Book Reviews

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C.A. Boylan  |  Sep 06, 2011  |  First Published: Jul 01, 2011  |  0 comments
Doug Box’s Flash Photography: On- and Off-Camera Techniques for Digital Photographers; by Doug Box; Amherst Media; $34.95; (ISBN: 978-1-608952-58-8)
Many beginners find that learning to properly use flash can be a complicated task. This guide takes the mystery out of the process by providing a wide variety of helpful tips and tricks for both on- and off-camera flash. Professional photographer Doug Box explores everything from bounce flash and light modifiers to sync cords, slaves, and wireless triggers. He also provides advice on working with flash in mixed lighting situations and using flash to create perfect portraits. Box supplies all the information you’ll need to harness the power of light and take your images to the next level.

C.A. Boylan  |  Jan 03, 2012  |  First Published: Nov 01, 2011  |  0 comments
The New Complete Guide to Night and Low-Light Digital Photography: Updated Edition; by Lee Frost; Amphoto Books; $29.99; (ISBN: 978-0-8174-4968-1)
Don’t let low-light conditions cause you to miss another photographic opportunity. This informative guide solves that problem by providing information on gear choices, such as how to pick the right digital camera, lenses, filters, flash, and accessories for the job. Lee Frost then explores the fundamentals of understanding light, metering, exposure, and digital image processing. This wide selection of tips, tricks, and techniques are paired with sample images to make learning fast and easy.

C.A. Boylan  |  Jun 29, 2012  |  First Published: May 01, 2012  |  1 comments
Photography and the Art of Seeing: A Visual Perception Workshop for Film and Digital Photography, Fourth Edition; by Freeman Patterson; Firefly Books Ltd.; $24.95; (ISBN-10: 1-55407-980-2)
Author Freeman Patterson created this guide as a workshop designed specifically to train you to see artistically, to allow your eyes to pick out those special colors, shapes, and fine details that others would normally miss in order to find the art in the everyday objects that surround us. He provides a variety of tips and examples that help you think creatively and find ways to express your imagination in a unique and purely visual way. This is a wonderful resource for those who desire to expand their horizons and take their photography to the next level of creativity.

C.A. Boylan  |  Aug 29, 2012  |  First Published: Jul 01, 2012  |  9 comments
Black and White Step by Step; by Roger Hicks and Frances Schultz; $9.99; e-book; www.rogerandfrances.com.
This is one of the many new e-books from noted photography team Roger Hicks and Frances Schultz. Overflowing with plenty of sample images, the book begins with a review of the basics like choosing the right camera and lens, film, using 35mm, medium and large format, exposure, and filters. It then moves on to explain basic and advanced film development, chemicals, printing materials and technique. Hicks and Schultz provide a wealth of pro-quality advice and easy-to-understand lessons that are certain to help you not only understand but master black-and-white photography to take your work to the next level.

C.A. Boylan  |  Nov 01, 2010  |  0 comments

Lighting and Photographing Transparent and Translucent Surfaces: A Comprehensive Guide to Photographing Glass, Water, and More; by Dr. Glenn Rand; Amherst Media; $34.95; (ISBN-13: 978-1-58428-244-0)
Dr. Glenn Rand is a professional photographer and professor of photography at the Brooks Institute. His years of experience have been transformed into a guide that...

Jack Dykinga  |  Sep 12, 2014  |  0 comments

Capture the Magic uses a structured approach to teach the art of creating interesting, well-composed images. It provides solutions to problems that often get in the way of producing great photographs and emphasizes the importance of training the eye to exclude the extraneous. Examples of strong images are juxtaposed against flawed images, illustrating how to create a successful composition. Topics covered include light and shadow, lens choice, framing, negative space, and many more.

C.A. Boylan  |  Jul 15, 2014  |  0 comments
Captain Charlotte T. McGraw began her career as a talented studio photographer for MGM but when World War II began—and our country needed her—McGraw bravely walked away from the safety and glamour of Hollywood and joined the Army. She became the official Women’s Army Corps photographer and her assignment was to capture images that would have a positive influence on how American women viewed serving in the military. The Captain’s amazing—and often very dangerous—journey took her through Africa, England, Asia, the Pacific and military hospitals around the USA. Along the way, she met a variety of famous and interesting people from General Eisenhower to war correspondent Ernie Pyle all the while documenting the very real and important role the WACs played in the war effort.
Christopher Grey  |  Jun 11, 2012  |  First Published: May 01, 2012  |  0 comments
When it comes to lighting, the tools and techniques at the fingertips of a professional photographer are almost unlimited. Developing a sense of what is possible—and how to achieve it—is part of the fun of being a professional photographer and a critical aspect of developing your personal style as an artist.

In this book, Chris Grey takes you beyond the basics of lighting and shows you the tricks professionals use to create more visually complex effects. Some of these “tricks” are complex strategies that rely on a sophisticated understanding of the physics of light, but more are simply inventive solutions (the product of a lot of trial and error readers can bypass using this book!) that make it surprisingly easy to produce a very sophisticated result.

Carl Heilman  |  Jan 01, 2011  |  0 comments

The following is an excerpt from Contemporary Landscape Photography by Carl Heilman II (Amphoto Books, $24.99, paperback, published June 2010). In his first instructional book, Heilman II shares his experiences and techniques in capturing stunning landscape images. With nearly 300 color photos, this illustrated guide is a complete course in taking pro-caliber images of both urban and natural...

C.A. Boylan  |  May 07, 2012  |  First Published: Mar 01, 2012  |  1 comments

Bay Photo Lab’s BayBooks are high-quality digital press printed photo books for any occasion. They are available in various sizes and in square, horizontal, or vertical formats with hard or soft full-wrap photo covers. There are 48 cover material choices and hundreds of customizable page templates to help you easily build a one-of-a-kind album.

David FitzSimmons  |  May 22, 2012  |  First Published: Apr 01, 2012  |  0 comments

In June 2009, Sigma Pro director Dave Metz contacted me, requesting some wildlife images for full-page Sigma advertisements. He knew that I had been working on my first book, Animals of Ohio’s Ponds and Vernal Pools (Kent State University Press, July 2011), so he figured I could send him images fairly easily. He then made an interesting—and at the time slightly disconcerting—request: would I please photograph the animals not within their natural settings but against white backgrounds?

Joe Farace  |  Dec 01, 2000  |  0 comments

General Digital Reading.
The Art of Digital Photography
by Tom Ang. Published by Amphoto Books, 1515 Broadway, New York, NY 10036; 160 pages; $29.95; softbound, with flaps. (ISBN 0-8174-3794-0)

The big...

Joe Farace  |  Dec 01, 2009  |  0 comments

Growing up there were few books in my house—I learned to read from newspapers—and the only one I remember seeing was my Dad’s copy of Richard Henry Dana, Jr.’s Two Years Before the Mast.

Joe Farace  |  Dec 01, 2010  |  0 comments

Sony makes a svelte black-and-white-only eBook reader and claims that within five years half of all books and magazines will be delivered digitally. While electronics companies slug it out in the eBook reader arena, another trend appears ready to add negative synergy.

Steve Sint  |  Mar 01, 2009  |  0 comments

Editor’s Note: Steve Sint has been making portraits for as long as I’ve known him, which is a long time, and his latest book contains a host of great tips and techniques from the many years he has been at his craft. Here’s a sampling from this beautiful 220-plus page book.

Digital Portrait Photography: Art, Business & Style by Steve Sint; $24.95;...

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