Digital Photography For Beginners?

[neil.b]

Morning all,

Its my mum's birthday at the end of the week and I want to get her some kind of book/DVD to help her improve her technique etc.

Anyone had anything similar that they could recommend? It would have to be of a "beginner" standard as she's only just starting out.

Thanks,

Neil

[Don]

Tom Ang: The Digital Photographer's Handbook.

From basic to advanced all in one book. Very easy to read.

Available on Amazon.

[HankScorpio]

I've got this and it's done the rounds of my friends/family and is very good (covers loads of stuff in fairly simple terms):

clicky

This one might be more suitable for am absolute beginner:
clicky2

[simpo two]

Compact or DSLR?

[neil.b]

simpo two said:

Compact or DSLR?

Compact.

[simpo two]

neil.b said:

Compact.

Then I'd say composition is probably the most important thing to practice, as most of the tecchy stuff is (or can be) automatic. Unfortunately, composition is the one area that has no rules, not even the rule of thirds.

Dunno really - how about posting some and we'll see what we think?

[neil.b]

simpo two said:

neil.b said: Compact. Then I'd say composition is probably the most important thing to practice, as most of the tecchy stuff is (or can be) automatic. Unfortunately, composition is the one area that has no rules, not even the rule of thirds. Dunno really - how about posting some and we'll see what we think?

Appreciate what you're saying but a print out of comments from an internet site is not going to win me any awards for Birthday Present of the Year is it?



So there's nothing to give instruction/tips on composition etc? You may be right but....how did you learn (that's the collective "you", not just you Simpo )?

[UKBob]

HankScorpio said:

I've got this and it's done the rounds of my friends/family and is very good (covers loads of stuff in fairly simple terms): clicky

I flicked through 20+ books on photography the other day, and ended up buying that one.

It has hundreds of colour photos (several on every page) and seems to cover every angle and aspect imaginable, in just enough depth to provide a good understanding of principles with examples and more photos, before moving on. Compared to some of the other books I looked at, it stood out as being a bible rather than having one particular angle on the subject - There is a lot of in depth reading, if that appeals then I'd recommend it.

>> Edited by UKBob on Tuesday 14th February 14:57

[simpo two]

neil.b said:

Appreciate what you're saying but a print out of comments from an internet site is not going to win me any awards for Birthday Present of the Year is it?

Depends how understanding she is. Be creative; print them out on nice quality paper and add a dab of aftershave.

[neil.b]

simpo two said:

neil.b said: Appreciate what you're saying but a print out of comments from an internet site is not going to win me any awards for Birthday Present of the Year is it? Depends how understanding she is. Be creative; print them out on nice quality paper and add a dab of aftershave.

[Bee_Jay]

The Andy Rouse digital SLR book is pretty good...

[cirks]

Don said:

Tom Ang: The Digital Photographer's Handbook. From basic to advanced all in one book. Very easy to read. Available on Amazon.

I was given this for Christmas and, although I discovered it had been 50% off in Waterstones sale, felt that it was a bit of a rip-off. The book is a revised edition based on his earlier analogue books. Although it covers digital techniques (eg levels etc) nearly every single photo used in the book is a scan of an analogue one and, strangely for a digital book, there is no mention of RAW that I could find! I took it back and got a refund.
As I have a number of other photo books from film days and a couple of digital processing books I just didn't feel that this added anything at all. For a beginner, it might be ok but I'd try to have a flick through yourself before buying.

[neil.b]

Went into town and had a flick through the DK one. Its about the right level for her and goes on to some more advanced stuff if she gets adventurous. So, i bought it.