Save 63% Off: The Digital SLR Expert Portrait Photography Review &Ratings

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Are you looking to buy The Digital SLR Expert Portrait Photography? Here is the right place to find the great deals. we can offer discounts of up to 90% on The Digital SLR Expert Portrait Photography. Check out the link below:

>> Click Here to See Compare Prices and Get the Best Offers

The Digital SLR Expert Portrait Photography Review

My first thought on getting Amazon's promo email for this book is that it is probably redundant over most portrait technique books. This suspicion is heightened by the list of subjects covered in the editorial review, none of which seems unique to digital SLRs, the supposed focus of the book.
BUT WAIT - there is one subject listed I've never, ever seen covered by another book: "weeding photography."
So if you aspire to shoot for the Smith & Hawkins catalog, this is the book for you!

The Digital SLR Expert Portrait Photography Overview

Want to learn more information about The Digital SLR Expert Portrait Photography?

>> Click Here to See All Customer Reviews & Ratings Now

Read more »

Save 44% Off: Sekonic L-758DR Light Meter (Black) Review & Ratings

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Are you looking to buy Sekonic L-758DR Light Meter (Black)? Here is the right place to find the great deals. we can offer discounts of up to 90% on Sekonic L-758DR Light Meter (Black). Check out the link below:

>> Click Here to See Compare Prices and Get the Best Offers

Sekonic L-758DR Light Meter (Black) Review

I really like this meter. It does everything I need and a bit more. I find it easy to use as it follows similar interface design as my DSLR's "press-this-and-spin-that" UI. The integrated pocket wizard, ability to meter light ratios and balance ambient light is fantastic. The use of this meter has improved my shots.
A previous reviewer said the interface was poor - I disagree. The interface is extremely simple for the basic functions you'll use all the time. Set the ISO, take a reading, change between reflected spot and incident, set the pocket wizard channel, set the exposure time for ambient, etc.
When using the more advanced features, it gets a little more complicated. For example, metering the highlights, the shadows and mid-tones and display them all at once, or meter the lighting ratio between lights. Perhaps it could be a little easier but I don't find it a hinderance.
In fact I didn't notice the complexity as it's no more complicated than most of the features on my Nikon D700. The Sekonic, happily, follows the same convention of rapid key combinations for instant access to features instead of slow menu driven interfaces. Yes the menus are easier to learn - but you'd pay that speed penalty every time you'd use it. Once you learn how to play the Sekonic's keys, the price is paid and you get the speed benefit every time you use it.
Now it would be slick if, like the pro DSLRs, they provided both a menu and a key. But I still wouldn't use the menu.

Sekonic L-758DR Light Meter (Black) Overview

Spot & Incident Light Readings Under Flash and/or Ambient Lighting Conditions Calibrated to match the Sensitivity of Your Camera's Imaging SensorThe Sekonic L-758DR DigitalMaster is simply the most dynamic light meter you will ever own. It can record incident or 1-degree spot-readings under ambient and/or strobe lighting down to a tenth-stop in accuracy, and it's sealed against the nastiest of weather. With the included Sekonic RT-32 Radio Transmitter Module and you can wirelessly trigger PocketWizard-enabled flash systems within a 100' range. But that's not what makes the Sekonic L-758DR DigitalMaster different from any other meter you have owned. What moves the L-758DR DigitalMaster to the head of the class is that it is the only meter that can be calibrated to read light the way the sensor in your particular camerareads light.Like film, imaging sensors vary in light sensitivity levels from one batch to the next. Despite manufacturers best efforts, fluctuations of native ISO sensitivities of up to plus/minus half-a-stop can be detected across the uncut wafers as they come off the manufacturing line. Depending on which ‘slice of the pie' is inside your camera, the specs listed in the camera manual may not hold true to the characteristics of the sensor in your particular camera.By running an easy calibration test using Sekonic's L-758DR, a Sekonic Exposure Profile Target (optional) and the included Data Transfer Software (Mac & Windows), you can accurately profile the sensitivity characteristics of your camera's sensor to determine the compensation value for its true native ISO, dynamic range and clipping points.After calculating the test data and establishing new exposure parameters, this data is uploaded from your computer via the included USB cable back to the meter where it is stored as camera profiles. Profiling data from up to 3 cameras can be stored in your meter for instant recall.

Want to learn more information about Sekonic L-758DR Light Meter (Black)?

>> Click Here to See All Customer Reviews & Ratings Now

Read more »

Save 34% Off: Black and White Digital Photography Photo WorkshopReview & Ratings

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Are you looking to buy Black and White Digital Photography Photo Workshop? Here is the right place to find the great deals. we can offer discounts of up to 90% on Black and White Digital Photography Photo Workshop. Check out the link below:

>> Click Here to See Compare Prices and Get the Best Offers

Black and White Digital Photography Photo Workshop Review

I thought that my photographically-inclined high school kid could get something out of this book, but my husband and I have both found ourselves referring to it in our professional life. Beautiful examples and very cleanly-discussed direction. I really enjoy the tone of the author and the sheer volume of photos to learn from is impressive. "The digital darkroom" is a new thing to a lot of people, but catching on strong as we realize how much flexibility is built into the files if you do it right. This book does a great job of showing you how to put the most into the image in-camera, and then how to push it even further.

Black and White Digital Photography Photo Workshop Overview

How to create stunning black and white photos in a digital format
Shooting pictures in black and white presents unique challenges for beginners and experienced digital photographers alike. A strong understanding of photography's fundamentals is crucial to capturing great black and white images, and factors such as contrast and lighting are much more integral to black and white photography than to color. Black and White Digital Photography Photo Workshop teaches digital photographers the skills they need to master black and white photography.
Focuses on the rules of photography and how they apply differently to black and white photography
Offers guidance for properly uploading digital images to a computer
Explains insider tips and tricks for using Photoshop and Lightroom to successfully enhance black and white images

Black and white photography presents different challenges than color photography. In Black and White Digital Photography Photo Workshop, photographers learn how to identify great opportunities for black and white photographs and how to turn those opportunities into stunning monochrome images they can be proud to display. From the Author: Sample Photos and Their Stories One vital element of good black and white photography is lighting and how the light affects your subjects. I believe that many of the black and white images that I shoot are light driven, meaning that many times I will see how the light and shadow are interacting with the subject in front of me, and will use the tones and contrast there to determine if it should be a color or black and white image. This can happen whether there is the bold contrast of big areas of light and shadow, or the subtle tones of gray, smoothly fading towards bright and dark areas. Pay attention to the shapes and textures of the scene in front of your camera, and start to engage your brain in trying to learn how the colors of real life will convert into tones and textures in monochrome. In your home, on a walk or even on your commute, begin to see the tones of light and dark all around you to help visualize how the contrast of the light is creating the emotional tone of the scenes in front of you. Ask yourself questions about the light always helps in visualizing-is this a bright or dark scene? Is the interaction of the light and dark areas of the scene hard and abrupt or is it soft and gradual? How does this light fit the scene? And finally' how does the light in the scene make me feel? Spend more time trying to visualize how light is creating the shape, texture and contrast in the scene in front of your camera and the feel that you are attempting to share in your black and white photographs, than worrying too much about a lot of technically perfect settings. Imparting the feel and emotion of the scene in front of you will be far more impactful to the viewer than making sure you had just the right f/stop. Commuter(see story below)

Want to learn more information about Black and White Digital Photography Photo Workshop?

>> Click Here to See All Customer Reviews & Ratings Now

Read more »

Save 34% Off: Canon EOS Digital Photography Photo Workshop Review &Ratings

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Are you looking to buy Canon EOS Digital Photography Photo Workshop? Here is the right place to find the great deals. we can offer discounts of up to 90% on Canon EOS Digital Photography Photo Workshop. Check out the link below:

>> Click Here to See Compare Prices and Get the Best Offers

Canon EOS Digital Photography Photo Workshop Review

This is a pretty good comprehensive book about Canon cameras, lenses, speed flashes and accessories. If you're a frequent buyer of Canon equipment or if you looking to build a Canon system, this book will answer many questions you might have, including some information about Canon's digital processing software that comes with their cameras. Some parts of the book may be too technical for beginners, and I would not recommend this book for those looking for detail information about taking quality photos. This book is more for learning the technical side of photography, helping you understand camera settings, functions, and differences between the various camera and lens models that Canon offers. The book does not cover the recent Canon models--the Canon 50D and the Canon EOS 5D Mark II. The writing in this book is very accessible, and includes assignments/exercises that reflect information presented each chapter. The included video tutorials (not presented by the author, but by another photographer) on a CD-ROM, included with the book, seemed okay, but I think the tutorials are little too fast paced, glossing over techniques rather than going into depth on various topics. The ending chapters of the book provide a nice list of online resources, a glossary of digital photography terms, and an index for quick referencing. The companion website for the book is also useful.

Canon EOS Digital Photography Photo Workshop Overview

Want to learn more information about Canon EOS Digital Photography Photo Workshop?

>> Click Here to See All Customer Reviews & Ratings Now

Read more »

Save 40% Off: On-Camera Flash Techniques for Digital Wedding andPortrait Photography Review & Ratings

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Are you looking to buy On-Camera Flash Techniques for Digital Wedding and Portrait Photography? Here is the right place to find the great deals. we can offer discounts of up to 90% on On-Camera Flash Techniques for Digital Wedding and Portrait Photography. Check out the link below:

>> Click Here to See Compare Prices and Get the Best Offers

On-Camera Flash Techniques for Digital Wedding and Portrait Photography Review

Disclaimers:
1. I do know Neil van Niekerk
2. I use very little flash
I've known Mr. Niekerk for more than a few years and there are few photographers for whom I have as much respect, personally or professionally.
While I am known for my "available light" work I do consider a mastery of light, be it available or supplemental, to be crucial for the production of great images.
Mr. Williams states, eloquently, in his foreword that we live in the age of the "quick-fix" during which period it really does seem to be de rigueur to eschew knowledge and learning.
If you recognize that "flash" is your weak point, or if you desire to improve your lighting skills & knowledge then I suggest that this book should not only be on your purchase list, at the top :), but also that you do spend the time reading, practicing and understanding the techniques and concepts presented in it, paying particular attention to Mr. van Niekerk's statement regarding manual exposure; "You decide. Not the camera." This is of key importance and is often overlooked or neglected
The book itself is very well written, using precise, unambiguous language leaving little, if any, room for misunderstanding. The chapter subjects are comprehensive.
The diagrams are clear and concise and each and every photograph in the book illustrates its point very clearly.My only issue with the foreword is that Mr. William's statement this "is a fantastic book" is that it is not in bold print!
It is indeed a fantastic book. It's not a quick fix, I don't believe it was ever intended to be one.
It does require reading and practice, after all practice does make perfect!
George Weir

On-Camera Flash Techniques for Digital Wedding and Portrait Photography Overview

Want to learn more information about On-Camera Flash Techniques for Digital Wedding and Portrait Photography?

>> Click Here to See All Customer Reviews & Ratings Now

Read more »

Save 38% Off: Practical Artistry: Light & Exposure for DigitalPhotographers Review & Ratings

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Are you looking to buy Practical Artistry: Light & Exposure for Digital Photographers? Here is the right place to find the great deals. we can offer discounts of up to 90% on Practical Artistry: Light & Exposure for Digital Photographers. Check out the link below:

>> Click Here to See Compare Prices and Get the Best Offers

Practical Artistry: Light & Exposure for Digital Photographers Review

As Harold Davis so aptly demonstrates in this brilliant book, the modern photographer has to be "one part artist and one part photographer." Thus, it falls on the photographer to have a strong understanding of light and exposure in order to create memorable works of photographic art.
For newcomers, this book can provide a wealth of information about how it is not the camera, nor the lens, but the use of light that separates the amateur from the pro. Mr. Davis has written this book with the digital photographer in mind, and it surely will become the classic treatise on the subject for digital imagery.
The book is richly illustrated with great photography by the author, but what I really enjoyed was that each of the subjects - white balance, creative exposure, shutter speed, etc. - was explained in detail and then a representative photo was used to "show" the effect of decisions that the photographer can make as they compose the shot. Whether you are a visual learner or prefer to read well written prose, this book delivers each in a well thought out manner that is easy to understand.
I also found the author's discussion of how to use the RAW digital format to capture the true nuances of light and color to be particularly informative. Initially, the RAW format can seem mystifying to a digital photographer who has not experienced the power that RAW can bring to a situation, and this book does as fine a job as any I've ever encountered at explaining how to harness RAW for best effect.
Additionally, I found that the three chapters on front, back and side lighting to have the best explanations I have ever read on the differences each of these lighting situations brings to an image.
I would heartily recommend this terrific book to any photographer - from the newcomer to digital imagery to the advanced pro - because it captures wonderfully the true building block steps that can turn a simple image into a true work of art.

Practical Artistry: Light & Exposure for Digital Photographers Overview

Want to learn more information about Practical Artistry: Light & Exposure for Digital Photographers?

>> Click Here to See All Customer Reviews & Ratings Now

Read more »

Save 34% Off: Jeff Smith's Studio Flash Photography: Techniques forDigital Portrait Photographers Review & Ratings

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Are you looking to buy Jeff Smith's Studio Flash Photography: Techniques for Digital Portrait Photographers? Here is the right place to find the great deals. we can offer discounts of up to 90% on Jeff Smith's Studio Flash Photography: Techniques for Digital Portrait Photographers. Check out the link below:

>> Click Here to See Compare Prices and Get the Best Offers

Jeff Smith's Studio Flash Photography: Techniques for Digital Portrait Photographers Review

I have read several of Jeff books and this one is no different, it is a winner.
Jeff clearly help you better understand how to get the most with your lighting. I would suggest this book to just about any photographer. I suggest that you try the technique's using your equipment as he points out to do it and then look at your results. You really just can't go wrong with Jeff's sage advise. One of the keys to lighting that Jeff points out is understanding your workflow as it relates to the kind of photography that you are doing. If you are new to lighting or you have not purchased any lighting yet, I beg you please sit down and read this book.

Jeff Smith's Studio Flash Photography: Techniques for Digital Portrait Photographers Overview

Want to learn more information about Jeff Smith's Studio Flash Photography: Techniques for Digital Portrait Photographers?

>> Click Here to See All Customer Reviews & Ratings Now

Read more »

Save 32% Off: Digital Exposure Handbook Review & Ratings

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Are you looking to buy Digital Exposure Handbook? Here is the right place to find the great deals. we can offer discounts of up to 90% on Digital Exposure Handbook. Check out the link below:

>> Click Here to See Compare Prices and Get the Best Offers

Digital Exposure Handbook Review

Exposure is both a very important and a very challenging part of learning photography, a topic that can be approached from many perspectives. This probably explains why so many books about exposure are available. Having read quite a few of them, Ross Hoddinott's "Digital Exposure Handbook" was a very pleasant surprise. I recommend it to anyone looking for a solid introduction to the fundamentals of exposure plus a little bit more. It also makes a good "refresher book," which is why I picked it up.
Hoddinott is a straightforward, engaging, and effective writer. No compulsive attempts to be funny or with it, no wandering around the landscape trying to cover everything. He just gets down to business and in a little under 200 pages delivers all the content you need, in fact more than you get from many much longer books.
There are six chapters: The basics of exposure, Exposure in practice, Ambient light, Flash light, Filters, and Exposure in the digital darkroom. A glossary and list of websites are provided. Chapters are divided into self-contained discussions of specific topics, usually about two to three pages long. You can read these in sequence or search out something of particular interest. Hoddinott provides page references to related discussions elsewhere in the book, so if you encounter something unfamiliar, it's easy to find the background information you need. Though organizing the book this way leads to some repetition, I didn't find it at all bothersome and credit Hoddinott for his thoroughness and clarity.
The book is extraordinarily well illustrated, mostly with Hoddinott's own work, which not only enriches the discussion but shows that he knows very well what he's talking about. The intent of each photo is identified and equipment/exposure information provided -- very helpful. The book also includes discussions of technical points, set inside "boxes" so the flow of the text is not disrupted. I found the supporting illustrations and "boxed" discussions some of the most useful material in the book -- there was no stinting here.
The book's small format is deceiving, by the way. The pages are double-columned and the type fairly small, something I did find annoying. There is a lot more content between the stiff covers than you'd first expect.
All in all, this is one of the few exposure books that will stay on my bookshelf, alongside Michael Freeman's "Perfect Exposure." Two very different approaches to a fascinating subject.
For the record, I'm a semi-professional photographer (which means I make a little money at it but not enough to quit my day job) and shoot mostly landscapes with some street/urban work.

Digital Exposure Handbook Overview

Want to learn more information about Digital Exposure Handbook?

>> Click Here to See All Customer Reviews & Ratings Now

Read more »

Save 34% Off: Digital Photography Lighting For Dummies (For Dummies(Computer/Tech)) Review & Ratings

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Are you looking to buy Digital Photography Lighting For Dummies (For Dummies (Computer/Tech))? Here is the right place to find the great deals. we can offer discounts of up to 90% on Digital Photography Lighting For Dummies (For Dummies (Computer/Tech)). Check out the link below:

>> Click Here to See Compare Prices and Get the Best Offers

Digital Photography Lighting For Dummies (For Dummies (Computer/Tech)) Review

There are a number of books on lighting produced by world-class photographers. One very popular example is The Hot Shoe Diaries: Big Light from Small Flashes. However, as interesting (and unquestionably worthwhile) as those books are, not many of us typically roll up to a job with a half dozen TTL flashes, cases of light modifiers, and a group of assistants/groupies to setup and hold stuff. The examples provided are not directly or immediately useful and must be "extrapolated downward" to situations we are more likely to face.
The writer of this book, Dirk Fletcher, is a skilled photographer and accomplished instructor. That combination allows him to present real world advice that is actionable and methods that are accessible to photographers working alone within somewhat smaller budgets than would allow reserving football stadiums or renting elephants (that never got used). He is also the author of numerous books including Tall Timber Trollop (Spur Giant Special Edition), though I suspect that's a different Dirk Fletcher. However, *this* Dirk Fletcher is, in addition to being an accomplished photographer, an excellent writer and teacher. This combination has resulted in a great introductory book on lighting. It is also a book that the accomplished photographer would find valuable.
The book starts where all books on lighting should, describing light, the different kinds of light and how to use it. Following that is a discussion of equipment, everything from flashes to put in front, behind, and on top of them. In this section, as well as elsewhere in the book, I liked that many or the recommendations were for "simple things" that work well but don't cost a lot. There are also some recommendations for specific products and I would have liked to see more of that.
There are several detailed sections on measuring, adjusting, and creating exposures with a fair number of examples to demonstrate these principals. One of the things I likes was where the author used before/after examples to demonstrate the principles he was discussing. One of the shortcomings of this book was that I wished he had done that a lot more and that the examples were available on line for increased clarity.
Next comes sections on lighting specific situations. It covers things like events, interiors, sports, night, the "Magic Hour" (when I'm either sleeping or eating supper), and a bunch more. I particularly liked the section on portrait lighting where you get a rough layout of light positions and subject positioning to cover most of the classic portrait configurations.
Bottom line: A must read for anyone new to photographic lighting and even some experienced photographers.

Digital Photography Lighting For Dummies (For Dummies (Computer/Tech)) Overview

Improve your lighting technique to produce better quality photographs
Digital Photography Lighting For Dummies features the tools, concepts, and steps you need to give your subjects a high-quality look and feel. Everyone from advanced beginners to aspiring professional photographers will improve their understanding of lighting basics as well as the parts and functions of their camera.
Explains the different kinds of lighting that different situations require and guides you through changing the settings on your camera
Shows you how to set up equipment to capture the photograph you want with the proper amount of light and shadow
Offers information on the latest lighting equipment and accessories
Includes techniques and skills used by film photographers like David Bailey, Ansel Adams, and Annie Leibovitz

Reach for Digital Photography Lighting For Dummies and take your knowledge of lighting and photography to the next level!

Want to learn more information about Digital Photography Lighting For Dummies (For Dummies (Computer/Tech))?

>> Click Here to See All Customer Reviews & Ratings Now

Read more »