Showing posts with label digital photography. Show all posts
Showing posts with label digital photography. Show all posts

Speedlights & Speedlites: Creative Flash Photography at the Speed of Light Review

Speedlights and Speedlites: Creative Flash Photography at the Speed of Light
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I read the book twice; gleaning little nuggets here and there.
The book highlights standard lighting techniques (which could be used with any type of artificial lighting)using speedlights. GREAT! What are my problems then, you might be wondering.
One "problem" with the book is that the author,chapter after chapter, continually attempts to "sell" the reader on the idea that using speedlights is a "great way" of shooting with flash. "YA, I KNOW THAT, that's why I bought the book in the first place" is what I was grumbling into the air as I continued read on to the end. His propensity to do this was annoying and left me feeling like I was getting cheated out of more helpful information. I don't need the author to tell me WHY I am using speedlights I want him to tell me HOW.
Another "problem" was that, like the title says (it finally dawned on me...), the book is only about using Nikon and Canon ETL speedlight/speedlite flashes. I was hoping that this was going to be a tome about off-camera flash using flashes in manual and setting up with shots using wireless triggers and etc. Maybe there would be some exposure tricks and tips that help the photographer get around using a light meter. I was hoping for, well, meat and potatoes..."strobist" stuff I guess. Maybe like how to train my eye and to be able to see the forest for the trees and vice versa when it comes to lighting. Oh well.
Don't get me wrong, I learned some stuff but...

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The Digital Photography Book, Volume 3 Review

The Digital Photography Book, Volume 3
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I like Scott's first two volumes. But this one is lost in repetition, filler and useless information. I am not sure what kind of photographers' author is trying to target, typically it should be advanced photographers as it is 3rd volume. Some reviewers mentioned that it's good for beginners but I don't think so it contained some advance info and some very basic stuff and it also keep referring to 1st and 2nd volumes.
Good:
If you are product photographer then you have got some information in this book.
Bad:
Repetition Topics: A few examples...
1. Sharpest Aperture: We already discussed this in first two books and same info is shared as topic.
2. Wake up early in the morning.
3. Most of topics in Sports are already covered.
4. As usual screen shot of B&H Photo-Video site which is not relevant to that topic. Ohh wait! This time it's different page not homepage. Why do we require this site's pictures while author is trying to explain myth about card speed.
Filler: This is interesting. A few examples, these points are covered as full page topic in book.
1. There is separate whole topic on how to change lens. (May be in Vol-4, Scott will cover how to properly charge/install battery)
2. How to clean lenses.
3. Shortcut for formatting memory card.
4. Resetting camera setting.
Come on! These topics are covered in detail in operating manuals of every DSLR/Lens.
5. As usual too much advertising of websites and expensive gears.
I was expecting real professional info/tips and going beyond volumes 1 and 2, not the same information/filler. This book is certainly not for me. If you really want to get some interesting tips, you may want to check out `Understanding Exposure:...' by Bryan Peterson.


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Scott Kelby, author of The Digital Photography Book, volume 1 (the world's best-selling digital photography book of all time), is back with a follow-up to his volume 2 smash best seller, with an entirely new book that picks up right where he left off. It's even more of that "Ah ha—so that's how they do it," straight-to-the-point, skip-the-techno-jargon stuff you can really use today to make your shots even better.This book truly has a brilliant premise, and here's how Scott describes it: "If you and I were out on a shoot and you asked me, 'Hey Scott, I want the light for this portrait to look really soft and flattering. How far back should I put this softbox?' I wouldn't give you a lecture about lighting ratios, or flash modifiers. In real life, I'd just turn to you and say, 'Move it in as close to your subject as you possibly can, without it actually showing up in the shot.' Well, that's what this book is all about: you and I out shooting where I answer questions, give you advice, and share the secrets I've learned, just like I would with a friend—without all the technical explanations and techie photo speak."Each page covers a single concept on how to make your photography better. Every time you turn the page, you'll learn another pro setting, tool, or trick to transform your work from snapshots into gallery prints. If you're tired of taking shots that look "okay," and if you're tired of looking in photography magazines and thinking, "Why don't my shots look like that?" then this is the book for you.This isn't a book of theory—full of confusing jargon and detailed concepts. This is a book on which button to push, which setting to use, and when to use it. With nearly 200 more of the most closely guarded photographic "tricks of the trade," this book gets you shooting dramatically better-looking, sharper, more colorful, more professional-looking photos every time.

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David Busch's Canon EOS 7D Guide to Digital SLR Photography Review

David Busch's Canon EOS 7D Guide to Digital SLR Photography
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"David Busch's Canon EOS 7D Guide to Digital SLR Photography" has at least twice as much useful information as any of the compact guidebooks, as befits this advanced camera -- Canon's most affordable "pro/semi-pro" model. The two full chapters on lighting, which includes one chapter dedicated just to this camera's new built-in wireless flash capabilities, are worth the cost of the book alone.
Quite simply, this book, like his other guides, doesn't fit in the cookie-cutter mold of the other books on the shelves. Those typically re-hash the material you find in the booklet stuffed in the box with the camera, providing slightly longer and easier-to-understand explanations of the basic controls and menu settings, plus add some generic photography advice. That's a viable approach, but not particularly satisfying for someone who really wants to master a new camera like the Canon 7D.
Busch recognizes that each camera is unique, and although the explanations of basic concepts like exposure, shutter speeds, and apertures are similar across all models in all his books, the Canon 7D deserves detailed coverage. In this book, he manages to do that while still tailoring his explanations to suit beginners who have purchased a Canon 7D as their first D-SLR, intermediate photographers looking to improve their skills, and advanced shooters who want a fast way to learn the camera and gain some tips. You can't do that with a cookie-cutter book.
Including the introductory material, I counted more than 500 pages, all well-organized so that any photographer of any level can quickly locate what they need to know. For example, there's a "Getting Started" chapter, which, the author acknowledges, will likely be read only after the reader has already taken a few hundred photos. It provides the kind of pre-flight checklist you wish you had when you bought your first digital SLR. Next comes a Quick Start chapter that leads you through the essential features of the camera, with just the basics and none of the mind-numbing detail, allowing you to immediately go out and shoot your best pictures, ever. The third chapter is a "roadmap" guide that carefully explains each of the controls on the camera, with many photos and the right amount of information. The thick, but small-format book that comes with the 7D has many cross-references that send you darting around. Busch gives you the nitty gritty here.
Then, in a welcome departure from the organization of other guidebooks, Busch leaves the discussion of detailed menus and setup options for later in the book. Instead, he gives you three "Beyond the Basics" chapters devoted to Understanding Exposure, Mastering the Mysteries of Autofocus, and Advanced Shooting,Live View, and Movie-Making. Each of these are detailed tutorials on using the 7D's sophisticated features. Even Canon veterans may be mystified by the 7D's new autofocus options, which allow you to set up, for example, different autofocus zones for vertical and horizontal shooting orientations. Busch explains all these options, as well as the underlying technology behind autofocus, clearly and completely. The lengthy, tip-filled movie-making section was excellent, too, and appropriate given the 7D's full HD capabilities.
The author does devote several long chapters to explaining every menu option and, more importantly, why you should use each setting. Most other guides just list the menu item choices, and don't give you detailed examples of when to use a particular setting. The other books simply don't have room for this kind of depth. Highly recommended.


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Welcome to the Canon EOS 7D, Canon's new digital SLR that is loaded with professional features at an affordable price. DAVID BUSCH'S CANON EOS 7D GUIDE TO DIGITAL SLR PHOTOGRAPHY shows readers how to make the most of their camera's robust feature set, including 18 megapixel resolution, blazing fast automatic focus, the real-time preview system Live View, and full HD movie-making capabilities, to take outstanding photos and videos. They'll learn how, when, and, most importantly, why to use all the cool features and functions of their camera to take eye-popping photographs. Introductory chapters will help them get comfortable with the basics of their camera before you dive right into exploring creative ways to apply the Canon EOS 7D's exposure modes, focus controls, and electronic flash options. This book is chock full of hands-on tips for choosing lenses, flash units, and software products to use with their new camera. Beautiful, full-color images illustrate where the essential buttons and dials are, so they'll quickly learn how to their Canon EOS 7D, and use it well.

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The Digital Photography Book, Volume 2 Review

The Digital Photography Book, Volume 2
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The digital photography handbook,
This is the most helpful book on digital photography I have seen in a while. Each page of the book has some scenario and a ways to work with is to get the best possible shot. It's also covers many different ways to overcome what ever adverse shooting situation you might be. Kelby Talks about cheap ways to overcome situations. He also talks about more expensive ways to overcome situations. On each subject where he discusses a scenario there are usually multiple photos to show you each effect of each solution will have on the photo. Each subject is covered very well in about two pages. The photography is outstanding and in color.
Kelby covers all types of digital photography from portraiture to landscape, lighting flashes, different types of digital cameras.
Kelby covers using a flash, building a studio from scratch, shooting portraits like a pro, shooting landscapes like a pro, shooting weddings like a pro, shooting travel like a pro, shooting macro like a pro, pro tips for getting photos and more photo recipes to help you get the shot. All of these subject are covered very well.
The book is written in an easy to understand, easy to read and with some humor. Each topic is about one page in length.
I consider myself to me an intermediate photographer and I can say that this is and continue to be very helpful to me. I This is a must for the beginner to intermediate photographer. The book is small enough to carry in your camera equipment bag. This book is packed with information and extremely helpful tips.

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Mastering Canon EOS Flash Photography Review

Mastering Canon EOS Flash Photography
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I'm an advanced hobbyist photographer. I have Canon bodies and flashes. I've found lots of general flash resources that have all been somewhat helpful. However, the missing link is a book dedicated to Canon flash devices.
The author does an excellent job of examining the Canon system and of explaining the features of the flashes.
That said, this isn't a replacement for the manual; it doesn't go over every button press and configuration option. Instead, there are a lot of examples showing how to use the flash and its features to get better pictures. There's lots of before and after photos to show how a feature changes the resulting image.
If you've just bought your first Canon flash, you might feel that this book assumes you have too much knowledge that you don't already have. However, if you've already learned the basics, this book will teach you some techniques that you won't easily find elsewhere, and as it does it will also show you how to set up your flash (and sometimes, Canon camera) to enable them.
I've uploaded a picture to this page that was taken using a technique learned via this book. The link is near the picture of the cover of the book at the top of the page.

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Canon Speedlite System Digital Field Guide Review

Canon Speedlite System Digital Field Guide
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I originally borrowed this book from a friend, before purchasing it, and found it incredibly useful in learning about the Canon Speedlite. It's a great read, and a great reference book, going over how to use the flash in real world situations, and the results from using it. It goes over all the Canon Speedlite systems, so you won't be left out. Even if you use one particular flash, you should know your options, this book goes over those options.

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The Nikon Creative Lighting System: Using the SB-600, SB-800, SB-900, and R1C1 Flashes Review

The Nikon Creative Lighting System: Using the SB-600, SB-800, SB-900, and R1C1 Flashes
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Amidst all the hype about megapixels and flicker, a new technology seemed to slip in under the radar. The Nikon Creative Lighting System (CLS) arrived and gave users of the brand an unprecedented way to control large numbers of lights with an ease that would help to make better images (whatever better means). Lots of Nikon flash guns, or speedlights as they are now called, could be spread around a subject and fired again and again, while the photographer looked at resulting images on the camera monitor and adjusted the speedlights without ever leaving the shooting place until the photograper got just the lighting desired. Unfortunately, with this increase in versatility came an increase in complexity. It's this complexity that Mike Hagen is attempting to deal with.
The book includes chapters on the CLS system and flash theory in general; the buttons, modes and operations of each of the speedlights in the system, including the SB600, SB800, SB900, the SU800, the SB200, and the R1C1; the capabilities of the Nikon cameras that are integrated into the CLS system; batteries; and technique, including some examples of the use of the system.
The author aims primarily at the functions of the equipment rather than applications about which there is little discussion. For example, multiple flashes are quite useful in lighting interiors but there is no mention of this in the book. Nikon actually provides a pamphlet with their speedlights that does a better job of showing applications.
Unfortunately, the author often shows a lack of precision in discussing topics. For example, he indicates that the flash will tell you that it was not powerful enough to illuminate a scene by placing a minus sign in the upper right hand corner of the speedlight screen when a scene is underexposed. One might assume that this is some form of pre-metering but actually one must first take a picture, using the flash, to get this indicator. He also doesn't mention that the flash indicator on the flash will blink and that on some Nikon cameras, an indicator will blink in the viewfinder. For another example, Hagen tells you that you can press the zoom button to change the dispersion pattern of the SB800, but doesn't show you an image of the zoom button. That's because there is no separate button for zoom on the SB800; you have to use the multifunction dial for this purpose.
Some important subjects are omitted completely, like the integration of the speedlight with the camera. For example, there is no mention of the difference in shooting in aperture mode, shutter mode or manual mode. Similarly Hagen fails to provide important information that would allow one to figure out how to handle unique situations, like the fact that the flash tube only lights with one brightness and that it varies its illumination effects by the length of time it is on, or that in high speed mode the flash fires more than once, meaning that it will put out less illumination for each burst.
Users are hungry for information about the CLS system, and this book is the best available on CLS. Let's hope a better one comes along.


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Speedliter's Handbook: Learning to Craft Light with Canon Speedlites Review

Speedliter's Handbook: Learning to Craft Light with Canon Speedlites
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I was fortunate to participate in a 2 day workshop with Syl in the lead up to this book, and now I have the book in my grubby little hands, I can heartily recommend it for anyone who is trying to get something more from their speedlites than Canon seems to think they are capable of.
If you've just bought your first speedlite, then this book will walk you through everything you need to know to get it off the camera *and* keep the wonderful ETTL functionality that so many people misunderstand or seem to dismiss as gimmicky.
If, like me, you've got a couple of speedlites and had already got them off the camera, then there is *still* material in here that will help you up your game and expand what you are able to make these wonderful little lighting gadgets do. My biggest revelation in off camera ETTL speedliting? Buy a long ETTL cable :) Syl turned me onto what can be achieved if I get my master speedlite off the camera, on a cable so I can trigger my slave anywhere, including behind my model. So simple, yet I never thought of it.
There are tons of full color photos in the book that cover every topic covered in writing, making it perfect for us visual learners.
Did I mention, it's Canon specific? So little has been written for us ... all those "brand independent" books I've read and purchased in the past still assume only Nikon is able to handle off camera flash work, never really giving Canon their due. Finally, something I can simply follow along with the buttons on my own system and understand the same terminology.
Simply - *the* book to buy if you want to get better at what we do in the Canon world.

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Getting your Canon Speedlite to produce the light you need can be a real challenge. For those new to flash photography—or for anyone who has previously given up out of frustration—Speedliter's Handbook is a revelation. Photographer Syl Arena takes you on a journey that begins with an exploration of light and color, moves through a comprehensive discussion of the Canon Speedlite family and all of the accessories and equipment available to the Speedliter, then settles down to crafting great light in one photo shoot after another. Whether you want to create a classical portrait, shoot an event, or simply add a little fill light to a product shot, Speedliter's Handbook shows you how.A fantastic in-depth resource illustrated with over 500 images, Speedliter's Handbook covers:
how to see the various characteristics and properties of light itself, as well as the differences between how your camera sees versus how you see
all the buttons and dials of the entire Canon Speedlite family
the basics of on-camera flash…and the necessity of getting your flash off the camera
how to beautifully balance flash with the existing ambient light
all the equipment necessary for great Speedlite shots
how to get amazing shots with just one Speedlite
how and when to use E-TTL versus manual flash
the use of color gels to balance color, as well as create dramatic effects
how to tame the sun—or any really bright light—with hi-speed sync
and much, much more
Whether you're shooting portraits, events, or sports, Speedliter's Handbook is an essential resource that teaches you how to craft the light you need for any type of shot you want.

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Nikon D40/D40x Digital Field Guide Review

Nikon D40/D40x Digital Field Guide
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Last week I bought my first digital SLR - the Nikon D40x 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED II AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor Lens. I decided to step into the world of digital SLRs after years of experience with different (and very good) compact or "point and shoot" digital cameras.
My current compact digicam is the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3K 7.2MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Black) - which I took to Peru, and with which I took some wonderful photos. As good as they were, I wanted to try for even better pictures, and happily bought my Nikon D40x SLR.
But after I opened the boxes and got my pristine new D40x ready to use, I suddenly felt lost and overwhelmed. Yes, there's an "auto" setting, but if that's all I use, I figure I might as well not have spent all the money to get into the digital SLR world. The owner's manual is, I'm sure, complete and accurate, but I found it difficult. It tells me the name of a button and something of how to use it, but I don't have the background to know what most of that means in terms of taking a photo.
Fortunately, I ordered this book from amazon - and it's saved the day. I'm still working my way through it, but I know it's a keeper - and it's going along whenever possible, for reference on the spot when I'm taking photos.
I'm no dummy, nor a total novice at digital photography. But I'm not a professional photog, nor a "camera geek" familiar with a lot of the technical terms and concepts.
The author strikes just the right note for me with the explanations in this book. At last - I'm starting to understand histograms, and feel more assured when changing ISO settings. I'm also learning the uses of all those dials and buttons on my new D40x.
Reading this book has conquered a vague sense of dread I felt about this new gadget ("what was I thinking buying this complicated expensive camera?"). Instead, I'm looking forward to using my D40x and learning more as I go.
I don't know if it exactly replaces the owner's manual supplied by Nikon, but I encourage anyone who's feeling baffled by that manual to get their hands on this book. It's made all the difference to me between puzzlement and comprehension.

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Nikon D40/D40x Digital Field Guide is filled with everything you need to know in order to take amazing photographs using your Nikon D40 or Nikon D40x. This full-color portable guide walks you through the essential controls, features, and functions of your Nikon D40 or D40x digital SLR using step-by-step instructions and full-color images of each menu screen. This robust guide not only shows you how to adjust white balance, autofocus, exposure, and choose lenses, it also teaches you when and why you should adjust each of these key settings. The Nikon D40/D40x Digital Field Guide goes beyond camera settings to offer you a refresher guide to the principles of digital photography, covering the essentials of lighting, composition, and exposure. Filled with amazing examples, this book also presents you with a variety of tips and tricks to capturing portraits, candids, sports, travel, macro photography, and much more.

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