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The Digital Photography Book

by Scott Kelby

Buy new: $24.99 $13.78 Buy used: $11.00

Editorial Reviews

Scott Kelby, the man who changed the "digital darkroom" forever with his groundbreaking, #1 bestselling, award-winning book The Photoshop Book for Digital Photographers, now tackles the most important side of digital photography--how to take pro-quality shots using the same tricks today's top digital pros use (and it's easier than you'd think).

This entire book is written with a brilliant premise, and here’s how Scott describes it: "If you and I were out on a shoot, and you asked me, 'Hey, how do I get this flower to be in focus, but I want the background out of focus?' I wouldn't stand there and give you a lecture about aperture, exposure, and depth of field. In real life, I'd just say, 'Get out your telephoto lens, set your f/stop to f/2.8, focus on the flower, and fire away.' You d say, 'OK,' and you'd get the shot. That's what this book is all about. A book of you and I shooting, and I answer the questions, give you advice, and share the secrets I've learned just like I would with a friend, without all the technical explanations and without all the techno-photo-speak."

This isn't a book of theory—it isn't full of confusing jargon and detailed concepts: this is a book of which button to push, which setting to use, when to use them, and nearly two hundred of the most closely guarded photographic "tricks of the trade" to get you shooting dramatically better-looking, sharper, more colorful, more professional-looking photos with your digital camera every time you press the shutter button.

Here's another thing that makes this book different: each page covers just one trick, just one single concept that makes your photography better. Every time you turn the page, you'll learn another pro setting, another pro tool, another pro trick to transform your work from snapshots into gallery prints. There's never been a book like it, and if you're tired of taking shots that look "OK," 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.

Customer Reviews

Full of trash around the gems of wisdom, 2009-11-08
by ML

As other negative reviewers have noted, there is a *lot* of worthless mockery and jokes and gotchas around the real wisdom in this book. If you have loads of time and enjoy sifting through trash to find gems, grab this book. Otherwise you're better off with free web resources, like Ken Rockwell's site, that get straight to the point.

Wish the author would write "cliff notes" for this that removed all the junk and mocking tone.

A very easy read, 2009-11-02
by A. Kemmet (Lincoln,ND)

I'm always a little hesitant to buy a book like this without flipping through it a little bit first but a friend had already recommended it. Scott Kelby is a wonderful author. The book is both informative and entertaining. I am just a hobbyist but often find myself going back to reference this book. I took me no time at all to read this book and really look forward to reading the second and third. (I bought all three right away.)

Digital Photography Basics are Covered, 2009-10-22
by George Adel Andraws (Issaquah, WA United States)

Scott Kelby does a good job giving amateur photographers the tips and tricks they need to go from simple to good. Although he doesn't take the time to talk about what the concepts really mean (such as aperture, shutter speed, focus, etc.) it is easy enough to go thru the book without having this knowledge.

What I like the most is he gives the specific settings you need to take great shots. He also tells you what he was thinking when he took some of the photographs in the book. Each page is basically it's own chapter. There is sometimes an illustration and some text talking about it.

If you want to quick, general, easy-to-understand guide to digital photography, don't hesitate to pick up this little gem. I also suggest you move on to Volume 2 when you're done, because that's where the really magic is...

excellent for the novice too, 2009-10-21
by Ugur Ozden (Antalya)

As a novice in digital photography, I found this book to be very straight to the point, organized and very practical, and easy to understand. My photos definitely improved with this book...

good book, 2009-10-20
by K. Getz (asheville, nc)

So easy to understand and very helpful! I'm looking forward to reading more from him.