Rummaging through a rattle-bag
|
The intent of this book is to provide hints and tips for a range of different techniques to be used to generate creative photos. As the title suggests, the techniques are arranged in alphabetical order, so starting from 'Abstract Art' and going through to 'Zooming'. This makes for a slightly disconcerting read if you go through it from front to back, each chapter can be a surprise and have nothing to do with the one before, but it is obviously written as a reference to be dipped into.
The book was written in 1998 and is focussed entirely on film cameras and the wet darkroom. I found this a little surprising but I guess much has changed in 10 years. Most of the in-camera techniques are still relevant to the digital user however, and the darkroom techniques can be of interest if only to work out how you might accomplish the same thing in Photoshop.
The author has an engaging style and is obviously familiar with all the techniques described. A good range of photos are included and full descriptions of the approach taken is given on each one.
The book is targeted at beginners and would work well for that level of user, though they will need to be comfortable with basic camera controls such as changing aperture for creative depth of field, for example. I came to the book as a reasonably experienced user (beginner/intermediate) looking to generally shake up their approach to taking photos, to get away from the rather conventional. I ended up with about half a dozen techniques I would like to try, quite a number that were rather obvious and I already knew, and a fair number that were not really relevant to my digital way of working.
So an enjoyable book, an interesting insight into the past but ultimately limited for today's digital user.
|
|
Great ideas
|
|
This is a great book and has given me a lot of inspiration for my photography. Lee Frost explains the techniques in a simple, clear-cut manner, making it very easy to follow them and apply them to your own work. The techniques are also explained usually in no more than 2 or 3 pages and so you can get ideas very quickly and the reading is not at all intense. All the techniques are listed at the front of the book in alphabetical order, and so you can find what you're looking for quickly. He also has put in a lot of examples to illustrate the techniques, mainly of his own work, which is a nice touch and gives you a good idea as to the kind of thing which can be expected from using the techniques. Another good thing about his book is that it offers great ideas for which you don't need loads of expensive equipment to achieve, so it is perfect for those who are on a tight budget or who are not that serious about photography. The ideas given could probably be useful to pretty much any photographer, beginner to professional, or even for those people who are simply looking to improve snaps of their family and friends.
|
|
|
Inspiration in a flash
|
In a market flooded with Photographic books Lee Frost seems to have carved himself a fairly sizable niche. This book plays heavily to his strengths, as in many cases he is condensing techniques and effect which he has dealth with at greater length in other books.
The organisation of the book is great with 70 different techniques one per chaper, although a chapter averages between 2 and 4 pages.
each tip starts with a discussion of equipment needed then runs through the technique with each being illustrated using various example shots, Mr frosts habit of refering to himself in third person as "the photographer" can be somewhat amusing given the rest of the persoanl information.
each tip concludes with a bulleted list of tips and advice regarding the technique.
Lots of inspiration to be had here, and Lee Frosts experince shines through he explains his subjects very well, which makes this a great book for the intermediate or beginning photographer.
There are a few tchniques here which are very much of the pre photoshop days, but obviously still useful.
some of the more useful techniques include colour infrared, floodlit buildings, line-out, mirror lenses, neon signs, stormy weather and waterfalls, as can be seen each deals with a specific situation and how best to tackle it with confidence.
For bite sized chunks of photographic inspiraion and advice from a well versed teacher look no further.
|
|
|
wow, bought it and love it
|
|
I am just learning and have looked at many other books. The book explains the "how to" better than I could have imagined. He uses simple techniques and equiptment that makes it easy for a beginner to use. I have learned so much from this book and it is so fun to use and look at often. My photo's look professional. I suprised myself.
|
|
Great book
|
|
The organization of this book is "show one picture, and tell how it was made". This is a really good cookbook for the beginners, helped me a lot, but sometimes it is brief a little bit. Some techniques could be explained in more depth, but the 2-3 pages are enough to give ideas. It is a real good "My frist book about photography", but if you want to dig deaper into some specific techniques, you should consider to buy those specific books too.
|
|
|
United States | 
United Kingdom | 
Canada