Photography Books

What a wonderful book! Turns out the book goes above and beyond the great description that I read. I'm very happy with my purchase and will purchase 30 more for my photography students! It really breaks down a complicated hobby into easy and understandable information.

Although not new to digital photography I have found this book reveals many aspects of the subject which in many other books are frequently not explained fully enough to totally grasp the concepts or are explained in such detail that one has to fathom what it's all about.

Explanations are clearly detailed on how to optimize such subjects as exposure, balancing white point, controlling color, archiving images and numerous others aspects of digital photography.

Kevin gives readers the opportunity of trying a number of exercises relating to the contents of the book and even offers images which can be down loaded from his web site.

This book is well illustrated with explicit explanations and the setting out of topics makes for easy understanding. A book well worth reading for both the enthusiast and experienced photographer.

After much thought and reluctance I finally have made the transition from film to digital and purchased a DSLR. I needed a book to help me make the transition and decided on Kevin Ames' book. A very fortuitous choice on my part indeed. He writes in a fashion that is interesting, informative, to the point and most importantly easy to understand. As a result of using the book as a guide I have enjoyed the digital transition thoroughly and have come to realize I have made the right decision.
What impressed me the most was when I had a problem registering for downloads from his website and I emailed him. I was expecting an email in return. Got not an email but a personal phone call from Kevin to help me with the problem!! Kevin was extremely helpful. He not only took the time to solve the original problem but gave some very good advice on other issues as well. His enthusiasm for photography and willingness to share with others his knowledge and expertise is evident in the book and was borne out by a personal phone call from him. I am very impressed. Buy the book, you will not be disappointed.

I have enjoyed this book which provides a good blend of 'understanding your camera' with 'how to work magic with it' in CS2. I have recommended the book to others; especially those confused with all the camera and CS2 technologies. I refuse to lend it as I'm afraid I won't get it back.

For those not fortunate enough to attend one of Kevin Ames' workshops, as I recently did, this "Dummies" book is the next best thing. Whether you are a beginner to digital photography or a practicing professional, Digital SLR Photography with Photoshop by Kevin Ames is a valuable addition to your "toolbox."

Ames is that rare combination of artist and teacher, and this book is one of the most comprehensive, clearest and easiest to follow "how to" books that I have come across.

I've been a photography hobbyist for more than fifty years and the early chapters on fundamentals were still a worthwhile refresher. As a serious amateur my pictures are important to me, so I found Ames' unique approach to non-destructive image processing, disciplined file organization and foolproof archiving to be extremely valuable and essential information.

Very informative, detailed, user friendly, you don't need to be photo pro to read this. I have learned a most from this one compare to another books. Read it, make notes and hit the field for some great pics.

I used this author's D50 field guide to learn to use my Nikon camera. Now, just when I am ready to set out on a dream vacation with my family, he comes out with this guide aimed especially at those taking vacation or travel photographs.

I must admit that I like this one even better than the D50 book, mostly because 1/3 of it is NOT taken up with explanations of how to use camera controls. This book is chock full of great travel tips, how to prepare for your trip, how to equip your camera, and valuable information on maximizing storage, etc. Like the other book, most of its content deals with techniques for taking great pictures, but these are all travel oriented. The author works through several dozen different kinds of photo opportunities and offers recommendations for settings and how to approach the shot. Well worth studying before the trip, and including in your backpack, purse, or camera bag while you travel.

It's amazing how much essential information is contained within the covers of this compact guidebook. It's filled with shrewd advice on working with digital cameras of all types, from simple point and shoot models through advanced digital SLR cameras. Even if you already know how to operate your camera, you'll find lots of tips on coping with special problems you'll encounter in travel photography situations.

This is a full color book with beautiful photos on every page, all of them of a type that the reader can aspire to after reading the advice in the guide. I especially appreciated the format of this book, which was small enough to tuck in a camera bag and take with you. Take it with you on every trip you take. I know I will.

This is my fifth photography book in the past year, and I'm getting to be a bit of an expert on them! (joke). This is the first book that I have seen that is intended for the digital photographer who is planning a trip.

David assumes some photographic knowledge, but covers some of the basics anyway. I won't go into that. Where this book excels is in teaching how to prepare for a photo-safari trip, or just how to maximize on a regular vacation. How to take photos that don't look like the typical tourist shots. What to pack. What not to. And how to learn to take good travel photos by using your home area in a series of homework assignments. "Digital Travel Photography" covers technique for landscape photography, nature, portraits (that don't look posed), and even planning a photo-vacaton to cover local annual events.

Although David recommends packing this book as a filed guide, I don't equate it to the bird and nature guides that are pocketable. High marks for content and abundant color illustration.

i am an ameteur photographer that is trying very hard to understand a manual digital camera. i want to learn to take better pictures and use the manual features on my camera instead of the auto all the time. i have read many many photography books (probably 25 to 30 in the last 3 years). many go on way too long about how to select a camera - i don't think a book should cover that - cameras change too much from month to month and a good camera store should be able to steer you in the right direction. and, the books spend the last half covering how to change your photos on adobe. well, not everyone uses adobe. no matter what program you use, get a book on that. so, i loved this book, didn't delve into these two subjects too much. i can finally start to get a grasp of f stops and lighting and all that. my pictures have finally started to improve and i can understand what the book is saying. most other books i've read are either WAY to basic, too many or not enough pictures, too detailed for me to understand, etc. this book is perfect! i am learning a lot but it's not so far out there that i need to take a college course to understand the language used!

Joy's mom and dad have a divorce and every day she's at a different parent's house until she decides she wants to live her mom's full time. She thinks she'll have more freedom, with no one watching over her and it will be great-- or at least she thinks! Maya's trying to make a difficult choice. Can she make her oldest best friend Shana become friends with her new friends because friendships got to grow! Carolyn thinks that ever since mom dyed she thinks her dad is a miserable man with is just a little over-protective rules that force he to keep secrets then she finds out he's keeping secrets from her. There are three friends who are doing three different projects to do with three cameras sharing fun times, adventures, and even some bad times.

Joy's mom and dad have a divorce and every day she's at a different parent's house until she decides she wants to live her mom's full time. She thinks she'll have more freedom, with no one watching over her and it will be great-- or at least she thinks! Maya's trying to make a difficult choice. Can she make her oldest best friend Shana become friends with her new friends because friendships got to grow! Carolyn thinks that ever since mom dyed she thinks her dad is a miserable man with is just a little over-protective rules that force he to keep secrets then she finds out he's keeping secrets from her. There are three friends who are doing three different projects to do with three cameras sharing fun times, adventures, and even some bad times.

I absolutley love this book!It talks about problems every teen has.I really hope there is a movie.

I read this book and, although it may be boring at first it gets interesting. Really interesting. It tells the story from the view of three different girls, Carolyn, Maya and Joy.

Each girl is dealing with a problem:
Joy's parents are divorced and she wants to live with her mom full-time.
Carolyn's father is acting strange. Is he keeping secrets from her?
Maya's old best friend Shana is angry that Maya's spending time with Carolyn and Joy.

This book was great. Very realistic as the three girls deal with their problems... together. Plus, they're doing a photography assignment which leads to trouble... for all of them.

Theft, Lying and Secrecy from three girls. What will happen?

Maya, Carolyn, and Joy are best friends. They are three friends who are doing projects with cameras, sharing fun times, adventures, and even some bad times.
Joy's mom and dad were divorced. Now she can't stay at just one place because her mom and dad live in separate houses, so every day she's at a different parent's house. Then she decides she wants to live at her mom's full time. She thinks she'll have more freedom, with no one watching over her and it will be great-- or at least she thinks!
Maya, tries to make her oldest friend, Shana, become friends with her new friends, Carolyn, and Joy, because friendships got to grow!
Carolyn thinks that ever since her mom died, her dad is a miserable man, and has over-protective rules that force her to keep secrets. Then she finds out he's keeping secrets from her.

Love this series of books, having a lesson if you will, followed by an assignment. All of the books that I have seen give you a good level of detail to describe the underlying details without getting too technical and very well written.

I am an avid amateur digital photographer. I have read many books on exposure and techniques. This is one of the best ever. The explanations are clear, logical, and the presentation is easy to follow. A concept is explained and then one or more photographs are used to demonstrate the concept. I highly recommend this book.

I couldn't be happier that I have this book. It explains everything that I needed to know about exposure, in such detail that a monkey could take better photos than Ansel Adams. I am so serious, If you have a DSLR, and you want to learn everything you can about it, you must have this book.

After just having bought the Nikon D300 (after a life using point-and-shoot cameras), I wanted a good overview and introduction into exposure. Wow, did this book deliver! I finished the entire book in a few days and bookmarked the parts I want to return to. Everything about the book from the organization, the pictures and examples is a testament to the author's knowledge and to his ability to teach! I can only hope the other books in the series are as good as this one!!

I've read many books on photography, but i must say this is the one book that explains exposure extremely well. The writing is very accessible and all the explanations are illustrated with actual photos. Photos in the book not only include the perfunctory exposure data, but the author uses the caption to reiterate what he explains in the book. Furthermore, I like how the author includes not only photos that came out well for him, but he also includes ones that didn't come out well and explains what he would have done deferent.

Even though I've been a professional photography for a little over three years, I'm constantly learning and deepening my understanding of the craft. This book will be one that I come back to again and again. I just might get another copy and re-read it again next year.

All I can say is that if you're really wanting to understand how to work with various lighting conditions in relationship to aperture, shutter speed, ISO, white balance controls, and flash, this book will help you. Assignments are included at the end of each chapter, and each page includes space to jot notes. Though technical language is used, the author does a good job of breaking down complicated terms.

I can't recommend this book enough for serious amateurs and emerging professional photographers.

This is the most amazing book. The photography is extraordinary capturing the smallest details, such as the smile on someone's face who is waving @ you. It is a must have for anyone interested in Africa & makes one want to go there.

Eyes over Africa (Hardcover) by Michael Poliza (Author)

I saw the bigger version of this book "Eyes over Africa (Hardcover) by Michael Poliza (Author) " in a store were it was displayed and I fell in love with it .
This piece of art is one of those rare items you do not forget after seeing it .
The amazing and breathtaking images were imprinted in my mind , I had to buy this book!

I can only but dream of seeing as much of Africa as Michael Poliza has, but this book carries me along on his journey. The level of detail is incredible - the more I look at the images, the more I find that surprises, delights or intrigues. Many pictures are pure abstract - and then I flip to the back of the book, only to find they are acute observations on some fascinating aspect of the natural world. Sadly, this detailed record is now vital in an age when global warming is changing the face of Africa so quickly. Perhaps these images will inspire us all to make a difference.

A truly beautiful book that gives the reader an immediate sense of the vast and immeasurable beauty of this grand continent. There is a vunerability in his work too. One gets the sense that even though the subject is grand and impressive it is all too fragile.

A new and refreshing perspective on a beautiful place. "Eyes Over Africa" will be a centerpiece of my photo book collection. Absolutely breathtaking. I've always been a fan of aerial photography and this book has solidified it for me.

A bell back looks sadly: it is the arc-shaped sad mouth (to fast or slow the clock's internal spring), the nose is the rotary button for minutes, the eyelid-heavy eyes are the dropped rotary buttons for clockwork and wake-noise. A brown brief case opens its zipper like a clumsy civil servant, a branch cut shear reminds rather of penguins from Patagonien as to the market garden, where it was robbed visually. After few exercise minutes one recognizes, that for many things a human face is the subtle designed basis. Radios and little house fronts, brushes, kitchen utensils, measuring tools: though produced for technical work, they nevertheless in a subtle way shake and wake that human in us, which was lost apparently. Was the plug socket designer sad, when he drew, wanting to give us secretly references on a work dead end offering no prospects with small wages? The manufacturer of the measuring instruments - did he miss to be surrounded by animals at his assembly-line?
The selection of the photographers Francois and Jean Robert pulled to the light, which was meant perhaps only as anonymous report - or did not even turn out for the creators in consciousness, because their subconsciousness (Unterbewusstsein, Sigmund Freud), before being pushed and blocked up by the reasonable control, broke through: uncensored like dreams, which sometimes bring up for discussion, what they want instantly, (and not what our overcautious political correctness is demanding). The world of the emotional expressions, which was lost in the arms of technology - this lost world seems to have in-crept secretly back into the tiny articles, like doing a soul migration as known by the Hindus, - the purchase products seem to have been inspired like African art, propelled by a magic, pre-religious charm.
Therefore "FACES" is not only a book for designers or Voodoo specialists, but also a book for children, usually more alive and creatively searching and feeling than adults! At least the hidden souls of animals in all those technical objects: Kids are able to identify them, I am sure! This tiny, square book is a manifest of searching for our lost emotional roots again!

My 10 year old daughter and I enjoyed looking through this book and laughing.

My girlfirend loved it. It has lots of great photos... showing how there are happy faces everywhere. Beware, however, that you will get the point before you look at all the photos.

As soon as I looked at the first few pages of this book I was hooked, from cover to cover this book is packed with an imaginitive look on the world and shows over 130 faces in places you would'nt have dreamed of looking for any meaning what-so-ever.

My advice to anyone who has'nt got this book is to obtain one as soon as possible, this book simply has a fun outlook on the moderm world.

After viewing this book, it changed the way I look at objects around me in my daily life. I SEE FACES EVERYWHERE! It's quite an experience. Try it.

This is a very beautiful book. Although not for the faint hearted Spirit and Flesh is very revealing of the ways in which the mind and spirit can transcend the material body. It deconstructs accepted 'modern' thinking about physical pain as a negative experience and paints a picture of ecstatic and spirit filled existentialism. One of my favourite bod mod books.

Fakir Musafar's "Spirit + Flesh" is a must for any fan of contemporary body art. In a time of crass uniformity and conservative, right-wing ideologies running rampant over the global consciousness, this book shines like a beacon in the darkness. This is what the world needs now. Fakir is a master photographer who is not afraid of putting forth images of his deepest self. Not all of the photos are of Mr. Musafar; there are lovely photos of other individuals, some of whom will be familiar to people who study alt-culture. As stated by others, the forward by Mr. Thompson maps the context of the spiritual place from which Mr. Musafar's art emanates. I cannot recommend the book highly enough.

This book is becoming hard to find, so get it while you can. Buy it before our president bans it. This is an important book because it documents spiritual liberation in its purest form. As such, it is required material for anyone who is interested freedom and free thinking.

This book is very well made. It was not exactly what I expected but I was not disapointed. I was hoping for more piercing pictures or scarification or suspension but all in all it is still fun to look at. I think if you are into bondage it is a good book for you. I myself am not but I still found the pictures inspiring.

Spirit + Flesh - Anyone who picks up a copy of this remarkable book to admire the photographs should first read the tender forward written by Mark Thompson. The forward is a guide to understanding the story behind the beautiful, artistic photographs taken by Fakir over many years. Some people may find them disturbing or shocking, but there is more to the photographs than images of body modification, visual beauty, and our own perceptions of pain that might have been endured to reach the altered states represented in some of the photos. Leafing through the book and studying the stunning photographs, a story of a remarkable and unique man emerges. This is a book to linger over and share with friends whom understand what it is like to be "different". I am very pleased I added this book to my library.

...Fakir Musafar's personal transformation from nerdy teenager to seeker of transcendental sublimity is measurable in this collection from brave little Arena Editions. With knots, corsets, tattoos, piercings, suspensions and body modification tools not easily describable, Farkir goes where few dare.

Be forewarned, this book, beautifully designed and realized as it is, is disturbing. If you think Robert Mapplethorpe went too far, this is probably not for you. The images we run here in the Libido Review Gallery are on the cuddly end. Others in the book make me wince no matter how often I see them.

Not all of the images in this book are of Fakir, but most are. And this is as it should be, because it is clear that Fakir is the centerpiece of his own universe, in which the TV idea of the makeover is taken to an extreme hard to imagine without seeing it.

After the initial shock wears off, one can't help but wonder why, one would want to poke very large nails into one's self or hang one's body from giant hooks like so much cattle carcass. Why would one do this to one's self.

The answer is found both in the photos and Mark Thompson's excellent introduction. For me the question turn on the point at which performance art becomes a public spiritural quest. For Fakir, pain is a portal to the divine; he has turned himself into a "technician of the sacred," using his own body much the same way flagellants from a variety of religions use pain to seek the divine.

The only difference is that Farkir has documented his experiments with a photographic artists's eye.

This book is one I've come back to several times as it gives me pictures of various types of men in different stages/sonditions of their life. The photographs show male sexuality in a very honest, sincere and touching way. Seeing men with real bodies is the most refreshing as their is no pretense, no relentless striving to be the "super male" found within the pages of this book.

I have this book in my stack of books on the coffee table in my living room, where my guests wait while I'm putting the finishing touches on dinner. It always ends up at the top of the pile somehow, and it's usually the guys who check it out first. The photos are simply gorgeous, so I'm sure that has something to do with it. But my straight male friends tell me how rare and cool it is to find a thoughtful piece on what it's like to be a man in our world, or to see things that reflect their experiences, and I think that's why people I know have liked the book. It's unusual. It's beautiful in a way that is comfortable and thought-provoking at once, in my opinion. Anyway, I love it, and some of the men in my life will be getting it for Xmas this year.

I liked this book a lot. It has real portraits of real people. The men in it looked so happy and normal -- like people we all know. The personality of each subject showed through in a way that made these portraits very appealing.

I like these photos very much. I believe this is the first set of male nudes that I can say that of. They're really not eroticized, and they're not mythologized either. These are pictures of guys who are pretty comfortable in their bodies.

And they're very fine pictures. I'm picky, especially about people pictures (which I've been trying to take myself for 30 years), and these work excellently for me. They're about the subjects, not primarily about the photographer. And they're all different.

The fine *technical* quality of the photos and the printing of the book don't hurt a thing either.

You should give these photos a try.

Familiar Men takes on unfamiliar subject matter: nude males. In Western visual art, women have long gotten the nude treatment, thoroughly and repeatedly. In recent times female nudes are even becoming slightly more diverse in their appearance (Edison contributed greatly to this diversification in her other book of photo portraits, Women en Large). But men are less frequent subjects of photography, and nude men even less so. Mostly what's out there from a photo-visual perspective are chiseled youth with disaffected eyes modeling underwear--almost nudes who are barely there.

This paucity of portraiture is rightly addressed in Familiar Men. Not only do the men represent a wide range of ages, races, sizes, and abilities, but their gazes show you clearly that these men are not objects, but subjects. They know what they are doing. They thought about revealing themselves for the camera, with all of its inherent risks, and went for it.

This book is a proud, strong presentation of male vulnerability, and the black-and-white photography is beautiful itself. I'm a big fan of art as a medium for social change, and this is a wonderful addition to discussions around masculinity, beauty, and the human form.

Real men pose nude.

The pictures are fantastic, but it is the story of Fay and her children that are really memorable. A touching account that will make you laugh and cry.

I love Wegman's childrens books and videos more, because they are SO GODDAMN FUNNY! But I was happy to see this book as well. Someone should make a movie of this. His narration in his movie THE HARDLY BOYS is really hysterical. the coolest part of Wegman is his humor.

William Wegman's latest book is among his most beautiful. Every page illustrates what a magnificent breed of dog this is and, more importantly, just how loved this dog was by his human companion. There are some early pictures of Fay, some of Fay in pastoral settings, and some with her pups. In all of them, she remains uniquely...Fay. Some of the pictures are quite tender and poignant; and some will evoke laughter. Mr. Wegman makes us see ourselves through a different "lens" and also helps us to take ourselves less seriously. As a fortunate owner of a Weimaraner, I am very grateful to the artist William Wegman who magically manages to make us smile and at the same time allows us to see the inherent beauty and intelligence of these dogs. Sometimes they are even smarter than their owners! I will treasure this book as I do my own complex and beautiful dog. Thank you Mr. Wegman.

For anyone that is familiar with Williams Wegmans work with his Weim's or just loves dogs, this is a wonderful book. The photographs are amazing and never cease to amaze. The narrative conveys the immense respect and deep affection that Mr. Wegman had for Fay.

Being a weim owner I was given this book for christmas. I was aware of Mr Wegman's work both photo and video, as well as his contributions to Sesame Street(not a kid goes by after seeing my dog without saying, "look mommie,a dress-up dog". This book not only illustrate Wegman's artistry with a camera, but the close bonds only a dog owner would know. If you own a dog, not just a weim, this is a must read. If your a tender soul, there are passages that will mist your eyes.

A fascinating book of photographs of Central Pennsylvania. It brough back many memories of another, gentler time. It also reminded me of just how beautiful my home state is.

By researching the contents and by presenting them as you have, you have given a real feeling of place and time.

Thank you kindly for the magnificent book of photographs that captures Pennsylvania's landscape. It is a treasure for today's readers. It will be a superb history for those who will read it tomorrow. Beautiful contribution. Professional. Exquisite.

The book is sensational. It is the sort of thing the Lord would have done if he had money. Joking aside, it is the product of a monumental undertaking. Painstaking, professional, and powerful are words which spring to my lips in describing it.

Warm feelings of visitng my greatgrandmother on hot summer days in Curwensville and Clearfield. The outhouses, the barns, the bear in the big city, brought back those memories of unearned family affection and the mountain views. A joyful book for families in Pennsylvanial, Nevada or any where else in the world.