A Short Course in Photography: An Introduction to Black and White Photographic Technique (4th Edition) [Paperback]

Barbara London (Author), Jim Stone (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0130283177 | ISBN-13: 978-0130283177 | Publication Date: July 12, 2000 | Edition: 4th

For one-semester introductory courses in photography. This easy-to-use, inexpensive text introduces students to the fundamentals of photography and suggests ways in which they might create photographs that have meaning. Oriented toward traditional black and white photography, the book also explores digital techniques and web photography resources, equipment, cameras and camera accessories, the exposure and development of film, and the making and finishing of prints. All aspects of the process are explained and illustrated clearly in two-page spreads, each of which addresses a self-contained topic.

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

Preface

If you don't know anything about photography and would like to learn, or if you want to make better pictures than ones you make now, A Short Course in Photography will help you. It presents in depth the basic techniques for black-and-white photography:

How to get a good exposure How to adjust the focus, shutter speed, and aperture (the size of the lens opening) to produce the results you want How to develop film and make prints

Most of today's cameras incorporate automatic features, but that doesn't mean that they automatically produce the results you want. A Short Course in Photography devotes special attention to:

Automatic focus and automatic exposure—what they do and, particularly, how to override them when it is better to adjust the camera manually

Some of the book's highlights include:

Getting Started. If you are brand new to photography, this section will walk you through the first steps of selecting and loading film, focusing sharply, adjusting the exposure, and making your first pictures. See pages 4-9. Digital Imaging. In one sense, digital imaging is just another tool, but it is also an immensely powerful technique that is changing photography and that will empower those who know how to use it. See pages 152-155. Projects. These projects are designed to help you develop your technical and expressive skills. See, for example, page 128 or 171. Making Better Prints. Additional information about how to fine tune your prints by burning in and dodging (darkening or lightening selected areas), and by cropping the edges to concentrate attention on the portion of the scene you want. See pages 114-117. Types of lenses, types of film, lighting, filters

Photography is a subjective and personal undertaking. A Short Course in Photography emphasizes your choices in picture making:

How to look at a scene in terms of the way the camera can record it How to select the shutter speed, point of view, or other elements that can make the difference between an ordinary snapshot and an exciting photograph Chapter 9, Seeing Like a Camera, explores your choices in selecting and adjusting the image, and covers how to photograph subjects such as people and landscapes

New to this edition are:

Photography on the Internet. How to find manufacturer's data, photographs, and other useful information on the World Wide Web More information on Health and Safety precautions in the darkroom Technical updates throughout Many new photographs and illustrations

This book is designed to make learning photography as easy as possible:

Every two facing pages completes a single topic Detailed step-by-step instructions clarify each stage of extended procedures such as negative development and printing Boldfaced headings make subtopics easy to spot Numerous photographs and drawings illustrate each topic

Acknowledgments

Many people gave generously of their time and effort in the production of this book. Feedback from numerous instructors was a major help in confirming the basic direction of the book and in determining the new elements in this edition. At Prentice Hall, Kimberly Chastain and Bud Therien provided editorial support. Joe Scordato supervised the production of the book from manuscript to printer. Nancy Wells redesigned the book and helped make it even more user friendly. If, as you read the book or use it in your class, you have suggestions to make, please send them to Photography Editor, Prentice Hall, 1 Lake Street, Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458. They will be sincerely welcomed.

Jim Stone
Barbara London

From the Back Cover

For students: * Study Guide Modules contain a variety of simulations and demonstrations designed to help students understand photo processes. Also:

* chapter summaries that help students organize key concepts to be learned
* quizzes with multiple-choice and fill-in questions that supply instant scoring and feedback on student mastery of core material
* built-in e-mail routing option that gives students the ability to forward graded quizzes to their instructors

* Reference Modules contain Web Destinations and Net Search options that provide the opportunity to expand the information presented in the text. Whether through a directory of websites relevant to the subject matter of a chapter or key-term searches that automatically insert terms from the chapter into major search engines, these reference features enable students to quickly reach related information on the Web.
* Communication Modules include tools such as Live Chat and Message Boards to facilitate online collaboration and communication.
* Personalization Modules include our enhanced Help feature that contains a test page for browsers and plug-ins.

For instructors" * The Faculty Module includes resources for teaching. This may include demonstration hints, class activities, and graphics from the text, l coordinated by chapter. This module is accessed via a password provided by your local Prentice Hall representative.
* Syllabus Manager™ tool provides an easy-to-follow process for creating, posting, and revising a syllabus online that is accessible from any point within the companion website. This resource allows instructors and students to communicate both inside and outside of the classroom at the click of a button.
* The Companion Website™ makes integrating the Internet into your course exciting and easy. Join us online at the address above and enter a new world of teaching and learning possibilities and opportunities.

Product Details

• Paperback: 185 pages
• Publisher: Prentice Hall; 4th edition (July 12, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0130283177
• ISBN-13: 978-0130283177
• Product Dimensions: 10.6 x 8.2 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #134,825 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

45 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If you're a beginner, you MUST read this book!, March 12, 2000

By 

Sherri Howe "planetexplorer" (San Francisco, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: A Short Course in Photography: An Introduction to Black-And-White Photographic Technique (Paperback)

I purchased this book so that I could start to understand the basics of manual photography before I enrolled in a photography class (I didn't want to look like a complete idiot!). Fortunately, I realized that this book is all I really need to get started and saved myself the cost of the course! It is written in a very clear, concise manner with illustrations to demonstrate every point. Each section of the book contains not only definitions and instruction, but tips and pointers to perfect your technique. The book covers cameras (and all of their controls), different lense types and how they affect the pictures you take, a thorough description of different film types and how they work, what exposure is and how to perfect it, developing the negatives, printing pictures, obtaining ideal lighting, special techniques, and how to see like a camera. Best of all, it teaches you how all of the different factors (shutter speed, aperture, lighting, distance to subject, developing, etc.) relate to each other and how a limitation on one could be offset by adjusting another. A+ book!

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A first rate guide and introduction for B&W photography, October 28, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: A Short Course in Photography: An Introduction to Black-And-White Photographic Technique (Paperback)

The best basic book of beginning photography that I know of. I like the clear and concise illustrations in particular. As a college instructor I use it as a text book in all my beginning classes.

9 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great for Beginners!, September 15, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: A Short Course in Photography: An Introduction to Black and White Photographic Technique (4th Edition) (Paperback)

This is an excellent book for photography beginners. I am currently using it for a college course and is wonderful. Even if you are an intermediate this will still serve usesful as a reference book.