ISBN: 0817463003
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Avg Cusomer Rating: 5
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Summary: A Wonderful Exposure Primer for Creative Photographers
This is a book that every serious photographer should own--both for information and inspiration. I've had a copy of the original version of this book (1990) in my office since it was first published and it's worn to a frazzle. That's why I'm so thrilled that it has not only stayed in print this long, but also that Peterson has updated it.
The first thing you'll notice when you read through this book is that Bryan Peterson is not just good at explaining the intricacies of good exposure in almost every conceivable situation (landscapes, close ups, portraits), but he is a world-class photographer. It's one thing to talk about manipulating depth of field or subject motion in theoretical terms, it's quite another to see the concepts demonstrated in masterful, creative and fun photographs. And the photos are so well chosen and so well done that even if the book was written in a language I didn't understand, I would get the points being made. His editors should be proud of that too.
Getting good exposure is at the heart of making a good photograph. And you would think that with the auto-exposure systems built into both film and digital cameras that getting a good exposure would be a piece of cake. But as Peterson points out (and illustrates so nicely) there is a world of difference between getting a "good" exposure and getting the ideal "creative" exposure. Getting the ideal creative exposure requires careful consideration of how that exposure will affect things like depth of field, freezing or exaggerating motion, the color and quality of light and how your subject is presented.
This book is not just about exposure, of course, but is a great source of information on various types of lighting, close-up photography, portraits, night photography, using a tripod and, most importantly, seeing creatively.
I can't imagine making a serious study of photography and not having this book (and Peterson's classic book on "Seeing Creatively") nearby. Peterson is a gifted, funny and immensely talented teacher and photographer--more than willing to share all of his knowledge. As the author of many how-to books on photography myself, I have used Peterson's books as a constant source of information and ideas and I check my own facts against his regularly--I couldn't pay him a much higher compliment. As a photographer, I find myself looking at his pictures with great admiration and envy. His photographs are great. And by the way, "No!" I don't even know Bryan--except through his great books.
Jeff Wignall
Author, The Joy of Digital Photography
thejoyofdigital@optonline.net
Summary: My most usefull book
I think that this book is the most exellent piece of paper i have read about photography. Ok i know that the book is not usefull for profesional photographers that they know what they do all time about the right exposure. But is this book for profesionals? I don't think so. For the rest of us (the serious amateurs users) the author keeps things simple but also goes in depth in the right points. He use only the camera's light meter for right exposure and for me this is the major advandage of the book. His tips and tricks are really useful and they had helped me to improve my photos.
thalis
http://www.flickr.com/photos/thalis
Summary: Looking at the whole picture
This is one of the very best photography books I have read. First Mr. Peterson explains basic things in a clear, easily understood way and uses effective illustrations to enhance his explanations. Second, He explains one element at a time and then shows you where that element fits into a greater whole. I found that I was already using much of what he covered, but when he explained how the different pieces fits together and how you can vary their relationships to one another to affect the end product; my separate pieces began to lock into place with one another and gave me a more powerful tool to work with. Once I began to grasp the larger view of exposure, I could see the variety of ways that a picture could be viewed and found I now understood what was technically necessary to capture the particular view that I wanted.
Mr. Peterson defined what correct exposure is, and how you can know when you have it. He then explained that the correct exposure could be gained with several different combinations of aperatures and shutter speeds, and that the specific combinations were what allowed us creative exposures. Creative exposures change what the picture emphasizes. Exposures that were easy and pleasant to look at, but focused on motion rather than detail. Exposures that were in focus from the flowers at your feet to the castle at the foot of the mountains on the horizon, telling the story of the connection between that castle and the valley between it and the flowers close at hand. Exposures that emphasize shape with strong shadows, or that open up the shadows to reveal the details that would otherwise be hidden.
He goes further, too, to explain about metering--the hows and whys--and about using exposure compensation. Again, these were things I was already doing; but doing by the seat of my pants rather than out of knowledge and intentional planning.
I came away from this book feeling like I had been handed a whole new box of tools along with the skills to use them, a new way to look at and plan for the shots I was taking, and a restless urge to take my camera out and bring home the images that reflect how I see the things I am looking at.
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