5 comments about Still Life and Special Effects Photography: A Guide to Professional Lighting Techniques, Second Edition.

1. From the original review on PixSylated.com: I love the format of RotoVision books. A big, beautiful photo opposite a detailed lighting diagram with just enough words to explain how the image came together. This book is a compilation covering a wide range of still life photography.There are lessons to be learned for all types of still life and product photography. For instance, I found that the techniques for making a length of rusty chain look beautiful are equally applicable to lighting bread. Given that it costs about as much as a good pizza, Still Life and Special Effects Photography is another must-have.



2. Well. .I ordered this book and when I open it I realize that I found the book I was searching for a long time!
   
   The sets designs are very very helpuful to know the practise of lights and the shots help me a lot in my creative though!
   
   Very good book. I recommend it to all the photographer with a hard passion for still life photography.



3. This book is great for fueling your creativity and showing you how to accomplish the photos as shown.



4. This book reads like it was written before digital photography and Photoshop were viable options for the professional photographer. Many of the elaborately staged shots are laughable and seem quaint compared to today's techniques. Don't let the cover images fool you either, most of the shots inside have a very 1980s feel to them. Even so, a handful of the shots have useful lighting information, so this will stay on my studio's bookshelf.



5. This is an oldfashioned book with elementary sketches showing lighting setups and not much else. I would recommend instead:Light: Science and Magic: An Introduction to Photographic Lighting This book explores an approach to lighting that excites the imaginiation.

5 comments about The Business of Studio Photography: How to Start and Run a Successful Photography Studio.

1. Easily the best recommendation for starting a photography service. Contains great advice and samples of documents needed to run a studio. Read it twice and then keep it on the handiest shelf.



2. This is definately full of great information that anyone starting a photography business needs to know. Well written.
   -Pam



3. This is a really good book if you're trying to start or enhance a portrait and/or wedding photography career. It is aimed primarily at those trying to start a portrait studio, and there migh be better wedding-oriented books. But since that's my core business, it hit the nail on the head. Lots of good insights and tips, and I have quite a few page corners turned down for later reference. I recommend placing the book in the bathroom, so you can hone your photography business and marketing skills on a regular basis!



4. I am a professional photographer who has been using my home as a studio. This is a good book as a guide for what the title implies, but it also spends a lot of time on things like film. I know, many pros still shoot film. I'm only saying some of his formulas are outdated. It's my own fault for not looking at original published date. So just be aware of this.



5. Edward does a wonderful job with this book. Whether you're thinking about starting a photo business or already own one, this book is a must have. It's very detailed and chuck full of proven ideas and methods to get you running your business right from the start. He covers everything you can think of and even things you didn't in one book. I like that he writes about dealing with different situations with other photographers and different types of clients. I will be incorporating many of his suggested techniques and ideas in my business (currently part-time but soon to be full-time). Great stuff!

5 comments about The Portrait Photographer's Guide to Posing.

1. First,
   I Purchased, read and dissatisfied and "mad" with the "Posing Head to Toe".
   then
   I loan "Portrait Photographer's Guide to Posing" from the library. Wow! Bill clearly show the basic of posing and how different professional photographers do that. I own and read at least 10 books on portrait photography in different industry, children, wedding, teen... to models. The posing principle, composition... in this book can be apply to all type of photography. However, I should say, only 10% can be apply for children photography.
   I buy this book with no regret at all. (don't let any other negative comments about this book. If not satisfy sent me "$@#$#@%*" :-)



2. I would recommend this book to every photographer, beginner or a bit more advanced. the examples are very well explained. a big help in learning about posing etc... I would NOT buy this book at amazon, because I had to pay 10 euro custom taxes, wich is more than 30%!



3. The title of this book is slightly misleading. It's not a strictly posing guide but and all-around handbook on portraits. It covers things as technical camera settings for various effects, depth of field rules (and how to break them), posing and communication techniques, composition rules, detailed guide on how to enhance/fade various details of your model (ex too large chin, overweight body, etc).
   It is a great guide to have around and the perfect first step towards portraits. What I love most about it, is that for every rules it gives an example on how/when to break it.
   Don't expect very creative examples, this book isn't meant to put you on a pattern. The examples are average and to the point regarding the technique discussed, they are detailed and explain both the technical part and the concept behind it. Don't expect extreme creativity or breathtaking images inside, the images inside are meant to inspire, not to guide. After you learn the techniques inside, it's up to you to put them into practice according to your own style.



4. Great book, well written, clear and concise. I learned more from the first 3 chapters than 7 weeks of an instructor lead class I recently took on Portrait Photography.



5. This book was exactly what I was looking for. It gives great generalized poses with good examples. I find it is one of those books that you "go back to" in order to get mental concepts for upcoming sessions.

No comments about Night Vision: The Art of Urban Exploration.

5 comments about Perception and Imaging, Third Edition: Photography--A Way of Seeing.

1. New edition of a classic textbook by a well-known expert. Quite theoretical but very instructive. People take too many pictures unthinkingly, and should read on theory.



2. This book takes you--step by step with clear and often startling examples and with exercises to apply them--through the fundamentals of perception. That is the most basic of a photographer's necessary skills. Understand the concepts, practice seeing, do the exercises, understand your perceptions. Become a better photographer and, in the process, enrich your daily life as you see and understand your world in new ways. Highly recommended.



3. Encyclopedic in scope, but equally shallow and choppy.
   
   This is a textbook. Illustrations are student grade, margin notes are random, and exercises are strained. May be useful if you never took a basic design class or thought much about perception. Book gives a survey, oriented toward defining terms and concepts, but it never takes them anywhere.



4. I know that I will draw a great deal of critique for this review, but personally i did not find this book worth my time.
   
   For how well it might be written, for how easy and understandable the examples might be, for how precisely documented it is, it does not have what I was looking for in it: a partly theoretical and partly practical toolbox to expand my creativity when I create an image.
   
   The text is, as I said in the title, little more than a collection of well-catalogued, wide-ranging information regarding different fields of perception. Some of them are overly and uselessly technical, some are little more than tautologies, few are actually useful or stimulating. I could not find any reference, for instance, to "the rule of the thirds" (which might not be the ultimate principle of composition but is still an important starting point) but on the other hand there were more than a dozen paragraphs on colour notations and names, constantly moving between the obvious, the superfluous and the merely technical.
   
   On a sidenote, I do not understand why American writers in general assume that their readers have the attention-span of a goldfish and try to fit everything they have to say on an argument in half a paragraph, only to start a completely new one immediately after. It doesn't help, it creates unacceptable over-simplifications.
   Teaching is not made of putting on the table individual information, sweetened by a profusion of quotes and aphorisms. Teaching is a sequential activity, it involves a long propaedeutic phase, it entails the creation of foundations and builds upon them to get in the end to the real content. A book that teaches well cannot be accessed randomly at any page without missing any context. Useless to say, this one can.
   
   
   Andrea B., Verona



5. While it is true this book is somewhat erroneously subtitled WRT to the Photography bit -it is relevant not only to photographers but also painters, illustrators and others- there is a wealth of information presented in a detailed and well-illustrated manner. This book covers everything from color relationships and meaning, to "geometric" fundamentals such as symmetry and gestalt grouping, to the human physiology behind why some things appeal to our eye and others do not.
   
   In short the book provides not only examples of what works in photographic composition (or a painting's composition), but explains *why* it works, without boring you to tears with a doctoral thesis in every chapter. Some books (such as Itten's color tome) do exactly this and it makes them almost painful works to finish, even though the information is valid. It provides just enough scientific context to give understanding, and then gets out of its own way by providing real-world illustrative examples (be they photos, drawings or illustration) to demonstrate the current concept.
   
   And there *are* many references to things specific to photography such as a sub-section on color management systems and how color is controlled in the digital world. Is it the same as reading one of Bruce Fraser's works on color manegment? No, but it gives you enough to put it in context and understand why it's important. So it is with all the other chapters in the book. Highly recommended if you are an art student or photography student, or even a professional looking to hone your skills.

5 comments about Legal Handbook for Photographers: The Rights and Liabilities of Making Images (Legal Handbook for Photographers: The Rights & Liabilities of).

1. An informative book that any photographer should have that not only covers common legal issues but also sorts out gray areas of the law concerning photographers. Every chapter holds a lot to be learned and will make you rethink some of the things that may be taken for granted. This book is definetly a tool for understanding the rights of photographers as well as their subjects. Legislature that could be confusing is simplified and potential legal infractions are more easily identified. A smart addition to any photographer's library.



2. Fine basic review. Well-recommended but may be worth looking for at your public library given the cost.
   
   If you're a pro, you will get professional legal advice. That's how it works. It's a cost of doing business professionally. Your attorney may recommend reference material.
   
   If you're a hobbyist, you probably want to read this once or twice and take a few notes. Many won't go back over and over.
   
   I wouldn't think about posting photos online or shooting in more-or-less public places without reading a book like this at least once. You may differ. Perhaps you don't care to have a say in the use of your photos and you don't mind handing over your camera if/when someone objects to the photos you're taking.
   
   Me? I'm a reader. I bought this book and will probably read it annually. YMMV.



3. the book gives you over view of your legal rights what allowed to be photographed... and your rights to copyrighs



4. I'll admit I haven't read every page of the book yet. I'm using it more for reference than anything. But so far I haven't been able to find much in the book that isn't already general knowledge in the photography community. Great for a beginner, I suppose, or someone just starting out. I'm just a little disappointed that I didn't find more valuable detailed legal information in there to help me in my stock photography business.



5. As an advanced novice taking the first steps to go pro, I had a LOT of questions about legal issues of photography. I'd searched for some of my questions online and in a few books, but the answers were never good. They either focused on different questions or didn't give enough of an answer to satisfy me.
   
   When this book arrived, I flipped through it and read all of the photo captions. Wow! Immediately I saw its value. Then I started reading through sections of the text. It answered all of the questions I'd had.
   
   While one would best be advised to contact an attorney if a legal issue came up, this book goes a long way to help the reader avoid legal problems. I am VERY satisfied that I bought this book. If you're a professional photographer with legal questions, I'd highly recommend it.

5 comments about Digital Stock Photography: How to Shoot and Sell.

1. ..so I can't really say whether this is a good book or not, but from looking at the table of content, it seems that it covers everything about shooting and selling stock photography. Which is what the title says. So at least it is a complete book. Whether it is up to date with the current state of digital stock photography or not, that might be another issue that I don't know whether this book covers adequately or not. Because I haven't finish reading the book yet.



2. This book was very informative and well written, but lets you know right off that getting started in stock photography will not be easy, and probably quite expensive. The equipment requirements may prove to be prohibitive for those on a tight budget. Nothing worthwhile in life is easy, and stock photography is no exception.



3. Michal Heron has been a successful freelance photographer for over thirty years, not only selling her products to photo agencies but running her own stock business and giving lectures at seminars and workshops around the country. Her DIGITAL STOCK PHOTOGRAPHY packs in the basics of capturing digital images, from working with scans and delivering acceptable product to evaluating equipment, creating releases, handling copyright options and much more. No aspiring professional photographer should be without it: it's an essential key to understanding the routines and demands of the stock photo business, and photography as well as general-interest lending libraries catering to photographers will find it an invaluable reference.
   
   Diane C. Donovan
   California Bookwatch



4. Microstock, Google's "Image" search capabilities, and rampant stealing of images from Shutterfly, SmugMug, or PBase have made stock photography a lot less possible, and a great deal less profitable in recent years. However, if you're good with a camera and know how to produce large quantities of salable images, you can still make money in stock photography. Just don't expect big fees, and be happy with small payments that can pile up if your work is good.
   
   This book, published in September 2007, is up-to-date enough that it advises you how to optimize your stock photography sales in today's real world. Read it carefully, re-calibrate your expectations, and get to work.



5. Looking for ways to market my photos I found this book full of useful comments. There is major difference between what one "likes" to shoot, and what "sells" in the marketplace. This book teaches you to shoot for the marketplace and develop your eye for those concepts.

5 comments about Photoshop CS3 Raw: Get the Most Out of the Raw Format with Adobe Photoshop, Camera Raw, and Bridge.

1. I have a number of books that attempt to explain Photoshop CS3 and Camera Raw in particular. This book is, far and away, the best I have seen. It is extremely well written, easy to follow, and very comprehensive. I recommend it without qualifications.



2. 
   How do professional photographers turn RAW data into fine polished results? Photoshop CS3 RAW: Transform your RAW Images into Works of Art explains how to use the Photoshop CS2 tool, surveying the basics of optimizing RAW images and deciding when to shoot RAW, how to organize and automate their processing, how to tweak the images with professional techniques, and more. Neo-pros need this - and any computer or photography library strong in Photoshop techniques will find it popular.
   
   Diane C. Donovan
   California Bookwatch



3. This is a fine introduction into CS3 RAW. It is very clear and easy to understand and follow. If you shoot in RAW and use ACR, this book should be in your library.



4. 'Photoshop CS3 Raw: Get the Most Out of the Raw Format with Adobe Photoshop, Camera Raw, and Bridge' is a great resource for all levels of digital photographers who want to work with images of the highest quality possible. A regular photo who takes images with their camera probably takes them saved in the JPEG file format that has been so widely known and loved for so many years. The problem with this format is that when JPEG is used their is always data lost in the compression used to save the images. This data usually is minimal and not a big deal but if you need the highest quality pictures without any loss or compression at all, you need to save these in a better format. One of those formats is the Adobe RAW format which is the data saved with no data loss at all. These files will be much bigger in size but they also will guarantee that whatever picture(s) you took, you will see everything that was intended to be seen (and saved).
   
   But simply taking the picture isn't enough, as there is tons of post-processing that goes on to get images looking even better than when they were taken. If you want to learn how to edit, crop, saturate, lighten, darken, whatever your heart desires with RAW imgagery, this is a great resource to have!! With nearly 250 pages spread across 12 chapters, this is a great introduction (in full color on glossy paper) to getting the most out of your camera and taking your images from Bs to As!!
   
   This is a great resource to digital editing, my only caveat is that I feel it could be a bit longer. Another 50 pages or so with another example per chapter could have made things even better. A small complaint (and not enough to hurt my rating for the book) but it's worth noting.
   
   If you take RAW images and want to learn how to get more out of them, this book will get you well on your way!!
   
   ***** RECOMMENDED



5. The outstanding thing to note about this book is that is organized very systematically. Instead of being a breathless description of everything you can do with the software, Aaland focuses on why you would do something and how to do it. Its an effort that is fun to read and easy to reference.

2 comments about Paris 1962: Yves Saint Laurent and Dior, Christian Dior, The Early Collections.

1. Saint Laurent adds his creative vision to Parisian couture. The Parisian elegance glitters in this book. Chrstian Dior takes his revenche and adds his charm and signature. Lovely lovely book.



2. Great pics, great text and a really wonderful tribute to the masters of haute couture from the glory days or fashion. A must for anyone who treasures and thinks about the sublteties and wonder of those who preceded the charlatans who are producing fodder in the name of fashion in modern times. Designers take note.

5 comments about Adobe Photoshop Lightroom for Digital Photographers Only (For Only).

1. As a serious nature photographer I want to spend my time taking pictures and not processing them on the computer. We all know what a great tool Lightroom is and this book is the tool to learn Lightroom for Photographers. We all want to spend less time at the computer and the same is true for learning new computer software. Rob breaks down everything you need in an easy to read well thought out way that makes sense for photographers. Our needs are different and Rob gets it right with this book. Through each chapter Rob will highlight the need to know stuff through great examples and step by step instructions. I keep my copy right next to the computer and use it as reference piece all the time. Now go out and capture some great images and then use Lightroom to organize & edit them. Great book!



2. Strengths: Very nice glossary and index. Instruction is top notch and instructional tutorials are extremely well laid out and easy to read. The instruction is solid and the screenshots and photos integrate with the instructions. Book can be used as a good resource to skip around with the book or read sequentially. Great instruction in the use of Lightroom software. Even if you don't use Lightroom you may gain valuable ideas from the author and the instructions by using another image processing software like iPhoto etc.
   Weaknesses: Vertical titling of the chapter names, down the outside of the pages, is disconcerting. These and the page numbers should have been place horizontally on the top of the page.
   
   Introduction
   
   Interestingly, Photoshop it is said, was never designed for photographers even though it is the best image - processing applications. The highlight of the book is what the software can do for you and how you can apply the software to complete your best photographs. While Photoshop elements was created to fill part of the this void, Lightroom is not focused on graphics but organizing your photographs to make them easy to find, search and use. Lightflow sounds like a version of iPhoto that connects with Photoshop. My main aim was to see whether this tool is equal to or greater than iPhoto or other image processing collection applications so that Mac users and myself can learn about different image collection programs.
   
   The author is the editor of Outdoor Photography and HDVideoPro magazines, has authored several books and his works have appeared in National Geographic.
   
   The books 323 pages cover three part/ sections and 13 chapters. It is nice that the pages have tabs that correspond to chapter selections. However, I do not like that the chapters' titles run down the sides vertically. There was ample room to place these on the top of the pages with the pages numbers as well. I don't like having to turn the book sideways to read the titles. Each chapter has a Q&A (Question and Answer instructions and additional assistance about specifically targeted ways to use the photos (slideshows etc ).
   
   Side notes include: Pro tips, X-ref (additional reference guides within the book). The author has provided nicely sized screenshots (using Macintosh OSX interface) so that photos and screenshots are readable. But what is missing are arrows, circles or additional icons that "can zone in on" the selections to show the instructions for displaying even more clearer. While there are a couple of white arrows and bulls eye icons, its not enough. Still the instruction is quite suitable and for the most part easy to understand as integrated with the tutorials.
   
   Part 1 is about all you want to know about Lightroom, introduction to the Lightroom concept, basics and working with the camera. Part 2 covers the Library Module, image processing presentations possibilities, working with slide shows, printing and working with the web module. Part 3 provides knowledge about Lightroom and Photoshop.
   
   What also makes the text readable is that each page is separated into two columns, uses bold text to highlight the beginning of the instructional paragraphs. Numbers with the paragraphs and spacing of the paragraphs makes for manageable reading.
   
   
   Conclusions
   
   In many cases, tips are provided for both Windows and Mac operations. The section on Library module including information concerning keywords is well done. The Lightroom allows the creation, storage and use of Keywords as in iPhoto. Folders and collections can also be used with the selection process as iPhoto. The Lightroom interface for the keywords seems a little more straightforward then iPhoto but both seem to operate in the same manner. I like the section on Lightroom modules (ch.6) and the nice screenshots of the tone curves and other basic calibrations. The tonal, color setting and color corrections curve instructions are very well done. I also like way the author provides instructions when working with slideshow module.
   
   While it sounds like a version of iPhoto, Lightroom seems a little more elegant but functions in much the same way. Where the book and the instructions from the author excel is not only how to perform basic functions using the software but more specifically how to take these instructions to the next level. This book is well done and in many ways entices you into trying Lightroom.
   
   The author provides you with the instructions and more ideas to work with regarding photographs. This book is a great guide and resource if you are using Lightroom. If you don't have Lightroom, you might find the instructions can be used with other image processing programs and possibly with iPhoto (instructions don't come with iPhoto as you know). Clear and very well done, you can learn much from this author.



3. This is yet another very lavishly produced Lightroom book. It has lots of colorful illustrations (which are not really necessary), and lots of very old-fashioned "practical advice" based on outmoded practices from times before software like Aperture or Lightroom was available.
   
   On the other hand, it's very thin on advanced features, and on things that Lightroom makes possible, even for a novice.
   
   To give just a few examples: The author suggests (extensively) creating unnecessarily elaborate folder structure, meant to easily recognize what photos are in which folder (he names the folders by state in which photos were taken, and descriptive labels such as Tony's Birthday party). This is absolutely unnecessary, and in fact has many disadvantages, e.g., at the time of making backups to optical media (DVDs).
   
   On the other hand, he merely mentions keywords and declares their use "tedious". But he clearly doesn't understand how they work in the software. There is no SINGLE mention of keyword hierarchies (and how they can reduce the "tedium" of entering multiple keywords), and of the numerous ways to assign keywords: the stamper / painter tool, MULTIPLE drag and drop options, keyword spell check, custom keyword sets, automatic recent keyword feature, or dynamic character of keyword hierarchies which can be easily re-arranged later as the library grows, without any loss of already assigned keywords. No mention of the fact you can easily export or import keyword sets. He points out that sometimes you might assign different keywords when you mean the same (like flower and flowers and plant); yet, fails to mention the fact that the SYNONYMS feature takes care of exactly that problem. Reading the book you would think that Lightroom's keywords work like those in iPhoto or other, consumer-level software (they do not - they are SO much better here).
   
   Similarly, the author says he doesn't use all of available star ratings. He gives an example of using star ratings to winnow out the rejects from a large shoot. That's OK if he wants to do it that way, but this is not the best tool for that purpose. Unfortunately, he does not mention the one tool which WAS meant to do JUST THAT, i.e., the use of pick-flags, especially in conjunction with the "Refine Photos" command (which is meant exactly for that purpose, and works very easily and efficiently, without affecting the star ratings).
   
   The book misses mentioning many basic keyboard shortcuts when they might be useful - to mention star ratings again - readers will not know that it can go much faster if you hold the shift key when you use number keys, which will move you automatically to the next, yet unrated photo. Yes, the author is right that rating, and THEN moving to the next photo is somewhat awkward and slow, BUT of course there is a much faster, and much more efficient way to do this.
   
   
   That's too bad, because otherwise, this would be a sensible, very visually attractive, and mostly well written intro to the most basic features. Unfortunately it misses too many opportunities to give new users the efficient tools which are at their fingertips, and which they already paid for.



4. I got both this book and Kelby's "Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Book for Digital Photographers" at the same time as I began to learn Lightroom. Of the two, I found this to be much more helpful and clear. Sheppard's style is clear and his explanations of the tools in Lightroom are quite helpful. He's clearly giving his opinions as to how the tools should be used, but he also reaffirms that these are opinions, not rules carved in stone. His "Pro Tips" boxes are full of good advice about the program, photography, and why two button mice are important for Mac users (perhaps he hasn't yet seen the Mighty Mouse). All in all, an excellent book introducing the power and versatility of Lightroom.



5. Well written, with clear instructions. Helped me understand Lightroom and get the most out of it. Has made using Lightroom both productive and enjoyable.