Digital Photography

Digital Photography

by Shawn Frederick
Released October 2013
Publisher(s): Alpha
ISBN: 9781615645565

Read it now on the O’Reilly learning platform with a 10-day free trial.

O’Reilly members get unlimited access to books, live events, courses curated by job role, and more from O’Reilly and nearly 200 top publishers.

Start your free trial

Book description

Idiot's Guides®: Digital Photography is not a book on using Photoshop to fix bad photos, nor is it a book loaded down with technical data telling readers which camera to buy. Instead, it's the simplest guide to becoming a better photographer and taking better pictures with any DSLR. Instead of focusing on complicated and quickly outdated discussions of things like gear or retouching software, readers learn the timeless principles of good photography, the essentials of every camera and lens, and how to use all that knowledge to take the shots they previously thought were only achievable by professional photographers. Readers learn how to set up every shot, avoid common mistakes, and do more with their pictures through unique and creative photography projects. Focused on making people better photographers, this full-color guide finally simplifies the process of taking great pictures by focusing on what people really need to know to take better pictures.

Table of contents

  1. Contents iv (1/2)
  2. Contents iv (2/2)
  3. Part 1: The Basics 2
    1. A Brief History of the DSLR 4
    2. Understanding Sensor Types 6
    3. Interpreting DPI and PPI 8
    4. Shutter Speed 10
    5. Aperture 12
    6. Depth of Field 14
    7. ISO Readings 16
    8. Auto Settings 18
    9. Choosing File Formats 20
    10. Menus, Histograms, and Info Buttons 22
    11. Understanding the LCD Monitor 26
    12. Setting White Balance 28
    13. Metering 32
    14. Understanding Lenses 34
    15. Understanding and Choosing Lighting 38 (1/2)
    16. Understanding and Choosing Lighting 38 (2/2)
    17. Lighting Techniques 44
    18. Light-Shaping Tools 48
    19. Memory Cards 52
    20. Other Equipment 54
    21. Setting Up a Home Studio 56
    22. Setting Up on Location 58
  4. Part 2: The Shots 60
    1. Seeing Your Image First 62
    2. Finding Your Focus 64
    3. The Rule of Thirds 66
    4. Shooting Vertical vs Horizontal 68
    5. Negative Space 70
    6. Diptychs and Triptychs 72
    7. Architecture 74
    8. Automobiles and Motorcycles 78
    9. Family and Kids 82
    10. Weddings 86
    11. Silhouettes 90
    12. Backlit Subjects 94
    13. Sunsets and Sunrises 98
    14. Lifestyle 102
    15. Landscapes 106
    16. Sports 110
    17. Animals and Pets 114
    18. Flowers 118
    19. Vacation and Travel 122
    20. Portraits 126
    21. Landmarks and Historical Sites 130
    22. Food 134
    23. Seasons 138
    24. Night Shots 142
    25. Events 146
    26. Fine Art and Abstracts 150
    27. Dynamic Action 154
  5. Part 3: The Projects 158
    1. Directing Your Subject 160
    2. Selective Focus 164
    3. Macro and Close-Up Photography 168
    4. Getting Creative with Filters 172
    5. Working with Reflective and Mirrored Subjects 176
    6. Panoramic Pictures 180
    7. Studying Light 184
    8. Creating Motion Blur 188
    9. Shooting Sequences 192
    10. Taking HD Video with Your DSLR 196
    11. Transferring Your Files 200
  6. Index 202 (1/3)
  7. Index 202 (2/3)
  8. Index 202 (3/3)

Product information

  • Title: Digital Photography
  • Author(s): Shawn Frederick
  • Release date: October 2013
  • Publisher(s): Alpha
  • ISBN: 9781615645565