John Hedgecoe's Complete Guide to Photography A step-by-step course from the world's best-selling photographer.
Over 200 pages crammed full of information and many photographs. Book is in like new condition. Even a photo pro can gain something from the contents.
All the photo illustrations are superb!
Here is the text from the book's introduction:
Photography is about making informed choices; there is no one way to take a picture. Almost any picture as it is first seen, whether it is a landscape view, group of people, still-life or historic monument could perhaps be improved upon by investigating a different camera position, a more suitable aperture or shutter speed combination, or a different choice of lens. But above and beyond these considerations, it is the quality of the light illuminating the subject — affected by the time of day and even the time of year —that has the potential to make an ordinary shot exceptional. Get the lighting right, and you are on to a winner.
The word 'photography' means drawing with light, and as you might appreciate the ability of a painter to communicate the atmosphere of a scene, no matter what the subject matter, so it is with photography. Many enduring, masterly photographs are not the result of chance. Certainly it is a matter of being in the right place at the right time, but in order to have captured that special moment, the photographer may have visited that spot at different times of day on many, many occasions over a period of days or even weeks, waiting for the light to enrich the scene.
The age of 'point-and shoot' photography has well and truly arrived, with the advent of the high-quality compact digital camera. This provides a range of sophisticated exposure options, automatic film transport and focusing, and often a very extensive zoom range and built-in flash. At the same time the single lens reflex camera, offering many of the automated features of the compact, but with the undoubted advantage of being able to accept a range of lenses from ultra-wideangle to super-telephoto, is becoming even more affordable. So, the photographic medium is now freely available, but being able to produce a well-exposed, correctly focused image does not in itself make for good photography.
With photography it is not learning how the camera works, important as that is, that is paramount; it is learning to see and understand rather than simply looking. The best way to develop this ability is by adopting a firm, thematic approach. With this objective in mind, the bulk of this book is devoted to project work, with set assignments and goals to be achieved. All of the important camera controls and accessories, what they do and how they affect the final image, are comprehensively explained and illustrated.
Above all, photography is a fun activity. It is about recording memories and communicating your ideas and thoughts, and is unique in its ability to freeze forever a single instant of time. It is this, perhaps, that accounts for its universal appeal.
A trick of the light Even in the least promising of situations, you need to have the camera ready. One picture in this book was taken above the Arctic Circle in Norway. The weather had been overcast for the best part of the day. Just for a minute or two, however, the clouds parted to allow a flood of daylight to wash over a group of cottages clinging to the rocky foreshore. See the picture below
The buyer will be thrilled and delighted with this book. The price is only $15.00 shipped Conus only. Can take PayPal but add 5% to cover their fees.
Last edited by Bob Tuttle; 01-27-2010 at 02:03 PM.
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