Digital Photography! I Didn't Know You Could Do That...

This book stays away from recommending specific camera equipment, and similarly refrains from exploring model-specific camera features. The focus (pun intended) is on good all-purpose camera techniques (like avoiding backlighting and arranging subjects) and on editing photos with Adobe PhotoDeluxe (a copy of which appears--without a time limitation--on this book's companion CD-ROM). PhotoDeluxe documentation fills much of this book, with specific instructions for achieving desired effects and a color section that illustrates techniques. --David Wall

Topics covered: Capturing images with digital cameras and editing them with Adobe PhotoDeluxe. The author explains how to manage camera memory and batteries, how to transfer images from camera to computer, and how to get around in PhotoDeluxe. Specific PhotoDeluxe sections address fixing problems (such as bad lighting and poor focus), creative effects, and suggested projects.

Product Description
--The perfect guide to the digital photography boom!

--This Second Edition of the hot-selling book applies the "I Didn't Know You Could Do That" approach of tips and tricks, fun, and practical advice to helping photographers get the most out of a digital camera and digital imaging software.

--Features a full-color insert that shows how to manipulate images, get rid of red eye, correctly crop, create panoramas and mosaics, take 3D pictures, create videos, sharpen images, and airbrush.

--The CD has a fully featured version of Adobe PhotoDeluxe (a $49 U.S. [ 35 UK] value) and is jam-packed with other software such as installers for major site upload software, slide show programs, animation software, filters, coupons, and more.

The first section covers the basics of taking pictures of people. Sadun explains the fundamentals of photography, including perspective, angle, the rule of thirds, and depth of field. She describes why it's important to get close to your subject and keep the background simple. She covers the basics of selecting appropriate lighting, posing, and even some information on setting up your own little home studio.

If you don't know what all of this means, the book will be worth the cost just to get a clear, 45-page explanation of these issues. Professional photographers can skip this section, but everyone else will learn a lot of material here to help you produce better pictures for your friends and your family album.

In the second section, Sadun continues in her easy-to-understand but thorough style, covering the basic technical matters that you need to understand about digital cameras in general. If you're already an electronic gadget nerd, you don't need this section, but for everyone else, there is helpful advice in here.

The third section covers using PhotoDeluxe, software that comes with the book for free. If you don't already have a decent photo editing program, this section and the software are easily worth the cost of the book.

Sections four through eight describe various image manipulation and photography projects. Depending on where your interests lie, you can learn about special effects, digital retouching, 3D, panoramas, and crafts.

The last sections cover what to do with the images, how to make prints or use services to have prints made, and how to show your images to others. There are demos for a lot of cool programs, including Genuine Fractals, which lets you create much bigger prints with your digital images.

The way to become a good photographer is to take pictures, evaluate your results (if you are lucky, find someone who can give you good feedback on them), take some more pictures, look at your results, and so on. The digital camera is the ideal tool for learning to become a better photographer because you can see each image right after you take it. Since there is no per-picture cost, as there is with Polaroid, you can experiment cheaply.

"Digital Photography, I Didn't Know You Could Do That..." is a wonderful guide for anyone new to the world of digital photography. I would recommend this book to anyone who has or is considering a digital camera. Erica Sadun has done an excellent job.


Pretty darn good -- and the software DOES come with it!   September 7, 2001
Martin Scheer (Long Beach, CA)
I have to disagree with a previous reviewer who said not to buy the book unless you own or plan to buy the same camera and software that the author uses. For one, you don't have to buy the software the author uses because THE SOFTWARE COMES WITH THE BOOK. Yes, free software! And that software is PhotoDeluxe from Adobe -- not a bad place to start! The techniques you learn will get you ready for whatever editing package you want to work with. Furthermore, the book is designed to work for anyone new to digital cameras, regardless of your equipment. It teaches techniques for taking better photos, gives brilliant tips for using your digital camera to do things like comparison shop or document a move, and it shows all the ways you can share your pictures with friends and family. The combination of great information and free software make this book an excellent value.


Pretty darn good -- and the software DOES come with it!   September 7, 2001
Martin Scheer (Long Beach, CA)
10 out of 10 found this review helpful

I have to disagree with a previous reviewer who said not to buy the book unless you own or plan to buy the same camera and software that the author uses. For one, you don't have to buy the software the author uses because THE SOFTWARE COMES WITH THE BOOK. Yes, free software! And that software is PhotoDeluxe from Adobe -- not a bad place to start! The techniques you learn will get you ready for whatever editing package you want to work with. Furthermore, the book is designed to work for anyone new to digital cameras, regardless of your equipment. It teaches techniques for taking better photos, gives brilliant tips for using your digital camera to do things like comparison shop or document a move, and it shows all the ways you can share your pictures with friends and family. The combination of great information and free software make this book an excellent value.


In fact, the software comes with it!   September 6, 2001
Martin Scheer (Long Beach, CA)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful

I have to disagree with a previous reviewer who said not to buy the book unless you own or plan to buy the same camera and software that the author uses. For one, you don't have to buy the software the author uses because THE SOFTWARE COMES WITH THE BOOK. Yes, free software! And that software is PhotoDeluxe from Adobe -- not a bad place to start! The techniques you learn will get you ready for whatever editing package you want to work with. Furthermore, the book is designed to work for anyone new to digital cameras, regardless of your equipment. It teaches techniques for taking better photos, gives brilliant tips for using your digital camera to do things like comparison shop or document a move, and it shows all the ways you can share your pictures with friends and family. The combination of great information and free software make this book an excellent value.