Digital photography book

Mr.Boots

Can someone please recommend me a good book for digital photography.
From the basics up.
Is there a book that is regarded as the best?
Also can you recommend some editing software for mac? Either inexpensive or free
Cheers

endacl

Mr.Boots wrote: »

Can someone please recommend me a good book for digital photography.
From the basics up.
Is there a book that is regarded as the best?
Also can you recommend some editing software for mac? Either inexpensive or free
Cheers

Scott kelby's 'digital photography book', available as a 3 volume box set from the book depository for less than US20 with free postage.

trooney

Can't go far wrong grabbing yerself a copy of this

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Understanding-Exposure-Photographs-Digital-Camera/dp/0817463003

padocon

endacl wrote: »

Scott kelby's 'digital photography book', available as a 3 volume box set from the book depository for less than US20 with free postage.

+1 The book one covers the basics.

Snowie

Being honest id watch a few tutorials on line on how to use your camera and then watch few more and then go out there you don't need to waste money on a opinionated books written bye old foogys who prefer talking about a subject then shooting it..

veimo you tube have some good basic tutorials out there...

endacl

Snowie wrote: »

Being honest id watch a few tutorials on line on how to use your camera and then watch few more and then go out there you don't need to waste money on a opinionated books written bye old foogys who prefer talking about a subject then shooting it..

veimo you tube have some good basic tutorials out there...

You haven't read kelbys books, have you...?

YouTube tutorials are great, presuming you get the one put up by somebody who knows what they're talking about, and can explain it. I teach music, and tbh, you really wouldn't believe the muck students come in with that they've picked up on yt. Lack of editing is the problem. Nobody there to say 'that's crap. Don't publish it'.
Also, while random tutorials may answer the question of what to do at step F, they don't always take you from A-E first, let alone indicate what step G might be.

I short, the yt stuff, in any field, is most useful when its useless. That is to say, when you already know enough to separate the wheat from the chaff, or the bull from the crap. When you don't need it any more.

Those kelby books are great. Equipment explained. Technique explained. Bite sized chunks with almost zero jargon, and every couple of pages, a 'recipe' of how to get a particular effect. For less than the price of an SD card.

Or fanny about on YouTube hoping you're not watching rubbish...

Snowie

endacl wrote: »

You haven't read kelbys books, have you...?

Nope I haven't because I'm dyslexic!
I can't read massive amounts o text...
apiture should be explained on one page as should shutter speed and ISO
after that if the person should be worrying about looking at pictures not.
reading subjective crap that puts them in a mould..

People should be left to discover what they like shooting and how they like shooting in there own way not have some author.. doing it...

Because at the end of the day why is a some who's writing about photography not out taking pictures ? Thats my view on it!

magicbastarder

Snowie wrote: »

Because at the end of the day why is a some who's writing about photography not out taking pictures ? Thats my view on it!

you could apply this notion to anyone writing about anything, except maybe writing itself.

endacl

Snowie wrote: »

Nope I haven't because I'm dyslexic!
I can't read massive amounts o text...
apiture should be explained on one page as should shutter speed and ISO
after that if the person should be worrying about looking at pictures not.
reading subjective crap that puts them in a mould..

People should be left to discover what they like shooting and how they like shooting in there own way not have some author.. doing it...

Because at the end of the day why is a some who's writing about photography not out taking pictures ? Thats my view on it!

Not that I'm here to defend those particular books, but they are extremely text-light. That's one thing that's so attractive about them. You're straight in there. Give them a try?

DaireQuinlan

Snowie wrote: »

Nope I haven't because I'm dyslexic!
I can't read massive amounts o text...
apiture should be explained on one page as should shutter speed and ISO
after that if the person should be worrying about looking at pictures not.
reading subjective crap that puts them in a mould..

People should be left to discover what they like shooting and how they like shooting in there own way not have some author.. doing it...

Because at the end of the day why is a some who's writing about photography not out taking pictures ? Thats my view on it!

you might find the most valuable photography books actually contain no pictures whatsoever :eek:

Snowie

DaireQuinlan wrote: »

you might find the most valuable photography books actually contain no pictures whatsoever :eek:

Wonderfull! How to words inspire something as visual as photography ? :roll eyes:

DaireQuinlan

Snowie wrote: »

Wonderfull! How to words inspire something as visual as photography ? :roll eyes:

Of course, because mere 'words' have never inspired anything ever

Also, I think you wanted a :rolleyes:

magicbastarder

Snowie wrote: »

People should be left to discover what they like shooting and how they like shooting in there own way not have some author.. doing it...

you'd have discovered the principle of hyperfocal focusing without having read about it?

Snowie

DaireQuinlan wrote: »

Of course, because mere 'words' have never inspired anything ever

Theres a massive difference between reading a book and taking in words then sitting there looking at stock agency books all day long any professional would say the same you learn more bye looking at peoples work... Not reading text!!!

maddog

To be honest when I started last year I went out and bought books...expensive books.... and I didn't even read them after the first few pages. I learned most stuff online.....loads and loads of reading and research and then putting it into practice....lots of trial and error:):) go with ever feels best for you.... and join a camera club;););)


Bren:)

Snowie

magicbastarder wrote: »

you'd have discovered the principle of hyperfocal focusing without having read about it?

Ok you do have a point how ever I still stick to my guns and say that to many people invest to much time in reading words when they should be looking at pictures...

If you disagree bye all means do so... But we all have different opinions and we all have been taught differently Im not trying to disregard any one opinions I just believe that pictures are more important then words...

magicbastarder

you should be expressing your argument in this thread through pictures.

jaansu

When I bought my Nikon D3000, I also bought the "Nikon D3000 for Dummies" and found it very helpful, that was a couple of years ago now and have subsequently bought "understanding exposure" which helped me at the stage I am at now (going from the semi-automatic modes to fully manual).

padocon

Snowie wrote: »

People should be left to discover what they like shooting and how they like shooting in there own way not have some author.. doing it...

I disagree, I think its first important to learn the basics because if you don't know them, where are you going! Everything is left to chance.

Books are good, just take peoples advise on what authors are good etc Scott Kellby is one author someone recommended and he did/does (not sure if he still does) present photoshop tv and he's a good writer.

hbr

Mr.Boots wrote: »

Is there a book that is regarded as the best?

For a beginner trying to get acquainted with the controls and
functions of the camera, the owners manual is probably the best
book.

For a book on the basics of photography, most people recommend
Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson. It is quite a good book,
fairly light reading and it won't take too long to read it. Many of the
topics in the book are covered on the author's YouTube thingy.
http://www.youtube.com/user/ppsop2009?feature=watch

For slightly heavier reading, I would recommend The Photographers Eye
by Micheal Freeman. This covers photographic composition and design
in great detail. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B11r9v6EeYY

Also can you recommend some editing software for mac? Either inexpensive or free
Cheers

Gimp. www.gimp.org