Basic Photography, Seventh Edition (Paperback)

by Michael Langford (Author) "Basically photography is a combination of visual imagination and design, craft skills, and practical organizing ability..." (more)
Key Phrases: direct viewfinder cameras, black silver image, rollfilm cameras, Advanced Photography, Bill Brandt, Fay Godwin (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
Reviews of seventh edition:

"A simply excellent introduction to photography - both for students and home enthusiasts" Online reviewer - Amazon

"I found this book to be the best that I have ever seen on the subject of photography not only for 'basic' knowledge but for far more advanced subjects. It is clear, precise, easy to read and more important, easy to understand and apply."
Robert A. Freson, Professional Travel and Nature Photographer

Reviews of previous editions:

"This is a book that no one who takes photography seriously should be without." Amateur Photographer

"The book has remained the standard introductory work for aspiring professional photographers. The book as a whole deserves the highest praise." The British Journal of Photography

"Will provide a good grounding in principles, as well as a number of useful tips based on the science. For the more serious enthusiast, a must-have." Online reviewer - Amazon -- Review

Review
Reviews of seventh edition:

"A simply excellent introduction to photography - both for students and home enthusiasts" Online reviewer - Amazon

"I found this book to be the best that I have ever seen on the subject of photography not only for 'basic' knowledge but for far more advanced subjects. It is clear, precise, easy to read and more important, easy to understand and apply."
Robert A. Freson, Professional Travel and Nature Photographer

Reviews of previous editions:

"This is a book that no one who takes photography seriously should be without." Amateur Photographer

"The book has remained the standard introductory work for aspiring professional photographers. The book as a whole deserves the highest praise." The British Journal of Photography

"Will provide a good grounding in principles, as well as a number of useful tips based on the science. For the more serious enthusiast, a must-have." Online reviewer - Amazon

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Focal Press; 7 edition (September 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0240515927
• ISBN-13: 978-0240515922
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 7.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #391,687 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

49 of 50 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A hidden flower..., November 29, 2000

By	Max Grenkowitz "BookWorm" (Australia) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book is a little asset... under-sold by stating "First published in 1965, this time-tested textbook, now in its sixth edition..." should read the other way around "Now in its seventh edition, this time-tested textbook, first published in 1965..."

I have compared various titles regarding 'basic photography'. but this is the best I have read so far. If you really want to know how to get there, to understand basic photography, then this is the book you should consider seriously, not to say a must.

Why is it so? First of all the title is 'basic photography', but a very rich 'basic'. It covers the lot from light rays to dark room, from Advanced Photo System (APS) to Digital Photography.

There is no shortcut if you want to know the basics: depth of field, focal length, etc. Michael Langford put this nicely in words: learning photography is like learning to write; you learn the characters and building the words, the sentences; you can write, but will you ever be a poet? In is book, Michael gives you the characters, helps you building the sentences. It's up to you to become a poet.

The style of the book is very helpful. A chapter starts with an introduction, followed by a thorough explanation (with references pointing to other chapters for more detail and to draw out the big picture). The chapter concludes with a summary about what has been discussed, and -- and this is the bit I appreciated most -- a projects section, encouraging you to do your own 'homework' in form of practicing and testing the theory... which in return will help you to understand the topic.

I have become a novice again in regard to photography. I haven't really used a camera during the past ten years and utilise(d) this book to re-build my knowledge from ground up.

This again, is possible with this book (I will read it many more times; and I have read it multiple times, targeting specific chapters to answer my questions in depth). The author provides facts, with a hint here and there, to allow you to make your own judgement and to allow you to grow in your field of preference.

There are many photographs of renown photographers, not to make you look small, but to highlight how virtuous the reader can develop his/her skills, explicitly asking you not to copy style, but encouraging you to develop your own.

With (t)his book, Michael Langford gives you the 'basic' on 360 pages in a very detailed, thoughtful and versatile course book (how I would call it).

All I can say is "enjoy" ... I am sure I will refer to this book in years to come.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Photography... where it all begins, March 13, 2005

By	Sym Wong A. Ton "Landscape Photographer" (Wellington, New Zealand) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Basic Photography is a book explaining the basics of photography, technically as well as creatively, in a clear and easy to understand way. If you want to know how a camera (35mm SLR, medium-format, large-format, digital) or f-stops work, this is the book for you. It is a good book for beginners just starting out in photography as well as advanced photographers who just want to fill in the gaps of technical understanding.

Although this book does contain some mathematical equations, you do not need to know mathematics or physics to understand the concepts explained in the book. Here's an excerpt from the book's introduction: "It is intended for students of all ages and, beginning at square one, assumes that you have no theoretical knowledge of photography, nor any scientific background."

It won't teach you how to shoot beautiful pictures, but rather tell and show you what it takes in terms of photo equipment, working with photo equipment, light, and technique to produce photographs from exposure to final print. This book is not specific to any type of photography, but deals with photography in general and is basically a 'how photography works' kind of book. "In short, Basic Photography is planned as a primer for professionals which will interest and inform amateur photographers too."

Basic Photography is the kind of book I should have read when I was first starting out in landscape photography; it would have definitely made my life and learning easier.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Basically thorough, July 12, 2002

By	S. Ellaway "welshphoto" (Cardiff, wales) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The Michael Langford "basic Photography" (together with: Advanced Photography") has been the photography textbook bible to most British academic institutions for over 30 years - BUT DON'T LET THAT PUT YOU OFF! This is a well written, beautifully illustrated and comprehensive journal detailing all that you need to know about contemporary photographic techniques.

The book is logically constructed, starting with relevant but facinating descriptions of the physical properties of light and ending with chapters on digital photography, mountng & presentation and in depth technical data.

This book would be a useful and enjoyable companion to both the enthusiastic beginer and practising professional, all the information is simply but not patronizingly explained. This is probably the most authoritive, even definative, textual study of photographic techniques available today.