The Digital Photography Book
by Scott Kelby
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Book Reviews of The Digital Photography Book
Book Review: Decent, but there's better out there.
Summary: 2 Stars
Reason I bought the book: I was just getting into photography and wanted to learn about my camera (D90) and how to use it. This book was rated very highly so I figured it was a no-brainer. Here's my concise review. If I'm lacking detail/explanation, comment on this post and I'll explain further.
Pros:
- Concise. Each "topic" is explained in about 3/4 of a page. Sometimes less, sometimes more.
- Touches on all of the basics, with little if any technical explanation. A good starting point for digital photography if you don't care about learning "why" things work the way they do.
- Easy, quick read.
Cons:
- Touches on all of the basics, with little if any technical explanation. Maybe this is what you're looking for, but it only made me want to put the book down and Google things (aperture, shutter speed, ISO, etc.) or buy another book to find out more (which I did).
- Expensive. This is only the first of three "volumes". He basically wrote a mediocre-at-best book, chopped it into three cuts, and then added intro and conclusion paragraphs to each. This should have been sold as a single, $25 volume instead. (Disclaimer: I have NOT read the additional two volumes, but I've looked at their tables of contents. Do this yourself and you'll see what I mean.) (Disclaimer 2: I am aware that you can get all three in a single package on Amazon, but you can certainly get better reading material for the $70 retail [$44.09 Amazon] price tag.)
- Biased/unclear advertisements within the book's body. At one point he advertises the site "WhereTheProsShoot.com", ranting and raving about it. Go there right now. What's it say? Under construction? Hmm...seems like a biased review of a not-yet-existent product from one of his buddies. As for being unclear... he never mentions that he gets paid for his recommendations, but flip to the back of the book and you'll see that many of the sites/stores he recommends are sponsors of this very book. This is illegal in television, and generally frowned upon elsewhere.
- Sense of humor that is so bad it detracts from the material.
What I recommend instead (as a D90 owner):
"Mastering the Nikon D90" by Darrell Young
"Complete Digital Photography" by Ben Long
Book Review: Misleading advice
Summary: 2 Stars
As other reviews have noted, Scott Kelby's puns are either something you like, are distracted by or absolutely loathe. In this it is a matter of each to their own.
However a lot of the advice in this book is not useful or very one-sided. For example, the section on sports photography (on which their is an entire chapter) may be summed up by saying "it is expensive". To be fair there is some useful advice (such as many of the professionals take two bodies, one with a wide-angle lens and one with a fast telephoto because you *won't* have time to switch lenses) which is why I gave the book two stars.
The most disappointing piece of "advice" was on "Being careful what you shoot". Kelby suggests that you delete pictures if security guards demand it, otherwise they may take your camera etc. They have no right to do this .... the excellent "rights of photographers" by Lawyer Bert Krages tells you about what right mere security guards (and even police officers have) and it does NOT include demanding that you delete pictures from your camera. At best the guards can require you to leave the area (if you are on their property) but they cannot generally demand that you stop taking pictures from a public area. It is true that some will try and harass you, but you are within your rights to refuse to delete your pictures and they (in particular, security guards) cannot detain you. This is even true for government buildings; although with military bases you are probably on your own =).
If Kelby had claimed that you risk being harassed if you took pictures of government buildings, and that you may wish to delete your pictures to avoid problems then that may be sound advice. But he writes that if he had not deleted his pictures he would have probably had his camera removed (factually false -- if this happens it is theft; call the police) -- and encourages photographers to roll over on their civil rights.
It seems that Kelby's ignorance will not stop him from making very authoritive statements, and to me this brings into question much of the other (also very authoritatively) stated advice.
Book Review: Great book for beginners who want to cut to the chase.
Summary: 4 Stars
I saw this book at Barnes and Noble looking for a good book to help me get sharper pictures (which has been my vice.) Coming across this book, I flipped a couple of pages and was sold - I put down the big heavy technical book I was holding and went straight to the register. And I was not sorry that I bought this book, either.
Sure, there is the thing about his humor. I could care less most of the time, except that the beginning is weighed down by him trying to explain to you in detail how the book works, and spending an exorbitant amount of time taking pride over the titles of the first few pages. I learned my lesson - I skipped the intros and went to what I needed.
Already, the first day reading, I was excited and ready to run out and take professional looking photos, I was so encouraged. (It was night time, however, and the irony is he doesn't cover night time photography in his book. Not this one, at least. I can't say for the second book.) I've experimented on my cat and the flowers in my garden and already I can see a difference in my photography. Not only that, but even though this isn't a technical book, I have a much better understanding of my camera!
What I love best about this book (and what truly sold me on it) was the last chapter about "photo recipes". He tells you exactly the environment he was in in order to get the shot, the camera setting, what number to set aperture size or shutter speed (things I had not gotten the hang of yet, so it HELPS), and what equipment he used. The book may be short (just over 200 pages), but it's straight to the point, so you don't need to swim through the technical aspect of things. His examples are beautiful works of art and he even gives us a peek into his bag to see what he brings on shoots. I've also kept in mind some equipment recommendations.
All in all, yeah his sense of humor is a little much, but it's a wonderful glimpse for the amateur photographer as to how to pros work.
Book Review: Good, Not Great.
Summary: 4 Stars
After seeing this book recommended on a website I stumbled upon while researching some photography questions, I put it on my Wish List and received it for Christmas. After reading the book cover to cover, I found the book to be interesting, but not full of the right kind of information for me. I am just a Mom with a Canon Rebel DSLR. I understand the basics of Aperture, Shutter Speed, ISO and White Balance. I shoot in manual mode when I can, but kick the camera into Auto when the situation calls for it. The book has information for beginners, but as to Scott Kelby's design, he doesn't bother you with confusing/boring aperture and shutter speed equations. He writes the book as if you are out shooting with him and you ask him a question. The whole book has his humor interjected, which was sometimes annoying but mostly just made the book have a real life feel. This might be the reason I was able to read the book cover to cover.
I felt like Scott pushed a lot of "extra" equipment instead of giving tricks for getting similar (albeit, slightly less professional) shots. The book was geared more towards people who want to become professional photographers, not necessarily hobbyists.
In order to understand the book, one must already know their camera and the basics of photography. He does not even recap this.
One thing I hoped for, but did not get out of the book was some more information on shooting groups, like families, and also more about understanding lens/focal lengths. He covered wedding groups very briefly.
Overall, I enjoyed expanding my own knowledge on photography. I would recommend the book to someone who is comfortable with their DSLR, but wants to know a little bit more - and is possibly thinking about taking their photography to the professional level.
However, if you are a mom with a new DSLR - try a class or a different book first. :)
Book Review: Good book for the beginner. Does not go into enough detail.
Summary: 3 Stars
Good book for the beginner. Does not go into enough detail. The first 5 pages are the only thing I got from this book. I am not saying it is not worth the money ( for around $10.00). I just think he just wanted to get a book out to sell because he needed some fast cash. Each page has about 1 to 2 paragraphs on it along with a beautiful picture. I think he could have given the setting he used on his camera and the setting and placement of his flash for taking that shoot. That would have been the s$!t, along with the description. From what I read about the book it says he will tell you all the secrets that the pro will not tell you. I only found about 4 one really good one that I just never though of. I guess that is worth about $10.00 I guess. To me just a bunch of fluff and showing off what pictures he can take not telling where the flash was placed or the f stop and the shutter speed that is not to techy I think most just starting out photographers could grasp that. It just pissed me off I was all excited to finally find out how the pros do it and he basically tells you what tripod to use what time of day (not hard to figure that one out) to shoot were to angle your camera, shoot in the shade not in direct sun light, things like that. Things you can ask the guy at Walmart selling cameras. Oh and buy the good lenses. This is all common knowledge to me I don't know about the rest of you. Just a bunch of fluff to me. I guess I will keep searching for the holy photo book grail.
If you can find this book for $10.00 or less I say get it and add it to your collection one or two things might be useful. I am just a little disappointed. I guess the saying is still correct you get what you pay for.
I know there is a book out there that has what I am looking for and I will keep searching. I know you all are thinking go to class for this become an intern for some great photographer. I say come on be nice!