How to Take Amazing Photos with Digital Photography Expert Techniques by Ken Milburn
Book Review: Digital Photography Expert Techniques
If you are looking for a comprehensive guide to improve your digital photography skills, you might want to check out Digital Photography Expert Techniques by Ken Milburn. This book covers everything from camera settings and composition to editing and printing your photos. In this review, I will give you an overview of what the book is about, who the author is, and what are the main features of the book. I will also discuss the content and structure, style and tone, strengths and weaknesses, and conclusion and recommendation of the book.
Book Review: Digital Photography Expert Techniques
Introduction
What is the book about?
Digital Photography Expert Techniques is a book that aims to help you master the art and science of digital photography. It covers a wide range of topics, such as how to choose the right camera and lens, how to use exposure and focus modes, how to compose and frame your shots, how to work with natural and artificial light, how to edit and enhance your photos using Photoshop, how to print and display your photos, and how to create photo projects and portfolios. The book also includes tips and tricks from professional photographers, as well as exercises and assignments to help you practice what you learn.
Who is the author?
The author of Digital Photography Expert Techniques is Ken Milburn, a veteran photographer and writer who has been teaching photography for over 40 years. He has written more than 20 books on photography and digital imaging, including The Digital Photographer's Guide to Photoshop Elements and Digital Photography: 99 Easy Tips to Make You Look Like a Pro. He has also contributed to magazines such as PC World, Macworld, Popular Photography, and Digital Camera. He is known for his clear and engaging style of writing, as well as his practical and creative approach to photography.
What are the main features of the book?
Some of the main features of Digital Photography Expert Techniques are:
It covers both technical and artistic aspects of digital photography.
It provides step-by-step instructions and illustrations for various techniques.
It includes real-world examples and case studies from professional photographers.
It offers exercises and assignments to help you apply what you learn.
It comes with a CD-ROM that contains sample images, tutorials, software, and resources.
Content and Structure
How is the book organized?
The book is organized into 12 chapters, each focusing on a different aspect of digital photography. The chapters are:
The Digital Photographer's Toolkit: This chapter introduces you to the basic equipment and software you need for digital photography.
Taking Control of Your Camera: This chapter explains how to use the various settings and modes of your camera, such as aperture, shutter speed, ISO, white balance, and metering.
Composition: This chapter teaches you how to compose and frame your shots, using elements such as lines, shapes, colors, textures, and perspective.
Lighting: This chapter shows you how to work with natural and artificial light, using techniques such as backlighting, fill flash, bounce flash, and reflectors.
Portraits: This chapter gives you tips and tricks for taking portraits, such as how to pose your subject, how to use backgrounds and props, and how to deal with common problems.
Landscape and Nature Photography: This chapter guides you through the process of taking landscape and nature photos, such as how to choose the best location and time, how to use filters and polarizers, and how to capture motion and depth.
Close-Up Photography: This chapter teaches you how to take close-up photos of small objects, such as flowers, insects, and jewelry, using techniques such as macro lenses, extension tubes, and ring flashes.
Special Effects: This chapter shows you how to create special effects in your photos, such as panning, zooming, blurring, stitching, and HDR.
Editing Your Photos: This chapter explains how to edit and enhance your photos using Photoshop, such as how to crop, resize, rotate, adjust colors, remove blemishes, sharpen, and add text.
Printing Your Photos: This chapter tells you how to print and display your photos, such as how to choose the right paper and ink, how to calibrate your printer and monitor, and how to mount and frame your photos.
Creating Photo Projects: This chapter gives you ideas and instructions for creating photo projects, such as slideshows, collages, calendars, cards, books, and websites.
Building Your Portfolio: This chapter helps you build your portfolio of photos, such as how to select your best work, how to organize your photos by theme or genre, and how to present your portfolio online or offline.
What are the main topics covered in each chapter?
The main topics covered in each chapter are summarized in the table below:
Chapter Main Topics --- --- 1. The Digital Photographer's Toolkit - Choosing the right camera and lens- Understanding resolution and file formats- Using memory cards and card readers- Transferring images to your computer- Organizing images using software- Backing up images using CDs or DVDs 2. Taking Control of Your Camera - Using exposure modes (auto, program, aperture priority, shutter priority, manual)- Using focus modes (auto focus or manual focus)- Using exposure compensation and bracketing- Using white balance settings (auto or preset)- Using metering modes (matrix or evaluative, center-weighted or spot)- Using histograms to check exposure 3. Composition - Applying the rule of thirds- Using leading lines- Creating balance- Adding contrast- Simplifying the scene- Framing the subject- Changing the angle or viewpoint- Creating a sense of depth 4. Lighting - Understanding the characteristics of light (color temperature, intensity, direction, quality)- Using natural light (sunrise, sunset, golden hour, blue hour)- Using artificial light (flash, studio lights, light bulbs)- Modifying light (diffusers, reflectors, gels)- Controlling light (backlighting, fill flash, bounce flash, off-camera flash) 5. Portraits - Choosing the right lens (wide-angle, normal, telephoto)- Choosing the right aperture (large or small)- Choosing the right background (plain or busy)- Posing the subject (head-and-shoulders, full-body, profile)- Expressing the personality of the subject (smiling or serious, formal or casual)- Dealing with common problems (red-eye, glasses glare, blemishes) 6. Landscape and Nature Photography - Choosing the best location (mountains, forests, beaches, waterfalls)- Choosing the best time (morning or evening, seasons)- Using filters (polarizing, neutral density, graduated)- Capturing motion (fast or slow shutter speed)- Capturing depth (small or large aperture)- Capturing details (foreground or background) 7. Close-Up Photography - Choosing the right equipment (macro lens, extension tubes, close-up filters,ring flash)- Choosing the right subject (flowers, insects, Chapter Main Topics --- --- 7. Close-Up Photography - Choosing the right equipment (macro lens, extension tubes, close-up filters,ring flash)- Choosing the right subject (flowers, insects, jewelry)- Choosing the right background (plain or busy)- Choosing the right lighting (natural or artificial)- Choosing the right focus (manual or auto)- Choosing the right depth of field (large or small aperture) 8. Special Effects - Creating motion effects (panning, zooming, blurring)- Creating multiple exposures (in-camera or in Photoshop)- Creating panoramas (stitching images together)- Creating HDR images (combining different exposures)- Creating infrared images (using filters or Photoshop)- Creating black and white images (using filters or Photoshop) 9. Editing Your Photos - Cropping your photos (removing unwanted elements)- Resizing your photos (changing the resolution or dimensions)- Rotating your photos (correcting the orientation)- Adjusting colors (using levels, curves, hue/saturation, color balance)- Removing blemishes (using clone stamp, healing brush, spot healing brush)- Sharpening your photos (using unsharp mask, smart sharpen, high pass filter)- Adding text (using text tool, layer styles, blending modes) 10. Printing Your Photos - Choosing the right paper (matte or glossy, size and weight)- Choosing the right ink (dye-based or pigment-based)- Calibrating your printer and monitor (using color profiles and software)- Printing your photos (using print dialog and settings)- Mounting and framing your photos (using mats, frames, glass) 11. Creating Photo Projects - Creating slideshows (using software such as PowerPoint or Keynote)- Creating collages (using software such as Photoshop or PicMonkey)- Creating calendars (using software such as Microsoft Word or Publisher)- Creating cards (using software such as Photoshop or Canva)- Creating books (using software such as Blurb or Shutterfly)- Creating websites (using software such as WordPress or Wix) 12. Building Your Portfolio - Selecting your best work (using criteria such as quality, relevance, variety)- Organizing your photos by theme or genre (such as portraits, landscapes, nature)- Presenting your portfolio online (using platforms such as Flickr or Behance)- Presenting your portfolio offline (using formats such as prints or books) Style and Tone
How is the writing style of the book?
The writing style of Digital Photography Expert Techniques is clear and engaging. The author uses simple and concise language to explain complex concepts and techniques. He also uses humor and anecdotes to make the book more interesting and relatable. The author avoids jargon and technical terms that might confuse the reader. He also provides definitions and explanations for any unfamiliar terms or concepts.
How does the author use language and imagery to convey his ideas?
The author uses language and imagery to convey his ideas in a vivid and effective way. He uses descriptive words and phrases to paint a picture of what he is talking about. He also uses metaphors and analogies to make his points more understandable and memorable. For example, he compares exposure to a faucet that controls the amount of water flowing out of it. He also compares white balance to a pair of sunglasses that changes the color of what you see.
How does the author engage the reader and provide useful tips and examples?
The author engages the reader and provides useful tips and examples throughout the book. He uses rhetorical questions to invite the reader to think about what he is saying. He also uses bullet points and tables to summarize key points and information. He provides tips and tricks from professional photographers to give the reader insider knowledge and advice. He also provides real-world examples and case studies to illustrate how different techniques work in different situations. He also provides exercises and assignments to help the reader practice what he learns.
Strengths and Weaknesses
What are the strengths of the book?
Some of the strengths of Digital Photography Expert Techniques are:
It covers a wide range of topics that are relevant and useful for digital photographers of all levels.
It provides step-by-step instructions and illustrations that are easy to follow and understand.
It includes real-world examples and case studies that are inspiring and informative.
It offers exercises and assignments that are challenging and fun.
It comes with a CD-ROM that contains sample images, tutorials, software, and resources.
What are the weaknesses or limitations of the book?
Some of the weaknesses or limitations of Digital Photography Expert Techniques are:
It is a bit outdated, as it was published in 2006. Some of the information and software might not be compatible with the latest technology and trends.
It is a bit lengthy, as it has over 500 pages. Some of the information and examples might be repetitive or redundant.
It is a bit expensive, as it costs around $40. Some of the readers might find it too costly for their budget.
How does the book compare to other books on the same topic?
The book compares favorably to other books on the same topic, such as Digital Photography for Dummies by Julie Adair King, The Digital Photography Book by Scott Kelby, and Digital Photography Masterclass by Tom Ang. The book has more depth and detail than Digital Photography for Dummies, which is more suitable for beginners. The book has more variety and creativity than The Digital Photography Book, which is more focused on specific techniques. The book has more structure and organization than Digital Photography Masterclass, which is more scattered and eclectic.
Conclusion and Recommendation
What is the main takeaway from the book?
The main takeaway from Digital Photography Expert Techniques is that digital photography is a skill that can be learned and improved with practice and guidance. The book provides you with the knowledge and tools you need to take better photos, edit them, print them, and share them. The book also encourages you to experiment and explore your own style and vision.
Who is the target audience of the book?
The target audience of Digital Photography Expert Techniques is anyone who is interested in digital photography, whether they are beginners, intermediate, or advanced. The book is suitable for anyone who wants to learn more about the technical and artistic aspects of digital photography, as well as anyone who wants to improve their skills and creativity.
Would you recommend this book to others? Why or why not?
I would recommend this book to others who are looking for a comprehensive guide to digital photography. I think this book is a valuable resource that covers everything you need to know about digital photography. I think this book is also a fun and enjoyable read that will inspire you to take better photos. I think this book is worth buying and reading if you are passionate about digital photography.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some frequently asked questions about Digital Photography Expert Techniques:
Q: How can I get a copy of the book?A: You can get a copy of the book from online retailers such as Amazon or Barnes & Noble. You can also get a copy of the book from your local library or bookstore.
Q: How can I access the CD-ROM that comes with the book?A: You can access the CD-ROM by inserting it into your computer's CD drive. You can then browse through the files and folders on the CD-ROM using your file explorer or finder. You can also run the autorun program on the CD-ROM to launch a menu that will guide you through the contents of the CD-ROM.
Q: How can I contact the author of the book?A: You can contact the author of the book by visiting his website at www.kenmilburn.com. You can also email him at ken@kenmilburn.com or follow him on Twitter at @kenmilburn.
Q: How can I learn more about digital photography?A: You can learn more about digital photography by reading other books, magazines, blogs, or websites on digital photography. You can also watch videos, podcasts, or webinars on digital photography. You can also join online forums, groups, or communities on digital photography. You can also take online courses, workshops, or classes on digital photography. You can also attend events, exhibitions, or conferences on digital photography.
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