I'm currently reading The Photograph by Graham Clarke.
It arrived as part of the initial package of materials from OCA but most of my reading to date has consisted of the contents of the OCA student website and I must admit that I'd forgotten about this book. So far I've looked at the pictures...
Canon EOS Rebel XS/1000D for DUMMIES by Julie Adair King.
Upon reading my fellow TAOP new starter student's blogs I came across strange terms such as 'crop factor' and percentages of the sensor in relation to the viewfinder (or possibly the other way round) along with hideous mathematical equations.When I regained my equilibrium I rummaged in my bookshelves for my bible. Note the large yellow text in the title.
Given that the camera's handbook is somewhat on the dry and technical side for me I feel I may be a little remedial. This is much more suitable. I have started at page 1. Again.
Photoshop Elements 8 for Dummies by Barbara Obermeier and Ted Padova.
Having only dabbled with colour popping, rotating and cropping my pictures and wasted many hours trying (and failing) to blindly work out what the buttons of my Photoshop Elements (PSE) programme actually do, I decided to do the sensible thing and buy the correct guide.
What I don't want to do is slip into the habit of correcting / editing photos instead of developing best practice in taking them. This book is the key to a treasure trove of artistic delights though and I do love the effects that can be achieved.
This 'for Dummies' series is so easy to use, working with my intuitive thought processes instead of having to read another three books to translate the meaning. The assumed level of knowledge in many 'how to' guides is often beyond me and I find that these are pitched at just the right level for me.
Basics Photography. Lighting by David Prakel.
This book was recommended by my tutor. I have a feeling that lighting is going to be a favourite subject of mine. At present I find myself enormously frustrated at not knowing enough about it and I want to learn more. It reminds me of learning to read as a small child. I remember my frustration at not being able to make sense of the words. I'm now a voracious reader so I hope the degree of frustration correlates with knowledge to come. I enjoy experimenting with ad-hoc ways and am keen to know how the professional achieve such fabulous results. This book is a great start. It is set out in a logical and easily understandable order and is very inspiring. It's easy to get lost in the myriad of photography books available so to get recommendations that prove to be spot on is great.
No comments:
Post a Comment