Digital Photography for Dummies, Mini Edition - Softcover

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0470931337 ISBN 13: 9780470931332

Synopsis

In the 1840s, William Henry Fox Talbot combined light, paper, a few chemicals, and a wooden box to produce a photographic print, laying the foundation for modern film photography. Over the years, that process was refined, and people discovered the joy of photography. Now, more than 160 years after Talbot′s innovation, photography has entered a new age, with the arrival of the digital camera and a new and exciting way to think about photography. In fact, digital photography has spawned an entirely new art form.

With a digital camera, a computer, and some photo–editing software, you can explore the unlimited creative opportunities of digital photography. Just think   no more film, no more film development costs, no more limitations of working only with what′s there. With digital photography, you have almost instant access to your photos, and with photo–editing software, you can easily clean up your photos and add special effects that used to be nearly impossible for the amateur photographer to achieve.

Digital Photography For Dummies, 4th Edition, is your introduction to the world of digital photography, whether you′re a beginner taking your first shot or an experienced photographer looking to try a new medium. In this newly revised edition, you′ll discover the following topics and more:

• Explore the different kinds of equipment   from cameras and computers to photo–editing software
• Understand the science behind digital photography, including resolution, aperture, shutter speeds, and f–stops
• Compose great shots, including how to light your subject
• Solve common photographic dilemmas   such as capturing a moving target and dealing with unfriendly lighting
• Edit your photos by sharpening them, removing red eye, and cropping them
• Display your photos in a variety of ways   on CD, on the Web, or in slide shows
• Top Ten lists on ways to improve your digital images, great ways to use your photos, and online resources all digital photographers should know about

Digital Photography For Dummies, 4th Edition, also comes with a CD that includes trial versions of popular photo–editing software, as well as some original photos taken by the author that you can use to experiment with.

About this title

Review

If you are fairly comfortable with the concept of photography but find the digital part a stumbling block, Digital Photography for Dummies should get you over the hump. Julie Adair King, a photographer and graphics-software specialist, deftly explains such concepts as resolution, f-stop, and compression.

King is also refreshingly up-front about the differences between film-based and digital photography, spelling out the shortcomings of the latter in the early pages of the book. Her advice, from the most basic to the more advanced aspects of the field, is well thought out and simple without being condescending. She informs readers, for example, that you needn't use high pixel resolutions simply for placing images on a Web page. Such tips come as a relief to fledgling photographers on a budget, or novices who may be led to believe they have to use the highest-quality settings at all times.

Aside from the technical concerns of working with the camera and computer, King also provides sound tips on composition and lighting. And since retouching is one of the principal benefits of digital photography, King spends a fair amount of time discussing photo-editing software. And while most of the examples are in black and white, the most important examples are included in a 16-page colour plate section in the middle of the book.

For those of you considering jumping into the world of digital photography, you will be hard pressed to find a better guide to getting started than Digital Photography for Dummies. --John Frederick Moore, Amazon.com

Review

"...gives you an introduction to the world of photography whether you are a beginner or an experienced photographer..." ( Lingerie Buyer, February 2004)

"...covers the essentials of digital imaging technology that a first time digital photographer needs to know..." (The CBL Source, October/November 2002)

Edition details

• ISBN 10: 0470931337
• ISBN 13: 9780470931332
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English