Customer Reviews

Dont Take My Picture!: How to Take Fantastic Photos of Family and Friends (and Have Fun!) (The Point & Shoot Guide!)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I bought this book because I am looking for ideas on how to put people at ease. But I was disappointed. The book starts with a once-over-lightly discussion of how to take good snapshots of friends and family members. It starts with the basics--types of cameras, film, lighting, and how to take a photo. All standard stuff that can be found in any introductory book. It then gives you lots of ideas for where and when you can take photos (At parties! weddings! when people are having fun!). Again, pretty standard stuff, and directed towards folks who only take pix of the relatives sitting on a couch. But the advice on taking a good phot was incomplete. How do you get a good shot of a person? Take the photo at the right moment. But there was no suggestion on how you do that.

Here's a suggestion: People and Portrait Photograhy, Sean Hargrave, Amphoto. ... Color photos. Beautiful layout. Good sidebars. Lots of ideas.

When you feel uneasy to take pictures of people, either family or friends, this book will give you the knowledge and attitude to do it with style and success.

Ok, the book is a little dated -- it talks about film cameras few use any more such as 110 and disk film cameras. And it does spend some time talking about pretty basic things like loading film and holding the camera. But the book has sold thousands and thousands for a reason. It encourages you to have fun with the camera and the prints you can eventually get from it.

There are lots of good ideas for taking pictures of people who don't like to have their picture taken. Fun ideas like asking people to jump for the picture give you ideas for adding more spice to your pictures.

There are a gazillion books about digital photography and post-processing tools like Adobe Photoshop. But what there's a paucity of is books like this one that focus on taking pictures (and getting prints -- don't forget that part) you will enjoy looking at five years from now when your digital camera and computer hard drive either have quit working or you no longer own them or use them.

The idea was awesome, but the follow-through left a lot to be desired.

I bought this book because I am looking for ideas on how to put people at ease. But I was disappointed. The book starts with a once-over-lightly discussion of how to take good snapshots of friends and family members. It starts with the basics--types of cameras, film, lighting, and how to take a photo. All standard stuff that can be found in any introductory book. It then gives you lots of ideas for where and when you can take photos (At parties! weddings! when people are having fun!). Again, pretty standard stuff, and directed towards folks who only take pix of the relatives sitting on a couch. But the advice on taking a good phot was incomplete. How do you get a good shot of a person? Take the photo at the right moment. But there was no suggestion on how you do that.

Here's a suggestion: People and Portrait Photograhy, Sean Hargrave, Amphoto. ... Color photos. Beautiful layout. Good sidebars. Lots of ideas.

A great little book for the typical shutterbug - someone who wants the results but isn't interested in the science and philosophy behind people photography. I have three cameras: an all-manual Chinon SLR, a high-tech Minolta SLR, and a point-and-click Pentax compact. I've taken great shots with all three (and plenty of lousy ones too!) The info is this book is useful for all levels of proficiency. As I'm sure the case is with most advanced amateurs, friends are always asking me how to improve "their stuff". Usually they don't want to know what "Sunny Day f/16" means or how to use a large aperture to separate the subject from the background, they just want to get better results at the next party or family event. This is the perfect book for them.

Since I have a terrible habit of forgetting the basics and worrying too much about technical minutinae I'll use this book as a review before an event. It's clear, concise and well-illustrated.

By the way, try to remember the title "Don't Take My Picture" correctly. I told someone I just ordered a book called "Don't Shoot Me" and they looked at me kinda funny.