Books - beginners guide

hashcake · 23 Jul 2008 at 23:47

I'm sure this has been asked before so I apologise if this is old ground.
Can anyone recommend a beginners book for DSLR photography?
My missus will be out of the country for a few days so I have asked her to pick me up a Cannon 450D if she can find one cheaper.
It's been over 20 years since I last owned an SLR camera and I remember basic things like shutter speeds and ISO (ASA back in the days of film, if I remember correctly?).
I know I will need to brush so thought a few peeps here would be able to point me in the right direction with regard to a book or two

Mr Jones · 24 Jul 2008 at 00:04

a lot of people seem to recommend "Understanding Exposure" - I've been meaning to get that myself when I next visit the bookstore.

My girlfriend got my "The Digital Photography Book" by Scott Kelby. I quite like it, a straight to the point, step by step how to guide to taking *this* shot, giving you the EXIF and tips for such shots, allowing me to try it myself and learn from it.

A.N.Other · 24 Jul 2008 at 00:05

Check out some of the guides I posted in here in the mean time before the new sticky goes live. Bryan Peterson's 'Understanding Exposure' is a good book and explains everything nicely, I'm told.

hyster · 24 Jul 2008 at 00:24

I found Understanding Exposure a big help, that and reading the manual over and over.

The same rules still apply so you have a huge advantage over most people.

CircleFaust · 5 Aug 2008 at 14:57

I was looking for a good up-to-date book too, just to have for reference, however it's a compact I have, Panasonic FX500, so there is manual control. I want to know what makes a good picture and a bit about post processing etc

Willis · 5 Aug 2008 at 17:43

Dr Jones said:
"The Digital Photography Book" by Scott Kelby..

Is this Volume 1 or 2 as might check this out myself

Sh4rkie · 5 Aug 2008 at 21:01

I'd highly recommend the three listed (i've got all three), Understanding Exposure and both Vol 1 & 2 of the Digital Photography book's. I'm also a fan of another S Kelby book for CS3 that's served me very well, The Adobe Photoshop CS3 book for digital photographers, took my PP work up several notches.

boycee · 6 Aug 2008 at 09:34

Dr Jones said:
a lot of people seem to recommend "Understanding Exposure" - I've been meaning to get that myself when I next visit the bookstore.

Again this is a great book, I also got his "learn to see creatively". Not bad either, but understanding exposure is a great read!

CircleFaust · 7 Aug 2008 at 14:41

Dr Jones said:
a lot of people seem to recommend "Understanding Exposure" - I've been meaning to get that myself when I next visit the bookstore.

My girlfriend got my "The Digital Photography Book" by Scott Kelby. I quite like it, a straight to the point, step by step how to guide to taking *this* shot, giving you the EXIF and tips for such shots, allowing me to try it myself and learn from it.

would either of those be suitable for a compact camera user?

boycee · 7 Aug 2008 at 14:48

Cruiser said:
would either of those be suitable for a compact camera user?

Yes and No, depends on what you want to do. You may find most photography books frustrating if you only own a compact. Even the most manual of compact cameras will still not offer the flexibility of a slr, so many of the examples you will not be able to reproduce given your equipment.

You'd probably benefit from composition orientated books, covering rules of thirds, background/foreground interest etc...