By Katrin Eismann, Sean Duggan
First Edition
December 2007
Pages: 429
ISBN 10: 0-596-10047-7 |
ISBN 13: 9780596100476
(Average of 3 Customer Reviews)
This tutorial takes photographers beyond the quick tips and gimmicky effects of many digital photography books. Author Katrin Eismann -- an internationally acclaimed artist, bestselling author, and gifted educator -- offers high-profile work, including her own, as examples for teaching photographers how to use the digital medium to create, edit, and output images that reflect their true vision.
Full Description
Co-authored by photographer and teacher Sean Duggan, The Creative Digital Darkroom translates skills, concepts, and nomenclature of the traditional darkroom into digital solutions for photographers who sense that, despite the newness of the technologies at hand, there remains a timeless method for learning and practicing photography the right way. This is not a Photoshop book per se, but it does focus on the photographic aspects of Photoshop, something other books claim to do but rarely have the discipline to accomplish. The Creative Digital Darkroom includes:
- Four sections that cover the black & white darkroom, the color darkroom, creative techniques, and production essentials
- Chapters that begin with a thorough foundation followed by numerous tutorial examples that apply the theory to real-world examples
- Examples and a layout that enables readers to find, understand, and apply the featured techniques quickly and easily
- The authors are both renowned photographers and Photoshop experts
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Book details
First Edition: December 2007
ISBN: 0-596-10047-7
Pages: 429
Average Customer Reviews: (Based on 3 Reviews)
Featured customer reviews
To my opinion, probably the best book on Adobe CS3, May 07 2008
To my opinion, probably the best book on Adobe CS3
Katrin Eismann and Sean Duggan are experienced photographers and their style is clear and effective in the Creative Digital Darkroom.
The book is dedicated to intermediate and advanced photographers who are all ready familiar with the basics of image processing.
The Creative Digital Darkroom is essentially aimed at the techniques to help the photographer achieve his own vision, a theme developed by the authors.
It's the best book I've seen yet on Photoshop.
The Creative Digital Darkroom is a detailed course on Photoshop CS3 that could also be of interest no matter which image processing software you are using.
The authors explain accurately the step by step instructions on the different tools and techniques of Photoshop. There are also plenty of interesting tutorials that cover all the aspects of image manipulation. You will also be invited to download most of the images used as example in the book from the book's website.
You will then be able to practice the tips and techniques described by the authors. You will also find interesting chapters on Adobe Camera Raw and Adobe Lightroom.
I learned a lot from this book and keep it at hand while processing my images.
The Creative Digital Darkroom, March 03 2008
I attended part of the PPA (Professional Photographers of America) convention in January. I ran into a friend who was excited about being able to attend a class by Katrin Eismann and asked if I was also going.
I had never heard of Katrin, but my friend’s
excitement piqued my curiosity. When I saw the
book “The Creative Digital Darkroom” was co-written by Katrin Eismann I decided to check it out.
The idea of a darkroom is familiar to “old school” photographers. It is how we worked. The film was shot and then we took it to the darkroom. I did not have my own darkroom, but had access to one in school. I was always fascinated by the process of working in the darkroom, but by the end of the day, was tired of the chemical smell.
So, what is a “digital darkroom”? It is the way we translate what was done in a traditional darkroom with film, chemical and light to what is done with a digital camera (or scans), computer and printer.
As I started reading this book I was struck with the comparison of working in a darkroom. It does not require that you are familiar with a darkroom setting, but it does give a history or basis for what you are doing.
I really like the way the book is set up to walk you through the steps of setting up your digital darkroom and carrying through all your digital processing of your images.
Each chapter has several samples and easy to follow instructions. These are written for Photoshop but generally translate to Photoshop Elements or other digital editing programs. Sample files from the lessons are not included with the book, but there is a website set up where you can download the images as you are ready to work with them. Unless you want to download them all at one time, but at 246 Meg, I would suggest that you have a high speed connection if you are going to do this.
Also included at the website is a bonus chapter on printing. As I see it, the final step in your creative process is to have the print that you can hang on a wall or share with friends.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in learning more and improving their photos. Not only does it help with your post processing, but I think that there are many tips that will actually help in seeing and taking better photos.
The Creative Digital Darkroom
by Katrin Eismann & Seán Duggan
List price: $49.99
www.oreilly.com/
ISBN-10: 0-596-10047-7
ISBN-13: 978-0-596-10047-6
book review by Kari Sheppard
Bay Area Macintosh User Group of West Central Florida
www.bamcentral.org
The Creative Digital Darkroom, February 09 2008
The Creative Digital Darkroom
By Katrin Eismann, Sean Duggan
First Edition December 2007
Pages: 429
ISBN 10: 0-596-10047-7 | ISBN 13:9780596100476
O’Reilly $US 49.99
If you are looking for a book to flip through and obtain a quick fix for your photographs or eye-catching effects to turn them into graphical explosions then look elsewhere. This book shows how to use digital processes to obtain maximum impact from your photographs — to bring out the very best. Although written for Photoshop CS3 and Lightroom many of the techniques would be appropriate for use with other image editing software.
Example images are available for download from the book's companion website - www.creativedigitaldarkroom.com - making it is possible to follow the steps described in the book before using the techniques with your own photographs.
The authors describe traditional darkroom experiences and look at photographic concepts in conjunction with demonstrating digital solutions.
One paragraph stays firmly in my mind:
“To be a better photographer you need to practice seeing. Not looking, seeing…”.
Once you decide to work on an image the authors suggest you follow the basic steps: acquire, prepare, enhance, interpret and output.
This concept is explained with pictorial illustrations in less than half a page early in the book. Then the remainder of the book is devoted to expanding on how to achieve each step. Skills to achieve each of the steps are built-up chapter by chapter.
I found this technique and the language used very easy to follow. The explanations are brilliant with information provided in regard to why as well as how.
The Creative Digital Darkroom is begging to be read from cover to cover. There may be a few very technical areas you would skip over initially but otherwise the content is enthralling in its presentation and use of photographs. A thorough study of the art of the digital darkroom which I am sure you would want to keep in your reference library.
I would rate this book as [5] Totally Awsome and suitable for the intermediate and advanced photographer or photo manipulator.
Pam Doughty
Editor
AUSOM News
AUSOM Inc - Largest Apple User Group in Australia
Media reviews
"The most complete book I’ve seen on the topic, and packed with so much in-depth info they probably didn’t sleep for a year."
-- Scott Kelby, Photoshop Insider
"I rarely rave about a book, but this one is an awesome blend of Photoshop technique, artistic process and photography know-how. The subject of the “creative darkroom” is covered thoroughly and expertly...I consider this book a perfect resource for mastering the creative digital darkroom. The techniques are extensively documented, thorough and come from some of the best workflows in use today. The writing is excellent and copious, and not bogged down with large images. The theory behind the techniques is timeless and relies on the fundamentals such as channels, Lab color, luminosity and blending. I cannot recommend this book highly enough if you are a digital photographer with a creative bent."
-- Jeremy Schultz, Designorati
"The Creative Digital Darkroom is one hefty book filled with so much Photoshop and Lightroom goodness that you'll be busy and in bliss for a long long time. The layout is appealing and the photos inspiring, just what you need when tackling a subject like this. And then there's the writing...This is a book that will show you how to gain maximum enjoyment and pride from your work as a photographer, and for that both Katrin and Seán should be applauded. This is as fine a book as one could wish for on the technical intricacies of working in the digital darkroom."
-- Jennifer Apple, The Photoshop Blog - PhotoshopSupport.com
"I had your book on order from the earliest notification from Amazon
and it's been well worth the wait. I first used your book on digital
photography about five years ago, and what I most enjoyed was the
clarity of the reasons you gave for each method. Since then, Katrin's
books on compositing & restoration have been my "bibles", so I looked
forward to this new one with great anticipation.
I have worked through your examples & am applying the appropriate
steps to one of my earliest landscape shots. I'm excited to compare
the best print I made three years ago with the ones I'm now
producing. Again, the clarity of your explanations and the reasoning
behind them is first-class. I like to know the why as well as the
how, so thank you both very much for more than meeting my expectations."
-- Aroha Mahoney, New Zealand
"The Creative Digital Darkroom is not about dazzle, rather it is about functionality. It is about improving your workflow. It is about giving you the ability to fine tune your images and make you a better photographer. If you are new to digital photography, if digital is all that you have done and want to learn more from traditional methods, and especially if you are moving from the wet darkroom to the digital darkroom, then The Creative Digital Darkroom should be on your reading list.
"
-- T. Michael Testi, Blogcritics Magazine
"From coverage of traditional darkroom skills and abilities and how these translate into Photoshop CS3 and Lightroom to the basics of producing initial high-quality images and understanding both black and white and color darkroom techniques, this packs in details and lessons for both artists and educators, making for an outstanding and colorful lesson plan."
-- James Cox, The California Bookwatch
