Digital Photography For Dummies, 9th Edition

Digital Photography For Dummies, 9th Edition

by Julie Adair King
Released February 2020
Publisher(s): For Dummies
ISBN: 9781119609643

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Book description

Photographers! Your guide is here!

The demand for high-quality photographs is higher than ever. Whether you’re building your influencer rating online, capturing the moments of a child’s life, or are looking for ways to improve your skills, photography know-how is a must-have skill. 

Digital Photography For Dummies helps you do more than pointing, shooting, and hoping for the best or slapping a filter on a camera phone shot. This book introduces you to the camera settings and techniques that separate okay pictures from frame-worthy portraits. It then explains how to apply those skills to capturing your own portraits, landscape shots, and high-action photos. 

  • Develop a better eye for image composition
  • Discover how to light photos better, including using natural light
  • Learn to get quick results in auto settings or take full control in manual mode
  • Discover the elements of exposure and how they influence the final product
  • Find instructions on taking a formal or casual portrait
  • Apply basic editing techniques to finalize your image

Go beyond photo apps and apply the techniques pros use for their images.

Table of contents

  1. Cover
  2. Introduction
    1. About This Book
    2. How This Book Is Organized
    3. Icons Used in This Book
    4. Where to Go from Here
  3. Part 1: Fast Track to Super Snaps
    1. Chapter 1: Choosing the Right Camera
      1. Choosing the Right Level of Camera
      2. Looking at Lenses
      3. Reviewing a Few Final Camera Features
      4. So … Is It Time for a New Camera?
    2. Chapter 2: Starting Out Right: Setup Do’s and Don’ts
      1. Preparing the Camera
      2. Choosing Initial Camera Settings
      3. Looking at a Few More Setup Options
    3. Chapter 3: Shooting Your First Photos (and Movies)
      1. Looking at Automatic Shooting Modes
      2. Shooting in Auto Mode
      3. Stepping Up to Scene Modes
      4. Recording Movies in Auto Mode
  4. Part 2: Taking Your Photography to the Next Level
    1. Chapter 4: Starting to See Like a Photographer
      1. Exploring Composition Basics
      2. Using Depth of Field to Artistic Advantage
      3. Capturing Motion: To Blur or Not to Blur?
      4. Becoming a Student of Light
      5. Exploring New Subjects and Angles
    2. Chapter 5: Taking Control of Exposure
      1. Understanding Exposure
      2. Adjusting f-stop, Shutter Speed, and ISO
      3. Adjusting Autoexposure Results
      4. Expanding Tonal Range
      5. Bracketing Exposures
    3. Chapter 6: Adding Flash and Other Lights
      1. Enabling and Disabling Built-In Flash
      2. Comparing Built-In and External Flashes
      3. Adjusting Flash Power
      4. Exploring Special Flash Modes
      5. Improving Outdoor Photos with Flash
      6. Considering Continuous Lighting
      7. Setting Up a Small Lighting Studio
      8. Looking at Simpler (and Cheaper) Lighting Setups
    4. Chapter 7: Manipulating Focus and Color
      1. Understanding Autofocus Options
      2. Focusing Manually
      3. Diagnosing Focus Problems
      4. Playing with Depth of Field
      5. Controlling Color
      6. Looking at Picture Presets
      7. Shooting Raw for More Color Control
  5. Part 3: Pro Tips for Capturing Specific Subjects
    1. Chapter 8: Shooting Frame-Worthy Portraits
      1. Starting with a Classic Portrait Recipe
      2. Creating Good Portrait Lighting
      3. Building a Better Backdrop
      4. Capturing More Memorable Portraits
    2. Chapter 9: Photographing Action
      1. Choosing an Action Plan
      2. Freezing Action
      3. Blurring Motion
      4. Panning for Cool Background Effects
    3. Chapter 10: Taking in the Scenery
      1. Reviewing a Few Basics
      2. Taking a Panoramic View
      3. Photographing Tall Structures
      4. Catching the Night Lights
      5. Capturing Small Wonders
  6. Part 4: After the Shot
    1. Chapter 11: Discovering Cool Playback Features
      1. Switching to Playback Mode
      2. Adjusting the Playback Display
      3. Getting a Close-Up Look at a Photo
      4. Displaying Thumbnails and Calendars
      5. Viewing Shooting Settings (Metadata)
      6. Rating, Protecting, and Deleting Files
      7. Checking Out In-Camera Editing Tools
      8. Viewing Photos on a TV
    2. Chapter 12: Downloading, Editing, and Sharing Photos
      1. Sorting through Photo Software
      2. Downloading Your Images
      3. Preserving Your Files
      4. Converting Raw Files
      5. Looking at Your Printing Options
      6. Avoiding Printing Pitfalls
      7. Preparing Pictures for Online Sharing
  7. Part 5: The Part of Tens
    1. Chapter 13: Ten Fixes for Common Photo Flaws
      1. Discover a Few Easy Exposure Fixes
      2. Take Steps to Avoid Blurry Pictures
      3. Scan the Frame Before You Shoot
      4. Blur a Busy Background
      5. Level the Horizon
      6. Crop Away Excess Background
      7. Solve Color Miscues
      8. Turn Down the Noise
      9. Deal with Dust Spots and Lens Flare
      10. Watch Out for Weird Halos
    2. Chapter 14: Ten Accessories to Enhance Your Photography
      1. Invest in a Good Camera Bag
      2. Pick a Sturdy Tripod
      3. Consider Smaller Stability Solutions
      4. Find a More Comfortable Camera Strap
      5. Get a Better View of Your Monitor
      6. Download Some Cool Apps
      7. Calibrate Your Monitor with Precision
      8. Dive In with a Waterproof Housing
      9. Treat Your Wrist to a Graphics Tablet
      10. Pick Up a Portable Printer
  8. Index
  9. About the Author
  10. Advertisement Page
  11. Connect with Dummies
  12. End User License Agreement

Product information

  • Title: Digital Photography For Dummies, 9th Edition
  • Author(s): Julie Adair King
  • Release date: February 2020
  • Publisher(s): For Dummies
  • ISBN: 9781119609643