Basic Photography, Seventh Edition
by Michael Langford
Our Price: $89.00
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $3.55 (click here)
Category: Book
See more book details and other editions
Book Summary Information
Author: Michael LangfordEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2000-10-12
ISBN: 0240515927
Number of pages: 368
Publisher: Focal Press
Book Reviews of Basic Photography, Seventh Edition
Book Review: A Decent, Well-written Book
Summary: 5 Stars
When I bought this book I was fully aware that the latest edition (8th) was available to ship immediately while this previous 7th edition will still be ordered. Yet, I stuck to this older 7th edition as I wanted a book that was written solely by Michael Langford before he died. The 8th edition is a collaborative work based on his previous editions and written by several authors.
What I like most about this book is the more dogmatic approach to the basics of photography. That's the way I wanted it. No funny anecdotes, no jumping and bypassing guidelines. Just straighforward discussion of the fundamentals with awareness of what is possible when you intentionally disregard the rules.
For example, Langford explicitly states that the best place to learn lighting is in a studio. I can imagine some people would argue with it, but I take it at face value. This is what I mean with "dogmatic" teaching. I shall let experience teach me otherwise when I have shot thousands of pictures already. For the moment, I want to learn the rules and internalize them. This is not to say the author advocates strict complaince alone. Not at all. He emphasizes the basics. Creative licence is up to you.
Again, veterans may say, there are no "rules" in photography; only good pictures. It's easy to say that IF you knew those "rules" by heart to begin with and can make contrary decisions for your own creative purposes. But as an amateur or a novice, my belief is following guidelines is still best. Following, even copying what the teacher does is still valid. Individual creative decision will come on its own time.
This book is about basic photography yet it is generously illustrated and very revealing. The principles (equipment, techniques, lighting, etc...) were illustrated using mainly film, understandably. But the author also discussed digital cameras and digital manipulation which are outdated now owing to the technology available when the book was written. But his teaching is right on the money, including the ones on digital ethics. The author shows you the basics, shows you where you stand in relation to the big picture out there, and gives his opinion on where photography is going and where you might be depending on your options.
No doubt as you gain more experience you will drift towards more specialized photography books. But if you are totally clueless about photography and want to learn, if you want to know its very basic principles, then I highly recommend Michael Langford's 7th Edition Basic Photography as a very useful reference. All the accolades he got for this book were well deserved! I have several other photography references like John Shaw's Nature Photography and Lee Frost's A-Z of Creative Photography, for example. But I put them all aside for the time being and concentrate instead on Langford's Basic Photography.
This is a very decent, well-written book for those willing to spend the time to educate themselves on the basics of photography- whether you shoot film or digital.
Summary of Basic Photography, Seventh Edition
'Basic Photography' is a longstanding international bestseller and continues to be the introductory textbook for photography courses throughout the world.Key features:
practical assignments, so you can put into practice what you've learned
chapter summaries for easy revision
a clear and concise approach to essential photographic principles, assuming no prior knowledge
comprehensive coverage of both black and white photography, processing and printing; colour photography, digital manipulation and film processing
suitability for students of all ages and all photographic courses
This new edition now includes:
extended coverage of digital imaging techniques: from capturing images digitally, to scanning and using manipulation software and the ethics involved
updated and re-structured contents to suit the new Art (Photography) A Level
hundreds of stunning full colour photographs throughout illustrating the main points from the text inspirational images from world famous photographers including: Bill Brandt; Henri Cartier-Bresson; Edward Weston and David Hockney.
The late Michael Langford formerly taught at the Royal College of Art for many years, becoming Course Director. He was intimately involved with photography courses and examination syllabuses at all levels and as a result fully understood what a student needed. His other books for Focal Press include 'Starting Photography' 2nd edition, 'Advanced Photography' 6th edition, and 'Story of Photography' 2nd edition. 'Advanced Photography' is the companion volume to 'Basic Photography', and for students wishing to progress further, will take the aspiring photographer a step forward on the ladder to a career in photography.
Practically targeted at the new A-level syllabus so you can improve your technical skills
Get up to date with what's on offer, the advantages and disadvantages of digital photography
New, practical step-by-step instruction on digital imaging
Equipment Books
Book Subjects
- Arts & Photography
- Biographies & Memoirs
- Business & Investing
- Children's Books
- Comics & Graphic Novels
- Computers & Internet
- Cooking, Food & Wine
- Entertainment
- Gay & Lesbian
- Health, Mind & Body
- History
- Home & Garden
- Horror
- Law
- Literature & Fiction
- Mystery & Thrillers
- Nonfiction
- Outdoors & Nature
- Parenting & Families
- Professional & Technical
- Reference
- Religion & Spirituality
- Romance
- Science
- Science Fiction & Fantasy
- Sports
- Teens
- Travel
Most talked about in Equipment Books
The Underwater Photographer, Third Edition: Digital and Traditional Techniquesby MARTIN EDGE
Focal Press; Published: 2006-05-08; Paperback; Book
Best price: $100.80
Basic Betacam Camerawork, Third Edition (Media Manuals)by PETER WARD
Focal Press; Published: 2001-06-26; Paperback; Book
Best price: $28.37
Price in other shops:
Electronic Imaging for Photographersby Adrian Davies
Focal Pr; Published: 1996-11; Paperback; Book
Best price: $19.50
Price in other shops:
Into Your Darkroom Step by Stepby Dennis P. Curtin, Steve Musselman
Focal Press; Published: 1986-04; Paperback; Book
The Photographic Lens, Second Edition (Media Manuals)by Sidney Ray BSc MSc ASIS HonFBIPP FMPA HonFRPS
Focal Press; Published: 1992-04-16; Paperback; Book
Price in other shops:
Hasselblad Way (Camera Way Books)by H. Freytag
Focal Press; Published: 1978-02; Hardcover; Book
The Photoshop 6 WOW! Bookby Linnea Dayton, Jack Davis
Peachpit Press; Published: 2001-07-12; Paperback; Book
Best price: $18.86
Price in other shops:
CIG to Gardeningby Macmillan Publishing, MacMillan General Reference
MacMillan Publishing Company; Published: 1998-07-01; Hardcover; Book
Price in other shops:
The Complete Idiot's Guide to Digital Photography (2nd Edition)by Steven Greenberg
Alpha; Published: 2001-10-19; Paperback; Book
Best price: $1.95
Price in other shops:
Canon 50D: From Snapshots to Great Shotsby Jeff Revell
Peachpit Press; Published: 2009-05-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $14.99
Price in other shops: