Langford's Starting Photography, Fifth Edition: The guide to great images with digital or film [Paperback]

Philip Andrews (Author), Michael Langford (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 26, 2007 | ISBN-10: 0240520564 | ISBN-13: 978-0240520568 | Edition: 5

You can photograph creatively - from scratch. Don't waste valuable time and money in trial-and-error. Find out now how to create unforgettable pictures with this best-selling, ultimate introduction to photography. Langford's Starting Photography, now in its 5th edition and fully updated with cutting-edge digital methods, is packed with new sections, including portrait photography, shooting sports and action, capturing fireworks, and creating stunning still life images. Inspirational color images throughout show what you can achieve, with practical suggestions for experimental projects to improve your technique.

Inside you will learn:

When to use film or digital; and how different cameras operate * Discover the best tactics for outstanding photos using your camera's controls, such as shutter speed, focus, zoom, and flash * Learn key methods for different subjects, including people, places, animals, landscapes, close-ups * Develop the best scanner and printing techniques immediately * Polish your style with the brand-new Lighting section on flash, studio and available light * And much more!

"Starting Photography is a hands-on book for photographers just starting their love affair with photography."
Michael Langford, photographer, Course Director, RCA, and writer, 1933 - 2000



Praise for the previous edition:

"Diagrams and photographs demystify information, helping the book strike a balance between technical details and shooting advice, and helpfully it doesn't talk down to the reader...The scope of information and the reasonable price ensures this is recommended." - What Digital Camera

"There is a lot of technical information that will give you a good grounding in photography, covering both traditional darkroom techniques and digital methods. Projects allow further exploration of themes and are a good way of extending your mastery of the camera." - Amateur Photographer

"At last there is an introductory book that I can unreservedly recommend to friends, students and others who are in any way interested in the basics of photography and digital photography." - Sidney Ray, Senior Lecturer in Digital and Photographic Imaging, University of Westminster, photographer and Imaging Consultant.

* Comprehensive and friendly guide to get you started fast whether using film or digital cameras
* Lavishly illustrated with inspirational color images throughout to illustrate what can be achieved
* Practical suggestions for experimental projects help improve your technique

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Langford's Starting Photography covers all an aspiring photographer needs to know using both digital and film cameras. Whether you have just started or have a little experience of photography, this book will, (with all its hints, tips and great ideas) improve your photographic abilities and the images you will produce."

Sid Pearce FRPS. EFIAP. Photographer, Writer and Lecturer on Digital Imaging.

Praise for fourth edition:

"...there is a lot of technical information that will give you a good grounding in photography, covering both traditional darkroom techniques and digital methods. Projects allow further exploration of themes and are a good way of extending your mastery of the camera." - Amateur Photographer

"Diagrams and photographs demystify information, helping the book strike a balance between technical details and shooting advice, and helpfully it doesn't talk down to the reader...The scope of information and the reasonable price ensures this is recommended." - What Digital Camera

"at last there is an introductory book that I can unreservedly recommend to friends, students and others who are in any way interested in the basics of photography and digital photography."
Sidney Ray, Senior Lecturer in Digital and Photographic Imaging, University of Westminster, photographer and Imaging Consultant.


On the third edition:

"Whether you're completely new to photography or someone who already has some experience, but who needs to gain a deeper understanding in order to improve their ability and results, this book is for you...the book is an easy and informative read that's packed with hints tips, ideas and inspiration, making it ideal for beginners and the more experienced alike, in fact anyone who has never studied photography formally (and some that have) will benefit from reading this book."
MC Rebbe, www.thetechnofile.com


Amazon.com reviews of the fourth edition:

A snap at half the price!, March 27, 2001
Reviewer: claire bilton (Uk)
"For a first in photography you really couldn't ask for more. Michael Langford guides you round the jargon with ease and will soon have you talking like a professional! With the added bonus that you'll actually understand it! He covers everything you'd need to know in an easy to read stlye. Including projects to do easy enough for total beginner or the more serious amatur. You don't need a high tech camera to follow either there is something for everyone. The book only lost one point with me because i felt the chapters weren't well enough defined. Reccommended to all!"

A user friendly guide to taking great photos!, March 27, 2001
Reviewer: claire bilton (Uk)
"I would reccomend this to anyone wishing to start photography or develop their knowledge. Michael Langford guides you through photography jargon and explains digital, APS and SLR cameras with ease. Including projects for practical starting points easy enough for a total beginner with only a disosable camera or professionals with the latest stuff! The book covers using your first camera, lighting, trouble shooting, effects, working indoor and outdoors and briefly about making your own dark room. It is a comprehensible guide which doesn't cost a packet! A definite thumbs up!"



Amazon.com reviews of third edition:

"For a first in photography you really couldn't ask for more. Michael Langford guides you round the jargon with ease and will soon have you talking like a professional! With the added bonus that you'll actually understand it! He covers everything you'd need to know in an easy to read style. Including projects to do easy enough for total beginner or the more serious amateur. You don't need a high tech camera to follow either there is something for everyone. The book only lost one point with me because I felt the chapters weren't well enough defined. Recommended to all!"

"I would recommend this to anyone wishing to start photography or develop their knowledge. Michael Langford guides you through photography jargon and explains digital, APS and SLR cameras with ease. Including projects for practical starting points easy enough for a total beginner with only a disposable camera or professionals with the latest stuff! The book covers using your first camera, lighting, trouble shooting, effects, working indoor and outdoors and briefly about making your own dark room. It is a comprehensible guide which doesn't cost a packet! A definite thumbs up!"

Amazon.co.uk reviews of third edition:

"I brought this book to aid my A-level photography course; I have found it very helpful. It explains everything clearly using text and diagrams. It would be a great asset to any photographer but especially useful to beginners."

"As a tutor in photography, this book offers my students a sound basis for their learning and understanding of the medium. It acts as a great reference guide which they can carry in their camera bags at all times. The visual examples are interesting and inspiring; exactly what the new photographer needs."

Book Description

Authoritative update of a best-selling guide to learning digital or film photography.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Focal Press; 5 edition (February 26, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0240520564
• ISBN-13: 978-0240520568
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 7.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,013,590 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A photography class in a book!, June 3, 2007

By 

S. Nigl "Chugach124" (Anchorage, AK USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Langford's Starting Photography, Fifth Edition: The guide to great images with digital or film (Paperback)

As the title implies, Langford's Starting Photography is a text for the beginning photographer. Dating back to the mid 1970's, this 5th edition has been updated to reflect the changing landscape of digital photo technology.

The problem with modern digital cameras is that they make too many decisions for you. They are ready to shoot, fresh out of the box! This means that you don't need to learn the principals of photography before venturing out shooting. Unfortunately, this also means that the artistic skills of making a good photograph - things like composition, patterns, leading lines, use of light and color - are also bypassed. The result? A hard-drive collecting many snaps, but very few photos.

For those who don't have the time or money for a photography class, I would recommend this book! Langford's Starting Photography is geared and organized for the complete novice, but is of great benefit for those who have been snapping digitally for years! The first two thirds of the book are dedicated to work behind the lens, while the last of the book teaches the basics of the darkroom (one chapter on film developing, and the remainder on the digital darkroom). This book even comes complete with `homework' in the form of a projects list every few chapters.

I've never picked up an older copy of Langford's Starting Photography, so I can't compare to previous editions, but I found this book to be easy to use and thorough. Michael Langford is British, and it shows in his writing. I found myself reading it in an English voice. The book is heavily illustrated in full-color. A few of the how to graphics were a bit rough (i.e. - sketches of someone holding a camera, with a photo of the camera crudely pasted-in), and being a Mac user, I had an aversion to the books use of Windows screenshots. But on the whole, an excellent `photo class-in-a-book'!

Rated 5

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Textbook for class or for personal use, October 10, 2007

By 

Elaine D. Kirchen (New York, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Langford's Starting Photography, Fifth Edition: The guide to great images with digital or film (Paperback)

I was introduced to Starting Photography Fifth Edition (the edition is important) as a textbook, but it was exactly what I was looking for on my own. It offers a thorough understanding of the subject and includes some sections devoted specifically to digital photography. It would be even more valuable if it had broken some chapters into several parts because there is too much to absorb all at once in some of them. The topics warrant separate attention and they take time to absorb individually.

It is not a book for beginners, nor is it one for professionals. It is for people who are trying to learn more about the various elements of photography to which they have already been exposed.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Intro Photography Book, January 6, 2009

By 

Dusty Jacquet (California) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Langford's Starting Photography, Fifth Edition: The guide to great images with digital or film (Paperback)

This is one of the best Intro to techniques of photography books I've found (and I have a bit of a personal library). It very clearly explains the various technical elements you should master to become a better photographer (no need to read this if you're strictly going to point-and-shoot on a baby Auto focus camera). If you're new to digital (or film) SLR/manual cameras this would be a very useful book to buy. It takes you from the basics of photographic technology, to what you can achieve using creative modes like Aperture Priority and Shutter Priority, to lighting considerations and finally workflow (editing and sharing photos). Well written, easy to read and refer to - I use it together with the guidebook to my own camera.