The Digital Photography Book by Scott Kelby
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Book Reviews of The Digital Photography Book
Book Review: Great reference material
Summary: 5 Stars
I read this book cover to cover in about 2 1/2 hours (clearly I found it very enlightening). Kelby notes in the beginning that this is a book more for people who want to know what to do to get the shot, as a friend would tell you when you're out shooting together, rather than reading theory behind why things need to be shot the way they are. Don't get me wrong, that stuff is VERY important (Ansel Adams' "The Camera" is on deck for my reading list, as thinking about getting the shots made me think now about why the things work the way they do). However, sometimes you just want to know what to set the camera at to get this or that shot. This is the book for those times. Kelby's always-charming and amusing writing style helps to make even more sense of all the details.
I can't recommend this book enough, both as a starting point for different types of photography, and as a reference manual--it's going to have a permanent spot in my camera bag for when I need to remember what to do when I'm out shooting. Happy reading!
Book Review: Buy This Book to Get Serious About Taking Great Photos
Summary: 5 Stars
I bought this book a year ago when I switched to a digital SLR. Wow, it's incredible. Scott's method of presenting the information clearly and concisely makes the book awesome. He throws in a bit of humor-which made me laugh out loud-but the content is what really makes it a stand-out book.
I based the purchase of my tripod and several other "critical" gadgets on this book and I have been very happy with the huge jump from "okay" photos to pretty nice photos that non-photographers sometimes claim could "be on a post card" or say I should enter them in a contest. I've got a long way to go, but realizing that things like a polarizing filter, a good tripod (with a ball head), a bubble level for the hot shoe, a shutter release, etc have helped my photos so much.
I definitely recommend this book to the person who currently uses a SLR camera but doesn't often shoot with a tripod, wonders why their photos are not as sharp as the pros, and just wants some great tips for shooting.
Book Review: What a wonderful little book
Summary: 5 Stars
The book is a definite keeper.
In small book, author succeeds to cover almost all of the aspects of photography while keeping it friendly and fun.
Author doesn't go too much into "why" question nor he goes into the technicalities, never the less author covers each and every topic in more then sufficient depth without putting the reader to sleep :)
Author shares a lot of his experience in very clear and easy to understand manner. I picked tons of tips and knowledge.
This book is organized in a very topic independent manner - that no matter at which chapter it's been opened, reader can go from there without feel of lucking of details from previous chapters.
I think this book will benefit any level, and everybody will be able to pick a thing or two from it. I've been reading and rereading it multiple time, and even so I own a lot of "serious" photography book, this book beats them all.
Highly recommended.
Book Review: Very Good Handbook
Summary: 5 Stars
I bought this book for quick tips for improving my photography. He provides you with concise practical information for those not interested in reading pages and pages of detail. For instance, he states you can take pictures of flowers as if they were outside with the morning dew by purchasing them from the store and using a spray water bottle. I followed that tip and spent 4 hours photographing my flowers. That is simple and practical but I would've never thought of it. His ability to provide tips on a variety of subjects was impressive.
I give him five stars for sharing the methods used to take some of his more creative shots. Some photographers provide "breathtaking" photos but do not dare to give you any real insight as to the time or the method used to capture the moment. He provides that information.
His jokes are very cheesy but I appreciate his attempt not to take himself too seriously although he is serious about his work.
Book Review: Great practical tips for beginners!
Summary: 5 Stars
Many other reviews have described the layout of the book so I won't repeat that here. Let me just say that it's a great book for beginners. In addition to all the useful picture taking tips, there are also great tips on gear. Just beware, if you take all his advice on gear, it'll set you back a few grand. One caveat: this probably shouldn't be your only digital photography book. You should also probably get a more traditional one as a supplement, one that discusses principles of compositon, f-stops, aperture, light, exposure, etc. But sometimes (often) you just want someone to tell you what to do instead of having to apply what you learned from a book. This is where this book comes in. He just tells you the answers. He'll say "don't do X", or "use these settings", "the best focal length and aperture for portraits is..." and other no-nonsense practical tips. It's a fantastic supplement for anyone getting started in digital photography. Highly recommended.