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If you are new to photography you probably would like to have access to a professional photographer who could tell you things like, “No, don’t do that. Do it this way.” It would be great to be able to ask questions about the things that you really want to understand about photography without having to wade through pages of information about depth of field and stops and exposure.

Of course, you have to know something about these concepts if you want to excel in photography, but if you are anything like me you learn best when you are shown the basics by example and then are able to explore and expand from there.

That is why I like this book. Scott says that this book is designed as if the two of you were out on a photo shoot together and you needed to know how to do something. He wouldn’t go into a discourse on the history of the camera and Matthew Brady and Ansel Adams, he would simply give you a few pointers on some settings and tell you the expected consequences of using them.

That is exactly what this book does.

Through simple, half-page tips, topped by helpful photographs, he moves you through the concepts that puzzle those of us that are getting started in the often mystical and mysterious world of digital photography, though you could use this book whether you are shooting digital or not.

What equipment should you really have with you? What is the best equipment? What if you don’t have a lot of money to buy this stuff?

How can you get sharp pictures? What camera settings can you use? Are there certain poses, techniques or tricks that can help eliminate camera shake? What are some good ideas for shooting weddings? Portraits?

If you don’t have a lot of time this is your book. Take it with you on a flight or browse through it while you are waiting for the doctor, etc. You can digest one of the tips and put it to use within 5 or 10 minutes easily.

Now, if there is one thing I would say about this book as a warning. Scott thinks he is funny. Most of this ummm… ‘humor’ is at the front of the book but if the Dummies books and their corny humor bothers you Scott’s attempts at humor will as well. However, I think his editors (and maybe he knows it too) have caught on to the fact that he can be annoying sometimes and so they have limited his antics to the book and chapter intros. If you just read the tips you will find lots of info without being annoyed to the point you want to rip the book up.

Here are some links to this and other books by Scott that I would recommend. I like him because once he gets down to business his advice is on target, easy to digest and unique:

Scott’s books

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