The First Photography Book

This appealing manual for the budding young photographer offers the basics about how a lens works, how to hold the camera, using light indoors and outdoors, film, developing, enlarging, printing and such creative techniques as vignettes and photograms. Some of the more unusual techniques certain to delight the novice include printing on eggs, distorting the image to make the subject appear fatter, photographing the moon and stars, as well as special tips for ambitious beginners. Although the book is billed as ""an introduction to the creative possibilities of the camera that will delight any child,'' younger children will need an adult to read along and explain many of the techniques. The drawings and photographs, however, do illuminate many of the author's instructions and helpfully show the results of the various processes. No ages given. (February)