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Nikon D80

The Digital Photography Book, Volume 2

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Author: Scott Kelby
Publisher: Peachpit Press
Category: Book

List Price: ~~$24.99~~
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Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

159 reviews
Sales Rank: 229

Media: Paperback
Edition: 1
Pages: 240
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.9
Dimensions (in): 8.9 x 6 x 0.5

ISBN: 0321524764
Dewey Decimal Number: 775
EAN: 9780321524768
ASIN: 0321524764

Publication Date: January 5, 2008
Shipping: Eligible for Super Saver Shipping
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours

Customer Reviews:

Showing reviews 6-10 of 159

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OK for aspiring beginners February 9, 2008
B. Stenman
23 out of 29 found this review helpful

This book is good as an introduction and set of tips that can elevate the photography of aspiring photographers. Unfortunately it is just a collection of tips with very little information on the how of using the tips to actually create better images. An example is the tips on the use of reflectors which does not mention the different reflector needs based on the skin color of the subject or the ambient color temperatures involved.

It is also unfortunate that so much space was devoted to wedding photography and provides just enough information as to encourage a novice to give it a try. What is missing is the perspective that the person who takes on the responsibility of being the primary and possible sole photographer for a wedding had better be prepared in terms of experience (with people and photo gear), technical proficiency under pressure, and have backup gear for everything, and be able to work without a net.

This "no-retakes" approach would encourage the person contemplating wedding photography to do more than read a book of wedding photography tips and to truly apprentice themselves to someone with experience. As a 3rd photographer at a wedding, the novice is not likely to do any harm while they learn what to do and also what not to do.

What this book is very much missing is a recommending reading list or recommendations on workshops which could take the reader the next step whether they are pursuing macro, wedding, wildlife, landscape, portrait, or other photography niche.

In the end I would not recommend this book to anyone, as there are far better books on each segment covered, and is someone for example really wants to make better portraits they are far better served by spending $20 and getting a book that is dedicated to portrait photography.

2 out of 5 stars

Great writer, sloppily wasting his talent May 25, 2008
Martin R. Kimeldorf (Tumwater, WA United States)
18 out of 28 found this review helpful

I always want to like Kelby's columns and books. He is a fantastic writer. He knows how to break things down simply. But perhaps in his mad rush to produce so many books and magazines and such he has not always attended to the details. I did not read Digital Photography volume one and chose instead volume 2.

I read it cover to cover, twice! I really liked the samples, lay out, and coaching. But then as I tried out a few items I noted he often did not provide enough detail to replicate his technique. When shooting a backlit subject he suggested adding a bit of flash. Are we talking manual exposure? Is he using flash compensation to reduce flash output? Is he just shooting in auto with ttl flash? It would be helpful to know more details.

I suspect, given his bibliography that many images are farmed out to others and this is why the writing is not as detailed or informed as it could be. This detracts from his ability to teach.

I originally wanted to give him 5 starts, but took off 1 star for lack of detail or specifics. Then I tried a photoshop technique that appeared in a column. Again, great idea for correcting color, but leaves out enough details that I eventually gave up trying to get the same effect on one of my photo images. So, I'm taking off another start...down to 3.

Then I looked under the hood. When I like an author, I like to read about him and see what he says in his bio or acknowledgements. The acknowledgements section runs 2 pages. Ah, details and specifics at last. Only here, it is unwarranted. Lose a half star. But then it ends with thanking "God and his son Jesus Christ." When I want ol' time religion I'll by the Kelby book on that, but I sure found it offensive to see it in this book. And for you bible-thumpers, imagine if he had thanked Allah and the Koran? Would it have taken away from this author's effort?

Lastly, he repeatedly states he is not promoting products. And I bought that line until the end of the book. The last 4 pages contain ful page ads promoting specific products he is linked to. Now come on, even Jesus would call that hypocrisy. Sorry, fella, you just lost another star.

This will be the last Kelby book I buy. I hate to see such a talent wasted.

5 out of 5 stars

The BEST photography book I've read in a long time. January 10, 2008
Pete Langlois (Derry, NH USA)
13 out of 13 found this review helpful

I picked this book up about a week ago and have been pouring over it reading it over and over again. I just ordered Scott Kelby's The Digital Photography Book as I found this one really great. I recently picked up a few photo books to try and gain some insight to what other photographers do. I don't have the money to spend on the Nikon Mentor courses and I think this pair of books would come pretty close.

Scott's information is laid out in easy to read one or two page tips. The lighting sections are great and the tips for landscape photography are first rate. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is just beginning or all the way to semi pro/pro.

Scott Kelby's The Digital Photography Book, Volume 2 is a must have for anyone with a digital camera and wants to get more out of it.

Pete

5 out of 5 stars

Great for intermediate-advanced DSLR beginners June 6, 2007
Mark Gurfinkel (New York, NY)
12 out of 12 found this review helpful

The Good:
- the book contains all-new info and picks up where vol.1 left off
- written in the same "let me show you how it's done without going too deep into "why" style" - great for DSLR newbies like me
- lottsa "aha!" and "oh, so that's how the pros do it" moments
- Scott Kelby is a great teacher and writes in casual, easy-to-read style (although vol. 1 is by far funnier)

The Bad:
- Big section on Wedding Photography - I know these tips could generally be applied to shooting people indoors; however, at times the book is too detailed for regular folks like me who don't shoot weddings.
- For $24.95 the book could've been thicker, and some tips are repeated either from vol. 1 or throughout the book.
- When will we see a dedicated section on how to shoot fast-moving small kids (i.e. toddlers) ?

Conclusion:
If you are a DSLR newbie or intermediate-advanced beginner this book is perfect for you. Scott Kelby is the best!

5 out of 5 stars

You need both... January 17, 2008
John A. Van Devender (Millersville, MD United States)
12 out of 12 found this review helpful

Kelby is one of the best when it comes to letting the rest of us in on the techniques of good photography. His first book lead to a quantum (perhaps an exaggeration) improvement in my own pictures, both from a composition and execution point of view. This book adds to the first, updates a couple of things, and gives a broader application.

In my opinion this book functions more as completing the set than as a stand alone work. If you do not have the first book then buy them both together and read them serially. Kelby's writing style is a bit (excessively?) "homey" and that can be a bit off-putting for some people. I personally don't mind and even enjoy his humor. There is no denying the effectiveness of his teaching though... short, pointed articles, each of which stands alone on its own but which add incrementally to the others. You can bounce around in his books to your hearts delight, pick up something and start using it right away and then go back and read something else which may add even more.

This book, along with his first, should be standard items in serious amateur photographers' libraries.

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