Illustrated A to Z of Digital Photography

Its relatively large format (9.25 x 10.5) and crisp reproductions distinguish this guide, which was written by two editors from What Digital Camera, a British webzine that aims to help consumers choose the right camera for them. In this book, however, the focus definitely is on the photos themselves. From ""Action,"" ""Animals"" and ""Aperture"" to ""White-Balance,"" ""Wide-Angle"" and ""Zoom Lenses,"" Atherton and Crabb offer large examples illustrating effects, then deconstruct each one step-by-step, analyzing one topic per page. Their language is straightforward, and you won't find a lot of numbers in the text. Common problems like ""Red Eye"" are treated with respect, as is the primary problem of what to shoot in the first place (""People and Groups,"" ""Nudes,"" ""Patterns,"" ""Winter,"" etc.). Lighting, focus and even uploading to the Internet also receive treatment, and a large variety of formats and tools are considered, making this a concise guide to the basics and beyond.