Book Review --Capturing the Light by Peter Watson

Ooh, this is a lovely landscape photography book. The author/photographer critiques his own landscape photography. Each two paged spread includes a half page of personal narrative about the photograph, where it was taken, what he was hoping for. A thumbnail of the photo is included, with detailed info such as filters, and his likes/dislikes about the scenery. The facing page shows the photograph full sized.

I liked the personal side to his writing. I enjoyed following the author on his travels, as most of his photos were from the British Isles, Maine and Australia. I appreciated the simplicity of his instructions; he makes me believe I could take photos like this. And ever since I began reading it, I've been scoping out vantage points for snapping shots--in my spare time (haha).

If you have a thing for landscape photography, I recommend this book.

Book Review - Don't Take My Picture! by Craig Alesse

This title was recommended on a popular hs message board. You'd think I'd know by now to at least read the reviews before spending any time reading the book. If I'd have done so, I would have known that this is a very basic book for beginners. Holly learned more in her photography class last semester.

The edition I have is from 1998. Since the new edition has the same cover, I'd guess that it has the same dated black and white photos inside. I don't remember 1998 being that long ago, the people look like they're from the '80s!

If you need introductory explanations on how to frame a picture, how to use light to your advantage, how to eliminate background clutter, you might get something out of this book. But I think all of my blogging friends have mastered the basics. :)

Book Reviews -- kind of

Through Holly's photography class, she took advantage of the opportunity to buy Adobe Photoshop Elements photo editing software. (You can guess who paid for it.) It's the original version, which is why we got such a deal on it.

I love playing with my pictures. I have the uncontrollable urge to do at least something, anything, to the photos I take. For awhile, it was sharpen, warmify, and glow. More recently, it's been crop, saturate and fiddle with tuning buttons. Must. Change. Every. Photo. The only pictures I don't touch are my Pikes Peak pics from my house. But it's soooo tempting! Just think of what they could look like then. Why did I make that promise to Cindy way back in the beginning?

But I'm rather a computer idiot, and I don't like trying new things. Remember that I had a new camera for a year, and I never opened the box. Robert finally gave up--but just on that camera. He bought me another new one. I'm sure he thought there was something about the earlier new camera that I didn't like. He's right. It was new, and I liked my old one.

But I suffered with the newest camera, sacrificing all for my dh's sake, and managed to use the newest camera. On the first day even. That was 5 months and 2016 pictures ago. Really.

So I have this "new" (old) Photoshop software. I don't know why it really intimidates me. It's still in the plastic wrap. In my quest to overcome my now-phobia, I checked out two books from the library, Scott Kelby's Photoshop Elements 3 and Deke McClelland's Photoshop Elements 2 for Dummies. (Yes, my software is #1, and the books are #2 and #3.)

I skimmed/read through the books. They were very interesting. The software seems great! I read about levels, memory, palettes, dusting, clones, filters, and dithering, and my head begins to slowly spin. I can't bring myself to APPLY what I'm reading. I feel nowhere near competent enough to slip the CD into my computer. I've tried encouraging Holly, even telling her, Wow, we can do this together one afternoon! She's not fooled that easily.

So the books are going back to the library. The software remains in the package. For now. I'm too dumb for the Dummies book. I am pathetic.

Book Review - The Digital Photography Book by Scott Kelby

This is a terrific "little" book, and as I've waitlisted for two months at the library to read it, I'm not the only one who thinks so. At first glance, it's unassuming, a rather small paperback. The pages are heavyweight, glossy. While the book contains eleven chapters, each page neatly covers one topic within the subject, and half the page is taken up a terrific photograph furthering the subject. The text is brief, entertaining, and easy to read.

The book cover promotes, "Great for point-and-shoot digital camera owners, too!" I didn't find this to be true. I have an okay camera, but this book is written more for those who can make fancy adjustments, use various lenses, etc. I'd like to get such a camera down the road (although the last book I read almost has me questioning my learning curve), and at that point, I'd probably buy a copy for myself. Even though it doesn't benefit me or my camera right now, I'm still glad I was able to read it.

Fun stuff. Recommended.