Book recommendations

[KITT]

My dad recently purchased a 350D and loves it. He's always had an SLR (film) and this is his first digital one. I was thinking of getting him a nice book for Christmas that can help him take better pics. Anyone have any recommendations?

cheers

[Andy M]

Another idea might be to buy him a years subscription to a magazine such as Photography Monthly (www.photographymonthly.com/ )?

At least then he's encouraged to take photo's all year round...

[beano500]

Andy M said:

... Photography Monthly ....

Seconded - it's a pretty good all round magazine, especially if you've come from previous photography experience because it's not as condescending as some of the trash out there.


(He'll not have enough memory to start with, so that's a good bet too!)

[simpo two]

Or get him PS Elements, if he doesn't have it already...?

[KITT]

Hadn't considered a magazine, will look into it.

As for accessories, he's gone out and pretty much brought the lot! He's got a rucksack, three lenses (macro, telephoto and standard), remote shutter release, a couple of memory cards (512 and 1Gb) etc.

I know he's really into close up photography (insects, flowers etc.), so perhaps something more focused on that might be good?

[KITT]

simpo two said:

Or get him PS Elements, if he doesn't have it already...?

Got it I'm afriad

[beano500]

Tripod?

...especially Table top for Macro work?

Grey card for white balance and metering?

Handy little gizmo for holding macro items?

Background stuff for Macro?

Lighting stuff?

Colour Management stuff for computer?

What programme is he using for converting from Raw?

Printer?




...No, I couldn't think of anything.......

[V6GTO]

Extention tubes!...they will get him even closer.

Martin.

[CVP]

How about one of these

Markerting blurb -
"The Plamp" is an articulating arm used to hold macro subjects and other useful objects. One end clamps to your tripod while the other grasps the object. The most obvious application of the Plamp is for steadying windblown plants, the bane of every macro photographer. A host of other applications will present themselves as you use the Plamp. You can gently bend that perfect flower into the perfect backlit position. You can make minute adjustments which will position your subject in the film plane while retaining the perfect background. The plamp can be used to move background objects, bend back obstructing foliage or to hold small foil reflectors.


CVP comments
It's a flexible arm which is really handy for Macro work in holding back the occasional branch / leaf that would otherwise intrude on the image, or you could use it to clamp a flower stalk below the image to steady the stalk, or to hold a reflector...

I have one and find it useful quite a bit for macro type work.

Available at Warehouse Express at www.warehouseexpress.com/index.cfm?PHOTO/tripods/wimberley.html (hopefully the right page !)

Chris

[KITT]

Thanks for the suggestions folks I am however, a little wary of buying him gear to as I don't really know much about it and don't want to buy him something he'll never use!