Adobe Photoshop Master Class: John Paul Caponigro (2nd Edition) (Paperback)

~ (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

The author (the son of Paul Caponigro, a photographer in the tradition of Minor White and Ansel Adams) of Adobe Photoshop Master Class is a skilled art photographer who specializes in intriguing naturescapes that often employ compositing and mirroring. In this book, he shares the photographic wisdom and Photoshop methods that helped create these colorful, mysterious images.

The title is appropriate: the book is modeled after master classes with performance artists; for example, operatic training with Maria Callas. The readers get to see, in detail, Caponigro's techniques and read his philosophies. This demonstration includes Photoshop basics that apply to all types of digital imaging, including calibration, adjustment layers, variations, levels, and curves. It also covers visual principles that are essential to photography in general, like proportion, scale, light, and shadows (including Ansel Adams's Zone system), and--important in the author's own work--reflection and tessellation.

The images, which are generally devoid of the human form, have an otherworldly stillness. Their quiet intensity translates well into book form: the typography and layout resemble a museum catalog, with widely leaded, delicate lines of type. Readers who prefer skimming through how-to books for quick results will be daunted by the level of in-depth attention that this book demands. On the other hand, those who hope to use Photoshop for high-end digital imaging (not just preparing JPEGs for the Web or 600-dpi images for print) will be rewarded by the author's extensive experience and painstaking attention to detail.

Most chapters discuss different issues (e.g., color or shadows) and use Caponigro's images as examples. The discussion is in a narrative form, with quotes and references to artists of all kinds, from Matisse to Goethe. It's like gaining admission to the most competitive graduate seminar, hosted by a renowned artist-in-residence. --Angelynn Grant

Topics covered:

Techniques for using Photoshop (version 5 or higher) on fine digital imaging, including:

• Monitor calibration
• Image resolution
• Applying levels and curves to the Zone system
• Output to print or film

And photographic issues and Photoshop methods used in the author's work, including:

• Photomontage
• Proportion
• Contrast
• Color
• Multiple exposure

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Description

Adobe Photoshop Master Class: John Paul Caponigro, 2nd Edition is no ordinary book on Photoshop. It is a true master class by renowned artist and photographer John Paul Caponigro, in which he shares his insights and discoveries as a visual artist. Although the book contains step-by-step tutorials that deconstruct some of Caponigro's most inspirational photographic works, the emphasis is on technique and visual problem solving, enabling you to take the concepts and apply them to your own unique projects. Updated for Photoshop 7, the revised edition of this master class includes numerous new and revised chapters that explain how to achieve color accuracy and extend dynamic range, direct attention through focus, control atmospheric perspective, and more. You don't have to be a professional photographer to appreciate and learn from this beautiful and informative book—Caponigro starts out with a section covering Photoshop essentials before moving on to more advanced artistic techniques.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 504 pages
• Publisher: Adobe Press; 2 edition (February 24, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0321130103
• ISBN-13: 978-0321130105
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 8.8 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (31 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #637,811 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

52 of 53 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The art not the gimmicks of Photoshop, October 16, 2000

By	Charles W. Stevenson "Chuck Stevenson" (Cortez, FL USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Adobe Photoshop Master Class: John Paul Caponigro (Paperback)

The shelves are loaded with books about Photoshop. Now with the release of 6.0, there will be many more. Unfortunately nearly all of these books focus exclusively on how to use this powerful and complex tool. Very little is said about the artistic and creative potential that it contains. Unfortunately, just because you can do something with Photoshop, it doesn't mean that you should.

This book is diferent! Mr. Caponigro approaches Photoshop as a painter approaches his canvas and palette. The book is profusely illustrated with examples of the beauty that can be created in this new world of digital image manipulation. Not only does it illustrate the results that can be obtained, but it also gives a concise explanation of the tools used. Furthermore, The book reflects the changes of release 6.0.

"Master Class" is well worth owning for its beauty even if you are not a Photoshop user. Looking at these illustrations however, will certainly encourage many to embark on the journey toward mastery of this exciting new artistic medium.

39 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars How an artist uses Photoshop, February 17, 2001

By	Bill Hilton (Arizona) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Adobe Photoshop Master Class: John Paul Caponigro (Paperback)

I first saw John Paul Caponigro's images 3 years ago and thought he was an exceptional artist. His book describes some of the Photoshop techniques he uses to create his art, a melding of traditional photography with digital techniques. I especially enjoyed the chapters on creating atmospheric perspective, compositing images, creating shadows and generating symmetry. He also offers a different perspective on how to use many of the Photoshop tools.

This is not a book for a beginner wanting to learn Photoshop ('Classroom in a Book' is my suggestion), nor perhaps for an intermediate (I recommend 'Photoshop Artistry') but for someone who is familiar with the program and who wants to learn the techniques of a highly skilled artist 'Master Class' is a good choice. Some may find his musings on his artistic choices too Zen-like but if you like his art you'll probably love the book. I certainly did.

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A goldmine, August 29, 2001

By	Frank Neunemann (Gladbeck, Germany) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Adobe Photoshop Master Class: John Paul Caponigro (Paperback)

John Paul Caponigro's books is a most refreshing addition to the vast array of Photoshop books available today. Crammed full with hands on, most competent technical advice (e.g. on how to get your whole computer setup properly calibrated) this books is full of creative and inspiring ideas for photographers who like to add some more digital "punch" to their work.
Today we are getting drowned in PhotoShop "How-To", "Magic" and all sorts of titles, but there are only very, very few books for those who are looking for new ways to solve problems and get more out of their photos using Adobe Photoshop.
This book is especially useful for landscape photographers, but Caponigro's ideas can be transferred to other subject areas as well. Many of John Paul Caponigro's images are outright Daliesque (surrealistic) and can start an avalanche of new ideas in one's brain.
A most profitable read for many photographers, but it definitely is no book for PhotoShop beginners. A definite 5-star...