Thursday, March 29, 2012

Photography: The 50 Most Influential Photographers of All Time (Icons of Culture)

Photography: The 50 Most Influential Photographers of All Time (Icons of Culture) Review

Photography: The 50 Most Influential Photographers of All Time (Icons of Culture)

See more picture @ amazon.com


In addition to profiling the most important photographers of past and present, this book presents a capsule history of photography and explores significant trends and developments in the field. Brief biographies with identifying photos include Matthew Brady, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Walker Evans, Diane Arbus, Robert Mapplethorpe, Annie Liebovitz, Richard Avedon, Ansel Adams, Alfred Stieglitz, Edward Steichen, and 40 other major figures in portraiture, fashion, photojournalism, documentary, landscape, and photographic art. Small in size but filled with information and insights, each Icons of Culture title is a collection of brief, pithy, and enlightening biographies of men and women who have made their mark and left lasting influences in the lively arts. Scattered among these capsule biographies are two-page overviews that examine various aspects of the art. Handsomely designed and accessible to laypersons, these books make fine quick-reference sources while also providing enjoyable reading for inquisitive minds. Illustrations in color and black and white on most two-page spreads.


Friday, March 23, 2012

The Moment It Clicks: Photography Secrets from One of the World's Top Shooters

The Moment It Clicks: Photography Secrets from One of the World's Top Shooters Review



THE FIRST BOOK WITH ONE FOOT ON THE COFFEE TABLE, AND ONE FOOT IN THE
CLASSROOM
Joe McNally, one of the world’s top pro digital photographers, whose celebrated work has graced the pages of Sports Illustrated, Time, and National Geographic (to name a few), breaks new ground by doing something no photography book has ever done—blending the rich, stunning images and elegant layout of a coffee-table book with the invaluable training, no-nonsense insights, and photography secrets usually found only in those rare, best-of-breed educational books.

When Joe’s not on assignment for the biggest-name magazines and Fortune 500 clients, he’s in the classroom teaching location lighting, environmental portraiture, and how to “get the shot” at workshops around the world. These on-location workshops are usually reserved for a handful of photographers each year, but now you can learn the same techniques that Joe shares in his seminars and lectures in a book that brings Joe’s sessions to life.

What makes the book so unique is the “triangle of learning” where (1) Joe distills the concept down to one brief sentence. It usually starts with something like, “An editor at National Geographic once told me…” and then he shares one of those hard-earned tricks of the trade that you only get from spending a lifetime behind the lens. Then, (2) on the facing page is one of Joe’s brilliant images that perfectly illustrates the technique (you’ll recognize many of his photos from magazine covers). And (3) you get the inside story of how that shot was taken, including which equipment he used (lens, f/stop, lighting, accessories, etc.), along with the challenges that type of project brings, and how to set up a shot like that of your own.

This book also gives you something more. It inspires. It challenges. It informs. But perhaps most importantly, it will help you understand photography and the art of making great photos at a level you never thought possible. This book is packed with those “Ah ha!” moments—those clever insights that make it all come together for you. It brings you that wonderful moment when it suddenly all makes sense—that “moment it clicks.”


Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Digital SLR Photography All-in-One For Dummies

Digital SLR Photography All-in-One For Dummies Review



A complete, full-color guide to all the elements of dSLR photography

If you have a digital SLR camera, you’ll find everything you need in this full-color reference to help you get the best results. Ten self-contained minibooks cover the basics of dSLR photography and address camera models from the five leading dSLR manufacturers. Topics include lenses, exposure, lighting, composition, processing and editing, a guide to manufacturers and systems, and a guide to camera settings, plus separate minibooks covering video and high dynamic range (HDR) photography.

  • This full-color volume covers all the key elements essential to good photography as well as the basics of camera bodies and lenses, dSLR workflow, and advice on the best camera settings to use for different situations
  • Covers lighting, composition, and exposure as well as macro and telephoto lenses
  • Features minibooks on video, HDR photography, processing and editing images, and a guide to leading camera manufacturers and systems

Digital SLR Photography All-in-One For Dummies replaces an entire shelf of digital photography books and helps you get the photos you dream of.


Tuesday, March 20, 2012

The Photographer's Eye: Composition and Design for Better Digital Photos

The Photographer's Eye: Composition and Design for Better Digital Photos Review



Design is the single most important factor in creating a successful photograph. The ability to see the potential for a strong picture and then organize the graphic elements into an effective, compelling composition has always been one of the key skills in making photographs.

Digital photography has brought a new, exciting aspect to design - first because the instant feedback from a digital camera allows immediate appraisal and improvement; and second because image-editing tools make it possible to alter and enhance the design after the shutter has been pressed. This has had a profound effect on the way digital photographers take pictures.

Now published in sixteen languages, The Photographer's Eye continues to speak to photographers everywhere. Reaching 100,000 copies in print in the US alone, and 300,000+ worldwide, it shows how anyone can develop the ability to see and shoot great digital photographs. The book explores all the traditional approaches to composition and design, but crucially, it also addresses the new digital technique of shooting in the knowledge that a picture will later be edited, manipulated, or montaged to result in a final image that may be very different from the one seen in the viewfinder.



Features
*Covers both traditional in-camera composition and the new opportunities for picture-making made possible by digital imaging editing
*Shows how to explore situations and locations in order to find the best possible photographic possibilities
*Uses clear examples from real photographic assignments, with schematic illustrations of how and why the pictures work


Friday, March 16, 2012

The Mammoth Book of New Erotic Photography

The Mammoth Book of New Erotic Photography Review



This brand-new collection of erotic art photography features the work of over 75 leading photographers from the U.S., U.K., and Europe. Contributing artists have made a name for themselves with their nude and erotic work. These exciting original images represent the very best of contemporary erotic photographic art.


Thursday, March 15, 2012

Camera: A History of Photography from Daguerreotype to Digital

Camera: A History of Photography from Daguerreotype to Digital Review



Cameras, and what they capture, forever changed our perception of the world, and of ourselves. Few inventions have had the impact of this ingenious, elegant, and deceptively simple device.

This gorgeous cornerstone volume, created in collaboration with the world-famous George Eastman House, celebrates the camera and the art of the photograph. It spans almost two hundred years of progress, from the first faint image ever caught to the instantaneous pictures snapped by today’s state-of-the-art digital equipment.

The informative narrative by Todd Gustavson traces the camera’s development, the lives of its brilliant but often eccentric inventors, and the artists behind the lens. Images and highly descriptive captions for more than 350 cameras from the George Eastman House Collection, plus more than 100 historic photos, ads, and drawings, complement the text.

A foreword by the George Eastman House Director Anthony Bannon, and insightful essays by Steve Sasson, inventor of the digital camera, and Alexis Gerard, visionary founder and president of Future Image Inc., completes this illuminating study of one of the greatest modern technological achievements.

 


Sunday, March 11, 2012

Composition: From Snapshots to Great Shots

Composition: From Snapshots to Great Shots Review



Now that you’ve bought that amazing new DSLR, you need a book that goes beyond the camera manual to teach you how to take those great shots. One key element is composition—the creative arrangement of components in the shot, and the way a viewer’s eye travels through an image.

With Composition: From Snapshots to Great Shots, author and photographer Laurie Excell starts with the basics of composition and explores how the elements of color, shape, angles, and contrast work to create compelling images. Contributing photographers, John Batdorff, David Brommer, Rick Rickman, and Steve Simon, provide unique perspectives on black and white, sports, art history, and other subjects related to composition. Beautifully illustrated with large, vibrant photos, this book teaches you how to take control of your photography to get the image you want every time you pick up the camera.

Follow along with your friendly and knowledgeable guides, and you will learn about:
  • Key camera features that affect composition, including the exposure triangle (ISO, aperture, and shutter speed)
  • Shadow and light and how to direct the viewer’s eye to your subject
  • Lines and shapes that create visual paths to points of interest in your image
  • The role of color—using complementary or contrasting colors—to add your own unique artistic expression
  • Spatial relationship and placing your subject within the frame for portraits, action shots, or landscapes

And once you’ve got the shot, show it off! Join the book’s Flickr group, share your photos, and discuss how you use your camera to get great shots at flickr.com/groups/composition_fromsnapshotstogreatshots.


Friday, March 9, 2012

The Betterphoto Guide to Digital Photography (BetterPhoto Series)

The Betterphoto Guide to Digital Photography (BetterPhoto Series) Review



Digital cameras are the hot new tech toy-but many of the millions of people who are buying the cameras aren't getting the most out of their new purchase. Mysterious icons, strange jargon, a dizzying array of imaging software and hardware...stumbling blocks quickly become tools to create great pictures with The BetterPhoto Guide to Digital Photography. This practical, lesson-based workbook gives readers a step-by-step tutorial in getting bright, crisp, beautiful pictures from their digital cameras every time. Learn about exposure, file formats and quality settings, low-light photography, digital filters and white balance, composition and lens choice, manipulating images, printing, and much more, all in a handy, bring-along format. Everyone who has a digital camera-or who is thinking about getting one-needs The BetterPhoto Guide to Digital Photography!


Sunday, March 4, 2012

Digital Photography Simplified

Digital Photography Simplified Review



Go from digital photography set up to print out with this easy-to-understand visual resource

Digital photography makes taking pictures easier, but learning the tools to develop and manipulate those pictures can be a bit overwhelming. This full-color guide demystifies the latest digital camera models and their features and inspires you to be more creative with your camera and in your image editing.

Packed with completely new photos, this updated edition offers two-page tutorials and step-by-step instructions for taking better pictures, understanding composition and lighting, avoiding over or under exposure, editing and organizing photos, and making simple changes that can result in beautiful photos. Updated coverage addresses the newest video capabilities and guides you through effectively using common digital imaging software. Plus, straightforward instruction and large font and image sizes make this book an ideal resource for both mature audiences and novice photographers.

  • Offers easy-to-understand, practical instruction for setting up your camera—whether it's a compact or digital SLR—and learning its program modes
  • Encourages you to experiment with lenses and focal length, download and organize your images, and fine-tune your photos with Photoshop Elements
  • Explains good composition and exposure, tools and equipment choices, basic exposure, flash settings, and more
  • Features full-color screen shots that demonstrate each task and stunning photos that inspire

This easy-to-understand book provides you with invaluable advice and simplifies the world of digital photography so you can get the best shot possible, simply.


Friday, March 2, 2012

Nylon Girls: Erotic Fashion Photography

Nylon Girls: Erotic Fashion Photography Review



Nylon Girls are revealed to you through the camera of Christine Kessler. She takes you on an erotic journey in the company of a harem of stunning beauties. Nylon Girls exposes the intimate secrets of these most sensual starlets. Erotic and daring, with a pinch of fetishism, for extra spice. A dish to be savoured over and over.