Digital Photography For Dummies

by Julie Adair King

The price of digital cameras is dropping, and amateurs and professionals alike are pointing and clicking digitally. The ease of composing, editing, printing, and e-mailing these photos has also contributed to digital photography's growing popularity.

Digital Photography For Dummies, 3rd Edition, shows you how to produce great pictures by using digital technology. Explore how to take better pictures and transfer these files to your computer. This book also shows you how to adjust exposure and contrast, sharpen focus, crop images, and display your pictures after they are printed. This third edition of Julie Adair King's already-popular book also includes 16 full-color pages that clearly demonstrate the effects of the techniques described in the text. The enclosed CD-ROM provides you with . . .
* Kodak Pictures Now, an easy-to-navigate program that you can use to open and print images in a snap
* MediaCenter, an interesting hybrid of Web browser and image-editing program from PictureWorks Technology
* Trial versions of a host of other image-editing and cataloging software
* Online reference materials from the Kodak Digital Learning Center

Genres: Photography, Nonfiction, Reference, Art, Education, Computers, Ebooks

352 pages, Paperback

First published December 7, 1998

Reviews

[Becca · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a great beginner's guide to digital photography. And when I say beginner's, I really do mean beginner's! Nothing in here is presented in a way that is difficult to understand. Now I want to read this authors dummies guide for my particular camera. This book reinforced some things I already knew, but I didn't learn many practical bits that were totally new for me. I have a feeling that would be different with the guide designed for my camera.

[Shafa · Rating 4 out of 5]

این کتاب خلاصه و مفید حداقل دانش مورد نیاز جهت کار با دوربین دیجیتال را به خواننده منتقل می‌کند.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first half of the book didn’t really reach me anything more than what I had learnt from messing around with my camera and playing with the settings. But it would be very valuable for someone just starting out.

The second half was very informative with the subjects that have always tripped me up: things like aperture, iso, and shutter speeds. The use of images throughout the book provide a visual representation of the information and really help to see the difference in different settings.

Whether you’re a beginner or intermediate camera user, this guide has everything you need to know to get out there and take some great photos.

[Lora · Rating 3 out of 5]

Като цяло книгата е образователна и обяснява най-базисните понятия в дигиталната фотография. За времето си на издаване със сигурност е имала доста добавена стойност, но ако се чете през 2025 г. определено е морално остаряла, защото техниката се е развила направо революционно за това време. Във въдението на книгата се прави заявка, че тематиката ще се представи по изключително забавен начин, но изглежда аз не мога да оценя плоския американски хумор. Все пак като положителна черта отчитам, че обясненията наистина са на достатъчно достъпен език.

За българското издание определено имам забележки, като започнем от това, че никъде не пише през коя година е издадена книгата. След целенасочено търсене имам предположение, че българското издание може би е от 2014 г. В текста се срещат печатни и правописни грешки както в българските думи, така и в изписване на английски думи. Също така за превода има още какво да се желае - най-очевидният пример е изборът компактните фотоапарати да се преведат буквално като фотоапарти "насочи и щракни".

Най-значимита ми забележка към българското издание обаче е, че е черно-бяло. Този избор на издателите определено буди недоумение при условие, че оригиналното издание е цветно - даже подчертано с текст на предната корица. В българското издадение във всяка глава, четем за сравнение между две снимки, разположени една до друга, но черно-белите снимки на практика изглеждат еднакви. По този начин примерите и обясненията за разлика в снимките поради една или друга обработка стават напълно безмислени и българското издание става меко казано посредствено и осакатено.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good explanations, but what is most helpful is the numerous picture (in color!) examples when they are trying to explain a technique or what a function does. I was reading this book before getting a new camera (not pleased with my previous digital camera) and then after shopping, I was reading it hand in hand with the new camera manual so I could try to figure out where in the camera I could find the technique, and how it would help in different situations. I found the book very useful- lets hope for some better pictures!

About half of the book focuses on downloading, storing, and editing your images. This is useful to someone BRAND NEW to digital photography (probably not many these days) but nothing new there for a hobby photographer.

Overall the book achieved the purpose I was wanting- helping me to understand photography better and get a camera to take better pictures than what I had been doing.

[Pablo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm reading a lot of primers about digital photography right now as I prepare to buy my first digital camera. Most of the books have very little about how to choose a camera! Seems like kind of an oversight, yes? Ms. King explains all of the various features you will encounter in different cameras and makes recommendations about which feature you should include in your choice of camera. She actually has an opinion. It seems many of the other authors won't go out on a limb and say, "you should definitely get this option... especially if you plan on doing ....". Very helpful and I was able to spec out the camera I want based on this book alone.

I would have given 5 stars, but there wasn't much about mirrorless cameras.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent Presentation

It is very important to understand the “big picture“ of any subject before being given finer details. This book presents digital photography fundamentals in exactly this manner. Big picture explanations of all topics/techniques were followed by examples of when you might want to use them and enough detail on how to do so that it was simple to locate the subject features on my particular camera and test them out.

[Joaquin del Villar · Rating 3 out of 5]

Aunque básico, lo he encontrado bastante ameno y útil. Ideal para iniciarse en la fotografía digital, con conceptos elementales y bastante bien explicados con un estilo agradable. No esperes dominar con este libro el modo manual de fotografía, pero si conocer muchos aspectos, desde sacar fotos, imprimirlas, almacenarlas y algunas nociones (muy ligeras) sobre edición. Cumple sobradamente lo que indica su título

[Artemis · Rating 2 out of 5]

Severely outdated at this point but had some useful pages in the mix.

A book truly for the beginner in a time when basic computer literacy wasn't a thing.

If I read this when it was published it would be rated higher but as things stand - save yourself the time and get a newer book.

[Michaell Cavllaro · Rating 5 out of 5]

GET A HEADS START ON DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY

Not only did I learn alot about digital photography from reading this book, I will continue to use it as my number one reference book. Whenever I need a question answered regarding digital photography this will be my go to book!

[Gergely Kovács · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good enough introduction book. I know exactly now what my camera is capable of

[Sonya · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a decent refresher. Been around cameras for 20 years, but was never patient enough to read instructions.

[Nicole Dunton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this very informative.

[Mia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very detailed book. Helpful tips and tricks even for someone who has been a professional photographer for 4 years.

[Laurla2]

--i greatly appreciated all the pictures showing the differences of using each feature vs not using it.
--some of it was quite helpful, but a lot of it was so far over my head. so much for being a 'for dummies' book.

-sensor size matters. a smaller sensor produces lower image quality than a large sensor. check sensor dimensions under cameras spec sheet. full frame = 36x24mm. APS-C (advanced photo system type c) is smaller than full frame sensor. dimensions vary from camera to camera, 24x16 or 22x15mm. micro four thirds are smaller than aps-c. if size is listed as 1", its measured corner to corner like tvs.
-lens aperture range. aperture is an adjustable hole thru which light must pass to reach the image sensor. its stated in f-numbers, as f-stops. a higher number indicates a narrower aperture size. f/11 is smaller aperture opening than f/8. f-stop settings contribute to depth of field, or the distance over which focus appears sharp. the smaller the aperture, the greater the depth of field. f/22 will have a sharp background. f/5 will have a blurry background. the larger the aperture, the faster the lens because less time is needed to expose the image. faster can be better for action shots.
-short dept of field causes foreground and background objects to blur, long depth of field extends the range of focus over a greater distance.
-portrait mode uses shallow depth of field for a sharp object against a blurred background.
-landscape mode uses a high f-stop number to extend the zone of sharp focus over a large area.
-portrait mode also warms colors, emphasizing reds and yellows, and softens contrast for a more flattering portrait.
-landscape mode boosts cool tones, blues and greens, and increases contrast to produce the bold crisp look.
-burst mode records a continuous series of frames as long as you hold down the shutter button. how many frames per second (fps) depends on the camera. 3 fps is more than adequate for all but the speediest subjects.
-video recording specs 1080p at 3fps tells you the resolution, progressive vs interlaced (p vs i) progressive being the newer/better technology, and the frame rate. 24 fps=movies. 30=US tv. 50-60=fast action. 120=slow motion.
-memory card speed, higher number means faster performance. check camera to find which speeds it supports. a faster card than the camera supports does no good.
-shutter speed determines whether a moving object appears blurry. measured in seconds or fractions of seconds. determines how long light is allowed to strike the image sensor, which helps determine image exposure. a fast shutter speed freezes motion and a slow shutter speed blurs it. for a blurred carnival ride 1/5 second. a person walking 1/320 second. birds flapping wings or dogs bounding across a yard, 1/640 second.
-sport mode tells the camera to select the fastest shutter speed possible to catch motion. usually disables flash to be able to take faster pictures.
-nighttime mode typically uses a slow shutter speed.
-for a slow shutter speed, use a tripod to avoid camera shake.
-P for programmed autoexposure. selects f-stop and shutter speed for you.
-AV for aperture priority autoexposure. you choose aperture setting (f-stop) and the camera selects shutter speed.
-S or TV for shutter priority or exposure time value autoexposure. you choose the shutter speed (length of exposure) and the camera chooses the f-stop for you.
-M for manual autoexposure. you set both the f-stop and shutter speed, but the camera provides an exposure meter to help you gauge whether your settings are on target. not to be confused if your camera has a M for manual focusing mode vs automatic.
-jpeg files are smaller than Raw or TIFF files. but for most people jpeg is the right choice. jpeg files are compressed, select the highest quality/least compression for the best photos.
-to use Raw format a raw software converter is needed to translate the sensor data into a photograph. Raw isnt a standardized format, each manufacturer is different. most cameras no longer offer TIFF format, or save JPEG files in TIFF format. web browsers cant display raw or TIFF format.
-www.momentlens.co sells telephoto and macro ad-on lenses for smartphones
-for subjects behind glass, disable flash. try the manual focus to focus on the subject rather than the glass itself.
-when it got into things like changing the metering mode, using priority exposure modes, histiograms, expanding tonal ranges, i got lost

--things i want to look up on my cameras instructions:
-how the self timer works, i cant seem to engage it
-how to enable burst mode
-what the jpeg compression is set for on the camera
-how to change the cameras file numbering options
-single point autofocusing, how to control where that focus point is, how to move it
-automatic distortion correction, does the camera have it, or how to use it in the photo editing software.

[rey · Rating 5 out of 5]

very informative :). i’ve had my point and shoot camera for many years and it feels like a new camera to me after learning all that i can do with it.

[Aisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars for a great guide that covers a lot of breadth, but because of the page limit, not too much depth, especially since it's designed to be for a variety of photographs with different kinds of gear, although I think most of the content, particularly on which settings to use tended towards dSLRs, mirrorless, and other more advanced models, rather than just using smartphones. I also liked how because it's an update version, there was thought put into what the latest apps were and which companies offered good gear and at what price. It's easier to have a few names here rather than to wade through forums, especially at an introductory level, where you don't necessarily know where to start.

This work fulfills Current Reading Podcast's challenge prompt - "A book I can’t wait to give someone else."

[Tanja · Rating 4 out of 5]

An abundance of information is offered in this book which will be helpful next time I buy a new digital camera. So far I was reluctant to buy a camera with interchangeable lenses because I felt I just didn't know enough about photography and digital cameras. After reading this great resource I may just take the plunge next time around because I love taking all sorts of pictures from landscapes to portraits.

[Clive Blackwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not only for "dummies"

This book is mis-labeled as its potential users extends beyond "dummies" or photography novices but should include relatively experienced amateur photographers. The book provides both an easy read-through experience and serves as a useful reference work. It is written in plain English making the most obtuse, technical topics readily accessible to the reader. A recommended book for the serious amateur photographer, both "wannabe" and experienced.

[1001noisycameras · Rating 4 out of 5]

For a dummies book, it actually does a good job in touching upon the basis. Considering the audience is "dummies", not the professional or advanced photographers. Sure you can find over-generalizations and such, but it's not easy to keep things simple for the newcomers while at the same time explaining everything in depth and in detail.

[Gretchen Mattingley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was printed in 2012 which makes the information current and useful. I liked the way the instructions were written, they were clear and concise. I understood depth of field better from this books description. The how to shoot like a pro section was very useful. I would buy this book to have as a reference for shooting the scenarios talked about.

[Christina · Rating 3 out of 5]

It *is* a "For Dummies" books, so some things are very basic - for instance, an entire chapter is devoted to explaining how to transfer files from camera to computer. But the chapters about manipulating aperture, shutter speed, focus and colour were very useful.

[Allyson · Rating 3 out of 5]

TONS of detail about EVERYTHING. It would be a great reference for photo editing. Not as much on actually taking the picture.

[Carolyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

While this book lives up to its "For Dummies" name, I did learn some basics that I was fuzzy on before. I'd recommend it to anyone who has just bought their first digital camera.

[Cathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Helpful though not exactly exciting, I learned some good things

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of good information. Good book to keep handy for reference.

[Victor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good introduction for the beginners like me

[Ben Kellermann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Isn't that digital camera so cool? There must be a hundred things it will do that you haven't really figured out yet, right? For that matter, just getting the hang of all the features you DO know about may be keeping you busy. With your digital camera, you can: see immediately whether you got the shot you wanted; take dozens of photos to be sure you get what you want, and just delete the ones you don't like; edit and enhance your pictures on your computer; and, e mail images to friends, post them on the Web, make prints, or create photo gifts. The more you know about your digital camera and about digital photography, the more you'll enjoy taking pictures and the better your pictures will be. Of course, the best way to see examples of good photographic techniques is in full color, and "Digital Photography For Dummies, 5th Edition" gives you exactly that plenty of beautiful, colorful photos that show you what you can accomplish and start the ideas popping. With a digital camera, a computer, and some photo editing software, you can explore unlimited creative opportunities. You don't have to be a computer whiz or a professional photographer, either. "Digital Photography For Dummies, 5th Edition" helps you get the hang of: choosing the right camera, software, and accessories for what you want to do; editing your images with Adobe Photoshop Elements 3.0; using your camera's settings, composing great pictures, managing exposure and lighting, and working with automatic modes; getting your images out of the camera and onto your computer, organizing them, and sharing them online or in print; and, doing cool things with your pictures, like sharpening focus, covering flaws, adding people from other photos, and jazzing up your images with special effects. Written by Julie Adair King, a photographer who has penned several other books on the subject, colorful "Digital Photography For Dummies, 5th Edition" can help you take better digital photos, do more with them, and have a lot more fun with your camera. You'll get the picture!

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