The Concise Focal Encyclopedia of Photography
Michael R. Peres, Editor-in-Chief 

Last year, the Focal Press published the fourth edition of The Focal Encyclopedia of Photography. This is the concise version of that book, although it offers a huge amount of information on the topic of photography. (See our review.) Both books look at photography as an image making field and discuss the variety of theories and applications within this complex topic. This representation of the 4^th edition includes three parts: History and Evolution of Photography, Major Themes and Photographers of the 20^th Century, and Contemporary Issues. The purpose of this shorter version is to offer a smaller book to those who don’t want or need the entire encyclopedia.

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Focal Press (www.focalpress.com) (September 28, 2007)
• ISBN-10: 024080998X
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Retail Price: US$29.95

I rate this book A+++ (EP)
(Reviewed October 2007)

This book is very well organized; each page is a full-page spread of one topic. Similar to an encyclopedia, the topics stand independently: lines & abstracts, shooting the moon, exposure modes, and wide open spaces. These topics all fit into four bigger categories: equipment & techniques, creating your vision, locations & lighting, and post-processing; many are a helpful overview for more than just landscape photographers. The images used to demonstrate the concepts are exceptional and they include exemplars of landscape photography, charts, illustrations of concepts, and photographs of equipment described. This is an excellent resource for anyone interested in landscape and nature photography.

 Text: A+
Layout: A+
Photography: A+
User: All Photographers 
(Reviewed by EP Nov. 2010)

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Creating a Newsletter in InDesign,
by Katrin Straub & Torsten Buck

Creating a Newsletter in InDesign is a new release that is a quick, visual way to learn how to design and create your own newsletter for business or just for fun.  With six chapters and 121 pages, this soft cover book retails for only $12.99 from   www.peachpit.com   I have seen a lot of how-to books and have not seen any that is this easy to learn from, and at such a low price.   I Rate it:   A+ (Reviewed Dec. 2004)

This one is a collection of photomontages created by eight leading French artists. Each piece of work is fully illustrated and shown step-by-step how it was done. That includes which Photoshop tool was used and its settings. This 8.5x9.5 soft cover book is a great reference for anyone wishing to do this kind of photo imaging work. There are eight lessons on 96 pages, and it is published by O’Reilly Media, retails for US$24.95 and can be ordered at www.oreilly.com         
I rate it:  A+ 
(Reviewed July 2005)

The Creative Digital Darkroom
by Katrin Eismann and Seán Duggan 

Every photographer, no matter the equipment, who wants quality images can benefit from darkroom skills. In this book, the authors explain the classic techniques of photography using Adobe Photoshop and Photoshop Lightroom. Many photography techniques and concepts are explained in detail and how they can be applied to perfect fine art photography. There are many fine images created by the photographers that not only show examples of digital creativity, but help explain the topic or concept. There are a lot of step-by-step instructions and images to show the reader exactly how to use Photoshop to create the desired end results. Most of the techniques are post-processing guides to enhance, fix, or organize digital photographs. This book is ideal for the fine art photographer wanting to enhance their photographs to the next level of creativity.

RATING
Text: A
Layout: A
Photography: A+
User: Intermediate to Advanced Photographers
(Reviewed by EP March 2008)

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Creative Digital Photography,
by George Schaub

Creative Digital Photography is a new AMPHOTO book that both beginners and advanced digital photographers will learn from. This book is not just about the standard kind of images you take everyday, but how to use your camera, image files, and other tools to create images that are beyond “normal.” This is a soft cover book with 160 pages, and retails for $24.95 from   www.watsonguptill.com.   It is richly illustrated with both photo examples, and camera and software settings that were used.  It will also give you a lot of ideas for new images to create.  
I Rate it: A++
(Reviewed Dec. 2004)

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Creative Digital Photography,
by Michael Busselle

Creative Digital Photography is one of several, more than interesting, recent books from AMPHOTO Books. This 160 page, soft-cover book is full of very nice illustrations and great ideas for your creative side. No matter if you are making new images, fixing existing ones, or combining others together, this book tells you how the author created the ones he presents in it so that you can do the same with yours. The quality of each of them will show you that he certainly knows what he’s doing, and soon you will too. Retails at $29.95
(Reviewed Feb. 2004)

Creative Landscape Photography is a new AMPHOTO Book for the creative minded photographer. Like many recent AMPHOTO books, this one contains many images from the English countryside, and other areas around Europe. I like that because it is a refreshing change from all of the American images I see most often in these kinds of books. The photos are also of the above average quality that has become a standard with AMPHOTO. Although most of what this book covers is landscapes, there are also many other image subjects that some may not consider true landscapes, such as clouds and rocks. That doesn’t bother me a bit considering how good all of the 200 images on the 160 pages of this book are. This is not a technical book, although there is a great deal of information in it, and every image has nice captions with each, and a lot of personal info on how they were made. At 9.5x10 inches, it retails for US$29.95. 
Available from   www.watsonguptill.com     
I Rate it:  A++ 
(Reviewed Jan. 2005)

This is a tutorial book designed for graphic art or illustration artists. The book is very thick and filled with step by step projects to help the reader learn techniques to achieve specific effects: from aging effects to retro art effects to simulated screen printing. Each chapter focuses on a different technique utilizing before and after examples, screen shots of Photoshop tool bars and windows, and unique tips. This book is ideal for the artist wanting to use Photoshop to achieve artistic images from photographs or drawings.

Text: A+
Layout: A+
Photography: A+
User: Intermediate to Advanced Computer Artists
(Reviewed April 2009 by EP)

Creative Photoshop: Digital Illustration and Art Techniques
By Derek Lea

This book is for those who already have a familiarity with Photoshop and are ready to use it as a creative tool to manipulate their images. It is organized by different styles desired, such as graffiti art, antiquing, retro style, surrealism and more.  Each chapter starts out with a very specific image and then the steps are thoroughly described and illustrated as to how to create the specific effect. The difficult part would be to take the demo and apply it to your own photograph, which is why a background in the program would be helpful. The layout of the pages is very organized and easy to understand; images of specific program windows are next to an example of the image at that particular step. You can flip to a random page in the book and immediately get a feel for the specific technique being explained. This book is designed for the Photoshop user needing a manual for using Photoshop as a tool to create unique digital images.

I rate this book A++++ (EP)
(Reviewed Sept. 2007)

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Creative Nature & Outdoor Photography,
by Brenda Tharp

Creative Nature & Outdoor Photography is another AMPHOTO book for learning how to do serious nature photography. As with all AMPHOTO books, this one is top quality in material and in the photos used to illustrate that material. It’s eleven chapters on 160 pages and is crammed full of the best pro techniques you will find anywhere, and the images you will want to take out and frame for your walls at home. I have several of Brenda’s books, and will be keeping them long after many of my other books are long gone. Her books go beyond the standard how-to information, and includes the feeling of how to add your interpretation to what is in front of you.  It retails for $24.95-US and you can check it out at  www.watsonguptill.com     
I Rate it:  A++
(Reviewed Dec. 2004)

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I have read, used, and reviewed several of Airey’s books and found every one of them to be the best you will find. Well written, richly illustrated, and pages full of top quality images of every kind of photo technique covered are contained in each book. This particular book covers manipulated images, infrared, toning, liquid emulsions, and transfers, to name a few. One of the best things found in her books is a section on troubleshooting. This is something you usually only find in tech manuals for software programs and is a chapter I hope other authors will take note of and start putting in their books. This book covers everything you will need to do the processes covered, and the info on how to do them. Her books are always a welcome addition to my photo library. With 160 pages, 241 color and B&W photos, and retailing for just $29.95-US, this 9 x 11 inch soft cover book is worth twice the price. Published by AMPHOTO. It and others can be checked out at www.watsonguptill.com    
I rate it: A+++
(Reviewed Nov. 2004)

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Creative Thinking in PhotoShop
by Sharon Steuer

This one is a different kind of PhotoShop book than all of the others you see reviewed here. Most of the work in it starts out as photographs, but end up in a painted form, so this book will be of special interest to photographers who are also painters. There is a lot of work with layers, and some special effects, and a lot of the techniques shown will make for some great pieces of work. Any photographer who uses their images for other types of creative projects will find a lot to use in this new release. At 8 x 10 inches, with 224 soft cover pages, it is fully illustrated with both photos, and the software settings used to create the finished work, and retails for $45.00-US. Published by New Riders, it and others can be checked out at www.peachpit.com    
I rate it: A
(Reviewed Nov. 2004)

Virginia Beahan is an accomplished photographer recognized by the Smithsonian Art Museum as “one of our most accomplished and eloquent photographers.” In this book, she has documented the country of Cuba as a place which has survived tragedy, yet somehow has come out beautiful in its own way. It is a perfect addition to anyone’s coffee table collection who is interested in history, landscapes or beautiful photography.

To be released April 1, 2009. Preorder it now!

Text: A+
Layout: A+
Photography: A+
User: All Photographers and Non-Photographers
(Reviewed by EP - Feb. 2008)

I’ve seen a lot of coffee table books that aim to cover a location or group of people. These books are usually full of mediocre street photographs documenting the life, but not in any particularly artistic way. This book, however, will catch the eye of those who appreciate creative, modern street photography. Beckham Combs uses his photographic skills expressively when he documents the people of Cuba. One of my favorite images is of the back of a motorcycle cop and the rear-view mirror of the bike has caught the image of her face. Amongst the pages of images are poems, in both English and Spanish. This book is an excellent addition to the coffee tables of anyone interested in Cuban life or quality, documentary, street photography.

Text: A+
Layout: A
Photography: A+++
User: All Photographers and non-Photographers
(Reviewed by EP Nov. 2010)