This is a very beginner book on how take photographs using manual settings on your SLR/DSLR. The vast majority of it is probably common knowledge to anybody who has looked up beginner guides for DSLR photography online. The book did a few things well:

1) For each photo, the author commented on shutter and aperture setting and on how he metered the shot. This was very helpful in understanding the step-by-step process in taking a good photo.

2) The author provided a few brief, but helpful pointers that made the book worth it. This included tricks for metering, how to approach different lighting situations, and a simplified approach for choosing aperature.

Unfortunately, the brevity of this book leads to lots of confusion. The technical side of photography is glossed over, and I do not have a true understanding of exposure after reading this book. One example of this is his explanation of the various metering modes. The author repeatedly describes how he metered various photos using center-weighted or spot metering, but then recommends matrix metering to his readers. Never does he describe how matrix metering must be handled differently than the center-weighted metering he uses for the books photographs.

In the end, the tips and pointers were helpful, but I'm more confused on some aspects of exposure now than before I read it.

I read this book from first page to last and loved it. It is a very good intro for beginners to understanding exposure. I have recommened this book to two people and they too found it useful.

I can't say I was disappointed in the book as it gave me a great deal of "exposure" information. This book is great for explaining the types of exposure shots you are capable of achieving. Putting that knowledge to use might be a little difficult until a person gains some experience with their camera. Shows great examples of exposure techniques, and the pictures are fantastic. Handy reference tool for later on, when I'm ready to take it all in.

This is a great book for a beginner like myself. I love it for it's ease of use and it's plain and simple explanations.

In February I bought my first DSLR camera and read The Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi/450D Companion by Ben Long as a great introduction on the features and use of my camera. I learnt a great deal with this book and would recommend it but I was still relegated to shooting from the P (program) mode. Then in an Alleluia moment, I happened across this book by Bryan Peterson. In less than a month, and a few ages into his book, I was shooting in M (manual) mode and actually knew what I was doing. The pictures were amazing. I like the way he explains how to use the different aperture, shutter speed and ISO settings. Many books will almost encourage you to cram what aperture opening goes well with which Shutter speed at a particular ISO setting. Bryan Peterson will have none of that. With several clear and easy to understand examples he teaches you the effect of these settings and makes you learn how to use them to capture a well exposed picture without ever memorizing any sequences at all. To think that I came across this book accidently, still sends chills down my spine - I would still be shooting in P mode 8 months later. This book is a must have for any one starting out.