The Basic Book of Photography: Fifth Edition

by Tom Grimm and Michele Grimm

Book Overview

For nearly three decades, The Basic Book of Photography has been the ideal handbook for beginning and experienced photographers alike. This comprehensive edition has been expanded to include the latest technological innovations in digital photography and the most modern methods and products used in traditional film photography. So whether you use a single lens reflex (SLR), compact, APS, single-use, instant, or digital camera, you'll learn everything...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0452284252
• ISBN13: 9780452284258
• Release Date: August 2003
• Publisher: Plume Books
• Length: 672 Pages
• Weight: 2.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.6" x 6.0" x 9.0"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

The first and maybe last photography book you will need

This book was the only photography book that I really needed. It covers all the bases for learning photography (regardless of equipment) geared to a nonprofessional from a practical (non-academic) perspective. This book is loaded with practical advice on how take good pictures even when your equipment isn't operating well. There is specific information on how to get the most out of your point and shoot cameras as well as SLRs. This is a great book to read BEFORE you buy any (more) photography gear. It has a good section on what you may want to buy and what you may want to avoid. It also pointed out that the photographer is the most important part of making the picture, not the latest gear. There is good information on composition as well as tips when traveling with a camera. This book is inexpensive and to the point. I have found the information more valuable than books that I have bought at more than four times the price! The book does not contain color pictures (but spends most of its time discussing color photography). That is my only complaint with this book.

A must have for novice photographers

Just starting out in SLR photography? You will probably learn a lot more by reading this book than you will in a beginners photography class (at least I did). This book covers in detail all basic technical aspects of SLR photography including; exposure, f-stops, shutter speed, light, film, and equipment selection & operation. There are also sections on composition and traveling tips. This book is well written and will provide you with a solid foundation of photographic skills

The Basic Book of Photography

I love this book! It has everything I wanted to know in one photography book. I thought about buying Photography for Dummies, looked at it, hated it. It was written soley for APS cameras and not SLRs or ZLRs. The Basic Book of Photography has 500 clearly written, up-to-date, informational pages. It also has a 50 page glossary that is extremely helpful. I couldn't recommend a better book for any beginner or hobbyist who needs a great reference.

Understand your SLR

I have had a Minolta 400si SLR for a year. It is an entry-level SLR camera. up until I read Tom and Michele's wonderful book, I never took good photographs. When I read their book, I finally understood f-stops and metering. I now understand why the first 50 rolls I shot all had underexposed skin tone. The first role I shot after I read the book cover to cover gave me more "keepers" than any roll before it.There is no better book for the SLR novice to understand the functioning of his camera than this one. And do not get taken in when the rocket scientists of Photography belittle your particular brand of camera -- apply the Grimms' advice and you will find dramatic improvement in the performance of your camera (well it is actually the photographer that has improved :-))The book has a very good chapter on composition. However I wish it had more chapters on the "Art" of photography. Things like how to find interesting subjects, how to shoot subjects, etc. This book is excellent for understanding how an SLR works, with some good advice on composition thrown in.Readers will find this book to be very compatible with "Photography for Dummies", which deals more with how to take photographs.

A great comprehensive introduction to photography

This book simply is the most well-written and approachable all-in-one guide to photography that I've ever read. It goes from from beginning (picking a camera) to end (basic developing). The book is written in a very no-nonsense down-to-earth style that is very approachable. While it's certainly longer and more wordy than books like 'Photography for Dummies' and 'The Complete Idiot's Guide to Photography' there is no fluff. My only very minor quibbles with the book are these: (1) no specific equipment recommendations are made, though brief mention is made of camera brands, (2) no comparison of APS versus 35mm quality is made and (3) while there are quite a few pictures in the book, I wanted more examples (some in color would've been nice).