The Photographer's Guide to Filters [Paperback]

Lee Frost (Author)

Book Description

Series: Photographers Guide | Publication Date: May 15, 2002

In this comprehensive guide Lee Frost offers clear answers to the many questions raised about this popular, but largely misunderstood, area of photography. Through easy-to-follow reference charts, specially commissioned comparison shots and inspiring images, beginners will see what filters are available and how to use them: the more experienced can use the images as a source of inspiration.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Lee Frost is an acclaimed photographer and one of the best-known writers on photography in the world. Although a keen photographer in his youth tit really took off in 1988, while still an amateur, Lee entered and won a travel photography competition organised by SLR Photography magazine and this marked the start of his professional career. A year on he was offered the job as features writer of SLR Photography magazine, then soon after became part of a small team which launched the successful magazine Photo Answers. In 1992, after working as assistant editor on both Photo Answers and Practical Photography, he decided to pursue a freelance career. still a regular contributor to the leading UK photography magazines he leads photography tours all over the world.

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: David & Charles (May 15, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0715314009
• ISBN-13: 978-0715314005
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #779,458 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

138 of 138 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Refreshing Presentation, July 25, 2002

By 

Wendell A Largent (Evergreen Park, IL United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Photographer's Guide to Filters (Paperback)

I've read several other books on the subject of photographic filters. Most concentrate on the physics of light and how filters affect light. Lee Frost's book finally got it right. He avoids a lot of technical detail and concentrates on the practical applications of filters, grouping them by their use: polarizers, ND's, color correction, B&W, etc. This format makes it easier to gain an everyday working knowledge of filters.

I own other books by Frost, and I've always enjoyed his writing style. It's down to earth. The photos in the book are excellent. Most show before and after results of filter use. In addition, Frost always includes complete exposure data for each photo, making it simple to duplicate his efforts.

If you are at all interested in how filters can improve your photography, I highly recommend this book. The photos alone are worth the price of the book!

69 of 69 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good for beginners, March 21, 2005

By 

CLT (Virginia, USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Photographer's Guide to Filters (Paperback)

This book is very easy to read, very easy to understand, and very organized.

I recommend this book for beginners who want to learn about different types of filters and their basic application. Although Lee Frsot included sections where he talked about "creative application" of filters, there weren't enough to satisfy an intermediate photographer.

I am only giving this book 4 stars for the following reasons:
1. There are similar contents on the web that are just as informative, for free. Check out www.tiffen.com or go to B&H's website and look for their free guide on filters.
2. The book lacked a section for reverse references. Meaning, the book is organized by filter type. "This filter is used for this situation for this effect." What I was hoping for was a filter guide organized by situations photographers face, as in "If you're taking pictures under this situation, you can use this filter to achieve this effect."

Overall, this is a great, beautifully printed book. But it could have definitely been more.

28 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent book, highly recommended., October 18, 2004

By 

K. Izzi (New York) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Photographer's Guide to Filters (Paperback)

Good, consistent coverage of the subject. Well balanced, not too dry and technical, yet without sacrificing the value of the content. Clear examples, great writing style, richly illustrated. It would not take a lot of effort to learn new tricks and techniques from this book, and apply these to come up with great photos. Whether you shoot film or digital, filters DO make A LOT of difference, this book will teach you HOW! Suitable for all experience levels in photography. I bought it bundled with its duo, The Complete Guide to Night and Low-Light Photography, another great title. Great value for money and a great investment (photography teaching workshops will charge you hundreds, even thousands of Dollars and they may not teach you quite as much as these two books can).