Photography Tips

The longest running podcast in all of photography

2013-11-04T14:50:00.002-05:00

“The longest running podcast in all of photography” (via http://photographyworldnews.com)

Brooks Jensen, of lenswork.com, began his ‘audio blogs’ all the way back in February 2004, making his initially ‘pre-podcast’ broadcasts almost 14 years old as of late 2013. It is now part of the Lenswork Daily ‘compendium’, along with news…

Baby Photography Ideas & Tips

2013-10-29T17:34:00.002-04:00

Baby Photography Ideas & Tips (via NewsLook)

Video News by NewsLook Kids are always on the move, so capturing their energy in a photo can certainly be tough. Join Professional Photographer and father of two, Nigel Barker, as he explains his favorite tips and tricks for shooting beautiful and candid…

Landscape Photography

2013-10-29T17:32:00.001-04:00

Landscape Photography (via http://www.jobberlab.com)

Very few of us are not inspired by majestic mountains, wide expanses of lush green grasses, fallen autumn leaves, sunsets or dewy glow on the land in the mornings. So, photographers thought that if human mind and heart is so pleased and attracted by…

Top Selling Camera Flashes

2008-03-13T21:14:00.004-04:00

Canon Speedlite 580EX II Flash for Canon EOS Digital SLR Cameras

Description:
Further development of Canon's flagship Speedlite has led to the production of the 580 EX II. This is the premier Speedlite for all photographers, including professionals. Newly designed to match with the EOS-1D Mark III in terms of improved dust- and water-resistance, body strength, and the ability to control flash functions and settings from the camera menu (EOS-1D Mark III only). Other features include improved communication reliability through its direct contacts, and recycling time is both 20% shorter than the 580EX and is completely inaudible. Optional External power supply - compatible with Dust- and water- Resistant External Power Pack, Canon battery pack CP-E3 and Transistor Pack E Unit Dimensions - 3.0 x 5.3 x 4.5 inches /76 x 134 x 114mm; Weight - 13.2 oz./375g, without batteries (4 AA alkaline batteries add 3.5 oz./100g)

Customer Review:
The flash is an improvement over the previous 580EX. The base is more solid and the lockdown is improved. The battery compartment is a much better design than the older 580EX, refresh time is better. It is just an overal better designed flash.

Customer Review:
This is the top of the line flash from canon, and when matched with a canon camera, this works beautifully. I have not tried 1/10 of what this thing can do, but plan on getting plenty of use out of it. Over the past couple weeks, I have used it for assistance with hundreds of pictures and it really does work much better than the built in. I have not tried the wireless sync, but this is next up on the list.

Customer Review:
This is the ideal professional flash. The versatility is practically limitless. I bought this flash with the intent of using it as the primary lighting for wedding photography. It's powerful enough to provide bounce light even with high ceilings, and it's new silent recycle is always a welcome change for inside the church (though, the zoom head still makes noise, so this flash isn't completely silent.)

What I was most impressed with, above and beyond the reliable and consistent flash metering (this is professional grade!) is the wealth of custom functions. Included on the EX II model is a new manual automatic metering system where when enebled (via custom function) you tell the flash the ISO and the Aperture you desire and it meters the scene via it's own light sensor. This works great!
This feature is not useful when the flash is mounted on the camera howevver, ETTL II is much stronger. But this feature provides some advantages when combined with the new PC cord in port on this flash.

The extra features on this flash are amazing, the useful, but this flash is a professional flash. It's sometimes complicated, and there are features you may pay for that are unlikely to use. The 430EX is a more affordable alternative which you may want to consider to conserve your budget, and if you don't need to use this flash of a PC cord or external sync system.

Overall, great flash! Even if it wieghs as much as my camera. :D

Nikon SB-600 Speedlight Flash for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras

Description:
compatible with Nikon digital SLRs and other select Nikon cameras including the Coolpix 8700 and 8800 * wireless remote operation * 4 selectable frequency channels * vertical angle adjustment * number of flashes: About 200 per set of fresh batteries * weight: about 10.6 oz. (without battery)

Customer Review:
Does what it says on the box. On tried it enough to tell the excellence of the flash but it's good price and delivery from Amazon which makes it a good buy compared to other places where you might have to take your risk.

Customer Review:
Absolutely great.

And used in stand alone mode it makes for super photos.

Customer Review:

This flash may not have the same power as the SB800, but it's compact, smart, and good enough for most of my needs. Combined with a digital Nikon SLR (I have the D70S) it exchanges lots of information with the camera and automatically adjusts the exposure and focal length of the flash. The display on the back can be a bit confusing but all the information is there. The flash power has been more than adequate.

Canon 430EX Speedlite Flash for Canon Pro1, Pro 90, G Series and all EOS SLR Cameras

Description:
This exciting new addition to the EOS System combines compact size and affordability with an added dose of features and sophistication. Improving on the previous model, Speedlite 420EX, the new 430EX can now be set into manual flash mode (full power~1/64). Flash compensation can be set on the flash unit, and manual control of the flash zoom head is now possible. Improvements in its circuitry make recycle time 40% faster, and since it is compatible with Canon's wireless E-TTL, it can be used as an affordable "slave unit". Wide-angle pull-down panel covers 14mm lens (on a full-frame camera) Zoom positions - 24mm, 28mm, 35mm, 50mm, 70mm, 80mm, 105mm; Indicated by numerals on the LCD's focal length display Image Size Zoom Control - With cameras compatible with auto zoom, it zooms automatically to match the camera's image size Guide Number 141 ft./43m (at ISO 100); flash head at 105mm zoom setting Auto conversion of flash zoom coverage with compatible digital SLRs White balance info communicated instantly to compatible digital SLRs Bounce upward to 90 degrees; swivel right (to 90 degrees) and left (to 180 degrees) 14% lighter and approx. 25% smaller in overall volume than top-of-the-line 580EX Six flash custom functions built into the 430EX (set on rear LCD panel) Power Source - Four AA-size Alkaline Batteries (6V) or Four AA-size NiMH Rechargeable (4.8V) - both not included Unit Dimensions - 2.8 x 4.8 x 4.0 in./72 x 122 x 101mm / Weight - 11.6 oz./330g (without batteries)

Customer Review:
Canon's 430EX Flash is one of the hands down best flashes for under $300. I use my on a Canon XT and can produce some of the most amazing looking pictures with it. The flash itself tilts to allow the user to 'bounce' the flash off of objects and soften shadows. I also use the 430EX with the optional flash cable to get the camera and flash setup in just the right positions for taking portraits and professional looking photos!

Customer Review:
The speedlite Canon 430EX met all my expectations. It is a well designed and veratile attachment. It improves my ability to take pictures under all types of lighting conditions. I was pleased to find that its many features are relatively easy to use.

Customer Review:
This is the first flash of this kind that I have own, and for a newbe it was very easy to learn. If you use long lens with your camera you will want to pick one up, the built in flash on the 40d with the 28-135 lens get blocked at the lone range, this flash solves that problem. Also being able to move the flash right and left, and up and down make it great for a fill flash.

Canon HF-DC1 High Power Flash for Canon Powershot Digital Cameras

Description:
High power flash for select Canon Powershot digital cameras / Compatible with the Canon Powershot A510 / Also compatible with other Canon Powershot models

Customer Review:
The Canon HF-DC1 is a must for any Canon camera owner. On-camera flash isn't powerful enough to photograph large areas inside (like weddings and parties). This unit extends your flash range to over 20 feet and lights up those images normally left in the shadows with a normal on-camera flash. This slave flash has worked flawlessly since receiving it. It is simple to use and has improved every picture taken using it.

Customer Review:
I really like this flash. I don't always need it but when the light is low or I'm taking a picture of something 20 feet away it's really nice.

Customer Review:
This unit is really good for addition light when making digital images. The bracket is slightly short to correctly fit my Canon Powershot SX100, but if I angle it a bit, it still works. The shipment was prompt and accurate.

Stroboframe Quick Flip 350 Flash Bracket for 35mm Cameras

Description:
Stroboframe's Quick Flip flash brackets are compact, lightweight, and handle quickly, making them ideal for casual and professional photographers alike. Although lower in price than the company's top-of-the-line brackets, the Quick Flip 350 shares the same high-quality aluminum construction, which includes a baked-on finish for hard use and durability. The unit's base, meanwhile, is perfect for all 35mm cameras (excepting those with large accessory battery packs or motor drives) and is configured for both eye-level and waist-level viewing. Most importantly, the Quick Flip 350's pivoting flash arm keeps the flash centered above the lens for both horizontal and vertical compositions, helping let in the optimum amount of light. Other details include a machined, positive-locking shoe mount that's interchangeable with an optional handle mount; a high-density neoprene foam side grip for comfortable shooting or carrying; and a nominal lens-to-flash distance of 12 inches. Note that Quick Flip models do not accept camera anti-twist plates.

What's in the Box
Quick Flip 350 bracket, shoe mount, 1/4"-20 camera mounting knob.

Customer Review:
Although this bracket will work, there is a part necessary to attach NIKON cameras that isn't included or mentioned in the description. It can be jury-rigged...but don't tip or your camera will flip!

Customer Review:
I purchased this with modest expectations, but it has exceeded them. It is very solidly built and I believe it meets professional standards in that respect. Let me address a few concerns that I know other people have expressed:

Vertical shooting: yes, with this product vertical shooting becomes fairly difficult to the point of effectively ruling it out. However, I shoot vertically about 4 times a year. That's not 4 sessions per year--4 frames. If you are someone who does a lot of vertical shooting then I would recommend steering clear of this item. For me, someone who rarely ever does shoot vertically, this does not bother me at all.

Camera and/or flash coming loose: I have not experienced this issue at all, not even a little bit, not one time. All I did was tighten the bottom screw down fairly tight. I didn't use a pair of pliers to tighten it or anything; just my hand. The camera stays in place perfectly all the time. This may be, however, because I have a Canon battery pack on the bottom of my camera which also has grip to it. I haven't tried mounting the camera directly to the bracket so I don't know if that would cause the slippage issue or not. Anyway, for me this is not an issue at all. Also, in all positions my flash has remained in place as well. My flash is attached to a remote cord so actually it is the remote cord which is screwed down technically speaking, but regardless everything has stayed in place in all positions. I have experienced no issues with anything coming loose. Now, I did just buy this and I have only used it a few times so I can't speak to long-term reliability in this area. If it fails down the road I will come back and revise this review, so if you are reading this then everything is still fine.

If I had a gun to my head and was asked what the shortcomings are with this product, I would say the bottom camera mounting screw is so large that it makes setting the camera down incredibly difficult in any position with this bracket attached. You have to find a soft surface (like carpet or a chair) to set this down when your camera is attached. Setting this down on tabletops or counters will scratch them and your camera might tip over and get scratched or damaged. Also the grip is pretty lacking in ergonomics. Those are really tiny issues that would not stop me from buying or using this item. I mention them just to be thorough.

This is a great bracket and I am very pleased with it. I will likely buy another one or two of them for other cameras that I have.

Customer Review:
I purchased this to use with my Fuji S6000fd digital camera and a slave flash, it is well constructed and very comfortable to use. Don't let the name fool you, it works perfectly well for digital cameras not just 35mm cameras.

Sunpak Super 383 Flash

Description:
The 383 Super is a powerful flash used by enthusiasts and professionals alike. It features bounce/swivel head, 3 f/stop auto ranges, manual control with power ratio from full to 1/16, exposure OK lamp.

Customer Review:
Bought this 383Super on Amazon and could not be more happy with the result, my Fujifilm S9100 built in flash was a joke, tried a Quantaray QB-350A w/c yielded some good pictures but ended up returning it due to being "underpowered"(still a much better one than the S9100's)The 383Super is just a dream flash! as long as you follow the recomended setting, you'll be amazed by the beautiful and sharp pictures it will provide. Buy it, you won't be sorry, just a note; it's a little heavy though...

Customer Review:
I have been pleased with this flash. The lighting is very even and the exposure is accurate in the majority of situations. I would give it 5 stars if it weren't for the fact that the switches for selecting mode and ISO are very stiff and hard to slide.

Customer Review:
The strobe works as it should. However, the unit I received was supposed to be new. It wasn't. Packaged as new; under the wrappings the control panel on the back of the unit was scratched--it had been used. The cosmetic mars were inconsequential and did not affect performance when used with a hot shoe. Missing in the box was the synch cable. Sunpak uses a proprietary mini plug connector. There should have been a short cable with mini-plug to PC that allows use with other cameras, flashes and triggers. I reported this in previous e-mail to Amazon.

Pentax AF 360 FGZ Flash for Pentax and Samsung Digital SLR Cameras (w/ case)

Description:
The PENTAX AF360FGZ auto flash unit features a large guide number of 30 (at ISO100/m), which allows for effective flash photography over a lengthy distance. This clip-on, bounce auto-zoom flash includes a variety of advanced flash features, such as P-TTL auto flash, high-speed synchronization and wireless P-TTL auto flash, when mounted on a PENTAX digital SLR camera. Zoom Head - 24-85mm (flash automatically senses focal length) Flash sync mode - Leading-shutter-curtain sync, Trailing-curtain-sync, Contrast-control-sync, High-speed-sync, modeling flash, Wireless flash Power Source - Four AA size batteries (alkaline, lithium, Ni-Cd, NiMh) Dimensions W x H x D - 2.8 x 4.3 x 4.5 inches (70 x 110 x 115.5mm) Weight - 9.6 oz. (270g)

Customer Review:
The Pentax AF 360 FGZ flash is an excellent choice for the photographer on a budget. It integrates well with the Pentax K 10D digital camera. The power and adjustments of the flash unit provide opportunities for creativity. Although there are better units out there, all of them are more money and some of them do not integrate with the Pentax body.

The construction of this unit is above average. The adjustments are average. The power is above average. The ease of use is above average. The number of flashes per battery charge is above average.

I would buy this unit again.

Customer Review:
We bought this for my son; he loves it. My husband wants one now, and he has been doing photography for 45 years. The only thing I have heard both say is that the directions for use are very unclear. They had to go online to a pentax forum to find out how to make use of the camera's features.

Customer Review:
I got it for Christmas.
It has no swivel and is useless to me as I found out.
I use flash mostly bounced off the ceiling. Without swivel I cannot bounce when shooting vertically (portrait orientation).

P-TTL didn't work wonders; I get practically the same results with non-dedicated Auto-flash. I get more blinkers with P-TTL, because of the pre-flash.

Giving it 3 stars because of the high build quality.

I think I'll stick to Sunpak 383 - swivels, more power, reliable auto-flash, twice as cheap.

Canon Speedlite 220EX for Canon Pro1, Pro 90, G Series and all EOS SLR Cameras

Description:
Featuring a recycle time of 0.1 to 4.5 seconds, the Canon Speedlite 220EX is a fully automatic flash, compatible with all Canon EOS cameras. The 220EX can also utilize E-TTL operation when paired with the Canon EOS IX, EOS ELAN II/IIE, and EOS Rebel G. Sporting a save-energy feature, whereby the flash is shut down after 90 seconds of idle, the 220EX is powered by four AA batteries, and has a flash capacity between 250 and 1,700. The convenience and ease of use ensure the 220EX a place in the hands of amateur photographers who want a high-quality flash, but aren't interested in learning to use the professional features of Canon's other offerings.

Customer Review:
I purchased this flash for my G9, but now use it with all my EOS SLR's also. This week I used my expensive 580 for class pictures and ebay photography with dismal results. I switched the 2nd day to this little baby and the class pictures were perfect. I was amazed! Eliminated redeye with the G9 and perfect for many uses.

Customer Review:
Adding a flash improves color quality immensely. This is a compact-yet-powerful unit that I use with a G9. Highly recommended!

Customer Review:
This is a great flash! I is defiantly worth what I payed for it. It fit perfectly on my Canon XTi and I really like it. Just remember you need 4 AA batteries for it that are not included. I would recommend this flash.

Sony HVLF32X External AutoProgrammable Flash for MVCCD500D, DSCV1/V3/R1 Cameras

Description:
Sony HVL-F32X High Grade Flash - Get outstanding flash coverage of up to 48 feet with this Deluxe Sony High Grade Flash. Offers innovative built-in model light mode, manual lighting control for increased creativity and a bounce and tilt head with built-in diffuser for easy use. Advanced automatic TTL Pre-Flash exposure control is offered through the dedicated hot shoe connector. Pre-flash adjustment - detects appropriate exposure before firing flash Allows detection when conversion lens attached AF assist lamp allows AF photography even when subject is too dark Test flash - sets the focal length of light adjustment sensor by DSC data, then fires the test flash Red-eye reduction, bounce flash function, equipped with wide panel, modeling flashflash external for dscf828,717,707, cd500, v1

Customer Review:
This flash is very well built and the controls are better than other name-brand flashes I've owned and used. I've used it with an R1 and a V3. At GN 32, it's powerful enough to bounce, yet not so powerful it drains the four AA cells too quickly. It has the best shoe lock I've ever used - there's a little pin in the foot that drops into a tiny hole in the hotshoe. It's wide angle diffuser lives permanently inside the unit, sliding out and clicking into place with ease. The flash is very good close-up, very good outdoors against the light. Sony's sophisticated flash control helps get exposures spot-on. It has extra AF assist LED's for the R1 (best turned off for the V3). I knocked off a full star, though, because it does not rotate, and therefore can't be bounced off ceilings in portrait format. It comes with a superb pouch and an off-camera mounting bar. Physically it's neither too big nor too small for what it can do.

Customer Review:
Nothng technical. This unit is designed for Sony cameras and works best with them. It eats batteries, but with rechargeable AA's that's not a big problem. I have found the results to be very uniform and close to Sony's specs. Reasonable recycle time.

I wish that Sony had designed the unit to sit a little higher off the camera to eliminate more of the red eye effect.

Have to wait and see about the long-term durability. Maybe it's the next Vivitar 283.

Customer Review:
While I think the programmable aspects of this of this flash are great, I have real problems with the actual use. So far it's given me variable results in similar lighting situations, making me wonder about the metering. It is very powerful and lights up a great deal of area. The manual mode is handy, but I wish there were more values.

I'm VERY disappointed by the cycle time. It takes a very long time for this to cycle up to a full charge. Compared to my old Speedlites, it takes easily 3-4 times as long to cycle. I can't tell you the times I've waited and waited, pressed the shutter button, then had to wait some more!

Also, because of the low-profile feature, if you use larger flash-attached diffusers, such as a LumiQuest mini-soft box, it will block the sensors forcing you into manual mode. A STO-FEN diffuser works ok and won't block the sensors.

The extender arm is great, but after only a short while of using it, the shoe became very loose and swivels too easily. Also, I wish the supplied cable were a bit longer so you can hand-hold the flash. An extender cable helps out in these situations.

All-in-all, it's an ok flash, as long as you don't need to shoot two flash shots together quickly.

Sunpak Digital Camera Flash Adapter

Description:
While ToCAD is a name most people won't recognize immediately the products it markets are very well known. Sunpak electronic flash units, video lights, camcorder batteries and cellular batteries, Sunpak photo and video tripods and different accessories, Zero Halliburton aluminum photo/video and computer cases, and GE/Sanyo lithium batteries. All are names photo enthusiasts and professionals respect and rely upon for high quality and great value.

Customer Review:
if you are looking for a good but cheap bracket that will save you money and get you the results you want;then get this.i did not think it would be as good as advertised, but it was little better than expected.if you are like me and shoot skateboarding photos and need that shadow out of you way then this is just for you.the only thing that i dont like about this is that is made out of plastic on the top and its confusing of what the numbers mean.it is easy to use and it works for me.

i hope you enjoy this product

Customer Review:
I purchased this to use with my Fujifilm S6000fd and my old Canon Speedlight. Loaded it up with batteries, attached the camera and flash, turned everything on and...nothing. No matter what setting I used it would not fire my flash as a slave.

In addition the unit is rather flimsy, if you hold it by the grip the base noticeably bends from the weight of the camera at the point where the grip and the camera come together. If you hold the camera, with the grip full of batteries and the flash in place, it bends from the weight of the flash and 8 AA batteries (4 in the flash and 4 in the grip). The whole thing is made of plastic and not worth the $25 I paid. I am returning this item to Amazon.

For those interested my solution was to purchase the Stroboframe Quick Flip 350 Flash Bracket for 35mm Cameras from Amazon and the Phoenix D92-BZS Digital Auto Flash with Bracket (through Amazon from Ace Photo). The frame is solid aluminum and the flash, while cheaply made comes with a one year warranty. This combination works extremely well, the flash is above the lens and fires as a slave either in Red eye reduction mode or standard flash mode, wonderfully lit photographs are the result.

Customer Review:
This item is great - for those of you that bought a great camera in the past, but it just didn't have a hotshoe, or for some reason your hotshoe isn't working, this is just what you need. It allows you to use a stand-alone flash with any camera, digital or film. Absolutely great bargain.

Top Selling Lenses

2008-03-13T21:11:00.002-04:00

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II Camera Lens

Description:
This is considered the standard lens for use with Canon SLR cameras

Customer Review:
For what you pay the 50mm 1.8 is pretty hard to beat for solid portrait and low light work.

Customer Review:
For some odd reason everyone thinks you "must" own this lens simply because it is so inexpensive compared to other lenses. I tried it, and was not happy at all. Indoors, it never seemed to want to auto-focus. And switching to manual is no fun because the manual focus ring is too small and seems almost flimsy/sloppy to use. The image quality was mediocre, at best. I found that I rarely used this lens for much of anything. I only used it a handful of times to play with to see what it could do, but never found it to be a must-have lens. Sure the bokeh of an f1.8 is neat, but spend an extra couple hundred on a better quality 50mm if you must have one.

Customer Review:
A prime lens for under $90.00 that takes great pictures? That is indeed what you get. While the plastic build quality seems a little weak, the quality of the pictures you get from this lens are as sharp as they come. If you are using a kit zoom lens with your Canon SLR, you owe it to yourself to try one of these to see just how well your camera can perform. You won't regret it, and at this price, if it breaks, it's easy to replace. Highly recommended for those high-school camera jockeys shooting at high-school gym events and of course for portraiture. Now, if only I can find a 18mm F1.8 at $100 or under!

Nikon 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED IF AF-S DX VR Zoom Nikkor Lens

Description:
55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED AF-S VR DX Zoom-Nikkor lens with 35mm equivalent of 82-300mm * Vibration Reduction allows in-focus shots with longer exposure times (up to three shutter speeds slower) * Silent Wave Motor for fast, quiet focusing * ED (Extra-low Dispersion) glass lens element for superior optical performance * attachment/filter size: 52mm *

Customer Review:
This lens is certainly cheap. But cheap applies to both the price and the product, not in the sense that it's a particularly good deal. The pictures, provided you are shooting within its relatively pedestrian envelope of capabilities, are fine. The real killer is the handling and build. The focus ring is terrible, and MF/AF switching is a pain. Minimum focus distance is also not particularly good. Overall, I think the better all-around usefulness of the 18-200 VR will outweigh its slightly more compromised optics (given that neither of these lenses are amazing performers in the first place), so I'm returning this for the 18-200.

Customer Review:
Really appreciate the light weight of this lens. At first not sure of the stabalization feature working, but then the familiar knock sound when system was locking on. Haven't taken many pictures so far with the lens but what I have, seems to be sharp and color right on. With carrying various pieces of equipment on a photo shoot the weight is a big plus.

Customer Review:
i love this lens! i'm just starting out but it's great fun to use. takes very clear pictures. the VR allows me to shoot at lower shutter speeds with low light and still avoid getting blurry pictures. works great with my D40!

Nikon 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 G ED-IF AF-S VR DX Zoom-Nikkor Lens

Description:
f/3.5-5.6 AF-S DX wide-angle to telephoto zoom lens with 35mm equivalent of 27-300mm * Vibration Reduction (VR II) allows in-focus shots with longer exposure times (up to four stops slower shutter speed) * contains two ED (extra-low dispersion) and three asperical lens elements for high resolution and contrast * Silent Wave Motor for fast, quiet focusing * compatible with Nikon DX format digital SLR cameras including the D80 and D200 * minimum focus distance: 19.2 inches * lens is 3-13/16" long, 3" in diameter *

Customer Review:
I like the range it offers: flexible and convenient to use one lense in the field. It's not as sharp as I expected, plus it extends out when zooming in, increasing the likelihood of dust getting inside.

Customer Review:
pros
huge zoom, good quality, very quick, and accuracy auto focus, small astigmatism
cons
little dark in 200mm, visible vignetting

in my opinion it is the best choice for d40.
quality is good outside while there is big sun, and there was surprise for me with night panorama pictures. VR is perfect between 18- 80 mm

Customer Review:
I bought the 18-200 lens along with a D300 because of all the excellent reviews here and in other places. I fully expected this very useful lens to be "the" one lens answer for all photographic needs - It really isn't.

The zooming range is phenomenal - to have one lens that will meet the demands of about 95% of all picture taking opportunities - and in a small, lightweight package is truly unbelievable.

My problem is image quality. I am used to sharp, crisp images - having used many pro-grade lenses from Canon, Leica, Olympus and others, I guess that I am used to being able to look closely at my pictures and see well defined lines, borders etc. The 18-200 just doesn't deliver - particularly at the edges of the frame.

I actually conducted tests, not very scientific tests, mind you, but I just went out and took pictures - all at the same time - with three different lenses. The 18-200 Nikon, a 17-55 f2.8 Nikon, both on the D300, and the 12-60 Olympus Zuiko lens on an Olympus E-3.

The differences were dramatic. Both the 17-55 Nikon and 12-60 Olympus were beautifully sharp and crisp all across the frame - the 18-200 Nikon was not. With the 18-200, tree branches at edge of the frame were fuzzy and ill defined. In pictures of a "brick wall" on the side of my house the 18-200 just didn't produce the same results as the other two. I took about a hundred pictures with each lens. Different subjects, some mounted on a tripod, some hand-held, Both the Olympus and the 18-200 Nikon had the benefit of image stabilization, the 17-55 did not. I turned the stabilization off when I used the tripod. I did my very best to duplicate exposure and framing on all the images.

In picture after picture, the two "good" lenses just did a noticeably better job. I do mean noticeably - I inspected all pictures in Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop CS-3. I zoomed in on various portions of each picture and the results were consistent. Even with sharpening in Photoshop, the 18-200 never reached the level that was met by the other two lenses without sharpening.

Perhaps I got a bad copy of the 18-200. At this point, I don't know. Maybe I'll try another one. I just know that the one I got just isn't as sharp as the two lenses I compared it with and just isn't "good enough" for my picture taking needs.

I love the focal range of the 18-200 but it just doesn't answer my particular need for sharp images.

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM Lens for Canon SLR Cameras

Description:
Bring small things into full-sized view with the Canon EF 100mm macro USM lens. Macro lenses can uncover detail that would be impossible to detect by the eye and give new perspective to extremely minute subjects such as insects or the petals of a small flower, and this lens is no exception. The lens offers such features as a three-group floating system for exceptional close-up performance; a secondary diaphragm that blocks stray light at f/2.8, which increases contrast when shooting wide open; a ultra-sonic monitor (USM) that provides outstanding autofocusing speed at all focusing distances; a wide manual focusing ring with smooth action; and full-time manual focus even in AF mode. The first lens in its class to feature inner focusing, the lens carries a one-year warranty.

Focal length: 100mm
Maximum aperture: 1:2.8
Lens construction: 12 elements in 8 groups
Diagonal angle of view: 24 degrees
Focus adjustment: Inner focusing system with USM
Closest focusing distance: 1 foot (film plane to subject)
Filter size: 58mm
Dimensions: 3.1 inches in diameter, 4.7 inches long
Weight: 21.1 ounces

Customer Review:
this lens is fantastic. It is flexible, durable, and most of all, not wicked expensive for what you get. OK, so I found a better deal and got one for about $400 even, but if i knew the quality was this damn high, i would've paid $600 at circuit city in a heartbeat. Its kinda heavy and long, but i'm used to my Sigma 18-200mm zoom lens which is wider and heavier. The pictures ive taken are amazing. Only thing is, for some reason, with this lens your camera will try to make the image brighter by holding open the shutter longer at spots with normal light for other lenses. Also, there is a switch for a distance limiter, yet it doesn't do anything different for me. Supposedly its better for taking pictures of things that are farther away. Did I mention that its great for a medium telephoto lens too? plus it only has a focus ring.

Customer Review:
Bought this fantastic lense a few days ago. The lense arrived on time and in good condition. This lense is very fast, yes, you have to believe me! Despite without IS, I still manage to get extremely sharp images. This lense is also fairly priced despite it's reputation and performance. A little heavy though, anyhow not really a big issue for me. You've got to try it. It truely deserves a red ring!

Customer Review:
Sharp, really sharp, great images with loads of detail. The focusing ring is just slightly loose, like the gears could mesh a bit tighter, but it doesn't hinder precise focusing.

Canon EF 50mm f1.4 USM Medium Telephoto Lens for Canon SLR Cameras

Description:
When accuracy matters, the Canon EF 50mm standard lens steps to the plate. The lens offers two high-refraction lens elements and new Gaussian optics, helping eliminate astigmatism and suppress astigmatic differences. As a result, the lens provides an image that's extremely close to how your eye perceives a subject, making it excellent for portraits and images that require a natural depth of field. The lens even delivers crisp images with little flare at the maximum aperture. Compact and affordable, the EF 50mm is the only lens in the EF system to offer the extra-small Micro USM while still providing full-time manual focusing. As with all Canon lenses, the EF 50mm carries a one-year warranty.

Focal length: 50mm
Maximum aperture: 1:1.4
Lens construction: 7 elements in 6 groups
Diagonal angle of view: 46 degrees
Focus adjustment: Overall linear extension system with USM
Closest focusing distance: 1.5 feet
Filter size: 58mm
Dimensions: 2.9 inches in diameter, 2 inches long
Weight: 10.2 ounces

Customer Review:
I've been using this lens almost exclusively for about a month now, and love it to death. For the stuff I like to shoot, this lens is perfect. Because of the very wide aperture, you can get amazing portraits with very shallow depth of field, and can also take shots in low light environments without destroying natural light with a flash.

I really have no complaints. It's very well-built, focuses quickly, and takes amazing pictures. Easily the best lens purchase I've made yet.

Customer Review:
I had just used the kit lens that came with my dSLR and I was often frustrated by either having blurry shots or having to use the harsh flash. I wish I would have had this before the birth of my first son so I could have gotten non-blurry delivery room photos. I won't make that mistake for our second child!

I bought this lens about 9 months ago and it hasn't left my camera since. It's fixed focus, so you've got to do some moving around to get the right shot ("zoom with your feet!!!"), but once you're in position, you *will* get the right shot. The lens is super fast so you can capture amazing action outside or take some great low light shots indoors. I don't think I've used the flash more than a dozen times in the thousands of photos I've taken since I bought it.

If you've got a dSLR, you have to get this lens or at least the f/1.8. Our fancy cameras are just being wasted with the f/3.5 lenses Canon includes in the kits.

Customer Review:
the latitude that the 1.4 aperture gives is absolutely top-notch. Obviously, the L-lens would be that much faster but considering the cost differential, Canon's 50mm 1.4 prime lens is a must-have for anyone wanting to take photography seriously.

And for those of you walking around with a 24-70 or other zoom lens - you'll really love the weight difference!

Despite the fixed focal length, this could become your primary lens very quickly. And there is an added benefit - it will force you to get closer to your subjects. If you've been using your longer zooms to get away from getting up close and personal, you'll see an immediate improvement to your photos, particularly your portraits!

Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM Lens for Canon EOS SLR Cameras

Description:
EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM telephoto zoom lens * Image Stabilization allows in-focus shots with longer exposure times (up to three stops slower shutter speed) * Micro Ultrasonic Motor for fast autofocus * compatible with all Canon EOS SLR cameras * minimum focus distance: 4.9 feet * lens is 5-13/16" long, 3" in diameter *

Customer Review:
I recently used this lens on an impromptu nature walk and was pleasantly surprised at how much the IS helped, especially at the 200-300mm range. I was able to get some really good long shots--all hand-held--on a relatively low contrast overcast day. Perhaps it was what I was shooting (relatively still nature, like birds) but I didn't experience any problems that others may have noticed with focus speed or visual quality issues. I will say this is probably not the lens to use for fast moving sports or even everyday walk-around photos. For me, telephotos (200mm+) are fairly specialized (I prefer street photography). In most cases I would use my 28-135mm and crop. I usually use this lens for very specific purposes.

Customer Review:
I just received my Canon 70-300mm USM/IS a couple of weeks ago, and I finally got the chance this week end to go out and try it. I was kind of scared after reading the other reviews that I would have issues with the quality of the images at full zoom. Well, let me tell you something, WHAT A GREAT LENS !

I was able to take EXCELLENT pictures of my fiancee at a full 300mm settings. After reviewing the pictures on my computer, I was amazed at the details. You can clearly see the smalled strands of hair in the wind. Absolutely amazing.

I also took pictures of my dog running on the beach at full 300mm. Some people told me that the focus was kind of slow and I would have issue. It's a little bit slower I agree, but I took great shots of a moving subject. I do not know how good and fast would be the focus in another kind of day (not sunny, low light...) but my first experience with it was great.

If you go and look at the customer images link, you will find the one I uploaded (under Simon Templar) and you'll see what I am talking about.

The IS is also a great feature. No need to walk with a monopod anymore.

Gotta love it !

Customer Review:
I have shot with the 200L (don't own one) that people are comparing this to. The lenses are different, and suit different needs. This lens was what I purchased because I wanted a longer telephoto with IS, instead of the shorter, higher quality non-IS lens. The thing that most photography reviews often don't take into consideration when talking up one lens over another is price (I'm not picking on any reviewer on this, I'm just saying from experience reading many reviews all over). To get a theoretical 70-300mm IS USM in an L series, you would pay a TON more than the 200L. The 200L is obviously shorter and higher quality than the 70-300ISUSM. If you want to know about the quality and performance of the 70-300mm IS USM, my opinion is that its a strong build with excellent IS. I'm totally happy with mine, and have taken a few excellent shots at 300mm that turned out great. I use it in fairly harsh temperatures outdoors. For the price, you won't find a lens even close that does the same job better. If you're deciding on what lens to buy, I can't help ya. But if you're wondering about THIS lens, I say its great.

Nikon 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED-IF AF-S VR Zoom Nikkor Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras

Description:
70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED-IF AF-S VR Zoom-Nikkor lens (equivalent to 105-450mm on a 35mm SLR) * Vibration Reduction (VR II) allows in-focus shots with longer exposure times (up to four shutter speeds slower) * contains two ED (extra-low dispersion) lens elements for high resolution and contrast * Silent Wave Motor for fast, quiet focusing * compatible with Nikon film SLR and DX format digital SLR cameras * minimum focus distance: 4.9 feet *

Customer Review:
We added to our collection of Nikkor lenses and the 70-300mm, this is our first with the VR feature. Having been shooting pictures in a fairly serious manor for the last 45 years, mostly sports and outdoor wildlife. I have seen a lot of equipment and changes to the Industry. In my opinion, this is the best lens I have used. It is almost impossible to hand hold a long lens and get any degree of proper clarity but the VR feature helps greatly.

Customer Review:
I've had this for a couple of months now and I have liked the results so far. Been doing a lot of indoor sports photography (lacrosse and swimming) and once I got used to the limitations of the lens (small aperture) I am getting very good results for a lens in this price range. Autofocus is fast and pictures are sharp. Looking forward to outdoor sports this summer!

Customer Review:
I've had this lens for several weeks now. I love it. I enjoy nature and travel photography and this lens gets me where I want to go without disturbing my subject. The lens works great with my Nikon D40x. While a longer lens would be even better, the price of this flexible beauty makes it a great value. I would not buy another lens with out the vibration reduction feature. This lens has produced some very clear shots, taken in a hurry, without the use of a tripod or other stabilization device. The weight allows for easy transport into the woods. I recommend it highly.

Canon EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III USM Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon SLR Cameras

Description:
This compact and lightweight EF 75-300mm telephoto zoom lens is ideal for shooting sports, portraits, and wildlife. The lens is distinguished by a newly developed micro ultra-sonic monitor (USM) that makes autofocusing quicker and quieter, along with an improved zoom mechanism that includes a silver ring on the front for a luxurious touch. The micro USM makes this version of the lens particularly suitable for applications that require a fast autofocus, such as sporting events or wildlife shoots. Best of all, the USM version shares many of the same features that makes the non-USM lens so popular, such as a compact size, a close focusing range, and accessory compatibility. As with all Canon lenses, this unit carries a one-year warranty.

Focal length: 75-300mm
Maximum aperture: 1:4.5-5.6
Lens construction: 13 elements in 9 groups
Diagonal angle of view: 32 degrees (at 11 feet) to 8 degrees (at 15 feet)
Focus adjustment: Front group rotating extension system with USM
Closest focusing distance: 4.9 feet
Zoom system: Rotating type
Filter size: 58mm
Dimensions: 2.8 inches in diameter, 4.8 inches long
Weight: 16.8 ounces

Customer Review:
I would have preferred a higher end lens but for the price is can't be beat. For shooting outdoors and in bright light this lens is very good. I would like a little better low light performance but for that I would need a lens that cost more than double this one. I shoot my nephews playing flag football and the shots I got from the side lines were great. Unfortunately at night they were not so great. Guess I will have to save my dollars for those more expensive lens. If you have the money for a Canon L lens get it. If not, this will do in a pinch.

Customer Review:
This has been a fun lens to play with! I have been able to use this lens just fine without a tripod and still get great pics! I don't know much about the logistics of this lens but I have had a great expierence with it and am glad I bought it!

Customer Review:
This lens was everything I was expecting and more. For my price range and photography level, I couldn't ask for more. The zoom worked quite well and is even better than the lens I had for my old 35mm. Auto-focus takes about a second longer than my standard lens, but speed is not an issue for most of the things I photograph. Great purchase for a novice photographer looking to get that picture from a little further away.

Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6 EX DC HSM Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras

Description:
10-20mm F4-5.6 EX DC HSM lens allows enjoyment of super wide-angle photography and it is a very powerful tool for indoor shooting and landscape photography with digital SLR cameras. Wide angle of view (102.4 degrees at 10mm and 63.8 degrees at 20mm) offers the photographer greater freedom of expression. 3 Special Low Dispersion (SLD) glass elements are employed for effective compensation of color aberration, which is a common problem with super-wide angle lenses. One piece of glass mold and two hybrid aspherical lenses, offer excellent correction for distortion, as well as all types of aberration. This lens is equipped with an inner focusing system, and the models which are equipped with HSM system provide quiet, high speed autofocus shooting and also offer full time manual focusing. It has a minimum focusing distance of 24cm at all focal lengths. The non-rotating lens barrel perfectly suits the petal shaped lens hood. A circular polarizing filter can also be used conveniently. Angle of View - 102.4 - 63.8 degrees 6 Diaphragm Blades Minimum Aperture F22 Minimum Focusing Distance - 24cm/9.4 inches Maximum Magnification - 1 - 6.7 Filter Size - Diameter 77mmLens Hood Petal Hood Dimensions - Diameter 83.5mm x Length 81mm, 3.3 x 3.2 inches Weight - 470 gram (16.6 ounces)

Customer Review:
This lens is very good. Wide Angle is putting it nicely. The Construction of the lens is superb and I am happy not to have wasted the money on the Canon 10-22mm for 200 more dollars.

Customer Review:
Received this recently and really like it! Great quality and fast and quiet! Works perfectly with my Canon Digital Rebel XT.

Customer Review:
Really nice Lens, I am testing yet, but I already could take really nice pictures with it. I recommend.

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS SLR Lens

Description:
Canon's latest optical Image Stabilizer (IS) technology provides up to 4-stop compensation for image blur caused by camera shake and slow shutter speeds. Photographers normally shooting handheld at 1/250 sec can switch on IS to obtain a similarly steady and blur-free result with a shutter speed of just 1/15 second. The inclusion of automatic panning detection makes it easier for photographers to track wildlife and other moving subjects. To ensure consistently accurate results at all zoom positions, the IS system within each lens has been optimised for that lens' specific focal length range. Since the IS system is based within the lens, the results are visible through the viewfinder when framing the image.

Customer Review:
I just bought a Canon Rebel XTi and it comes with an 18-55mm lens. I ordered the 18-55mm IS at the same time. The non-IS lens is still in the box. I also own an older 75-300mm USM IS lens and after seeing what "Image Stabilization" can do, I am sold. IS has saved me a lot of film because I no longer had to toss out blurred images taken with a long lens. Now that I shoot digital I save time deleting blurred images. The IS lens looks almost identical to it's non-IS sibling but the end results are that IS makes this a better lens.

Customer Review:
I bought this lens to replace the kit lens that came with my Rebel XTi and I am thoroughly impressed by its performance. The kit lens simply pales in comparison. The image stabilizer does its job very well, and the image quality is excellent.

There are many people and reviewers who compare this lens unfavorably with Canon's acclaimed L-Series lenses. I think those folks are way too picky - one can't expect a $200 lens to perform as well as a $1,000 lens. That's like comparing a little Honda Civic to perform as well as BMW M3. Not gonna happen, but for the price the Civic is an excellent little car. Likewise, this lens is a worthwhile investment towards getting excellent pictures. Pay no heed to the people who rate this lens poorly because it doesn't zoom as far (you should have bought a longer lens) or those who claim its build quality is not as solid (you should have spent a lot more money).

I've read the tech reviews containing information about vignetting, barrel distortion, bokeh, etc. The reality is, I am not a professional photographer (i.e., I don't put food on my family's table by taking pictures) so those things don't matter so much. All I care about is that the pictures come out crisp and the colors accurate. I take pics of my wife and baby, often in low light conditions without a flash. I shoot in JPEG high compression to save disk space and to make it easier to email the photos to our parents and extended family. If this is what you'll be doing, then buy this lens right away; you won't be disappointed.

Perhaps someday I will want to buy a camera with a longer zoom (which is why I got a DSLR camera) or I'll buy a faster computer so I can switch to shooting in RAW (thus necessitating an L series lens). Until then, I expect this lens will be on my XTi for a long, long time.

Customer Review:
I just concluded my US vacation. Before my trip, I decided to buy this lens from Amazon and use it as an all-around lens for the trip. I reckoned that my 24-70L would be too heavy and couldn't fit my 30D my semi-leather case with it. So, I used this lens thoughout my whole trip.

When I reviewed my shots in my laptop, I couldn't find any fault with it. When I compared its pictures with the the shots from my 24-70L, I could barely notice the difference. Its just as tack sharp except in low light conditions where you will notice a slight advantage of the 24-70L.
Color comes out less saturated than the L lens though although very acceptable. Build quality is comparable with other non L lens. IS is superb.

To me, this is the best value for money among lenses that Canon has in its current line up. I will bet good money that this lens will out perform other L and non-L lenses 3x to 5X its price.

A must have for Canonians.

Top Selling Point & Shoot Digital Cameras

2008-03-13T21:04:00.002-04:00

Canon PowerShot SD1000 7.1MP Digital Elph Camera with 3x Optical Zoom (Silver)

Description:
Chic, simple. Canon looked to the very first ELPH for inspiration when designing the PowerShot SD1000 Digital ELPH, and came up with a quintessential iteration of the icon: slim, clean-lined and fully flat. Inside, the SD1000 Digital ELPH looks only to the future: 7.1 Megapixels, a 3x optical zoom and advanced DIGIC III ensure top-quality images, while focus is fast and sharp and red-eye is automatically corrected. The large and more colorful LCD screen now has a tough, anti-reflective coating that makes it as durable as it is beautiful. Shutter Speed - 15-1/1500 sec.; Long Shutter operates with noise reduction when manually set at 1.3-15 sec. Metering - Evaluative, Center-weighted average, Spot; Control to incorporate facial brightness in Face Detection Shooting Modes menu - Auto, Camera M, Portrait, Special Scene (Foliage, Snow, Beach, Fireworks, Aquarium, Underwater, Indoor, Kids & Pets), Night Snapshot, Color Accent, Color Swap, Digital Macro, Stitch Assist, Movie Image Files - Still Image - EXIF 2.2 JPEG / Movie - AVI (Image - Motion JPEG; Audio - WAVE (Monaural) Selectable image resolutions - Still Image - 640 x 480 (Small), 1,600 x 1,200 (Medium 3), 2,048 x 1,536 (Medium 2), 2,592 x 1,944 (Medium 1), 3,072 x 2,304 (Large), 3,072 x 1,728 (Widescreen); Movie - 640 x 480 / 320 x 240 (30 fps/15 fps) available up to 4GB, 320 x 240 (1 min. at 60 fps), 160 x 120 (3 min. at 15 fps), 640 x 480 (2 hrs. at 0.5 fps/1 fps. Playback at 15 fps) Play modes - Still Image - Single, Magnification (approx. 2x-10x), Jump, Auto Rotate, Rotate, Resume, My Category, Histogram, Index (9 thumbnails), Sound Memos, Sound Recorder, Slide Show, Red-eye Correction; Movie - Normal Playback, Special Playback, Auto Rotate, Resume Video output is NTSC and PAL compatible Has USB 2.0 port for image transfer to PC or Mac Unit Dimensions WHD - 3.38 x 2.11 x 0.76 in. / 85.9 x 53.5 x 19.4mm; Weight - About 4.41 oz. / 125g

Customer Review:
This was an upgrade to an earlier Elph model which - after years of abuse and neglect - finally stopped working. I also have a digital SLR and would consider myself to be an advanced amateur photographer.

Image Quality is very good. Based on other reviews, I almost didn't buy this camera. The reviews sounded like this would be a step backward, but that certainly hasn't been my experience. The quality is every bit as good as other camera's I've used - better when you consider the megapixel count. The quality is not as good as my DSLR, but that camera and lens cost over $2000! If my DSLR is a 10, I'd say this is at least an eight.
Tips for better results:
- I adjusted the ISO setting. The camera comes pre-set to automatically adjust ISO. As a result, it will allow you to take grainy high ISO pictures at times when the camera really ought to tell you to turn on lights or use a flash instead. I set my camera so that I usually shoot on ISO 80, and never above ISO 200. This will dramatically cut-down on the "noise" seen in the photos. I only go above 200 when it's dark in the room, the subjects are moving around, and I can't turn on the lights or use a flash. In reality, that's a pretty uncommon scenario.
- I view the photos at the size they're meant to be seen - where they take of the full screen, or smaller. I wonder how many of the disappointed reviewers are simply looking at the images fully "blown up" and are therefore disappointed. The photography pros call this "pixel peeping."
- I turn off "digital zoom." This is just a marketing gimmick. You get closer to the subject by cropping off megapixels and (to make it worse) then blowing-up the image to fit the original size, so it significantly impacts image quality.

Features to love:
- The start-up time is fantastic. No more missed shots.
- Movie mode. This camera offers a larger size and better frame rate than most on the market. It's great for those times when we don't want to lug the video camera around.
- The "vivid" color setting is nice way to add some visual "punch" to my photos, without taking the time to edit them in Photoshop.

Customer Review:
In this product, I found a lightweight and compact machine. There are several option to tinker with. Picture quality seems to be much better than my 5mp Kodak camera. The display screen is adequate, though not huge. Display menus seem to be logical and easy to navigate. It helps that I had a Canon camera in the past.

Customer Review:
This camera is very fast and easy to use. Build seems to be of high quality. It comes with a plug-in battery charger, which means that you don't have to charge the battery inside the camera via USB (great if you have a spare battery). Haven't had a chance to test all of the different options and settings, but after two days everything looks great.

Only con: Shipping and delivery were slow from Amazon. Despite the fact the the camera was listed as being in stock and shipping within 24 hours, it took several days to ship. The item shipped from Fresno, CA (on DHL) and was routed to my house in Tucson, AZ via Sacramento, Ohio, Colorado, and Phoenix. From there it was transferred to USPS in Tucson, which delayed it an additional day.

Canon PowerShot A570IS 7.1MP Digital Camera with 4x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom

Description:
Life doesn't give you second chances to capture special times. That's why the elegant PowerShot A570 IS is equipped with Canon's acclaimed Image Stabilizer Technology that automatically detects and corrects camera shake - one of the leading causes of fuzzy or blurred shots. So now even when you're zooming in tight you can get the steady, crisp, brilliant images. With DIGIC III, you get images of superior quality, the camera functions at top efficiency and battery life is significantly enhanced. What's more, DIGIC III enables Canon's newly improved Face Detection Technology and Red-eye Correction to give you better, more true-to-life people shots. Beside stills there's highly flexible movie mode, you can create the movie that's perfect for any application. ISO Sensitivity - Auto, High ISO Auto, ISO 80, 100, 200, 400, 800&1600 equivalent (Standard Output Sensitivity. Recommended Exposure Index) White Balance Control - Auto, Preset (Daylight, Cloudy, Tungsten, Fluorescent, Fluorescent H, Underwater) and Custom Normal Flash Range - 1.5-11 ft./45cm-3.5m (W), 1.5-7.2 ft./45cm-2.2m (T) Macro Flash Range - 1.0-1.5 ft./30-45cm (W/T) (when sensitivity is set to ISO Auto) Shooting Modes - Auto, Creative P, Av, TV, M, Image - Portrait, Landscape, Special Scene (Night Scene, Foliage, Snow, Beach, Fireworks, Aquarium, Underwater), Indoor, Kids&Pets, Night Snapshot, Stitch Assist and Movie Self-Timer - 2&10 seconds delay, Custom Continuous Shooting - 1.7 fps Still Image - EXIF 2.2 (JPEG) Movie - AVI (Image Motion JPEG, Audio WAVE) Interface - USB 2.0 Hi-Speed (mini-B jack) Video Out - NTSC/PAL Dimensions - Width 3.52 x Height 2.53 x Depth 1.69 inch (89.5 x 64.3 x 42.8mm) Weight - 6.17 ounces / 175 grams (camera body only)

Customer Review:
This product was pretty good until after a week the error popped up saying lens error please restart. Now it wont take pictures at all even when I restart it. I do not recommend the camera.

Customer Review:
that would be a nice, convenient, resonable price dighital camera, i like it very much especially canon, it's easy to carry, recommand for the beginning user.

Customer Review:
I am an amateur photographer, so you may want to consult a professional, if you are looking to go pro. For me it's my best purchase ever. Quite an exceptional product.

Canon PowerShot SD850 IS 8.0 MP Digital Elph Camera with 4x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom

Description:
Canon PowerShot SD850 IS Digital ELPH camera has an impressive array of top-tier photo features including an advanced ultra-compact zoom lens and optical viewfinder to easily capture, record and share brilliant images under a full range of shooting conditions, all within a curvaceous, eye-catching compact design. It is a digital camera that will really get your creative juices flowing. It starts with a high resolution 8.0 Megapixel CCD, a 4x Optical Zoom with Canon's exclusive UA Lens and an Optical Image Stabilizer for steady zooming. There's also a DIGIC III Image Processor with Face Detection and Red-eye correction, an ISO 1600 setting for sharper images in low light, 5 Movie Modes and a 2.5-inch PureColor LCD with scratch-resistant, anti-reflective coating for easy viewing. Still Resolution - Up to 3,264 x 2,448 (Large), 3,264 x 1,832 (Widescreen) - 16 - 9 Movie modes - 640 x 480 / 320 x 240 (30 fps/15 fps) available up to 4GB or 60 minutes, 640 x 480 (2 hours at 0.5 fps/1 fps), 320 x 240 (1 min. at 60 fps), 160 x 120 (3 min. at 15 fps) On camera editing Windows and Macintosh capable Computer Interface - USB 2.0 Hi-Speed (mini-B jack); Video Out - NTSC/PAL (connect cables included); Audio Out - Monaural Power Source - 1. Battery Pack NB-5L; 2. AC Adapter Kit ACK-DC30 (both included) Unit Dimensions (W x H x D) - 3.56 x 2.22 x 1.04 in./90.4 x 56.5 x 26.4mm; Weight - Approx. 5.82 oz./165g (camera body only)

Customer Review:
I am very happy with this camera. It does not produce the quality of images of my D200, but it fits in my shirt pocket and that is why I made the purchase. The D200 will not fit.

Customer Review:
This camera performs to expectaions, is lightweight and easy to use. I have photographed various people in various locations and appreciate the face recognition feature. The IS seems to be a benefit as well.
The Canon case seems to be "classy", nice leather finish and magnetic clasp, but its durability is yet to be proven.
shipping from Amazon was timely and well executed.

Customer Review:
This is a very good product. Wish there were special scene modes like sunset/twilight like nikon has.

Canon PowerShot SD750 7.1MP Digital Elph Camera with 3x Optical Zoom (Silver)

Description:
So much power in such a pint-sized package. The iconic ELPH is back, as beautiful as ever, with a updated resolution that captures radiant images in breathtakingly crisp color - all presented for preview on a brilliantly colorful 3" LCD screen. Plus, you'll enjoy more amazing features than ever, such as face detection, red-eye correction and time lapse movies. One-year warranty. Model CAN-SD750SILVER.

Customer Review:
Having used the SD1000 and the SD750 together for the same shots I can say that the SD750 offers more especially as there was no price difference on the day I purchased the SD750 (both were around 167 bucks). Earlier with the more than 50 bucks price difference I had recommended the SD1000 for price/value. At the new lower price the SD750 is the winner.

Neither model has the new Image Stabilization, which does not work so well on the SD series anyway when compared to other Canon cameras like S5. The SD750 has a 3" screen which makes shots easy to compose and view, while the SD1000 has a viewfinder with a 2.5" screen. Having used both cameras I'd take the larger screen size over the viewfinder any day as I hardly use the viewfinder. In size the SD1000 is a little more compact but the difference is barely noticeable. The SD750 has nicely rounded corners which are more aesthetically appealing to most people.

The SD750 also has a few more features in the software and better controls than the SD1000. The extra replay button at the back which lets you switch from camera to replay instantly is great. The extra Scene mode button on the top makes it faster and more convenient to get to the special modes like foliage, sunny beach, snow, portrait, nightshot, aquarium, kids and pets, fireworks and underwater. I have used all these special modes and I am very pleased with the results. Canon has really optimized the performance on each. It is so much better than fiddling with the manual controls while you lose the shot. If you read the manual carefully, you will get so much more out of this camera as it lets you get very creative with panoramic landscape shots, color swapping, color accent and different color modes.

The pictures from both cameras were comparable, both take excellent shots outdoors and don't have the best low light performance.

I also own a SD870 which has a wide angle lens and Image Stabilization. The software and all other features on the 870 are the same as 750, but the 870 costs much more. Although I like the 870 too, but I think the 750 delivers a great value for its current price.

This is the one I would buy as a gift. Very compact, good performance and intuitive controls that allow you to get creative in your shots.

Customer Review:
Excellent price for this little camera. With this thing, anyone can shoot fantastic pictures. The 3" lcd is beautiful. Buy it!

Customer Review:
I am really suprised with all the reviews I have been reading, for one this camera does not take good pictures at all. Every time I try to get a close up of my baby she squints because the red light is so bright and then most of the time the picture comes out too white, its almost like the flash is too strong for close ups. Regular pictures even come out grainy. I was really disappointed with that. Another thing is the action shots... yea right...dont even bother because those come out horrible.
Yes its compact, and the size and style is cool but the picture quality is not good.
The video portion however is probably the best I have seen it on a canon. It takes long and very clear sounding videos. So I was happy with that portion of it.
Also every time you tap the camera the wrong way the picture moves from horizontal to vertical which is really annoying.
I definitly do not like this camera or suggest it to anyone, especially if you like taking close up pics of your baby like I do.

Canon PowerShot Pro Series S5 IS 8.0MP Digital Camera with 12x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom

Description:
8-megapixel effective recording * 12X optical zoom * optical image stabilizer * 4X digital zoom/48X total zoom * 2-1/2" fold-out swiveling LCD viewscreen * 16:9 widescreen photo mode (3264 x 1832) * Fast Frame Rate Movie mode for 60-frame-per-second video with stereo sound *

Customer Review:
Really folks, I have taken some great photo's indoors and out with this camera. I have also taken some really sub-par photos with this camera. BUT, as I learn more and practice more, my pictures come out much better on average. This camera will do much more than a pocket point and shoot camera, but it does have a learning curve. Went to my granddaughters cheerleading compitetion the day after getting the camera in the mail and realized that I had a lot to learn about photography. But even at that, some of the pictures were just fantastic, with eye popping color, incredible detail, great lighting, etc. Just dont give up on it till you give it a chance, and I am sure that you will love this camera...

Customer Review:
Is a excellent item. make excellent photo and videos, i am really happy to bougt.

Customer Review:
This camera does it all. If you read the manual you will be able to take exceptional pictures! If you don't have the focus to sit down and read it (it's pretty hefty) read the basic manual or just start taking pictures. My wife has never taken a decent picture untill we got this camera. It's fool-proof! It literaly is a point and shoot camera. The "auto" takes great pictures. Use the TV AV Manual ect you can take AWESOME pictures. BUY IT! BUY IT! BUY IT! I reviewed ALOT of cameras for the price, even compared to other more expensive cameras. This is the one!!!

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18K 8.1MP Digital Camera with 18x Wide Angle MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Black)

Description:
The DMC-FZ18 Lumix 8.1-Megapixel Digital Camera can take photos from vast landscapes to super telephoto shots thanks to its 18x optical 28mm Wide-Angle Leica Zoom Lens. For macro shots, the wide-angle setting lets you shoot all the way down to one centimeter from your subject, while the telephoto setting can be used up to one meter (3.28 feet). Combined with Mega O.I.S. Optical Image Stabilization, the DMC-FZ18 can detect even the tiniest camera movement to automatically adjust the lens to compensate any handshake. Intelligent ISO captures crisp, clear images as you shoot to suppress motion blur, making it easier to shoot scenes with fast moving action. The Face Detection function can automatically detect up to 15 faces in a scene and re-adjust the settings if their positions change. The Intelligent Scene Selector will sense the ambient conditions and automatically select either the Scenery, Portrait, Macro, Night Portrait or Night Scenery mode accordingly, getting beautiful results every time you shoot, no matter what the scene or subject. White Balance - Auto / Daylight / Cloudy / Shade / Halogen / White Set Program AE Shutter Speed - 1-1/2000 seconds Self Timer - 2 seconds / 10 seconds Burst Shooting Mode - Full-Resolution Image, 3 frames/sec Max. 7 images (Standard Mode), Max 4 images (Fine Mode) Built-in Flash Mode - Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Forced On/Red-eye Reduction, Slow Sync/Red-eye Reduction and Forced Off Viewfinder - 0.44 diagonal Color EVF (188k pixels) Power Supply - Lithium-ion Battery Pack (7.2V, 710 mAh), Up to 400 pictures Dimensions - Height 2.96'' x Width 4.63'' x Depth 3.47'' Weight - 0.79 pounds

Customer Review:
I have taken about 250 pictures with this now and owned it for almost a month. Most of the pictures came out well even the ones were I pointed the camera out the window while driving at 55, on a bright day. The 18X zoom gets you close to things even three hundred feet away.
The good, metal threads for tripod, high capacity (4GB and larger) SDHC cards, 18X zoom, very good anti shake, easy controls, very good results on full auto, very good burst mode (multiplr shots while holging down the shutter release), good results freezing action.
The cautions SDHC cards probably mean you have to buy a new card reader, propriatary USB connector, and battery mean you have to have a spare. Monopod or tripod for lowlight shots. 3MB per picture average so larger and faster memory cards required (4GB, SDHC, class 6 or larger not the cheap cards). The lens assembly is threaded but heavy filters are not a good idea but lighter filters will be fine.
I am just an old man with time and a camera and get good results with this camera. Has good range types of shots and handles settings well on auto. My picture taking philosophy is take a lot of pictures and hope to get a few keepers and this camera does that. Freezes action well with good clarity.

Customer Review:
The features on this Panasonic FZ18 are fantastic. It's my new walk around camera.
My only concern is Noise. Panasonic should address this issue.

Customer Review:
The camera was wonderful on our vacation. We took > 700 pix and it worked well in all situations (backlighting was sometimes a problem, but may be because of unfamiliarity with the camera). We had 2 spare batteries and only needed one on a day particularly heavy with pictures.
Zoom was better than my old SLR lenses for ease of use and light weight.No heavy camera bags and film bags! It also did reasonably well inside of relatively dark churches and much better than my SLR with film used to. We used the camera for sight-seeing, mountain vistas, sporting events and movie clips.

Canon PowerShot A720IS 8MP Digital Camera with 6x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom

Description:
8.0-megapixel effective recording * 2-1/2" LCD screen * real-image optical zoom viewfinder * 6X optical zoom (4X digital/24X total zoom) * optical image stabilizer * top JPEG resolution: 3624 X 2448 *

Customer Review:
I am impressed with this camera. It has all the features I need in a point and shoot and takes good photos with ease. The price is right.

Customer Review:
Very pleased with this camera after several weeks and several hundred pictures. The only reservation I have is the "system pause" after taking a picture. This small characteristic can be bothersome at times. Battery usage is low and with a 4-gig card you can shoot pics all day without having to transfer. Great camera which I would recommend to anyone, even for semi-pro use with the good selction of manual features.

Customer Review:
Whether you are an amateur or experienced photographer, the Canon Powershot A7201IS delivers great pictures without the bulk or expense of a digital SLR. Compact size and a range of automatic modes make it a handy "point and shoot" camera anyone can use with ease. Manual modes allow the more experienced photographer to control the aperture and shutter speed to manipulate lighting effects and depth of field -- just like with an old-fashioned SLR. Is that cool or what? Extra zoom (4X) and large LCD screen are icing on the cake. Very impressive little camera.

Canon PowerShot SD870IS 8MP Digital Camera with 3.8x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Silver)

Description:
You deserve a camera as individual as you are that offers room for creativity and incredible ease. That's why the PowerShot SD870 IS Digital ELPH offers unique styling, friendly features, and a stunning finish. From the very first glance, the smooth shape and bold lines of the stylish PowerShot SD870 IS Digital ELPH signal that this is no ordinary camera. With 8.0 megapixels of resolution, an Optical Image Stabilizer and 3.8x optical zooming, the SD870 IS Digital ELPH boasts impressive specs as well as a host of convenient features. Face Detection Technology for worry-free people shots. A large 3.0-inch LCD to give you a perfect view of your scene. The Auto ISO Shift and ISO 1600 deliver brilliant images in challenging lighting. Choose hi-res digital stills or 640x480 VGA video. Selectable shooting menu modes make it so simple. Accept a little challenge and go for the manual route. With built-in electronic-flash, this is an anywhere-you-go digital camera with SD and SDHC compatible storage. It's the camera to take with you. Auto and manual focus and exposure modes Shooting Modes - Auto, Camera M, Special Scene (Portrait, Foliage, Snow, Beach, Fireworks, Aquarium, Underwater, Indoor, Kids & Pets, Night Snapshot), Color Accent, Color Swap, Digital Macro, Stitch Assist, Movie File modes - Still Image - Exif 2.2 (JPEG); Movie - AVI (Image - Motion JPEG; Audio - WAVE [Monaural]) Built-in multimode electronic-flash On-camera image editing Play modes - Still Image - Single, Magnification (approx. 2x-10x), Jump, Auto Rotate, Rotate, Resume, My Colors, My Category, Histogram, Index (9 thumbnails), Sound Memos, Slide Show, Red-eye Correction, RAW playback, Resize, Image Inspection Tool Movie - Normal Playback, Special Playback, Editing AV display on NTSC and PAL Transfer images to Mac and PC using USB Includes Battery Pack NB-5L and AC battery charger Unit Dimensions (W x H x D) 3.65 x 2.32 x 1.02

Customer Review:
First camera I got had a dead pixel on its LCD. Asked for a replacement. Amazon shipped it immediately, no questions asked. The replacement had one dead pixel on the LCD AND a dead pixel on its sensor array. Shows as a fixed red dot on the pictures. Ended up returning it for refund...

Customer Review:
It's a suitable camera, but can't zoom too far. Not recommended for travelers who love to take pictures.

Customer Review:
I was trying to decide between the Panasonic DMC-TZ3 and this camera. The Canon was slightly smaller, able to fit in front jeans pocket, and the image quality from other reviews was supposed to be slightly better. The TZ3 had the main benefit of 10X zoom, while Canon had 3.8x. Both had wide-angle 28mm and image stabilization, which is great. The Canon was more expensive, but the portability and potential image quality issue swayed me toward the Canon. I took the camera on a trip to Italy and Germany and was very pleased with the results. While not a full manual camera, there are a lot of adjustable controls such as ISO that can be set by the user. I used it with a Gorillapod tripod and the self-timer to take some great low-light photos at ISO 80. The 3" screen is absolutely gorgeous. This camera takes SDHC cards, and I was able to find an 8GB card for $30 at Frys, which is more than 2000 photos. I did buy an extra battery because the battery doesn't last nearly as long as claimed. In real world conditions, reviewing each photo takes up battery life so I probably got 100-150 shots per charge. Overall very pleased with this camera.

Canon PowerShot SX100IS 8MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Black)

Description:
8-megapixel effective recording * 2-1/2" LCD screen * 10X optical zoom (4X digital/40X total zoom) * optical image stabilizer * top JPEG resolution: 3264 X 2448 *

Customer Review:
TIS CAMERA IS MY DREAM,IT HAS MANUAL CONTROL AS WELL AS AUTO CONTROL,MAX ZOOM 40X ,GOOD FLASH,AND SUPPORTS SDHC MEMORY CARDS SO U CAN ADD 8GB CARDS TO RECORD VIDEOS,I HAVE TRIED BEFORE A BAD CAMERA IT CANT RECORD VIDEO IN DIM LIGHT BUT THIS CAMERA IS VERY GOOD IN LOW LIGHT VIDEO RECORDING,AND IT USES AA BATTERYS SO U CAN USE ANY AA BATTERIES IF YOUR BATTERIES RUN OFF CHARGE.

Customer Review:
I needed a middle of the road camera with macro capability. After searching a lot and reading reviews, I settled on the Cannon SX100IS. It was a great choice. The camera is loaded with features that make it very versatile. The macro function works great and is easy to switch to with the main button on the back. No fumbling through menus. Pictures are crisp and clear. Haven't found a down side to this camera yet.

Customer Review:
One of the best cameras i've ever had. i love to take some photos and i love when you can see all the details in the pic. this camera sure do the job and for it price, it's a still.

Also, it's Canon, it can be bad!!

Hope i halped you to decide.

Canon PowerShot SD950IS 12.1MP Digital Camera with 3.7x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Titanium)

Description:
The PowerShot SD950 IS Digital ELPH, with its curved sleek Titanium body, is as powerful as it is exquisite: There's a high-resolution 12.1 megapixel CCD, an Optical Image Stabilizer, 2.5-inch LCD, ISO 1600, Auto ISO Shift, and 3.7x optical zoom. Face Detection Technology is also on board to automatically give you the shot you're looking for. 2.5 TFT vari-angle color LCD screen; Optical Viewfinder Exposure Controls - Program AE, Auto ISO Shift; AE Lock ISO Sensitivity - Auto, High ISO Auto, ISO 80/100/200/400/800/1600 Shoot pictures in the Widescreen Resolution Option (4000x2248) to view them full screen on your widescreen TV or Computer monitor! Built-in flash controls - Auto, Auto w/ Red-eye Reduction, Flash On, Flash On w/ Red-eye Reduction, Flash Off; FE lock, Slow Synchro Shooting Modes - Auto, Camera M, Special Scene (Portrait, Foliage, Snow, Beach, Fireworks, Aquarium, Underwater, ISO 3200, Indoor, Kids & Pets, Night Snapshot), Color Accent, Color Swap, Digital Macro, Stitch Assist, Movie Self-Timer - 2-sec./10-sec., Custom Up to 1.5fps Continuous Shooting SD/SDHC/MultiMediaCard (MMC)/MMC Plus/HC MMC Plus Card Slot A 32MB MMC Plus Card is included, however we suggest purchasing an Optional 2GB Memory card. It will allow you to store a lot more Video and images, as well as take advantage of the camera's high Resolution abilities. Interfaces - USB2.0, A/V out (NTSC/PAL) Print directly to Canon CP/SELPHY Compact and PIXMA Photo Printers or any PictBridge compatible printer via included USB cable without a computer! Take up to 240 shots per charge with included NB-5L battery and LCD screen on (Up to 580 shots with LCD screen off) Approximate Unit Dimensions - (WxHxD) 3.78 x 2.36 x 1.09; Unit Weight - 5.82 oz (Body only without memory card and battery)

Customer Review:
I love this camera. I don't think I've used it to its potential since I haven't read the manual. I had the old canon powershot 3.2 for the past 5 years so it was easy to figure out how to use this one. The cnet review said the shutter speed is slow but I thought it was fast enough for basic photo taking. One of the best feature is when you are reviewing your photos you can pivet the camera and the image with change orientation automatically...amazing. My original canon is over 5 years old but takes great pics and still works but needed a higher resolution camera. This shows the quality of the canon product lasting 5 years without a hitch.

Bought the camera from this vendor. Was worried because I usually buy from amazon directly but was surprisely happy how quickly the package came in the mail. Good price for the camera and the nice coach camera case.

Customer Review:
The shutters lag on this camera is just undeliverable. It you want to shoot static object's it will work OK. But if you are trying to shoot your 2-year-old toddler, it is going to be very challenging.

I have had S100, S110, S230, SD550, and SD700 in the past. They all performed much better than SD950.

I would not recommend SD950!

Customer Review:
I've been a Canon fan for a number of years and rely upon my Canon 40d as my primary camera. The dslr provides me the range of photographic creativity I often seek however it is not convenient to carry 24/7. That said I found myself simply missing a lot of opportunities to capture those spontaneous moments of joy that we all experience in life. The Canon SD950IS was the solution for me. Great Canon quality coupled with a 12.1MP processor and stablized zoom not only yields a top quality output but best of all I can tuck this tiny feature rich camera in my pocket and have it available where ever I go. Some of my best pictures have been taken with this camera because I had the right equipment at the right time and captured a special moment that would have otherwise been just a memory.

Ken Stempson

Top Selling Digital SLR Cameras

2008-03-13T20:10:00.000-04:00

Canon Digital Rebel XTi 10.1MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 Lens (Black)

Description:
10.1-megapixel effective recording * EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 II lens (35mm equivalent focal length: 28-90mm) * compatible with Canon EF and EF-S lenses, and EX-Series Speedlite flashes * EOS Integrated Cleaning System (for cleaning image sensor) * 2-1/2" high-resolution LCD screen with wide, 160-degree viewing angle *

Customer Review:
Does anyone know what is included with this camera? I'm getting the one with the lens, but no where on the site mentions what it comes with. I'm purchasing it from Amazon. I called them and they had no idea.
Thanks

Customer Review:
This camera, in combination with the 60 mm f/2.8 macro lens, has made our photo work easy, simple and a pleasure to use. There have been no surprizes.

Customer Review:
I love this camera. It is fun and easy to use. The photos are great right out of the box and it is pretty fast. I used to have a Sony Cybershot 7MP point and shoot and was unhappy with the color, image quality, and auto-focus speed. The moment of opportunity for perfect shot were often lost and the images were not that great. This camera is fast and produces great quality photos. Definately worth the money to get away from the constraints of a point and click type camera.

Nikon D40 6.1MP Digital SLR Camera Kit with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED II AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor Lens

Description:
The lightest, most compact Nikon digital SLR ever, featuring intuitive controls and an ergonomically designed operation that even first-time SLR users can enjoy. Advanced 3-area AF system Automatic control over ISO-equivalent sensitivity from ISO 200 to 1600 with manual override Eight automated Digital Vari-Programs [Auto, Auto (Flash Off), Portrait, Landscape, Child, Sports, Close Up, and Night Portrait] optimize white balance, sharpening, tone, color, saturation and hue to match the scene Near-instant 0.18-second power-up Versatile shutter speed control with a range from 30 to 1/4000 s, plus bulb Creative in-camera effects and editing functions consolidated under the new Retouch menu, including D-Lighting, Red-eye correction, Trim, Monochrome settings (Black-and-white, Sepia, Cyanotype), Filter Effects (Skylight, Warm filter, Color balance), Small Picture and Image Overlay Large 2.5-inch LCD monitor Information displays can be shown in Classic, Graphic or Wallpaper format Assist Images help select the appropriate settings for many camera features by showing an example image typical of that setting Large, bright viewfinder with 0.8x magnification Fast image data transfer and recording to SD memory cards of up to 4GB capacity Exposure Metering System - TTL full-aperture exposure metering system Electronic-Flash - Auto, Portrait, Child, Close Up, Night Portrait modes Uses Nikon AF-S Lenses Unit Dimensions (W x D x H) - Approximately 5.0 x 2.5 x 3.7 inches; Weight - Approximately 1lb. 1oz. without battery, memory card or body cap Nikon USA 1-Year Warranty

Customer Review:
I was not that impressed with the 18-135 lens. When using the zoom feature, i had trouble focusing and getting a good picture. The camera is pretty good overall, but I think that the VS feature may be important, and am thinking about buying the 55-200mm lens instead.

The price and customer service through amazon was amazing, though!

Customer Review:
The Nikon D40 is a "power product". In addition to the 6.1 megapixel resolution, the camera sports two zoom lenses (18-55mm and 55-200mm) which allow extreme wide-angle, standard wide-angle, snap, portrait and mid-telephoto applications. With the addition of another (say, 300-500mm) telephoto for the long-range shots, this camera can do it all. As expected, there is Nikon quality throughout.

There is a learning curve with this camera, and not everything is covered in the included Nikon School DVDs. An in-depth book was needed to explore all that this camera has to offer (including such things as an adjustable viewfinder, which allows users with glasses to correct the viewfinder for their eyesight!). It will take the user a considerable amount of time to outgrow this camera.

Customer Review:
After reading tons of reviews, I decided that the D40 was the right camera for me. I heard about the limitations of this camera, but since all of the noted limitations are with the camera's auto modes I didn't sweat it. First let me remind you that this is an SLR and not a big point and shoot camera. If you want to keep it on auto and simply point and shoot, then save the money and by a camera with 12x zoom like the Canon PowerShot Pro Series S5 IS 8.0MP. Believe me when I say you will be much happier with it.

That being said, I cannot stress enough that the advantage of any SLR is the assortment of lenses, FPS (frames per second), and focus control. While point and shoot cameras have only a single picture mode. The SLR can shoot 2.5 FPS, which I have found to be more than enough. Don't be fooled by the more expensive D40X or D80 that have 3 FPS. 0.5 more FPS is hardly worth the extra $300, and please forget about the in camera editing add ons that you pay for. You can get Picasa for free online, which works great, or take the extra money and buy something like Photoshop. Both the D40x and D80 have more auto focus points(5 for the D40x and 11 for the D80), but if you are buying a SLR, most SLR users focus manually for more desired results. Even if you do use the auto focus, three points of focus is more than enough for any user. Remember that when you buy a D40x or D80 you pay for the extra features, size and mega pixels (MP). Don't bother paying for something you wont really need or use. The higher MP are only useful for large print (and I mean LARGE). 6.1 MP is more than enough for the average photographer.

Note: Any lens that fit a film Nikon SLR is compatible with the Nikon DSLRs. There is obviously no auto focus, but they all fit and work perfectly.

In the end some people just want more bells and whistles on their cameras ,which they will pay for, but the D40 is perfect for anyone including professional photographer. I know several that use the D40 as their camera of choice because it is a bit smaller and lighter. If you want to make a jump from the lower level DSLR cameras then I suggest you make that jump to the Nikon D200 or D300, and skip on the D40x and D80.

Canon Digital Rebel XT 8MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 Lens (Black)

Description:
8.0-megapixel effective recording * APS-C-size CMOS image sensor (22.4 x 14.8 mm) * EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 lens (35mm equivalent focal length: 28-90mm) * 1-13/16" color LCD * eye-level SLR viewfinder (with dioptric adjustment) * wide-area 7-point autofocus *

Customer Review:
I am so excited to receive this product. I am very much into scrapbooking and thought if I was going to put that much into scraping I needed a great camera to take my photos with. I feel this is the perfect camera for me. It has all the features I have been looking for and at a great price. I had been looking for a long time.

Customer Review:
There is no right or wrong choice when it comes to DSLRs, before going for this specific camera I consulted myself with couple of friends - pro photographers, one said Olympus the other Canon. It's purely a matter of taste when choosing between the four major players (Sony & Nikon). I went with Canon because of the great lenses they offer.

Pros: Great package, enough resolution, built-in flash, vast selection of Canon and 3rd party lenses and accessories to choose from.

Cons: Plastic body, no image stabilizer, cannot access directly ISO, metering or white balance (could get a bit annoying running through menus).

Other: I don't regret getting this camera, and since added some very nice fixed focus lenses to my bag - looking into buying the 40D.

Customer Review:
This is a great digital SLR camera for beginners and for travel. It has gone all over the world with me (Japan, Singapore, Mexico, US, London, Germany, etc.). Through those travels it has withstood some rough times but still takes great photos.

Canon Digital Rebel XTi 10.1MP Digital SLR Camera (Black Body Only)

Description:
Enjoy a high performance SLR digital-camera with pro-style features you can handle. The Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi offers an unbeatable combination of performance, ease-of-use and value. It has a newly designed 10.1 Megapixel Canon CMOS sensor plus a host of new features including a 2.5-inch LCD screen, exclusive EOS Integrated Cleaning System featuring a Self Cleaning Sensor and Canon's Picture Style technology, all in a lightweight, ergonomic body. DIGIC II Image Processor enhances every aspect of image capture. Rebel XTi compatible with all Canon lenses in the EF lineup, ranging from ultra-wide angle to super telephoto lenses, and including Canon's EF-S series lenses, manufactured specifically for Canon's APS-C sized digital sensor. This particular model is a Body only. It does not include a lens. Picture Style technology EOS Digital Rebel XTi, lets you recreate characteristics of your favorite film types. Adjust color, saturation, sharpness and contrast settings to customize your saved image. 3 - 2 Aspect Ratio Recording Format - JPEG, RAW, and RAW+JPEG simultaneous recording provided USB 2.0 Hi-Speed Interface, mini-B port, NTSC/PAL for video output Viewfinder Type - Eye-level SLR with pentamirror Shutter Speeds - 1/4000 to 30 seconds Pop-up electronic-flash with shoe for adding optional Canon Speedlite flashes Self-timer - 10 seconds delay, 2 seconds delay Continuous Shooting Speed - Up to 3 frames per second (at shutter speed of 1/250 sec. or faster) Compatible Printers - CP and SELPHY Compact Photo Printers, PIXMA Photo Printers and PictBridge compatible printers (via USB Interface Cable IFC-400PCU) Automatic folder creation; up to 9,999 images per folder Select Auto/Manual TTL Focus and Exposure modes Power Source - One Battery Pack NB-2LH (included) / AC Charger included Dimensions - Width 4.98 x Height 3.71 x Depth 2.56 inch, 126.5 x 94.2 x 65mm / Weight - 18 ou

Customer Review:
Does anyone know what is included with this camera? I'm getting the one with the lens, but no where on the site mentions what it comes with. I'm purchasing it from Amazon. I called them and they had no idea.
Thanks

Customer Review:
This camera, in combination with the 60 mm f/2.8 macro lens, has made our photo work easy, simple and a pleasure to use. There have been no surprizes.

Customer Review:
I love this camera. It is fun and easy to use. The photos are great right out of the box and it is pretty fast. I used to have a Sony Cybershot 7MP point and shoot and was unhappy with the color, image quality, and auto-focus speed. The moment of opportunity for perfect shot were often lost and the images were not that great. This camera is fast and produces great quality photos. Definately worth the money to get away from the constraints of a point and click type camera.

Canon EOS 40D 10.1MP Digital SLR Camera (Body Only)

Customer Review:
I did a year of research before I settled on this camera. I'd been using 35mm forever and needed the right motivation to switch to digital. THIS IS IT! Very easy to use. Battery life is great. Huge screen. (I still get nose and cheek smudges on it but I'm learning not to squish my face against it) The inherant ability to review shots instantly and adjust has made me an instantly better photographer. I love it. You will too.

Customer Review:
Having sold all my previous Canon film cameras ,F-1, incuded, I am very impressed with the Digital cousin , 40D and its 28-135 lens. In auto mode it does a very satisfactory job . I am learning more about this camera every day. Very Pleased.

Customer Review:
Canon 40D Review

These are my personal thoughts and feelings from the first days with my new Canon 40D after having had a Canon Rebel XTi for about a year and a half after having taken about 30,000 photos with the Rebel and now about 2,000 with the 40D. These are only my personal feelings your mileage may vary.

Pros:

Favorites menu!
Auto ISO in all modes
1/8000th shutter speed and 3200 ISO at last!
Flash using Canon Speedlite 430EX is right on the money!
Super fast in all aspects: turn on, operation, auto focus, shooting
Great feel in the hands, fits like a glove, I could shoot all day long!
Rear LCD screen, OH MAN this thing rocks: super bright big and accurate
Raw files you gotta love, very good noise control, responsive and colors to lust after
High speed 6.5 fps shooting! I have yet to hit the limiter when shooting high speed

Cons:

Power Switch location
Rear LCD shooting info has to be turned on each time and no auto-off when brought up to face
Camera user settings C1, C2, C3 lose on-the-fly updates when camera goes to sleep
Neutered auto ISO range only goes up to 800 ISO.

It fits my hand like a glove; I especially love the rubberized coating around the right grip.

Where did everything go? My power switch and screen display. You better have your owner's manual handy because this is a different camera from the Rebel XTi.

WOW this camera shoots fast! It has a precision to it and speed both in focus and number of shots my Rebel just does not have. Got to buy more CF cards though as they fill fast shooting in Raw at 6.5 FPS and they are bigger then the old Rebel Raw files.

I continue to be impressed with the ability of the Canon 40D Raw images. Not only are they a leap beyond the XTi Rebel in appearance they respond much better to changes in Adobe Raw. I especially like how responsive the 3200 ISO shots are to the noise filters. ISO 3200 once I process it through CS3 Raw noise reduction actually looks like my Rebel looked at 400 ISO!. And the colors man oh man they are breath taking.

Speaking of breath taking! The rear LCD is amazing. I haven't had to touch the brightness at all which is good because I have a really good idea if the image came out or not. Not so on Rebel where I had to run the brightness all the way up on the rear LCD and so could not judge if the exposure was correct not to mention it was hard to see the photo itself. This 40D screen is huge bright and breathtaking.

And I love the favorites menu. Set your own deeply buried and needed settings right there. Like mirror lockup! Or live view!

Love the grip that rubber really helps me get a grip!!

Now for the now so good. Who the hell decided to put the on off switch down on the bottom middle? I swear I have reached over with my right thumb by habit a dozen times to turn the camera on and off.

What the heck? On the C1, C2, C3 settings if you make any adjustments on the fly and then the camera goes to sleep the settings go away. Will have to make a short cut under favs to adjust the settings on the fly.

All in all though I continue to love this camera and after shooting it for a little over a day I picked up the Rebel XTi and it felt like a small unresponsive plastic toy!!!

I will continue to update this review as I have more time, right now I'm at about 2,000 photos.

3-11-2008 Update

Went out with the Canon 70-200 F/2.8 L lens on servo mode high speed 6.5 fps setting and had a blast. I tracked cars, planes, birds in flight, this baby just locks on and keeps tracking. My Rebel would maybe get one or two in focus frames of a bird in flight that was it. This 40D I can get 10 to 20 all in razor sharp focus before the bird is out of view. I'm practicing on pigeons around the house so they aren't in view for long. Can hardly wait to try it out on some bigger birds as it would be a cakewalk.

3-13-2008 Update

Flash using Canon Speedlite 430EX is right on the money! Let's face it, there are times you just have to use flash. And with my old Canon Rebel XTi it was a chore. The Rebel's flash metering was almost always off and inconsistent. What a pleasure to find the flash exposures with the Speedlite 430EX mounted on my Canon 40D to be nailed right on the money every time.The 40D continues to delight!

Canon EOS 40D 10.1MP Digital SLR Camera with EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM Standard Zoom Lens

Description:
10.1-megapixel effective recording * EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM lens (35mm equivalent focal length: 45-216mm) * 3" color LCD screen (230K pixels) with Live View mode * DIGIC III image processor for responsive handling * EOS Integrated Cleaning System (for cleaning image sensor) * eye-level pentaprism viewfinder with dioptric adjustment * 9-point autofocus *

Customer Review:
I did a year of research before I settled on this camera. I'd been using 35mm forever and needed the right motivation to switch to digital. THIS IS IT! Very easy to use. Battery life is great. Huge screen. (I still get nose and cheek smudges on it but I'm learning not to squish my face against it) The inherant ability to review shots instantly and adjust has made me an instantly better photographer. I love it. You will too.

Customer Review:
Having sold all my previous Canon film cameras ,F-1, incuded, I am very impressed with the Digital cousin , 40D and its 28-135 lens. In auto mode it does a very satisfactory job . I am learning more about this camera every day. Very Pleased.

Customer Review:
Canon 40D Review

These are my personal thoughts and feelings from the first days with my new Canon 40D after having had a Canon Rebel XTi for about a year and a half after having taken about 30,000 photos with the Rebel and now about 2,000 with the 40D. These are only my personal feelings your mileage may vary.

Pros:
Favorites menu!
Auto ISO in all modes
1/8000th shutter speed and 3200 ISO at last!
Flash using Canon Speedlite 430EX is right on the money!
Super fast in all aspects: turn on, operation, auto focus, shooting
Great feel in the hands, fits like a glove, I could shoot all day long!
Rear LCD screen, OH MAN this thing rocks: super bright big and accurate
Raw files you gotta love, very good noise control, responsive and colors to lust after
High speed 6.5 fps shooting! I have yet to hit the limiter when shooting high speed

Cons:

Power Switch location
Rear LCD shooting info has to be turned on each time and no auto-off when brought up to face
Camera user settings C1, C2, C3 lose on-the-fly updates when camera goes to sleep
Neutered auto ISO range only goes up to 800 ISO.

It fits my hand like a glove; I especially love the rubberized coating around the right grip.

Where did everything go? My power switch and screen display. You better have your owner's manual handy because this is a different camera from the Rebel XTi.

WOW this camera shoots fast! It has a precision to it and speed both in focus and number of shots my Rebel just does not have. Got to buy more CF cards though as they fill fast shooting in Raw at 6.5 FPS and they are bigger then the old Rebel Raw files.

I continue to be impressed with the ability of the Canon 40D Raw images. Not only are they a leap beyond the XTi Rebel in appearance they respond much better to changes in Adobe Raw. I especially like how responsive the 3200 ISO shots are to the noise filters. ISO 3200 once I process it through CS3 Raw noise reduction actually looks like my Rebel looked at 400 ISO!. And the colors man oh man they are breath taking.

Speaking of breath taking! The rear LCD is amazing. I haven't had to touch the brightness at all which is good because I have a really good idea if the image came out or not. Not so on Rebel where I had to run the brightness all the way up on the rear LCD and so could not judge if the exposure was correct not to mention it was hard to see the photo itself. This 40D screen is huge bright and breathtaking.

And I love the favorites menu. Set your own deeply buried and needed settings right there. Like mirror lockup! Or live view!

Love the grip that rubber really helps me get a grip!!

Now for the now so good. Who the hell decided to put the on off switch down on the bottom middle? I swear I have reached over with my right thumb by habit a dozen times to turn the camera on and off.

What the heck? On the C1, C2, C3 settings if you make any adjustments on the fly and then the camera goes to sleep the settings go away. Will have to make a short cut under favs to adjust the settings on the fly.

All in all though I continue to love this camera and after shooting it for a little over a day I picked up the Rebel XTi and it felt like a small unresponsive plastic toy!!!

I will continue to update this review as I have more time, right now I'm at about 2,000 photos.

3-11-2008 Update

Went out with the Canon 70-200 F/2.8 L lens on servo mode high speed 6.5 fps setting and had a blast. I tracked cars, planes, birds in flight, this baby just locks on and keeps tracking. My Rebel would maybe get one or two in focus frames of a bird in flight that was it. This 40D I can get 10 to 20 all in razor sharp focus before the bird is out of view. I'm practicing on pigeons around the house so they aren't in view for long. Can hardly wait to try it out on some bigger birds as it would be a cakewalk.

3-13-2008 Update

Flash using Canon Speedlite 430EX is right on the money! Let's face it, there are times you just have to use flash. And with my old Canon Rebel XTi it was a chore. The Rebel's flash metering was almost always off and inconsistent. What a pleasure to find the flash exposures with the Speedlite 430EX mounted on my Canon 40D to be nailed right on the money every time.The 40D continues to delight!

Nikon D300 DX 12.3MP Digital SLR Camera with 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED-IF AF-S VR DX Nikkor Zoom Lens

Description:
12.3-megapixel effective recording * APS-C-size CMOS image sensor (23.6 x 15.8 mm) * 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED-IF AF-S VR DX Zoom-Nikkor lens (35mm equivalent focal length: 27-300mm) * 3" high-resolution (307,000 pixel) LCD screen with brightness adjustment * two Live View modes for handheld or tripod-based shooting using the LCD screen * Dynamic Integrated Dust Reduction System to keep image sensor clean * 51-area autofocus with 15 cross-type sensors and 3D Focus Tracking for accurate, high-speed focusing * 14-bit A/D conversion for outstanding color tones and gradations * built-in i-TTL flash * continuous high-speed shooting at 6 frames per second for up to 100 frames in JPEG Basic/Large (up to 8 frames per second with the optional MB-D10 multi-power battery pack) *

Customer Review:
I Owned a D80 for a bit over a year and too about 15,000 pictures with it and thought it was great. I picked up one of these and didn't take a picture with it and realized that I wanted one. Everything is just in the right place and works better. If you are at all on the fence about getting one just do it. Yes it may seem like a lot of money but anything less is throwing money away.

Customer Review:
I already have Nikon D200 .. but will I see the D300 I said I must buy it >> when its come to me and I start photo !!! waw wonderfull color and white balance ... and the built in flash much much better in white balance also ... The live view is great and its 8 frame dode ! I use it for sport photography I have it with nikon SB-800 and Nikon 17-55mm and Nikon 70-200mm + 1.7X telecoverter ,,, all from amazon ....
The camera is in wonderfull price ....

Something unbleveable ! is the High ISO ... comparing with the D200 if I make it more than ISO800 its start noise , In D300 you can photo up to ISO1600 with few noise ,,,

Last thing the foacus point ... they are full in the frame 51 point !!! but you can use 15 of them in one times .... The battery still more than The D200 ...

The negative thing I feel the body in some swiths in the camera became worest (the m,s,c) swich near the lens ... + the on and off swithcs and the memory open swithc and (the facous switch) need to be more strong such as the D200,
the battery cover + the memory cover + the Nikon MB-10 grip they are made of plastic !!!

This is the only things need to approve by nikon ... and you can feel it for the first time ... If something more ... you can ask me Question

Customer Review:
Fantastic Camera that just keeps getting better every time I pick it up. I waited for years to jump from 35mm to digital SLR, scary jump when you think how fast technology leaps forward. The Nikon D300 has more features than I know how to use, guess its time to take a digital photography class. I am getting that rush that came long ago with taking pictures and the results are awesome.

Nikon D80 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera (Body only)

Description:
10.2-megapixel effective recording * APS-C-size CCD image sensor (23.6 x 15.8 mm) * 2-1/2" LCD screen with brightness adjustment and 170-degree viewing angle * 3D Color Matrix Metering II evaluates your shots for accurate exposure * top-mounted LCD panel with green backlighting displays camera and exposure settings * built-in i-TTL pop-up flash * hot shoe for Nikon Speedlite flash accessories * continuous shooting mode: 3 frames per second up to 23 frames in JPEG (Fine/Large) or 6 frames in RAW (NEF) *

Customer Review:
Solid feel and excellent picture quality makes this camera unbeatable in its price range.
If you are worried abou the extra bucks you pay for this camera compared to a Digital Rebel, try a test drive! This camera has so many functions you will spend weeks getting to knoww all the features. Or just switch to automatic and have fun.

Customer Review:
I've owned a Nikon D40 for more than a year now, and more recently had bought a Canon XTI/400D. I've been wanting to upgrade to something more than an entry-level camera, and I've been eyeing the D80 for a while now, so I decided to go for it. It' s a great camera, but not without it's shortcomings.
Pros:
-Well-built, love holding it in my hand. The controls are pretty well-placed so that most of the settings you usually would want to change quickly are within easy reach, not buried in some menu.
-As an upgrade to the D40, the D80 allows for more lens choices. In my case, I wanted the D80 so I can get some prime lenses.
-Contrary to how others feel, I love it's matrix metering. Maybe it's because I'm used to the D40's which is similar to the D80's, so I know what I'm going to get with matrix metering.
-It's simply fast and responsive.
-great 2.5-inch LCD display, plus top LCD which can be lit up is great for looking at some last minute info.
Cons:
Well, I'm not listing them individually. I would just like to say that as far as this camera's shortcomings are concerned, they are pretty much caused by the D80's age. I just bought mine a few days ago (march '08), and at this time, the D80 has been out for two years and there are features that more recent cameras have that is missing from the D80. More important to me are live view, and wider (and finer fine tuning of) image parameter settings (which is great on the Canon XTI), automated sensor cleaning, and maybe a bigger LCD.
BUT, the price of the D80 has gone down considerably. It's much cheaper than the Canon 40D and not that much more than a rebel XTI, so I believe that the D80 is a great buy at this time. It's just a matter of priorities.

Customer Review:
Having worked my way through an entry level digital camera and a pretty good ZLR, I was ready for more megapixels, more features and more lenses. After much research, I bought the Nikon D80 with the 18 t0 135mm zoom Nikkor lens, in part because I have had Nikons before and had older, manual focus lenses that I could use. It does take wonderful pictures, and the features are amazing, giving you great control with some study and experimentation. But as for the lens that it came with it, big trouble. I bought the camera in August, and it's first break down was in November (yes, first). Nikon repaired it under warranty, but they do not pay the inbound postage, which given age of this lens, only a couple of months old, I felt they should have. Got it back, and I was happy enough, until 200 or 300 photos later, in early February, the lens broke again, same problem. This time Nikon sent me a prepaid mailer, and they have now had my lens in the shop for several weeks. So in the 5 month life of this lens, it has been back at Nikon for repairs for 5 weeks! And they refuse to just give me a new lens, it is so obviously a lemon, so now I basically have a factory reconditioned lens that I paid full price for! I bought this as a starter lens, but I didn't expect it to actually NOT WORK!!! I am so ready to buy other lenses for this camera, but can't quite bring myself to pay for another Nikon. A photographer friend of mine who works for a local paper said, in looking at the lens, that they make cheap versions and slap the Nikon name on them, to offer attractive pricing on their pacakged sets. Well, this certainly isn't the quality I expect from Nikon, nor the treatment after the purchase ... overall, the experience has been a very disappointing one, and i am back to shooting with my ZLR. Hope you have better luck if you decide to take the plunge with this one...

Nikon D300 DX 12.3MP Digital SLR Camera (Body Only)

Customer Review:
I Owned a D80 for a bit over a year and too about 15,000 pictures with it and thought it was great. I picked up one of these and didn't take a picture with it and realized that I wanted one. Everything is just in the right place and works better. If you are at all on the fence about getting one just do it. Yes it may seem like a lot of money but anything less is throwing money away.

Customer Review:
I already have Nikon D200 .. but will I see the D300 I said I must buy it >> when its come to me and I start photo !!! waw wonderfull color and white balance ... and the built in flash much much better in white balance also ... The live view is great and its 8 frame dode ! I use it for sport photography I have it with nikon SB-800 and Nikon 17-55mm and Nikon 70-200mm + 1.7X telecoverter ,,, all from amazon ....
The camera is in wonderfull price ....

Something unbleveable ! is the High ISO ... comparing with the D200 if I make it more than ISO800 its start noise , In D300 you can photo up to ISO1600 with few noise ,,,

Last thing the foacus point ... they are full in the frame 51 point !!! but you can use 15 of them in one times .... The battery still more than The D200 ...

The negative thing I feel the body in some swiths in the camera became worest (the m,s,c) swich near the lens ... + the on and off swithcs and the memory open swithc and (the facous switch) need to be more strong such as the D200,
the battery cover + the memory cover + the Nikon MB-10 grip they are made of plastic !!!

This is the only things need to approve by nikon ... and you can feel it for the first time ... If something more ... you can ask me Question

Customer Review:
Fantastic Camera that just keeps getting better every time I pick it up. I waited for years to jump from 35mm to digital SLR, scary jump when you think how fast technology leaps forward. The Nikon D300 has more features than I know how to use, guess its time to take a digital photography class. I am getting that rush that came long ago with taking pictures and the results are awesome.

Olympus Evolt E510 10MP Digital SLR Camera with CCD Shift Image Stabilization and 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 and 40-150mm f/4.0-5.6 Zuiko Lenses

Description:
Olympus EVOLT E-510 digital SLR is a great camera to help you evolve as a photographer. Olympus digital SLRs are engineered to be 100-percent digital. Simply put, this means your pictures will have stunning edge-to-edge sharpness that can't be beat. Olympus' Live View LCD technology is a unique feature that enhances your picture-taking experience. Whatever life brings, whatever you're photographing, you'll capture colorful memories with the E-510's proven Dust Reduction System and powerful, 10 megapixel imager. Creative photography shouldn't necessarily be complicated. Using Zuiko digital lens technology, choose among auto and manual focus modes. You can select exposures manually but there's a wide scope of automatic modes to choose from. 29 exposure modes including 10 advanced modes and 19 Easy to Use Scene Select Modes. Simply select the right mode for your shot. The easy to use Scene Select Modes make you an instant expert, even with the most demanding shots. Choose from any of the 19 selections like Fireworks, Beach or Snow. The E-510 takes care of the rest. It's the digital SLR you've been waiting for. Adjust ISO 100 to 1600 Built-in multimode electronic-flash (external available. Inactivation is available to set) Shutter - Auto mode - 2 - 1/4000 sec. (depends on settings) 2 Mode self-timer Multifunction display menu Up to 650 pictures recordable using optical viewfinder per fully charged battery (with 50% flash light) (with BLM-1 under CIPA testing standard) Unit (body) Dimensions 5.35 in.(W) x 3.6 in. (W) x 2.67in. (D) / 136 mm (W) x 91.5 mm (H) x 68 mm (D) (excluding protrusions); Weight 16.2 oz. / 460 g (body only)

Customer Review:
It's what it says on the box. Easy to learn how to use despite the complex possible image variations of Digital SLRs. And a good transition camera for those moving from Film SLR to Digital SLR, hence much better value than the Canons and Nikons of this world. Very good delivery service and follow up from the merchant and Amazon

Customer Review:
Well I have had the camera for about a week now and I have taken over 200 pictures with it and I find that with the Image Stabilization on, that this camera does an extremely good job in low light, I have never taken pictures @ 1/4 of second (hand held) and have them in focus.

That said, I have one complaint, but it's not about the camera itself, it is with firmware upgrades process for the camera, you have to install their photo software and use it to upgrade the firmware. I have no use for the software other than that, but I need to keep it on my computer for this purpose only, I wish they would just release a firmware update utility, but at least they have a version for both OSX and Windows.

I also like the the external buttons for controlling the camera they are fairly well placed at least for my small hands. IE (ISO,AF,WB,IS,Live View).

Note: I have version 1.3 of the firmware on my camera and both lenses are 1.0.

Customer Review:
After researching dslr's for over 6 months, I finally decided to go with the E-510 over the competition. The picture quality is an absolute equivilant to similar cameras and the 510's features are a bit better. The lens kit that comes with the camera is unmatched especially when compared with the competititon. The only thing I find to be a bit frustrating is the 3 point focus, but it only hampers my shots in very dark settings. Also, purshasing on amazon saved me at least 99 dollars compared to retail prices, go amazon! dpreview is a great www site for research. go there before you purchase any digital camera. If you want a great value in the "prosumer" dslr, buy the 510, much more bang for the buck.

Books: History of Photography

2008-03-09T14:51:00.001-04:00

Photography (9th Edition)

Description:

This best-selling introductory photography text teaches students how to use the medium confidently and effectively by emphasizing both technique and visual awareness. Comprehensive in scope, this book features superb instructional illustrations and examples in its clear presentation of both black and white and color photography. London offers extensive coverage of digital imaging and the latest technological developments, such as Web page design and formatting photos on CD-ROMs.

Customer Review:
This book is pretty comprehensive. I am using it for a basic photography class. It covers a lot of subjects, but none in great detail. The newer versions actually covers a bit of digital photography as well.

Customer Review:
This was a required text for my Photography 101 class and well worth the price ($20 less here than at the college book store). This book covers all the basics of photography tog et you started and the information is clearly illustrated by accompanying photos. This will be one I'll definitely be keeping as a reference.

Customer Review:
This is the book! If you are studying for the CPP test this is the one. It is comprehensive to a fault. The explanations of photo concepts are complete and easy to understand. The only problem is that the book is so big that it is falling apart. Wish me luck on the test!

Camera Lucida: Reflections on Photography

Description:

This personal, wide-ranging, and contemplative volume--and the last book Barthes published--finds the author applying his influential perceptiveness and associative insight to the subject of photography. To this end, several black-and-white photos (by the likes of Avedon, Clifford, Hine, Mapplethorpe, Nadar, Van Der Zee, and so forth) are reprinted throughout the text.

Customer Review:
The only disparaging thing I can say about this book is that it caused me to purchase a better dictionary.

Customer Review:
I am somewhat stunned and dismayed by the negative reviews of this book. In fact, it has seem to elicit a sense of vitriol in some.

It is a brilliant book. How does one state simply such a complicated phenomenon. One doesn't. Those who rated this book so poorly biggest gripe was the complexity of the writing. Well - it is a complex topic. But, I think Barthes beautifully and deftly counters this complexity with his personal reflections. The book is both a critical assessment of photography and an emotional one as well, and this is what makes it so wonderful.

It is not wholly unexpected that most all the negative reviews of this book come late in the day - in the ever increasing time of sound-bites, instant pleasures and generally non-reflective immersion.

Customer Review:
Sorry to say, although Roland Barthes is an icon to some. This short book is self-indulgent, unintelligible, and therefore useless. The author is far more interested in himself than he is interested in the subject.

Seizing the Light: A History of Photography

Description:
"Its chief virtues are a succinct, mostly lucid style, a wide intellectual scope, a flood of ideas and insights at every turn, sensitivity to the technology and culture of photography, and a willingness to attend to images . . . In the end, perhaps the best measure of a text is whether or not one would choose it from among all the offerings to use in class. I have chosen to use this book." - Photo Review, Spring 2000

"An excellent introductory history book." - Afterimage: The Journal of Media Arts and Cultural Criticism

In this wonderful and entertaining book, Hirsch has produced the most useful, readable, and practical successor to Newhall. Seizing the Light is written in a friendly, accessible way -- dense with information, but more hip and lively than other offerings, especially those aimed at college students." - exposure: The research journal of the Society for Photographic Education. Vol. 32.2 (Fall, 1999)

Hirsch's prose is very digestible. He writes in a clear, lively style with a minimum of jargon." - Views: the newsletter of the Visual Material Section of the Society of American Archivists

Science, culture, and art come together in this comprehensive history of photography. With superlative production values, rare and unusual prints, and a fresh perspective, Robert Hirsch has written the ideal companion to the first 200 years of photography.

Customer Review:
Robert Hirsch's survey of the origins and evolution of photography, "Seizing the Light," is a welcome addition to the expanding study of the medium. In clear, insightful, and engaging prose, Hirsch unfolds photography's hit-or-miss birth which was rapidly followed by coherent technological developments almost at the speed of light. Hirsch makes us believe that photography was inevitable; the darling and necessary child of destiny wed to information theory. And Hirsch's treatment of early 20th century Modernist photography and the philosophy behind Pictorialism is excellent.

As a primer for the invention of photography and its chemical underpinnings, "Seizing the Light" is as good as it can be. It falls a little short, however, in its treatment of contemporary photography. The book would have been better served by including a few in-depth surveys of important contemporary photographic projects in order to emphasize the centrality of this discipline in contemporary art history and postmodern theory which is heavily dependent on the nature of images and processes of image-making.

Customer Review:
Overall a great book on the history of photography. VERY comprehensive overview of the evolution of photography. It ties movements in art and social events into photography trends and developments. It also provides insight into how photographers and artists used the medium to express themselves and how experimentation lead to improvements over the years. My only negative comment would be that some of the earlly forms of cameras were not pictured. There were diagrams of early cameras, but after the first hundred years, there is little to no documentation on how they evolved cosmetically/ functionally. It'd be nice to see an example of the various "groundbreaking" cameras as they were discussed. Otherwise, a great book.

Customer Review:
For everyone with an interest in photography, either as an artist of the medium, a beginner looking for direction, or a collector who wants informed background to enhance appreciation of fine photographs both from the past and from the present obsession, SEIZING THE LIGHT: A History of Photography is essential reading.

Robert Hirsch knows his subject and in one hefty book manages to share the beginnings of photography some 200 years ago with the evolution of the camera and the discipline of photographing. Well illustrated with both photographs and drawings, Hirsch chronicles the famous and not so famous practitioners of the art in succinct but richly colorful biographical abstracts to accompany examples of each artist. The phases through which this art form has passed makes for fascinating reading even beyond the scope of the title: the use of the camera in documenting the history of our globe at celebration, at war, at discovery, and at the side of the people of the day is a journey well lead by a writer well skilled.

Though this book is now six years old it remains one of the more important textbooks for the art school classroom. But more important it is so richly written that it remains a fascinating survey of life since the camera. From the beginnings of the pinhole box to the present day digital images on the cell phone etc, the invention of the camera has inextricably changed our perception of the world. Learn the how and why of it! Highly recommended. Grady Harp, December 05

100 Days in Photographs: Pivotal Events That Changed the World

Description:
Much more than a book of pictures, 100 Days in Photographs is a compelling visual journey through our age—an odyssey that's personal and universal, immediate and timeless. To create it, Getty Images and National Geographic identified 100 days that represent defining moments of the past 150 years... and crystallized them with photographs that leap from the page to evoke joy and anger, triumph and despair. Supporting the visuals are firsthand journal excerpts, photographers' on-site notes, and insightful text by photography historian Nick Yapp.

From the Getty Images archive, astonishing images depict major world events: revolution in 19th-century Europe, President Lincoln's assassination, the Eiffel Tower's construction from 1887 to 1889, Bleriot flies the English Channel in 1909, the Wall Street crash of 1929, Germany's Kristallnacht, the British quit India in 1947, and more. National Geographic's contributions illustrate scientific, cultural, and geographical topics—including the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, Jane Goodall's study of chimpanzees, Chernobyl's nuclear disaster, the cloning of sheep, the attacks of September 11, 2001, and today's global warming debate. Page after eye-catching page reveals the emotion of an entire event or age captured in a single image—whether of a peasant's tears, of world leaders sharing a secret, or the triumph of an Olympic champion. Politics, war, crime, technology, achievement, fads, and fashion all figure into the life and legacy of these 100 days.

Featuring scores of rare and unpublished photographs uncovered during its creation, this remarkable book provides new perspective on key events and personalities of the past 150 years.

Customer Review:
This is an amazing book and a great gift! Amazing photographs, high quality prints... One of the best book I bought this year!

Customer Review:
The photos are amazing but I was not expecting some of the graphic nature on a lot of these photos (dead bodies mainly). I was hoping for a coffee table book but because it is so graphic and I have young children, I am not going to be able to display.

World History of Photography

Description:
This sumptuously illustrated volume, hailed as an indispensable work on the fascinatingly expressive photographic medium, has been revised and expanded to cover images by contemporary photographers working in the twenty-first century.

Customer Review:
Well, I have to say that the author is an excellent researcher. Although she concentrates mainly on the creative and artistic sides of photography, the technical aspects are also presented, albeit briefly. I know this book is used as a textbook in several schools, and the problem I have is that it reads like one. While perusing this work, I couldn't help feeling that I was back in college, cramming for a final exam, rather than being taken on a journey through photographic history. In other words, the author's writing style is a tad dry. The facts are all there, and the pictures are wonderful, but she never seems to convey the emotion or feelings of the events. So, if you want something to study, this is it. If you want something to read and enjoy, I'd go elswhere.

Customer Review:
A lot of information concentrated in one book, just what I needed: A lot of facts with perfect examples of photos and other illustrations. Especially I liked that there are no author's opinions, or philosophical discussions in this book, just facts.

History of Photography: From 1839 to the Present

Customer Review:
This could have been dry subject matter, but it was both interesting and useful. As an avid designer that dabbles in photography, I found this to be a great book.

Customer Review:
The book is more than perfect, its content, the way its written. It was right on time with a big discount, but had a corner a little wrinkled.

Customer Review:
I can't remember the first time I read this book, decades ago. Although it's quite dated in light of the advancements in digital photography in recent years, this is still the first reference to check for information about the first 140 years of photography. Even with Wikipedia available, this is the book I check for information. I happened to live in Rochester near the end of his time as curator of George Eastman House, and got to see first hand his influence on the medium. Newhall's book will remain on my shelf for as long as I am interested in photography.

American Photobooth

Description:
A fascinating history of an American institution that includes an extraordinary collection of photobooth images.

"That a perceptive, dedicated, and sensitive artist like Näkki Goranin has rescued from oblivion so many amazing self-portraits created by amateurs confronting themselves in the fleeting privacy of humble photobooths is yet another miracle for which we can be grateful."—from the foreword by David Haberstich

Generally relegated to the realm of kitsch, the history and cultural importance of the photobooth has long been overlooked. Here, Näkki Goranin documents the invention, technological evolution, and commercial history of the photobooth with extensive illustrations culled from twenty-five years of collecting. Complementing this history is a powerful collection of heartbreaking, funny, and absolutely beautiful photobooth images. These often solitary figures—seeking freedom, confession, a thrill—are evocative of a lost time and place. Haberstich writes, "For anyone who assumes that photobooth pictures are perfunctory, utilitarian records at best, the range of emotions and moods portrayed by the subjects of [this] collection is a revelation." Over 200 color and black-and-white photographs.

Customer Review:

Aside from the nostalgia of this collection, American Photobooth is a fabulous coffee table book, a varied collection of black and white and color images from the photobooths that have contributed to this country's collective photographic history- literally the faces of friends, strangers, couples, service men and their girls soon off to World War II, a stunning compilation reproduced on high quality paper, the images prefaced with a detailed history of the photobooth.

It all began with the 1894 invention of a Parisian vending machine. Once the concept of the coin-operated vending machine was embraced by an evolving popular culture, these booths became a favorite pastime, "the ultimate pedestrian art". Over the years the concept developed, along with techniques to streamline the process, photo strips available to customers for twenty-five cents. A number of entrepreneurs contributed to this emerging art form that could be found in storefronts, department stores and virtually any place one of these booths would fit. The technology progressed with the times, from a "plumbless" machine that no longer required a water supply to various chemical paper treatments that allowed quick-drying, cost-efficient results.

Over the years, booths were refined redesigned and updated under a series of names: Photomaton, Phototeria, Mutoscope Photographics, Photo-Me USA, Tru-Photo and Photo-Dome, through a number of innovative family-owned enterprises appearing everywhere, including the Depression. By the 1970s color strips arrived; by the 80s chemical photobooths were nearly phased out. The first art promoter to use the photobooth, Andy Warhol made the images part of the American artistic lexicon. But for those of us who ever posed with a friend, inserted a quarter and received a strip of four pictures, this book is a reminder of simpler days. Although "this American tradition stands on the brink of extinction". Goranin's wonderful collection offers a trip to the past, from the early 20th century, page after page of smiling faces hoping to capture a moment in a fast-moving world. Luan Gaines/ 2008.

Customer Review:

The title of this book is perfect. What American hasn't had that moment in a photo booth waiting for the
flash of light, deciding second to second what pose to strike with or without accomplices? And then...
the wait for the magical strip of photos.

It's fascinating to find that this seemingly American invention was not invented by an American.
Even the history of the photobooth is filled with photos and ephemera about this "American" institution.
American Photobooth addresses this sociological phenomenon in a concise and fascinating way.
Who knew the depth of history to the everyday photobooth?

A great read and visual feast. A fabulous collection of photos, evoking the human spirit, its highs and lows.

Hollywood Portraits

Description:
This inspirational book of star photographs provides classic portrait styles and detailed directions on how to set up, light and shoot each photo. Step-by-step instructions reveal the techniques used by top Hollywood photographers for their glittering glamour portraits of the 1920s through the 1950s. Included are sections on equipment, processing, lighting and more.

Customer Review:
This is a great start for developing a foundation of this kind of lighting.The diagrams are easy to follow and it explains what are some of the pitfalls of certain kind of lightings.This is one of the reference book that I can say worth of what I paid for.

Customer Review:
This book is perhaps not the end-all/be-all of Hollywood portraiture, but it is a delight to look at and inspirational for photographers. The steps and insight on how these images were created is both interesting and fun to read. A great book for a great price.

Customer Review:
This book, by Roger Hicks, was good in its way. Having recently been required to try to reproduce the style of Hurrell/Bull, I did find it useful. The photographs were well reproduced and the descriptive material, particularly as regards history, was good. I did find it a bit confusing with "camera right" and "subject right" being thrown in willy-nilly. You would think that this would be self explanatory. However, combined with the illustrative drawings which looked at the set from different angles I would often get mixed up as to which light went where.

I am just a little thick, perhaps.

Criticizing Photographs

Description:
This brief text is designed to help both beginning and advanced students of photography better develop and articulate thoughtful criticism. Organized around the major activities of criticism (describing, interpreting, evaluating, and theorizing), Criticizing Photographs provides a clear framework and vocabulary for students' critical skill development. The fourth edition includes new black and white and color images, updated commentary, a completely revised chapter on theory that offers a broad discussion of digital images, and an expanded chapter eight on studio critiques and writing about photographs, plus examples of student writing and critique.

Customer Review:
This book was require for my college level digital photography course, but I felt that it did not do an adequate job of explaining the concepts it covers. The book is dull and merely lists other photographs as examples (they are not included in the text).

Customer Review:
this book is probably going to be one of the required books for photography in college but it's not a horrible book. not the most exciting, but definitely has enough to get one started with critical thinking about photography and such.

Customer Review:
I am sorry I bought this book. It was written by a college professor for students, readers that have no choice but to buy the book, and it reads that way. The author does not use his own vision and voice to criticize and to explain criticism but instead relies on a survey of methods used by critics. The writing was wooden, and the book had an overwhelming emphasis on staged, "arty" photographs. I could not bring myself to finish this book and have given it to my local library for their book sale.

Love

Description:
Universally desired and uniquely experienced, love finds expression in every land and culture. This enchanting new book celebrates the depth and diversity of love—at many moments in history, and at every human age—in an exquisite collection of photographs from National Geographic’s famous archives and beyond. Each picture tells a tantalizing story and captures an intimate, unforgettable glimpse of love’s many facets, from courtship to friendship to charity and more.

As life-affirming and surprising as its namesake, the book is a beautiful keepsake for lovers and a must-have for all who admire classic photography. Masters of the art, such as Henri Cartier-Bresson, Elliott Erwitt, August Sander, Mary Ellen Mark, Eugene Richards, and William Allard, are among those who have traveled the globe to capture love’s nuances. Showcasing evocative black-and-white portraits and gorgeous color images, Love follows in the tradition of bestselling photography titles including Work, Through the Lens, In Focus, and Wide Angle.

More satisfying than candy and more affordable than a bouquet of flowers, Love is perfect for Valentine’s Day, anniversaries, weddings, birthdays—and every occasion for gifts between those who love.

Books: Fashion Photography

2008-03-09T14:43:00.002-04:00

Sports Illustrated: In the Paint

Customer Review:
Who would have believed that body-painting could so realistically depict actual swim-suits, etc. Outstanding!

Customer Review:
SI's annual swimsuit issue is a highly anticipated delight for many afficionados of the female form.

This collection of photos of some of the most beautiful women on the planet features the body painting genius of Joanne Gair. These bountiful babes sure look like they are wearing some nifty swimsuits. NOT!

They are all as naked as the day they were born. Wow! I wish I had this to read back when I was in my teen years! Still enjoyable, even now.

The perfect gift for that straight male you know, aged teen to octagenarian. He will appreciate your exquisite taste.

Customer Review:
A beautiful gift for any SI fan, photographer or artist... the book is well put together and done with class. It goes through each year SI has featured the "painted" models with additional, never seen before photos and model comments. Gorgeous color. Great holiday gift.

Tony Duquette

Description:
American artist and design legend Tony Duquette (19141999) was known for his over-the-top style in interiors, jewelry, costumes, and set design. His clients included Elizabeth Arden, the Duchess of Windsor, and Herb Albert.

The multi-talented Duquette designed sets for MGM musicals with Arthur Freed and Vincente Minnelli, and designed Tony Awardwinning costumes for the original Broadway production of Camelot. Duquette was the first American to exhibit a one-man show at the Louvre in Paris.

Tony Duquette is a lavishly illustrated book with many lost and never-before published photographs from the Duquette archives, including portraits and pictures taken by Man Ray, John Engstead, Fredrich Dapriche, Andre Ostier, George Platt Lynnes, as well as original sketches, designs, and texts by Duquette himself. With commentary, interviews, stories, and contributions from Liza Minnelli, Arlene Dahl, Steven Meisel, Bruce Weber, and others.

Customer Review:
Tony DuquetteI am an interior designer of some 20 years and while I found this book interesting it had very little to do with interiors and more to do with a very specific, unique and strange lifestyle. I'm sure the man was brilliant just know this book is not about liveable interiors.

Customer Review:
Having lived in Los Angeles since 1981 and working as an art editor for a regional magazine, the name Tony Duquette came up time and again in my social circles. Without question, he was an amazing talent the likes of which we may never see again in our lifetime. His imagination and passion for his unworldly, surrealist visions are captured in this brilliantly orchestrated book. Bravo and brava to the authors! A must-have for everyone's art library!

Customer Review:
I met Tony and his wife in Ireland - we were staying at Heney McIlhennys castle - he was terrible charming - I did not know of his career and am so sorry I didn't question him til he was exhausted.

karen marcus

The Complete Pirelli Calendars: 1964-2007

Description:
The extraordinary history of the Pirelli calendars began in 1963 when the Pirelli tire company created a calendar featuring pin-up models as a promotional piece to send to its top customers as a gift for the closing year. Every year since, the company has called upon world-renowned photographers such as Richard Avedon, Mario Testino, Herb Ritts, Norman Parkinson, Bruce Weber, and Annie Leibovitz to photograph the world’s most beautiful women, including Iman, Cindy Crawford, Naomi Campbell, Sophia Loren, Naomi Watts, and Penelope Cruz. It has continued to generate publicity for its exclusivity; a huge public clamors for the calendar, but it is only available to a very privileged list of corporate customers and VIPs.
A product of the cultural revolution of the 1960’s, the Pirelli calendar has shaken the world with the audacity, sensuality, and innovation of its content. The images stretch the parameters of sensual fantasy and fabulous photography, but their subtlety and quality also establish the calendar as a paradigm of its genre and a coveted collector’s item.
This book contains all the photographs of the calendars from 1964-2007, the never-published calendar of 1963, as well as intimate behind-the-scene photographs. The stunning imagery is accompanied by a comprehensive text, which traces not only the evolution of the calendar but also the history of photography in the past forty years.

Posing Techniques for Photographing Model Portfolios

Description:

With detailed discussions and eye-catching, dynamic images, this guidebook shows professional photographers how to masterfully create beautiful images of a model to achieve any creative objective. Instructions illustrate basic poses as well as a host of subtle variations to provide photographers with an endless array of looks for editorial fashion shots, athletics, glamour or nude photography, and shots designed to show curves, reveal personality, or showcase the hands, hair, or legs. This comprehensive resource also provides expert advice on conducting a successful session, how to work with the model, how to work with a support staff of image stylists, and tips for designing a high-quality portfolio. Additional lessons provide a start-to-finish analysis of four different shooting sessions, each with a different model and a different objective.

Customer Review:
The entry-level is not beginners for this one. Can't be, to shoot a professional portfolio you must have a handsome bit of knowledge already. Having that, this books has still more to offer ! Billy Pegram leads you on the way to gradually improve you pictures. There is very much attention to details that are easily overlooked otherwise, like hands and feet positioning, or where to crop and why. It shows you the possibilities for shooting a portfolio that contains commercial, fashion, editorial etc. pictures, and what sets them apart. With a host of examples, Billy shows that apparently small changes can make quite a difference. It covers more than shooting for portfolio's, for this is info that you can use time and time again for all kinds of photographic activities that have to do with portraying people or making a statement using a model. Being a professional photographer I can only say: everyone can learn something here. Lots of images are a joy to see !

Customer Review:
Posing Techniques by Billy Pegram is a very useful book, particularly for someone starting in the field of model photography. It is well illustrated with large pictures showing how (and occasionally, how not) to pose the model. All of the sections provide good tips. I found the section on hand positioning particularly helpful. The book leans more toward fashion shots than glamour and has some useful words on how to produce a port that contains what the model needs (rather than what you like).
Recommended for study.
rps

Chanel: Collections and Creations

Description:
A lush visual selection from the Chanel archive—essential reading for fashionistas and design aficionados everywhere.

Chanel's combination of tradition, originality, and style has always made it the most seductive of fashion labels. Here the House of Chanel opens its private archives, revealing a galaxy of brilliant designs created by Coco Chanel from 1920 onwards. Dazzling clothes, intricate accessories, beautiful models, and timeless design leave no doubt as to the lasting fame of her name and embody everything that has come to symbolize the magic of Chanel.

The book explores five central themes—the suit, the camellia, jewelry, makeup and perfume, the little black dress—and follows the threads from past to present to show how these key items have been rediscovered and reinvented by new designers. It includes many previously unpublished archive photographs and original drawings by Karl Lagerfeld, as well as glorious images from some of the greatest names in fashion photography. 139 illustrations, 83 in color.

Customer Review:
I have all of the biographies, novels and museum exhibition books published about Chanel in the past twenty years. This new book is a treat for both Chanel lovers and fashionistas.

Author Daniele Bott takes five central themes - the suit, the camellia, jewelry, fragrances, make-up and the LBD (little black dress) and sends us on a journey from the first showing of each item through its many reincarnations. You see how many times designers and the Chanel House itself has re-imaged Chanel creations from over a century ago.

There are over 159 illustrations - 101 of them in color. Many of the photographs have never been seen before and were taken by the greatest names in fashion photography.

My favorite two page spread features a display of the different Chanel buttons used on suits over the years. Another features Chanel fitting Ingrid Bergman in her Chanel suit for a scene in Tea and Sympathy. There are pictures of her original make-up packaging (Chanel thought about travel sizes in make-up long before anyone else), and her push up lipstick created in 1926. Imagine a 2-page spread sea of red Chanel lipsticks or an exclusive, entirely hand crafted logo makeup brush with 16,000 silk strands and the double C logo in the middle.

Chanel was famous for mixing costume jewelry with the real thing and costume designers (most notably Joan Rivers) have made their fortunes with variations of her original Maltese cross and faux pearl designs.

Every single photo exudes the Chanel style of understated elegance and luxury. For over a century, CoCo Chanel and now Karl Lagerfeld have kept the look and its history alive. This book carries on that tradition.

I also highly recommend:

Jacques Helleu and Chanel by Jacques Helleu which features over four decades of Chanel print ads and commercials.

Customer Review:
Although I knew the book would not be an in depth study, I liked the chapter topic separations and the photography.

The Tokyo Look Book: Stylish To Spectacular, Goth To Gyaru, Sidewalk To Catwalk

Description:
Tokyo is home to the most creative and stylish fashion in the world. The Tokyo Look Book takes us on a dazzling journey through the streets, clubs, and boutiques of this trendsetting city to introduce us to the people who wear the latest fashions and the people who make them. Crammed with
cool, full-color photographs of Tokyo's trendy teens and twenty-somethings captured candidly as they work and play, this is a comprehensive look at the richly varied fashion scenes that thrive in Japan's capital city -- from the "gal" mecca of Shibuya, to the goths and cosplayers who hang out on
Jingubashi bridge on Sundays, through the cutting-edge kids on the Harajuku backstreets, to the stylish young professional men and women on Omotesando Boulevard.

Yuri Manabe's distinctive photographic portraits are complemented by insightful text from British anthropologist and fashion expert Philomena Keet, who offers witty and informative background information on each of the fashion scenes introduced, and a plethora of soundbites and quotes from the
featured fashionistas. In addition, there are interviews and spotlights on Tokyos hottest fashion designers, magazines and boutiques, including:
SHIBUYA 109: Shibuyas iconic shopping mall
GLAD NEWS: One of 109s leading boutiques
REIKO NAKANE: A former trendsetting charisma109 shop girl, now producer of her own fashion label
MANA: Japanese pop star and designer of Elegant Gothic Lolita brand, Moi-meme-Moite
H.NAOTO: Creator of the popular goth/punk brand
TAKUYA ANGEL: Creator of the cult cyber-kimono brand
TEAM MESSAGE: Designer of skate/streetwear brands
DOG: Owner of a cult street-fashion boutique
SHOICHI AOKI: Creator of the influential street-fashion magazine FRUiTS
GARCIA MARQUEZ GAUCHE: The husband-and-wife team behind this stylish brand for young women
5351 POUR LES HOMMES: A fashionable mens brand
TOKYO FASHION WEEK: A peek behind the scenes
MANNENYA: Purveyor of traditional Japanese workmens outfits

Customer Review:
My current ringtone on my celly is a short clip of "Harajuku Girls" by Gwen Stefani - it's been on phone for over a year now. As someone who has spent a formidable amount of my life in Japan, I covet and collect anything remotely "cute" from or even inspired by Japan, ringtones included. So it's no wonder that I love this book. Published by Japan-based Kodansha International, The Tokyo Look Book (2007) is a motley collection of photographs and interviews of Japanese fashionistas and fashion designers. "Motley" is probably a huge understatement, given what Philomena Keet (the author/editor) calls the "fashion spectrum" that exists in Tokyo. The photographs of Japanese guys and gals make me smile knowing that those pictured often follow their own drum beats. Even in the most outrageous and incongruous outfits, the Japanese youth wear their clothes with confidence or paint their faces with layers of make-up without second-guessing why they do it. If anyone has ever wondered who these "Harajuku Girls" are that Gwen Stefani sings about, pick up a copy of this book. They are fantastic!

Customer Review:
Since I'm an author, and my novels often feature both Asian Americans and Asians who have moved to the US from overseas, I was very interested in this book as a research tool. I was not disappointed.

This book is rich with pictures showing the different fashion styles prevalent in Tokyo. For someone who only visited Tokyo a couple times with family (and who didn't meet anyone my age), this was an eye-opener.

I like the fact that there are often several photos showing examples of each particular style, rather than just one photo to show each style. It helped me get a better feel for the trends of the "look" rather than just one person's ensemble.

The book shows the entire breadth of styles, from conservative to garish. I liked the hair and makeup showcased on the people photographed, as well.

The fact that the people were all from off the street gave the book an air of greater credibility, since they didn't arrange a photo shoot with models. I felt like I was getting a slice of Tokyo life and culture.

For me, this was an excellent research tool.

Stylist: The Interpreters of Fashion

Description:
From the editors of Style.com, the hub of runway buzz, comes this savvy look at the individuals who propel the fashion world forward and declare what’s hot and what’s not. Called upon by designers, editors, photographers, and celebrities, stylists have a sixth sense for what is now and next in the fashion ether. Featuring sixteen of today’s top tastemakers, Stylist focuses on these fashion insiders whose precocious sense for the next big thing often results in trends of global proportions. Organized by stylist and featuring the photography of such luminaries as Cecil Beaton, Richard Avedon, Steven Meisel, and Annie Leibovitz among others, this book documents the work and contributions of each stylist through photographs of their creative output and inspirations, and illustrates their distinctive taste, individual flair, and talent for igniting global fashion fervor. Selected for their originality and, in many cases, enduring fame, each stylist included in this volume has reached the pinnacle of success in their chosen métier. Author Sarah Mower’s interviews with the most influential stylists distill for us through conversation and example the fine art of the fashion pronouncement and what it means to be at the threshold of the cutting edge.

Customer Review:
As a fashion journalist, I served as a reference as a creative director very much.
Expect next edition.

Customer Review:
The book is good. It have very good pictures. But I expected that it have more text and explain you more about the stylist career.

In Vogue: The Illustrated History of the World's Most Famous Fashion Magazine

Description:
In Vogue is a fascinating look at the history of the world's most influential magazine. The complete compendium is illustrated with hundreds of covers and archival interiors of past Vogue editions, featuring the work of some of the twentieth century's most respected artists, cover illustrators, and photographers—from Edward Steichen, Toni Frissell, and Erwin Blumenfeld to Irving Penn, Richard Avedon, David Bailey, Helmut Newton, Annie Leibovitz, Mario Testino, Steven Klein, Bruce Webber, and Herb Ritts. In 1909, an entrepreneurial New Yorker named Condé Nast took charge of a struggling society journal and transformed it into the most glamorous fashion magazine of the twentieth century. In Vogue traces the history, development and influence of this media colossus—from its beginning as a social gazette in the late nineteenth century, to the exploration of modern fashion photography and new visuals in the mid-twentieth century, to its status as the top style magazine today. The book explains the makings of the magazine—from runways, to editorial meetings, to the pages of Vogue.The thoroughly researched story incorporates first-person accounts, interviews with editors and photographers, and excerpts from stories written in the magazine by many world-renowned writers, including Truman Capote, Aldous Huxley, Richard Burton, Federico Fellini, and Marcello Mastroianni. Unparalleled in its scope and exceptionally illustrated, In Vogue is sure to be among the most important publications on the subjects of culture, art, fashion, photography, and media.

Customer Review:
I ORDERED IN VOGUE FOR MY DAUGHTER AND SHE JUST LOVES THIS BOOK IT IS A GREAT BOOK FOR WOMEN AND MEN INTERESTED IN THE HISTORY OF VOGUE AND FASHION. VERY ENJOYABLE SHE SAID.

Customer Review:
Thanks so much the book was perfect for my daughter's christmas present - just what she asked for and hoped it would be.

Customer Review:
What attracts you to Vogue? Chances are that element is represented someplace within the pages of In Vogue.

To me, the photographs are the main appeal of Vogue. Since its founding on December 17, 1892, Vogue has attempted to capture current and future fashion through its images. The magazine has been blessed by talented work done by most of the world's best fashion photographers since then who brought us the most interesting society women, celebrities, cultural icons, and, of course, fashion models. I was pleasantly surprised to see that the book contained at least a few works by each of the greatest photographers to appear in Vogue. Most of the images were known to me, but a number were new. My main disappointment was that the photographers I like the most didn't have more photographs in the book. But the book is very bulky and heavy as it is.

To my interest in the photographs came many essays about why the photographers were selected and what the editors asked them to accomplish. The interaction of the art directors and the photographers was particularly noteworthy in regard to covers.

I have also spent many years as a management consultant in the magazine industry. I was pleasantly surprised to find that there's a pretty complete overview of the management thinking and decisions that led to Vogue becoming so successful.

But the most interesting surprise came in the extended views into the editorial philosophies and working styles of the magazine's editors. Creating a fashion magazine is very demanding, and Vogue has been fortunate in its editors both for their energy and their vision for the reader.

If neither business nor editing interest you, you'll still find lots of marvelous images to help you trace the development of fashion and style in the United States over the last 100 plus years.

Here are a few of my favorite photographs in the book:

Helen Lee Worthing by Baron Adolphe de Meyer, September 1, 1920 (p. 61)

White by Edward Steichen, January 1, 1936 (p. 67)

Mademoiselle Koopman by George Hoyningen-Huene, September 15, 1933 (p. 69)

Mary Taylor by Cecil Beaton, May 15, 1935 (p. 73)

Lisa Fonssagrives by Horst P. Horst, August 1, 1938 (p. 76)

Decor by Horst P. Horst, March 15, 1938 (p. 77)

Corset by Horst P. Horst, September 15, 1939 (p. 78)

Coco Chanel by Horst P. Horst, February 15, 1954 (p. 79)

Cover by Horst P. Horst, September 15, 1940 (p. 89)

Loretta Young by John Rawlings (p. 111)

Twelve Beauties by Irving Penn, 1947 (pp. 116-117)

Cover by Horst P. Horst, May 15, 1941 (p. 131)

Cafe Society by Cecil Beaton, 1948 (pp. 136-137)

Concentration Camp by Lee Miller, June 1945 (p. 143)

Jean Pachett by Irving Penn, February 15, 1949 (p. 144)

Atelier of Pablo Picasso, November 1, 1956 (pp. 156-157)

Twiggy by Richard Avedon, July 1967 cover (p. 172)

Marisa Berenson by Berry Berenson, 1969 (p. 179)

Marisa Berenson by Irving Penn, April 1970 (pp. 186-187)

Lauren Hutton by Richard Avedon, January 1, 1969 (pp. 198-199)

Celebrity covers, 1965-1971 (p. 202)

Cheryl Tiegs and Rene Russo by Helmut Newton, 1974 (p. 215)

Cybill Shepherd by Helmut Newton, 1973 cover, (p. 216)

Kim Basinger by Irving Penn, September 1978 (p. 217)

Beverly Johnson by Albert Watson, October 1977 (pp. 218-219)

Charlotte Rampling by Helmut Newton, 1974 (p. 221)

Eveningwear by Arthur Elgort, 1978 (p. 222-223)

Lisa Taylor by Arthur Elgort, October 1976 (pp. 228-229)

The Right Moment by Arthur Elgort (p. 230)

Lisa Taylor by Helmut Newton, May 1975 (p. 233)

Winnie by Helmut Newton, 1976 (p. 234)

Daryl Hannah by Helmut Newton, 1984 (p. 235)

Bathhouse by Deborah Turbeville, May 1975 (pp. 236-237)

Satin and Leather by Peter Lindbergh, September 1991 (pp. 252-253)

Color and Opulence by Peter Lindbergh, October 1997 (pp. 254-255)

Tribute by Annie Leibovitz, November 1999 Cover (pp. 272-273)

Linda Evangelista by Steven Meisel, September 2001 (p. 274)

Shape by Annie Leibovitz and Patrick Demarchelier, April 2002 (p. 278)

Lisa Cant by Irving Penn, September 2005 (p. 283)

Cindy Crawford by Helmut Newton, December 1991 (p. 287)

Haute Couture by Irving Penn, December 1995 (p. 292-293)

Epic Proportions by Irving Penn, April 2004 (p. 297)

Swimsuits by Mario Testino, May 2000 (pp. 298-299)

Portrait of a Lady by Steven Meisel, March 1995 (p. 307)

Mad About You by Steven Meisel, October 2003 (p. 313)

Naomi Campbell by Herb Ritts, May 1996 (pp. 314-315)

Barbarian Chic by Arthur Elgort (p. 325)

Near Bora Bora by Patrick Demarchelier, December 2004 (p. 330)

Golden Girl by Annie Leibovitz, April 2006 (pp. 345-346)

Condoleeza Rice by Annie Leibovitz, December 2001 (pp. 358-359)

Kate Moss by Irving Penn, September 1996 (pp. 368-369)

Hillary Clinton by Annie Leibovitz, December 1998 (p. 372)

Nicole Kidman by various photographers, September 2003 (pp. 378-379)

Models and Supermodels by Steven Meisel, September 2004 (pp. 380-381)

Ben Stiller and Stella Tennant by Annie Leibovitz, October 2001 (pp. 388-389)

Mario Testino, April 2006 (pp. 392-393)

Take a close look!

Henry Dunay: A Precious Life

Description:
Henry Dunay: A Precious Life is both a lavish album of Dunays finest designs and a biography that tells the amazing story of his rise from an immigrant family to the heights of the jewelry world. A contemporary American jeweler, Henry Dunay single-handedly built a business to fit the luxurious mold of the great jewelry houses of all time: Faberge, Cartier, and Van Cleef & Arpels.

This is a world where superb craftsmen master arcane knowledge of precious and semi-precious stones; where jewelers compete for newly discovered gemstones; and where glamorous women vie to own one-of-a-kind pieces.

This book includes a biographical essay by Penny Proddow and Marion Fasel, an essay on Dunays use of colored stones by mineralogist George Harlow, and an essay on Dunays society and celebrity clientele by journalist Jeryl Brunner.

Customer Review:
Turning thick glossy page after page - this book is as opulent as the Jewelry produced by Dunay. His life story is well written and awe inspiring.

As a beginning jeweler this book provides a new muse for my imagination!

Professional Model Portfolios: A Step-by-Step Guide for Photographers

Description:
This photographer's guide to creating successful model portfolios encourages a dynamic, diversified artistic approach and shares essential knowledge about the modeling industry, portfolio basics, and agency requirements. Photographers learn how to work with models for the best possible results, create and refine a standout portfolio, and sell that product to agents in the United States, England, and Asia. Three actual portfolios are included to help photographers conceptualize, sculpt, and refine their own portfolios to maximize their client's reach in the industry. Photographers learn why particular images were chosen for opening and closing shots, how to arrange the interior images, and what constitutes an appealing design. Featuring information on working with women, men, and children, this book will help new and experienced models and photographers alike in getting the results they desire.

Customer Review:
Most of the things covered in this book are already known to photographers that have worked in the field, but for photographers starting in shooting models, this guide gives them a good start in the field.

Even though the book is titled 'A Step-by-Step Guide for Photographers', the information in here is even more valuable for models. Info on height classifications, measurements, posing, etc. I'd say all new models, and those that want to be models, this is a 'must have' book.

Customer Review:
This was a fantastic book. So much information. Every model and photographer should read this.

Customer Review:
This really helps with up and coming models who need a bit of direction.
I share this book with every new model I use.
Brings ideas to both of us.
It helps the models understand thier side of the business also.

Books: Photography Equipment

2008-03-09T14:35:00.002-04:00

The Digital Photography Book, Volume 1

Description:
Scott Kelby, the man who changed the "digital darkroom" forever with his groundbreaking, #1 bestselling, award-winning book The Photoshop Book for Digital Photographers, now tackles the most important side of digital photography--how to take pro-quality shots using the same tricks today's top digital pros use (and it's easier than you'd think).

This entire book is written with a brilliant premise, and here’s how Scott describes it: "If you and I were out on a shoot, and you asked me, 'Hey, how do I get this flower to be in focus, but I want the background out of focus?' I wouldn't stand there and give you a lecture about aperture, exposure, and depth of field. In real life, I'd just say, 'Get out your telephoto lens, set your f/stop to f/2.8, focus on the flower, and fire away.' You d say, 'OK,' and you'd get the shot. That's what this book is all about. A book of you and I shooting, and I answer the questions, give you advice, and share the secrets I've learned just like I would with a friend, without all the technical explanations and without all the techno-photo-speak."

This isn't a book of theoryâit isn't full of confusing jargon and detailed concepts: this is a book of which button to push, which setting to use, when to use them, and nearly two hundred of the most closely guarded photographic "tricks of the trade" to get you shooting dramatically better-looking, sharper, more colorful, more professional-looking photos with your digital camera every time you press the shutter button.

Here's another thing that makes this book different: each page covers just one trick, just one single concept that makes your photography better. Every time you turn the page, you'll learn another pro setting, another pro tool, another pro trick to transform your work from snapshots into gallery prints. There's never been a book like it, and if you're tired of taking shots that look "OK," and if you’re tired of looking in photography magazines and thinking, "Why don't my shots look like that?" then this is the book for you.

Customer Review:
this is the Best book for digital photo tips, very good info from an expert, written with great skill as not to be bland or boring
as Scott says he writes as if he was standing next to you giving you verbal advise.
i thoroughly reccommend this book to any one looking for simple straight forward uncomplicated info.

Customer Review:
The tips Scott provides in the first few chapters alone make this book worth it. I can't wait to read Volume 2.

The Moment It Clicks: Photography secrets from one of the world's top shooters

Understanding Exposure: How to Shoot Great Photographs with a Film or Digital Camera (Updated Edition)

Description:
For serious amateur photographers who already shoot perfectly focused, accurately exposed images but want to be more creative with a camera, here's the book to consult. More than seventy techniques, both popular and less-familiar approaches, are covered in detail, including advanced exposure, bounced flash and candlelight, infrared, multiple images, soft-focus effects, unusual vantage points, zooming, and other carefully chosen ways to enhance photographs. The A-Z format make sit easy for readers to find a specific technique, and each one is explained in jargon-free language. Top Tips for each technique help readers achieve superb results, even on the first attempt.

Customer Review:
I'm new to photography, trying to learn the basics in preparation for buying my first digital slr (I took a photography class 10 years ago, but had forgotten everything). This book is great, and I plan to read it many times. Even if you have little interest in actually using an advanced camera (like an slr), understanding the basics of photography is a good thing (and immensely interesting). As such, this book would be great for any person, even if he/she hasn't shown an interest in photography. This would be a great Christmas/birthday/etc gift for someone who is difficult to buy for.

Customer Review:
Even though this book is primarily written from a non-digital SLR camera perspective, the information and examples all work on your DSLR. After reading the first two chapters I was already snapping better pictures!!! I had a lot of questions and this book answered them! After reading this book I have a firm grasp on, ISO speeds, light readings and the ever important F/stop.

It is a must have!!

Customer Review:
I just bought a Nikon D300 DSLR Camera and thought I brush up my skills by buying a couple of books. Besides getting Understanding Exposure, I also bought The Digital Photography I and II. In comparison, Understanding Exposure is outdated and slightly over-rated.

1. Outdated. Some part of the books still refers film camera which I believe most readers, either wouldn't care or get confused. In today's digital world, why bother to have 8 pages (page 152 to 159) comparing digital and film (booked was first published in 2004 by someone who started shooting in the 1970s. no wonder). Wouldn't it be better to compare Digital Compact Camera vs DLSR instead?

2. Too basic for those have already have some shooting experience. Half the book talk about aperture, shutter speed and ISO. Big aperture helps blur the background, slow shutter speed gives a sense of motion and high ISO can be use in low lighting conditions. If you already knew this, then you might not learn so much from this book.

3. Compared to 'The Digital Photography Book', it doesn't give that many tips that will spur you into action immediately. Although after reading the book, you should know when to set aperture to f2.8 or f8 and shutter speed to 1/4 sec or 8 secs, it somewhat feels theoretical.

4. Does not talk about equipments and use of flash which I think are key in getting better pictures. But to be fair, this book is about understanding 'Exposure' not 'Photography'.

Having said the above, I did learn something from this book. My key takeaway are Back Lighting, Making Rain and fixing camera onto moving object like a bicycle. I recommend this book for those who are completely new to photography. But for those who already have some basic knowledge, Scott Kelby's The Digital Photogrpahy is more suitable.

Understanding Shutter Speed: Creative Action and Low-Light Photography Beyond 1/125 Second

Description:

The first book in the Understanding Photography series, Understanding Exposure, was a runaway best-seller, with more than 250,000 copies sold. Now author Bryan Peterson brings his signature style to another important photography topic: shutter speed. With clear, jargon-free explanations of terms and techniques, plus compelling "before-and-after" photos that pair a mediocre image (created using the wrong shutter speed) with a great image (created using the right shutter speed), this is the definitive practical guide to mastering an often-confusing subject. Topics include freezing and implying motion, panning, zooming, exposure, Bogen Super Clamps, and rendering motion effects with Photoshop, all with helpful guidance for both digital and film formats. Great for beginners and serious amateurs, Understanding Shutter Speed is the definitive handy guide to mastering shutter speed for superb results.

Nikon D40/D40x Digital Field Guide

Description:
This guide’s Quick Tour is the perfect way to get started with your new Nikon D40 or D40x digital SLR camera. Read on and learn to customize your camera’s settings; get perfect shots of sunsets, landscapes, people, or sporting events; identify and use all your camera’s controls and features; then learn to download your pictures, troubleshoot common camera problems, and tweak images right in the camera. This book fits in your camera bag to go wherever your Nikon goes.

Customer Review:
This book by David Busch gives a better insight into the use of the D40 and D40x cameras than does the guidebook that comes with the camera. The book contains many color photos to illustrate the discussion.
I was moderately familiar with the D40x camera using the Nikon guidebook before I looked at the Busch guidebook so I could skip a lot of the introductory material. I skimmed the chapters QT (Quick Tour of taking and saving the first pictures), Chapter 1 (gives detailed names and uses of the camera functions), and Chapter 2 (essentials of camera metering, adjusting exposures, adjusting ISO, noise reduction, and retouching photos). I looked more carefully at Chapter 3 (playback menu, shooting menu, custom settings, and setup menu) as there are a lot of detailed settings that are easy to forget. I did not look carefully at Chapter 4 (exposure settings)since I have done this with a number of cameras. First time users should find these chapters useful.
I looked more carefully at Chapter 5 (lenses) as it describes in detail the confusing lens-naming scheme of Nikon. Only certain lenses (AF-I or AF-S) with internal focusing motors will autofocus with the D40 and D40x since the camera has no focusing motor. I, for instance, use the kit 18mm to 55mm lens which will autofocus and also my old 70mm to 210mm lens with no autofocus motor for this camera. This is fine with me as I do not need autofocus with this latter lens. I often use the 70mm to 210mm lens with a Nikon close-up lens (5T, 6T) so I would much rather have manual focus. Nikon also has a decent, economical 55mm to 200mm vibration reduction lens with autofocus for these cameras that costs only about $250.
Chapter 6 is mostly concerned with continuous and flash lighting. The D40 and D40x has a small built in flash although I usually use the Nikon SB-600 external flash on autosettings for a brighter flash. The various flash settings such as front sync, rear sync, slow sync, red-eye reduction, and exposure compensation are often confusing so this discussion should be helpful to many.
Chapter 7 is a long chapter that suggests ways to approach taking photos under various conditions such as sunrise-sunset, infrared, action, black and white, flowers, and landscapes among many. One can pick sections they want to check. For example, the infrared section is the only place I have found some details on the use of these cameras for infrared (Nikon would not give me any information on the infrared sensitivity for these cameras but apparently they are sensitive to the near infrared). The cameras can be used with a Hoya R72 or Wratten 89b filter which will filter out the visible light and allow the infrared to pass. Also starting points to begin taking infrared photos are suggested (ISO 200, f/11, 8 seconds, use tripod etc) since exposure and focus have to be done by trial and error due to the different characteristics of infrared relative to visible light.
Chapter 8 describes downloading and editing images mostly using software from Nikon (Picture Project, Capture NX, and Control Pro). Nikon Picture Project comes with the camera and can be used to transfer images to your computer, do minor editing, and sharing your photos. Nikon Capture NX has to be purchased separately (about $150), and it can be used to modify images that in some operations make it easier to use than Photoshop Elements or Photoshop. For instance, similar colors can be changed over the entire image in one operation without changing other colors in the image. I often use Nikon NX for changing colors and then return to modifying the image in Photoshop.
Also there is an appendix and glossary. The appendix includes topics on updating the firmware of the camera (controls camera operations such as processing and links to external devices). Also the appendix suggests how battery life can be extended, fixing flash problems, reviving bad memory cards, and cleaning your sensor.
In short, this book should be a good book for the beginner to intermediate user who want to find out about the details of the camera so that the best pictures can be made under a variety of conditions. The beginner who wants to use the D40/D40x cameras more as a point and shoot camera can just set the camera in programmed exposure mode and still obtain a lot of good pictures without understanding all the functions of the camera. The advanced user who has used a number of Nikon digital cameras would not probably find much in the book of interest. Thus the star rating would vary a lot depending on your level of experience.

Customer Review:
This book is good. I reveals most, maybe all, of the many features of the Nikon D40X. Since I read the manual that came with the camera I was somewhat familiar with most of the camera's features, but having an organized way to go through them again with suggestions as to how to best use them was well worth the cost of the book. The color pictures are a welcome addition to the text.

Customer Review:
I bought this book as well as the Magic Lantern book. I preferred the Magic Lantern book because it dealt strictly with the D40X camera that I had just purchased. The Digital Field Guide is a good book, but has several chapters on basic photography. As such, it is a good reference.

Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi/400D Digital Field Guide

Description:
This full-color book is designed to tap the exploding market in serious digital photography with over 250 pages of new and beautiful photos, essential photography how-to information and no-fail formulas for getting great digital pictures with the newly announced Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi/400D. It goes above and beyond competitive digital SLR books with step-by-step techniques that cover exposure, composition, and professional shooting tips on perspective, impact, and more. Charlotte K. Lowrie, author of two previous Digital Field Guides (see below), is an acclaimed photographer who was managing editor of editorial content for MSN Photos and now writes online instructional content for Canon.

Charlotte K. Lowrie (Woodinville, WA) is a freelance editorial and stock photographer and an award-winning writer. Her work has appeared in Popular Photography & Imaging and PHOTOgraphic magazines, and she is the author of the bestselling Canon EOS Digital Rebel Digital Field Guide as well as Adobe Camera Raw Studio Skills, the Canon EOS 30D Digital Field Guide, and Teach Yourself Visually Digital Photography, Second Edition, all from Wiley. Charlotte also teaches photography classes through BetterPhoto.com.

Customer Review:
More lengthy discussion of the manual. Half of it is actually in the manual, but the other half makes it worth buying. I have a bit of trouble reading the small print in the original manual, so this larger book is nice.

Customer Review:
I first purchased the Canon EOS Digital rebel XTi 400D by David D Busch. I find Davids book much more compelling in understanding the workings of the REBEL XTi. His format I find was easier to follow and use from a technical format. Charlotte's book is more of a narrative.

Customer Review:
This book really helps you understand the use of the 400D, something missing from most camera manuals. Worth every penny!

Light: Science and Magic: An Introduction to Photographic Lighting

Description:
An amazing (and some would say magical) resource on photographic lighting that has been talked about in the community and recommended for years. This highly respected guide has been thoroughly updated and revised for content and design - it is now produced in full color! It introduces a logical theory of photographic lighting so if you are starting out in photography you will learn how to predict results before setting up lights. This is not primarily a how-to book with only set examples for you to copy. Rather, Light: Science and Magic provides you with a comprehensive theory of the nature and principles of light to allow you to use lighting to express your own creativity.

Numerous photographs and illustrations provide clear examples of the theories, while sidebars highlight special lighting questions. Expanded chapters on available light in portraiture, as well as new information on digital equipment and terminology make this a must have update!

*New four color art package with contemporary lighting examples
*Based on the behaviour of light
*Theory book for serious photographers

Customer Review:
no serious amatuer or pro photographer should be without this book on light and how to use it properly for better pictures.....film or digital it makes no difference

Customer Review:
It would be hard to add much to what has already been said by so many. This is an excellent book on lighting for photography. I'd highlight again that this isn't a cookbook but instead focuses on the fundamentals. If you're looking for step by step instructions on how to reproduce the latest lighting gimmick you've seen in magazine ads then go elsewhere. If you're looking for a book on the fundamentals that will allow you to create your own lighting with ease and reverse engineer anyone else's lighting then this is the book you want. There are lots of books on photography and lighting out there and few that have much useful to say. This is probably one of the highest quality and most consistently useful books in the field of photography I've ever seen.

Customer Review:
Recently, I was asked to photograph clear, glass dishware. My search for resources led me to "Light: Science and Magic: An Introduction to Photographic Lighting" by Fil Hunter, Steven Biver, and Paul Fuqua. My questions about glass photography were answered, and the examples and hints given were extremely useful. This text will not answer all your questions, and other sources are needed for detailed operational instructions for flash lighting. Hunter, Biver, and Fuqua will give you an excellent overview of concepts and "how to" for key lighting problems including shiny metal, glass and protraits. An excellent use is as a text for continuing education photography students, and as an addition to the library of advanced, non-pro photographers.

Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Book for Digital Photographers,The (Voices That Matter)

Description:
This book takes you beyond showing you which sliders do what to reveal the secrets of the new digital photography workflow using Adobe Lightroom, and he does it using three simple techniques that make this just a great learning tool: 1) Throughout the book Scott shares his own personal settings and studio tested techniques he s developed using Lightroom for his own photography workflow since well before Adobe released even the first Beta version. He knows what really works, what doesn t, and he tells you flat out which tools to use, which to avoid, and why. 2) The entire book is laid out in a real workflow order with everything step-by-step, so you can jump right in using Lightroom like a pro from the very start and sidestep a lot of productivity killing road blocks and time-wasting frustrations that might have tripped you up along the way. 3) In the last two bonus chapters Scott visually answers his No.1 most-asked Lightroom question, which is: Exactly what order am I supposed to do things in, and where does Photoshop fit in? Scott teaches this by showing every step of the entire process, from the initial shoot to the final prints. Both chapters start with an on-location photo shoot, including full details on the equipment, camera settings, and even the lighting techniques. You ll see it all as he takes the photos from each shoot all the way through the entire workflow process, to the final output of the 16x20 prints for the client.

Customer Review:
The book should be titled Lightroom for Dummies because this book lays out the ins and outs of Lightroom so that anyone can understand it. Each part of the work flow is broken down into it's own individual chapter. From there, whatever it is that needs to be done is further broken down into steps, rather than just a long chapter of reading and technical jargon.

I have used Lightroom on a few occasions, but never knew it's full capabilities until I read this book. I highly recommend it to anyone!!

Customer Review:
This book is so well written-Scott Kelby gives you it ALL every different way to click and his favorite ways. Why beat your head against the wall trying to figure it out. He has done it for you and then some. The time it takes to go thru the book will save you time and grief so many times over. He lives and breathes this stuff- this is how he makes his living and he is real good at it. If he was a surgeon, you would want to be under his knife. This is not a paid endorsement, just someone thankful for a tech writer who can make his topic accessable to all.

Dr Arthur Miller ( not the playwright- although I could write a View from the Bridge. What am I????? Scott also has a wonderful sense of humor.

Customer Review:
First I want to say that buying and shipping with Amazon.com across the ocean was a really pleasant experience. Good price (better than at home).
The book is a very good assistent when working with Lightroom. Easy to read, good examples and I discovered many features of Lightroom that I would not have discovered without this book.
I think that Scott Kelby is a funny man because of his way of writing. This could be disturbing, but to me it wasn't.
I really can recommend Adobe Photoshop Lightroom for Digital Photographers

Take Your Photography to the Next Level: From Inspiration to Image

Description:
This book is for the photographer who strives to achieve a higher level of results in their work. Take Your Photography to the Next Level is based on a series of essays originally featured on the popular Luminous Landscape website. Barr tackles some of the rarely discussed, yet essential aspects of successful photography. Here is where photographers will learn what is required in order to grow in their creativity and to gain a deeper understanding of their craft.

With a foreward by Michael Reichmann.

Topics include:

Creativity

Dealing with disappointment

Developing an "eye"

Making stronger images

What photographs well

Where to go looking for the best photographic subjects

How to approach subject material

A great image is just around the corner

Dealing with failure

Mind games

Becoming a self-aware photographer

Framing, cropping, & manipulating prints to create mood and transmit your message

Customer Review:
If you want to learn how to approach your photography in different light and work on composition b/c you have had enough practice with the technical stuff...I highly recommend you buy this book. Very well written, great humor and priceless information for the dedicated photographer.

Pam Vasquez

Customer Review:
This book has some great text. It is insightful and motivating. I could say it `put few things in its place' regarding some photography subjects in my mind. It is easy to read and makes things look simple, understandable, reachable, and very clear. Author is very talented teacher.
Unfortunately the images, that are everywhere and have a clear purpose to illustrate the subject being discussed, are disappointing and many of them should be replaced e.g. with the pictures of photographers that the author is often mentioning.
Images have a big impact and in this book a negative one unfortunately. Author should have tried harder with the pictures and looked elsewhere first, e.g. just look at the accompanying pictures in `The photographers eye' by Michael Freeman etc.
Yes, I think images are that bad.
E.g. picture of his underwear on some table - it is there to make a point, but he could have made the same point in 100 other more aesthetically pleasing ways, remember the book title?
All in all I really think this is a book about how to take your photography to the next level, but don't look at the pictures (seriously) just read this great text.

Customer Review:
I am always on the look out for ways to improve my skills as a photographer, and therefore I regularly read books that I think will give me new ideas and techniques. I regularly read the recipe and how to books, but more often than not I find that over half of those books tend to cover common topics that I already know. It is not bad that they have the topics, I just have read them time and again.

George Barr offers something unique in refreshing in a photography book with his focus on his theory and process of capturing amazing photos. As he introduces in the very outset of his introduction, the book is an expanded version of a series of posts he made online over time. He has taken the best topics and refined them into a well organized education in doing what his title indicates, taking your photography to a level higher than it is now.

What may be frustrating for those looking for the single "magic" answer should instead be motivating for most. Through the book you are given ideas and concepts to consider when approaching an opportunity to photograph rather than a recipe for success. Photography is an expression of onces on view and choices to interpret a scene; there is no one magic answer.

After reading through this title I am now reading it again, a chapter at a time. With each chapter I am putting the book down and attempting to apply the principles being taught. I plan to have this book be a part of my growth in photographic skills for a long time.

The Betterphoto Guide to Digital Photography (Amphoto Guide Series)

Customer Review:
Like many other reviewers that have commented on this book ..... I also purchased Scott Kelby's book (vol.2). I think that this book wins hands down between the two excellent books.

I have been interested in photography for many years, but I just recently purchased a higher-end DSLR camera. Thus, I enjoyed the content of both books. I really enjoy the simplicity of this book. This book utilizes very effective teaching tools that result in the readers quickly learning new techniques and methods of achieving better results.

There really should be no debate.... Both books are excellent learning tools. Enjoy,

DPerez

Customer Review:
One of the very best books I have read regarding Digital Photography. Ben Long is an expert in his field and is a very good communicator of his acquired knowledge. I have learned many good points from reading his book.I am not a professional photographer but I like knowing how to take great photographs. I am taking a college course in photography and this book is an excellent companion to the concepts being taught.

Customer Review:
This book is like a photography 101 class, with a little bit of information on DSLR's , digital file formats, and digital enhancement. If you already understand aperture, ISO, shutter speeds, basic composition principles, depth of field, etc, you do not need this book. I would get this book for a novice photographer who wanted to generally improve their understanding of basic photography principles.

That being said, the book is easy to read with pretty good images to demonstrate the lessons, and it presents all concepts well. I do think it would be beneficial to someone who has n ever used a camera in manual mode. The "assignments" at the end of each lesson would be especially useful for getting more comfortable with the camera.

Just not what I needed; still a good book for the right level of user.

Books: Digital Photography

2008-03-07T20:51:00.002-05:00

The Digital Photography Book, Volume 2

Description:
Scott Kelby, author of the groundbreaking bestseller The Digital Photography Book, Vol. 1 is back with an entirely new book that picks up right where Vol. 1 left off. It's more of that Ah ha that's how they do it,straight-to-the-point, skip the techno jargon; packed with stuff you can really use today, that made Vol. 1 the world’s bestselling book on digital photography.

In Volume 2, Scott adds entirely new chapters packed with Plain English tips on using flash, shooting close up photography, travel photography, shooting people, and even how to build a studio from scratch, where he demystifies the process so anyone can start taking pro-quality portraits today! Plus, he's got full chapters on his most requested topics, including loads of tips for landscape photographers, wedding photographers, and there's an entire chapter devoted to sharing some of the pro's secrets for making your photos look more professional, no matter what you're shooting.

This book truly has a brilliant premise, and here’s how Scott describes it: If you and I were out on a shoot, and you asked me, When I use my flash, the background behind the person I’m shooting turns black. How do I fix that?’ I wouldn’t give you a lecture on flash ratios, or start a discussion on flash synchronization and rear curtain sync. I’d just say Lower your shutter speed to 1/60 of a second. That should do it. Well, that’s what this book is all about: you and I out shooting where I answer questions, give you advice, and share the secrets I’ve learned just like I would with a friend without all the technical explanations and techie photo speak.

Each page covers a single concept on how to make your photography better. Every time you turn the page, you’ll learn another pro setting, tool, or trick to transform your work from snapshots into gallery prints. If you’re tired of taking shots that look okay, and if you’re tired of looking in photography magazines and thinking, Why don’t my shots look like that? then this is the book for you.

This isn’t a book of theory full of confusing jargon and detailed concepts. This is a book on which button to push, which setting to use, and when to use it. With nearly another 200 of the most closely guarded photographic tricks of the trade, this book gets you shooting dramatically better-looking, sharper, more colorful, more professional-looking photos every time.

Customer Review:
I like this little book because it gets right to the most important aspects of getting a good photograph. The examples are useful and add to the text. A good review that is worth your time.

Customer Review:
Scott, has a way to bring things to simple points. I've been shooting for over 15 yrs and at times you need to go back to the basics. Some very good info. I've relied on to much with my cameras metering system. Granted I shoot fashion, beauty, glamor & artistic where once had a light meter. Used photoshop to correct not that perfect balance at times on those under/overexposed shots. Indeed you can meter bracket but I did buy the Sekonic L-358 light meter and my test shots came out good. I sell my work and rather have less post production and more shooting.

Customer Review:
I bought the 2nd edition of Scott Kelby's book and found it to be quite instructive..so much so that I then purchased the 1st edition. Don't look for indepth instructions. If you want a quick and succinct answer to your question, this is a good book.

The Digital Photography Book, Volume 1

Description:
Scott Kelby, the man who changed the "digital darkroom" forever with his groundbreaking, #1 bestselling, award-winning book The Photoshop Book for Digital Photographers, now tackles the most important side of digital photography--how to take pro-quality shots using the same tricks today's top digital pros use (and it's easier than you'd think).

This entire book is written with a brilliant premise, and here’s how Scott describes it: "If you and I were out on a shoot, and you asked me, 'Hey, how do I get this flower to be in focus, but I want the background out of focus?' I wouldn't stand there and give you a lecture about aperture, exposure, and depth of field. In real life, I'd just say, 'Get out your telephoto lens, set your f/stop to f/2.8, focus on the flower, and fire away.' You d say, 'OK,' and you'd get the shot. That's what this book is all about. A book of you and I shooting, and I answer the questions, give you advice, and share the secrets I've learned just like I would with a friend, without all the technical explanations and without all the techno-photo-speak."

This isn't a book of theory it isn't full of confusing jargon and detailed concepts: this is a book of which button to push, which setting to use, when to use them, and nearly two hundred of the most closely guarded photographic "tricks of the trade" to get you shooting dramatically better-looking, sharper, more colorful, more professional-looking photos with your digital camera every time you press the shutter button.

Here's another thing that makes this book different: each page covers just one trick, just one single concept that makes your photography better. Every time you turn the page, you'll learn another pro setting, another pro tool, another pro trick to transform your work from snapshots into gallery prints. There's never been a book like it, and if you're tired of taking shots that look "OK," and if you’re tired of looking in photography magazines and thinking, "Why don't my shots look like that?" then this is the book for you.

Customer Review:
this is the Best book for digital photo tips, very good info from an expert, written with great skill as not to be bland or boring
as Scott says he writes as if he was standing next to you giving you verbal advise.
i thoroughly reccommend this book to any one looking for simple straight forward uncomplicated info.

Customer Review:
The tips Scott provides in the first few chapters alone make this book worth it. I can't wait to read Volume 2.

The Moment It Clicks: Photography secrets from one of the world's top shooters

Description:
THE FIRST BOOK WITH ONE FOOT ON THE COFFEE TABLE, AND ONE FOOT IN THE
CLASSROOM
Joe McNally, one of the world’s top pro digital photographers, whose celebrated work has graced the pages of Sports Illustrated, Time, and National Geographic (to name a few), breaks new ground by doing something no photography book has ever done blending the rich, stunning images and elegant layout of a coffee-table book with the invaluable training, no-nonsense insights, and photography secrets usually found only in those rare, best-of-breed educational books.

When Joe’s not on assignment for the biggest-name magazines and Fortune 500 clients, he’s in the classroom teaching location lighting, environmental portraiture, and how to get the shot at workshops around the world. These on-location workshops are usually reserved for a handful of photographers each year, but now you can learn the same techniques that Joe shares in his seminars and lectures in a book that brings Joe’s sessions to life.

What makes the book so unique is the triangle of learning where (1) Joe distills the concept down to one brief sentence. It usually starts with something like, an editor at National Geographic once told me and then he shares one of those hard-earned tricks of the trade that you only get from spending a lifetime behind the lens. Then, (2) on the facing page is one of Joe’s brilliant images that perfectly illustrates the technique (you’ll recognize many of his photos from magazine covers). And (3) you get the inside story of how that shot was taken, including which equipment he used (lens, f/stop, lighting, accessories, etc.), along with the challenges that type of project brings, and how to set up a shot like that of your own.

This book also gives you something more. It inspires. It challenges. It informs. But perhaps most importantly, it will help you understand photography and the art of making great photos at a level you never thought possible. This book is packed with those Ah ha! moments those clever insights that make it all come together for you. It brings you that wonderful moment when it suddenly all makes sense that moment it clicks.

Customer Review:
My honest opinion of JM's new book is fantastic reading with touches of techniques he uses. I have read half the book and throughout my busy schedule I can't wait to get back to it and read more. Understand that I am not saying that because there is some all new technique that Joe is teaching but the stories are interesting. The tips are probably tips that experienced photographers have known for years. You will not find apertures, shutter speeds and ISOs on every photo nor should you because images are dynamic( I say every because there were a couple I have seen where Joe does mention this type of informationas merely a guage). This is not a how-to book and frankly there are enough of those out there anyway if we take the time to investigate and read them. This is a fun read with some "how I approached this shot" theory and some really cool stories from a phenomenal commercial photographer. The images are typical stunning Joe McNally photography with credits given to many that he has learned from in his years of work. One story still makes me laugh when he talks about going from Spiderman to Wiley Coyote. For a nice twist from your typical photography book with some extremely useful information this is a must buy for any photographer. Maybe I should re-phrase that in saying that any photographer who has their own ideas to produce will find this book of great worth. If you are just looking for step by step how to recreate the exact photo this book probably is not for you. There are many other books out there that will give you that. I really feel that JM was probably trying to put out a book that points you to the right doors in a room full of doors. It is simply your job to take that direction and go through and create your own phenomenal work. In that sense, I think Joe has far exceeded that mission. In world of "I want my stuff to look like Dave Hill, Vincent Versace, Ansel Adams etc (obviously no offense to the amazing creativity by any of these artists ... they are just artists that have such a profound look that you see the photo and you say ... that is a 'fill in the blank') Joe McNally has come out with a book that says create your own style but here's a little helping hand. He gives you a glass of water without filling it up and says 'ok ... now you go fill it up with your imagination, creativity and style'. Isn't that what we want to do with our photography? I would love for someone to look at my work and recognize it as mine without seeing the name on the photo. At that point, you truly have your own style and have arrived with your work. Joe McNally, Vincent Versace, Ansel Adams, Jay Maisel, Henri Cartier-Bresson and many others all have that style. Joe does help lead you to that style with this book.

Customer Review:
The Moment It Clicks: Photography secrets from one of the world's top shooters A must have book for all photographers!!!

Customer Review:
I read this book and found it interesting, although somewhat limiting in its practical application for mere enthusiasts. This is a great photographer no doubt, but I found that the book is 80% about lighting for magazine shoots (think expensive). And unless you're a professional photographer with a large budget, you will never own the lighting gear he uses for those shoots. Since my focus is mainly on nature photography, I found only sporadic tidits of useful advice here. The rest is intriguing in its own right (hey, it was cool to learn how he rented and lit a circus elephant for a studio shoot), but it's not something I can use. I like my books to be more pragmatic. This one is for highly paid pros.

The Adobe Photoshop CS3 Book for Digital Photographers (Voices That Matter)

Description:
Scott Kelby was honored with Professional Photographer magazine’s highly coveted 2008 Hot One Award for The Adobe Photoshop CS3 Book for Digital Photographers. Here’s what Jeff Kent, the Hot One Editor at Professional Photographer, has to say about the book: In a how-to published by Peachpit Press, Scott Kelby, best-selling author on Adobe Photoshop, delves into CS3 to uncover the most important and useful techniques for digital photographers. Our judges liked Kelby’s direct approach with step-by-step instructions. In this new edition, Kelby shares even more secrets from the top pros.

Shutterbug magazine chose The Adobe Photoshop CS3 Book for Digital Photographers as a Top Digital Book of 2007. Here’s what Joe Farace of Shutterbug has to say about the book: Scott Kelby's name on a Photoshop book is like the Dodge brand on the front of a pickup truck. You know it’s built RAM or pixel tough. Combining his famous twisted wit with unwaveringly straight tutorials, Kelby takes you through a detailed tour of Photoshop CS3 by showing how to use the new features. No fluff; just page after page of well-illustrated tutorials showing photographers how to get the most out of the new features, commands, and effects found in the latest version of Adobe’s flagship. It will get you up to speed on CS3’s new features faster than you can all by yourself.
Scott Kelby, the #1 best-selling Photoshop author in the world today, once again takes this book to a whole new level as he uncovers the latest, most important, and most exciting new Adobe Photoshop CS3 techniques for digital photographers. This major update to his award-winning, record-breaking book does something for digital photographers that’s never been done before–it cuts through the bull and shows you exactly how to do it. It's not a bunch of theory; it doesn’t challenge you to come up with your own settings or figure it out on your own. Instead, Scott shows you step-by-step the exact techniques used by today's cutting-edge digital photographers, and best of all, he shows you flat-out exactly which settings to use, when to use them, and why.

That’s why the previous editions of this book are widely used as the official course study guide in photography courses at college and universities around the world, and this new edition for Photoshop CS3 exposes even more of the top pros’ most closely-guarded secrets.

Learn How The Pros Do It
Each year Scott trains thousands of professional photographers on how to use Photoshop, and almost without exception they have the same questions, the same problems, and the same challenges–and that's exactly what he covers in this book. You’ll learn:

• The sharpening techniques the pros really use.
• The pros’ tricks for fixing the most common digital photo problems fast!
• How to get great looking prints (that actually match your screen!)
• A whole chapter on the latest, most requested Photoshop special effects!
• How to color correct any photo without breaking a sweat.
• How to process Raw images, plus how to take advantage of all the new Camera Raw features in CS3!
• The portrait retouching secrets only the pros know about!
• How to add real automation to your work.
• How to show your work like a pro!

Plus a host of shortcuts, workarounds, and slick insider tricks to send your productivity through the roof! If you’re a digital photographer, and you’re ready to learn the tricks of the trade;the same ones that today’s leading pros use to correct, edit, sharpen, retouch, and present their work–then you’re holding the book that will do just that.

Customer Review:
On the plus side, the book did give me a bunch of tips and techniques that were very helpful. His explicit approach (as opposed to theory) was generally helpful, but I'm now looking for a book on theory so I can get a better understanding of all the stuff this book doesn't get into.

On the minus side, his constant humor became old, tired and distracting. I'd be OK with some humor, but he went waaaaayyyyyy overboard in this book.

I was also surprised to see so much of the book dedicated to Adobe Bridge (the first 3 chapters) rather than Photoshop. Granted, it was good info and I probably use Bridge more now than I would have otherwise, but hey, I thought I was buying a book about Photoshop!

Customer Review:
The other reviews are right. I tried this book. The authors pathetic attempts at humor are exceptionally distracting and after a short period of time they are intolerable. And they happen much too frequently. I returned the book to the store the same day. There are some great ideas and information in the book. But they are covered over with just plain foolish stories, remarks, and lame jokes. Several other great books on the market and I would suggest one of them instead. Try The Adobe Photoshop CS3 Book for Digital Photographers, or Photoshop CS3 One on One.

Customer Review:
This is a fine book for someone who wants a step-by-step cook book on how to do things with PSCS3. Kellb's humor gets in the way at times but I can live with that as his instructions are outstanding. The book is at my side most of the time Photoshop is running.

Canon EOS 40D Guide to Digital Photography

Description:
As the new owner of Canon's most advanced intermediate digital SLR, you want to get started taking professional-looking photographs using all of the exciting features at your fingertips. "Canon EOS 40D Guide to Digital SLR Photography" is a concise introduction and guide to your camera's essential controls and functions, such as Live View, built-in dust reduction, and the blistering 6.5-frames-per-second continuous shooting mode that is an action photographer’s dream. The book provides detailed instructions showing you how, when, and why to make optimized settings with the Canon EOS 40D’s enhanced menus, which include a half-dozen versatile new custom functions. You'll learn about the camera's improved automatic focus, flash synchronization tricks, how to choose lenses that will provide the perspective and effects you want, and which exposure modes are ideal for each picture-taking opportunity. Packed with full-color images and examples that illustrate the recommended techniques and settings for your Canon EOS 40D, this book helps photographers of any skill level begin maximizing their equipment as soon as you open the cover!

Customer Review:
I just bought a 40D and took a chance based on the positive reviews. They were spot on...I am so glad I bought this book. The details and examples have made the transition to this camera easy and educational. If you are thinking about this...go for it. You will not be disappointed.

Customer Review:
This is one of the better books written for a camera. I have owned several other books over the years for my cameras, particularly the DSLR camera, as it is just easier than slogging through the manual. I liked the Dennis Curtin books but they are so cheaply reproduced that I couldn't bring myself to pay for another. This is well written, easy to comprehend, good quality paper and photos. Highly recommend; very useful for a sophisticated camera like the 40D to really learn to use it's many functions.

Customer Review:
This book definitely holds my interest much better than the technical manual that accompanied the camera. The book goes into better detail on the functions in a more comprehensible manner. It is definitely worth the investment to better learn how to operate your camera. Highly recommended.

Photoshop Elements 6 For Dummies (For Dummies (Computer/Tech))

Description:
Want to get more fun from your photos? To edit and enhance your pictures, fix flaws, and create greeting cards or cool photo projects to share? What about turning out some really professional prints with simply stunning color? Photoshop Elements can handle it, and Photoshop Elements 6 For Dummies gets you up and running on Elements in a hurry.

Photoshop Elements 6 is a reasonably priced, full-featured, powerful image-editing program for Windows (Adobe stopped supporting Elements for Mac with version 4.) This colorful guide helps you make the most of all its coolest features. You'll quickly get familiar with the work area and all the tools; be able to find, organize, and manage your images; correct common mistakes; and explore fun ways to share your photos. You’ll discover how to:

Acquire images from your camera or scanner
Organize your files and photos you so can quickly find what you’re looking for
Crop and straighten pictures, fix exposure, and clean up dust and scratches
Create sharp and colorful images for printing
Correct color, contrast, and clarity
Combine multiple images into creative collages
Use filters to create different effects
Turn your photos into slide shows, movie files, or Web-hosted images

Elements has something for everyone, from beginning dabblers to serious photo hobbyists to professionals. With plenty of full-color illustrations that show what you can achieve, this friendly guide will help you use Elements to make the most of your digital photos.

Customer Review:
I was surprised at the complexity of this "Dummies" book. It is not for dummies! But maybe Photoshop Elements 6 is not for dummies either. Chapter 3 "Working with resolutions, Color Modes, and File Fomats" is very difficult to understand. I chose this book because the program itself offers very little help and although there are other books available, I figured dummies was about my speed since I already own 9 other dummies booksPhotoshop Elements 6 For Dummies (For Dummies (Computer/Tech)).

Customer Review:
Excellent book... easy to understand, good explanations, great details... a great addition to the original 'user guide' supplied with program... I will reference it often in my pursuit of perfecting my photographic boo-boo's...

Customer Review:
The book had many helpful sections to it and I was able to understand it...

Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi/400D Digital Field Guide

Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Book for Digital Photographers,The (Voices That Matter)

The Betterphoto Guide to Digital Photography (Amphoto Guide Series)

Customer Review:

Like many other reviewers that have commented on this book ..... I also purchased Scott Kelby's book (vol.2). I think that this book wins hands down between the two excellent books.

I have been interested in photography for many years, but I just recently purchased a higher-end DSLR camera. Thus, I enjoyed the content of both books. I really enjoy the simplicity of this book. This book utilizes very effective teaching tools that result in the readers quickly learning new techniques and methods of achieving better results.

There really should be no debate.... Both books are excellent learning tools. Enjoy,

DPerez

Customer Review:
One of the very best books I have read regarding Digital Photography. Ben Long is an expert in his field and is a very good communicator of his acquired knowledge. I have learned many good points from reading his book.I am not a professional photographer but I like knowing how to take great photographs. I am taking a college course in photography and this book is an excellent companion to the concepts being taught.

Customer Review:
This book is like a photography 101 class, with a little bit of information on DSLR's , digital file formats, and digital enhancement. If you already understand aperture, ISO, shutter speeds, basic composition principles, depth of field, etc, you do not need this book. I would get this book for a novice photographer who wanted to generally improve their understanding of basic photography principles.
That being said, the book is easy to read with pretty good images to demonstrate the lessons, and it presents all concepts well. I do think it would be beneficial to someone who has n ever used a camera in manual mode. The "assignments" at the end of each lesson would be especially useful for getting more comfortable with the camera.

Just not what I needed; still a good book for the right level of user.

iPhoto '08: The Missing Manual

Description:
Apple has taken iPhoto 08 to a whole new level. Now, in addition to handling upwards of 250,000 images, the program lets you easily categorize and navigate through those photos with a feature called "Events". Plus, new editing tools let you copy and paste adjustments between photos. Books and calendars have been improved, too, as has the program's ability to publish pictures on the Web.

Apple makes it all sound easy: drag this, click that, and you're done. But you can still get lost, especially if you're a newcomer. iPhoto '08: The Missing Manual explains how to take advantage of all these powerful tools and new features without confusion or frustration. Bestselling authors David Pogue and Derrick Story give you a witty, objective, and clear-cut explanation of how things work, with plenty of undocumented tips and tricks for mastering the new iPhoto.

Four sections help you import, organize, edit, share, and even take your photos:

Digital Photography: The Missing Manual offers a course in picture-taking and digital cameras -- how to buy and use your digital camera, how to compose brilliant photos in various situations (sports, portraits, nighttime shots, even kid photography), and how to get the most out of batteries and memory cards.
iPhoto Basics covers the fundamentals of getting your photos into iPhoto, organizing and filing them, searching and editing them.
Meet Your Public teaches you all about slideshows, making or ordering prints, creating books, calendars and greeting cards, and sharing photos on web sites or by email.
iPhoto Stunts explains how to turn photos into screen savers or desktop pictures, using plug-ins, managing Photo Libraries, and even getting photos to and from camera phones and Palm organizers.

You also learn how to build a personal web site built with iWeb, and much more in this comprehensive guide. It's the top-selling iPhoto book for good reason.

Customer Review:
I have showered so much praise on these 'Missing Manual' books it may seem like I am getting paid by David Pogue himself to write these reviews, but I guarantee you that is not the case!!

Full of crisp, clear, color photos that jump off the page, a writing style that is fun and easy to follow, and a layout that is second to none, there simply is no line of books for learning applications on the market that is better than the 'Missing Manual' series.

If you use an application (whatever it is) and you want to learn to use the tool in question, forget going online or taking a class. Either it will be a waste of time, money or both!!! Just look at the name of the app you are interested in, see if there is a Missing Manual book for it and BUY IT.

These books are that good, that impressive, that well written, and that well published. I put the highest stamp of approval on this line by O'Reilly.***** HIGHEST POSSIBLE RECOMMENDATION

Customer Review:
Apple really needs to collaborate with Mr. Pogue and put this book in every software application! I was at a loss converting from one system to a Mac but this book has truly made it so much easier for me. I have finally been able to stay off the phone with Apple and work on my photos! Thanks Mr. Pogue! Once again you have come through for me!

Customer Review:
iPhoto 08 was exactly what I needed to get the most from my home photography. It is well written and easy to follow. The price was excellent and the quick service was greatly appreciated.

Books: Darkroom & Processing

2008-03-07T20:47:00.003-05:00

The Creative Digital Darkroom

Description:
This tutorial takes photographers beyond the quick tips and gimmicky effects of many digital photography books. Author Katrin Eismann -- an internationally acclaimed artist, bestselling author, and gifted educator -- offers high-profile work, including her own, as examples for teaching photographers how to use the digital medium to create, edit, and output images that reflect their true vision.

Co-authored by photographer and teacher Sean Duggan, The Creative Digital Darkroom translates skills, concepts, and nomenclature of the traditional darkroom into digital solutions for photographers who sense that, despite the newness of the technologies at hand, there remains a timeless method for learning and practicing photography the right way. This is not a Photoshop book per se, but it does focus on the photographic aspects of Photoshop, something other books claim to do but rarely have the discipline to accomplish. The Creative Digital Darkroom includes:

Four sections that cover the black & white darkroom, the color darkroom, creative techniques, and production essentials
Chapters that begin with a thorough foundation followed by numerous tutorial examples that apply the theory to real-world examples
Examples and a layout that enables readers to find, understand, and apply the featured techniques quickly and easily
The authors are both renowned photographers and Photoshop experts

Clearly, The Creative Digital Darkroom is not your typical digital photography "how to" book. It's ideal for intermediate and advanced photographers, artists, and educators looking for clear, concise, insightful, and inspiring information and techniques on how to make their photographs shine. The language, and techniques will immediately appeal to serious students and professionals, and the original tutorial images and high-profile work will make the book an important visual resource for educators and art appreciators.

Customer Review:
Classic photo and darkroom concepts are important for using even modern digital cameras and tools - and thus a manual pairing tested photo techniques with Adobe Photoshop, which includes original photo examples with each lesson. From coverage of traditional darkroom skills and abilities and how these translate into Photoshop CS3 and Lightroom to the basics of producing initial high-quality images and understanding both black and white and color darkroom techniques, this packs in details and lessons for both artists and educators, making for an outstanding and colorful lesson plan.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

Customer Review:
I love Katrin books on Photoshop and this last one is a must have, specially if you teach Photoshop, it will help you a lot to organize your classes. Beautifull edition with plenty of concise explanations. It may lack profound information on some aspects but it's still a must in your digital photography library

Customer Review:
This is an excellent resource, and one that I will use over and over. It may be sexist, but I find that women bring an invaluable dimension to photography. It is very difficult to describe, but, for me, quite real nonetheless.

Exposure Photo Workshop: Develop Your Digital Photography Talent (Photo Workshop)

Description:
A project-oriented workshop on exposure-in full color. Packed with 400 stunning full-color photographs of people, wildlife, and landscapes, this book offers photographers unique tips and tricks for getting just the right image quality and tone. Teaches you everything you need to know about shutter speed, aperture, white balance, lighting, flash photography and more to get your best images!

The Ansel Adams Guide: Basic Techniques of Photography - Book 1 (Ansel Adams's Guide to the Basic Techniques of Photography)

Description:
Arguably the best book yet written for those wishing to pursue photography seriously, Basic Techniques of Photography, Book 1 has been completely revised and updated in order to keep pace with fast-moving technological advances in the field.The revised edition includes more than fifty new illustrations, offering still greater clarity in presenting Ansel Adams legendary approach to photography.Since its publication in 1992, The Ansel Adams Guide: Basic Techniques of Photography, Book 1 has sold more than 100,000 copies and is used in many introductory photography courses.This revised edition offers new information on: -variable-contrast papers -digital cameras and view cameras -the Advance Photo SystemBook 1 is organized to present the principles of black-and-white and color photography to a broad range of photographersfrom the serious beginner to the advanced amateur.It draws extensively on the philosophy and techniques of Ansel Adams, the best-known writer/teacher of photography of all time, and is profusely illustrated with Adams own work as well as that of other photographers.Adams technical writings were famously difficult to understand.However, in Book 1, John Schaefer skillfully interprets Adams words, theories, and art as a foundation for a more clearly written, understandable, and actively up-to-date guide to creative photography.

Customer Review:
This book (and the second volume accompanying it) adequately covers and explains all aspects related to analogic photography, especially BW photography. Even if little attention is paid to color photography and even less to digital, everything you may learn from the book should be useful for any kind of photography.

Customer Review:
I found the Ansel Adams books on "The Print" and "The Negative" a bit on the heavy side, but John Schaefer's book is a superb addition to any aspiring photographer's library. It covers the photographic field very comprehensively and in easily understood English, and without the frills of technical jargon so loved by some authors.
Although the book deals with colour photography as well, I would thoroughly recommend this book to any aficionado of black and white photography-- it is, without doubt one of the best books on photography I have in my library!

Customer Review:
This book has everything, and then some. It will take you from not knowing anything to being a quasi-expert in a fairly short amount of time.

That said, it is pretty dry. Very textbookish in form, the book is difficult to read straight through. This is made more palatable by the extreme depth that the book goes into for each topic that it discusses.

Starting with the differences in photo gear, the author leads the reader through selecting a first camera to selecting a lens to selecting a film and finally the development of the negative and print. The book is exhausting in its depth and breadth.

Much time was spent on Adams' Zone system and its usefulness in taking beautiful photographs. This focus throughout the book really drove home the importance of exposure.

The pictures used in the book are fantastic and the personal accounts of some photos by Adams himself are very interesting.

The only thing that I felt was skimped on was the process of selecting a shot. Adams was a large-format photographer so he wasn't able to make the hundreds of shots of a scene that a 35mm photographer could make, so it was important for him to select his shots carefully. More text space devoted to Adams' method or instinct for finding shots would have been the final piece of information that would have made this a complete guide to photography.

It wasn't easy reading, but I learned a lot and was able to immediately use the information in the book to improve my own photography.

Cutting Edge Photo Cropping for Scrapbooks

Description:
You asked for it and you got it! Memory Makers has outdone themselves with this sequel to their best-selling book, Creative Photo Cropping, including brand new techniques for turning photos into gorgeous works of art.

Learn innovative ideas for cropping photos into borders, quilt and stained glass designs, mosaics and collages. Discover fresh techniques for framing, slicing, weaving, cutting, punching, piercing, tearing photos and more. Plus tips on how to utilize more of your scrapbook tools to create uniquely cropped photos. Techniques run the gamut, from basic to advanced, with something new for everyone!

Customer Review:
I didn't think that Memory Makers would be able to top the original book, "Memory Makers Creative Photo Cropping for Scrapbooks", but they did with this book! Instead of presenting the first book with some slight modifications, Memory Makers generated all new cropping ideas and examples. Both of these books will be of value to anyone who scrapbooks. I guarantee that this is not the same old scrapbook publication.

Customer Review:
So many wonderful and useful cropping ideas. I've tried them and my scrapbook pages are too good to be true. These unusual crops truly made my pages a work of art.

Customer Review:
What an awesome book for a remarkably awesome price

Into Your Darkroom Step by Step

Description:

A thoroughly illustrated guide for beginners, this book explains everything from setting up a darkroom to evaluating and improving final prints.

Customer Review:
Dennis Curtin's book is an easy-to-understand, step-by-step procedures handbook for the beginner in B&W darkroom work. It covers setting up a darkroom, developing B&W film using standard Kodak chemistry, and making prints and enlargements. Easy to read, easy to go back to as a reference. It does not cover color work in any way.

Customer Review:
This book is like learning your ABC's. It's a step by step guide, easy to follow, easy to understand and doesn't get too technical for the beginner. I bought other books, and they're good, but get too detailed for a impatient new comer. I just wanted to dig in, and this book walked me through it! Put my darkroom together and developed my first roll of film in nothing flat - talk about instant gratification. My 11 year old daughter was able to take this and develop her own roll of film by herself. If you're new, want fast progress and interested in the basics - get this book!

Customer Review:
This is an excellent resource for beginners. THis book gives you information on how to set up a darkroom, develop film, make proof sheets, make prints, and also gives some basic troubleshooting techniques. The layout is very convenient. Every page had black and white photos to demonstrate the technique being presented, so there are no chances to make mistakes.

If you're a advanced photographer, you probably don't need the information in this book. If you're a beginner, this book is a necessity. As for me, I'm a casual photographer and I don't have my own darkroom. I rent a darkroom about 4 times a year. When I go to the darkroom, I always review this book the night before. That way I can refresh my memory on the darkroom process. If you are such a casual photographer, I can recommend this book for that purpose. Check it out.

Polaroid Transfers: A Complete Visual Guide to Creating Image and Emulsion Transfers (Practical Photography Books)

Description:
It is rare for such a perfect instructional book to come along. In this comprehensive guide, the author reveals how to create image and emulsion transfers by providing both detailed instructions and descriptive illustrations that will make you a master of this intriguing process in no time. From the basics to the most innovative techniques, everything is explained and showcased in dozens of full- color images created by the author and 20 internationally known transfer artists and photographers.

Customer Review:
This is a great book- full of artistic pieces and knowledge on how to recreate your own work! I wanted this book for a long time, found it on Amazon and paid a fraction of what I would have paid in the store!

Customer Review:
Though this book was published clear back in 1997, the information is timeless. I tend to shy away from older how-to books, but this is a great book to add to your art and craft library. I wish all how-to books were this thorough and informative. You get your money's worth here.

Customer Review:
I've been wanting both of her books for awhile now and I finally splurged and got both of them (the Polaroid Manipulations book that concentrates on the SX-70 manip process).

When I first flipped through this book I was blown away and amazed by the content. This book is the number one resource for helping you along with your Polaroid transfers and emulsion lifts. It is HIGHLY informative. The author guides you step by step and even provides some background information on how the processed were discovered. She also offers a lot of inspirational material in an advanced techniques section of the book. At the end of the book there are artist galleries with drop-dead-gorgeous work!

I recommend this book highly to anyone who wants to get into the alternative processes with the Polaroid medium. Don't hesitate... get a copy today!

Polaroid Manipulations: A Complete Visual Guide to Creating SX-70, Transfer, and Digital Prints (Photography for All Levels: Intermediate)

Description:
This comprehensive guide covers all experimental Polaroid techniques, including image and emulsion transfers, SX-70 manipulations and digital prints. Offers step-by-step instructions as well as an incredible gallery of 20 leading artists in this field. 192 pages 8 1/2 x 10 1/2 Softbound

Customer Review:
This book is awesome! I wanted to purchase it at a major chain and decided to look here instead. I got 4 books for the price of one! I highly reccomend this if you are interested in excelling at your transfer techniques.

Customer Review:
I've been wanting both of her books for awhile now and I finally splurged and got them both. When I first flipped through this book I was blown away and amazed by the content. This book is the number one resource for helping you along with your Polaroid SX-70 manipulations. She also provides some brief information on transfers and emulsion lifts (If you want to know more you should invest in a copy of her other book "Polaroid Transfers". It is HIGHLY informative. The author guides you step by step and even provides some background information on how the processes were discovered. She also offers a lot of inspirational material in an advanced techniques section of the book. At the end of the book there are artist galleries with drop-dead-gorgeous work!

I especially find the handcoloring section of this book to be very helpful. I wasn't really aware that I could add some color to my SX-70 manips. She goes in-depth about each medium that can be used to enhance the color (Prismacolor markers, watercolors, pastels, etc.) She also provides some useful information on how to enhance the Polaroids digitally in Photoshop.

I recommend this book highly to anyone who wants to get into the alternative processes with the Polaroid medium. Don't hesitate... get a copy today!

Customer Review:
I have been doing SX-70 manipulations for about 4 years and to this point have been totally self taught. I have looked at some galleries online and had previously wondered how some people were able to achieve such vibrant colors with their work, had their lines squiggle to such a great extent, etc. I now have the answers to all my questions. I am so grateful to Kathleen for writing this book (thank you!).

There is so much valuable information in this book that I know I will be using it to expand my skills and experiment with new ideas for years to come. If you are a new or seasoned manipulator, this book is a MUST HAVE! 5 Stars!!!

-dave walker (tucson, az)

The Darkroom Cookbook, Second Edition

Description:
Written in easy-to-understand language, The Darkroom Cookbook is the one source every photographer needs for the recipes for both common and rare photographic formulas. This book shares tried-and-true techniques for the silver-based process and provides the keys to unlocking creativity through the mastery of the 'ingredients' of photography -- namely the chemicals used to develop, fix, stop and tone.
The Darkroom Cookbook, 2nd Edition offers 170 photographic formulas, 20 of which are new to this edition, that cover film developing, paper developing, toners, stop baths, fixers, negative reductions, print reductions, negative intensifiers, paper intensifiers, and more. New information has been added on pyro developer, amidol developer, monobaths, pushing film, and low contrast development. Sections on safety and darkroom planning, as well as a listing of chemical suppliers, complete this book. The comb binding allows for easy darkroom use.

*Recipes for 170 photographic formulas and their specific uses, including 20 new ones
*In-depth analysis of which formulas work best under what conditions, as well as specialized conditions, such as working in extremely cold or tropical climates
*Handy, easy-to-access information on safety, suppliers, darkroom planning, and conversion tables

Customer Review:
It's comprehensive, it's well written and it is easy to follow the chemical recipes.
It is exactly what it claims to be nothing more and nothing less.

Customer Review:
If you are a step by step learner don't buy this book also If you are not welling to spent hours daily to learn from it don't buy this book, its kind of book which requested by the teachers to there students.

Customer Review:
This book has been flipped through many times, it holds many wonderful ideas and continues to inspire me in this digital age we live in!

Memory Makers Creative Photo Cropping for Scrapbooks: Steps for Turning Your Photos into Works of Art (Memory Makers)

Customer Review:
I have been an avid scrapbooker for years and have yet to find a book that uses the pictures as the true page focal point instead of adding embellishments.... until I saw this book! There is page after page of unique ideas for cropping pictures that will guarantee that your pages will stand out from all the others.

Customer Review:
Ever hear of *SHEAR-CROPPERS* ? "Creative P.C. (Photo Cropping) for Scrapbooks" is a book crammed with examples of "creative cropping" - - including new twists & challenges. My favorites are weaving, vertical panoramas and kaleidoscope mats.

Patterns can be imitated or cleverly adapted for using your own treasured photographs. The fun is in trying out all of the different effects. Only in a "How-To" book would so many fill consecutive pages, but finished products can also be framed as gifts, &/or placed as decorative accents in homes.

The book is obviously not the work of one individual - - many have worked together to demonstrate ideas for cropping in distinctive ways that will liven the pages of scrapbooks. It is all part of a thriving industry whose many enthusiasts love to learn & share new techniques. Even in the very small (15,071) Indiana county where Reviewer mcHAIKU lives, there are two shops and one 'commercial' individual in the largest town (population: 826)!
This shows that you can get help anywhere to produce *BLUE RIBBON scrapbooks* - - and especially by using books such as "Creative Photo Cropping." (mcHaiku: 8.2.07)

Customer Review:
This book is well worth the price. It offers many unique ideas. It has the basics for your beginner scrapbookers, but is full of challenge ideas for apprentice or even seasoned scrapbookers!

Scrapbooking Digitally: The Ultimate Guide to Saving Your Memories Digitally

Description:
Forget about traditional scrapbooking! Throw out the scissors and glue and save your memories in a whole new way. Scrapbooking Digitally is a complete reference book for people of all ages. A step-by-step guide, Scrapbooking Digitally takes readers through every step of the scrapbooking process--from picking the right camera to working with software to learning creative tools, like altering images, typefaces, and backgrounds. It even offers inspirational sample pages and tips on how to go beyond paper to create one-of-a-kind clothing, jewelry, and home decorations. Complete with a CD of downloadable "paper" patterns and ornaments to help replicate what's on the page, this book is just what the savvy scrapbooker interested in going digital is looking for.

Books: Photography Criticism & Essays

2008-03-07T20:31:00.002-05:00

On Photography

Description:
Susan Sontag has written four novels, The Benefactor, Death Kit, The Volcano Lover, and In America, which won the 2000 National Book Award for fiction; a collection of stories, I, etcetera; several plays, including Alice in Bed; and five books of essays, among them Against Interpretation, and Illness as Metaphor and AIDS and Its Metaphors. In 2001 she was awarded the Jerusalem Prize for the body of her work.

Customer Review:
Sontag's On Photography was published in 1977. It includes six named sections which each tackle a slightly different subject. The sections were published independently as magazine articles years before the monograph was assembled--and this is plainly evident (which is my main 'complaint' about the text). The book does not feel or read like a book. It reads like a collection of six disparate essays that have been lightly edited for packaging as a book. The sections work OK as essays, but they fail somewhat as a monograph. For example, Sontag makes numerous assertions about photography which are stated as fact but not supported by any documentary evidence. While this is acceptable in an essay, in a monograph of this sort one would expect more academic rigor. Finally, each essay was clearly intended as an atomic piece and their collection in the book results in a large amount of re-hash of basic ideas at the start of every new section, as well as a very choppy flow between sections.

The book is dated (which is entirely understandable--but true none-the-less). Sontag makes a single fleeting reference to digital photography as a quirky alternate method of capturing images. The text's discussion on the pervasive nature of cameras assumes the pinnacle of technology to be the Kodak Brownie. While this was arguably once true, photography has been so changed by digital capture and truly pervasive cameras (think cell phones, etc.) that many of the ideas of the text are only partially developed by today's standards. Additionally, Sontag's insistence that photography is the accidental but obvious champion of the Surrealist takeover of the arts is also dated. Sontag's insistence on using 'big' words and complicates sentences to describe simple things is also somewhat irritating; the tone is unmistakably that of 1970s/1980s critical academia.

Having said that, the book occupies a fairly unique niche in the history of thinking about photography. As other reviews have noted, the subject material is (ahem) well focused on the topic and delivers interesting insight into various aspects of photography. It is unfortunate that Sontag did not more-fully edit the source materials into a cohesive text and at least attempt to look forward to a time when technological changes in process and artistic developments in taste could perhaps be different than the norms of the late 1970s.

Customer Review:
I loved this book! It is so refreshing to read an unpretentious art criticism book. Her views are simple but breathtaking. The fact that one is reading essays about photography, written by someone who is not inside the art world, makes a huge a difference. She is not trying to create the new "it" artisitc concept, she's just speaking as a photography lover and admirer.

Customer Review:
First this book should not ne taken seriously, it's meant to be just being critical about photography thats all, secondly even though author is American she sounds like European middle age scholar minded critic. Third, she doesn't know about fine art photography in depth, she only criticises and about 20-30 very famous photographers she knows of, she didn't taken into account most (almost all) modern photographers. Most of the time she sounds like a 19. century European painter just lost his job because of rising of photography, but also wants to learn about new technique called photography with a great frustration and misses his old job a lot.. Sontags background about philosophy and sociology didn't help much for a healhty criticsm of photography..

Good try for a criticism of fine art photography, I think every serious fine art photographer should read this book, because it teaches the way how the fine art photography could be criticised in a wrong way, and this book does a damn good job.

The Photographer's Eye

Description:
The Photographer's Eye by John Szarkowski is a twentieth-century classic--an indispensable introduction to the visual language of photography. Based on a landmark exhibition at The Museum of Modern Art in 1964, and originally published in 1966, the book has long been out of print. It is now available again to a new generation of photographers and lovers of photography in this duotone printing that closely follows the original. Szarkowski's compact text eloquently complements skillfully selected and sequenced groupings of 172 photographs drawn from the entire history and range of the medium. Celebrated works by such masters as Cartier-Bresson, Evans, Steichen, Strand, and Weston are juxtaposed with vernacular documents and even amateur snapshots to analyze the fundamental challenges and opportunities that all photographers have faced. Szarkowski, the legendary curator who worked at the Museum from 1962 to 1991, has published many influential books. But none more radically and succinctly demonstrates why--as U.S. News & World Report put it in 1990--"whether Americans know it or not," his thinking about photography "has become our thinking about photography."

Customer Review:
this is a fascinating work with imaginative comments and works by some of the world's finest photographers.

Customer Review:
This is a book of photographs, with almost no text included. All of the text is presented in a six page introduction. The photographs range from the 1860's through the 1940's. Although the photographs are well-done and interesting, after reading the other reviews, I expected more. It was represented as an "indispensable introduction to the visual language of photography". I found it neither "indispensable" nor an adequate introduction. In fact, the review of the book by Mark Hillringhouse is far more interesting and edifying than the text in the actual book.

A much better reference for visual language and composition is Michael Freeman's book of the same title (link below).

The Photographer's Eye: Composition and Design for Better Digital Photos

Customer Review:
I bought this for my adult son who is an amateur photographer and he said it was a beautiful book that he read cover to cover and back again. He really raved about it.

Camera Lucida: Reflections on Photography

Description:

Rediscovering Jacob Riis: The Reformer, His Journalism, and His Photographs

Description:
A provocative new illustrated history of the famed early chronicler of New York's immigrant poor, seen here as an opportunistic, camera-toting social reformer whose legacy lives on.

"I don't remember my mother or my aunts and uncles talking of their father as a photographer....In his letters—I have read most of them—he never mentions a camera."—J. Riis Owre (grandson of Jacob Riis)

More than ninety years after his death, Jacob Riis maintains a stubbornly persistent hold on the American imagination. Remembered as a pioneering photographer, he was the first to document the state of New York's slums, publicizing in haunting photographs the plight of the urban poor at the height of European immigration to the city. But Riis confessed to being "no good at all as a photographer" and in recent years has been disparaged for racist views and political opportunism.

In Rediscovering Jacob Riis, Bonnie Yochelson and Daniel Czitrom address the complex legacy of the pioneering social reformer. In a work of highly original scholarship, they reclaim Riis from the art camp, relocating him in the field of social and cultural history. Their provocative new book reveals Riis to be an inspired self-promoter who, although neither an original thinker nor a serious photographer, nevertheless framed the discussion of urban poverty in terms still relevant today.

Extensively illustrated with Riis's images, Rediscovering Jacob Riis is revisionist history at its best, as appealing to photographers, journalists, and social historians as it is to the general reader.

World History of Photography

Magnum Stories

Description:
Imagine having 61 widely published photographers from around the world candidly discuss their careers and beliefs while showing you key images from their portfolios. That is the engaging concept of Magnum Stories. From Iran-born Abbas (whose career began with a series about the Vietcong in the 1970s) to Patrick Zachmann (who has documented the lives of Malian immigrants in his native France), each photographer is given ample space to talk about his or her work. Editor Chris Boot accompanies the interviews with a brief explanation of the cultural or political background of each suite of images. The one thing the interviewees have in common is past or current membership in Magnum, a photographers' cooperative founded in 1947 by Robert Capa, Henri Cartier-Bresson and David Seymour as a means of breaking free from the editorial tyranny of Life and other photo-based magazines. Boot's introduction deftly summarizes Magnum's history and the practicalities of postwar photography. The presence of vintage "Magnum stories" by such photographers as Erich Hartmann ("Our Daily Bread") and W. Eugene Smith ("Country Doctor") adds a welcome historical dimension. While the founding generation were mostly photo-journalists who organized their images into visual "stories," today's members often pursue topics of personal interest with photographs that do not relate a straightforward narrative. These topics range from outlaw biker gangs in the U.S. (Dennis Stock) to the mountain peoples of Laos, Guatemala and Georgia (John Vink), from the tacky seaside resort of New Brighton in Liverpool, England (Martin Parr) to Siberian prison camps (Carl De Keyzer). With nearly 800 illustrations, this distinctive, square-format book offers a kaleidoscopic survey of the many faces of documentary photography. #151;-Cathy Curtis

Customer Review:
This is a brilliant anthology of the "decisive moments" of the collective individuals who made up the legendary photo agency, Magnum.

Magnum Stories allows one to peer into the mind's eye of the most influential photojournalists of the 20th Century; part history book (as Rodger would have intended), part art book (as HCB would have intended), part photographic teaching book (as Capa would have intended), part autobiography(ies) book, and all at a price that Chim would have appreciated.

One is encouraged to read (simultaneously, if possible) Russell Miller's "Magnum - Fifty Years At The Front Line Of History" to complete the "Big Picture" of the individual Decisive Moments to fully understand the impact of the brilliant artifice constructed by Capa, Chim, HCB and Rodger in that noteworthy spring of 1947.

That said, one would have wished that the other significant actors in the House of Magnum, such as Ernest Haas, Sebastiao Salgado and Mary-Ellen Mark, would have been included in Magnum Stories. Otherwise - Bravo! Bravo! Bravo!

Customer Review:
This book is not your usual photo book -- it's real value and what makes it different is the stories inside. Inside, 61 Magnum photographers have written 2-page story about themselves, about why they take pictures, how they work etc. As the book also features photos and/or photo story from each photographer, they also share "inside" information about presented pictures and their background.

I truly recommend this book to all people who have serious interest in documentary photography and like reading/seeing interviews with photographers. If you just want to see pictures and not interested in personalities, then perhaps you should take a look at Magnum Degrees or other similar books.

Customer Review:
A very mixed bag of outstanding photographers, and hundreds of great pictures, many of which I have not seen anywhere else.

Criticizing Photographs

The Cinematic (Documents of Contemporary Art)

Description:
The cinematic has been a springboard for the work of many influential artists, including Victor Burgin, Philip-Lorca diCorcia, Stan Douglas, Nan Goldin, Douglas Gordon, Cindy Sherman, and Jeff Wall, among others. Much recent cinema, meanwhile, is rich with references to contemporary photography. Video art has taken a photographic turn into pensive slowness; photography now has at its disposal the budgets and scale of cinema. This addition to Whitechapel's Documents of Contemporary Art series surveys the rich history of creative interaction between the moving and the still photograph, tracing their ever-changing relationship since early modernism.

Still photography--cinema's ghostly parent--was eclipsed by the medium of film, but also set free. The rise of cinema obliged photography to make a virtue of its own stillness. Film, on the other hand, envied the simplicity, the lightness, and the precision of photography. Russian Constructivist filmmakers considered avant-garde cinema as a sequence of graphic "shots"; their Bauhaus, Constructivist and Futurist photographer contemporaries assembled photographs into a form of cinema on the page. In response to the rise of popular cinema, Henri Cartier-Bresson exalted the "decisive moment" of the still photograph. In the 1950s, reportage photography began to explore the possibility of snatching filmic fragments. Since the 1960s, conceptual and postconceptual artists have explored the narrative enigmas of the found film still. The Cinematic assembles key writings by artists and theorists from the 1920s on--including LÃ¡szlÃ³ Moholy-Nagy, Pier Paolo Pasolini, Victor Burgin, Jeff Wall, and Catherine David--documenting the photography-film dialogue that has enriched both media.

Contributors:
Roland Barthes, Jean Baudrillard, Raymond Bellour, Anton Giulio Bragaglia, Victor Burgin, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Catherine David, Thierry de Duve, Gilles Deleuze, Philip-Lorca diCorcia, Philippe Dubois, RÃ©gis Durand, Sergei Eisenstein, Mike Figgis, Hollis Frampton, Susanne Gaensheimer, Nan Goldin, Chris Marker, Christian Metz, Laura Mulvey, LÃ¡szlÃ³ Moholy-Nagy, Beaumont Newhall, Uriel Orlow, Pier Paolo Pasolini, Constance Penley, Richard Prince, Steve Reich, Carlo Rim, Raul Ruiz, Susan Sontag, Blake Stimson, Michael Tarantino, AgnasVarda, Jeff Wall, Andy Warhol, and Peter Wollen.

Copublished with Whitechapel Art Gallery, London

The Photograph as Contemporary Art (World of Art)

Description:
The first accessible guide to the key artists and uses of photography in contemporary art since the mid-1980s.

An ideal introduction to this popular subject in contemporary culture, this highly readable book surveys work by more than 150 artist-photographers: Andreas Gursky, Nan Goldin, Philip-Lorca di Corcia, Richard Billingham, Jurgen Teller, Thomas Demand, Yinka Shonibare, Thomas Ruff, Jeff Wall, Wolfgang Tillmans, and many more.

More than 200 examples of the most important works are illustrated. Themed chapters consider subjects such as narrative and storytelling in art photography, photographing the everyday and the insignificant, the use of photography in conceptual art, and the cool, detached, objective aesthetic prevalent in current art photography. 210 illustrations, 100 in color.

Customer Review:
Excellent book for anyone interested in photography. Even more beneficial when you begin to get serious about your photographs.

Customer Review:
I am a photographer. I also live in New York City where I wander through art galleries displaying photographs with which I have a hard time coming to grips. Charlotte Cotton's book seemed to be aimed right at me.

What distinguishes a contemporary art photograph from other beautiful photographs is not always clear, but like Supreme Court Justice Stewart, I know it when I see it. From what the author suggests, it may be that contemporary art photography is less concerned with the form and more with the content, and that viewers are meant to be semiologists decoding what a photograph stands for.

Cotton begins her book with an introduction that includes a taxonomy of contemporary art photography, and to the extent that classifying an object helps us to know and understand it, the introduction alone justifies the book. Surprisingly, rather than look at style or subject matter, she organizes the book based upon the photographers' motivations and working practices. For example one of the classes is pictures of events that have been specifically organized to be photographed while another is pictures that aim to reproduce or refer back to something in the history of photography and other arts.

Each of the classes is allocated a chapter, and allocates a paragraph each to the work several artists, along with a representative photograph. Cotton explains how the photograph fits into the genre and explains something of the meaning of the work. Most of the photographs are just large enough to provide some appreciation of the work and the explanations are as concise as possible.

The book is meant to be a survey and so is more useful for providing a framework for understanding the overall categories than appreciating any individual picture. It should also be noted that the book does not cover a great deal of recent popular photography like the works of Annie Liebovitz or Art Wolfe. I expect that these photographers are seen as working in an older tradition and that they are not "post modern", again, whatever that means.

For the individual who is trying to get his arms around the direction and meaning of much of modern art photography, as well as for people who have dismissed contemporary art photography as unfathomable, this book will provide a good introduction, particularly since Cotton doesn't seem to be tied to the language of deconstruction, but rather speaks without jargon. Yet this is a field of such great variety that even if one read all of the hundreds of books listed by the author for further reading, one would have only scratched the surface.

Customer Review:
This book offers an understandable discussion of a complex subject. Recommended!

Robert Adams: Why People Photograph

Description:

Photographs, selected essays, and reviews by Robert Adams

This critically acclaimed work brings us a new selection of poignant essays by master photographer Robert Adams. In this volume, Adams evinces his firm belief in the importance of art. Photographers "may or may not make a living by photography," he writes, "but they are alive by it."

Customer Review:
It couldn't be better said.

This book is pure enjoyment. What a wonderful command of the language from this former English professor! Insightful and reflective, this book is about so much more than the obvious. Though perhaps the title is not that far amiss...

My only "criticism" would regard the desire to see more of the photographs to which Adams refers or describes in detail. He gives us very few opportunities to understand what he says by looking at the picture itself.

Customer Review:
A wonderfully written book about the wonders of photography written by a wonderful writer with a wonderful eye and a wonderful brain.

Customer Review:
Most of the book doesn't really respond to the title, but Robert Adams writes in a very engaging manner and talks about issues that most photographers will find interesting. I found particularly interesting his discussion of famous photographers and their aesthetic philosophy. This is not a book for the casual photographer, but for the photographer who is interested in photography's background, or a collector who'd like to better understand the photographer as artist, this book is terrific.

Books: Color Photography

2008-03-07T20:16:00.002-05:00

Fine Art Flower Photography: Creative Techniques And The Art Of Observation

Description:
Acclaimed nature photographer Tony Sweet helps us to see a familiar subject through new eyes in this astonishing collection of flower photography. Ranging from the elegiac to the experimental, these pictures offer a kaleidoscopic survey of innovative photographic techniques--including multiple exposures and "slide sandwiching"--along with instructions for creating similar effects in your own photography. Perfectly balancing grace and spontaneity, Fine Art Flower Photography ensures that none of us will look at (or photograph) flowers the same way again.

Customer Review:

This is a fabulous book! It has great ideas. The techniques used in each photo are described in easy to understand language. I also like the fact that there is not much written information so solely focused on each photo and how to produce the same image. Great book for the money!

Customer Review:
The pictures in this book are very beautiful, but I was hoping for more discussion of the basics of outdoor nature/flower photography, like lighting and composition. This book spends a great deal of time with mutliple images and zooming and "special effects" which are interesting but not really helpful if you are trying to take better pictures of flowers. Also, it seemed sort of repetetive at times.

Customer Review:
Cool...abstract photography. Clear pictures, great as a table book or as a useful 'textbook.' Pleasure to look at; pleasure to read. Well worth it!

The Art and Technique of Digital Color Correction

Description:
Provides direct access to the skills, insights and techniques of some of the postproduction industry's most prominent digital video colorists, delivering practical skills to the postproduction pro seeking to improve their color grading craft. The author interviews and observes 8 professional colorists as they grade a series of real world video images, describing the methods and techniques each artist uses to reach their finalized image. These video images are included on a DVD that allows you to work lockstep with each artist as they grade their images.

Though some tools provided may differ from one product to the next, the basic process of video color correction (grading) remains the same. Application agnostic and sure to inspire, The Art of Digital Video Color Correction will further your artistic skills, whether you're an editor, compositor, or colorist, and allow you to apply those skills to the grading process, making your finished image sharper, crisper and more aesthetically pleasing in general.

* Digital video color correction tips and techniques from the pros grading the films, shows and commercials we all see everyday, thus advancing the artistic coloring skills of the reader
* Is non-software specific, with lessons that are applicable to any postproduction workflow
* DVD includes samples of the same video images that the colorists featured in the book were working on, providing direct access to the techniques and process of professional grading

The Nikon D200 Dbook: Your Interactive Guide to DSLR Photography

Description:
Rocky Nook Dbooks are the ideal companion for anyone who wants to get the most from their Nikon D200. With more than 580 digital pages in Acrobat format, you will discover the fundamentals on all aspects of the digital image creation process: digital photography basics, taking pictures, image optimization, lenses, accessories, and much more.

Rocky Nook Dbooks go well beyond the Nikon camera manuals and are well-organized, beautifully illustrated introductions to digital photography with the Nikon system.

The Dbooks offer clickable examples and digital images that explain before-and-after situations and clearly illustrate the individual stages of the processes involved. Navigation is easy with the built-in hyperlinks or the detailed index and Acrobat search functions. Rocky Nook Dbooks make reading just as exciting and interactive as digital photography itself. High-resolution RGB images help to illustrate subtle differences and effects which would hardly be visible on a printed book page.

Rocky Nook Dbooks also include a handy booklet for use on the road, which is filled with practical overviews of your camera and menu options.

The Rocky Nook Dbook series is a must for all serious amateur, semi-professional, or professional photographers who want to get the most out of their Nikon equipment, and who strive to produce impressive, polished, digital images.

Customer Review:
The idea of an interactive manual is a good one but I think this one got a bit lost along the way. The use of tables, pictures, and sidebars is a normal practice in printed books where you can see two pages at a time but on screen when you can only see one page at a time interruptions to the text in mid-sentence can be disconcerting. Also, buyers should be aware that the photoshop actions have to be downloaded from the publisher's website since they were left off of the cd.

Customer Review:
I love my Nikon D200 and am always on the lookout for a book that will help me to get more out of this expensive collection of hardware and glass. I own several D-200 books that are, at best, annotated, paraphrased, and rehashed versions of the existing Nikon User Guide. So it was with some degree of doubt that I approached the Nikon D200 Dbook. My first surprise was it was not just a manual on a CD. It is truly an interactive reference guide. For example, when I read the section that covered menu settings for saturation, the book not only made recommendations for the settings, but when you clicked on the menu setting (which looks exactly like the one in the camera) the photo in the book changed to reflect what change was produced. Too cool. They also include some step-by-step solutions to common setups. I especially enjoyed the section on flash photography in which they showed examples of the effects of different different flash settings and the effects that could be created. In addition to covering what appears to be all aspects of the D200, they have also included a fairly detailed course on digital photography in general. The printed book (about 30 pages) provides a snap summary of how to use the Dbook, an overview of the camera controls, and the menus.
As both an author and a photographer I think this is an excellent book that should serve as a model for all books of this genre. The only limitation is that you must have a computer to read it but if you are a serious digital photographer you already have one or more notebooks. If you are shooting with a D200 you need to get this book. Eat beans for a week or put off buying your next camera accessory, whatever it takes. This book, if you read it, will make you a better D200 photographer period.

Customer Review:
'The Nikon D200 Dbook: Your Interactive Guide to DSLR Photography' is more like a book that comes with a disc. Yes there is a hardcover 50 page book that has bright, nice pictures, but the content of how to use your camera and what it can do for you is all found on the enclosed CD with the book. Does this type of 'book' work for everyone? Probably not. It's a very niche way to teach and learn. If you are the type that likes thumbing through a book and book only to learn how to use things, this will NOT be for you. If you are the interactive type of person that wants to sit in front of the computer and flip through pictures and learn in an interactive way, the content on the CD is thorough and usable.

Recommended for those that don't care about how the information is presented and want to learn how to use their Nikon in a good way. Also recommended for those that prefer to learn on the computer. Not for those the want to do it "old school" and sit with a huge reference manual on their lap.

Rineke Dijkstra: Portraits

Description:
Rineke Dijkstra is renowned for her uncanny and thoughtful portraits series of teenagers and young adults: girls and boys of various nationalities at the beach, children of Bosnian refugees, Spanish bullfighters straight out of the arena, Israeli youngsters before and after military service, and here, documented for the first time, her series of photographs taken of aspiring, young ballet dancers. Her subjects are shown standing, facing the camera, against a minimal background. Formally, the images resemble classical portraiture with their frontally posed figures isolated against minimal backgrounds. Yet, in spite of the uniformity in the photographer's works, there is a marked individuality in each of her subjects. Dijkstra often deals with the development of personality as one moves from adolescence to adulthood, or through a life-changing or potentially threatening experience such as childbirth, or a bullfight. Portraits includes the photographer's new Ballet School series.

Customer Review:
I really enjoyed this book. I felt as if I were at a small gallery the first time I looked through it. The quality as well as the content are amazing.

Customer Review:
This book is a must have to reference a comprehensive collection of Rineke Dijkstra's work. The plates are 9"x12" with excellent color reproductions and the write-ups go beyond the regurgitated art critic articles.

Customer Review:
this ended up being a great holiday gift. good condition. I'm very happy with the purchase.

Sparkman & Stephens: Classic Modern Yachts

Description:
This magnificent book is a celebration of the work of Sparkman & Stephens, among the most famous yacht design companies in the US. The firm dominated the 12 meter yachting world with early winners in America's Cup races.

Customer Review:
A wonderful book with beautiful pictures. S&S at his best. A chapter is dedicated to the S&S Swans, as an owner of a S&S Swan, it's a "must have"!

Customer Review:
illustrious book with high-quality binding, interesting feature on restoring Stormy Weather, and chapters on Kialoa II, and my favorite,
Bolero, plus fast delivery 1 week to Canada, right to my door!

Customer Review:
Sparkman & Stephens: Classic Modern Yachts, glories in the beauty of their classic boats and their racing successes. Some of Sparkman & Stephens best and most successful designs are presented in superb color photographs. The book has enough gorgeous interior shots and sparkling action pictures under sail to satisfy any sailor or photographer.

Exploring Color Photography : From the Darkroom to the Digital Studio

Description:
Exploring Color Photography is a flexible, multiple duty text that clearly and concisely instructs students in the fundamental aesthetic and technical concepts needed to create thought provoking photographs in both the digital and the analogue processes. This conceptual approach will not be rapidly outdated, nor will it get students bogged down in complex technical matters. Coverage of Light, Design, Color, Movement, Time, and Space, and Presentation is pertinent to all levels of photographic education.

A comprehensive, diverse, high-quality art program stresses a multitude of approaches through its inspiring visual examples and well-structured illustrative informational charts and tables.

Exploring Color Photography's thoughtful assignments encourage students to be adventurous and to take responsibility for learning and working independently. The emphasis on design and postmodern theoretical concepts stresses the thought process behind the creation of successful images. Image captions give insight into how imagemakers apply technology in the service of their ideas. A "Problem Solving and Writing" chapter offers methods and exercises that help students learn to be visual problem solvers and to talk and write succinctly about the ideas at the foundation of their work.

From the journal Afterimage, November/December 2004, page 15:

"A textbook for college-level students and serious amateurs with a historical and pragmatic approach. Theory is related to practice and it is abundantly illustrated by original works form various sources and many professional practitioners and artists. The digital section has been expanded. Hirsch accompanies his "lectures" with creative assignments for the reader to complete."

Customer Review:
I bought the book, Exploring Color Photography: From the Darkroom to the Digital Studio by Robert Hirsch, and the book is excellent! The person that I bought it from, shipped it fast and in perfect condition.

Customer Review:
This book covers everything from the history of color photography to color theory, filters, film, digital photography, preservation and even breezes over some alternative processes at the end (thumbs up!).
"Assignments" thoughout the book encourages your own thinking and the development of your skills, and if you don't mind the "textbook" approach, they are very useful.

The book does indeed feel like a complete guide to color.

Cowboy Wisdom

Description:

Light-hearted sayings and witty quotations about life as a cowboy, together with David Stoecklein’s striking photographs, make up this tribute to the simple code and genuine moral values of the many working cowgirls and cowboys of the West. This book imparts a valuable lesson to its readers—that of living honestly, giving back to the world, and getting the most out of what life has to offer.

Customer Review:
If I were to base my impression of the West on this book I would walk away thinking that it lacked wit and possessed very little wisdom. If you're looking for "funny" cowboy sayings that you might not break out in mixed company, or something cowboy themed to put on the back of your toilet, then this is the book for you. If you're actually interested in authentic, profound or meaningful cowboy philosophy...keep looking.

Customer Review:
The photography is awesome and the words ring true. Keep one out for visitors to enjoy. You will receive wonderful comments.

Customer Review:
Cowboy Wisdom is an absolutely marvelous addition to any library, whether you are a lover of the "cowboy way" or the slendid beauty of America's heartland! The photos are spectacular and the "cowboy wisdom" is as relevant today as it was when the West was young.
Kudos to the authors who put the photos and "wisdom" together to create a truly enjoyable coffee table book that readers of all ages can ponder and share for years to come.

Color Management for Photographers: Hands on Techniques for Photoshop Users

Description:
Color Management for Photographers: Hands on Techniques for Photoshop Users, by Andrew Rodney, addresses the difficult subject of color management in a way that can help you get real work accomplished. This is the first book that moves beyond esoteric color management theory and detailed explanations of how things work to explain how to achieve a desired effect with step-by-step instructions so you can get on with creating and printing successful images. Complete with what-button-to-push-when explanations, this guide will help you navigate color management and further solidify comprehension of techniques with self-paced tutorials that enable you to practice what Rodney preaches. This practical, learn by doing approach is enhanced by the accompanying CD-Rom which includes sample files for practice as well as tutorials and software.

Written with the photographer in mind, this book is also a great hands-on guide for graphic designers, those in prepress/print and, more generally, the majority of people who feel color management is too difficult. This book will help to explain this difficult concept in terms you can understand so that you may control and enhance your photographic vision.

* Covers CS2!
* Distills theory and concentrates on the tools at hand to get the job done
* CD ROM with tutorials and software help you better understand the concepts and teach you how to use Photoshop and its CMS features correctly
* Provides the working professional with a resource in the critically important area of printing and prepress

Customer Review:
This is the other definitive resource on color management for professional creative communities. (Real World Color Management was the first definitive resource.)

Color management is a complex subject akin to rocket science and brain surgery. When you need to know particular details at a level of depth rarely covered elsewhere, this is the place to go. This is your last stop before dipping into color science textbooks or hiring a consultant to get the job done for you.

You probably want to have an overview of what color management is and why you need it before you buy this book. Once you know you need to know more about color management and you know you need to know how to get the job done exceptionally well, this is the book that will guide you through the process step-by-step with hands-on tutorials.

Andrew possesses an exceptional ability to present a complex subject in well-paced clear language. The back cover promises "less `why' and more `how to'". This is the pragmatists guide to color management. Step-by-step, how-to examples make the information highly practical.

Better graphics than almost any other book of it's kind make this information more compelling, more pleasurable to engage, and easier to adjust. In many cases Andrew tells a story about visual perception visually first with excellent illustrations, which are then supported by commentary. It's an excellent approach.

On the accompanying CD, the test files alone are worth the price of the book.

Despite excellent diction and graphics, you might find the level and breadth of this book daunting. Take it a piece at a time. Given your particular needs, there may be whole sections of this book that you may not need to read. Once you've identified the areas you need to know more about, read those sections. And, put them to use. Your images will be the better for it.

Customer Review:
This is a great book on color management. Color management is a oft-misunderstood subject and it is fair to say that there are good reasons for this - mainly that it is complicated.

Andrew Rodney does not simplify the subject, thus the reason I did not give this four stars. However, if you are serious about the subject, this book is a vital tool in trying to understand color management.

Some of the book is tedious and some of it is hard to understand, but there are large parts of the book which offer valuable and understandable information on color management and your quest to achieve this "holy grail."

My suggestion is that if you are casually trying to understand how to calibrate your monitor, this book may not be for you. If you are seriously trying to understand color management and are building a library of useful references and gleaning useful nuggets of information from several different books in your quest to achieve color management nirvana - then this book should be in your library.

Customer Review:
Nobody can deny that Mr. Rodney knows how color management works in Photoshop better than most people, but unfortunately, knowledge of a subject doesn't make you a good writer. I find the bulk of Mr. Rodney's ramblings (both those published on his website-that-time-forgot and posted to various discussion groups and mailing lists) to teeter on the verge of complete unreadability most of the time, and while my hopes were high that a good editor might tame his curious linguistic proclivities here, they were quickly dashed upon skimming through the text. What's worse, the illustrations and photos in every single copy of this book I've ever seen have suffered from severe magenta color casts, leading one to wonder why the author and his publishing company failed to practice what they preached in bringing this title to the public. If you didn't know who Andrew Rodney was to begin with, you'd likely think him full of beans based on the appearance of the plates in this volume. After all, why should readers believe consistent, predictable color in print to be a realistically attainable goal when even the guy who wrote the book on the subject can't seem to achieve it?

There's certainly some good information in between these covers, but none of it is groundbreaking in any way. You might learn something interesting about WWII by asking your grandfather to tell you some old war stories, but you'll have to suffer through a lot of pointless rambling to get to it, and that's pretty much what reading this book feels like. About the only thing this book really has going for it that its competitors lack is the nostalgia longtime Photoshop users will likely feel at the sight of the dog image gracing the cover. Since you can see that image right here for free, there's not a lot of point in paying for yet another rehashing of this subject matter, even at amazon's substantially discounted price. I have no doubt that Mr. Rodney is a very technically proficient color management consultant who can deliver $10,000 worth of results to all who can afford his services, but his efforts in the creative fields of writing, illustration and design just ain't worth a plugged nickel.

It may also be worth noting that more than one of the glowing 5-star reviews that have been posted here were planted by friends and associates of Mr. Rodney. How's that for class?

Full Moon

Description:
The most thrilling of all journeys--the missions of the Apollo astronauts to the surface of the Moon and back--yielded 32,000 extraordinarily beautiful photographs, the record of a unique human achievement. Until recently, only a handful of these photographs had been released for publication; but now, for the first time, NASA has allowed a selection of the master negatives and transparencies to be scanned electronically, rendering the sharpest images of space that we have ever seen. Michael Light has woven 129 of these stunningly clear images into a single composite voyage, a narrative of breathtaking immediacy and authenticity that begins with the launch and is followed by a walk in space, an orbit of the Moon, a lunar landing and exploration, and a return to Earth with an orbit and splashdown.

Â Â Â Â Graced by five 45-inch-wide gatefolds that display the lunar landscape, from above the surface and at eye level, in unprecedented detail and clarity, Full Moon conveys on each page the excitement, disorientation, and awe that the astronauts themselves felt as they were shot into space and then as they explored an alien landscape and looked back at their home planet from hundreds of thousands of miles away.

Published on the thirtieth anniversary of Apollo 11--the first landing on the Moon--this remarkable and mesmerizing volume is, like the voyages it commemorates and re-creates, an experience both intimate and monumental.

Customer Review:
"Full Moon" is a selection of about one hundred pictures of different lunar american missions. The selection and the digital improvement has been made by Michael Light, and all has been done from an artistic perspective.
If you're looking for a very comprehensive lunar mission day-to-day, interviews with astronauts or a nice reproduction of "that" picture, this is not definitely your book.
But if you want, for a moment, walk on the moon, travel outside the Earth and dance with the stars, then buy it.

Customer Review:
This is a beautiful book. It is a series of photos from various Apollo missions, put together in a way to illustrate a voyage from Earth to the moon & back. The photos take up whole pages, or are panorama fold-outs. The photos are crystal clear. I have seen close-ups made from these photos before, but never the originals as are in Full Moon. That's when I realized the resolution of the cameras the Apollo astronauts were using was incredible.
My only disappointment was that my copy arrived with the dustjacket all scraped up and dented, and the edges of many of the pages were mangled, so I had to return it. The book still gets 5 stars because that is no fault of the publisher, or Michael Light. I'll buy it again when I can find a good copy at a "bricks & mortar" bookstore; it's worth the extra $$.

Customer Review:
I can use "picture book" to describe Full Moon, as images contributed as the major part of this book. Don't think that this book is not worth reading, indeed, it is on the contrary, this is an extraordinary book, because of the photos.

There are a lot of astronomy books contain lots of photos, but when you read them, you would find the images are not so good at all, but not because of the photo itself, because of the low resolution. And if you are familiarize with those photos, you would immediately notice that the original photo is not so small in resolution. It is really a very bad idea for the publisher and editor to ignore the importance of image resolution.

However, when you first look into Full Moon, you will find you're getting into a different world as you are already delighted by the spectacular images of the Moon taken from Apollo Mission. Normally, owing to the technological limitation in 1960s and 1970s, all images are only mostly available as hard copy and not so high resolution. However, Project Full Moon can turn those hard copies into very high resolution images. I can even tell you that, NASA even don't have such high resolution images before.

Since these reasons, I would rank this book as my list of Top 10 Astronomy Book. If you really love astronomy, you must not miss this book, miss the extraordinary journey to the Moon

Practical Color Management: Eddie Tapp on Digital Photography (Eddie Tapp on Digital Photogra)

Description:
The second book in this acclaimed series from noted photographer and digital imaging expert Eddie Tapp delves into color management, a topic that has needlessly become a mystery to experienced digital photographers, whether they're avid amateurs, serious students, or working professionals. With his easygoing yet authoritative style, Eddie sheds light on this topic and supplies an understanding of color management that readers apply to their own work.

Clear and concise, this highly visual book explains how color management is a part of the overall photographic workflow. Eddie demonstrates the three stages of color managed workflow, from choosing a color space, to calibrating your devices, to applying appropriate profiles, and shows you exactly what you need to know and why you need to know it. Color management scientist Rick Lucas contributes a chapter on the hard-core technical aspects. Other books on color management are much too long, involved and intimidating. This absorbing book sets the right tone and supplies you with key answers quickly.

Our Eddie Tapp on Digital Photography book series brings you the focused knowledge you need on specific areas of digital photography. Acknowledged as one of the premier trainers of digital imaging in the world, Eddie brings his teaching experience to bear on issues that other books gloss over or bury under general coverage. Now, you don't have to buy a doorstop-sized book to get the key information you need on color management, efficient workflow, or a variety of other specific digital imaging topics.

Eddie Tapp on Digital Photography also covers workflow setup; advanced and professional production techniques; controlling digital color and tone; creative enhancement techniques; and more. This series is a perfect complement to O'Reilly's general list on Photoshop and digital photography, and offers you focused books that cover technical issues at prices that are affordable and solutions that are quickly accessible. We're thrilled that Eddie Tapp has finally agreed to publish books -- and with O'Reilly.

Customer Review:
Eddie Tapp is a great photographer who travels and gives practical inforamation in workshops. I have attended his workshops and so I wasn't reluctent to try his book. I am glad I did. It gave me the information I needed to correct my color management workflow.

Customer Review:
One of the major hurdles of the digital imaging revolution has been learning a whole new set of concepts and their associated language. It's a very different science from the analog, silver-based photography of the last hundred years or so and it takes a certain amount of serious concentration and persistence to master. One of the core threads running through all of it is the concept of color management - the control of color data from start to finish so what you end up with is as close as possible to what your eyes saw in the first place.

This is no small order as it includes multiple input, editing, and output devices along with completely different methods of gathering and displaying color information. In addition, there's as much art as science in the process, and agreement on standards has been slow to evolve. Fortunately, we've reached a point in the technology stream where a serious photographer or graphic artist can now do a very credible job of keeping colors on track with a modicum of specialized tools and the purposeful discipline to use them.

For the average digital photographer, color management theory can be mind-numbingly arcane, even though it is crucial to setting up an efficient and effective overall workflow. If you want to color manage properly, you have to assimilate a certain amount of theory or the whole process will fail to make any sense. This is where Eddie Tapp does an excellent job of simplifying the information as much as possible, presenting it in a logical order, and is able to pack a very thorough discussion of the topic in less than 150 pages - a real feat.

The book is laid out in an interesting fashion with text on the outside third of each page and the center section filled up with colorful pictures and screen shots. Some of it's eye candy, but that's what sells books these days I'm sure. Many of the screen shots and other illustrations are valuable though as they answer important questions regarding particular selections in critical software dialog boxes, and the explanation of terms and methods is very lucid and direct. The author does an excellent job of going deep where it's important while avoiding unneeded complexity for its own sake. There's a certain amount of technical heavy lifting that one has to do to become competent in this arena, but Eddie's made it as easy as any document I've seen. In addition, the appendix contains a highly useful excerpt from the Universal Photographic Digital Imaging Guidelines and extensive additional resource listings.

Customer Review:
How do you make sure that the color you're seeing on your screen is what the rest of the world will see when you distribute your finished work? That is the question that Eddie Tapp attempts to answer in his latest book Practical Color Management.

Practical Color Management is divided into five chapters and one appendix. "The Search for Consistent Color," covers where the concept of color management came from and why it has evolved into what it is today.

"Understanding Key Color Management Concepts," explains the difference between calibration and profiling.

"Establishing a Color Management-Friendly Workflow," guides you through developing a efficient workflow.

"Three Stages of Color Management," describes breaking the basic color management into their three stages.

"Technically Speaking," brings in color expert Rick Lucas to explain in-depth color management concepts.

At first look, it almost seems that the approach will be too basic, but it builds quickly and will be of benefit to newcomer and professional alike.

Books: Collections, Catalogues & Exhibitions

2008-03-07T20:07:00.002-05:00

The Moment It Clicks: Photography secrets from one of the world's top shooters

Description:
THE FIRST BOOK WITH ONE FOOT ON THE COFFEE TABLE, AND ONE FOOT IN THE
CLASSROOM
Joe McNally, one of the world’s top pro digital photographers, whose celebrated work has graced the pages of Sports Illustrated, Time, and National Geographic (to name a few), breaks new ground by doing something no photography book has ever done blending the rich, stunning images and elegant layout of a coffee-table book with the invaluable training, no-nonsense insights, and photography secrets usually found only in those rare, best-of-breed educational books.

When Joe's not on assignment for the biggest-name magazines and Fortune 500 clients, he's in the classroom teaching location lighting, environmental portraiture, and how to get the shot at workshops around the world. These on-location workshops are usually reserved for a handful of photographers each year, but now you can learn the same techniques that Joe shares in his seminars and lectures in a book that brings Joe’s sessions to life.

What makes the book so unique is the â€œtriangle of learning where (1) Joe distills the concept down to one brief sentence. It usually starts with something like, â€œAn editor at National Geographic once told me and then he shares one of those hard-earned tricks of the trade that you only get from spending a lifetime behind the lens. Then, (2) on the facing page is one of Joe's brilliant images that perfectly illustrates the technique (you'll recognize many of his photos from magazine covers). And (3) you get the inside story of how that shot was taken, including which equipment he used (lens, f/stop, lighting, accessories, etc.), along with the challenges that type of project brings, and how to set up a shot like that of your own.

This book also gives you something more. It inspires. It challenges. It informs. But perhaps most importantly, it will help you understand photography and the art of making great photos at a level you never thought possible. This book is packed with those Ah ha!moments and those clever insights that make it all come together for you. It brings you that wonderful moment when it suddenly all makes sense that it clicks.

Customer Review:
My honest opinion of JM's new book is fantastic reading with touches of techniques he uses. I have read half the book and throughout my busy schedule I can't wait to get back to it and read more. Understand that I am not saying that because there is some all new technique that Joe is teaching but the stories are interesting. The tips are probably tips that experienced photographers have known for years. You will not find apertures, shutter speeds and ISOs on every photo nor should you because images are dynamic( I say every because there were a couple I have seen where Joe does mention this type of informationas merely a guage). This is not a how-to book and frankly there are enough of those out there anyway if we take the time to investigate and read them. This is a fun read with some "how I approached this shot" theory and some really cool stories from a phenomenal commercial photographer. The images are typical stunning Joe McNally photography with credits given to many that he has learned from in his years of work. One story still makes me laugh when he talks about going from Spiderman to Wiley Coyote. For a nice twist from your typical photography book with some extremely useful information this is a must buy for any photographer. Maybe I should re-phrase that in saying that any photographer who has their own ideas to produce will find this book of great worth. If you are just looking for step by step how to recreate the exact photo this book probably is not for you. There are many other books out there that will give you that. I really feel that JM was probably trying to put out a book that points you to the right doors in a room full of doors. It is simply your job to take that direction and go through and create your own phenomenal work. In that sense, I think Joe has far exceeded that mission. In world of "I want my stuff to look like Dave Hill, Vincent Versace, Ansel Adams etc (obviously no offense to the amazing creativity by any of these artists ... they are just artists that have such a profound look that you see the photo and you say ... that is a 'fill in the blank') Joe McNally has come out with a book that says create your own style but here's a little helping hand. He gives you a glass of water without filling it up and says 'ok ... now you go fill it up with your imagination, creativity and style'. Isn't that what we want to do with our photography? I would love for someone to look at my work and recognize it as mine without seeing the name on the photo. At that point, you truly have your own style and have arrived with your work. Joe McNally, Vincent Versace, Ansel Adams, Jay Maisel, Henri Cartier-Bresson and many others all have that style. Joe does help lead you to that style with this book.

Customer Review:
The Moment It Clicks: Photography secrets from one of the world's top shooters A must have book for all photographers!!!

Customer Review:
I read this book and found it interesting, although somewhat limiting in its practical application for mere enthusiasts. This is a great photographer no doubt, but I found that the book is 80% about lighting for magazine shoots (think expensive). And unless you're a professional photographer with a large budget, you will never own the lighting gear he uses for those shoots. Since my focus is mainly on nature photography, I found only sporadic tidits of useful advice here. The rest is intriguing in its own right (hey, it was cool to learn how he rented and lit a circus elephant for a studio shoot), but it's not something I can use. I like my books to be more pragmatic. This one is for highly paid pros.

One Man's Wilderness: An Alaskan Odyssey

Description:
To live in a pristine land . . . roam the wilderness . . . build a home. . . . Thousands have had such dreams, but Richard Proenneke lived them. Here is a tribute to a man who carved his masterpiece out of the beyond.

Customer Review:
Fascinating and inspiring. Could you leave behind the crutches and bobbles of this modern age and live every moment, your labor alone in God's palm? Definetly a perspective corrector.

Customer Review:
I think I know why Richard Proenneke was up there in the wilds alone, sans wife or woman. While I utterly admire his craftsmanship and drive for perfection, I think that, in person, it would drive me crazy. A perfectionist makes an ideal loner. Having said that, I must also say that is incredibly readable book was able to transport me to the Alaskan wilderness every time I picked it up. Author Sam Keith (who bases the book on Porenneke's journals) captured the sights, sounds, smells and tastes of the bush. This is the story of a cabin. Richard Proenneke builds it by hand, to his own unbendable standards of practicality and aesthetics, and makes the reader love every minute of it. Interspersed within this chronicle are Proenneke's encounters with bears, weasels, birds, wolverines and other humans, and they are laugh out loud funny, impressive, or in the case of most human encounters, infuriating. If you are enchanted with the Alaskan wilderness and want to be entertained, amazed and amused by a very singular man, this book is a must-have.

Customer Review:
The book is a simple read that details Richard Proenneke's quest to live off the land in Alaska. It is a great chronology of his time there and his relationship with nature. Proenneke leaves the civilized world at 51 years of age to challenge himself to make a home in Twin Lakes Alaska. He constructs a small log cabin and lives there til he passes in his late 80's, visiting the mainland only a few times. Proenneke appears to be a perfectionist in every way. He has many interesting ways to describe life. He sumarizes his few short comings in humorous cliche, that will make you smile. I would also suggest purchasing the DVD if you are an outdoor enthusiast, wood worker, craftsman, etc.. Proenneke is truely a character to watch, read and enjoy.

Planet Earth: As You've Never Seen It Before

Description:
A visual odyssey that will change the way we see our planet, this remarkable book, companion to the acclaimed Discovery Channel/ BBC series, is an enduring and awe-inspiring record of one of the most ambitious natural history projects ever undertaken. Using the latest aerial surveillance, state-of-the-art cameras, and high definition technology, the creators of Planet Earth have assembled more than 400 stunning photographs of wondrous natural landscapes from around the globe, including incredible footage of the rarely spotted, almost mythical creatures that live in these habitats. Many of the images reveal inaccessible places that few have seen and record animal behavior that has never been filmed or photographed before. With the help of this highly advanced technology and the world's premier wildlife photographers, the book takes us on a spectacular journey from the world's greatest rivers and impressive gorges, to its mightiest mountains, hidden caves and caverns, and vast deserts. Planet Earth captures breathtaking sequences of predators and their prey, lush vistas of forests viewed from the tops of towering trees, the oceans and their mysterious creatures viewed from beneath the surface, and much more--in a magnificent adventure that brings unknown wonders of the natural world into our living rooms.
Copub: BBC Worldwide Americas

Customer Review:
if you believe in God or not, i dare you to look at this book and not be in awe of nature. my husband and i enjoy looking at this book any seeing God's wonderous creation. anyone who has children should get this book. they probably won't read every word, but they will learn a lot from the pictures.

Customer Review:
I have not had the chance yet to review this product. I'd thought I'd purchased the dvd set for this same title, so was surprised to receive a book. I decided not to return it, but I know I will enjoy it.

Customer Review:
BEAUTIFUL BOOK TO HAVE. NOT ONLY IS IT INFORMATIVE, BUT THE PICTURES ARE TRULY A PIECE OF ARTWORK.

The Bikeriders

Description:
In 1968, just before Easy Rider roared its way into American consciousness, Danny Lyon published The Bikeriders. A seminal work of modern photojournalism, this landmark collection of photographs and interviews documents the abandon and risk implied in the name of the gang Lyon belonged to: the Chicago Outlaw Motorcycle Club. With images and interviews that are as raw, alive, and dramatic today as they were three decades ago, this new edition includes startling new images: 15 additional black-and-white photographs and 14 color prints--long thought missing--of works originally published in black-and-white. With a new introduction by the author, The Bikeriders rides again, capturing like never before the dawn of the counterculture era.

Customer Review:
I purchased this to give to a friend who is just getting into riding, to give him an idea of what it was like 'back in the day'. When it arrived, I opened it to take a look at it and looking out of these old photos were the faces of some of the people that I had known back in the early and mid 60's......

To make a long story short, I let him take a look at the new book that I had bought myself...and kept it.

Amazing pictures! Looking back into the past is alway problematic as our vision of "how things were" rarely jive with reality. We carry pictures in our minds of people and incidents from our past, but when confronted with real images it's a bit of a shocker.

Danny sure drives that nail home with this book.

Customer Review:
Danny Lyon was a young photographer, living in Chicago in the mid-1960s, and went with a friend to a biker's outing in Wisconsin. He eventually immersed himself in this subculture of men, women and bikes, creating photos that are now an archaeological document of a lost time.

Not only are the photos provocative and fascinating, but Lyon writes with a grace and brevity that remind me of Ernest Hermingway (another Chicagoan). Here is one sample:

"Back then in Chicago, they had a lot of names for things, names that were of the Midwest and of that city, words belonging to that place and to the people who lived there. One of those words was bikeriders..."

One will see in the images that the photographer carries his 1960s intelligence and mind into the people's lives. This is not a book about biker fashions and being cool. It is a chronicle of how some rejected the standard ways in society and set up their own rules of how to live. In their freedom and wandering, the bikeriders exemplify the lost Americans who are forever in search of sensation and meaning.

Customer Review:

This book was very interesting and gave in-site into motorcycle riding, and riders of years past. I found it a little bit hard to read. this is written in the sixties with all the lingo of the day. Through all this I feel any motorcycle enthusiast will enjoy the reading. I also enjoyed all the pictures. They show the styles of the era and the way people customized their bikes.

Ansel Adams: 400 Photographs

Description:
ANSEL ADAMS: 400 PHOTOGRAPHS presents the full spectrum Adams' greatest work in a single volume for the first time, offering an entirely new perspective on his monumental career.. The photographs are arranged chronologically into five major periods in order to convey Adams' development as an artist-from his first photographs made in Yosemite and the High Sierra in 1916 to his work in the National Parks in the 1940s up to his last important photographs from the 1960s. An introduction and brief essays on selected images provide information about Adams' life, document the evolution of his technique, and give voice to his artistic vision. Few artists of any era can claim to have produced four hundred images of lasting beauty and significance. It is a testament to Adams' vision and a lifetime of hard work that a book of this scale can be justified. ANSEL ADAMS: 400 PHOTOGRAPHS is a must-have reference and gift book for anyone who appreciates photography and the allure of the natural world.

Customer Review:
Ansel Adams might be the most famous art/nature photographer of all time. He inspired many with his images. In 400 photographs you get far more than a small sampling of a few famous images. This book shows Adams' chronologic development as a photographer. With this format we can not only see his growth but also his depth something that is rare in book under $100. This volume is both something inexpensive and something anyone can be proud to display on ones coffee table.

Customer Review:
the size. This book is about the size of 8x11, so it's not a large coffee table book size. What it lacks in area size, it makes it up in the number of great photos, all 400 of them.

I also own the Yosemite and the Range of Light, one of Ansel Adams most highly acclaimed publication printed back in the 70's. I compared the two books. The 400 uses a whiter paper stock. Many of the photos in the 400 look different from the Range of Light. Some have more contrast, some have less. It is sort of like a slightly different interpretation. I closely compared a couple of the photos, in one case, I found the 400 has more shadow details in the deep shadow area, but the Range of Light counterpart has more emotional impact; the larger size may have to do with the emotional part. In another case,the 400 has less overall contrast, and a lot more shadow information comparing to the Range of Light, and I like the 400 interpretation better.

This book is a must have for Ansel Adams follower.

Customer Review:
It's no secret that Ansel Adams is an inspiration to any landscape photographer who loves to be outside, and this book is an excellent addition to my collection of photo/art related books.

Ansel Adams - 400 Photographs is the latest book related to Ansel Adams and this collection was compiled by Andrea Stillman, who worked for Adams in the 70s as his personal assistant. She is intimately familiar with his work, and according to the book, have spent much time contemplating what should be included . Her goal was to present a selection of the best images made by Adams during different periods of time (and images are presented chronologically to help us see the development in Ansel's vision), and after finishing reading and looking through the book, I must say that she succeeded.

In this book you will find many of Ansel's famous images, but what I liked particularly that you will also find many images that you have not seen before, especially from his early days and those that were made with his first cameras. For someone like myself who's still a beginning photographer, I was inspired to see how it all started for this legendary photographer. You also will not see these kinds of rare images at usual Ansel's exhibits.

The presentation of those images in terms of their sizes and how they are placed against the white background is eye pleasing. There is not much writing in the book, and Ansel's work speaks for itself, which I found appropriate for a book with such title. In addition, the quality of paper and printing is excellent, which is always important when it comes to photography books.

Due to the amount of images presented in the book I know I'll be looking through it again and again for inspiration, so the book is well worth it. It'll also be a great book to put on a coffee table, when we finally get one for our living room.

A Photographer's Life: 1990-2005

Description:
“I don’t have two lives,” Annie Leibovitz writes in the Introduction to this collection of her work from 1990—2005. “This is one life, and the personal pictures and the assignment work are all part of it.” Portraits of well-known figures–Johnny Cash, Nicole Kidman, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Keith Richards, Michael Jordan, Joan Didion, R2-D2, Patti Smith, Nelson Mandela, Jack Nicholson, William Burroughs, George W. Bush with members of his Cabinet–appear alongside pictures of Leibovitz’s family and friends, reportage from the siege of Sarajevo in the early Nineties, and landscapes made even more indelible through Leibovitz’s discerning eye. The images form a narrative rich in contrasts and continuities: The photographer has a long relationship that ends with illness and death. She chronicles the celebrations and heartbreaks of her large and robust family. She has children of her own. All the while she is working, and the public work resonates with the themes of her life.

Customer Review:
A beautiful and touching collection of her life and friends in her own words------photography. I have her first book and this one is just as great. A beautiful, interesting coffee table book. Every time you look through it you see it again differently.

Customer Review:
After reading some of the other reviews, i have to agree with the comments about content however i believe it's important to understand that this was a publication for an accompanying exhibition at the brooklyn museum of art. It is an exhibition that is still touring around today. I saw the exhibition and was struck by the quality of the photographs as well as their diversity. It is as the title suggests, "A Photographers Life" and should be seen as such. I really liked the exhibition for it's incite into the life behind all of the famous photograph's we have come to know annie leibovitz for.

Customer Review:
Book was brand new in plastic, at a deeply discounted price. Couldn't ask for more!

South Africa: Paradise at Continent's End

Description:
An entire world in one land.

-Breathtaking shots of the landscapes, people and animals of South Africa.
-Everything worth knowing about South Africa's past and present, as well as a wealth of practical travel information.
-Broad coverage of special topics shows the multifaceted nature of this land.

The country at the Cape of Good Hope is beloved as a "natural paradise at the continent's end." This richly illustrated volume explores South Africa from every perspective imaginable: the award-winning vineyards of the Cape, the Garden Route and its dream beaches, the inland jungles and bountiful orchards, the land of the Zulus with its wildlife parks and cliff corridors, as well as the land of the Boers with its metropolises and broad farmlands. Practical travel tips help you to plan your journey.

My Little One

Description:
ThereÂ’s nothing more adorable than a babyÂ—except maybe a kitten. In My Little One photographer Vicky Ceelen captures all the innocence, vulnerability, and sheer cuteness of both babies and kittens, and shows us the surprising kinship between them.

In CeelenÂ’s eyes, human and feline babies have a lot in common, from their expressive, wide-open eyes, to the big yawn they take before napping, to the paw or arm they extend in exploration of the strange new world around them. A blue-eyed kitten opposite an equally blue-eyed baby; a baby squealing next to a kitten hissingÂ—the unique and often amusing -photographic pairings in My Little Onehighlight the bond we share with all living creatures, and the tenderness we feel toward our young. This heart-warming book will be a delight to kitten and baby lovers everywhere, and a perfect gift for all who treasure the connection between humans and animals.

Customer Review:
I bought this book, mistakenly thinking it was also a board book like V.C.'s Baby! Baby! The pages are regular, and there are no words, but my daughter also loves looking at and patting all the pictures of the babies in this book (I just supervise a little better to prevent torn pages).

If you (or your baby, or anyone else you know) like kittens and babies, this is the book for you!!

Customer Review:

This book has been created by an amazingly talented photographer! I found this book by accident while looking for a baby shower gift. I went ahead and bought it for my friend, but I fully intend to buy my own copy. A fantastic coffee table book for cat lovers, parents and people who appreciate beautiful, yet simplistic, photography.

Sports Illustrated: In the Paint

Creature

Description:
Photographer Andrew Zuckerman's strikingly detailed images of animals from around the world are as delightful as they are inspiring. This collection of astonishing studio portraits of 175 wild creatures from baby leopards to parrots, bears, mandrills, and many more are stunningly foregrounded against white backgrounds, depicting their subjects with rare sensitivity, insight, humor, and wonder. Zuckerman also an up-and-coming filmmaker, whose first short film, High Falls, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2007 has created a volume perfect for animal lovers, photography fans, and anyone fascinated by the world around us. Creature is a beautiful and thought-provoking look at the fragile wonders of the natural world.

Customer Review:
This is a very inspiring book for me. However, as much as I can appreciate a good layout, I guess would favor more detail over white space.

Customer Review:
This book is beautiful. Everyone who looks at it is wowed with the turn of every page. I recommend this to anyone interested in photography or animals. It's absolutely amazing.

Customer Review:

The best coffee table book for people ages 2 to 102.
We love the minimalism and great cropping.

Books: Cinematography

2008-03-07T19:38:00.002-05:00

Apple Pro Training Series: Final Cut Express 4 (Apple Pro Training)

Description:
The only Apple-certified guide to Final Cut Express 4, this book delivers the techniques you need to make movie magic with DV, HDV, or AVCHD footage. Each chapter presents a complete lesson in an aspect of video editing and finishing, with hands-on projects to complete as you go. All the files you need are on the included DVD-ROM. You’ll learn how to make effective edits and adjust them precisely; create polished transitions and sophisticated composites; add audio tracks, titles, and speed and motion effects; then color-correct and finish your video for export to DVD or the Web. Whether you’re a student, a devoted amateur who’s serious about digital video, or a professional who needs a comprehensive editing program, you’ll find everything you need to learn Final Cut Express 4 within the pages of this book. DVD-ROM includes lesson and media files for over 20 hours of training.

Customer Review:
This is the 3rd FCE training book I brought. This book uses the same examples, pictures and footage as the first one. That is very disappointing. I had hoped it would go over some of the new features in FCE4. To my surprise it did not at all. I am about half way through the book and I am getting a strong deja vu feeling. If you don't have any of the other books, then this will be a good start. This book leaves you wanting more. Much more!!!

Customer Review:
This book is a truly rare thing - a primer for a complicated and rich application which cuts through the BS and gives you a real, practical working knowledge of the program in a series of easy, brilliantly designed lessons. If you are new to Final Cut Express, this book will have you up and running in no time. It also gives you a good foundation knowledge of basic film technique, so that when you start shooting in earnest, you'll have an idea of where to go. Bravo Diana Weynand!

Customer Review:
When I upgraded from my old PowerBook to a new MacBook I was dismayed to find that a new version of iMovie came with Leopard. After reading disparaging reviews of iMovie '08, I decided to upgrade to Final Cut Express even though my video editing needs are rather modest. After installing the software and seeing that the PDF user manual was over 1100 pages, I knew I wouldn't have the patience to go through it all and I wanted to order something simpler. With FCE4 being quite new, the only choice immediately available was Diana Weynand's book and I ordered it. Now that I've gone through the entire book, I can enthusiastically recommend it. At first I was dismissive of the DVD that came with it, thinking that it would just contain video demonstrations of various editing operations. It turns out, however, that the DVD contains the material for methodical exercises that take you through various lessons so that the book is really an instruction course, not just a guide. Going through the lessons with the book and DVD is actually fun even though I may never use some of the advanced functions FCE4 offers. I believe that for relative beginners like me this book is indispensable. I confess that I will now go through it again to clear up some of the material I didn't quite understand or have forgotten. Also, there are some questions Weynand's book left unanswered for me, but having the background I gained by studying the whole book made it easier for me to turn to the actual user's manual that came with the software. I'm very excited about FCE4, and I owe a lot to this book.

Setting Up Your Shots: Great Camera Moves Every Filmmaker Should Know

Description:
Over 100 storyboards with simple descriptions.

Customer Review:

I have been using this book in my Video class and it is passable, but should include useable films as examples rather than R-rated films I cannot use in the classroom. While most teens have seen most of these movies, I cannot show them as examples in a classroom setting, due to rating problems. If this is to remain a viable product in the future, the examples will have to be toned down.

Customer Review:
While Setting Up Your Shots covered all the common camera moves needed for DV filmmakers, the explanations on the moves were a little too brief for my liking. For a few dollars more, Film Directing, Cinematic Motion: A Workshop for Staging Scenes (paperback) by Steven D. Katz is a much better resource, one that the reader will use time-and-again. Best!

Customer Review:
Excellent layout of "1 page, 1 concept" and tells enough for you to get the point without 5 extra paragraphs of useless repetition. Leave this book on your desk and open to any page once a day and read it in 15 seconds...this will keep a wide array of shooting techniques in your head for the next time you are on set or planning a shoot.

Good stuff, easy to understand, and not an ounce of "fluffy-look at me i'm a filmmaker" pretentious crap.

Microsoft Windows Movie Maker 2 (Visual QuickStart Guide)

Description:

Just because you have the built-in software to transform your homemade videos into compelling, creative content doesn't necessarily mean you have the know-how to do so. For that you need this no-nonsense task-based guide. In these pages video guru Jan Ozer uses simple, step-by-step instructions peppered with plenty of visual aids and loads of time-saving tips to show you how to use Microsoft's Movie Maker 2 video-editing software (which is included with Windows XP) to edit your videos and share them with family and friends. Providing a visual approach to a visual product, Jan shows you how to start making movie magic instantly and effortlessly with the transitions, title options, and 2-D special effects included in Movie Maker 2. You'll learn how to create wipes, dissolves, freeze frames, and more in the process of producing a finished product that you'll be proud to email to friends, post on your Web site, or copy to CD or DVD.

Customer Review:
Movie Maker2 by Jan Ozer is An Excellent Book. I,like most people,have Windows Movie Maker on my computer so I wanted a book that would help me do good book promotion video's and understand the program better. This book does everything I hoped for and I am glad I purchased this book and every since I purchased it I use it at least once a week to make sure I am doing things right and also to see if the book suggests doing something different that will result in a better video. My video can be seen on my web-sites and places like Google and Yahoo. Look for ErvHarmon
Video's

Thank you Jan Ozer for writing this book as it has helped me very much and I gladly recommend it to anyone that wants good results from Windows Movie Maker2

Customer Review:
I wanted to know how I could take video from my camera, edit it, create a video and store it on a CD. This book did exactly that in a no-brainer manner. The book showed the Window's screens and what you had to do at each screen. The only minor problem is that the screens are different for different versions of Windows.

Customer Review:
I didn't know - and this book showed me how to use it. It is so easy to create a narrated powerpoint presentation, and give you the ability to distribute as needed.

I cannot believe how easy it is to create movies using my video camera, and even better, the softare is FREE (Look in your "START <ALL PROGRAMS>" to find it.

This book could NOT make it easier to take full use of the program.

I lead a business unit and now pre-record and narrate all of my powerpoint presentations, which has eliminated the need to give multiple presentations on the same topic. This has reduced my travel, time needed to present multiple times, etc.

I looked at a number of other books on the Microsoft software package, and this one is the easiest to use by far. YOU WILL BE AN EXPERT AT CREATING VIDEO BLOGS OR NARRATED POWERPOINT PRESENTATIONS IN LESS THAN A FEW HOURS using this book.

Adobe Photoshop CS2 One-on-One (One-On-One)

Description:
If you work with Adobe Photoshop, you've already tasted how powerful a graphics tool it can be. Universally recognized as the standard for image editing and production, Photoshop is used by close to 20 million people worldwide. But how many can say they've fully tapped its vast functionality?

Whether you're a first-timer looking to learn Photoshop, or a seasoned Photoshopper interested in the cool new features of CS2, Deke McClelland's Adobe Photoshop CS2 One on One will have you completing rewarding projects in no time at all. A Photoshop expert, sought-after computer graphics and design lecturer and author of over 70 books, Deke brings his passion and easy, conversational style to the new edition of his bestselling Photoshop tutorial, updated for CS2.

A straightforward, step-by-step guide to the features and functions of Photoshop-with plenty of real-world projects and insider tips applied along the way-Adobe Photoshop CS2 One on One also covers the new features of CS2 in depth, including Adobe Bridge, the new file browser that makes it possible to process multiple images at once. Learn how to use new workflow and file handling features, how to batch process digital camera raw files, search metadata, quickly review images in Slideshow mode, and much more.

If that sounds like Greek to you, don't worry. Deke uses highly effective One-on-One teaching methods and creates a classroom environment that combines written instruction with more than two hours of video training (provided on DVD). As host of the "Best of Photoshop" disk that ships with every Photoshop order, he's uniquely qualified to present the material in this dynamic, interactive format. Whatever your skill level, Adobe Photoshop CS2 One on One will soon have you speaking fluent Photoshop CS2.

Customer Review:
Adobe Photoshop CS2 One-on-One (One-On-One) This is not a book for any digital photographer who wants to increase his or her understanding and proficiency in essential "finishing" techniques of digital images. It barely addresses or doesn't address at all the necessary skills of adjustment levels, working with curves, and so on. He recommends too using auto fixes and variations which ruin the integrity of a digital image, and concentrates instead on creating slick finished products. It reminds me in a way of a class I took that was supposed to educate a student in approaching an image with CS2, but instead dealt with all the whacky things you could do to a picture with distortion filters and so. You come away thinking you can torture an image any number of ways without effecting the integrity of the pixels. The parts of the DVD I was able to watch were sketchy and too brief. I would recommend instead anything by Scott Kelby, Bruce Fraser, and David Blatner.

Customer Review:
Bought this for my son, who found it helpful while taking classes for his graphic design classes.

Customer Review:
Third photoshop book (slow learner) I have purchased and is as good or better than others. Easy to follow if you follow the precise directions. Video on disc that comes with it really helps as it previews the lessons in the book.

Digital Video Production Cookbook: 100 Professional Techniques for Independent and Amateur Filmmakers (Cookbooks (O'Reilly))

Description:
Have you ever watched a big-budget Hollywood movie and wondered "How did they do that?" or, perhaps, "How can I do that?" While digital technology greatly simplifies the filmmaking process, there are many tried-and-true production tricks that only those lucky enough to work in the world of high-budget professional film production get to know. The truth is that setting up a car chase, making a realistic-looking alien, staging a fistfight, creating atmospheric lighting, and using special effects are often not as difficult to master as you might think.

Digital Video Production Cookbook will show you how to create sophisticated-looking visual effects, dramatic shots, and powerful sequences using low-cost methods adapted from high-end professional techniques. Author and award-winning filmmaker Chris Kenworthy explains how you can use a digital video camera and basic editing software, to create high-end production values with household equipment and a little imagination.

The book includes easy-to-follow recipes for:

Creating bluescreen effects
Simulating rain, snow, and other natural phenomena
Working with backlighting, simulated candlelight, and special lighting effects
Shooting day for night
Staging safe stunts, chase scenes, and fistfights
Makeup techniques for aging, bruises, and serious injuries
Shooting at night
Working with camera movement
Adding special effects such as laser bolts, holograms, and explosions

and much more.

Packed with full-color, step-by-step instructions, inspirational examples, and authoritative information and advice, this book is the ultimate, no-nonsense cookbook for every aspiring digital filmmaker.

Customer Review:
Not bad, but I have read better. It does have a lot of good pictures of the effects they are teaching and all in all this book is not bad, there are just so many others that I feel are better. Check out The "DV Rebel Guide" by Stu something or other or "101 Digital Video hacks", both I feel are better than this.
Enjoy!

Customer Review:
I read through the book which was very informative, form ohh so thats how and TV never really was the same after. I have also tested out good part of it and got good resuslts. I would recommend it highly

Customer Review:
There are a view techniques described in this book that might come in handy someday, but the descriptions are not particularly thorough. The bottom line: this will make a good coffee table book but don't expect to learn too much.

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind: The Shooting Script (Newmarket Shooting Script Series)

Description:
The newest original screenplay from the OscarÂ®-nominated writer of Adaptation and Being John Malkovich—the only book on his new film starring Jim Carrey, Kate Winslet, Kirsten Dunst, Tom Wilkinson, Elijah Wood, and Mark Ruffalo. In the new Charlie Kaufman film directed by Michel Gondry, Joel (Jim Carrey) is stunned to discover that his girlfriend Clementine (Kate Winslet) has had her memories of their tumultuous relationship erased. Out of desperation, he contacts the inventor of the process, Dr. Howard Mierzwiak (Tom Wilkinson), to have Clementine removed from his own memory. But as Joel's memories progressively disappear, he begins to rediscover their earlier passion. From deep within the recesses of his brain, Joel attempts to escape the procedure. As Dr. Mierzwiak and his crew (Kirsten Dunst, Mark Ruffalo, Elijah Wood) chase him through the maze of his memories, it's clear that Joel just can't get her out of his head.

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind: The Shooting Script includes the complete screenplay, a selection of black-and-white movie stills, selected production notes, and complete cast and crew credits. 20 b/w photos.

Customer Review:
"Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind!/Each pray'r accepted, and each wish resign'd... Desires compos'd, affections ever ev'n,/Tears that delight, and sighs that waft to Heav'n." The original Alexander Pope poem suits the movie whose title it inspired, "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind," a unique, surreal film about memories, love and sorrow.

"Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" deals with timid, conservative Joel, who bumps into ex-girlfriend Clementine at a store -- and finds she doesn't remember him. He finds a notice in his mail that she has had him erased from her memories, and angrily decides to have the same done. But during the procedure, Joel revisits the good times they had together, and finds that he doesn't want to lose his memories with Clementine.

This movie, by Michel Gondry and Charlie Kaufman, was one of the best of 2004, and one that isn't quickly forgotten. The screenplay is an excellent accompaniment; if there is a line or an image that didn't seem to make sense, it might make more sense here. "Eternal Sunshine" fans will also like the scenes that never made it to the final cut, and one scene got shuffled around.

Additionally, there is an interview at the end with Kaufman. In it, he describes his writing background, his collaborations with Gondry, clashes with Ben Affleck's horrific "Paycheck," memory, and that wonderful "Velveteen Rabbit" scene. Although, it could have used more of Kaufman's thoughts on the final product and the actors.

The stumbling blocks? Don't try reading the screenplay BEFORE seeing the movie, or you will be hopelessly lost. The script cuts wildly from the past, the present, inside and outside the characters' heads. It works wonderfully on the screen, but on paper it's hard to visualize just by the words alone. That, and this richly visual film is only represented by some murky black-and-white photos.

"Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" is a wonderful script, which spawned a wonderful film. And for fans of that film, this is an excellent accompaniment and resource.

Customer Review:
This is a truly beautiful movie. I seriously think it is one of Jim Carey's best films. The cinematography is provocative and intelligent. The acting is flawless. And the plot is a well devised mesh of fantastical conception and blatant realism mixed with subtle humor. It should have one an award. It was certaintly better than Million Dollar Baby.

Customer Review:
This was a movie I didn't expect to like. I hadn't heard that much about it and wasn't all that enthusiastic about seeing another Jim Carey movie. Boy, was I pleasantly surprised.

First of all, this movie is truly original. That's rare these days. It revolves around the premise that you can erase someone from your memories. In this case, the "someone" to be erased is Kate Winslet's character of Clementine. She is wacky and artsy, and plays against Carey's straightlaced character Joel perfectly. I had just seen an interview with Winslet before this movie and was amazed at her accurate American accent. Very well done.

And Carey is brilliant. His toned down, not over the top portrayal of Joel was delightful and wonderful. This is the first time I actually thought of Carey as a very good actor. Both Carey and Winslet deserve an Oscar for this film.

In addition, the film is beautifully shot as well. This could have been a very goofy movie, with a premise that was hard to actually get into and believe, but this film worked perfectly on all accounts: writing, cinematography, acting. I would recommend this film to anyone that wants to see a thoroughly enjoyable, funny, sweet, interesting, wonderful film that is unlike any you've seen before.

From the author of The Difference Now, A New Dish, and At the Coffee Shop. (www.thedifferencenow.com).

High Definition Cinematography, Second Edition

Description:
High definition is here to stay.

HD changes the whole shooting and editing process in film and television production and this book is to satisfy your hunger for information. Whether you are a cinematographer, producer, or working in film/TV production, High Definition Cinematography, 2nd edition will demystitify the new technology, help you select the right cameras and equipment, and explain how high definition affects the shooting process and budgets. Filled with practical advice for tackling everyday decisions and choices, this is a necessity for you if you are using or considering using high definition technology.

* One of the few books available on the very hot topic of high definition
* Filled with practical advice for tackling everyday decisions and choices
* Demystifies HD technology, equipment, and workflow to help filmmakers shoot gorgeous footage

Color and Mastering for Digital Cinema (Digital Cinema Industry Handbook Series)

Description:
Color and Mastering for Digital Cinema explores the implications for motion picture post production processes and changes required to the supporting equipment and software. While a new concept to the motion picture community, the selection of the wide gamut, output-referred XYZ color space for digital cinema distribution is based on decades of color science and experience in other industries. The rationale for choosing XYZ and the other color encoding parameters is explained and the book also provides a full case study of the development of DLP CinemaÂ® projectors by Texas Instruments. Finally, this book explores how the XYZ color encoding concept can be extended to support enhanced display technologies in the future.

This book contains:

* Brilliant 4-color illustrations that compliment the color science explanations

* Never before published industry information from author Glenn Kennel, a world leader in digital cinema color technology

* Descriptions of key issues and background on decisions that were made in the standardization process

By Glenn Kennel, Glenn Kennel is VP/GM of Feature Film Services at Laser Pacific Media Corporation, a leading provider of a full range of post production services for television and feature film. Recently, he worked for the DLP Cinema group of Texas Instruments in a role that included technology and business development. Previously, in a twenty year career with Kodak, he led the development of the Cineon digital film scanners and laser recorders and the prototype HDTV telecine that became the Spirit Datacine. As a consultant, he helped DCI draft the technical specifications for digital cinema. Kennel also chairs the SMPTE DC28 Color ad hoc group and the DC28.20 Distribution working group. He is a SMPTE Fellow and has received the SMPTE Journal Award. He is also a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

* Brilliant 4-color illustrations compliment the color science explanations

* Never before published industry information from author Glenn Kennel, a world leader in digital cinema color technology

* This book describes the key issues and provides background on decisions that were made in the standardization process

Customer Review:
This book is an interesting mix of quite technically (and mathematically) detailed chapters and lighter, more readable text. Certainly not a good choice for anyone totally new to color theory or digital cinema but a very concise account of the current state of the industry with some very interesting historical perspective.

Concise is a very good word to describe this text. By textbook standards it is short - I was able to read it cover to cover on a five hour flight. In places it is too concise - I found the color theory difficult to follow in places and a slightly more long winded, descriptive style might not have gone wrong in those sections. I'm planning to go back and re-read those chapters and they will hopefully beging to be a little more clear second time around!

Overall this is a good choice for anyone with a professional interest in digital cinema and digital intermediate workflow. Those outside the industry or who are looking for a more introductory text should probably look elsewhere.

Lights, Camera, Action: A Guide to Video Instruction and Production in the Classroom

Description:
As teachers we are all looking for new teaching methods that will give the students a learning experience they will carry with them throughout their lives. Creating video productions is a good teaching method that works, and, in fact, will give the student a learning experience that he or she will never forget.

This comprehensive guide will make you and your students video masters! Imagine your students writing and producing documentaries about historical events, movies that portray short stories they are reading, or commercials that demonstrate persuasive techniques. Lights, Camera, Action! offers practical ideas for incorporating video production into the traditional content of any classroom. The author covers simple projects for first-timers, in-depth documentary projects, community service videos, and much more. Examples of video project ideas for several subject areas are provided.

Video projects give students hands-on learning experiences that can be shared with others. News programs can make your students "campus celebrities" while they learn to incorporate problem solving, research, and reasoning.

For addition information on video projects see Creating History Documentaries.

Educational Resource

Customer Review:
This book appears simple and also shows a multitude of sall activities that students who are beginners in the world of video production (and range from 15-20 yrs) can cover easily. It makes Video production look fun and easy and also has nice large lettering to read and simple projects to do.

Magical Reels: A History of Cinema in Latin America, New Edition

Description:
Still the finest comprehensive analysis of the subject to have appeared in English, Magical Reels charts the development of Latin American film industries in a world increasingly dominated by the advanced technology and massive distribution budgets of the North American mainstream. John King sets up a historical framework to unfold the overlapping histories of cinema in the continent: the itinerant film-makers of the silent era who projected their films in cafes and village halls, the inventive use of vernacular music and local comedy in the early sound pictures, the 'golden age' of 1940s Mexican cinema, and the 'new cinema'--oppositional cinema made 'with an idea in the head and a camera in the hand'--of the late 1950s and beyond. A new chapter written for this edition examines Latin American cinema in the previous decade.

Books: Black & White Photography

2008-03-07T19:17:00.000-05:00

Advanced Black & White Digital Photography (A Lark Photography Book)

Description:

Digital photographers can now attain the enduring beauty of black-and-white photography in their own work! There’s more to monochrome than just discarding the color in Photoshop, but many books simply treat it as an afterthought. Not this one! John Beardsworth teaches every major method of making a color picture black and white, and explains what kind of images are best, and why. Both ambitious newcomers and advanced enthusiasts will learn how to achieve the richest tonal depth and balance, use black and white to interpret your subject for the viewer, reproduce historic and darkroom processes, add creative and special effects, and produce exhibition-quality prints.

Customer Review:
Could be that as a novice photographer, my expectations were unrealistic. Was hoping to get ideas on how to take better b/w photo's. Perhaps I should have paid more attention to "Advanced" printed on the cover.

Customer Review:
This book has some good points and techniques which will aid any photographer in converting digital color photographs to workable B&W. With that being said, let the buyer beware; you will have to read between the lines (frequently) and make many of your own assumptions in order to really get to the bottom of what this author is trying to convey in the book.

I am extremely disappointed with the numurous typo's and vocabulary errors in the book. Also extremely disappointing are the assumptions made (by the author) as to the readers knowledge of Photoshop and being very experienced at using Photoshop myself, I am constantly shaking my head in dismay at the author's obvious lack of knowledge with Photoshop. His attempts to describe how to accomplish a task or technique using Photoshop many times lack accuracy and also lack adaquate description for even an advanced user to know what he is trying to convey.

Bottom line, if you are inexperienced using Photoshop, don't buy this book. If you have experience using Photoshop, then be prepared to accept the fact that you probably have more experience than the author of this book and undoubtedly you too will notice the many inconsistency's and errors. I could give many examples, but what I am referring to are very evident through out the book.

My general consensus is that this was a quick throw together book, with no real proof editing, and no real concern for accuracy and worse of all, written by someone with no real writing skills. I will not buy another book written by this author.

Customer Review:
very good book for digial black and white my teacher is also useing it now

Customer Review:
I am a technical book addict. While I have only had this book 5 days, it has already paid for itself in improvement of my BW work. It is finely crafted, and to the point. It draws you in and it delivers for real world artists.

As a writer, I am struck by how well this book is structured and written, and the very fine layout of illustrations and methods. When you encounter an excellent technical book and find yourself immersed in it, sometimes you fail to notice the ease that essential information is being conveyed to you. Then suddenly it hits you, wow!, this is the gold standard. This is one of those books. It covers historical BW methods up to the present version of Photoshop, and then provides an outstanding and practical work flow in CS3. By understanding what has gone before, you understand better how CS3 takes BW to another level.

The book is written by a person who is technically competent, a fine writer, and a BW artist. He understands how to frame the issues, and pragmatically deal with accessing the Photoshop tools needed in real world work flow. It is easy to write a huge book that is just a grocery list of features. It is very difficult to write a book like this that is supremely competent, focused, concise, and outlines strategies of interest to real world working artists. I rate it as one of the finest books I have ever read on using software. If there are any other books written by this author, I will buy them on strength of this one.

I would say that someone with basic photoshop skills can easily use this book. If you lack these skills, I think this book would point you to what you need to learn. One of the challenges of learning photoshop is figuring what you need to know and what to ignore. This book finds that focus and is obviously written by a working artist. It is a tool unlike the bloated books that I own, that mostly collect dust and are consulted grudingly. Buy it, you will be pleasantly surprized.

Customer Review:
I've been doing photography for over 40 years, read lots of books, taken lots of workshops. Advanced Digital Black and White Photography is the best, most informative, educational experience I have ever had in photography. Period.

Mastering Digital Black and White: A Photographer's Guide to High Quality Black-and-White Imaging and Printing (Digital Process and Print)

Description:
The very nature of black and white photography places a premium on creative interpretation of the image. Advances in digital technology have expanded both the precision of imaging techniques and the interpretive possibilities for black and white imagery. Never before has such a wide array of tools been available to photographers who have a passion for black and white. Mastering Digital Black and White is written for these photographers. It serves not only as a comprehensive guide for creating black and white images and prints, but also examines the role of artistic craft in the imaging process. Learn how to employ your digital tools as extensions of your photographic vision. Read in-depth interviews with, and view images from, five accomplished photographers as they discuss their process and inspirations. Prepare to indulge your passion for gallery-quality black-and-white images in the digital darkroom. Additional supporting content for this book and a discussion forum for photographers and printmakers with a passion for black and white can be accessed at: www.masteringdigitalbwbook.com

Customer Review:
This book does live up to its title in my opinion. The illustrations are very well organized with the text, moving from simple to more complex.

All digital imaging technologies become altered by sucessive innovations, but this kind of text lays down a foundation for you to proceed into the future. Amadou doesn't give detailed workflows for every ink, media, and printer out there for the simple reason that the rate in which ALL of these inksets, rips, and printers are changing would made such an endeavor impossible, and certainly out of date by the time of publishing. That is the fault of our era not the fault of the author.

I agree with the other poster who stated that Amadou's book is equally useful for many color imaging concepts. In a way it is the foundation for them. For someone venturing into this territory for the first time it lets you know who the players are in monochrome inkjet imaging, and where the technology has been in the recent past, and where the information will be available in the future.

John

Customer Review:
Very good book but extremely technical. Not a quick read but is chock-full of useful and practical information. Recommend it as a good addition to your personal reference library.

Customer Review:
Good photography transcends whether the image was captured in full color or black-and-white, and Amadou Diallo recognizes that fact in presenting this excellent guidebook for imaging in monochrome. Virtually everything in this book has applications in color photography as well, whether it's the description of proper calibration to the invaluable tips on tonality. If you aspire to be a better photographer, this book is a good place to start. You'll find that after you've mastered black-and-white image capture and output, you'll be well on the road to mastery of all aspects of good photography. Recommended.

Customer Review:
Extremely useful for any serious photographer interested in printing in high quality black and white.

Customer Review:
Very good overview and very timely. The samples of solutions available in the marletplace are up to date for 2007.

Walter Chin: After Shoot

Description:
In the 1990s, American top fashion photographer Walter Chin, started to take nude photographs of his famous models after the official shooting. These b&w "after work" shots breathe a particularly relaxed atmosphere. With ease and perfection Chin runs the gamut of nudity and the women join in, relaxed, playful, seductive, in love with themselves, theatrically staged or plain naked. The results in their different styles are sexy without being pornographic, beautiful without artificial accessories, and photographically unique without any shock or trash aesthetics.

For his book Chin gave the editors Wilfried Dickhoff, Daniele Kim, and Julia Kim his permission to handle his work with a similar playfulness, making the book a sexy high-quality object in every respect.

Black and White Photography, Third Revised Edition

Description:
One of the most popular and useful instruction manuals of its kindwhich has set the standard for nearly thirty yearsis now completely revised and updated, encompassing the latest photographic techniques, materials, and processes. Black and White Photography has sold more than 500,000 copies in its first two editions. The second edition (1982), currently in its twenty-fourth printing, still enjoys net sales of 25,000 to 30,000 copies a year. A popular, hands-on size, Black and White Photography is a bargain photographic how-to book. Past and present users of Horensteins books include the Parsons School of Design, Harvard, Yale, Princeton, and MIT, in addition to continuing education classes and photography buffs who have discovered them through favorable word of mouth.

Customer Review:
I bought this book for a photo class, and I barely used it, but it's still an interesting book. I enjoyed it

Customer Review:
I did not like this book at all. For starters, the printed Images, are of such poor quality that, for a photography book, it belies belief. This is the sort of book that could be written by anyone willing to spend the time "Googleing" for some information. Do not compound yor error, by purchasing Kim Mosely's companion volume "Workbook for Black & White Photography". It is merely a litany of questions the answers for which are presumably in Horenstein's Basic Manual. It might be useful to a High School Photography teacher using his book, but I cannot imagine any photography teacher using it.

Customer Review:
its an amazing book! especially for beginners. I am a photography student and this is our text book. If you want to start learning manual black n white camera then this is the book you want in your bookshelf. It teaches basics of photography including step by step film processing and developing. If you are a photographer or interested in learning manual black n white photography, this is the book you should definitely buy

Customer Review:
Covers the basics of camera, negative and print for the absolute beginner with no technical inclinations. If you are an analytical personality with a little technical education, you will miss the math. I want the equation for depth of field! I want the grain size in mm! But that's just me ;)

Customer Review:
A Basic Manual, 3rd Edit Revised is an excellent resource for the new (film) photographer. I'd also argue its not a half-bad general resource for the more experienced photographer. I used his previous version in an introductory course in black and white photography that I taught for a number of years. Of late I have been using Mastering Black and White Photography by Bernhard Suess but will now switch back to this text. Student response to both texts has been overwhelmingly positive however I feel Horenstein's writing style is easier for them to follow. The sequence, illustrations and figures of the Horenstein book seem both logical as well as well done. Particularly useful are the illustrations of common negative faults, something I had missed after moving to the Suess text. Highly recommended but please note that this is a book heavily weighted to using film cameras as well as processes and procedures in the darkroom. There are other works more suited for digital photography and for those who are looking for a reference on the "art" of photography.

Anton Corbijn: Star Trak

Description:
Anton Corbijn initiated a new era in portrait photography for the rock and pop music scene with his atmospheric, often melancholy images. One of his unmistakable qualities is his ability to see directly through his subject's masquerades. Taken primarily in black & white, most of Corbijn's photographs are shot in those quiet moments between performances.

Corbijn has moved beyond the boundaries of music photography and Star Trak reads like a visual encyclopedia of the icons of our culture. From film directors like Wim Wenders, David Lynch, and Martin Scorsese to actors like Johnny Depp, Gerard Depardieu and Jodie Foster, and including such familiar faces like Mick Jagger, Kurt Cobain, and William S. Burroughs, Corbijn takes us through the looking glass to redefine the character of today's cult heroes.

Customer Review:
This book was so hard to get i Sweden and to order from the rest of europe was to expensive.
This was a great buy, and im totaly pleased with everything.
Thanks!!!

Customer Review:
Anton is a darkroom master and I think this is his finest collection. His ability to present celebrities uniquely shines on these pages. My favourite photog.

Customer Review:
Anton Corbijn is a genius. As a photographer and/or album cover designer for groups like Depeche Mode, U2, and REM, his unique style captures my attention like no other. Unlike Herb Ritts or Bruce Weber who, by comparison, appear glossy and slick, Corbijn has a gritty approach to photography that makes him stand apart from the competition. No doubt, "Star Trak" is pricey, but for those looking to spice up their coffeetable would be foolish to ignore this great book. A few stars who have gotten the Corbijn treatment are Clint Eastwood, Morrissey, David Gahan, Tricky, Neil Young, Kurt Cobain, and countless others. Handsomely presented and elegantly shot, "Star Trak" is worth a purchase.

Customer Review:
In Star Trak Anton Corbjin proves to us that he is the leading portrait photographer in the world today. This book is filled with amazingly creative, high contrast pictures of many of the most exciting and famous actors and pop stars around the world. He has done lovely portraits of Björk, Johnny Depp,Tricky, Tom Jones, Vanessa Paradis and Bruce Springsteen among others. His pictures are very classic in their style, but the high contrast and breaking of compositional rules, he adds something new to the art of photography. His pictures are unique because each picture shows the star in a way you have never seen him/her before but manages to cath his/hers spirit and personality at the same time. If you are a photographer or are interested in photography (escpecially of the human being) buy this book now or buy this book if you just want to see the best picture of your favorite movie or pop star. Anton Corbjin is in my opinion the greatest photographer ever. I hope someday I will be as unique in my style and shoot as creative pictures as this genius. My favorite photography book by my favorite photographer.

Customer Review:
WOW! That's all I can say about Anton Corbijn (cor-bin)Just thought you'd like to know.

The most amazing, precise, moving, expressive, imaginative, distinct, photos I've ever seen!(And I have a BFA in photography!)

well worth any cost.

Paris Changing: Revisiting Eugene Atget's Paris

Description:

Between 1888 and 1927 Eugène Atget meticulously photographed Paris and its environments, capturing in thousands of photographs the citys parks, streets, and buildings as well as its diverse inhabitants. Christopher Rauschenberg spent a year in the late 90s revisiting and re-photographing many of Atgets locations. Paris Changing features seventy-four pairs of images beautifully reproduced in duotone. Each site is indicated on a map of the city, inviting readers to follow in the steps of Atget and Rauschenberg themselves. The book concludes with essays by Clark Worswick and Alison Nordstrom, an epilogue by Rosamond Bernier as well as a portfolio of other images of contemporary Paris by Rauschenberg.

Customer Review:
What Berenice Abbott et al did for New York, Atget and Raushenberg have done for Paris.

Customer Review:
Last summer I saw the Atget exhibit at the Bibliotheque Nationale, which was a marvelous passage through a lost time. This book matches some of those absorbing old photos with photos of the same location taken today. I think it's a fascinating book and I can lose myself in the nuances while comparing the photos. This pasttime may not be to everyone's taste, but I highly recommend the book to thoughtful people who enjoy looking at things.

Black & White Photography in the Digital Age: Creative Camera, Darkroom & Printing Techniques for the Modern Photographer

Description:
*Combines a traditional technique--black-and-white photography--with the latest technology

*Shows readers how to create their own high-quality, fine art prints

Black-and-white photography has always been a favorite topic among amateur photographers, but many digital photography books assume the reader is working with color images. With this concise guide, black-and-white enthusiasts can finally learn exactly how to enhance their creations with digital techniques. The book covers everything from scanning, manipulation and printing to advanced, digital darkroom techniques. Amidst inspiring and distinctive black-and-white photos, readers will find tricks and advice for making their images more creative than ever before!

Suggestion

Description:
"Hey, would you like to make a suggestion?"

With that simple question and an enormous white suggestion box, the New York City based collaborative Illegal Art canvassed the five boroughs, collecting suggestions from passersby of every stripe the young, the old, the filthy rich, the homeless, the mouthy, and the shy. "Love each other or perish." "Take breath mints when offered." "Give me a break!" In true New York style, the suggestions are by turns hilarious, nonsensical, angering, and heartwarming. Some people held the suggestion box prisoner while they wrote suggestion after suggestion; others ignored the box, but then came scrambling back with a sudden idea. One woman scribbled as she walked down Wall Street: "More time in the day." One man in Harlem, when asked if he would like to make a suggestion, said, "Isn't it obvious? World peace." Or at the base of the Brooklyn Bridge, a woman sadly wrote her misspelled suggestion and then held it up for all to read: "Never brake up with someone on a bridge." With over 350 entries and 50 photos of the suggestion box in action, Suggestion is authentic, honest, and totally appealing a testiment to the the public's innermost desire, whether it's free beer, free daycare, or free pumpkin pie every Thursday.

Customer Review:
This book leaks out pure amazingness. The editors spared no one's beliefs, thoughts, or feelings while compiling this book-- and that's a good thing. Along with the funny things (i.e. "I suggest you give me the box"), there's whimsical advice, heartfelt thoughts, religious and political suggestions or observations, and truly thought provoking statements.

This book gives you a glimpse into the minds of strangers, and, no pun intended, pulls you out of your own box. It opens your mind to things you might not have ever even considered.

It's thoroughly enjoyable to read, and doesn't take long, so why not give it a try?

Customer Review:
Thank you Illegal Art for giving voice to the people of New York City and beyond. The Suggestion Box is not only a mobile polling machine that
samples peoples views, it is a monitor for the state of various urban conditions.

Keep it Public.

Malachi Connolly

Customer Review:
This book is a great collection of what those around you might be thinking at the time.
If you were sitting on the subway and could put a bubble with one sentance over everyone's head representing what they were thinking or feeling, this is what you'd come up with. The guy next to you might be saying "beer flavored nipples" and the woman across from you suggesting "Dave should stop wasting my precious time" Humorous, thoughtprovoking and entertaining, this collection of suggestions, thoughts and opinions of your fellow humans walking by you on the street and sitting next to you on the subway is worth the read and a fun experience.

Customer Review:
THIS BOOK IS GREAT. A BOOK ON SUGGESTIONS?? I SUGGEST YOU BUY THIS BOOK. ANYONE FROM NEW YORK WOULD LOVE THIS AS GIFT. THE AUTHORS, ILLEGAL ART, ARE REALLY ON TO SOMETHING HERE. SUGGESTIONS FROM CITY DWELLERS IN THE GREATEST CITY IN WORLD, NYC.

Customer Review:
Very few art books make you open your mind and think like this one does; yes there are some expected suggestions but there are also some really weird no-one-person-could-make-this-stuff-up suggestions. There is a breadth, scope, emotion and imagination that couldn't come from fiction or conventional art. It really makes you think, laugh and wonder. A truly inspiring book, that is really good for angry New Yorkers, but I think the ideas will resonate wherever you are in the world.

Other Realities

Description:
Rediscover the work of an acknowledged American master whose influence has been immeasurable but is only now beginning to be fully understood and appreciated. Jerry Uelsmann is a modern master of photography, one of a select group of artists who can be said to have altered the very language of their medium. By synthesizing his photographs from multiple negatives starting in the 1960s, Uelsmann broke rank with the prevailing aesthetic of the period and pioneered a new approach that would influence countless artists and photographers and anticipate the digital-image revolution by a generation. OTHER REALITIES showcases a personal selection of Uelsmanns most compelling images from the early 1960s to the present. An accessible and insightful foreword by photography critic and historian Peter C. Bunnell, and a preface by Paul Karabinis, director of the University Gallery of South Florida, open the book.

Customer Review:
this is a very nice book for the money, for those interested in unusual photography

Customer Review:
I first saw Jerry Uelsmann's work in the sixties when we were stranded in a Chicago Airport by a snowstorm, waiting for the same commuter plane. He was in his late twenties then and carrying a portfolio of his work. As we talked, he shared it with me. I knew I was in the presence of artistic genius immediately. Already, I discovered, he was well known in the art work with major exhibits in known galleries. Not only did the content of his montages excite me but, but, being an amateur darkroom photographer at the time, I had some vague sense of the skill involved in his final productions. We were friends for a number of years and lost touch, but I've kept up with his work because I still admire it so deeply. This book is a treasure and I recognize some montages from the sixties in it, as well. Jerry is not only creative, but he's an interesting lecturer and funny, besides. The child in him will never die. I suspect that's one big reason he's so good. I would highly recommend any of his books, and this is one!

Customer Review:
Somewhat a photographic collection of the "best of Jerry Uelsmann" -the intricate, fantasy-like surrealist photographer. Works almost solely in the darkroom - not digitally. The book does not really mention Uelsmann's pristine practice in the darkroom, however provides quotations from the artist.

Had this book delivered just in time before the artist came recently to Pittsburgh. The 70 year old charismatic artist was kind enough to sign my book. Very entertaining, down to earth modern artist.

Customer Review:
A beautifully produced book of gelatin silver photographs to be looked at and
savored. Uelsmann's photographs question our world of physical realities
and introduce us to his world of visual realities. His photographs mystify
and question. They are of things that don't exist, yet do exist.

Customer Review:
All of Uelsmann's books reflect a poetic irrationalism, and this book is no exception. The images evoke a strange and surreal eloquence. Technically, like all of his work, the prints are tonally rich even as reproductions.

There are numurous photgraphers who currently utilize digital tools in the creation of similar collage/montage work, yet they rarely achieve the same formal elegance as Uelsmann - and he has been doing this for years - long before Adobe Photophop became a tool in the photographers arsenal. He's the photgraphic collage master - Version 1.0.

Mastering Black-And-White Photography: From Camera to Darkroom

Description:
Mastering Black-and-White Photography is an introduction to the techniques of black-and-white photography and a thoughtful exploration of how to use those techniques effectively to develop creative skills. Twenty-five illustrated chapters explain practical and artistic matters in a friendly style, from cameras, lenses, and film to developing, to printing, light, and aesthetics. This invaluable resource helps to understand the nuances surrounding the art and technique of black-and-white photography and to use that understanding to create better photographs.

Customer Review:
Best material in Black and White photography. The text is perfect. The pictures and the print quality have a lot to desire. This is a book you will not buy for its looks. But, the content is fantastic. For all your answers to necessary techniques in B&W you will not find a better more concise text. After reading the book cover to cover I have to say that the worst (print/looks) is insignificant when compared to the material and information covered. I wish the book is reprinted in higher quality. Five stars for a book that delivers what its title claims.

Customer Review:
I have used this text in my introduction to black and white photography course for just over a year. Student response has been universally positive. We have all found it thorough, well written and easily understood by into students. My only "wish" is that the author had included a section on negative faults such as found in Horenstein's: Black and White Photograpy: A Basic Manual.

Customer Review:
This book, as reviewed by others, is not for first time photographers but is a first class help to those who wish to advance into something a little more technical, but essentially
"on the ball" photography. I found the book to be thoroughly comprehensive, sometimes over technical and needing real concentration to understand these basic principles, but well worth the cost of the book. It is a first class addition to any black and white photographer's library. I wish this sort of volume was available when I first started black and white photography 50 years ago!

Customer Review:
The book was in amazing condition and the price was very reasonable. It also arrived right on time! VERY VERY helpful book.

Customer Review:
This revised edition of Bernhard J. Seuss darkroom classic Mastering Black And White Photography provides contemporary photographers with the basic skills needed to achieve expert status. Digital imaging and Internet technology are included in this updated and expanded edition, which deftly covers the entire photographic process from locating subjects to creating beautiful results in black and white.

Books: Architectural Photography

2008-03-07T19:15:00.002-05:00

Stone by Design: The Artistry of Lew French

Description:
More than 125 gorgeous photographs showcase the beauty of award-winning stonemason Lew French's work in eight different homes, illustrating how rounded fieldstone, gray slate, rough granite, and even curvy driftwood can be incorporated into stunning pieces of functional art.

Customer Review:
Absolutely Wonderful Book! His art is amazing itself and understanding Lew French's connection to his work and how he works with rocks gives even more meaning to his designs.

Customer Review:
I was disappointed by the quality of the paper and the pictures in this book. The subject matter was of great interest to me, but I don't think this book did it justice.

Customer Review:
New Englanders are partial to the rocks that burst forth from the ground every spring and permanently bulge up like the tips of ice bergs floating beneath the surface of the earth. For more generations than most can count, those rocks have been thoughtfully piled into mortarless stone fences that "make good neighbors." Everyone has stopped at one time or another to admire one of these wonders that have outlasted their builders.

Lew French is an authentic son of that tradition with an innate love for stone and turning it into something more delightful . . . a rich context for wonderful living.

In these homes, you'll see stone transform rooms into warm retreats that you'll just want to snuggle into on cold winter nights, turn gardens into fairy tales, and extend your perspective by changing the very outdoors in novel ways. Whether by putting a window into a stone fence, by creating original art with stones and driftwood, or through evoking Stonehenge, you'll feel differently and better from seeing his work. His creations seem weightless like a good idea, despite weighing many tons.

Part of the magic is that he's meticulous about getting a tight fit between stones and hiding his mortar very well. So even a fireplace looks to be but a vertical New England stone wall . . . and a very beautiful one at that.

It's magic. Enjoy it.

Customer Review:
I have seen pictures of this mans work before,and greatly admired his skills.He is truley a craftsman.The pictures were well photographed and there plenty of them. I have friends that are stone masons, and they
were all inspired by this book. I am keeping this book out so that any
one stopping by can enjoy it.

Customer Review:
Was just thinking how great a stocking stuffer this book would be for those who love homemaking and design. With the holidays fast approaching, I'm starting to compile my shopping list. Books have always been my favorite stocking stuffer. Much better than the mindless toys and trinkets most people give.

Barns: Styles & Structures

Description:

Until Jamestown was established, nothing in North America grew taller than the native forests, grasses, and mountains. Beginning in 1620, the settlers who plowed the indigenous sod also dotted the virgin landscapes with towering, stately structures, the likes of which had never before been seen on the continent. This photo/essay treatment of barns in America is arranged by the five distinct roof styles that have largely come to define American barns, presenting six 20-page spreads detailing the Dutch, bank, crib, round, and prairie styles. The result captures the pastiche of rural America through stunning photography, conveying everything from stone barns in hard-scrabble Maine to thoroughbred barns in the lush bluegrass regions, to traditional Gambrel-roofed red barns in the Midwest. Regions represented include New England, the Southeast, the mid-South, the Midwest, the Pacific Northwest, the desert Southwest, and California. There is an in depth examination of how styles developed out of necessity and anecdotes from those who work and live on farms.

Customer Review:
I was really looking for a book that can give you ideas of how to remodel your barn in different climates. We recently purchased a new home in Oregon and put all of our machinery in the pole barn. Well, the machinery is starting to rust. So I bought a bunch of these "Barn" books thinking that I could find some ideas of how to insulate our barn. No such luck. However, this book is pretty nice.

Men at Work

Description:

Construction workers, railroad men, factory workers, miners, Empire State Building construction. 69 photos in all.

Customer Review:
It will be presumptuous to place my opinion next to all the worthy accolades this work has received.
It stands all by itself in the B&W pantheon, and even people not interested in art or photography can`t afford to miss this true classic.

Customer Review:
Men At Work by Lewis Hine is a beautiful collection of 69 photographic studies of men and machines originally published in 1932. This book is a great example of men controlling machines in order to benefit their lives, rather than the machines controlling their lives. Hine was able to find normal subjects and turn them into to amazing, interseting images. Through these photogrphs he catches the positive side of life which is very enjoyable to look at. There are also 18 extra photographs of the construction of the Empire State Building. Each page has a detailed description of the photographs to let the reader know exactly what he was shooting. The Empire Sate Building photos are quite amazing especially when you think about Hine himself that high off the ground taking these photos. In addition to the Empire State Building shots, are photographs of railroad workers and coal miners which no one had ever really recognized before. Overall this is a great book at an excellent price.

Customer Review:
Lewis Hine had an affinity with the workingman. Jonathan Doherty, in the introduction to this book, says "Hine looked at workingmen with his camera and found a strength in them and a pride in their work that was common to all". He had a point because the photos show men controlling their machines and not the other way round, with these photos you can see craftsmen at work.

The sixty-nine excellent photos in the book (originally published in 1932) show forty-six taken during the construction of the Empire State Building and they are clearly not posed. Hine was given the assignment to cover the building work and so the photos have the raw energy of heavy work. The remaining twenty-three photos are much more formal studies of activity, lathe operators, engine drivers, coalminers, turbine engine grinders, welders and others are all creatively shown going about their work. I think these beautiful photos really show the respect Hine had for the working craftsmen.

Good (and inexpensive) as the book is I wish these photos could have been presented in a more formal setting, centred on each page with quality paper and printing to really do them justice.

A Constructed View: The Architectural Photography of Julius Shulman

Description:
Julius Shulman, one of the great master of architectural photography, is the preeminent recoreder of early California modernism. By 1927, when he was sixteen, Shulman was already using the family Brownie box camera to document his Southern Californis surroundings and experiences; in 1936, his professional career was launched when he sent Richard Neutra some uncommissioned photographs of the architect's Kun House. Shulman went on to document the famous Case Study House Program (architects included Charles and Ray Eames, Pierre Koenig, and Eero Saarinen) and also the architecure of the 1930s through the 1980s, especially that of Southern California, but also country and worldwide. His subjects included the buildings of R.M. Schindler, John Lautner, Raphael Soriano, Frank Lloyd Wright, Mies van der Rohe, Oscar Niemeyer, among many others. Through his work, Shulman defined the image of Los Angeles and framed the architecture of the time for a global audience. In addition to an overview of Shulman's career and photographic oevre, this book emphasizes Shulman's method of "constructing" photographic views. These contructions, which complemented his innate ability to compose striking photographs, often transcends reality to capture the spirit, time and place of a work of architecture. An analysis of architecture's visual presentation examines not only the media of the era--John Entenza's Arts & Architecture, for instance--but also the work of Shulman's photographic contemporaries.

Customer Review:
This catalog provides a history and overview of Shulman's work, along with a nice biography of the photographer. The print quality is good, and the selection of photographs convey the breadth and nature of Shulman's career from the 1930's to 1980's. As a whole, Shuman's work illustrates how purpose so often underlies great art.

In addition to the historical and catalog aspects of the book, the narrative provides some excellent instruction in architectural photography. A must for any photography library.

Customer Review:
Julius Shulman's work is simply amazing and this book is a great tribute to that work. This publication is far better than the Taschen book. A must for any modern architecture/photography fan.

Angkor: Cambodia's Wondrous Khmer Temples, Fifth Edition (Odyssey Illustrated Guide)

Description:
An indispensable guide to the culture, history and monuments of Angkor Thom. Included in this guide is, background information on Khmer history, religious beliefs and legends, as well as descriptions of the decorations and architectural features. A detailed monument-by-monument guide to the sites, including detailed maps and plans is also featured as well all the essential practical information.

Customer Review:
This book is an absolute necessity for visiting Angkor, at least if one has an interest in archaeology. In fact, knowing what I know now, I would have skipped hiring a guide and just rented a bicycle with this book as my guide. It is comprehensive, well-illustrated (although the illustrations are not always tied to the adjacent text--my most serious complaint about the book), and has the right balance between academic and popular interest. It is well-worth the extra weight involved in taking it along to Asia (I wish they had used cheaper paper and binding to make it lighter, but then the pictures wouldn't have been so inviting). Maps and organization make it easy to use, although the index sometimes is off by a page or two--perhaps they didn't update it all from the 4th ed. At any rate, it is far superior to all other guides I found on the subject.

Customer Review:
So many books available on Angkor ... and I bought Dawn Rooney's! I am just delighted with my choice. The photos and the scope of material covered in the book are so comprehensive. Would really love to spend days and days seeing it all! Maybe some day ....

Customer Review:
ANGKOR, Cambodia's Wondrous Khmer Temples is not only a very practical guide for visiting the Khmer monuments at the Angkor archaeological park but also for visiting the Khmer monuments in Phnom Penh. Furthermore this guidebook includes the most important remote temples (Banteay Chhmar, Koh Ker, Preah Vihaer, Beng Mealea).

Apart from a clear description of each temple it also gives a description from their location and from the access.

Important to mention also is the fact it gives a short but clear insight in the old epics (Mahabharata, Ramayana etc.) and legends and this book includes a list of the most forthcoming gods, deities and divinities which makes its easier to understand the bas-reliefs of the Khmer art and architecture.

The book also includes general and practical tourist information as well as for Siem Reap as for Phnom Penh.

Together with the book from Michael Freeman and Claude Jacques "Ancient Angkor" and the book from Jean Laur "Angkor, temples and monuments" one will have the most actual existing complete information about the Khmer art and architecture in Cambodia.
Ancient Angkor (River Book Guides)

Customer Review:
If you are like me and avoid tour guides as much as possible, but still like to know about the places you are visiting, then this book is for you. It gives excellent descriptions of the temples. It has lots of background information on the history and on the art you'll see. It also contains wonderful photography. Plus, it has lots of general information on traveling in Cambodia including a section on Phnom Penh. If you are doing a basic Cambodia visit of Siem Reap and Phnom Penh, then this book is all you really need.

My only complaint is that it is a big book, bigger than other tour books like Lonely Planet or Rough Guide. This is a problem if you are trying to travel as light as possible. However, I still recommend taking it.

A general suggestion for visiting the temples: be aware that they are now apparently the second most visited tourist destination in Asia. Lots of Asian tour groups everywhere. To avoid them, go early! Get going at 6AM (or even earlier and go see the sunrise over Angkor Wat!). Then you'll have the temples to yourself for a couple of hours. Midday, when the tours go back to their hotels for lunch is also good, as is late afternoon/early evening. But even with the tour groups around, it is still an amazing place!

Customer Review:
I just returned from a 3-day visit to Angkor and used this book as a background and then as a detailed guide to visit each temple. It is most useful, providing detailed and accurate maps and descriptions of each temple and guiding the reader through the highlights. Well written and easily beats listening endlessly to the vague chatter of most on-site guides.

Angkor Cities and Temples

Description:
Features the most significant monuments of Angkor, showing the extraordinary achievements of the Khmer civilization.

Customer Review:
I had always wanted to visit the Angkor temples.And I was looking for some good books on Angkor. When I saw this book, I immediately bought it inspite of its price. The text is crisp and illuminating. And the photographs are the best I have seen of Angkor. They are so real and dramatic that you feel that you are right there. The only drawback with this book is its size. It is mammoth, making it a reference guide rather than a guide you can bring with you on your travel to Angkor. Nevertheless, only in this book has justice been done to the magnificent temples of Angkor. If there is only one book you buy this year, make it this one.

Customer Review:
Angkor: Cities and Temples by Claude Jacques, et al undoubtedly presents one of the most enchanting illustrative descriptions of Khmer architectural design and history I've ever seen. The photos are crisp and clean and the printing quality is first class. However, the text, translated from French, is overly technical and lacks a sense of cohesiveness, which would have otherwise made it easier to percieve the "big picture" concerning the period of Angkor.

Customer Review:
Angkor Cities And Temples is perhaps one of the most beautiful books I have ever had the pleasure of owning. Everything about it beckons the reader to remain absorbed in its pages. The text by Claude Jacques is erudite, well-written, and very well translated. The photography by Michael Freeman is astonishingly good. Not only by virtue of his technical skills, which are considerable, but because he handles the art and architecture of the monuments with a tremendous sensitivity to detail and a glorious feel for the way in which light interacts dramatically with stone. Together, the flowing text and luminous colour images provide a wondrous exposure to an ancient world of great sophistication and profound aesthetic development.

Customer Review:
This is a sumptuous history of the ancient Khmer Temples in and around Cambodia.

The history is clear the explanations are concise and the photos are stunning. Coming near to doing justice of these magnificant temples.

A mouthwatering introduction or a cherished souvenir

Cottages: The New Style

Description:

Through exquisite photography and drawings, this book presents romantic and dramatic cottages in a range of styles from the contemporary to the traditional.Placing particular emphasis on interior design, it displays beautiful decoration as well as focusing on the design of such very cottage-like elements as fireplaces, porches, and kitchens. The cottages presented have been selected for their excellence in design, innovative use of materials and methods of construction. Each case study includes interior and exterior photography by some of the finest architectural photographers working today; drawings include site plans, details, and floor plans.

Customer Review:
Mr. Trulove captures the spirit and vitality of cutting edge cottage and second home designs. Beautiful writing and photographs. This hard cover book is a vast improvement from his earlier series on Architecture. Also the smaller size is easier to carry and read away from the office. Very inspiring to read as a Landscape Architect!
Craig Okerstrom-Lang, RLA

Ellis Island: Ghosts of Freedom

Description:

"Wilkes's photographs of the 'dark side' of Ellis Island are extraordinary…this book will be a major event."—David McCullough

For five years (1998-2003) New York photographer Stephen Wilkes explored the hospital complex that comprised the south side of Ellis Island. Neglected for almost fifty years, the buildings were in a state of extreme disrepair: lead paint peeled from the ceilings and walls, vines and trees grew through the floorboards, detritus and debris littered the hallways. In rooms long-abandoned, Wilkes captured a spirited new vision of this gateway to freedom.

Twelve million people passed through Ellis Island. Approximately one percent were turned away for health reasons. Wilkes's powerful images of the underbelly of the island—a purgatory between freedom and captivity—ask us to reflect on the defining experiences of millions. With that rare combination of an eye that sees far beyond the lens with the technical acumen of a master draftsman, Wilkes takes us on an unforgettable journey through our collective past. 77 color photographs.

Customer Review:
The photographer has really captured the feel of Ellis Island. A visit to the island is a must for people visiting New York. Whether this was the first stop for your ancestors on their arrival to the new world, or they came through other ports of entry, I think the general experiences were the same. All the feelings of expectation, fear, joy or the disappointment of making such a long journey only to be detained or turned back while in sight of the "promised land" are tangible in Stephen Wilkes' images.

Customer Review:
As an artist, I purchased this after my artist friend showed it to me, to use as a guide for selecting particular colors and/or color combinations in abstract paintings. It is amazing that the light in the photos has been captured as it truly was--not altered or enhanced with SW to convey a particular mood. Everyone I have showed this to has been propelled to stop and look through every image in the book--it draws you in as you flip through the pages. The colors portray emotion. Content is one of a kind. Highly recommended.

Customer Review:
I found this book to be stunning and thought provoking-I wondered about how frightened and angry immigrants must have been to be treated in such a way after what they went through before.

Customer Review:
The pictures speak of the passing of time with such a quietness. One can only imagine the complete opposite when Ellis Island was a sea of humanity speaking and crying and hoping while glimpsing NY's famed skyline so nearby. So many hopes realized, so many unfulfilled.

Customer Review:
I Love this book, the pictures are beautiful, the design and layout make the pictures and quotes very moving. As a photographer I admire the quality of the work, and the bright vivid prints. I love that most of the images are full pages, sometimes spread across two pages, with small text labeling the room, or part of the property. There are no frames, page designs, or paragraphs to take away from the imagery. For more information and details the photographer includes a section of thumbnails with descriptions, stories about the room, or the shooting conditions, or even bitd of history. The thumbnails and text are at the back of the book with an arial shot and map showing the layout of the buildings. It really helps to peice together the history of Ellis Island. The quotes including add to the emotion behind the images, and I like that they were on parchment paper, so that you can see the pictures behind it. The books are being enjoyed by me and my mother, who is very interested in the hostory of Ellis Island, while I enjoy it for the photography. Great book to own, everyone should have a copy.

The Mythic City: Photographs of New York by Samuel H. Gottscho, 1925-1940

Description:
Daring, bold, dramatic, towering, impossibly glamorous: this is how we imagine New York in its golden age, and this is how Samuel H. Gottscho, the preeminent architectural photographer of his generation, captured it. Through his lens, New York of the 1930s became the quintessential modern metropolis, a round-the-clock city in which night was as charismatic as day. Rigorously editing out the Depression-weary city's more seamy aspectsits tenement slums, breadlines, and soup kitchensGottscho presented a dreamlike Gotham of skyscrapers and penthouse luxury that literally and figuratively glowed with glamour's sheen. His gimlet eye focused on the bold interplay of sun and shadow, dramatizing the chiseled forms of Manhattan's signature skyline and bridges. The Empire State and Chrysler buildings, Rockefeller Center, the Plaza, the George Washington BridgeGottscho brought them all to sparkling life.

In this beautifully produced, landmark book, historian Donald Albrecht presents 175 of Gottscho's extraordinary images of the city, from the Battery to Harlem. An introductory essay tells the story of this legendary photographer, describing his working methods and philosophy, while placing his work in the broader context of photographic history. The exhibition The Mythic City will open at the Museum of the City of New York in the fall of 2005.

Published in association with the Museum of the City of New York.

Customer Review:
A friend of mine travelled to NYC not long ago and fell in love with this city. So my idea was to find a beautiful album about NY as a birthday present, but I didn't want to buy anything with average photographs of skyscrapers that repeat from one calendar to another.
Thanks to the snapshots provided to this book review I felt that it should have a personal touch and wouldn't be boring. It turned out to be true! now I'm thinking about ordering another one for myself.

Customer Review:
My husband and I used this beautiful book as a guestbook at our wedding.
We met and fell in love in New York City. Now that we live abroad, we miss the place tremendously. The photos in the book are gorgeous and capture our love for the City. Our guests were very creative in using the book's format to write their wishes for us. I highly recommend this book if you love NYC!

Customer Review:
This book was a total waste of money and time. Boring, repetitive and uninspired photos taken years ago by an architectural photographer for his clients and I have no idea why someone thought this worthy of publication.

I'm planning on returning it.

Customer Review:
I thought it was very apt to use the word mythic in the title of this wonderful book. Surely Samuel Gottscho as much as anyone helped to create the popular visual concept of the dynamic American metropolis, a city of towers by day and a kaleidoscope of dazzling light by night, his work must have especially influenced creative folk from comic book artists to Hollywood art directors, the graphic city image is straight out of his photos.

Apart from the short intro essay the book is basically photos, divided into several sections and covering, for instance, bridges, Times Square, business, commercial and residential areas of Manhattan plus a few photos of the 1939 New York World's Fair. It is with the night photos where Gottscho really excelled. To achieve his luminous effect he took two exposures, one at dusk to define the building shapes and another some hours later to capture all the blazing window lights. I think these photos plus the ones of Times Square at night look quite stunning.

Another reason I like the book is the coverage of streamline design that keeps on appearing in many of the photos, not just the skyscrapers but interiors of retail units, Radio City, some of the apartment interiors and obviously the '39 World's Fair.

The book is well printed and designed and the paper makes the photos sparkle with their 200 dpi screen. The captions are basically the location, date and architect though frequently there is more detail provided where necessary. Overall I thought this was a fascinating photobook of what New York looked like in the recent past.

Customer Review:
A classic portrait of New York City taken from the late 1920's to the late 1930's. Samuel Gottscho was a professional photographer specializing in buildings. He was hired by architects and builders to record their work. It seems that Mr. Gottscho photographed every building of note, every bridge from a time now long past. But the buildings remain, just different. The streets remain, but with a lot more cars.

These photographs, all in black and white, seem to me to be the city equivalent of the Ansel Adams nature pictures. There is the same use of strong and dramatic lighting. There is the same concentration on dramatic framing. The city comes out looking clean and friendly. Here in the General electric showroom there is a display of GE's new home refridgerators, comple with the coils on top, and Chrysler's new cars for 1936.

Mostly these are photographs of the exterior scenes with the then new sky scrapers emphasized. But also includedd are some dramatic interiors of the homes of the rich and famous.

Dramatic photographs from the midst of the depression with World War II yet to come.

Angkor: Celestial Temples of the Khmer

Description:
An exquisitely illustrated history and exploration of Angkor, the world's most astonishing architectural treasure.

Built between the ninth and the thirteenth centuries by a succession of twelve Khmer kings, Angkor spreads over 120 square miles in Southeast Asia and includes scores of major architectural sites. In 802, when construction began on Angkor Wat, with wealth from rice and trade, Jayavarman ll took the throne, initiating an unparalleled period of artistic and architectural achievement, exemplified in the fabled ruins of Angkor, center of the ancient empire. Among the amazing pyramid and mandala shaped shrines preserved in the jungles of Cambodia, is Angkor Wat, the world's largest temple, an extraordinarily complex structure filled with iconographic detail and religious symbolism. Perhaps because of the decline of agricultural productivity and the expansion of the Thai Empire, Angkor was abandoned in the fifteenth century and left to the ravages of time. Today, many countries continue efforts to conserve and restore the temples, which have been inaccessible until recently. Now that the civil war has ended, Angkor is being reborn and is an increasingly popular tourist destination.

Undaunted by the difficulties of traveling through Cambodia and eastern Thailand, Jon Ortner, accompanied by his wife Martha, has photographed fifty of the most important and unique monuments of the Khmer Empire. His images include spectacular views from the rooftops of its temples, glorious landscapes, and details of inscriptions and art that few have ever seen.

The text by a team of distinguished experts provides historical, architectural, and religious analyses of Angkor and the Khmer civilization. The Appendix offers a glossary, a chronology of construction, and a chart of the kings and their accomplishments. Black-and-white floor plans and historic watercolors complete this breathtaking tribute.

Other details: 240 illustrations, 225 in full color

Customer Review:
Excellent book! I wish I had known about this book before I went to Angkor Wat.

Customer Review:
Angkor, Celestial temples of the Khmer Empire is a photobook limited to the Angkor Site and some outlining temples. Although the quality of the photo's is excellent, the book itself with regards to the informative value is disappointing. An exception to this is the chronology of sites. Angkor: Temples et monumentsThe Treasures of Angkor: Cultural Travel Guide (Rizzoli Art Guide)Angkor: Cambodia's Wondrous Khmer Temples, Fifth Edition (Odyssey Illustrated Guide)Ancient Angkor (River Book Guides)Angkor Cities and Temples

Customer Review:
I purchased three books on Angkor Wat after my week visit to Siem Reap, Cambodia and this book was by far the best I have seen. The photos are excellent and the narration in very informative. It is expensive but worth it.

Customer Review:
Wow, what a spectacular book, truly amazing. I was blown away by the quality of the photography, the reader actually feels like they are in the jungle amid the ruins of Angkor. I have never visited Angkor Wat and probably never will, but after experiencing this book, I feel somehow that I have been there. The quality of the book is superior and the book even comes in a wonderful case. The publisher should be congradulated, it's a luxurious book. Some books are extremely expensive and you wonder why, I can assure you, you will not ask that about this one. If you have any interest in this subject or just like to own beautiful things I urge you to purchase this book, it will be a jewel in your book collection

Customer Review:
Through his magical photographic eye, Jon Ortner has created a wondrous collection of striking images and scholarly prose. His perfectly lit photographs and well-documented historic descriptions allow one to easily understand this complicated ancient subject. Each temple is clearly organized into relevant sections from the central Angkor area to the rare and never-before-seen temples in the outer lying areas. If you have visited Angkor - Ortner's book is the perfect addition to your library. Or, if you have not visited, this book provides the perfect impetus.

Toolkit for the Digital Photographer - Part 2

2008-02-01T20:18:00.000-05:00

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Peter_Phun]Peter Phun

So, for the professional photographer who works on location, here are hardware suggestions that can help avert a "photo disaster."

1) Plentiful supply of an assortment of batteries whether rechargeables or disposables. Radio slaves might use 9-volt batteries, triple or double As. Proprietary batteries for digital slrs are problematic and pricey but they tend to hold the longest charge. Some manufacturers have battery holders that allow you to pop in double A's. The battery grip for the Canon 40D for instance accepts 2 proprietary Canon batteries or 8 double A's.

It is obvious that without power, you are "up the creek." Everything you do depends on you having power whether it is ac or dc.

2) A power inverter which plugs into your car's cigarette lighter. Since the cigarette lighter is fast becoming an artifact in today's car, you should put that "jack" to good use. Besides giving the ability to charge your batteries when driving, the inverter will also allow you to run small appliances like a laptop for on-location editing or power small appliances.
Don't forget a ample supply of fuses for your car.
When there are blackouts, this inverter may be your only source of power to charge your various batteries.

3) A portable battery powered dvd burner like the Delkin Burnaway which allows you to download images and clear your memory cards so you can continue shooting on location.

A similar portable device like the JOBO Giga is a battery operated hard drive of varying capacity ranging from 200 GB to 80 GB. The Gig has slots for inserting your memory cards to allow you to download your images from your memory cards without the hassle of pulling out your laptop.

4) Gaffer tape. Don't mistaken this for duct tape. Gaffer is the same color but is matte and not shiny like duct tape. More importantly Gaffer tape leaves little or no residue and costs more.

5) Large black fabric of at least 9' x 6'. This "portable background" can be make any distracting background disappear when strategically draped.

6) A gray card/white on the other side for setting a custom white balance when you're caught in a room with mixed lighting.

7) A light stand and at least a heavy duty clamp. The light stand in a jam can stand in as a tripod or when used with the clamp can hold in place a makeshift reflector or hold a portable flash unit off camera.

8) Extension cords of varying lengths.

Peter Phun is an adjunct photography instructor at Riverside City College. He is a freelance photographer, web designer and stay at home dad. He previously worked as a staff photographer for 18 years at The Press-Enterprise, Southern California's 4th largest daily newspaper. Peter is the webmaster for the Mac user group in the Inland Empire. For more information about this Riverside based photographer, visit http://www.peterphun.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Peter_Phun http://EzineArticles.com/?Toolkit-for-the-Digital-Photographer---Part-2&id=946989

Toolkit For The Digital Photographer Part One - Software

2008-02-01T20:17:00.000-05:00

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Peter_Phun]Peter Phun

Just as a wood-working artisan has special chisels for his trade, every working professional digital photographer has over time put together his own "toolkit."

On the software or post production end, these are necessities:

1) "Rescue Pro" software is something no one wants to think about, but in the real world, is a necessity.The digital photographer who foolishly thinks it will never happen to him, just needs to be burned once and he'll become a believer.

If you buy a SanDisk high-end memory card like those "Extreme III or IV" variety, not only is there a lifetime warranty, but they also ship with this file recovery utility.

Never wait till you have an actual corrupted file to test the software. The best thing you can do is after you're done downloading and archiving your images, erase and format the memory card. Then launch this file recovery utility to see how many of those images can be recovered.

Remember, Dirty Harry said, "Man's got to know his limitations."

2) Genuine Fractals or Extensis' Smart Pixel. Either one of these photoshop plug-ins allow you to scale up a image which you might have shot with perhaps an old camera which didn't have the megapixels you need for a huge print.

3) Picture Code's Noise Ninja.($80) This plug-in with Photoshop reduces the inherent noise in digital images shot in high ISO.

4) Finally, a disk utility application like Disk Warrior or Micromat's Tech Tool Pro and that install disk that came with your computer should be included in that toolkit. These applications are for the Macintosh platform but I'm certain there are similar counterparts in the Windows world.

If your internal hard drive crashes and you can't boot up, these dvds or cds can be your only salvation. What these discs allow you to do is boot up your computer, attempt to repair or "band-aid" the hard drive allowing you to safely download your data from your suspect internal hard drive.

Peter Phun is an adjunct photography instructor at Riverside City College. He is a freelance photographer, web designer and stay-at-home dad. He previously worked as a staff photographer for 18 years at The Press-Enterprise, Southern California's 4th largest daily newspaper. Peter was among the first on the staff at the newspaper who embraced the change from film to digital, but like most photojournalist his age, has shot miles and miles of black and white and color film.

Peter is the webmaster for the Mac user group in the Inland Empire. For more information about this Riverside based photographer, visit http://www.peterphun.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Peter_Phun http://EzineArticles.com/?Toolkit-For-The-Digital-Photographer-Part-One---Software&id=924337

Travel Photography - Covering Your Subject

2008-02-01T20:15:00.000-05:00

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Mark_Eden]Mark Eden

Many different elements go into making up the character of a particular destination or location, whether it be a far flung exotic city or your home town. It is the travel photographer's job to cover these elements in order to present that character to the viewer. This article looks into what goes into bringing the character of a subject to the audience.

Essential Elements

There are many separate "parts" that make a location what it is, but these generally boil down to landscape, people and culture. Let's look at these in a little more depth.

Landscape

Every city, mountain range or coastal area has its own unique look and feel. This might be created by architecture exclusive to that part of the world, such as Gaudi's designs that are so prominent in Barcelona. Or well known landmarks (Eiffel Tower anyone?) or rough seas and steep cliffs like those so characteristic of the northern coasts of Scotland and Ireland. What does it look like in the morning? At night? The location might take on several personalities through the day so it is essential to try to capture as many of these as you can to give a broader picture.

People

Possibly the most influential factor in the character of a location is the people who live there. The way they look and dress, the way they carry themselves, the lifestyle they live and the customs they observe. Is there a particular piece of clothing that defines them? Or maybe a certain characteristic. For example, if they are known to be happy and smiling people, show them as such. If they are known to be hardworking, try to include some shots of workers.

Culture

This can encompass subjects such as food and drink. Local dishes give an immediate insight into the way of life lived by people of that area. Freshly caught seafood may be a specialty of the area, or it may be famous for a particular dessert or drink. Culture can also be shown in the festivals and events held in the particular region. This might be an annual parade where locals dress in the traditional costumes of their ancestors, or a huge street party that captures the energy and vibrancy of a population.

Putting It Together

To put these elements in photographic terms, I like to think of the process as zooming in on a subject. Starting with the landscape element described above, you essentially form an overview, or wide angle view of the subject, capturing surroundings. Distinctive buildings and landmarks give a feel and sometimes instant recognition to the location. Zoom in to form a collective portrait of the people, their way of life and daily activities. It is a good idea to use both posed portraits and candid shots to show personalities as well as customs and way of life. Finally zooming in further to capture details such as local food and dishes and detailed studies of buildings. Text such as in shop signs shows languages spoken. Also any products that are traditional or well known in the area. For example, leather goods from Morocco, or electronics from Japan.

Travel photography is in a sense a very broad specialization. Possibly not a specialization at all. A travel photographer needs to be a landscape photographer, portrait photographer, still life photographer and nature photographer often all in the space of a single shooting session. Learn to cover all these elements within the broader subject and you are well on your way to becoming a more accomplished photographer.

Mark Eden is a freelance [http://www.expansephotography.com ]travel photographer and writer, and the founder and director of Expanse Photography, a photographic services company offering fine art, [http://www.expansephotography.com/studio/index.php ]limited edition prints as well as stock and assignment photography and publishing services. Mark can be contacted through the Expanse Photography website

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mark_Eden http://EzineArticles.com/?Travel-Photography---Covering-Your-Subject&id=950588

The 3 Most Vital Steps To Becoming A Paid Photographer

2008-02-01T20:13:00.000-05:00

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Danny_Eitreim]Danny Eitreim

For many of us, photography has been a passion for most of our lives. We've studied photo techniques, lighting, posing and so on. We've dreamed of becoming a paid photographer and working at our dream job - but, we don't know where to start.

We know we're talented - all our friends and relatives are constantly hounding us to do their portraits or "take a few shots" at their weddings. And frankly, we're getting a little tired of doing free work - especially when the "pros" make thousands of dollars for doing the exact same thing.

Working at a mall photo studio doesn't seem too exciting - we look downright weird in a beanie with a propeller on top, plus there doesn't seem to be any emphasis on creativity. The poses are all the same, the lighting is all the same, not to mention the fact that the mall photographers don't make much more than minimum wage.

What to do? We COULD take a mall photo job - and let our dreams and abilities atrophy and die a slow agonizing death. Or, we could try to get a job as an intern or an assistant to another photographer - and lug around equipment all day, for no pay. In a couple years we might even be allowed to touch the camera!

Or, we could start our OWN photo business!

It's not hard. The mall photographers taught us that we can get started by learning a few basic poses and lighting patterns. If our friends really ARE after us to do their photos, these are poses that we are already comfortable using. Particularly if we've been studying photography for any length of time at all.

Then once we know we've covered the basics, (the poses that our customers will undoubtedly want) we can get creative and put our own vision and style into the session. Finally, we're living the life of our dreams AND by cutting out all the corporate middlemen, we are making a decent living! So, the first thing we need to make money in the life of our dreams is the courage to get started! This is by far the hardest step.

The second thing we have to do is set up the mechanical side of our business. Get a business license, business checking account, business cards, look into getting the ability to accept credit/debit cards and so on. (This step CAN and probably should be done after we have step number three functioning.) True it's a hassle, but this is all fast and easy to do. Plus, if you do everything right and legal from the start, it avoids a lot of problems further down the road. Any accountant can help you get set up with your bookkeeping and show you what records you will need to keep, etc.

The third thing we need is customers.

This step is easier than you may think. Let's face it, almost everyone uses professional photography at some point in their lives. And most of us use it a LOT! We get our weddings photographed, we get our Bar and Bat Mitzvahs photographed, we get baby pictures, school photos, family portraits, dance recitals, Christenings and on and on...

Finding potential customers is no problem. Even better, as more and more people become aware of the importance of portraiture, the industry - at least from my experience - is growing.

To find unending streams of potential clients all clamoring for your services is a simple matter of knowing how to inexpensively reach them with your marketing materials - when they are in the market for photography. Teaching YOU how to do that is my specialty. Click the link in the bio box and it will take you to a free photo marketing newsletter. (Plus you get a free ebook.) Learning to make money with your photography is easier than you think. I can take you from a dead start and you could be cashing checks within two weeks. Check it out, there's nothing to lose.

You may feel free to reprint and publish this article at will as long as it remains intact and unchanged, including the author bio box.

Dan Eitreim has been a professional photographer in southern California for over 16 years. His data base exceeds 6000 past clients, and he says that selling YOUR photography is easy - if you know a couple tried and true marketing strategies. He's created a multimedia presentation that can teach ANYONE how to sell their own photography and generate freelance income in as little as two weeks. To learn more and enroll in a FREE photo marketing course, go to: http://www.PartTimePhotography.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Danny_Eitreim http://EzineArticles.com/?The-3-Most-Vital-Steps-To-Becoming-A-Paid-Photographer&id=955987

Portrait Photography: Tips for better portraits

2008-01-28T19:43:00.000-05:00

by John Eva

For anyone who is interested in becoming a portrait photographer it is important to know that a good portrait photograph has to capture the essence of who the subject is. To be able to achieve this, the photographer has to have the ability to get the correct exposure, accurately focus on the subjects face and also have the right equipment. Here are some things to keep in mind when doing portrait photography.

The first thing to give careful thought about is the equipment you will need to use to take portrait photographs. You can start off with a basic 35mm camera and there are many options to choose from on the market. Get one that you are comfortable with and that has the specification you desire. Many portrait photographers prefer those that use film over the digital cameras. Film it is said captures softer skin tones. Yet many other photographers prefer digital cameras because they can do more with the picture and these cameras can also take a vast amount of pictures. If you choose to have your own digital darkroom, be prepared to spend a tidy sum to have it done.

You will need lenses for the camera with focal length between 85mm to 135mm. These focal lengths give the portrait photographer the ability to get full frames when shooting from distance and they also lessen the occurrence of perspective distortion. Other equipment that you will need to do portrait photography include, studio lights, a reflector to bounce light rays, cable release to keep the camera from moving during the shoot, and an exposure meter to calculate exposure.

For professional looking photographs it is important that there not be too many things in the picture. This is also true when doing someone portrait. Therefore get rid of anything in the background or around the subject that may crowd the picture and that does not need to be there. The photograph must focus on the subjects face and not take away from it in any way. If you are unable to totally control the environment then you should move the subject to a position where there is little or no clutter. When taking the picture it is best to focus as best as you can on the subjects eyes. By focusing on the subjects eyes you will normally end up with a good picture. It manners little whether or not other things around is focused on, the eyes is where the portrait photographer should put his attention.

Experienced photographers who do portrait photography advise that it is best when taking the picture to blur the background. For those who use a point and shoot camera there may be a feature on it that can offer assistance with this all you will need to do is to put the camera in portrait mode. For those who have a Digital Single Lens Reflex camera it is best to employ a large aperture setting, and this also applies for those who take shots with their camera in manual or semi-manual mode.
These are a few of the things to keep in mind when doing portrait photography. They will help any portrait photographer to produce better and more inspired portraits.

Written on behalf of Mar Anderson Photography http://www.photoarte.co.uk
London Portrait Photographer

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Learning Photographic Lighting

2008-01-28T19:42:00.000-05:00

by Dan Eitreim

The true test of good photography lies in making your subjects look their best. This is done with using the correct lighting for their faces. Fortunately though, learning photo lighting is pretty easy.

Obviously you won't want to be spending all your free time in Photoshop, it would kill your profit margins.

Let's talk about lighting. To avoid spending all your time in Photoshop trying to correct mistakes, you'll need some techniques to control light. Here's a few ideas...

Rather than just shooting away, you will need to know the basic lighting and shadow patterns.

1. Closed loop
2. Open loop
3. Butterfly
4. Renaissance
5. Split light
6. Narrow light
7. Broad light

The good news is...all this information can be had for FREE! Simply spend a few hours at your local library in the photo section. Look up what each of these patterns are and take plenty of notes. You'll need each pattern in your
arsenal since each one is the best pattern for certain faces or artistic effects.

Let's do some experimenting! For this, leave your camera in the bag.

Grab a couple of kids - use your own or bribe the neighbor's kids - and have them sitting on a chair in a darkened room. Now, with a flashlight as your only source of light, learn where the light has to be positioned - in relation to the face - to create each of the patterns. Draw diagrams and make notes in a notebook you can stick in your camera bag and always have with you.

At this point we are concerned with the angle of the light.

Once you know the what angle the light needs to be in - in order to create each of the lighting/shadow patterns - then start playing with the intensity. Move the light closer and further away. What affect does that have on the length and intensity of the shadows?

Try diffusing the light by covering it with a piece of tracing paper or some other transparent material. See what that does to the shadows? It's the same as a cloud moving between your subject and the sun.

Next, have one of the kids hold the flashlight in place - we'll call this the main light - and add a second flashlight at camera position. We'll call this one the fill
light. Now create one of the patterns. i.e. the closed loop - which is the same as Renaissance by the way. What happened to the shadows when you added the second light?

What happens if you move it to a different position? What does it do to the shadows to move closer? Further away?

What about the background? Move your model closer and further away from the wall. What happens to the background with one light? How about two? Do the shadows change?

A couple hours with a cooperative model and a couple flash lights should answer all your lighting and shadow issues. Make notes.

Once we are comfortable with the patterns and how to create them, all we have to do is make them on location.

If your vision calls for using one light, use the sun. Position your subject so that the sun is at the right angle to create the pattern you are after. You may have to adjust the time of day you select in order to get the angles, intensity and color of light you are after.

If your vision calls for a single diffused light, put something between the sun and your subject. Remember our tracing paper experiment? You'll need some type of diffusion blocking the sunlight.

You could use a large piece of translucent nylon, a white sheet or you could buy a professional diffusion screen. If you are feeling really high tech, you could wait for a cloud to float by or use the shadow of the nearest tree.

If the look you want calls for two lights - a main and a fill - use the sun as your main and your on camera flash as the fill light. If diffusion is called for, use the above methods to diffuse the sun and you can diffuse the flash by
taping on a piece of tracing paper. Need more diffusion? Use two layers of paper. Translucent plastic diffusers are also available for most flashes.

Lighting can be quickly and easily learned and the results are worth the effort.

Feel free to reprint and publish this article at will as long as it remains unchanged and intact, including the author bio.

Dan Eitreim is a professional photographer in southern California with a customer base of over 6000 clients. He says ANYONE can learn to sell their OWN photography and be making money in as little as 2 weeks. For more information and a free ebook, go to: http://www.PartTimePhotography.com
or http://www.FreelancePromo.com

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Photographing The Human Face - Minimizing Wrinkles!

2008-01-28T19:41:00.000-05:00

by Dan Eitreim

This is the first in a series of articles designed to improve your photography.

Your job as a photographer (whether you're an amateur or professional) is simple. You have to make your subjects look as good as they've EVER looked without your tricks and techniques being obvious. That's a task easier said than done.

A number of repairs and improvements can be done in Photoshop, but unless you are a true master at retouching, it's hard to do too much without ruining the portrait. The more problems that you fix "in the camera" the better off
you will be and the easier it will be to get seamless retouches.

Today let's talk about wrinkles and acne.

You won't have to do many portrait studies to realize your models all have a few traits in common. Your older subjects want to look younger, even if they don't say they do, and younger subjects want to minimize their acne.

Let's face it, as we get older our wrinkles become more pronounced and actually deeper. Wrinkles are the first photographic signs of our age but they're a problem that is actually fairly easy to fix.

What defines a wrinkle? It's the shadows filling in the crevices. As we get older and those crevices get deeper, the shadows become darker and darker. How to get rid of wrinkles and take years off your photographic model?

Lessen the shadows.

If you have light that is glancing across the face from above or to the side of the subject, the deepest part of the wrinkle crevices are not getting any light and appear darker. This makes our model look older. Depending on the
directionality and intensity of the light, this can add a lot of "visual" years to our subject.

To make your model look younger, have your light shining directly into their face. This way the light is able to get into the "bottom" of the wrinkle. The wrinkles are filled with light which lessens their shadow effect and the years
drop off dramatically. The time spent in Photoshop does too!

Acne? Use the same cure. Acne scars, pimples and other facial blemishes are at least partially defined by the shadows they cast on the face. Again, light skimming the face from the side will cast longer and harder shadows thus
making the acne scars more pronounced and pimples appear larger. Shine your light directly into the face and they will be minimized or disappear altogether.

Use a reflector of some sort or even your on camera flash in addition to the sun to fill in the shadows. Your smooth faced teens and wrinkle free adults will thank you.

Feel free to reprint and publish this article at will as long as it remains unchanged and intact, including the author bio.

Dan Eitreim is a professional photographer in southern California with a customer base of over 6000 clients. He says ANYONE can learn to sell their OWN photography and be making money in as little as 2 weeks. For more information and a free ebook, go to: http://www.PartTimePhotography.com
or http://www.FreelancePromo.com

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