Pleased with the welcome that our Literary Recommendation section still has, we arrived with a new title, although the previous literary recommendations were aimed at a slightly more expert or advanced audience, today I propose a proposal for all audiences, especially beginners. You want to know what it is?
No, that’s not advice I give you, but the title of the book. But what if you ask me? Yes, I advise you to read it, that’s why I write this, albeit with a nuance that you will discover throughout the article.
This publication is divided into: Introduction, Composition, Exposure, Light, Goals, View and Annexes.
Intro
A brief introduction showing that what counts is not the technical knowledge or the material responsible for a good photo, but the eyes.
Composition
It presents it as the pillars of photography and evokes flight lines, framing, planes, symmetry, the rule of thirds, visual weight and transgression of rules.
Exposure
This section introduces the different shooting modes and exposure triangle, explains the shutter speed, aperture, and ISO and how they link together to capture a motion, freeze it, photograph light steeds, ignore the background, or deepen the entire framing. It also speaks very simply about exposure compensation and how and when to use it.
Light
Light as a theme, as an object, as the protagonist, this is what presents you in this part of the book where hard and soft light speaks, its pros and cons, its beauty and its message. It also makes the difference, between artificial light and natural light and how they affect the color of photography, where it is used to present the white balance. It also has a dedicated space for built-in flash and extra flash.
Goals
A section to locate you in what the focal lengths are without technicalities, begins by explaining what is zoom and fixed, the focal length, the field of view and the size of the sensor, so that from there you understand how a telephoto lens works, works a standard lens or an angular lens, and how they relate to the protagonists of the scene and how they affect our relationship with them and how we rotate.
See.
This section is dedicated to the awakening of sensitivity, to understanding the difference between looking and seeing. It invites, among other things, to find the right time to photograph, to appreciate the “perfect imperfections”, to capture the beauty of everyday life and look with the eyes and not with the visor.
Annex
Finally, in addition to the index, credits and thanks, you will find two pages dedicated to frequently asked questions and solutions.
I anticipated it, it is ideal for all audiences, mainly for newcomers to the world of photography, because it is written in simple and pleasant language, with the right text, without too many deviations or too many explanations. a more basic summary in terms of composition and exposure.
And I say for all audiences because it is also a good reminder for those who take a little longer and have more advanced knowledge, because although it does not bring anything very new (under the sun?), It serves to bring back. who has become a little confused, or for those who have learned by trial and error.
Henry Carroll, a writer and photographer, publishes his work on the henrycarroll. co. uk. He is the founder of Frui, one of the UK’s leading providers of creative photography and holiday courses. He is the author of Fourteen Zebra, his first book. This is his second book, which has been translated into ten languages. He has been a columnist for City AM and a contributor to Time Out London, The Evening Standard, The London Paper, Next Level, an. co. uk and variossmallfires. co. United Kingdom.
That it is written in a very clear and simple language. With little text (the necessary) and with many graphic examples. In each section, you have a specific example and indicate other pages where you can consult the same rule or the same advice.
It’s playful and short, we’re far from these blocks full of technicalities, impossible to read, long to boring and with more letters than photos.
Although the book is small, the photos are large enough to comfortably view them and fully understand what the author wants to convey.
Another advantage is its size, since it is small and manageable, you can take it wherever you want, to your photographic outputs, on the subway, etc.
Is it coming to an end quickly?
If I have to say something bad it is precisely because it does not help much to the most advanced, it is very basic, but for beginners it is perfect.
And one thing that doesn’t convince me is the author’s aversion to manual photography, so the team on the photographer’s blog doesn’t agree at all, because manual photographing opens up a world of magical possibilities that you could hardly discover in other ways. which is because it’s a book to start with and he prefers you not to get stuck, so recommend more semi-manual modes Wouldn’t you say the same if you knew our publication The Magic of Photography in manual mode?.
In the same spirit, you can find this other publication on portraits
A fun pocket book that you can take anywhere. To learn, remember and appreciate the photographs of some of the best photographers in history. A text that you will read quickly and without difficulty. A good gift for you or whoever you want.
Reading makes us wiser, good reading!