The Complete Idiot's Guide to Photography Essentials [Paperback]

Mark Jenkinson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 6, 2008 | Series: The Complete Idiot's Guide

The focus is on the basics. Presented in concise, intuitive style, this guide has everything amateur photographers need to know to produce great images—whether shooting in digital or film. Best of all, each chapter includes FAQs and full-color visual examples to turn good shots into great shots. Professional photographer Mark Jenkinson shares tips and tricks for:

• Understanding how the features and controls affect Photographs
• Making the best use of manual, aperture priority, and shutter priority settings
• Shooting moving objects
• Shooting in bright light or nighttime settings
• Adjusting depth of field
• Improving composition and lighting
• Choosing the best format for storing digital images

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Alpha (May 6, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1592577520
• ISBN-13: 978-1592577521
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #239,387 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Don't you hate it when photographers and writers write their own bios in the third person? I don't have a biographer or a publicity agent, it's just me.

I have often described my photography career as "accidental". I never set out in earnest to become a professional photographer. My professional career really began with a solo exhibition of my artwork; at the time my photographs were primarily interiors of sex clubs, churches, and other hidden interiors. From that exhibition I got an assignment from Vogue to shoot still lives of jewelry, and an annual report for Chase Manhattan; projects I was completely unqualified for. I then proceeded to get other assignments that I was equally unqualified for; cars, travel, portraits, fashion, more annual reports, everything. ournal and Unlimited, etc.

My writing career was another accident. I was racing motorcycles as a hobby when Men's Journal called asking if I'd shoot someone else doing a first-person participatory piece on the sport. The only problem was that they couldn't find a writer willing to try it, so they asked me if I'd take a crack at writing. It was another thing I was totally unqualified for so of course I did it anyway. I have been writing 5-10 stories a year since then, including two regular motorcycle test columns. I enjoy it fully since it's always the writer who gets strapped into the racecar, or gets to jump out of the airplane while the photographer watches. The hard part was figuring out how to shoot while I'm writing the story and driving the racecar (trade secret: I control the cameras by remote)


If there is a core philosophy to my work it is this: Being interested is more important than being talented. The world is endlessly fascinating and I am never bored. Every story/project is unique, and the story is more important than I am. The editorial content or objectives of the client dictate my visual approach. What might be surprising is that this is especially true for the projects I have generated as "personal work", where my goal as a photographer is to be as transparent and visually economical as possible.


So far I've written two books on photography: Portrait Photography Course, a university level textbook on portraiture and lighting and CIG Photography Essentials, a beginners guide to the basics of photography. I've also written the first in a series of novels for young readers based on the exploits of Malcolm Sterling, a young RAF pilot set during the Battle of Britain.

I'm shooting tons of video these days and I'm currently creating an "E" text book series of videos on the history of physics and the metaphysical implications of light and seeing.

Finally, I teach in the Photography and Imaging Department at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts. My students perplex, annoy, and inspire me daily. I retaliate by feeding on the fertile marrow of their youthful enthusiasm.

Mark Jenkinson 2011
www.markjenkinsonphoto.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brings back the fun and excitement in learning Photography!, June 10, 2008

By 

Maki Hirose - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Complete Idiot's Guide to Photography Essentials (Paperback)

As a studying photo student, I have had to purchase entire collections of photo books recommended by my school that I never really read. The reason being all of those books were so big, far too text booky, intimidating and ultimately dull.

Yet when I purchased this book after a friend recommended it to me, I was very pleasantly surprised. I've read so much more from this book already in the last few days than from all of those "other" books combined! I will tell you now that I never ever write reviews and I especially loathed doing those book review assignments we've all had to do as a kid. Yet this book really took me by surprise that it compelled me to share my thoughts.

Some of the best things about this book was that it was the perfect size, unintimidating, small enough to carry around easily in any bag or simply in your hand, it uses simple language, and has lots and lots of visuals and color throughout, a key thing that all other photo books lack. There is an amazing mixture of photos in the book from commercial shots to candid shots, and it gets the reader excited because it makes photography look fun. As a reader of this book, I especially like the fact that it doesn't really matter what level of photography you are at , whether you are just starting out or a seasoned pro. You can read the book like a novel from start to finish, or you can keep it like a dictionary, if there is something you don't know, you can just find the section and read about it.

While other books make photography look difficult, this book excels by simplifying all the key principles, encouraging the reader to break the rules and explore what's fun, interesting and exciting about photography. This is a must-have for every person who aspires to take good pictures and it's the most accessible book of its kind. Definitely give this one a shot!

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Extremely Clear and Helpful!, May 21, 2008

By 

Jay S. Potter - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Complete Idiot's Guide to Photography Essentials (Paperback)

I have purchased and borrowed several books in the past two years about SLR and DSLR photography. I consider myself a beginner/intermediate technician with an advanced intermediate to advanced sense of composition. I cannot recommend this book more highly. It is very clear and concise. The author explains everything, taking nothing for granted while not speaking to you like the "idiot" the title suggests. This is the book I have been looking for. I only wish it had been published much earlier. It may very well become the manual for all photography classes everywhere. Kudos to the author and editors for doing such a great job. It goes where I go and is now my all purpose reference manual. Thanks, Jay

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Incredibly helpful for photographers of all levels, May 22, 2008

By 

Michael Zorek (New York, New York United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Complete Idiot's Guide to Photography Essentials (Paperback)

As an intermediate photographer (I have been taking pictures for 30 years) I found this book not only to be helpful, but amazingly accessable. The writing is clear and concise and the examples are very helpful! As the father of two, I find myself taking many pictures in varying conditions and this book addresses nearly all of the situations that I have found or could find myself in. I would certainly suggest this book to anyone who takes pictures or is interested in taking pictures. Either way, Mr. Jenkinson's book can only help make your photos better.