Which Digital Photography Book Should I Buy?

The ultimate reference for serious photographers making the switch from film to digital, The Digital SLR Handbook tackles head on all the issues with which traditional photographers struggle when getting to grips with shooting digital and digital image processing. Drawing on his own experience and his discussions with fellow photographers, best-selling digital photography author Michael Freeman answers the questions that photographers ask most often, and explains matters they can find confusing or difficult to understand. From sensors, storage media, and resolution, through formats, histograms, and dynamic range, to digital noise vs. film grain, color management, and image workflow - this book gives you all the information you need. Comprehensive in its scope and unrivaled in its depth, The Digital SLR Handbook is the definitive reference source for every professional or enthusiast photographer. A bestselling digital photography book of top quality.

This guide has been completely updated and revised to reflect technological advances. It offers essential techniques and professional tips for digital camerawork and guidelines for choosing suitable digital equipment, including cameras, computers, monitors, scanners and printers. The book covers all aspects of photography from actually taking the pictures (probably the most important part!) through digital enhancing (the main part) to printing, including the necessary theory of each stage. I've been a photographer for many years and managed to find much useful information in here.

It is well designed, well laid out, and diagrams and illustrations are generally of a high quality. I agree that sometimes it is difficult to see the difference between "before" and "after" shots but this really is a minor gripe and close scrutiny will pay off in this respect. This was also one of the few that didn't waste 30 pages showing what you can do with the "artistic" and "3D" effects that come with most photo software. As earlier reviews have said, the author is clearly first and foremost a photographer and this shows. In terms of useful content, this is one of the best digital photography books we've reviewed.

"40 Digital Photography Techniques" will show you how to: choose, use, and accessorize your digital camera; understand and exploit various sources of light; get creative with filters; become effective with low-light and night photography; capture expressive portraits of adults, children, and yourself; photograph objects in motion and get great action shots; catch the mood of your vacation, a snowy or rainy day, a brilliant sunrise or sunset; shoot everything - panoramas, architecture, landscapes, products, food, cars, pets; take animated photos with your camera phone; transfer, edit, and print your images, or share them on the web; and more!

How is this book different? Written for new digital camera owners in a language that's easy to understand; presents inspiring, full-color images on every page; lets you dive right in and have fun with your digital camera; helps film photographers make a smooth transition to digital; combines technical instruction with creative ideas to help boost your skills; groups topics thematically for quick reference; provides a thorough explanation of how digital cameras work; uses practical step-by-step instructions, explanations, shortcuts, and tips; shows you how to shoot professional-looking images with any digital camera. Who is it for? Anyone interested in correcting, enhancing, or creating digital images - for home or professional use; photography hobbyists, professional photographers, print and web designers; contents; using Adobe Photoshop Elements 3.0 effectively; correcting lighting and contrast; coloring black-and-white photos; removing red eye, eliminating blemishes, and enhancing facial features; using lens blur cleaning up, combining, and resizing images.

If you are fairly comfortable with the concept of photography but find the digital part a stumbling block, Digital Photography for Dummies should get you over the hump. Julie Adair King, a photographer and graphics-software specialist, deftly explains such concepts as resolution, f-stop, and compression. King is also refreshingly up-front about the differences between film-based and digital photography, spelling out the shortcomings of the latter in the early pages of the book.

Although the author claims this is one of 'the' best digital photography books around, her advice, from the most basic to the more advanced aspects of the field, is well thought out and simple without being condescending. She informs readers, for example, that you needn't use high pixel resolutions simply for placing images on a Web page. Such tips come as a relief to fledgling photographers on a budget, or novices who may be led to believe they have to use the highest-quality settings at all times. This was YDP's selection for 'best digital photography book' in January. This is probably the best digital photography book for beginners. A sure fire winner!

The "Digital Photographer's Handbook" is a comprehensive beginner's guide, assuming no prior knowledge. It brings together the best of classical photography techniques and the unrivaled potential of digital technology. The author has been a photography magazine journalist for 15 years and has extensive knowledge and an easy, jargon-free writing style.

Going Digital - the basics, including choosing a camera and equipment, setting up, taking shots and camera care Using your Digital Camera - tips for taking great photographs, with inspirational ideas for every genre: portraits, holidays, weddings, children, flora & fauna, abstracts, etc. The Digital Darkroom - improving, adapting and rescuing images on a computer: basic, advanced and professional techniques. Output - getting the best end result, on-line or in print, and creating a portfolio. This is a definite contender for 'best digital photography book' for summer 2006.