Complete Photography Course

Joseph and Saunders ( Advertising Photography ) are well-equipped to assay the ``complete'' teaching of photography: between them, they've covered almost every conceivable photographic assignment. This large but succinct instructional book explains the niceties of equipment (lenses, lighting, film, cameras), surveys practical techniques for varied sorts of subjects (from pets to food to weddings), and does not neglect the business of photography for those with professional ambitions (if the quarry is a celebrity, they caution, ``Personalities can be impatient and self-conscious''). Also included: tips on how to rig a darkroom. While none of the treatments are extensive, the book is a good place to go for quick reference with initial questions: When are long exposures appropriate? What opportunities demand a fish-eye lens? Or--more glamorously--how to choose the proper setting for a shot of a Dior cravat? Every topic is, of course, illustrated with sample photos; a checklist accompanies each. (Jan.)