Digital Photography in Available Light: Essential Skills

by Mark Galer

Digital Photography in Available Light is an inspirational guide as well as a structured learning tool for mastering the essential techniques. Learn how to choose the most appropriate digital camera for your workflow, manage your image files and process images using camera RAW. Try key capture techniques including exposure, framing the image and how to work with the available light in all situations. Explore different styles: panoramas, landscapes,...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0240520130
• ISBN13: 9780240520131
• Release Date: April 2006
• Publisher: Focal Press
• Length: 234 Pages
• Weight: 1.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 7.8" x 9.6"

Customer Reviews

helpful for entry level

I do agree with several of the reviews written on the misleading title. A book should not be judged by it's cover, make sure you do your research. This book does a great job of breaking down the fundamentals of photography. Explains simple rules, and formulas that produce quality photos, however explains the benefits of breaking the rules for creative results. I like how much of the book is not so much focused on the functions of the camera but rather how to capture moments. Not the greatest book about lighting, but the content for technique is great.

An Engaging Book

First and foremost, this is an attractive book as every book on photography should be. It is rich with relevant and interesting color photographs on each page. It is not just a book about digital photography but one that shows how to use digital photography to capture and manipulate images. If I were still teaching and teaching a basic course in photography this certainly would be a book to consider. A well written, well illustrated and engaging book

Awesome

This book is by far one of the best books I've read on photography. The images and examples within the book are amazing, they really help to get the point across and makes me want to go out and take photo's. The book is clearly laid out and is in a logical manner. The activities and summaries in each chapter really help. Marks thoughts on workflow came in very handy early on, helped to organise my existing photos and all my new ones which I've been taking while reading this book. I found this book really easy to read and didn't get bored with it halfway through like many other books. I have been searching for a book like this for a couple of years now and I'm so happy to have finally found such a great book. The activities in this book aren't mandatory but after finishing the book so quickly I'm now going back over the activities and getting even more out of it. As well as the activities in this book the Photoshop sections are great and were really helpful and will be a great reference. I'm sure this book will keep on giving for a long time yet. I highly recommend it.

Impressive!

Over the last couple weeks I have purchased several of Mark Galer's books and I am impressed with the quality of each of them. "Digital Photography in Available Light" is written in a reader-friendly approach that provides a wide variety of information on digital camera, asset management, exposure, camera raw, composition, creative camera controls, light, post-production editing, panoramic photographs, landscapes, environmental portraits, and photographic essays. If you are looking for an intermediate book on photo-editing then look at Mark Galer's "Photoshop Elements 4.0: Maximum Performance" which comes with a DVD with several hours of video on digital editing. Or, if you are using Photoshop CS2, consider Mr. Galer's book, "Photoshop CS2: Essential Skills," which comes with a CD with movies and resources. The techniques shown in each are a bit overwhelming for a beginner--but great for those who know the basics and are ready for the next big step!

Excellent all-round text for teacher, student or enthusiast.

I am a fan of Galer's clever Photoshop routines for CS and Elements (he's an Adobe beta tester) so I was keen to see the latest edition of his basic text for digital photographers. I was not disappointed. He is a working photographer, journalist and lecturer so the text is pitched at students, especially at the college level. However this is a thoroughly readable book, heavily illustrated with images that any keen amateur could achieve. The book assumes no previous knowledge and covers everything from camera types to conventional photographic techniques such as framing and exposure. I was particularly impressed by the simple, no jargon explanation of Camera RAW. The structure is typical of the Focal 'Essential Skills' series. Information is provided in short 'bites' with workshop routines and assignments so that this book can be used as textbook, manual, reference or inspirational read. Anyone who aspires to producing professional quality images will find this to be a excellent introduction, general reference tool and guide to the latest digital tools and techniques. It certainly filled a few gaps in my knowledge! Very highly recommended - one of the best photographic 'how-to' books that I've ever seen.