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Welcome to Oz: A Cinematic Approach to Digital Still Photography with Photoshop [Perfect Paperback]

Vincent Versace
4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (60 customer reviews)


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Book Description

December 23, 2006
"Vincent Versace is a Renaissance man who has produced the best how-to book of the year! With its subtitle of “A Cinematic Approach to Digital Still Photography with Photoshop” Versace introduces a system for creating images that owes as much to the traditional darkroom as the digital one. Don’t just read the book; study it. The first chapter isn’t called “The Tao of Dynamic Workflow” for nothing and, like the rest of the book, contains Versace’s charm, wit, and wisdom. It’s copiously illustrated with detailed step-by-step examples of techniques that when applied to your own work will turn you from zero to hero. The fact that he’s a heck of a photographer means the book is stunningly illustrated, but it’s also been well designed. It has become a cliché to say that a book could change your life, but this one could." -- Joe Farace, December, 2007 , Shutterbug,  Top Digital Books Of 2007; More & Better Digital Imaging Books

Creating memorable photographs is a process that starts before you edit an image in Photoshop, before you capture the image, even before you pick up the camera. You must first approach the subject with the proper sense of perception, with the ability to visualize the finished print before you commit a scene to pixels, but still be flexible and spontaneous. Master Fine Art photographer Vincent Versace has spent his career learning and teaching the art of perception and how to translate it into stunning images. In Welcome to Oz,  he delves into what it means to approach digital photography cinematically, to use your perception, your camera, and Photoshop to capture the movement of life in a still image.
  •  Adapt your workflow to the image so you always know how best to use your tools
  •  Turn a seemingly impossible photographic scenario into a successful image
  •  Practice “image harvesting” to combine the best parts of  many captures to create an optimum final result
  •  Create black and white prints that have the look, feel and “richness” of traditional silver prints without ever leaving the RGB color space


Editorial Reviews

Review

"Vincent Versace is a Renaissance man who has produced the best how-to book of the year! With its subtitle of “A Cinematic Approach to Digital Still Photography with Photoshop” Versace introduces a system for creating images that owes as much to the traditional darkroom as the digital one. Don’t just read the book; study it. The first chapter isn’t called “The Tao of Dynamic Workflow” for nothing and, like the rest of the book, contains Versace’s charm, wit, and wisdom. It’s copiously illustrated with detailed step-by-step examples of techniques that when applied to your own work will turn you from zero to hero. The fact that he’s a heck of a photographer means the book is stunningly illustrated, but it’s also been well designed. It has become a cliché to say that a book could change your life, but this one could." -- Joe Farace, December, 2007 , Shutterbug,  Top Digital Books Of 2007; More & Better Digital Imaging Books

About the Author

Vincent Versace has received the Computerworld Smithsonian Award in Media Arts & Entertainment and the Shellenberg fine art award and has been nominated three times to the Photoshop Hall of Fame. Vincent produces art for entities as various as Eco-Challenge and the San Francisco Presidio National Park; he teaches at the Santa Fe and Palm Beach Photographic Workshops, and hosts the Epson Print Academy. Articles about his work have appeared in over two dozen photography magazines. You can see his work on the Web at  www.versacephotography.com.Vincent Versace has received the Computerworld Smithsonian Award in Media Arts & Entertainment and the Shellenberg fine art award and has been nominated three times to the Photoshop Hall of Fame. Vincent produces art for entities as various as Eco-Challenge and the San Francisco Presidio National Park; he teaches at the Santa Fe and Palm Beach Photographic Workshops, the Digital Landscape Workshop Series, and hosts the Epson Print Academy. Articles about his work have appeared in over two dozen photography magazines. You can see his work on the Web at www.versacephotography.com.

Product Details

  • Perfect Paperback: 224 pages
  • Publisher: New Riders Press; 1 edition (December 23, 2006)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0735714002
  • ISBN-13: 978-0735714007
  • Product Dimensions: 9 x 0.5 x 9 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
  • Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (60 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #684,421 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Vincent Versace is an award-winning fine-art digital photographer whose work has appeared in museums and galleries throughout the world. In addition, he teaches regularly at Photoshop World and lectures widely at photography and digital imaging conferences and conventions.

Customer Reviews

Vincent Versace's book, Welcome to Oz, does the same thing for the digital photographer. D. DeRyckere  |  23 reviewers made a similar statement
Finally, buy the book, buy the dvds or buy them all. K. Tucker  |  8 reviewers made a similar statement
He offers many valuable opportunities to you in this book. John Paul Caponigro  |  7 reviewers made a similar statement
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
52 of 53 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars If you like Mr. Versaces work, buy this book... January 31, 2007
Format:Perfect Paperback
The book is basically about how to create images similar to Mr. Versace's (not to duplicate his work, but to use his techniques to achieve similar results)

I really love Mr. Versace's images, I have seen them in print on display and am always taken with them.

There are a number of unique things about this book.

First it comes with the images he talks about (full resolution) so that you can try and exactly duplicate his techniques which is very helpful in the learning process.

Second he gives you a idea of why he is doing something and not just how he did it. The approach of the chef vs. the recipe following cook.

Third his approach is one of artistic vision vs. pure representational photography (which in my opinion does not exist) and which I totally embrace.

Fourth he shows you how to use multiple images to overcome limitations of camera gear (dynamic range, depth of field, etc) and how to use Photoshop to add visual flow and direction to produce a final artistic vision.

Fifth he emphasizes what I call just in time pre-visualization with an end in mind. Where many might see an uninteresting subject he can "Fast Forward" through his workflow and pre-visualize a much more beautiful result than just using the camera with its limitations might allow.

Though I love his work, and do recommend this book I can't give it 5 stars since there is room for improvement.

In the book Mr. Versace jumps around at times, repeats concepts just talked about but in a slightly different way (a little confusing) and in general it seems to take most people one or two or three tries to take in what he is explaining.

There are also things I think that need to be expanded upon and others that are distracting.
... Read more ›
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28 of 30 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars This raised me to a new level February 22, 2007
Format:Perfect Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I can only thank Vincent for sharing his approach, knowledge, and philosophy. This is not a breeze through, how to book, but rather an approach that will make you think. I have now gone back to tons of photos that I thought were well thought through, applied Vincent's approach, and was so happy with the results. And that just getting through the first 1/3 of the book. This does assume you are very comfortable with PS and already have generally good photos to work with. Just a few thoughts if Vincent is reading through these ...

a) I'm practicing using the techniques but using a Wacom instead. This seems like a great way to go but there's no mention of this in the book.

b) There is heavy use of the render lighting effects. It would be helpful to get into more discussion regarding how to control better this effect.

c) I have tried using multiple lights with multiple subjects (people) in a an image and it's just not intuitive in PS how the lighting behaves. Some discussion about this would be great.
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16 of 16 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Getting the Image That Your Eye Saw January 9, 2007
Format:Perfect Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I have been trying out Versace's techniques chapter-by-chapter, and I am thrilled with the results that I am getting. Each chapter deals with both the philosophical approach to creating unforgettable images and the in-depth, step-by-step instructions to make it happen. In addition, it includes a DVD with the actual Photoshop files, with all the layers, to show exactly how the magic happens. I knew how to use Photoshop, but this book is taking me to a whole new level.

The author's techniques, such as image mapping and image harvesting, put the 3D back into my images. No more disappointment when I print. With Versace's help, my photos now look like what I saw when I depressed the shutter!

The chapter on converting color to black & white is excellent. Versace explains the art of the black and white images, as well as the steps in Photoshop to create the best image for printing.

That is what is neat about this book. It is not just about using Photoshop, it is about taking great photos and making them even better with Photoshop. I highly recommend this book!
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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Not for the faint-hearted August 26, 2007
Format:Perfect Paperback
In my opinion, this book is aimed squarely at the photographer aiming at exhibition quality work, with no concessions. Having said that, there is a lot of valuable information for others as well. It requires a willingness to push the philosophical boundaries of the ethics of manipulated image, because Versace's approach is to take multiple shots of the same subject from subtly diferent viewpoints, then combine them to produce a single image that matches his artistic vision. He is quoted as considering Photoshop an imagination enhancer, and says in his forward that one of his aims is to teach the reader to be able to make magic, starting at the point of capture. Indeed, this is what he proceeds to do. His methods require that you take pictures of subjects that move you, capture the image with spontaneity while being able to conceptualise the end result, and have advanced Photoshop skills. He then offers an insight into the ensuing conversation between photographer and image, with a great deal of the "how" and the "why" along the way. The final results are stunning, but the process is somewhat tortuous, and not for the faint-hearted. This is not your generic "how-to-do-it" Photoshop book, but a glimpse into what drives one man's quest for as near to perfection as possible. It wasn't what I expected - I bought it on the strength of the review in Photoshop User - and it won't be one of the books that lives by my Mac for constant reference. It will, however, be one to which I refer to be reminded of the potential of digital imaging towards which I might aspire for my art prints.
I gave it 5 stars because Versace succeeds in what he set out to do. It won't be for everyone, though.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book.
All of Vincent's books on this subject are great.Believe me,if you want to be able to one day make fine art photos,pick up all three of his books.
Published 5 months ago by herman burnett
5.0 out of 5 stars Welcome to Oz takes you on a journey into advanced photo manipulation
These lessons are not for the casual user. But even if you never have a reason to use them, it's fascinating to see just what can be accomplished using Photoshop.
Published 19 months ago by Dennis Dahnke
5.0 out of 5 stars Very thorough coverage of photoshop, but not so much on photography
If you really really want to get in deep with Photoshop, adding realistic lighting effects to photos, etc., then this book is perfect. Read more
Published on March 20, 2010 by Michael Wiacek
2.0 out of 5 stars Best images are not analyzed
When I picked up the book I was intrigued by the techniques but could not decide if it was for me. I must admit to never having heard of Mr. Read more
Published on March 4, 2010 by Nick
5.0 out of 5 stars Versace is the best....
If you are interested in photography as art -- your art, then don't miss this book. Regardless of how you process your photos, and regradless of whether or not you would follow the... Read more
Published on May 19, 2009 by Guy A. Perkins
2.0 out of 5 stars Poorly written and just plane bad instruction.
Did anyone proof-read this book? Does the editor care? It has misspellings, interface mistakes, (i.e. Read more
Published on March 1, 2009 by Steven
5.0 out of 5 stars Inspiring
Stunning photography and continuing inspiration from a master of photography. I highly recommend Vincent's book.
Published on September 14, 2008 by Charlotte K. Lowrie
4.0 out of 5 stars welcome to oz via photoshop
this purchase was done on behalf of a friend of mine and from what i was told, he is totally satisfied with the book. recommended.
Published on August 29, 2008 by J. Remie
5.0 out of 5 stars Worth The Journey
This book is not your everyday Photoshop book and not a book for casual reading. It is a journey that provokes thought and requires the reader to often take his steps over again to... Read more
Published on August 14, 2008 by J. Goshorn
5.0 out of 5 stars A Method Actor's How To Book
I call this a Method actor's how to book because invariably Versace starts with the artistic motivations and aims before getting into the techniques to satisfy them. Read more
Published on August 13, 2008 by J. Melartin
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This is no hardcover.
Yes, I too have the same complaint on this item. And it is not just paperback but an extremely thin covered paperback. And as J. Diener said - you really can roll it it up like a cylinder! I too was expecting a coffee table quailty book, especially for the price.

Plus I had the additional... Read more
Jan 15, 2007 by Dorothy Lee |  See all 2 posts
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