Photography Books - Any Good Ones?

[darrent]

Hi All,

The Mrs has decided that she wants to take up photography as a hobby so buying her a Digital SLR once I have done a bit more research (probably a D70 but priciey for a first camera). Anyway are there any good books she can read to get her started (total newbie).

Cheers
D

[simpo two]

Lucky woman!
I bought a new camera bag recently and it came with a thickish colour booklet called 'Nikon Guide to SLR Photography'. I think it's an excellent publication, with good illustrations and exercises to try. It doesn't try to cover up the tecchy stuff but presents it in a very clear way with descriptive text and pix.
I think it would be perfect for someone clutching their first SLR and wondering what all the bits mean!

www.nikonmall.com/product.asp?sku=2245600&deptcatid=110&searchcat=Educational%2BProducts%3E&searchcatid=4

This might be useful too, though I haven't seen it:

www.bythom.com/d70guide.htm

[darrent]

Yes, she is! Just wondering though whether to get just the body and lens seperate or get one of the packages with the lens thrown in. Which lens is best anyway?

I'm off to the States in a few weeks so will have plenty of choice...

[simpo two]

darrent said:

Just wondering though whether to get just the body and lens seperate or get one of the packages with the lens thrown in. Which lens is best anyway?

The D70 comes in two 'kits'. Of these the one with the AF-S 18-70mm lens is the better and more useful IMO, as it not only gives good wide angle but is also better quality than the 28-80. I think it would be a good general purpose lens and she can get extra ones later, eg a telephoto or macro, as required.
www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/1870.htm

[FunkyNige]

darrent said:

Anyway are there any good books she can read to get her started (total newbie).

On a related note (if anyone does have any book suggestions, plesae post - I bought a wildlife photography book off ebay which seems good, it's just a general one I'm after), are the photography courses such as evening classes for A-Level photography any use? I've seen some advertised but don't know whether I would learn anyting from them.

Nige (who has just worked out his polarising filter is adjustable ).

[srider]

FunkyNige said:

darrent said: Anyway are there any good books she can read to get her started (total newbie). On a related note (if anyone does have any book suggestions, plesae post - I bought a wildlife photography book off ebay which seems good, it's just a general one I'm after), are the photography courses such as evening classes for A-Level photography any use? I've seen some advertised but don't know whether I would learn anyting from them. Nige (who has just worked out his polarising filter is adjustable ).

Although he really gets on my nerves, Andy Rouse's Digital SLR Masterclass is good. It's not a general photography book, but covers the issues arising from digital capture well.

[fatsteve]

I bought this a while back;

www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/8931435010/pd_ka_0/026-8136362-2002854

It's great for the fundamentals (ie how a camera works, influence of shutter speed, apperture, DOF, WB, ISO etc), all the kinds of nuts and bolts stuff you need to know in order to progress from point-and-shoot.

After something now that goes into more detail / technique (hyperfocal distance anyone?) and something like Photoshop+Digital photography (retouching, resampling/cropping, colour management etc).

[ehasler]

I've just bought this

The New Manual of Photography by John Hedgecoe

It looks very good, although I've not had a chance to read much of it yet.

[size13]

fatsteve said:

I bought this a while back; www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/8931435010/pd_ka_0/026-8136362-2002854 It's great for the fundamentals (ie how a camera works, influence of shutter speed, apperture, DOF, WB, ISO etc), all the kinds of nuts and bolts stuff you need to know in order to progress from point-and-shoot. After something now that goes into more detail / technique (hyperfocal distance anyone?) and something like Photoshop+Digital photography (retouching, resampling/cropping, colour management etc).

I've got that one too,
also ...
www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0954217837/qid%3D1097482501/202-1875489-5152630
and
www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0340869860/qid=1097482562/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl/202-1875489-5152630