Basic 35mm Photo Guide: For Beginning Photographers

by Craig Alesse

Perfect for novices, photography students, and amateurs looking to brush up on the fundamentals, this accessible 35 mm photography guide starts with the very basics of holding and loading a camera before moving on to more complicated subjects such as shutter speeds, film types, lenses, light meters, exposure, automatic settings, and special effects. Explanations of key topics are given; photography jargon is defined; and photos are used to illustrate how to get the best results. Working step-by-step through the book, photographers learn how to take a great picture using a 35 mm camera of any type, whether semiautomatic or automatic. Various brands of lenses, filters, flashes, and cameras are evaluated, and photographers will discover how to choose, use, and care for each piece of equipment.

Genres: Photography, Nonfiction, Reference

112 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1989

Reviews

[Rev. Daryl W. Wilson, N.A.C.M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book and photos in it looked like it was first published in either the late 70's or the 80's.

The photos in the book really tooke back to my younger years. The info in the book is solid, albeit dated, even some of the film mentioned have long been discontinued. I don't want to be critical. The book was informational and easy to follow. I was reading this book to see if it might be appropriate for my niece who wants to take up photography using vintage film cameras and lenses, such as the Pentax ME Super and Pentax Spotmatic which I used back when I was in high school and donated to her endeavor along with a selection of excellent lenses and more. This book will be great for her as a basic intro to photography.

[Marta Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

When exploring portrait photography, particularly for those just starting with a 35mm camera as discussed in "Basic 35mm Photo Guide," mastering the use of references can significantly elevate the quality of your work. I've personally found a great resource that provides diverse and inspiring examples, which has been incredibly helpful in my journey. At https://aperty.ai/blog/references-for... there are curated images and tips that guide you in understanding different lighting, compositions, and stylistic approaches. This site has been instrumental in refining my technique and helping me think more critically about how I frame and capture my subjects. It's definitely worth checking out for practical insights and inspiration.

[Pam Glazier · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very basic overview of film photography. It shows each part of a 35mm camera and explains what they do, goes over different types of film and what they're used for, shows light meters and how to use them, goes over different types of flashes and light sources and how they affect photos, explains how to clean a camera and lenses, and gives some very basic tips for general photography success and composition. If you have no idea what you're doing, this book is for you. The explanations can get a bit tedious if you're reading straight through in one sitting, but this is an excellent overview if you read it in snippets. It will definitely be a fall-back reference for me as I work to internalize all the number juxtapositions (AKA, knowing innately where I should set the f-stop and shutter speed in relation to each other and the speed of the film I'm using). If, like me, you had no idea that the aperture is in the lens, then this book is for you. Bonus: This is a smaller book with short sections, limited text, and lots of pictures, so you feel oriented when you're reading it and it doesn't take forever to get through.

[tiff · Rating 2 out of 5]

I bought this book because I really am interested in photography as a hobby and though I'm with a digital point-and-shoot, I'd like to get a digital SLR. The book was written some time ago (I'm guessing from the pictures) and was instruction for operating a 35mm SLR camera. I just wanted to know the basics of photography in general, so I bought the book. It was, as the two stars indicated, ok. It didn't explain much about composition and technique, not much about anything really. I read it in 20 minutes. I appreciated learning about aperture, depth of field, and shutter speed but other than that, it was...ok.

[Katherine Strozier · Rating 5 out of 5]

35mm photography

Excellent introduction book on 35mm film photography during 1980s-1990s. Very simple to read and understand. I would advise buying the book if you are interested in the history of 35mm film photography.

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have a digital camera but I'm trying to make use of this book as best I can.

I asked the PC library for a book on 'nature photography' and this is what they gave me! I guess it'll do...

[Falcon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Exactly what the title promises, this was the first book I read on 35mm photography as a teen. Perfect for beginners, way too basic for those in need of advanced photography books.