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Bryan Peterson's Understanding Photography Field Guide: How to Shoot Great Photographs with Any Camera
Everything you need to know in one take-anywhere field guide!
This all-in-one guide from renowned photographer, instructor, and author Bryan Peterson will help you take better photos anytime, anywhere–with any camera.
Want to finally understand exposure? Interested in learning to "see" and composing your images more creatively? Ready to master the magic of light? It’s all here, the techniques every amateur photographer needs to take better nature, landscape, people, and close-up photos. You’ll even get creative techniques, like making "rain" and capturing "ghosts," and practical advice on gear, equipment, and postprocessing software. Filled with Bryan’s inspirational photographs, this is the one essential guide for every camera bag.
This all-in-one guide from renowned photographer, instructor, and author Bryan Peterson will help you take better photos anytime, anywhere–with any camera.
Want to finally understand exposure? Interested in learning to "see" and composing your images more creatively? Ready to master the magic of light? It’s all here, the techniques every amateur photographer needs to take better nature, landscape, people, and close-up photos. You’ll even get creative techniques, like making "rain" and capturing "ghosts," and practical advice on gear, equipment, and postprocessing software. Filled with Bryan’s inspirational photographs, this is the one essential guide for every camera bag.
400 pages, Paperback
First published August 18, 2009
78 people are currently reading
410 people want to read
About the author
Bryan Peterson
77 books129 followersBryan F. Peterson has been a full-time commercial photographer since 1981, shooting assignments all over the world for many of the Fortune 500 companies, including Kodak, UPS, and American Expiress. He is also a contract stock photographer for Corbis and Getty. He has been a contributing editor at Outdoor Photographer Magazine and is currently a contributing editor at Popular Photography and Imaging Magazine. Within the photographic community, he is most noted as the author/photographer of four best selling “how-to” photography books, Understanding Exposure, Understanding Shutter Speed, Learning to See Creatively and Beyond Portraits, with two new books due out in the spring of 2009, Understanding Close-up Photography and The Field Guide to Photography. He is also the founder and one of the instructors at the world’s number one on-line photography school, www.ppsop.net.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
February 5, 2012
I've been into photography on and off for many years. I've had all the usual how-to manuals, by all the usual photographers, across those years. All rather dull, technically turgid and thoroughly counterproductive. Then, by chance, I noticed a Bryan Peterson book on the returns trolley in my local library - not this book but a section of it, understanding exposure. I borrowed it and then immediately ordered this field manual. Here's a review I prepared earlier;
This is a compact handbook written for the improving amateur photographer who wants to use the manual setting on their camera, and understand better control of the photo making process.
The things that appeal to me about this book are;
its size. It's compact enough for travelling with but not too small for showing off images. I have a few manuals already, and have read a few more, but they've all been a larger format. This one is much more practical for carrying around, with my camera, taking on holiday, in a backpack or hand luggage, and also, I imagine, being easier to read while in transit.
the photos. Despite the size, the images don't seem to suffer much comprise. Mostly they are well-chosen examples illustrating each point covered. Many, in my view, are outstanding and inspirational.
the writing style. Different but, after I settled into it, I find his words engaging and very readable. I first came across one of the his books by chance in the library; Understanding Exposure. Having used a camera for several years, and feeling I'd become uninspired, and fed-up with photoshopping - a better understanding of exposure seemed to be what was needed. I'd not heard of Bryan Peterson before so reading his words for the first time was a bit of a culture shock, he doesn't write like any other photographer-author I'd read. It's a very informal style, almost conversational. It didn't sound like the dry, often boring, report-like statements I'd found in every other camera book I'd read. He cuts out the dreary science-speak and gives you what you really wanted to know - simply, what to do and why. In addition to the explanations, there are occasionally suggested ''exercises'' to help with understanding and/or to help with inspiration.
understanding exposure: much of what was covered in his other book, Understanding Exposure, is included in this Field Guide.
So, if you're an amateur photographer with a ''manual'' setting on your camera, and you want to get to grips with understanding how photography works, and to improve your technique, without feeling you're embarking on an uphill degree in physics, I recommend this book.
This is a compact handbook written for the improving amateur photographer who wants to use the manual setting on their camera, and understand better control of the photo making process.
The things that appeal to me about this book are;
its size. It's compact enough for travelling with but not too small for showing off images. I have a few manuals already, and have read a few more, but they've all been a larger format. This one is much more practical for carrying around, with my camera, taking on holiday, in a backpack or hand luggage, and also, I imagine, being easier to read while in transit.
the photos. Despite the size, the images don't seem to suffer much comprise. Mostly they are well-chosen examples illustrating each point covered. Many, in my view, are outstanding and inspirational.
the writing style. Different but, after I settled into it, I find his words engaging and very readable. I first came across one of the his books by chance in the library; Understanding Exposure. Having used a camera for several years, and feeling I'd become uninspired, and fed-up with photoshopping - a better understanding of exposure seemed to be what was needed. I'd not heard of Bryan Peterson before so reading his words for the first time was a bit of a culture shock, he doesn't write like any other photographer-author I'd read. It's a very informal style, almost conversational. It didn't sound like the dry, often boring, report-like statements I'd found in every other camera book I'd read. He cuts out the dreary science-speak and gives you what you really wanted to know - simply, what to do and why. In addition to the explanations, there are occasionally suggested ''exercises'' to help with understanding and/or to help with inspiration.
understanding exposure: much of what was covered in his other book, Understanding Exposure, is included in this Field Guide.
So, if you're an amateur photographer with a ''manual'' setting on your camera, and you want to get to grips with understanding how photography works, and to improve your technique, without feeling you're embarking on an uphill degree in physics, I recommend this book.
May 2, 2019
An excellent guide to frame your shots, troubleshoot your setup and even come up with new methods and practices.
A good read for the budding photographer.
A good read for the budding photographer.
May 15, 2022
An excellent book on technique, even if I learned books aren't my preferred method of learning photography.
November 16, 2012
I found this guy while searching youtube for photography tutorials.
I found the book gave a really solid explanation, with plenty of before and after photos to show the difference in techniques. The end of the book became too deep for me, but I will go and reread that part in a few months.
I found the book gave a really solid explanation, with plenty of before and after photos to show the difference in techniques. The end of the book became too deep for me, but I will go and reread that part in a few months.
December 29, 2010
Must have book! Very practical and suitable for those who learn photography.
February 20, 2023
A great guide for beginners and the more advanced. Written in a very accessible way, often with a bit of humour. If only the chapter on light measurement had been a bit earlier in the book, some of the remaining chapters would’ve been easier to understand.
November 29, 2023
I really liked the explanations in the book of different techniques and when to use them. I've seen other books that explain the techniques, but skip over the why (or I wasn't being receptive when it was covered).
December 23, 2017
This is the best photography book that I have read to date.
Highly recommended!
Highly recommended!
May 10, 2021
Me ha quitado el miedo a la técnica. Va a un ritmo tan relajado que hasta yo, principiantísima, le he podido seguir.
August 21, 2020
Loses a bit of its luster on a second read through. It's a perfect beginner's book. Bryan Peterson is charming and keeps things simple for the reader. I may bump it back up to five stars on a third read through.
But it's a little simpler than I remember. There are only so many analogies about worker bees and carpenters he can make about ISO before I truly wonder: what does that even mean? The book is more about seeing the world through a lens the way he does than about understanding photography. His vision is a great beginning point, but it comes across a little fluffy as I increase my understanding of cameras and photography.
Still a solid four-star book, though.
But it's a little simpler than I remember. There are only so many analogies about worker bees and carpenters he can make about ISO before I truly wonder: what does that even mean? The book is more about seeing the world through a lens the way he does than about understanding photography. His vision is a great beginning point, but it comes across a little fluffy as I increase my understanding of cameras and photography.
Still a solid four-star book, though.
June 13, 2010
I recently started learning more about photography and this book was a great starting point. Very helpful explanations of the basics of aperture, shutter speed, ISO, and composing "creatively correct" exposures. I suspect even advanced amateurs and pros will find a few helpful nuggets in this "field guide." It's full of beautiful photos demonstrating the principles covered, and portable enough to keep in my camera bag and reference as needed. Loved it!
February 7, 2015
A friend of mine loaned me this book because I've been having trouble in a photography course, and it has helped me understand some things better for sure. The book is an easy read and the author uses a lot of great analogies to explain things. Not to mention there are so many fabulous pictures from the author's own collection, which he uses as examples to explain each aspect of photography that he's talking about. It's definitely a great book for beginners.
February 27, 2010
I love photography, I've always loved seeing the beauty of God's creations and capturing it on film. I haven't had a camera for ages and am going to be buying one soon, so I figured I would buff up on my photography know how. I loved this book. I wish I had read this years ago, when I was first interested in photography. This book is a basic what's what about photography. Good read
November 18, 2010
I recently purchased my first DSLR so I have been looking for books that will help me gain a better understanding of photography and how to get the most out of my camera. This book fits the bill perfectly. The book is easy to understand and the photos throughout are beautiful. Check out his other books for more in-depth information on specific subjects/techniques.
Read
January 13, 2011Since I teach an Intro Photo class, I'm in the process of reading many photo guides in order to give recommendations to my students. So far this one has some nice studies and tips.
I would highly recommend this book for beginning to intermediate photographers who are interested in understanding more and learning more techniques.
I would highly recommend this book for beginning to intermediate photographers who are interested in understanding more and learning more techniques.
July 29, 2012
Very basic if you've been doing photography for a long time. I picked up some tips, but mostly it was the same-old-same-old.
I do appreciate his explanation of the principles of design, however, since he goes into them more systematically than most photographers (almost as if he's ACTUALLY studied design, again unlike most photography writers!) All in all, a great book for a beginner.
I do appreciate his explanation of the principles of design, however, since he goes into them more systematically than most photographers (almost as if he's ACTUALLY studied design, again unlike most photography writers!) All in all, a great book for a beginner.
December 7, 2016
Moja najobľúbenejšia kniha o fotografovaní. Sručne a inšpiratívne hovorí o všetkých aspektoch amatérskej fotografie. Niekedy ma prepadne kríza - niečo robím zle/prečo táto fotka vyzerá takto...po prečítaní tejto knihy potom vždy schytím foťak, utekám von a radujem sa z toho, že ten istý strom sa dá odfotiť na 1000 spôsobov.
December 24, 2009
This is an excellent beginner-intermediate book for amateur photographers. Peterson does a great job explaining fundamentals while delving into more advanced techniques. The book is full of great examples that are apparently derived from several of his other books.
Read
July 27, 2011Awesome book .. must have for budding photographers .... The way the author explains the concepts is commendable .. I have read a few other photography books .. but they were kind of vague ... but not this one ...
June 30, 2011
Excellent field guide if you are an amateur photographer and want to learn to take photos more like the pros. This is one I am going to purchase.
June 2, 2012
I love this book, I constantly refer to it.. written in plain language that makes everything easy to understand
July 21, 2012
Excelente guía y ayuda!!!
Want to read
December 10, 2014ginny sheller/small things
March 1, 2015
Some is redundant from Understanding Exposure, but a good overall tutorial.
June 6, 2015
This book was not what I am looking for at this time. More about composition
July 6, 2015
I would recommend to buy Understanding Exposure. I have both and find this was not necessary to buy..
For any query mail at manish.ray03@gmail.com / write at https://www.facebook.com/raysclicks
For any query mail at manish.ray03@gmail.com / write at https://www.facebook.com/raysclicks
March 18, 2010
LOVED this book. Taking "Understanding Exposure" to the next level. Absolutely great.
September 11, 2014
The illustrated photos are amazing. However, it's too technical for me to understand.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews