Anyone know of a good book about photography?

cdollaz · 02-15-08, 10:54 AM

My wife is about to upgrade to a nice digital SLR and I would like to get her a book with some photography tips and stuff like that. Basically I am looking for the best book(s) out there that will give her an idea of how to use a camera like this and how to take good pics. Anyone have any recommendations? Thanks.

McHawkson · 02-15-08, 11:12 AM

There are lot of good books on Digital SLR camera & Photography. I suggest your wife go to Barnes & Nobles stores or something like that and flip some books and then pick to her liking. I have, maybe, 6 different books on DSLR/photography books - they all showed almost similar basic how to handle the camera or take photograph - even they showed you how to use Photoshop (and few other photo editing softwares).

cdollaz · 02-15-08, 11:20 AM

Thanks. Is any of them considered "the" one to get. Also, she is very much a novice so I am looking for something that would be easy for a beginner to understand and use without getting too frustrated.

jonw9 · 02-15-08, 11:30 AM

I was recommended this book:

Understanding Exposure: How to Shoot Great Photographs with a Film or Digital Camera (Updated Edition) (Paperback)

when I asked in this thread:
http://forum.dvdtalk.com/showthread....highlight=DSLR

But I ended up getting:
Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTI/400d Digital Field Guide(Trade Paperback)
http://schuler.booksense.com/NASApp...n=9780470110072

Since it was specific to our model. I still plan on getting the first one as well.

cdollaz · 02-15-08, 11:36 AM

I think that is the model she is leaning toward as well. Or maybe just the XT

McHawkson · 02-15-08, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cdollaz

I think that is the model she is leaning toward as well. Or maybe just the XT

I just got XT 2 weeks ago. Great camera - still lot to learn.

cdollaz · 02-15-08, 11:42 AM

I guess books that are specific to a certain model would be a good place to start. I'll go check out that book about exposure also.

nemein · 02-15-08, 11:50 AM

I know it's hard to believe (or maybe remember is the more appropriate word

) but we do actually have a Book Talk forum...

cdollaz · 02-15-08, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nemein

I know it's hard to believe (or maybe remember is the more appropriate word

) but we do actually have a Book Talk forum...

Yeah, but I wanted someone to actually see my post.

Chrisedge · 02-15-08, 12:26 PM

Or you could look in the DSLR thread in Tech...

Understanding Exposure and Learning to See Creatively (Both by the same guy) are my favorite photo books.

Newfrd · 02-15-08, 03:14 PM

I highly recommend the following:

A good book that covers the basics (exposure, ISO, white balance, etc
KODAK Guide to Digital Photography by Rob Sheppard
http://www.amazon.com/KODAK-Guide-Di...3109914&sr=1-1

I also highly recommend Rick Sammon's Complete Guide to Digital Photography 2.0: Taking, Making, Editing, Storing, Printing, and Sharing Better Digital Images by Rick Sammon
http://www.amazon.com/Sammons-Comple...3109758&sr=1-1

Sammons goes over a number of shots he's taken and tells you how he did it -great book though he doesn't do a whole lot on the basics of how the camera works. You can get both the Sammons and Sheppard books for about $40.00 on amazon

If you're willing to spend another $12.00 you can't go wrong with another favorite: The Digital Photography Book by Scott Kelby
http://www.amazon.com/Digital-Photog...3109824&sr=1-1

Finally, a 4th book that is similiar to the Sammons but compliments it well is
How to Photograph Absolutely Everything by Tom Ang
http://www.amazon.com/How-Photograph...3111161&sr=1-1

I checked a number of books out from the library and purchased the above becasue I used them a lot! In additon, I would also check out local camera clubs and classes. Camera stores and groups (like local colleges and park and recreations departments) frequently offer classes for the beginner

Quote:

Originally Posted by cdollaz

I think that is the model she is leaning toward as well. Or maybe just the XT

FYI - The XSi comes out in April so the XTi will drop about $200 in price

02-15-08, 10:54 AM	#1
cdollaz DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Sugar Land, TX Posts: 12,904	Anyone know of a good book about photography? My wife is about to upgrade to a nice digital SLR and I would like to get her a book with some photography tips and stuff like that. Basically I am looking for the best book(s) out there that will give her an idea of how to use a camera like this and how to take good pics. Anyone have any recommendations? Thanks.

02-15-08, 11:12 AM	#2
McHawkson DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: America Empire Posts: 13,902	There are lot of good books on Digital SLR camera & Photography. I suggest your wife go to Barnes & Nobles stores or something like that and flip some books and then pick to her liking. I have, maybe, 6 different books on DSLR/photography books - they all showed almost similar basic how to handle the camera or take photograph - even they showed you how to use Photoshop (and few other photo editing softwares). __________________ Is that the best you can do, you pansies? - Marv in Sin City Croc RULE!

02-15-08, 11:30 AM	#4
jonw9 DVD Talk Hall of Fame Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: On the banks of the Red Cedar Posts: 9,861	I was recommended this book: Understanding Exposure: How to Shoot Great Photographs with a Film or Digital Camera (Updated Edition) (Paperback) when I asked in this thread: http://forum.dvdtalk.com/showthread....highlight=DSLR But I ended up getting: Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTI/400d Digital Field Guide(Trade Paperback) http://schuler.booksense.com/NASApp...n=9780470110072 Since it was specific to our model. I still plan on getting the first one as well. __________________ "Damn straight! Today the mad scientist can't get a doomsday device, tomorrow it's the mad grad student! Where will it end?!" - Professor Hubert Farnsworth

02-15-08, 11:50 AM	#8
nemein Moderator Join Date: Sep 1999 Location: 1bit away from total disaster Posts: 33,284	I know it's hard to believe (or maybe remember is the more appropriate word ) but we do actually have a Book Talk forum... __________________ "The American people will never knowingly adopt socialism, but under the name of liberalism, they will adopt every fragment of the socialist program until one day America will be a socialist nation without ever knowing how it happened." -- Norman Thomas, Socialist Party of America God grant me the senility to forget the people I never liked, the good fortune to run into the ones I do, and the eyesight to tell the difference. My Countdown Counting down to: End of the countdown clock 2782 days 17 hours 58 minutes

02-15-08, 12:26 PM	#10
Chrisedge DVD Talk Limited Edition Join Date: Jun 1999 Location: Part of the Left-Wing Conspiracy Posts: 5,792	Or you could look in the DSLR thread in Tech... Understanding Exposure and Learning to See Creatively (Both by the same guy) are my favorite photo books. __________________ DVDTalk Member #1758 since: 06-09-99 I Hate Blockbuster chrisedge.com My first post I can find here

02-15-08, 11:20 AM	#3
cdollaz DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Sugar Land, TX Posts: 12,904	Thanks. Is any of them considered "the" one to get. Also, she is very much a novice so I am looking for something that would be easy for a beginner to understand and use without getting too frustrated.

02-15-08, 11:36 AM	#5
cdollaz DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Sugar Land, TX Posts: 12,904	I think that is the model she is leaning toward as well. Or maybe just the XT

02-15-08, 11:42 AM	#7
cdollaz DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Sugar Land, TX Posts: 12,904	I guess books that are specific to a certain model would be a good place to start. I'll go check out that book about exposure also.