A Comprehensive introduction to digital sound and music-making The Complete Guide to Digital AudioA Comprehensive introduction to digital sound and music-makingBy Chris MiddletonIlex Press, 2004ISBN: 1 904705 14 6 Whether we work with video, Flash, animations, multimedia, games, digital slideshows or even pure audio, working with digital audio is part of almost all our futures, if not already our present. This 192-page book is divided into the following chapters:*    Introduction*    Be Careful Mr Beethoven*    Basic Theory*    Ring Those Decibels*    What is Digital Recording?*    So Where Am I Now?*    Audio in the Digital World*    Do I Need a Computer?*    Help Me, I Want to …*    Software-Only Solutions*    So What Are the Packages?*    An Introduction to Midi*    The Battle of the Xs*    Home Studio Setups*    Effects and Processors*    Monitors, Monitoring and Mastering*    Future Views and … Read entire article »

A Comprehensive Guide to Making Videos That Make Money The Essential Digital Video HandbookA Comprehensive Guide to Making Videos That Make MoneyBy Pete MayRockport Publishers, RotoVision, 2004ISBN: 1 59253 024 9 There is a lot to learn about digital video and many people are coming straight to digital video cold with no prior analog video experience. This book aims to fill the void. This 190+ page book is divided into the following chapters:*    Introduction*    Choosing Your Equipment*    Finding Work*    The 7 P’s*    On Location*    Basic Principles of Editing*    The Finished Product*    Glossary This book avoids getting specific about the hardware and software, which allows it to be a great choice for anyone, irrespective of the hardware or software you are using. The author has 25 years experience in television and it shows in this … Read entire article »

A fantastic book to learn Flash from. Flash 8, The Missing ManualBy E.A. Vander VeerPogue Press, O’Reilly, 2006ISBN: 0 596 10137 6 The Missing Manual books are, from my observations, universally the best books I have seen on a given topic, when you are looking for a real understanding of how to use a piece of software. This book on Flash follows that tradition and belongs on the bookshelf of anyone trying to come to grips with Flash. This 400+ page book is divided into the following chapters:*    Getting Around Flash*    Creating Simple Drawings*    Animating Your Drawings*    Organising Frames and Layers*    Advanced Drawing and Coloring*    Adding Special Effects*    Reusable Flash: Symbols and Templates*    Incorporating Non-Flash Media Files*    Automating Flash with ActionScript*    Controlling Animation*    Interacting with Your Audience*    Components of Interactivity*    Testing and Debugging*   … Read entire article »

Techniques for Mastering Your Digital SLR Camera Amphoto’s Guide to Creative Digital PhotographyTechniques for Mastering Your Digital SLR CameraBy George SchaubAmphoto Books, a division of Watson-Guptill, 2004ISBN: 0 8174 3485 2 This book aims to help photographers to get the most out of their digital camera. It does this by covering all the bases from seeing properly to advanced techniques in Photoshop and with the camera. This 160-page book is divided into chapters:*    Basics of Digital Photography*    Understanding the Differences Between Film and Digital*    The Electronic Image File*    Digital Camera Controls*    Digital Exposure Techniques*    Lenses and Focusing*    From Camera to Computer*    Getting the Most Out of Your Images*    Advanced Image Editing Tools This is a very good book. The information it contains is good, solid advice. The included images are inspirational yet within the … Read entire article »

A great book on clse-up and macrophotography Close UpCreative Techniques for Successful MacrophotographyBy John BrackenburyRotoVision, 2004ISBN: 2 88046 782 9 This book aims to inspire and educate through stunning macrophotography. The author is a zoologist and a lecturer in veterinary medicine, as well as being a dedicated photographer, so he brings both a scientific and visual appreciation to his subjects. The 160-page book is divided into topical chapters:*    Close-focusing and depth of field*    Exposure and lighting*    Shooting action in close-up*    Panoramic close-up photography*    Combining techniques*    Inspiration and motivation*    In close-up: being a macrophotographer On first glance the book appears to be entirely a picture book. However looks are deceiving. The pictures are accompanied with substantial text captions, and these are actually larger than you suspect because a much smaller typeface is used for the … Read entire article »

A book of stunning nature photography and how to do it yourself Nature Photography – Learning from a MasterPhotographs by Gilles Martin, Text by Denis BoyardHarry N. Abrams, Inc, 2003ISBN: 0 8109 9116 0 Like Martin’s other book, Macrophotography, this is a profusely illustrated 300+ page book that is a must have for those interested in nature photography. Unlike this previous book though, this one concentrates on larger subjects. The book is divided into the following chapters:*    A Brief History of Wildlife Imagery*    The Wildlife Photographer’s Professional Code of Ethics*    Tools of the Trade for Nature Photography*    Photographic Technique*    Building Images*    Film*    Nature Photography in Practice*    Getting to Know Wildlife*    In The Field*    Shooting Techniques*    People and Animals*    Landscape Photography*    Photography in all the World’s Ecosystems and Climatic Conditions*    Processing and Distributing Your … Read entire article »

A book covering photographic lighting but with little specifically about digital. The Practical Guide to Photographic Lighting for Film and Digital PhotographyBy Jon TarrantFocal Press 2001ISBN 0 240 51580 3 This highly practical book takes you from basic to advanced lighting, covering all the bases from daylight and tungsten to flash and the newer continuous light sources. The some 240 pages or so are divided into chapters:*    Fundamental concepts*    Light sources*    Continuous sources*    Flash sources*    Lighting accessories*    Equipment*    Exposure determination*    Lighting quality*    Single-source lighting*    Multiple lights*    Specialist lighting*    Lighting examples The book does an ok job of covering lighting but it does fail to look at the differences between the types of film and digital when it comes to lighting and exposure requirements. It also fails to make enough of accurate positioning and how … Read entire article »

A guide to shooting weddings for people using digital equipment. Step-by-step / 006 /Digital wedding photographyBy Paul F. GeroIlex, 2006ISBN: 1 904705 49 9 This book on wedding photography in a digital mode takes a good, hard look at how to shoot weddings and what a digital process can add to it. Covering the contents using double page spreads on each topic, the book is organized into six chapters:*    Your digital camera*    Taking great wedding photos*    Essential wedding portraits*    Special wedding moments*    Digital darkroom techniques*    Showing and sharing This book does a good job of covering not only the techniques that one can use, both with camera and computer, but also the images that you should be capturing in the first place. Profusely illustrated yet providing plenty of room for text, the book achieves … Read entire article »

A great book on this technically challenging area of photography MacrophotographyLearning from a MasterText by Ronan Loaec, Photography by Gilles MartinHarry N. Abrams, 2003ISBN: 0 8109 9117 9 Gilles Martin is certainly a master of nature and macrophotography and this book is a gem. This thick (300 pages), big and beautifully illustrated book is divided into chapters:*    Equipment Adapted to Macrophotography*    Photographic Technique*    Macrophotography in the Field*    Habitats*    Studio Macrophotography*    Shooting Techniques*    Microphotography In short, this is a must have book. The illustrations are simply stunning and inspiring, the text is incisive, clear and complete, and the coverage is broad and yet deep. The long version is that this book provides what is effectively a full course in macrophotography, from the simplest concepts to the most complex and elaborate. Excellent presentations are made … Read entire article »

Black and White Photography with Photoshop – The Art of Transition Darkroom to DigitalBlack and White Photography with Photoshop – The Art of TransitionBy Eddie EphraumsArgentum, 2004ISBN: 1 902538 28 5 This is a book about why and how to make the transition from darkroom-based monochrome photography to the digital domain. The book does not, thankfully, attempt to be a Photoshop manual, but rather focuses on how your practice will change in going digital and what the equivalent tools are. The message is assisted by being beautifully illustrated with monochrome images, sometimes with color sections of the Photoshop desktop appropriately placed over them. Chapters include:*    A digital darkroom*    Traditional black and white*    The tools of black and white*    My approach to printing*    A gallery*    Choices, choices*    Printing with digital Frankly, this is a fantastic … Read entire article »

This book comes to grips with working with RAW files in Photoshop, and does it well. Photoshop CS2 RAWBy Mikkel AalandO’Reilly, 2006ISBN: 0 596 00851 1 This O’Reilly book gets to grip with that troublesome topic for many photographers, RAW files, whether to shoot them and what to do with them. In 200 heavily illustrated pages you will find sections on:*    Shooting & Importing RAW*    Using Adobe Bridge*    Using Adobe Camera RAW*    Using Camera RAW Adjust & Curve Controls*    Advanced Tonal Control*    Sharpening RAW Smartly*    Reducing Noise, Correcting Chromatic Aberrations & Controlling Vignetting*    Better Black & White Images with RAW*    Archiving & Working with DNG*    Converting & Delivering RAW Right at the start, the book steps off on the wrong foot, at least to me. It devotes only three pages (1/2 of which is … Read entire article »

A good reference book for beside the computer while working in Photoshop Photoshop CS2 in easy stepsBy Robert ShuffleBothamComputer Step, 2005ISBN: 1 84078 300 1 There are so many books on Photoshop. Most are good. And many people still report getting so far and then being overwhelmed by the complexity of the program. This book sets out to avoid that by proving coverage of Photoshop in easy, bit-sized pieces. Don’t expect to find a lot of big images in this book. You won’t find them. The layout of the book has one third of each page devoted to tips and trip up points. This puts a premium on space in what is a fairly small book for such a big program. Frankly I do not know if this is an issue or not. … Read entire article »

This book looks at the collecting of art and photography, its framing and display within your home. Picture PerfectCollecting Art and Photography and Displaying it in Your HomeBy Stephanie HoppenJacqui Small/Aurum Press 2004ISBN: 1 903221 25 0 This book looks at the collecting of art and photography, its framing and display within your home. This book is profusely illustrated, not only with art and photography, but also with these works in domestic settings to show you how you can use such art in your home. Chapters include:*    A Passion for Pictures*    Choosing Pictureso    What to Collecto    Photographyo    Arto    Drawingso    Other Media*    Choosing Subjecto    Peopleo    Art and Architectureo    The Natural Worldo    Leisure*    Framingo    Matching Picture to Frameo    Traditional Framingo    Framing Photographyo    Modern Framingo    Conservation and Care*    Displayingo    How to Hango    Choosing Themeso    Positioningo   … Read entire article »

Yet another book from Michael Freeman, this one focuses on photographing people. The book is presented via two-page spreads dealing with individual topics. Photographing PeopleDigital Photography ExpertBy Michael FreemanIlex, 2004ISBN: 1 904705 20 0 Yet another book from Michael Freeman, this one focuses on photographing people. The book is presented via two-page spreads dealing with individual topics. The book is dived into three large chapters:*    People Posed*    Daily Life*    Events and OccasionsThe first covers posing people in the studio or in the field. The second covers location photography of people unposed. The third covers all sorts of events. The book does a great job of mixing technique with inspiration. There is good coverage of lighting in all its forms, equipment choice and lens choice for effect. Inspiration comes from the great photography that illustrates … Read entire article »

A simply stunning book that will stretch and expand you. Window SeatThe Art of Digital Photography & Creative ThinkingBy Julieanne KostO’Reilly, 2006ISBN: 0 596 10083 3 This amazing book is part exhibition and part exposition. The exhibition part comes in the second half of the book and comprises stunning work the author has produced by shooting from her seat on the commercial airliners in which she spends a lot of her time. The exposition section in the front of the book focuses on how to be and remain creative. An appendix gets into the imaging techniques she uses. The Art of Creative Thinking is a relatively short but perfect eighteen point coverage of how to be and remain creative. These points are all incisive and engagingly discussed with a personal perspective. This section … Read entire article »

A book covering how to do it, what you need and how you might apply it. Digital Infrared PhotographyBy Patrick RiceAmherst Media, 2005ISBN 1584281448 This book is one of a small number that cover this topic. The author is a professional photographer from Ohio. The book claims to cover everything you need to know about digital infrared imagine. The book is divided into 11 chapters:*    Light*    Film Photography*    Digital vs. Film*    Cameras*    Lenses and Filters*    Shooting Techniques*    Infrared and Flash*    How Infrared Sees*    Weddings and Portraits*    Printing Strategies*    Finishing TouchesAn introduction briefly covers the history of infrared and the technical applications of IR. The book is profusely illustrated throughout, with both the work of the author and the many contributors that the book has. Fortunately or unfortunately most of these illustrations are from … Read entire article »

A great introduction to scrapbooking Scrapbooking Your Favorite Family MemoriesBy the Editors of Memory Makers books, distributed by Reader’s DigestMemory Makers Books, 2003ISBN 1 892127 33 4 This interesting book brings together four individual books under one cover:*    Michele Gerbrandt’s Scrapbook Basics*    Creative Photo Cropping for Scrapbooks*    Baby Scrapbooks*    School Days Scrapbooks Profusely illustrated, this book is a goldmine of inspiration for anyone getting into scrapbooking or those who feel their layouts are becoming stale. Purely a physical scrapbooking book, with no digital layout or content, it really doesn’t miss out on anything through that because you can readily extend the physical techniques onto the computer, if that is how you work. But there is still a lot to be said for the physical approach. The book starts from the beginning with why to … Read entire article »

A book that gets photographers to describe for themselves important aspects of the digital process The Advanced Digital Photographer’s WorkbookBy Yvonne J. Butler, EditorFocal Press, 2005ISBN 0 240 80646 8 The idea is a sound one, take a group of great photographers who can also write and get them each to provide a chapter or two about an area they are expert in. The theory is sound. So how’s the practice? This book brings together twelve authors to cover the material of the book, one of whom is also the editor. Chapters are:*    Calibration and Color Correction*    Getting Set Up for your Film Capture*    File Formats: Choosing JPEG or Raw Capture*    Digital Photography Workflows*    Digital Light and Lighting*    Digital Portraiture*    Digital Travel Photography*    Digital Infrared Photography*    Advanced Color Correction: The 90% Method*    Sharp … Read entire article »

First of how-to DVDs on photography and videography of cars, swimwear, and action sports released by Fernando Escovar and sponsored by Photoflex Press Release The first in a series of DVDs on photography and videography of cars,swimwear, and action sports has just been released by internationallyrenowned photographer/videographer Fernando Escovar, it was announcedtoday by Sharon Reeves, president of Photoflex Inc., a principalsponsor of the series. “Photographing Cars 1.0″ will focus on photographing automobiles, withtips on how to prepare for a shoot, and numerous examples that rangefrom stationary studio setups to action shots from fast-moving cameracars. The other two DVDs are scheduled for release early next year.“Photographing Swimwear” is set to debut in February, and will showstylish, attention-grabbing ways to shoot swimsuit models outdoors.“Aerial Action” is scheduled for April, and will zero in on photographyand videography … Read entire article »

Second Edition: The Essential Guide to Revisioning Photography Adobe Photoshop Master ClassSecond Edition: The Essential Guide to Revisioning PhotographyBy John Paul CaponigroPeachpit Press, 2003ISBN 0-321-13010-3 Let me state up front that this is an amazing book and deserves a placeon the bookshelf of not only everyone working with photographydigitally but also everyone with aspirations in digital art. John Paul Caponigro is a master craftsman digital photographer. I saythis because throughout his work, and through this book, there is thefine and subtle attention to detail that separates the craftsman fromthe dilettante. He is also an artist, taking the rather tired fineprint aspects of traditional photography into a whole new creativedirection. The book is a mix of portfolio and wonderful educational tool. Chapterstake you step by step through aspects of digital imaging, color theoryand working digitally … Read entire article »

2nd Edition Mastering Digital Printing2nd EditionBy Harald JohnsonPublished by Thomson Course Technology, 2005ISBN 1-59200-431-8 This book is, at the present time, the definitive book on digitalprinting. In around 400 pages the author manages to pack in a hugeamount of information that can guide people through purchasingdecisions, outsourcing decisions and help with getting the best out ofeither doing it yourself or dealing with print professionals. Chapters include: Navigating the Digital Landscape Understanding Digital Printing Creating and Processing the Image Understanding and Managing Color Determining Print Permanence Selecting an Inkjet Printer Choosing your Consumables Making a Great Inkjet Print Finishing and Displaying Your Prints Using a Print Service Special Printing Techniques The book is profusely illustrated with well-chosen and designed illustrations and photographs. The book starts off by briefly discussing the history of digitalprinting and then gets … Read entire article »