The Digital Photography Companion
Derrick Story
O’REILLY
214 Pages
US $24.99 CAN $24.99
ISBN 978-0-596-51766-3
Who could have anticipated the almost rabid expansion of the imaging industry, and of cameras in particular, with the invention of digital photography? Digital cameras are everywhere, in cell phones and even in pens. They’re relatively cheap. And obviously can be made very small. Photography has become even more popular as the "every-man’s" art or hobby. Along with the proliferation of these imaging devices comes a glut of how-to books on the subject, second only in how-to information for the computer and it’s relevant software. Photography has become the back-pocket art-form of millions of snappers.
A lot of snappers are shooters who just want to take a snap-shot of something or someone who interests them at the moment, emailing shots, and either deleting them (the greatness of digital) or saving them for posterity. Nothing wrong with that. But some snappers become shooters interested in photography as an art-form. The Digital Photography Companion can be a very helpful guide for either type of shooter. Or any type, for that matter.
Derrick Story, author of this very handy guide, breaks down the walls of sophisticated camera-speak and tells the reader the what’s, how’s, when’s, and even the why’s with simplicity and common sense. The Digital Photography Companion, measuring a handy 8.5" X 5.5", is small enough to fit in a backpack or a large pocket. When a new camera buyer gets his first camera, buying this guide along with it would be a smart move. Derrick focuses in on the meat of subjects ranging from the cameras themselves to features to creative ideas. Even seasoned photographers can use the guide to check in once in a while to see if they’re on track for a certain kind of image in a given situation.
The first chapter of The Digital Photography Companion, What Is It, is basically a primer about what types of cameras there are available, and the features and benefits of the equipment. You’ll learn what all those buttons do, from diopter adjustments to shutter and aperture priority, and how to use them effectively. For the enthusiast this can be a handy check-list which can help save time and aggravation. Compact cameras, point and shoot, and DSLR cameras from popular manufactures, including Nikon, Canon, and Sony to mention a few, are discussed and compared.
Chapter Two, How Does it Work, will give you hands-on techniques in using all this equipment. Practical advice is priceless when it comes to taking photos because many times opportunities for certain images are few and far between: Lighting changes in seconds. Speeding cars go by in a flash. Fish can only soar out of water for a few seconds at a time, and elephants will stay still only so long before they decide to trample your sorry butt because you can’t decide on an f stop. As you can see, knowing what you’re doing before going out on a shoot can save not only time, but your life. Believe me when I tell you Derrick Story has covered most of the bases, simply. You’ll learn about flash and it’s many incarnations, focus lock, exposure, photo effects, and much much more. If you learn even most of what’s in Chapter Two you’ll be a better photographer than 90% of the shooters out there.
Then, in Chapter Three, How To Shoot Like a Pro, you’ll learn how to create. That is, use your knowledge to get the best shot in varied situations. Covered in this chapter are subjects like portraiture, kid shots, weddings, group shots, landscape, action, and even museum shots. He even goes into infra-red photography, fireworks capture, and underwater photography.
The next chapter, I’ve Taken Great Pictures, Now What, shows you how to send photos via the internet. prepare slide shows, convert still pictures into movies, recover photos from an erased memory card, and convert from color to black and white. This chapter also goes into photo management, which is very important if you want to keep track of all the images you’re going to have.
Chapter Five, Printing Made Easy, covers most of the basic printing techniques, and some more advanced work like calibrating your monitor. He talks about The Ten steps in Making a Beautiful Print. With today’s printers and software, making a really good print is a lot less problematic than it was just a few short years ago. Derrick will tell you about dedicated photo printers, and even how to shop for a desk-top photo printer. Check out his printer recommendations:
One of the great things about The Digital Photography Companion is the Appendix. Here, as Derrick Story tells us, is "A Quick-Reference Guide for a Variety of Camera Settings." That means we can look at the Lighting Situation on the left-hand side of the column and reference over to the right, under Recommended Exposure Compensation, to get practical guidance. Derrick includes tables for White Balance settings, Metering Modes, Camera Modes (shutter priority, manual, etc.), and Subject in relationship to ISO Speed, Aperture settings (f-stop) and shutter speeds. These Appendix present real-life photo-making situations, folks. Those of us who have been around cameras since the heyday of 35mm, taking pictures and fooling with all the o-rings and focusing rings and gobs of other things can bear witness to trying situations in lighting, and positioning, among the hundreds of other problems one may encounter in the field when conditions are less than ideal. It would have been wonderful for me if I could have had a Quick Reference Guide to help way back when. Now I do. And so can you.
If I was a new shooter, and I had a chance to leaf through this book I’d probably buy it. And even though I’ve been an enthusiast since 1969, that doesn’t that mean I can’t use this book. Nope. I’m going to use it. I can use all the help I can get. But new shooters will save themselves a lot of heartache and a long learning curve by simply following what Derrick has so systematically laid out for them.
The Digital Photography Companion is exactly what it’s supposed to be. A companion. Small enough to take along. And loaded with practical, on the spot guidance. There is a niche for this kind of publication. From cover to cover I recommend The Digital Photography Companion to those who are enthusiastic about photography and recognize the beauty of a fine photograph.
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