Good photography book for a young 'tog
Discussion
My 11yo son is developing a great eye for composition and creativity with his photography. Over the past couple months he loves using the iPhone and various cameras we have, and also using Instagram/ColorSplash/iPhoto etc to further apply his creativity with some really stunning effects. Despite his modest camera tools, I've been really impressed with some of the shots he has taken and skill in producing artistic images.
So he finally asked me last night if I could get him a photography book for Christmas so he could learn more about "f things and shutters, because I want to learn more about photography and develop my knowledge of it". Any good recommendations for a budding 'tog?
So he finally asked me last night if I could get him a photography book for Christmas so he could learn more about "f things and shutters, because I want to learn more about photography and develop my knowledge of it". Any good recommendations for a budding 'tog?
Being a young man I was going to suggest the Rough Guide to Glamour Photography but a quick search suggests, surprisingly, that it has not been published yet. 
Beyond that ... really there is so much choice for digital stuff and I assume much the same (probably downloads mostly) for 'pocket' devices that it's hard to know what to suggest. But I think you mayy need something that bridges the different approaches - dslr, pocket, phone and so on - that are avsailable to him.
Maybe someone here has personal experience that will be of more help than I can offer.
Beyond that ... really there is so much choice for digital stuff and I assume much the same (probably downloads mostly) for 'pocket' devices that it's hard to know what to suggest. But I think you mayy need something that bridges the different approaches - dslr, pocket, phone and so on - that are avsailable to him.
Maybe someone here has personal experience that will be of more help than I can offer.
markmullen said:
Understanding exposure by Bryan Peterson, very good.
Cheers Mark, ordered 
DavidY said:
I'd look at photo projects books as well, inspiration at this level is just as important as understanding the techie....
Good call, I picked up 'The Photography Book' by Ian Jeffrey and 'The Digital Photography Book: Step by Step Secrets' by Scott Selby.Also thought the basic guidebook 'The Complete Digital Photo Manual' by Practical Photography would be a useful starter for him.
I suspect we'll both benefit from this collection!
F-things and shutters are easy.
A photographic image is made by focusing light onto (these days) a sensor so it can be recorded. The amount of light used needs to be correct so the image is neither too bright nor too dark (correct exposure). This is controlled by the hole in the front of the camera. There are two ways the hole can control the amount of light that gets in: (1) The size of the hole (2) How long the hole is open for.
Size = aperture, which is measured F-things ('f stops')
Duration = shutter speed, which is measured in seconds or fractions thereof.
You can have a big hole open for a short time, or a small hole open for a longer time, and get the same total amount of light (exposure). But the effect is different...
Someone else can run with it from there
A photographic image is made by focusing light onto (these days) a sensor so it can be recorded. The amount of light used needs to be correct so the image is neither too bright nor too dark (correct exposure). This is controlled by the hole in the front of the camera. There are two ways the hole can control the amount of light that gets in: (1) The size of the hole (2) How long the hole is open for.
Size = aperture, which is measured F-things ('f stops')
Duration = shutter speed, which is measured in seconds or fractions thereof.
You can have a big hole open for a short time, or a small hole open for a longer time, and get the same total amount of light (exposure). But the effect is different...
Someone else can run with it from there
What's this 'book' thing. Bit old tech isn't it? For an 11 year old.
Meanwhile .... try the Cambridge in Colour web site.
Lots of bite sized chunks with full interactive illustration and some calculation tools included. Excellent photos as well.
Meanwhile .... try the Cambridge in Colour web site.
Lots of bite sized chunks with full interactive illustration and some calculation tools included. Excellent photos as well.
Simpo Two said:
No, the idea was that you would tell it to him. But as you know the subject well surely the best thing is to teach him yourself by showing and doing. Get two cameras and go for a walk in the country
Aye, indeed we do, but our time together is limited due to my work 
and he's also keen to self-learn. I suppose the best is both the theory and some ideas from a book, combined with the practical bit which we do together LongQ said:
What's this 'book' thing. Bit old tech isn't it? For an 11 year old.
Meanwhile .... try the Cambridge in Colour web site.
Lots of bite sized chunks with full interactive illustration and some calculation tools included. Excellent photos as well.
Awesome, thanks. He loves books too!Meanwhile .... try the Cambridge in Colour web site.
Lots of bite sized chunks with full interactive illustration and some calculation tools included. Excellent photos as well.
Simpo Two said:
No, the idea was that you would tell it to him. But as you know the subject well surely the best thing is to teach him yourself by showing and doing. Get two cameras and go for a walk in the country
Yeah bit that's a bit short term Simpo.I mean everyone knows that by age 12, 13 at the latest, kids have figured out that their parents talk total rubbish about everything and still can't program any of the new devices they buy and litter around the house. Total credibility failure!So self learning makes a lot of sense .... and to be honest t makles a lot of sense of eduction in general since it suggests a proper interest and, IMO, people only absorb stuff if they are proper interested.
Of course I can see other reasonsfor encouraging the learning by experience.
"Dad, I'd really like to get some practical experience of ..... well, let's say "Studio Lighting".
Perfect excuse to dash out and splurge on a decent lighting system, a few backgrounds and some models. OK, well, maybe not the models - things could go badly wrong there in the current climate of unpopular opinion, but I'm sure there are other things for which some otherwise awkward to justify but highly desible
spareparts said:
markmullen said:
Understanding exposure by Bryan Peterson, very good.
Cheers Mark, ordered DavidY said:
I'd look at photo projects books as well, inspiration at this level is just as important as understanding the techie....
Good call, I picked up 'The Photography Book' by Ian Jeffrey and 'The Digital Photography Book: Step by Step Secrets' by Scott Selby.Also thought the basic guidebook 'The Complete Digital Photo Manual' by Practical Photography would be a useful starter for him.
I suspect we'll both benefit from this collection!
On a brief flip through, 'Understanding Exposure' seems really well presented. 'The Photography Book' (large format hardback) is just beautiful... some wonderful images, and a coffee table book that is sure to inspire
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