Starting Photography [Paperback]

Michael Langford (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1993

This volume has been written to encourage absolute beginners to use equipment and processing facilities which are available to the typical amateur photographer. The text teaches and informs largely through photographic illustrations. "Starting Photography" aims to help beginners to get more out of using a camera. It encourages the reader to observe the visual features of the surroundings and use them in their photographs. It gives readers advice on how to buy camera equipment and give them an insight into what is involved in processing and printing their own black and white films. In this completely reformated and updated edition, the text now covers colour photography and many colour photographs are included. The expanded text also covers use of modern semi-automatic cameras and extra information is included on the use of flash. The book shows how to identify mistakes and how to avoid them in future; it contains ideas for projects and for unusual pictures. In all, the ideal text for novice photographers.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"I would strongly recommend this as first class reading for any photographers, not just beginners, as a means of extending your practical knowledge of photography ... it is also most useful for photography examinations."
Amateur Photographer

"Michael Langford is an experienced and expert writer on photography ... 'Starting Photography' is reasonably priced, immensely practical and very well illustrated."
Visual Education

"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."
MC Rebbe, www.thetechnofile.com --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Book Description

Authoritative update of bestselling guide to learning digital or film photography for keen amateurs. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 162 pages
• Publisher: Focal Pr; 2 Sub edition (September 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0240513487
• ISBN-13: 978-0240513485
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.1 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #10,051,831 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A user friendly guide to taking great photo's!, March 27, 2001

By 

Claire "there is a light at the end of the tu... (UK) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Starting Photography, Third Edition (Paperback)

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!

2.0 out of 5 stars Not enough., July 23, 2007

By 

Moogs "Moogs" (Illinois) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Adobe Bundle: Langford's Starting Photography, Fourth Edition: A guide to better pictures for film and digital camera users (Paperback)

The beginning is very basic, which is good. But after the beginning, I was left saying "and...". There was no more. It went on to other aspects of photography that doesn't really help you with picture taking. It was about troubleshoot and other useless information that if you needed to know, you would just look on your owners manual.

This book is not NEARLY enough to "start photography". I suggest something like Understanding Exposure to get a more detailed look on photography.

5.0 out of 5 stars Well illustrated and explained., November 7, 2006

By 

hobbyist-2006 - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Adobe Bundle: Langford's Starting Photography, Fourth Edition: A guide to better pictures for film and digital camera users (Paperback)

If you are just starting out on photography, I highly recommend this book. It begins immediately on the first chapter on picture making! For this reason alone, I would give it 5 stars. Here in the first chapter, the authors wasted no time to tell you what makes good pictures: the photographer, not the equipment. They then proceed to explain why the majority of our pictures (at least, the rest of us non-professionals) turn out unflattering despite our best efforts and high-tech cameras.

If you read nothing else but the first chapter alone, I would bet that your photography will already begin to improve. Or if not, the first chapter will at least inspire you to try the suggestions and see the result yourself. In fact, even if all you have is a humble point and shoot film camera, the things they teach in the first chapter are still totally valid, as the principles of good photography remains the same whether you use film or digital.

The next chapters give details about camera operations, how to creatively use camera controls, and another great topic, how to tackle different photographic subjects. Just what I needed! I like the chapter on how to process you own film in black and white. Although I'll probably not dive into it, this chapter gives you good grounding on the grassroots of photography.

Other good stuff inside:

1. Projects at the end of most every chapter. I dare you to do all the project at chapter one and tell me if it will not improve your understanding of what makes a good picture!

2. Information on digital aspect of photography. Although I shoot film slr, I know that one day, I'll want a digital slr so the info on it is nice.

3. All the illustative pictures are ones that can be done by amateurs! In keeping with the beginner's purpose, this is intentional on the part of the authors. If you are looking for award winning photos or famous photographers, you wont find it here. But the pictures in the book are beautiful in their own right and they drive home the points taught.

4. Modest studio lighting you can create yourself! The principles on the very important aspect of light taught here are very revealing to me. The diagram of how to photograph a subject using only your own flash and any old white card to reflect some light is already a good starting point.

However, I am tempted to give this book 4 stars since I felt that despite it's generous information, attractive layout, highly readable text, and wide pages, the authors skimmed the topic on tricky exposure problems. The use of grey cards, spotmeters, and handheld lightmeters to solve these tough light problems were only briefly explained. On the other hand, they provided easily applied solutions to our most common exposure problems. So I give them the benefit of the doubt that such issues correctly belong to advanced photography topics which might only discourage the wobbly beginner if mentioned here. Now that you are aware of it, you will probably do more research on it. Meanwhile, a lot of my pictures are already much improved by the application of the principles in the book alone.

I therefore, highly recommend this book to fellow beginners in photography!