of the people and places he encounters, making brief excursions into mining booms and busts, the history of livestock ranching, the impact of barbed wire and windmills, the first mail routes, homesteading, the destruction of the Indian nations, and much more.” –Smithsonian magazine. The Old West's last glimmers flicker through this piercingly beautiful adventure, an unforgettable saga in which Preston, astride his horse Popeye, traverses the desert and mountain wilderness of Arizona and New Mexico, retracing the trailblazing 1540-1541 expedition of Spanish explorer Francisco Vasquez de Coronado. Accompanied by a photographer friend, former Natural History columnist Preston (Dinosaurs in the Attic ) talks with Navahos, Zunis, Acomas, ranchers, cowboys, prospectors and rattlesnake hunters. Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. With a friend, Preston ( Dinosaurs in the Attic: The Behind-the-Scenes Story of the American Museum of Natural History , LJ 10/15/86), attempted to follow Coronado's 1540-41 exploration of the Southwest.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"In fact, there were times when I felt that I had to put the book down after reading how hard the experience was when they ran out of water or food!"
"In one way, this book mirrors Bill Bryson’s A Walk In The Woods, in that Preston starts his journey laughably ill-equipped and partnered, yet still brings us along on a great adventure."
"I have lived in Arizona for twenty five years and have learned more about it's past through this story than I have learned in all the years of living here."
"I'm a long time fan of Preston and Child literature and have most of their work in my library in hardback, so when I saw this interesting read by one of them covering a multitude of historical subjects I love, I had to try it out."
"I would like to see the photos journal packed with drone footage, gps mapping of the path traveled listing water found and important landmark locations."
"This is a captivating story that everyone needs to read and never forget."
"To carry that large format camera on a trip like that is dedication!"
"Liked the way the narrative moved back and forth between the "adventure/expedition" and the historical and political perspectives."
Best Architectural Photography
Cleveland storyteller Dan Ruminski discovered that the 6 acres under his home were originally part of a 1,400-acre grand estate known as the Circle W Farm created by Walter White, founding brother of the White Motor Company. Cleveland native Alan Dutka authored "East Fourth Street: The Rise, Decline, and Rebirth of an Urban Cleveland Street," with Cleveland Landmark Press, and four business books.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Gave me valuable information on the beginnings of the Perfection Stove Company."
"Enjoying reading the history of the Giants of industry who made Cleveland great."
"As a Clevelander....I love it!"
"This book was a revelation."
"don't you just adore when your books arrive and there either bigger or smaller then you expected?"
"Such an amazing book, I learned so much."
"I have been wanted to learn more about this time in the Cleveland area."
"I was very disappointed in this book."
Best Photo Essays
This spectacular collection of more than 125 letters offers a never-before-seen glimpse of the events and people of history—the brightest and best, the most notorious, and the endearingly everyday. "While some might argue that the art of correspondence died with the advent of the internet, it was Letters of Note-a popular website sharing correspondence across history and spheres-that paved the way for the exceptional hardcover of the same name. The book's introduction aptly describes itself as "a museum of letters" that are as addictive as they are enlightening; featuring letters from Ernest Hemingway, Fidel Castro, Nick Cave, Elvis and more than a few world leaders. London-based author Shaun Usher compiled the collection of over 125 letters over the course of four years and the subjects span both private and public theatrics. In Letters of Note: An Eclectic Collection of Correspondence Deserving of a Wider Audience (brought to you by the creator of the blog by the same name) you'll read letters spanning across centuries, from influential political leaders, authors, actors, murderers, and more. "This new book beautifully highlights fascinating letters ...The hardcover demands prime space on the coffee table." "Someone should write a love letter to a new book called Letters of Note . It's a splendid collection of all kinds of correspondence through the ages: Elvis Presley fans writing to the president, children making suggestions to famous cartoonists, a scientist's poignant love letter to his late wife."
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"There could have been a thousand letters here and I still would not have tired of reading. In the meantime, I will peruse his website, Letters of Note, to see if I can find more wonderful letters from personalities famous and obscure."
"Letters of Note by Shaun Usher. NOVEMBER 7, 2017 ~ LEAVE A COMMENT ~ EDIT. Letters of Note: An Eclectic Collection of Correspondence Deserving of a Wider AudienceLetters of Note: An Eclectic Collection of Correspondence Deserving of a Wider Audience by Shaun Usher. My rating: 5 of 5 stars. It was from “A Way with Words” a public radio show about the English language, including the origins of words, the usages, and good books that I came to know this lovely book. Of all the letters in the book, the following three letters resonate in my mind: (1) E. B. White’s letter to his gentleman acquaintance regarding the importance of having hope for humanity; (2) Anaïs Nin’s rebuking letter to a faceless collector of her co-authored “Erotica” for his demand of more prevalent racy contents; and (3) a nameless German’s woman’s letter to her husband asking him to take her back home from a dreadful mental hospital she was in."
"True to its title, this master piece contained missives that communicated a myriad of emotions, raised pertinent questions and advised the ones in need. The typography lends a rich grandeur which these letters of note truly deserve and needless to say, it evoke the emotions that come with holding a hard cover. Upon reading this work, one cannot help but think even though we as humanity have progressed in leaps and bounds in terms of technology and life style, have lost out a lot in the art of truly communicating and asking questions that makes us think long, hard, deep and all other attributes alike."
"This is a wonderful book that I will re-read many times."
Best Photojournalism
Relive the extraordinary Presidency of Barack Obama through White House photographer Pete Souza's behind-the-scenes images and stories in this #1 New York Times bestseller--with a foreword from the President himself. During Barack Obama's two terms, Pete Souza was with the President during more crucial moments than anyone else--and he photographed them all. His books include the New York Times bestseller The Rise of Barack Obama , which documents the president's meteoric ascent from his first day in the United States Senate through the 2008 Pennsylvania presidential primary.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I'd like to say up front here that this is one of those reviews where I am struggling so hard to put thoughts into words, because of how many thoughts I have, and how difficult it is for me to express them. He was funny and personable, and every time I heard him speak I felt suddenly prouder and more patriotic. Because all the rest of that time I wasted being blind and hateful. I'm not really the kind that normally runs off to scrounge around for books they can't afford, but this is the second photography book of the Obamas I've done so for, and it captured my heart as much the second time, as it did the first. UPDATE: Thanks to so many of the kind, heartwarming offers, I have received a copy of this book."
"Well, I guess it is the idea of the unconditional love that I have personally felt by dogs.....and the fact that it least in my mind that is what our former President and First Lady gave us for 8 years. I pray that someday Obama haters or hopefully their children will view the pictures in this “must have” Obama memorabilia and appreciate not only the historical significance of this man to US and world history but also feel his unconditional love of America ; its history, culture and people in every page."
"Obama wasn't perfect, but seeing his two-term administration, not riddled by scandal or buffoonery, captured in this historic volume brought tears to my eyes."
"As I thumb through the pages, I realize how much of my vision of President Obama was formed by the photographs of special moments captured by Souza."
"In capturing the defining moments of the Obama presidency, Mr. Souza has given the common citizen a personal, vulnerable look into the remarkable 8-year tenure of the 44th president."
Best Cinematography
How to Shoot Video That Doesn't Suck is a quick and easy guide that will make your video better instantly-- whether you read it cover to cover or just skim a few chapters. Written by Steve Stockman, the director of Two Weeks (2007), plus TV shows, music videos, and hundreds of commercials, How to Shoot Video That Doesn't Suck explains in 74 short, pithy, insightful chapters how to tell a story and entertain your audience. Accompanying the book is a website with video clips to illustrate different video production rules, techniques, and situations. "Like two years of film school in 248 pages" - Steven Pressfield, author of "The War of Art" and "The Legend of Bagger Vance" "Stockman has packed a veritable film school between the pages of this highly informative, yet entertaining book. The only thing missing is a time machine so I could reshoot fifteen years of sucky birthday party and school play videos.”. --David A. Goodman, Executive Producer/Head Writer of “Family Guy” "Like two years of film school in 248 pages" -Steven Pressfield, author of "The War of Art" and "The Legend of Bagger Vance" "Stockman has packed a veritable film school between the pages of this highly informative, yet entertaining book.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Edit: - Keep videos as short as possible; if doing a how-to, consider breaking into a series. - Edit out everything that does not need to be there. - Limit the use of graphics/text/titles; if used, make text/titles simple (ex: Helvetica) and effect-free. - Consider using a call-back to link the final shot to the initial shot. - Music & Sound: Test music that is on-story, counter-story; and unrelated and see what works; Add natural sound effects. - Rely almost completely on cuts with a rare wipe (to convey movement) and even rarer dissolve (to shift to a somber mood). - Seek feedback and address all common concerns and think about unique ideas/concerns. [UPDATE: I updated this review from 2 stars to 5 stars on Jan 14, 2013."
"The tips and tricks aren't technically difficult to execute which makes this all the more enjoyable to read and put to good use."
"I have since produced two movies of family events using the tools learned from this book and have found them to be much more enjoyable to watch."
"This book is a really unpretentious and simple guide as to how to get started shooting stuff."
"Unlike other books on filmmaking, this one does not speak about the technical side of video at all; instead, it talks at length about things that make a short video work and keep people interested and entertained. By reading Steve Stockman's book, you should be able to identify and fix all the errors you've been making (if you've been shooting video) or avoid such mistakes (if you are a beginner)."
"This is more helpful than the video production program that I'm a student of at the local tech school."
"This book contained many great tips that indeed prevent the amateur video maker from making some easy mistakes."
Best Portraits & Selfies
Relive the extraordinary Presidency of Barack Obama through White House photographer Pete Souza's behind-the-scenes images and stories in this #1 New York Times bestseller--with a foreword from the President himself. During Barack Obama's two terms, Pete Souza was with the President during more crucial moments than anyone else--and he photographed them all. His books include the New York Times bestseller The Rise of Barack Obama , which documents the president's meteoric ascent from his first day in the United States Senate through the 2008 Pennsylvania presidential primary.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I'd like to say up front here that this is one of those reviews where I am struggling so hard to put thoughts into words, because of how many thoughts I have, and how difficult it is for me to express them. He was funny and personable, and every time I heard him speak I felt suddenly prouder and more patriotic. Because all the rest of that time I wasted being blind and hateful. I'm not really the kind that normally runs off to scrounge around for books they can't afford, but this is the second photography book of the Obamas I've done so for, and it captured my heart as much the second time, as it did the first. UPDATE: Thanks to so many of the kind, heartwarming offers, I have received a copy of this book."
"Well, I guess it is the idea of the unconditional love that I have personally felt by dogs.....and the fact that it least in my mind that is what our former President and First Lady gave us for 8 years. I pray that someday Obama haters or hopefully their children will view the pictures in this “must have” Obama memorabilia and appreciate not only the historical significance of this man to US and world history but also feel his unconditional love of America ; its history, culture and people in every page."
"Obama wasn't perfect, but seeing his two-term administration, not riddled by scandal or buffoonery, captured in this historic volume brought tears to my eyes."
"As I thumb through the pages, I realize how much of my vision of President Obama was formed by the photographs of special moments captured by Souza."
"In capturing the defining moments of the Obama presidency, Mr. Souza has given the common citizen a personal, vulnerable look into the remarkable 8-year tenure of the 44th president."