The Practical Zone System for Film and Digital Photographers
by Chris Johnson

I have found this new book on the zone system to be one of the best I have seen so far, and as an added bonus, it is even easy to understand. It will teach you how to pre-visualize an image to get the results you want on film or digitally, so that you can get the kind of prints you want from each. I have usually tried to stay away from the complicacies of the zone system even though it is the best way to get the best images, but from what I have seen in this new book, I will be starting to use its techniques a lot more often until it is all I work with.

This soft cover book is about 7x10 inches, with 284 pages, retails for US$29.95 and is distributed by Focal Press at www.focalpress.com        

I Rate it:  A+
(PWF)

I Rate it:  A++
(PWF)

It covers the printing process from beginning to end, so that you, too, can start getting the top results that the pros get. You will no longer have to think about having someone else do all of your print jobs because with this book you can start doing it all yourself. Although this book is on the technical side, it will be a major reference source for any serious printer, or those wanting to be one.

This soft cover book is about 8x9 inches, with 348 pages, retails for US$44.99 and is distributed by Peach Pit Press at  www.peachpit.com        

I Rate it:  A

I Rate it:  A+
(PWF)
 

With each new release of Photoshop Elements the program meets more and more of digital photographers' requirements.  As Galer points out in this excellent how-to book, there are usually a variety of ways to reach the required outcome. This book gives the reader a road map to how to use the tools Elements has to reach the same goals that might be used in the full version of Photoshop. I was impressed by the variety of techniques discussed that I thought could only be done in Photoshop.

This book is well written with carefully planned-out tutorials that explain each step with illustrations to go along. The book also comes with a DVD that is full of support tutorial movies, images that are used in the book's tutorials and a slew of royalty free images.

If you doubt that Elements might be a cheaper but just as effective alternative to Photoshop, you need to see Mark Galer's book.

This soft cover book is about 9.5 X 7.5  inches, with 296 pages, retails for US$29.95 and is distributed by Focal Press at www.focalpress.com     

I rate it: A++
(MF)

As Sheppard points out in his preface, there are a lot of books that are more technical than this one, and others that cover just the basics. The author felt there was a need for a book that addressed the needs of just the photographer, showing him or her what Raw can and can't do .

Too often we hear that Raw is the answer to all of our problems, that we can, in effect, be a little less careful with our exposures and other technical aspects of our photo taking, because Raw is there to rescue us. While the author demonstrates how Raw can improve the taken image, he does emphasizes the need to get it right when you take the picture.

The book is loaded with real life examples of how Raw can help you if you are a digital photographer and how to get the best out of your images and the best out of the Raw processor and to develop an effective workflow to make your life easier.

This 9 X 8 inch softcover book has 354 pages and retails for US$39.95. It is distributed by Wiley & Sons. www.wiley.com

I rate it: A
(MF)

This book is aimed at portrait photographers who have an intermediate level of understanding of Photoshop, specifically layers and masking, who have not yet learned the best way to use Photoshop to create effects that clients love. It is loaded with high quality illustrations, and easy to follow step by step tutorials. While it is not a lengthy book it does cover some of the best and most often used techniques for going beyond the straight portrait.

This softcover book is 9.6 X 7.6 inches and 152 pages. It retails for $29.95 and is distributed by Focal Press. www.focalpress.com 

I rate it: A
(MF)

Here is a intimate and detailed look at small and independent operators of "truck farms", those who own less than 40 acres of land and sell their produce at roadside stand or local farmer's markets. These are beautiful BW photographs reproduced with care, but what is going to really surprise you is that they were all done with the Holga camera. The Holga, if you haven't heard of it, is a plastic "toy" camera introduced by the Chinese in 1982. The sometimes surprising effects of the Holga, including blurring and vignetting has attracted attention of many photographers for producing fine art prints. And the photographs in this book definitely fit that description. A culmination of ten years work, The Last Harvest pays tribute to the dignity of local ways in the face of globalism and urban expansion.

The hardback 112 page book will be released on November 25, 2006. You can preorder it from The Center of American Places. <www.ugapress.org> Retail price is $32.50. Amazon.com is also taking orders now.

I rate it: A++
(MF)

Speaking of Holgas, here is a book all about using "toy" cameras such as the Holga, Diana and others. These cameras give photographers an opportunity experiment, create and innovate without the use of expensive and technical equipment. In short, as the author says in her introduction, they "give photographers permission to immerse themselves in the joy of photography without the stress of having to have the latest and most complex, expensive equipment."

The book is full of instructions on how to optimize your camera for the best results. It also gives the reader a glimpse, through many illustrations, of what can be done with these wonderful, inexpensive medium-format cameras. Approximately 30 contributors are included representing the worlds of fine art, commercial, fashion, documentary, photojournalism, and portraiture.

This softcover book is 7.2 x 8.4inches and 240 pages. It retails for $29.95 and is distributed by Focal Press. www.focalpress.com 

I rate it: A++
(MF)