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DIGITAL CAMERA HOW-TO GUIDES 2008 (II)

Selected by Carol Cotton, Editor, Digital Camera Magazine

Complete Guide to High Dynamic Range Digital Photography By Ferrell McCollough
Paperback 2008 Lark Books - A Division of Sterling Publishing Co., Inc., 176 pages
ISBN 1-60059-196-5
$24.95 US

Thanks to high dynamic range (HDR) digital photography, the power to produce perfectly exposed, noise-free images is possible for photographers of all skill levels. By merging multiple images taken at varying exposures you can capture and display a much broader spectrum of light and detail than is currently possible with any other photographic technique.

Ferrell McCullough presents detailed information that takes you through setting up shots, to learning the software, to tone mapping and merging your final image. This fully illustrated guide is the first step to creating stunning photographs that capture the light of the world.

I knew from the cover alone that I'd want this book. After flipping through a few pages, I was certain! I've seen HDR photography before and wondered about how it's done. This book explains it all! A definite must-have for anyone wanting to make exquisite high dynamic range images! I am in awe!


The Complete Guide to Digital Photography By Michael Freeman
Paperback 2008 Lark Books - A Division of Sterling Publishing Co., Inc., 224 pages
ISBN 1-60059-301-1
$29.95 US

A comprehensive roundup of everything the digital photographer -- amateur or professional -- needs to know to start taking great photographs.

Ideal both for beginners who are new to photography and enthusiasts making the switch from film to digital.

Packed with easy-to-follow, beautifully illustrated projects to make learning a pleasure.

Written by the best-selling author of such popular titles as Mastering Black and White Digital Photography, Mastering Color Digital Photography, and The Complete Guide to Light & Lighting in Digital Photography.

What can I say ... Another fabulous book by Michael Freeman. Beautifully presented material, wonderful examples, and tons of information for all skill levels. This book is full of great images of how software works. Photographers, young and old, will benefit from this book. A great addition to any photographer's library.


Take Better Photos with your Phone By Peter de Ruiter
Paperback 2007 New Holland Publishers Ltd., 120 pages
ISBN 978-1-84773-002-2
$7.95 US

The phone is increasingly being used as a camera. The quality of the camera phone is constantly improving and this particular field of digital photography undergoes new developments every day. In Take Better Photos with your Phone, travel photographer, Peter de Ruiter provides readers with all the information needed on how to use the camera to its fullest potential. Spontaneous photos of unexpected moments taken with a camera phone can be instantly modified, sent and printed to provide tangible, long-lasting memories. Start out by taking the best photos possible.

Peter de Ruiter is a well-known travel photographer in the Netherlands and the successful author of several books on digital photography. Take Better Photos with your Phone is his fourth book. His books have been published in several countries, and organizations such as Unicef and Oxfam use his photos of children for books, greeting cards, calendars, and diaries.

This book has a lot of great examples of photos taking with phones! Between it's covers there's a lot of information to help with phone photography. The book covers such topics as why you should use your camera phone, how to improve your photos, settings, sending your photos, uploading your photos, portable storage, printing, and a whole lot more.


PCPhoto Digital SLR Handbook
By Rob Sheppard
Paperback 2008 Lark Books - A Division of Sterling Publishing Co., Inc., 175 pages
ISBN 1-60059-309-7
$19.95 US

The future of photography is here! Digital SLRs have quickly become popular with photographers because they offer all the professional control and performance of 35mm cameras plus great benefits like no more film to buy and instant review of images.

Enjoy To fully enjoy what digital SLRs offer, you need to learn about their many versatile features and how to use them to their best advantage. Now Rob Sheppard and PCPhoto, the leading digital photography magazine, show how easy and fun it is to shoot pictures with these incredible cameras and then transfer the pictures to a home computer.

Learn Take a close look at the digital SLR and its various components, and learn what to consider when selecting equipment, including lenses and accessories like filters and off-camera flash. If you already own a collection of 35mm lenses and accessories, find out how to use them with your new digital camera.

Examine Examine what makes digital photography special and more spontaneous than film and consider how the LCD moitor changes the way you shoot a picture. Unlike 35mm cameras, a digital SLR can help you take better photos by letting you instantly review the results on the monitor.

Master Mastering the camera setting -- and understanding digital features like resolution, white balance, and file formats -- will help you get the most from your equipment.

The material is nicely presented with beautiful photos for examples. Lots of comparisons so you can see what Rob refers to in this book. Lots of views of editing software so you know what to expect. This book is a great learning tool.


Canon EOS-1D Mark III / EOS-1Ds Mark III
By Michael Guncheon
Paperback 2008 Lark Books - A Division of Sterling Publishing Co., Inc., 240 pages
ISBN 1-60059-205-8
$19.95 US

Go far beyond the manufacturer's instruction book and take full advantage of all of the Mark III's features, such as its Live View function, fast and precise 45 point auto focus system, and DIGIC processor.

Enjoy your camera more and get professional results with the practical information, tips, and techniques in this complete guide. Expand your system with smart advice about choosing and using accessories, flash units, and lenses.

This book is packed full of guides, photos, examples, and instructions for Canon EOS-1D and Ds Mark III users. Nice photographic examples, directions, and a laminates Quick Reference Guide is also included.


Sony DSLR Alpha 700
By Peter K. Burian
Paperback 2008 Lark Books - A Division of Sterling Publishing Co., Inc., 240 pages
ISBN 1-60059-306-2
$19.95 US

Go far beyond the manufacturer's instruction book and take full advantage of all the Sony A700's features, such s its 12.4 mega pixel CMOS sensor, Dynamic Range Optimizer, and Super SteadyShot image-stabilization system.

Enjoy your camera and get professional results with the practical information, tips, and techniques in this complete guide. Expand your system with smart advise about choosing and using accessories, flash units, and lenses.

This book is packed full of guides, photos, examples, and instructions for Sony Alpha 700 users. Nice photographic examples, directions, and a laminates Quick Reference Guide is also included.


Langford's Basic Photography - The Guide for Serious Photographers By Michael Langdord, Anna Fox, and Richard Sawdon Smith
Paperback 2007 Focal Press is an Imprint of Elsevier Linacre House, 429 pages
ISBN 978-0-240-32035-3 $39.95 US

Langford's Basic Photography has informed the work and career of many of the world's leading photographers. It is a comprehensive guide to all aspects of photography, from pre-capture to output, written for photographers who want to understand the principles behind photography and how to create great images.

Inside this book you will learn:

How images are formed and how to control what you capture.
The best camera and lens type for your work.
The Principles and equipment of lighting.
How to organize the picture and measure exposure.
How to edit, organize, and store your digital images. How to print, finish, and present your photographs.
How to get your work noticed.

Stunning photographs and visual learning -- key principles and techniques are explained using diagrams and images. Inspirational and thought-provoking shots are shown throughout, from key images by photography greats to those by working professionals. Projects and Summaries at the end of each chapter help to cement newly learned skills and get you exploring key techniques.

This eighth edition has been entirely restructured and rewritten for digital photography while keeping up to date with traditional analogue photography. It will continue to instruct, inspire, and motivate up and coming photographers for generations to come.

 
The Concise Focal Encyclodedia of Photography By Michael R. Peres, Mark Osterman, Grant B. Romer, Nancy Stuart, PhD, and J. Tomas Lopez
Paperback 2008 Focal Press is an Imprint of Elsevier, Inc., 310 pages
ISBN 978-0-240-80998-4
$29.95 US

Defining photography is impossible. Revealing it is another matter, and that's what The Concise Focal Encyclopedia of Photography does, with each turn of the page.

History. The technical origins and evolution of photography are half of the story. The other half consists of the ways cultural forces have transformed photography into the most diverse mode of representation. Photographers can tell a more in-depth story through a photo like Dorthea Lange's "Migrant Mother" than a journalist ever could with the written word alone.

Major themes and practitioners. Over 25 entries, many with supporting illustrations, examine the figures, trends, and ideas that have contributed most heavily to the history and current state of photography.

Contemporary issues. The issues influencing photography today are more complex than at any other time in its history. Hear what the experts have to say about crucial issues such as whether or not the images we take today will last the test of time, and if so, how?

When material is covered this skillfully, concise is no compromise. The Concise Focal Encyclopedia of Photography is packed with useful information, compelling ideas, and -- best of all -- pure pleasure.


Black and White in Photoshop CS3 and Photoshop Lightroom By Leslie Alsheimer with Bryan O'Neil Hughes
Paperback 2007 Focal Press is an Imprint of Elsevier Linacre House, 241 pages
ISBN 978-0-240-52084-1
$39.95 US

Black and white photography has come a long way in the digital world. Feeling overwhelmed by the endless conversion options in (and around) Photoshop, Lightroom and beyond? If so, you're not alone, and this is definitely the book for you!

Learn from step-by-step tutorials and work through each conversion with clear, easy-to-follow instructions illustrated by a multitude of images and screen grabs.

Maximize image quality in capture and output with professional tips and tricks for speeding up your workflow.

Save time and learn professional techniques to creatively and technically improve your black and white photography and printmaking.

In this thoroughly up-to-date book that covers all of the new features of Photoshop CS3 and Lightroom, you'll learn how to use methods within an application or raw converter, scripts, plug-ins, and more. Leslie Alsheimer and Bryan O'Neil Hughes show you everything you need to know to uncover the secrets to successful black and white conversion and printmaking. Let the stunning images (presented in both color and black and white) show you just what is possible when you master these powerful tools.


Adobe Photoshop Elements 6
Maximum Performance
Unleash the Hidden Performance of Elements
By Mark Galer
Paperback 2008 Focal Press is an Imprint of Elsevier Linacre House, 304 pages
ISBN 978-0-240-52092-6
$34.95 US

Unleash the hidden potential for professional image editing in Adobe Photoshop Elements with this project-based, real-world guide.

Using step-by-step instructions and accompanying movie tutorials, Mark Galer leads you through the less well-known and most powerful post-production editing techniques Adobe Photoshop Elements has to offer. Cunning tricks and clever workarounds in this book show you how to create inspiring, professional-looking images and perform tasks you only thought possible in the full Adobe Photoshop package.

Whether you're an imaging professional or a photography enthusiast, this book will help you get the maximum performance from your software. Learn how to:

Create striking effects with no commercial lighting or studio equipment.

Extend they dynamic range of your digital camera by merging multiple exposures.

Optimize, enhance and montage images with stunning results.

The accompanying DVD provides extensive support with movie tutorials for all projects, high resolution images, multilayered files of completed projects, a stock library and a keyboard shortcut guide.


Advanced Photoshop Elements 6 for Digital Photographers By Philip Andrews
Paperback 2008 Focal Press is an Imprint of Elsevier Linacre House, 413 pages
ISBN 978-0-240-52097-1
$39.95 US

In this fully updated, essential guide to Adobe Photoshop Elements 6, Philip Andrews delves deeper into the software than ever before with advanced tips, tricks and techniques to help the experienced Elements user take their skills to the next level. Get the most from this powerful software and move beyond the basics as you learn how to:

Use cutting edge non-destructive editing and enhancing techniques.

Borrow Photoshop features such as Curves, Black and White, Selective Color and Color Balance for use right inside Elements.

Get the best image quality by working with raw files with the most comprehensive raw instruction available for Elements users.

Use extensive professional retouching techniques to restore family treasures and enhance your portrait images.

Create Stunning panoramas using the exciting updated Elements Photomerge technology.

Recreate your favorite darkroom techniques with more control than ever before.

Using easy-to-follow step-by-step instructions as well as full color inspirational images to demonstrate techniques, Philip shows you how to do all this and more in Advanced Photoshop Elements 6 for Digital Photographers. Don't fall behind the learning curve -- instead, let a world-renowned Elements expert show you how to get one step ahead!


Adobe Photoshop Elements 6
A Visual Introduction to Digital Photography
By Philip Andrews
Paperback 2008 Focal Press is an Imprint of Elsevier Linacre House, 411 pages
ISBN 978-0-240-52099-5
$39.95 US

The essential guide to Adobe Photoshop Elements 6 from the Elements expert!

This superb introductory guide to Adobe Photoshop Elements 6 will help you get your images in par with the pros in no time! There are endless ways to use this powerful software. Whichever task you have at hand, let best-selling author and Elements expert Philip Andrews show you how to get the results you want FAST with this invaluable book, website, and CD package to guide you along the way.

Packed with inspiring, full color images and easy to follow, precise step-by-step tutorials, you'll quickly learn how to navigate the new and improved features in Elements 6. Take your photos to the next level and find out how to:

Create scrapbooks, photo calendars, and albums.

Experiment with incredible Photomerge technology to combine the best parts of multiple images.

Improve the overall quality of your images by getting the most out of tools which help you organize, edit, enhance, and share your work.

An all-new CD containing over two hours of video tutorials and a supplemental website, www.guide2elements.com, complete this essential introductory Elements learning package. Stop wasting valuable time trying to figure out how to do what you want to do, and start creating!


Adobe Photoshop Lightroom
For the Professional Photographer
By David Huss and David Plotkin
Paperback 2008 Focal Press is an Imprint of Elsevier Linacre House, 172 pages
ISBN 978-0-240-52067-4
$34.95 US

Delve into the ultimate guide for professional photographers.

Harness the power and flexibility of the latest version of Adobe Photoshop Lightroom, version 1.1, with this expert guide. Professional photographers David Huss and David Plotkin show you how to work smarter, faster, and more creatively with their personal tips, tricks, and techniques that you can incorporate into your own workflow.

Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 1.1 is a powerful tool that you can integrate into your existing workflow to increase your productivity and improve the overall quality of your work. With this ultimate resource by your side, you'll learn how to:

Organize, adjust, process, output, and share digital pictures like the top professionals.

Personalize Lightroom with a custom Identity Plate.

Transition seamlessly between Lightroom and your favorite photo editor.

Quickly view and compare multiple shots, pairing selections down to your best work.

Correct images, adjust white balance, and fine-tune tone, balance, and exposure, crop and undo -- all without altering your original.

Automate your workflow by applying image adjustments to multiple photos.

Output proof and contact sheets.

And much more...

As you move from traditional separate image editing applications to this next generation software that was designed specifically for photographers, Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 1.1 for the professional Photographer unveils insider secrets and expert advice in this highly visual guide. Even after the release of Lightroom 2.0, this book still applies as many of the concepts have not changed.


 

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