dSLR Dad

One of my favorite books from the first launch has also been rewritten for version 2. Mikkel Aaland’s Photoshop Lightroom 2 Adventure: Mastering Adobe’s Next-Generation Tool for Digital Photographers looks to be another great resource. More than just a Photoshop Lightroom user guide, it tells the story of a group of internationally renowned photographers that traveled to the remote island of Tasmania. There they photographed during the day and then used Lightroom 2 to manage, process, post, and print their images.

You can view all of the Tasmania Adventure Team’s Photo Galleries here.

This book and more can be found in the dSLR Dad Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 2 Resource Guide.

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Popularity: 5% [?]

Scott Kelby’s new book, The Photoshop Elements 6 Book for Digital Photographers, is now available. It was written in collaboration with Matt Kloskowski. The book is in stock and shipping from Amazon.

Publisher Book Description
Best-selling author Scott Kelby pairs up with Matt Kloskowski to deliver the definitive book on using Photoshop Elements 6 to create the best possible images. With this newest release of Photoshop Elements, Scott and Matt show readers how to work with their images like a pro, from importing to organization to correction to output. Readers will learn all they need to know about the digital photography workflow, as well as the latest secrets of the pros to help them create the best special effects, apply the most useful sharpening techniques, and avoid many of the hassles and problems that are encountered in digital photography (such as digital noise and color halos).

About the Authors

Scott Kelby is Editor-in-Chief of Photoshop User magazine, President of the National Association of Photoshop Professionals, Executive Editor of the Photoshop Elements Techniques newsletter, and is technical chair of Photoshop World, the largest Photoshop gathering in the industry. You can find out more at the Scott Kelby Amazon Page.

Matt Kloskowski is the Education and Curriculum Developer for the National Association of Photoshop Professionals, editor-in-chief of the Photoshop Elements Techniques newsletter, and (along with Scott Kelby and Dave Cross) co-host of Adobe Photoshop TV, the popular video podcast. For you Lightroom dSLR Dads, he also runs the Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Killer Tips website. A great source for video tutorials and develop presets (new ones every Monday).

Popularity: 10% [?]

Normally, since I have had the book for two weeks, I would have a complete review for you dSLR Dads. However, the dSLR Mom started reading Scott Kelby’s 7-Point System for Adobe Photoshop CS3 and now won’t give it back. So instead, let me give you the quick 10 min book review. As if you were in the book store, trying to decide to buy it over a Starbucks.

Scott Kelby’s 7-Point System for Adobe Photoshop CS3 is absolutely fantastic. It takes the entire Photoshop editing process and breaks it down to 7 key areas:

1. Camera RAW Processing (which is available in Adobe Photoshop CS3, Lightroom, and Elements 5 & 6)
2. Curves Adjustments
3. Shadow and Highlight
4. Painting with Light
5. Channels Adjustments
6. Layer Blend Modes & Layer Masks
7. Sharpening Techniques

That’s it. Those are the 7-points. Every subsequent chapter is a lesson in which you take a new photograph (which is available for download) and proceed to edit it, step-by-step, in any of those 7-points. You may not use all 7, but you will repeat them, over and over. If you are like me, you don’t use Adobe Photoshop every day. So when ever you do need to use it, you need an instruction book right beside you because you can’t remember all of the steps. This book solves that by repetition. Twenty-One lessons worth of repetition! I can’t wait to finish it and show you dSLR Dads the results from my work.

You can purchase Scott Kelby’s 7-Point System for Adobe Photoshop CS3 at Amazon here.

Popularity: 13% [?]

I just wanted everyone to know that I have updated a few things on The Media Shelf page. Most notably to you regular dSLR Dads is a brief review of From Camera To Print - A Fine Art Printing Video Tutorial by The Luminous Landscape and Scott Kelby’s 7-Point System for Adobe Photoshop CS3. I’ll be working on more in-depth reviews of those products at a later date.

For those of you who are new to dSLR Dad (and judging by the incoming StumbleUpon links there are quite a number of you), I have set up The Media Shelf to be a collection of books, video, and all things media that will be of great resource for the dSLR Dad.

Popularity: 24% [?]

I have updated the main page of the dSLR Dad Amazon Store to list the top twenty items that you dSLR Dad’s have voted for to finish off 2007. That vote of course being with what is most important, your own wallets. On the first ten products listed on the storefront, there are the top-five books.

So what were the Books that made it to the top 5?

1. Understanding Shutter Speed: Creative Action and Low-Light Photography Beyond 1/125 Second by Bryan Peterson
2. The Digital Photography Book by Scott Kelby
3. Scott Kelby’s 7-Point System for Adobe Photoshop CS3 by Scott Kelby (more…)
   

   Popularity: 7% [?]

   Tags: amazon, book, book store, camera book, dSLR Dad, Lens, photography book, photoshop book, SLR

High Dynamic Range Imaging for Photographers and CG Artists

For you dSLR Dad’s looking for a new avenue to try in photography, may I suggest High Dynamic Range Imaging (HDRI). HDRI is the process of combining photographs at different exposures (typically bracketed at +/- 2 stops). This allows you to keep proper detail in those tricky situations where you have a bright sky (the ‘blinkies’ on your LCD screen) mixed with objects that have shadow detail. One book that looks really promising (after my in-store review) is The HDRI Handbook: High Dynamic Range Imaging for Photographers and CG Artists by Christian Bloch. (more…)

Popularity: 12% [?]

The following is part of a much larger dSLR Dad Holiday Gift Guide:

I’ve been searching for books to add to the dSLR Dad Media Shelf that everyone would enjoy. So, I decided to start with my own bookshelf here at home. Mastering Digital Black and White: A Photographer’s Guide to High Quality Black-and-White Imaging and Printing (Digital Process and Print) by Amadou Diallo is a fantastic book. He does a great job of leading you through the digital darkroom process of black and white photography. (more…)

Popularity: 11% [?]

The following is part of a much larger dSLR Dad Holiday Gift Guide:

Ansel Adams: 400 Photographs presents the full spectrum Adams’ greatest work in a single volume for the first time, offering an entirely new perspective on his monumental career. The photographs are arranged chronologically into five major periods in order to convey Adams’ development as an artist-from his first photographs made in Yosemite and the High Sierra in 1916 to his work in the National Parks in the 1940s up to his last important photographs from the 1960s. You can order this wonderful book at the dSLR Dad Amazon Book Store.

Popularity: 6% [?]

Moose Peterson, wildlife and landscape photographer extraordinaire, has launched a new section of his site devoted to the Nikon D3. As a Nikon Legend Behind the Lens, he has had the opportunity to shoot extensively with the D3 over the last month.
I really enjoyed shooting with the Nikon D3, know you will as well! This is just a user report based on my first month of shooting with the D3. (more…)

Popularity: 8% [?]

For all you new dSLR Dad’s out there, here are some adapted excerpts from Erin Manning’s new book Portrait and Candid Photography Photo Workshop.

1. Turn off your flash and use a fast shutter speed (she recommends 1/250 sec or higher, I recommend at least a 1/2 stop faster for toddlers) to capture the action and produce sharper images. Newborns can move unexpectedly, and older infants and toddlers are always on the move. If the light is too low and you cannot use a fast shutter speed, try increasing your ISO.

2. Focus on the eyes, the eyes are the first place people look when viewing a portrait, so make sure the baby’s eyes are in focus in your image. To ensure sharpness, use the autofocus lock.

3.Use continuous shooting mode. Babies are often in constant movement. This is where you action photography skills come in handy. By using continuous drive mode you won’t miss any moments-between-the moments. Keep taking pictures even after you think the moment has passed.

4. Remember the details. A baby’s fingers and toes are tiny for only a short time, so don’t miss the opportunity to photograph these details. Set your camera to macro mode and get in close to fill the frame.

You can order this wonderful book at the dSLR Dad Amazon Book Store.

via PopPhotoFlash

Popularity: 6% [?]

Photoshop master Scott Kelby has a new book out on CS3. Please note, I have not yet received a copy for review for the Media Shelf, so this just an announcement. However, those of you who have relied of his instruction for helping you use Photoshop and Lightroom may want to check out Scott Kelby’s 7-Point System for Adobe Photoshop CS3 at Amazon.

He also has a video post here describing his new 7-point system.

Popularity: 5% [?]

Notice: I have not received a copy for review. Just information for you dSLR Dad readers who already upgraded to Photoshop Elements 6. O’Rilley is a very good, respected publisher in this space.

Press Release:

SEBASTOPOL, Calif. — Bestselling author Barbara Brundage, whose day job is playing the harp, didn’t plan on becoming an authority on Elements, one the world’s most popular photo-editing programs. Yet her newest publication — Photoshop Elements 6: The Missing Manual — clearly secures Barbara’s position as the premier Elements’ expert.

“I’m a lowly musician, but if I can learn Elements anyone can,” insists Barbara, the author of three previous books about Elements 3, 4 and 5. A few years back in 2001, Barbara chose Elements to create graphics for her new Web site and promo materials. She soon discovered the nifty software program also made arranging and publishing her harp music a whole lot easier. Then she got hooked on digital photography and relied on Elements to improve and organize her images.

“Fortunately, the folks at Missing Manuals know that sometimes it’s easier for someone who isn’t from a technical background to explain things to people who don’t have a lot of technical knowledge,” says Barbara about her road to authorship.

Indeed Barbara’s technical knowledge combined with her appealing, down-to-earth writing style made her a perfect addition to the Missing Manual roster of authors. Founded by New York Times technology columnist David Pogue, O’Reilly’s Missing Manual series specializes in producing beautifully written manuals for popular consumer software and hardware products — the book that should have been in the box.

Photoshop Elements 6: The Missing Manual provides the best possible guidance to scrapbookers, photographers at every level, budding graphic artists — anyone who wants to get the most out of the latest Elements upgrade. She clearly explains Photoshop Elements 6’s exciting array of new features, including the new Quick Edit function, Windows Vista compatibility, improved Raw conversion, a handy Quick Selection Tool and more. Under Barbara’s intelligent tutelage, readers learn how to:

Import organize and fix photos quickly and easily. Repair and restore old and damaged photos and retouch any image. Jazz up their pictures with dozens of filters, frames and special effects. Learn which tools the pros use — and finally understand how layers work! Create collages and photo layout pages for greeting cards and other projects. Get downloadable practice images and try new tricks right away.

Photoshop Elements 6: The Missing Manual progresses from simple to complex features. Those ready for the more sophisticated tools can easily jump around to learn specific techniques. As always, Barbara lets you know which Elements features work well, which don’t and why — all with a bit of wit and good humor. Adds Barbara: “Elements is wonderful software, but there’s a lot going on there. I wanted to help people find their way around and to understand some of the great things they can do with the program.”

Photoshop Elements 6: The Missing Manual is available through Imaging Resource’s Amazon discount program for $26.39.

Popularity: 4% [?]

OK Everybody. I think it’s time for a page just for resources that everyone should put on their “media shelf”. It’s going to contain more than just books, hence The Media Shelf.

First up are the two books that every photographer MUST OWN.

Popularity: 10% [?]