Recommend a digital photography textbook.?

Question

I am choosing a textbook for an introductory course in photography taught with digital tools. Having trouble finding a good textbook that will cover the basics of exposure, aperture, etc. along with helpful digital information. I don't want this to be a how to do cool digital tricks class. It is about a more real, in-depth understanding of photography. Yet I also don't want a book that is hopelessly out of date for a student using digital media. Any suggestions?

Answer 1

No question: Digital Photography For Dummies.

Don't let the title embarass you -- it's complete, easy to read and it's even funny.

Amazon or your local.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

I have not seen DigiForDummies, but Vienna is a knowledgeable answerer, so pick up a copy.

Another book to consider as an excellent source for a beginner is "Get the Most from Your Digital Camera," by Simon Joinson.
http://www.amazon.com/s?ie=UTF8&search-type=ss&index=books&field-author=Simon%20Joinson&page=1

It probably would not stand up as a textbook without additional material, but all of the basics are there. Besides the mechanics of photography, it goes into some basics of photography and post-processing. It would be worth an evaluation as it could serve as a springboard for class material. There is enough there to get someone started in photography, but it does not go into great depth on most subjects. It could be useful for you to look at as you develop your syllabus, though, as it is very logically organized.

Answer 4

Check the reviews of these books at shutterbug.com:

"How Digital Photography Works, 2nd. Edition" by Ron White

"Hands-On Digital photography" by George Schaub

The reviews are in the Dec. 2007 issue of Shutterbug Magazine.

Answer 5

Try Trick Photography Special Effects : http://tinyurl.com/foY8SH95Ux

Answer 6

I'm amassing a collection of the photography field guides from National Geographic. They're really nice. The digital one is pretty good.

http://www.amazon.com/National-Geographic-Field-Guide-Photography/dp/0792261887/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1196956560&sr=8-4

Answer 7

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Answer 8

There is very little difference between digital photography and photography using film. Yes, the means by which the image is recorded is different, but all of the other concepts are almost exactly the same - composition, framing, proper exposure, depth of field, etc. There are subtle differences resulting from the differences in the recording medium, but that's really not much different than what film photographers dealt with when choosing one film type versus another. Ansel Adams's series of books (The Camera, The Negative, The Print) are all still excellent, though certain topics, such as development techniques, are not applicable to digital work. And darkroom techniques such as dodging and burning are now done on a computer but the purpose and effect are still the same. There are many, many good photography books out there (there is also, unfortunately, a pile of crappy photography books out there). Concentrate on the fundamentals - framing, composition, exposure. The whiz-bang of digital is only a sidebar. Colleges often have photography courses which will be helpful whether they are based on film or digital photography. It's often helpful to learn about film exposure, development and printing even if you never set foot in a darkroom because a lot of the terminology and concepts are rooted in film. If you can possibly afford it, get an SLR right from the start. Point-and-shoot cameras give you so little control that it is difficult to use many common techniques. Simply the ability to set lens aperture is unavailable on most point-and-shoot cameras. You will be looking at about 600 bucks for a reasonable digital SLR, though prices continue to fall. I use a Nikon D70s (now obsolete) and D80, both "entry level" digital SLRs from Nikon. While there are a couple of features that I would like to have from the professional line, I can live quite well with what they consider to be entry level.