Beginners book or DVD

IncredibleHulk

I am new to digital photography and am looking for a book or DVD to learn about it. I bought Digital Photography Interactive Training DVD and while it covers basic it is short and not great. See:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Digital-Photography-Interactive-Training-PC/dp/1905707185/ref=sr_1_1/202-9986751-1044658?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1193252525&sr=1-1

I also want to learn about editing digital photos. I understand Photoshop is the best but expensive. Has anyone used gimp at http://www.gimp.org/

Thanks

Calina

Try one of the Tom Ang books. Also worth doing is walkign into the photography section of either Borders or Hodges Figgis or if you're near one Waterstones or Easons (I think borders is best though) and just browse - you'll get a better feel for what it is you want.

IncredibleHulk

Calina wrote: »

Try one of the Tom Ang books. Also worth doing is walkign into the photography section of either Borders or Hodges Figgis or if you're near one Waterstones or Easons (I think borders is best though) and just browse - you'll get a better feel for what it is you want.

Ok thanks

Calina

On the subject of software, there's a range available. I've used the Gimp but stopped using it after some memory related problems. Should probably give it a try because it had some nice tools.

For myself, I use Photoshop Elements. It covers a range of multitude including the all important crop tool. I also use ACDSee Pro which has a very useful curves tool and colour converter. I tend to use them in tandem. If you look under digital processing there is some discussion on free alternatives too - I think paint.net is mentioned. Another option is pixenate which is a web based system.

A lot depends on what you think you'll want to do. I started off wanting to crop and convert to black and white and then I discovered curves and got corrupted from my purist ways.

RoryW

Scott Kelby has various books which arer written in a useful but light hearted way. He has books on Lightroom, PS and also one for "The Digital Photographer"

JMcL

If you're looking for an excellent introduction to photography, rather than specifically the digital end of it, then look no further than Understanding Exposure.

The GIMP has a new version out as of last week, it looks to have some very decent new features, including colour management. I use it a bit, and would use it more if it supported 16 bit editing (still no sign of that ) It's capable and you can do a lot with it, plus you certainly can't argue with the price!

Cabaal

JMcL wrote: »

If you're looking for an excellent introduction to photography, rather than specifically the digital end of it, then look no further than Understanding Exposure.

I also recommend this, somebody got it for my birthday back in September

rymus

+1 for Understanding Exposure and Learning to See Creatively. As JMcL says, the Bryan Peterson books aren't specifically written for digital camera users, they're for photography as a whole. They're both outstanding books. I think he has a third book on portraiture too which I must get my hands on.

kensutz

+1 for understanding exposure, got it last week and it's a great read. If only I can get the time to finish it

IncredibleHulk

JMcL wrote: »

If you're looking for an excellent introduction to photography, rather than specifically the digital end of it, then look no further than Understanding Exposure.

The GIMP has a new version out as of last week, it looks to have some very decent new features, including colour management. I use it a bit, and would use it more if it supported 16 bit editing (still no sign of that ) It's capable and you can do a lot with it, plus you certainly can't argue with the price!

Unfortunately it is digital side I want to learn. I have the Gimp but find it hard to learn, might go to a course. Thanks

Now looking at that book seems very good will probably buy even tho not strictly about digital, seems good intro to photography

RoryW

+ 1 Understanding Exposure

oshead

I highly recommend the DVD "The Perfect Picture" by the same Bryan Peterson. Also for beginners, he has a fun way of teaching photography with loads of really useful tips.

Hope this helps.

Dave OS

JMcL

IncredibleHulk wrote: »

Unfortunately it is digital side I want to learn. I have the Gimp but find it hard to learn, might go to a course. Thanks

With GIMP you're probably limited to the online tutorials, and it's a steep learning curve. Most Photoshop techniques can be applied in GIMP as well, though GIMP has a slightly different way of doing things (there's a version with a more Photoshop like user interface, which might help here, though I've never used it myself)

Another option is Photoshop Elements. This really is very capable, costs a fraction of the full blown PS, and has most of the functionality of its big brother. The advantage of this is that there'll be a lot more to be found in the way of books, tutorials, and articles (most of the Photoshop techniques, certainly the more basic ones, will work exactly the same way in Elements)