Photography for Dummies

by Russell Hart

Book Overview

Your personal photographs have a worth that can't be measured in dollars and cents. They're likely the one thing you would grab on the way out of a burning house - an irreplaceable record of the life you lead, of friends and family, and of the occasions with which you mark passing years. The funny thing is, most people aren't entirely happy with their photographs. And that's where Photography For Dummies comes in. You don't need a fancy camera with...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0764541161
• ISBN13: 9780764541162
• Release Date: October 2003
• Publisher: For Dummies
• Length: 414 Pages
• Weight: 1.56 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 7.4" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

If want to learn to take good pictures, here's a new friend

I started photography not expecting it to be my life's ambition...Oh well. When I started, I bought this book on a recommendation from a photography magazine. I learned so much. Taking a good picture is much more than buying an expensive camera with lots of pretty buttons. This book is the key to taking great travel pictures, pictures of your kids, really any kind of picture you want to take.You'll learn how to frame a picture correctly, (including how and why putting your subject gently off center makes a huge difference,) which is probably one of the biggest facets of a great photo. You'll learn how to pick the right film speed (you'll learn what the different numbers mean, 100, 200, 400 ect.), pick color or black and white film, how to pick a good photo finisher, the different kinds of flash most cameras come with and how to use them, why always using flash isn't a bad idea, moving with your subject, changing the angle from which you shoot, making those breath taking landscapes you stumble across look just as stunning on film, and that's just the tip of iceberg. If you've been waiting to buy that new camera, this book will help you pick which one is best for you. There are so many options now a little guidance will go far. It wasn't until after I read this book that I started getting nice compliments on photos.

Let me share a story.

May 25th. 1998 I walk into a local photography store and start chatting with the manager about cameras, having no clue about them. 25 minutes later I find I am the newest employee of the Nations largest photo retail chains (later to become thier digital imaging expert).So what did I do? The only thing a rational person would do, buy a "how-to-book". Now I've had some experience with "For Dummies" books, and for some of them, I found them very insulting, however, for a total newbie to the photography field this was my saviour.I read the book from cover to back. It taught me in laymens terms, how to use a point and shoot camera to shoot like the pros. Explained photographic techniques, tips and tricks, even down to how to choose a good mini-lab to process your pictues.Well, within a month I was spouting the glories of this book to my co-workers and friends, as well as my customers, many of whom later thanked me for recomending this book. My sales were through the roof and customers would love to come in to get ME, ME, the novice, to critique thier photos based on the concepts I learned from this book.I must say Russell did a bang up job, and is probablly in large part responsible for the success of my career with that chain, not to mention my current pasion for photography.The text is easy to understand, well indexed, acts as a tremendous reference to readers who wish to come back to it, and the examples are visually stunning. The only issue I had with the book is that they pushed Kodak products, these being the ties of corporate sponsorship I suppose. The one thing Russell did leave out was information on how to select a film and paper combination. He did cover how to select the proper film speed, but any photographer worth thier salt will tell you that shooting on Kodak film and printing on Fuji paper vs printing on Kodak paper will give you diffrent results. Other then that, very comprehensive, very smart, and very easy to use.I love how the book destroys the myths and fears of the novice user and takes the power from the pro and puts it into the average users hands. No longer do you feel incapable of producing awe inspiring works, and feel guilty for trying to learn. I like how Russell pushes the learning aspect of photography, encourageing users to burn through a few rolls to learn thier camera, to learn how light works, learn how colours and flash and focus become tools to enhance as opposed to destroy photographic art. It's a very inspiring and empowering book, very well done.As for the information on how to choose the right paper/film combination, I'd be more then willing to assist anyone that e-mailed me. Other than that I would stake my reputation as a "photography expert" and photographer on the quality and invaluable advice contained within this book,Good job Russell!

not chance photography any more

In every role of film developed there would always be one or two shots that were well-composed, exciting and which I would almost be willing to display. It took this book, Photography for Dummies, for me to figure out why and how. After purchasing three different cameras (they had to be at fault), I finally purchased this book and learned about using all those mode buttons on my camera. I learned how to eliminate the dark corners and unwanted shadows. For that alone, this book is priceless. If you're buying someone a camera for the holidays or for any ocassion, this book is a must to go along with it.

Focuses more on technique than on gadgets.

After first reading Russell's book I admit I was not happy. I left the store not realizing this book was geared toward's point and shoot cameras...a fault totally my own since it is pretty clear after examining the cover. I'm glad I didn't return the book though. After mildly bashing Russell's book in my review here of the Idiot's Guide to Photography...I realized something. I had overlooked that, these two books work quite well together for the beginning SLR enthusiast like myself. The Idiot's guide goes the serious hobbyist/semi professional route by focusing on 35mm SLR cameras. Russell's book, while for point and shoots...really doesn't spend tons of time talking about equipment and accessories. Russell's book is heavy on "how to take darn good pictures." The Idiot's guide certainly has lots of good advice as well...but I think Russell's book actually exceeds Mr. Woodson's when it comes to explaining good techniques. I rarely recommend both an Idiot's guide and a Dummies book, but in this case I think it's appropriate. For learning about my new Minolta's features and how to buy, upgrade and understand my equipment, I'll refer to the Idiot's guide. For tips on taking great pictures, I'll refer to Photography for Dummies. Thanks to both authors for their efforts.

A superb volume for those interested in personal photography

Regardless of the type of camera used - and I use SLRs to point-and-shoots (for the most part now, including the Advantix system)Photography for Dummies is remarkable, whether you're a complete novice or one who has spent a lifetime taking photos. Yes, indeed, it's instructive even to the point of showing how to load film, to the real "meat" of personal photography, and that is instructing us as to how to "compose" - the most challenging aspect of photography, and for those of us who choose to document our life experiences through a camera, usually the most frustrating. Mr. Hart's book brilliantly illustrates, in language we can all understand, how to evolve from the "snapshot" stage of photography to shooting images that are truly memorable and capture the essence of the moment. Beyond that, having purchased several "Dummies" titles, all of which have proved to be useful, instructive, and occasionally amusing, Photography for Du! mmies is far and away the most ambitious - and beautiful - of the Dummies books I own or have perused. It is an outstanding reference book, one that I will refer to for years to come.