The Digital Photography Book, Volume 2 by Scott Kelby
|
List Price: Our Price: $13.31 You Save: $11.68 (47%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $8.06 (click here) Category: Book See more book details and other editions |
|---|
Book Reviews of The Digital Photography Book, Volume 2
Book Review: Carry this book in your camera bag
Summary: 5 Stars
If you have a digital single-lens reflex (SLR) camera and you want to learn how to take the camera out of "auto mode" and get great pictures, then this book (and its predecessor) is for you. If you don't know how to use that flower on the mode dial, this book can teach you. Even people with point-and-shoot digital cameras will find valuable tips throughout this book.
The Digital Photography Book Volume 2 by Scott Kelby is not an update of his previous work, but rather it starts where Volume 1 left off with a whole new set of topics. Written with Scott Kelby's dry sense of humor, the book explains how to use a flash, improve shots using the standard flash that comes with the camera, how to set up a digital photography studio, and how to get great shots. For example, if you want to learn how to take macro shots of a flower, rather than explaining depth of field and apertures, Kelby tells you the settings you need to adjust on your camera to get the shot; this is when to use that flower mode button on point-and-shoot cameras. This step-by-step formula is repeated in the section on how to take great travel photos "it won't be long before you friends are overcome with emotion (jealousy)," portraits, landscapes, macro shots and even how to shoot a wedding. However, once you've read that section, you might be more inclined to tell Cousin Jennifer that your camera is broken when asked to shoot her wedding. In addition, there are tips on using your camera's features to get better shots, and, like Volume 1, recipes for getting a particular shot. Each page shows a photo of a scene or the camera and a short explanation of how to achieve the desired shot. The book is written as if Kelby is standing next you giving you how-to tips.
Kelby is a professional photographer, designer, and podcast star. Volume 1 is the best selling digital photography book of all time. However, most digital photographers know Kelby for his work with Adobe Photoshop users. He teaches on-line photography and Photoshop classes, and he participates in photo walks and teaches at photo workshops in locations like Yosemite and Santa Fe, New Mexico. He has an on-line blog and asked his loyal readers how to convince people to read the introduction to his book. He incorporated their suggestions and rewrote chapter 1 just prior to the book's publication.
The Digital Photography Book Volume 2 by Scott Kelby is an entertaining read for those for whom photography is a serious hobby or for wanna-be pros. It is well-written with easy-to-understand instructions. You can literally open the book to a particular page, grab your camera and go shoot a great scene. A word of warning, though, if you think all you need is a digital camera, a memory card and this book to achieve professional results! You will soon learn that to get the "good" shots like the pros, you need more camera accessories - like an external flash, remote shutter control, polarizing filter, a flash screen and of course, a tripod... and I could go on. Scott Kelby gives away the pro's secrets. With practice, an alarm clock (the best light is at dawn) and a few accessories, you can wow your friends and family with some amazing photographs. This book should be carried right alongside Volume 1 in your camera bag.
Book Review: Defense of The Digital Photography Book Vol 2
Summary: 5 Stars
I would call myself an intermediate beginner photographer. Even thought I have been using Canon compact 35mm and digital cameras for 20 years, its been mostly automated point and shoot. I for the most part I have been perfectly happy with the Canons' choice for my pictures. But recently I decided to take my photo shooting to the next level. Since I am a very budget sensitive shopper, I did a lot of research and reading and decided to buy a Canon Powershot S3is as my step up camera. As an aside, let me say the photos I have shot with this camera so far using my tried and true auto point and shoot are OUTRAGEOUS. Friends and family can't believe I shot them. Enough on that. After lots more reading and research I decided to Scott Kelby's Digital Photograpy books.
There seemed to be two streams of criticism of his books. For me, the more serious of the two being the lack of technical explanation of the different aspects of photography (aperture and shutter settings, ISO settings etc.) and the lesser criticism of his use of humor.
First things first. The subtitle of Scott's Digital Photography books are ....The step-by-step secrets for how to make your photos look like the pros'!.... My analysis was that these were not books for PROS. Secondly, step by step seemed to remind me of my wife's cook books. Not why or how baking powder is added rather than/ or in addition to baking soda, just that is how it is done. Having said that, after reading through Vol 2, Scott does give technical information, insight and background on many of the aspects of photography. But it is done in natural, matter of fact manner that is appropriate to the "step by step secret" that he happens to be sharing. So for example on page 113, midway through the paragraph he writes "With this darker sky, f/22 will leave your shutter open long enough to give you that silky-water look." Here in an unintimidating way, the result of this f/stop in aperture priority mode starts to make sense. The repetition of this kind of light touch technical information opens the way for the reader to use technical specific information to master f/stops and aperture priority in a more user friendly way.
As too Scott's use of humor, I found it to be pretty much spot on.
But, even if it isn't your brand of humor...I don't think it will prevent most people from benefiting from the "secrets" Scott shares.
For me this has been the best $20 spent on "how to make my photos look like the pros'!"
Book Review: The Digital Photography Book Vol. 2: an excellent series continues
Summary: 5 Stars
Scott Kelby is President of the National Association of Photoshop Professionals (NAPP) and Editor-in-Chief of both Photoshop User and Layers magazines. He is also an excellent photographer in his own right. As such, he is not only highly knowledgeable about the ins and outs of photography, but he is also very aware of the needs of aspiring image makers at all photography skill (and budget) levels.
For those of you who have already read Volume 1 of The Digital Photography Book, this is more of the same: more of Scott's quirky sense of humor, companionable instructional narratives, and excellent photographic tips. This book also continues Scott's concern for all of us not being made out of money. In Volume 2, he follows his earlier practice of offering varyingly priced equipment alternatives to accomplish the book's photographic tasks.
For those of you who haven't read Scott's first volume (which I highly recommend) in what I'm sure will be a continuing series, not to worry. Volume 2 is a stand-alone book that offers a completely different set of photography tips from his book 1. In this volume, Scott's nine chapters cover the use of flash, building a home studio, and portrait, landscape, macro, wedding, and travel photography. He also includes two general chapters on getting overall better photos and recipes for specific types of images, from silky still water to professional-looking product shots.
Scott describes his narrative style as the advice he'd give a friend if he were there while he or she were working to create an image: folksy, but still reasonably directive (but not bossy). And as with all of Scott's books, The Digital Photography Book, Volume 2 includes an associated Web site that offers valuable information and relevant links. And this time, Scott has actually put the introduction to his book on the site, so you can get a flavor for the book before even cracking its cover.
As with most of his books, Scott Kelby assume his readers have at least a good familiarity with their current cameras and a desire to go beyond point and shoot photography. If this is true of you, then I thoroughly recommend The Digital Photography Book, Volume 2.
Book Review: "Short Cuts" - a response
Summary: 5 Stars
I enjoyed reading the review entitled "Short Cuts" and gave this a three star rating. I agree with this review on the facts, but not its judgment.
I am a photographer. Knowing the underlying fundamentals is essential to making the difference between a snapshot and a work of superior craft or fine art. A good photographer pre-visualizes the final work (e.g., the print) and then executes each step (capture, edit and output) to effect that vision. Now the moment of pre-visualization may be a fraction of a second before the shutter is released, and visions may evolve after capture. Nevertheless, when we (good photographers included) don't start with an idea of what the eventual print is supposed to look like, then luck will play a major factor in getting a good image. And gosh knows digital gives you lots of shot on goal and a larger range of acceptable, so it does happen. But when you understand the instrument at a fundamental level, you can optimize each step to achieve the vision. Kelby does not help with that.
There is, however, a place for shortcut books. Particularly with something like Photoshop, you can know the fundamentals of a technique you don't use often and still not remember what d@#$ submenu it's in. And then for the folks who have lives plenty full and don't really have time to individually test each lens to learn its "sweet spot" nor learn to use alpha channels in Photoshop, books like Kelby's are invaluable. Afterall, 99.999% of all shutter releases are by someone just trying to capture the scene in front of them, not trying to create a vision. This and Kelbey's other books meet the 80-20 rule and is a pretty fair trade off for folks that just want to take better pictures. Cookie cutters don't work all the time, but working most of the time for the limited effort shortcuts require is a pretty good deal. I don't know of anything better than (or even close) to Kelby's books at this task.
Book Review: Outstanding digital photography book
Summary: 5 Stars
The digital photography handbook,
This is the most helpful book on digital photography I have seen in a while. Each page of the book has some scenario and a ways to work with is to get the best possible shot. It's also covers many different ways to overcome what ever adverse shooting situation you might be. Kelby Talks about cheap ways to overcome situations. He also talks about more expensive ways to overcome situations. On each subject where he discusses a scenario there are usually multiple photos to show you each effect of each solution will have on the photo. Each subject is covered very well in about two pages. The photography is outstanding and in color.
Kelby covers all types of digital photography from portraiture to landscape, lighting flashes, different types of digital cameras.
Kelby covers using a flash, building a studio from scratch, shooting portraits like a pro, shooting landscapes like a pro, shooting weddings like a pro, shooting travel like a pro, shooting macro like a pro, pro tips for getting photos and more photo recipes to help you get the shot. All of these subject are covered very well.
The book is written in an easy to understand, easy to read and with some humor. Each topic is about one page in length.
I consider myself to me an intermediate photographer and I can say that this is and continue to be very helpful to me. I This is a must for the beginner to intermediate photographer. The book is small enough to carry in your camera equipment bag. This book is packed with information and extremely helpful tips.