Professional Digital Photography: Techniques for lighting, Shooting, and Image Editing

Rating:
Summary: Excellent book for film photographers converting to digital
Review: I am a professional photographer/ retoucher who has helped the high volume commercial product studio where I work go digital, and I highly reccomend this book for professional photographers making the transition to digital.
I think the previous reviewer who was unhappy with this book really needed a book simply about professional lighting for photography-- You can use all the same types of studio lighting (strobes, hot lights, etc...) with digital that you can with conventional photography. This book also provides wonderful alternatives for conventional photo lighting techniques that cannot be reproduced digitally, such as light painting (pack up the hosemaster).

For imaging professionals like the previous reviewer who are interested in learning how to light professionally, I reccomend The Photographer's Guide to Using Light by Ted Schwartz. For veteran pro-photographers lost in the digital world (and I know you're out there) this book is a godsend--read & memorize every word.

Rating:
Summary: unique...a nice addition but not a comprehensive reference.
Review: Like many Amherst books, this doesn't boast the best printing - the production and binding seems more like what you'd expect in the 1980s. The writing is not as lean and well organized as it could be. Expect something more like a narrative/essay than a start-to-finish how-to book. The book does not so much focus on using a digital camera as it does on shaping the image itself, mostly via Photoshop. It addresses some worthwhile topics that I have not so far seen covered elsewhere. If I were limited to only one book on digital photography, I would pick something different and much more comprehensive. The book does have some good points to make though.

Rating:
Summary: A great book on lighting for digital photography
Review: Some books are so good that, after reading them, you want to share the experience with others. That's exactly what happened with Professional Digital Photography -- hence this review.

I think I need to qualify my review. I am an amateur with experience in film and digital. I got interested in digital because powerful tools are more affordable than their film counterparts. For example, I don't need tons of filters, hugely expensive light kits or my own color lab; Photoshop and a good photo printer go a long way for a fraction of the price.

With this in mind, I am frustrated by recent titles on digital photography. Half of the books out there are essentially dictionaries. What's a CCD, what's a pixel, what's a computer? Yeah right.

The other half are "me too" books on Photoshop tips and tricks. How to use adjustment layers, how to use the stamp or the corrector tool, and more. Useful but how many copycats do we need?

Professional digital photography dare to be different. It focus on one specific topic: lighting for digital photography (including color correction and creative lighting) and it offers tons of information on the topic.

The author share his (and his brother) experience on the subject. The book includes both a solid theoretical background and lots of practical (how-to) information. It discusses in great details those techniques that are unique to the digital process, showing you how to get more from the tools you already know.

I feel like I'm on the other side of the mirror and have just stumble upon a fascinating new world. Dave Montizambert is a great guide in this journey.

A word of warning though: as the other reviewer noted, this is not an book for beginners. Nor is it complete. If you are total novice to lighting, get yourself a reference in addition to this book (I recommend the "Lighting for..." series from Rotovision). But if you're past novice and you would like to get progress, make sure you get your own copy. You won't regret it.

Rating:
Summary: Not a book about professional digital photography
Review: This is not a technical resource for professionals. I am a digital imaging specialist that has spent thousands of hours using Photoshop to retouch, color correct and manipulate images in Photoshop.

I was very disappointed by this book, as I was hoping that it would teach me about which lights to use with digital cameras and how to use them to achieve pleasing effects.

Although a few lights were listed in the photo captions, they were not discussed adequately.

The book was written in a very readable style (I read it in less than 2 hours), but is too short (102 p + appendixes). Largely it is a book about Photoshop: basic color correction and sharpening of images, adding noise, and using masks to combine images on different layers.

There is nothing wrong with the material presented, it just isn't about "professional digital photography." This is a nice book for hobbyists who want to know a little more about Photoshop.