Shooting Digital (2nd edition)

Reviewed by Dr Eric Flescher

Author: Mikkel Aaland Publisher: Wiley http://www.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-0470042877.html Released: November 2006 Pages: 287 $40 USD, $48 CND, 26 GBP ISBN-10: 0470042877 ISBN-13: 978-0470042878

Strengths: Breadth and depth related to topics are well done. Section on RAW has solid information. Good writing style and easy to understand. Book has been updated since the previous version. Chapters include notes, screenshots, sample photos and solution oriented boxed off areas to help with the understanding. Book cover a wide range of topics concerning digital photography including underwater, portrait, aerial photography.   Weaknesses: User needs to know their camera and how to use it before trying this book.

 

Introduction

There are a plethora of books on the market concerning digital photography. If you are interested in “going beyond the basics” and searching for a guide for taking better pictures, what do you search for and where do you start?

 

The book should have RAW format information, photographing in different settings and beyond , techniques usage, organizing your photos and additional information that gives an insight into new ways to use your camera an d how. If you are looking for these to start with, you might want to try the book Shooting Digital (2nd edition).

 

The author by his own emission says that this book is “not for everyone.” It has been updated since the previous version, and chapters include notes, screenshots, sample photos and solution oriented boxed off areas. The author says that the information is this book contains the wisdom of 30 professional. So with that in mind, I was interested to find out more since I “ went digital” in 2000.

 

As I started to look through this book,I was looking for insights into what makes this book, if any, different then other books that focus with digital photography. I was looking if this book had more information that might help camera users who are trying to go beyond what they might already know concerning digital photography. The author is an award winning photographer of ten books, has his photos published in Newsweek, Wired and other magazines and has photos exhibited in Paris and Prague.

 

The 12 chapters in this 285 page book cover a wide range of topics concerning digital photography. The information includes screenshots, notes, example photos, illustrations and special instructions, pulldown screens (macintosh highlighted). This is not a book that starts you off learning about your camera. This book assumes you have a digital camera and know how to use it. Interestingly information entitled " your camera and equipment" is covered (p.47 , Chapter 2) but in many cases should be covered in the first chapter. So it is best acquainted with your camera before you start with this book.

 

Chapter 1, “before the shoot”, is a nice introduction to choosing the right camera.

 

Chapter 2 “Shooting RAW”, is a solid tutorial on how to use RAW formatted pictures but more importantly when to use. Also the comparison of RAW to other formats is done very well. Optimizing and sharing are also covered. The part of the screen windows that I think would have helped is arrows or some feature to show the differences in the color adjustment area instead of “ searching” for the differences when comparing the screens. “Shooting great portraits, “

 

Chapter 3, helps communicate information about types of portraits. While I don’t do many portraits I still found some of this chapter might help in creating better photograph while photographing family members.

 

Chapter 4, “Photographing children, pets, and social events”, delves into to meeting and overcoming potential obstacles.

 

Chapter 5 “shooting action”, covers hardware , potential ideas and good information on photographing objects in motion.

 

Chapter 6 “ shooting digital on the road” covers a lot of troubleshooting areas.

 

Chapter 7 “ shooting exterior and interior,” provides tips and ticks for professionals who work on many areas related to the outside and inside.

 

Chapter 8 “shooting beautiful landscapes” focuses on what makes a good landscape, maximizing quality and much more . Since I do much landscape photography in this area, I was interested to find out what I could discover that might be new. Part of what the author does is share secrets and ideas that other photographers work with.

 

There are several websites that various known photographers communicate their ideas and methods. What is nice is that these tips can be adapted to just about any digital camera with basic exposure controls. These focus on three methods: Trial and error; reading the histogram and finally bracketing exposure. These three modes can be used at any time, under many different situations to meet many needs that might occur when you are taking pictures. While these three might not be new, the information about the styles and how these are communicated in this chapter are refreshing and gave me some new ideas. These included additional information concerning extending dynamic range through blended images, maximizing depth of field, control through ISO and composition and content are sections that are well communicated and that I learned from as well.

 

Chapter 9 “shooting black and white”, a new section for this version, includes information for those who want to use black & white. Since I don’t shoot black and white I did not read

 

Chapter 10 “shooting your stuff”, has simple to more sophisticated ideas about indirect natural light, basic photographic studio ideas for packaging attractive and informative shots under varied circumstances ( photographing to sell, taking taking pics for informational shots and more).

 

Chapter 11 “shooting past the boundaries”, covered software solutions that were interesting for some who want to try new photographic endeavors or are already doing so. Among the “new ideas” were shooting beyond visible light, digital underwater shooting (nice page on using certain camera including one I use kodak 290), aerial- digital shots from the sky, night shots, digital grid photos, mini-movie creations and panorama use.

 

Chapter 12 “organizing and sharing digital photos” includes the use of Photoshop Elements organizer, iPhoto and twelve options additional image- management software. (Resources which allow for sharing online only include two and does not differentiate between which allow for Macintosh uploads).

 

I really liked the information concerning Image management, especially as it included technologies and procedures (reading histogram, fine tuning white balance , sensor extended and extending exposure latitude with software ). This chapter section is nicely written and informative and is one of the best I have seen in terms of explanation.

 

Conclusion

This book assumes you understand your camera and know how to use it. If not find a book that specifically is targeted to your camera and then use this book. The main focus of this book is using your camera in many ways and in that vain, this book does a great job and succeeds. The breadth and depth of many topics are covered well.

 

The book will help assist you with using your camera for several photographic endeavors. This in-depth knowledge and insights are nicely done. Many will find this book can take you to the next level in one or more of the topics. Even if you don't want to utilized all the chapter (topics) at first , this book is a great guide and will be a a good resources for the future to broaden your photographic activities.