O’Reilly Media releases ‘Practical Artistry: Light & Exposure for Digital Photographers’
Posted by Dave Merten 
Apr 8, 2008 at 11:26am
Harold Davis, the widely-admired pro photographer and author of Photoblog 2.0, breaks new ground with Practical Artistry: Light & Exposure for Digital Photographers—which blends the author’s stunning images in a beautifully designed book with no-nonsense insights and pragmatic guidance to help digital photographers explore their world and take great photos.
By demystifying what makes up exposure—aperture, shutter speed, and sensitivity (ISO)—Harold aims to show photographers how to measure light in order to capture their intended images. “It turns out that one of the most effective tools for measuring light is the human eye. It’s likely that eventually you may do a better job than your camera,” explains Harold, who lives in the San Francisco Bay Area. Along with his new book from O’Reilly, Harold is also the author of “The Photographer’s Guide to Yosemite & the High Sierra” and “100 Views of the Golden Gate.”
Indeed, this timely new book treats the techniques of conventional photography and the tools of the digital artist holistically; they are both integral to the best practices of modern digital photography.
“As a photographer, I’ve always learned by looking at photographs, particularly when the data about how the photo was made accompanies the image. So I created a book that allows people to learn about photography and to think about how to make photographs by simply looking at photos taken in specific conditions.”
“The photographs that are used to illustrate this book range from macro images of tiny water worlds to the vast circle of stars in the sky. And many of the photos in my book involve adventures in the physical world. For example, I spent the night on top of Half Dome in Yosemite to photograph star trails (shown on page 142). The next morning I hiked down the Half Dome ladder (shown on page 133) to illustrate front light,” says Harold. “In Light & Exposure the stories of how the photos were made are integrated with the technical information to help readers understand how the photos were created.”
Topics covered include:
• Evaluating light and choosing the best exposure
• Working with aperture and depth of field
• Selecting shutter speed
• Using ISO, noise, and light sensitivity to your advantage
• Shooting in available and artificial light
• Understanding the true potential of the digital darkroom
• Starting with the best exposure in your camera, rather than relying on post-processing fixes
This is among the most beautifully illustrated and designed books ever published by O’Reilly. Each of Harold’s wonderful photos highlights the information-rich text—from nighttime photos of the Golden Gate Bridge to a Canada goose caught in the act of flight. Applying the techniques of traditional photography to digital photography, Harold shows beginners, prosumers, and professional photographers how to discover creative ways to explore the world. Readers of all levels are sure to find inspiration in Light & Exposure.
MacOSG members get a 35% discount off all O’reilly Media books. To get your discount code, just go here. Also, listen to the MacOSG Podcast, and if your member name is drawn, you can receive this book free! (see official rules) If you’re not a member yet, you can join here.
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Dave Merten
Dave was one of the founding guides at ‘The Mining Company,’ now known as About.com, in February 1998. Dave was their ‘Focus on Mac Support’ guide. In 2004 he started ‘G5 Owners Support Group,’ and in 2005, renamed it ‘Mac Owners Support Group.’ In 2006, he started the ‘MacOSG Support Corner’ column here at Macsimum News.
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