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StevenPA
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p.1 #1 · PS & Photography Books?

I'm in need of some inspiration and bedtime reading, and am looking for some books on the following topics:

1. Photography in general. Something with good flow (bedtime reading), something that covers landscape and/or macro photography, something with some nice pics and details about equipment used and settings, and explanations as to why. I've tried Galen Rowell and found his writing far too esoteric and superficial (I don't care how hard the climb up Everest was, or how controversial it was to see a Tibetan child wearing a Chinese soldier's cap, or other junk like that). How about John Shaw or Lee Frost?

2. Photoshop techniques. Something that covers colour correction and sharpening for print and for web, RAW development, a few tips on blending panoramas, something on curves and saturation, tips on how to avoid posterization and blowing out channels, selective masking, etc. I don't want to read about anything to do with people photography. I should probably mention I use CS2, and probably won't upgrade soon.

I'm trying to compile a short list. Here's what I've got so far:

a) Photoshop LAB Color: The Canyon Conundrum and Other Adventures in the Most Powerful Colorspace (Dan Margulis)
b) Nighttime Digital Photography with Adobe Photoshop CS3 (John Carucci)
c) John Shaw's Nature Photography Field Guide (John Shaw)
d) John Shaw's Landscape Photography (John Shaw)
e) The Complete Guide to Night and Low-Light Photography (Lee Frost)
f) The Photographer's Guide to Filters (Photographers Guide) (Lee Frost)

Edited on Dec 07, 2007 at 11:19 AM

Nov 28, 2007 at 04:19 PM

wuchang
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p.1 #2 · PS & Photography Books?

macro

John Shaw's
Closeups In Nature

Photoshop

Most anything by Scott Kelby or any of the other Photoshop TV guys

Edited on Dec 07, 2007 at 11:19 AM

Nov 28, 2007 at 04:42 PM

paulhodson
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p.1 #3 · PS & Photography Books?

Scott does tend to talk about people shots a lot though

Edited on Dec 07, 2007 at 11:19 AM

Nov 28, 2007 at 04:56 PM

widget_13
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p.1 #4 · PS & Photography Books?

Any book by Freeman Patterson is excellent (I own just about all of them!)

Edited on Dec 07, 2007 at 11:19 AM

Nov 28, 2007 at 07:14 PM

reprobate
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p.1 #5 · PS & Photography Books?

"Light - Science & Magic" by Hunter, Biver, and Fuqua

Edited on Dec 07, 2007 at 11:19 AM

Nov 28, 2007 at 09:17 PM

Kyle Yu
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p.1 #6 · PS & Photography Books?

I like Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson.
John Shaw's books are good too, easy to read. I have read the ones on landscape and close ups.

Edited on Dec 07, 2007 at 11:19 AM

Nov 28, 2007 at 09:51 PM

John Patrick
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p.1 #7 · PS & Photography Books?

"Best Business Practices for Photographers" by John Harrington

Edited on Dec 07, 2007 at 11:19 AM

Nov 28, 2007 at 10:55 PM

Mike Ganz
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p.1 #8 · PS & Photography Books?

"7-Point System for Adobe Photoshop CS3", by Scott Kelby
"The Adobe Photoshop CS3 Book for Digital Photographers", by Scott Kelby

Edited on Dec 07, 2007 at 11:19 AM

Nov 28, 2007 at 11:14 PM

StevenPA
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p.1 #9 · PS & Photography Books?

Thanks for the recommendations, guys. Keep 'em coming!

I'm not a big fan of Scott Kelby's writing style with all the jokes, but I'll have another peek at what Amazon lets me see with that nifty "search inside" function.

Edited on Dec 07, 2007 at 11:19 AM

Nov 28, 2007 at 11:32 PM

PaulC
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p.1 #10 · PS & Photography Books?

I like Martin Evenings photoshop books. I have Adobe photoshop CS2 for photographers. Very large book though, will be hard to read in bed

Edited on Dec 07, 2007 at 11:19 AM

Nov 29, 2007 at 04:14 AM

paulhodson
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p.1 #11 · PS & Photography Books?

Mike Ganz wrote:
"7-Point System for Adobe Photoshop CS3", by Scott Kelby
"The Adobe Photoshop CS3 Book for Digital Photographers", by Scott Kelby

Or the CS2 versions of these second hand if you are not intending to upgrade to CS3

Edited on Dec 07, 2007 at 11:19 AM

Nov 29, 2007 at 07:11 AM

dcains
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p.1 #12 · PS & Photography Books?

Mike Ganz wrote:
"7-Point System for Adobe Photoshop CS3", by Scott Kelby
"The Adobe Photoshop CS3 Book for Digital Photographers", by Scott Kelby

I just received these two books from Amazon a few hours ago, too, and just browsing, I think they'll be very useful to a CS3 amateur (i.e. me).

Edited on Dec 07, 2007 at 11:19 AM

Nov 29, 2007 at 07:34 AM

Mike Ganz
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p.1 #13 · PS & Photography Books?

StevenPA wrote:
Thanks for the recommendations, guys. Keep 'em coming!

I'm not a big fan of Scott Kelby's writing style with all the jokes, but I'll have another peek at what Amazon lets me see with that nifty "search inside" function.

I find that his bits of humor help to make it an easy read. After working as a mechanical engineer for thirty years, the last things I need are more "medicinal" books that will put me to sleep.

Edited on Dec 07, 2007 at 11:19 AM

Nov 29, 2007 at 01:06 PM

JDeV
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p.1 #14 · PS & Photography Books?

Mike Ganz wrote:
StevenPA wrote:
Thanks for the recommendations, guys. Keep 'em coming!

I'm not a big fan of Scott Kelby's writing style with all the jokes, but I'll have another peek at what Amazon lets me see with that nifty "search inside" function.

I find that his bits of humor help to make it an easy read. After working as a mechanical engineer for thirty years, the last things I need are more "medicinal" books that will put me to sleep.

Exactly my view. The Kelby books are very easy reads, but not in bed. You'll want to follow the steps on your computer. The 7-Point book has some problems if you edit in LR, but out of 21 chapters(lessons), it only affects maybe 4, but over-all, I learned a lot about layers, masks, filters, etc.

Jon

Edited on Dec 07, 2007 at 11:19 AM

Nov 29, 2007 at 04:40 PM

Grognard
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p.1 #15 · PS & Photography Books?

An excellent book, that is out of print, and is certainly pre-digital, but nontheless a valued part of my library is: THE AMATEUR PHOTOGRAPHERS HANDBOOK, 8th Edition by Sussman.

Edited on Dec 07, 2007 at 11:19 AM

Dec 01, 2007 at 05:38 PM

FSJ_Guy
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p.1 #16 · PS & Photography Books?

Another vote for John Shaw AND Scott Kelby. Kelby can be a little goofy, but he's entertaining.

If you're not part of NAPP, I recommend joining.

www.photoshopuser.com

Edited on Dec 07, 2007 at 11:19 AM

Dec 01, 2007 at 06:24 PM

runamuck
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p.1 #17 · PS & Photography Books?

"The Complete Guide to Night and Low-Light Photography" by Lee Frost.

"Techniques of Natural Light Photography" by Jim Zuckerman.

Edited on Dec 07, 2007 at 11:19 AM

Dec 01, 2007 at 07:04 PM

Dean Huber
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p.1 #18 · PS & Photography Books?

I was looking at Scott Kelby's 7-Point System book last night and almost bought it. But, then I noticed it is for CS3. I have CS2. Does anyone know if some or all of the book will work or apply to CS2? I hate to buy the book and then find out I can only apply a fraction of what he teaches.

Edited on Dec 07, 2007 at 11:19 AM

Dec 06, 2007 at 02:49 PM

FSJ_Guy
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p.1 #19 · PS & Photography Books?

Dean Huber wrote:
I was looking at Scott Kelby's 7-Point System book last night and almost bought it. But, then I noticed it is for CS3. I have CS2. Does anyone know if some or all of the book will work or apply to CS2? I hate to buy the book and then find out I can only apply a fraction of what he teaches.

Easy solution. Upgrade to CS3. Christmas is coming, and heck, we're in the middle of Hannukah right now!

Edited on Dec 07, 2007 at 11:19 AM

Dec 06, 2007 at 05:34 PM

JJBub
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p.1 #20 · PS & Photography Books?

For learning photoshop, I don't think you can beat Ben Willmore's "Photoshop CS2 Studio Techniques."

Another of my favorites is "The Art of Bird Photography - the Complete Guide to Professional Field Techniques" by Arthur Morris. Even though it is mostly about shooting birds and using film (© 1998), it is an excellent read, full of photos, and covers such topics as: making correct exposures, matters of light, capturing action and behavior, using flash, and producing sharp images - lens quality, accurate focusing, depth of field, & equipment.

Edited on Dec 07, 2007 at 11:19 AM

Dec 07, 2007 at 12:56 AM

robstein
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p.1 #21 · PS & Photography Books?

Light Science & Magic - A GREAT book on flash techniques.

Edited on Dec 07, 2007 at 11:19 AM

Dec 07, 2007 at 04:52 AM

pjbishop
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p.1 #22 · PS & Photography Books?

Light Science and Magic- DITTO
Freeman Patterson's books, yes, and also Ansel Adams' 3-book series-- 'The Camera'; 'The Negative', 'The Print', which in most respects are timeless. Another older book (1983), 'Photographing for Publication' by Norman Sanders. Some really interesting material there.

For Photoshop by a real, live, experienced photographer who uses the techniques in commericial practice (not your garden-variety 'tips & tricks' regurgitator), Martin Evening's 'Photoshop CS_ for Photographers'. Very clearly written.

For thorough exploration of Photoshop and press-prep, 'Real World Adobe Photoshop X' from Peachtree Press..

Dec 07, 2007 at 11:19 AM


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