Read This If You Want to Take Great Photographs

This is one of those books that I'm glad that I purchased with my last few dollars. As a freelance photographer, I learned so much about me and my work from reading this book. Don't miss out on this if you are a photographer.

Loved everything about this book, great read, it's like taking a short course. I love photography and am still a beginner with SLR. This book pushes me to think deeper into what I want to communicate through pictures. Get it!

This book was recommended by a friend, and I'd recommend it as well. I'm an amateur photographer and found this extremely helpful especially in the language which is very clear and not too technical. As I'm very fond of portrait photography I think I'll get that one too.

I've searched for years for a book I could use to help my friends take their first steps in photography. It has just the right amount of information to help new photographers understand what all those controls on their new DSLR do without swamping them with too much information.

I recommend reading a few pages and then going out and experimenting with what you have learned. Then read a few more pages and experiment, and so on. Your photography will improve painlessly.

Pros and advanced amateurs: this might be too simple for you.

Beginners who want to explore what your camera can do to help you express yourself photographically: this is for you.

book was in great condition and came very quickly! The book itself is a refresher for when you feel like your losing your creative streak in photography and also breaks things down for people who are just getting started in photography.

I love the concepts and perspectives presented in this book. Many have resonated with me and my camera and had gotten me excited to try some new things.

There were several points where I felt the book was making references to features on specific types of cameras which kind of confused me at first but then I disregarded it as irrelevant material.

Other than that, the theory and tips presented from other photographers, I found intriguing. The author does a swell job at relating works of famous photographers with theory and perspective. Not only that,but the perspectives of many approached to show multiple ways of approaching a situation.

Simple and very easy to follow for someone who wants to learn DSLR camera's. This book could easily be called "DSLR for Dummies". Henry Carroll breaks down complicated photography concepts for you to easily understand, practice, and replicate. I truly am taking better photographs after reading this book and find myself going back and referencing this book from time-to-time. A must have for DSLR beginners.

Great book. It uses understandable terms and is very well-organized. As a result of reading this, I understand some things about the settings on my camera and how to use them effectively. Very good explanation of how to use shutter and lens settings that I could never get my head fully around. I recommend this to anyone who enjoys taking SLR pictures and hasn't ever taken a class. Read it, highlight it, practice a bit, and pretty soon, you are pulling off some pictures that you only stumbled upon in the past.

If you (like me) are trying to get into photography, and are confused by all the photographer mumbo jumbo you find on the internet about manual mode, aperture, etc., get this book. Henry Carrol explains the fundamentals of Photography in a very easy to understand way, gives you great examples, and uses explanatory diagrams to help you through it. A must buy for the amateur photographer.

There are a lot of reviews of this book already. I'm going to be honest - it's super remedial. But that's the point. This is supposed to help the person that just picked up a camera with more than two buttons for the first time and want to stop taking all those phone pics that look like they were taken with a potato. the pictures are straight forward and the descriptions concise.

Our book already showed itself usefully during Christmas photos and is developing creases in the cover and has some dog eared pages.

Very basic stuff here. If you've read any other photography books or have been shooting for a year or so, there may be nothing (or very little) new. Still, it is a well done guide for new shooters I suppose.

After several years I have photographer experience and I must say while the book is basic- it is absolutely probably the best book I have seen in explaining such basics with excellent examples and giving and stressing the always important advice to get out and shoot.

I have bought two copies to give as gifts to people interested in photography. Highly recommended for anyone interested in photography at a beginner level. You will level up.

The photos in the book were great, and taken by very good photographers. But with gems like "Just set White Balance on Auto" and "Its a bit technical if you read about it online" will not help aspiring photographers.

I gave it two stars because I like the design of the front cover

This is a great book for beginner to intermediate photographers. It uses great and almost legendary photos to show you the various techniques for photography. It is clear and concise which allows you to understand the topics a lot better.

This was one of three books I read as a gift for my granddaughter a new and very enthusiastic photographer. A quick review by me says it should be a help to the beginner. An easy read and explained well. Well worth it for the beginner.

I got this book for my boyfriends birthday, he is just beginning photography. This is such a good book that really explains everything you need to know about taking pictures in lamens terms. I love the voice its written in and learned a few things myself. The cover is so cool, and beautiful too! All around great find, price, and delivery.

This book is full of useful information, in a quick easy to read format. the store really needs to find a way to get this book in stock, it's annoying that marketplace sellers can stock it, but they can't?

Very easy to read and very well explained. The good thing is that there are not a lot of complicated terminology, just a nice little talk about some techniques and some advice on how to take good pictures.

A solid half of the information in this book is WRONG. I was so excited to get this book because I LOVE anything that has to do with photography. But after reading through this book, I've realized that this guy isn't even teaching people how to have full control of their cameras. But to take shortcuts that usually don't even work out for the photographer! Don't waste your money on this book.

This book is for rank beginners, and it does a nice job explaining the basic technical aspects of photography. However, I feel like it could have been much, much stronger in the inspiration department. It does not delve into the iconic images it uses as examples, and rather than motivational they are very shallow vignettes that feel hollow.

I read the Kindle version, so maybe the printed book is much more impactful.

Well designed book cover and a great addition to any coffee table. The content in the book is informative, but not easy to follow unless you are already familiar with photography as a hobby or profession.

This book should win an award. I learned a tremendous amount. I read the material that came the with camera and bought other books and still couldn't get the concept. I now understand the basic concepts and have enough to confidence to start.

Dr. Martin V. Gallatin

As both a parent and published pro photographer, I secretly harbor a desire that my kids will one day grow to love photography as much as I do (I may be holding my breath for a long time on this one).

Sure, I’ve taken them on photo-specific excursions hoping to light a fire – and have attempted on numerous occasions to pass on my knowledge and insights. But I might as well be speaking to a brick wall. If you have kids, you probably know what I’m talking about. Try and explain the basic foundation of exposure (the triad of shutter, aperture and ISO) to them for example, and they’ll think you’re speaking Mandarin.

All joking aside, kids always think that they’re experts in every subject – and the last people they want advice from are their parents, regardless of our level of expertise. Often, the best learning comes from outside sources – and many kids are turning to friends, social media (like Instagram or YouTube) to gain much-needed knowledge. That’s not to say that today’s kids can’t learn something from a book that doesn’t have to do with school – as many do enjoy reading.

You could try getting them to read a tried and true photography book like Bryan Peterson’s, “Understanding Exposure” – but truth be told, teenagers really don’t have the patience. It’s a great book for people starting out, but it’s way too technical for today’s kids with short attention spans. Today’s youth are more likely to pick up a copy of “Hunger Games” than any book on photography.

So yesterday I was with my 14-year-old daughter in one of those ultra-hip clothing stores, and saw an intriguing book on the shelf. Like any good father who is utterly obsessed about photography, I purchased it.

It took me about an hour or so to read it from front to back, but I was pretty impressed with the content and format. I’m one of those people that believe that learning never stops – and even well-read individuals can be reminded about the fundamentals every now and then.

I loved the fact that the author comes right out and tells you that the book is not about technical – it has no graphs, no techie diagrams and no camera club jargon. Instead, it’s packed with easy-to-comprehend tips and insights – along with some pretty iconic images (from photographers like Bresson and Salgado) to demonstrate the author’s various points. It is also written in a playful manner and laid out in a minimalistic polished fashion, with almost an Apple aesthetic to it.

The book is split into five short sections, covering composition, exposure, light, lenses and seeing. Concepts like leading lines and rule of thirds are covered, as are often misunderstood topics like depth of field or light quality. But they are explained in a surprisingly simple manner that anyone can understand.

Sure, the book only skims the surface – and maybe the author could have elaborated a bit more on why some of the featured iconic images really work. But he gets his point across in a way that any teenager can understand and appreciate (without being boring). It wasn’t meant to be an in-depth exploration of photography, just a primer that will hopefully plant the seed for future learning. And undoubtedly, your kids will become better photographers from having read this book.

Today’s youth may not be equipped with expensive DSLRs or serious mirrorless cameras (as often their weapon of choice is the iPhone, Android or Polaroid /Fuji Instax Mini), but that doesn’t mean that they don’t have some interest in photography (even if they're taking pictures of their last restaurant meal or their new fingernail polish color, lol).

If you’re looking for a good book that will appeal to your kids yet is chock full of sound photographic advice, this is an excellent choice.

Frankly, this is a fantastic choice for anyone getting started in photography regardless of age, as it really covers the basics in an easy to absorb and fun fashion. I'm always amused by people who downgrade photography book reviews simply because the book doesn't cover every conceivable topic known to man, or it doesn't go deep enough. This book was not meant to accomplish those goals. If you want a boring technical manual - look elsewhere.

It will never replace a book like “Understanding Exposure” – but sometimes you’ve got to take baby steps. Highly recommended!

Great starter book for anyone who wants to learn HOW to take greater photos. I am a professional industrial photographer and have also photographed sports for decades. I am always looking to improve my craft and this book gave me some great tips. Most of it, I already knew, but the language and presentations make it a great book to start off with. I love the simple language and easy to view diagrams. If you are just starting out, this is an ideal book for you. Even with years under my belt, there were some new things in this book. Best of all, you can make a few notes and take away the essence of this book.

Make sure you read this book. If you're a beginner it helps a lot. If you're a pro, you will still find tons of good & practical advice. I really like the way the book is divided into chapters, each one accompanied by a set of famous photographs that clarifies the point of the chapter.

This book is not about "learning photography", this book is about:
1) emptying your mind from many photography myths that you're going to find on the Internet;
2) develop a personal artistic taste;
3) be conscious of the full shooting process (not just point-and-shoot).

Buy it, read it and enjoy it!

I got this book as a gift. As a novice/hobbyist photographer, and as a person who doesn't like pretentious-photo-lingo, photo-snobs, or clubs, this book was great for helping me understand the settings of my DSLR, and how to use them to achieve what I want. It also helps with composition set-up. Can't get more simple than this book, and it's small enough to carry around for quick reference (and to make notes in). I love it.

Hands down one of the BEST books a newbie to photography can read. I have looked up, googled, and read a few books on the basics but none of them broke the content down so easily as this book did.
GREAT book.... quick and easy.

Bought this for my future sister-in law who recently got a DSLR for her birthday. The book came in great condition with original price tag in the back. The book itself feels heavy despite it being rather small, so you're getting good quality despite it being a paperback book. I looked through the pages it seems very easy to follow and has illustrations and photos to guide you. It will also fit in a satchel or purse in case you're doing photography on-the-go. Nice, sleek book cover. I'm sure she will love it!

I love this book! It’s a quick guide to showing the basics to photography and can be used as a reminder of how to take the photographs you want. Every professional benefits from refreshing their skills. Each page includes example photos. Great little book to keep on hand.

Great book. 130 pages. I read it in an hour and a half. Great simple introduction to photography with lots of examples and how-to's. Fantastic intro for the beginners like me and sets you up for the technical lingo in deeper study.

Wow, this book packs so much value in such a small package. Carroll explains what is often over-complicated camera elements in a simple and easy to understand terms. He use of photographic examples with the principles helps bring the concepts to life. By going back to basics with settings and photo elements the reader feels empowered to get out there and practice without the intimidation factor. I loved this book and am so glad I picked it up. I will definitely be getting more of Carroll's books now that I know how valuable they are.

Love this book! Does a really great job of explaining the key parts of your camera without getting too technical. My photos are already looking so much better now that I actually know how to operate the camera! Would 100% recommend this book to any new photographers

Bought on a whim in a store. There's not a lot in this book that you can't learn online for free. That being said, I'd recommend it as a gift for someone to accompany a first DSLR. What I enjoyed most about the book was how it included a lot of popular photography to use as examples of each of the lessons.

As a side note, I found that the pages in the book often stuck together and I had to be careful to not accidentally skip them.

I don't just like it, I REALLY like it. My better half said there was a marked difference in my photographs (taken with our beginner DSLR- Nikon D3300) after I read this book. That is basically a good metric for this book- made me a better photographer. This one is easy to read, with good visuals (both graphs and pictures). Concepts discussed are universal so it's good for any DSLR you may have.

This little book is in fact a GREAT book. Because it's been writen by a smart guy ; not someone who tries to convince you about it, but instead someone who really is. Big difference, if you know what I mean... Great examples to illustrate each and every aspect clearly covered by the author. Something special I particularly love : it demystifies a lot about gear and equipment, not in a provocative way, but with logic and a wonderful skill for teaching.
If you just want to buy a single book, this one is for you !

This is what I will recommend when people ask me what book to get to learn about photography. It covers the basics thoroughly but concisely, without talking down to the reader, and has great examples. I also enjoyed reading it and got something pout of it even though I am well beyond entry-level.

This book is a quick and useful guide for anyone picking up photography. It's a paperback, 128 pages, handbook size.

The five chapters inside covers the fundamentals of photography, namely subjects like composition, exposure, light, lenses and where to find ideas. They are written in a concise manner, one main subject with explanation accompanied by one photo as example. Very easy to understand.

There are lots of useful techniques explored. This should make it quite helpful for learners, to get them up to speed fast.

It's a simple book that does its job.

One of the best books to read, definitely for a beginner and getting to know all the camera functions without the techy-talk. I finished this one ans now going to purchase the places and people one as well! 10/10.

As a long time photographer, I can say that this is one of the most comprehensive and easy to follow books on photography. Every topic is easily guided by​ direct and useful examples. Whether you're new to photography or a professional, you'll learn something and be inspired along the way.

I was given this book as a gift when I wasn't really 'into' photography per say, I knew how to point and shoot but not how to really take a photograph. This book really did change all that and even now, after I've gone way beyond the basics I still come back to this.
It speaks from the point of view that isn't all technical and confusing, it's superbly designed, and breaks down photography into readable segments not long winded-jargon-busting text.

Really highly highly recommended!

Absolutely amazing book! I am learning so much and I can finally use my camera decently. It is very easy to understand and all the example are great. It finally motivated me to get more into photography, before I couldn't understand anything because of the very detailed manuals full of jargon! Thank you to the author!

Very clear, great for beginners who don't know anything but also a good reference book for seasoned photographers. Covers the basics like composition, parts of the camera and ISO. I would definitely recommend this book!