A digital camera is functionally identical to a traditional film camera in all respects except image storage, right? Not at all, and Mikkel Aaland shows exactly why in his excellent Shooting Digital. He shows why digital cameras--the point-and-shoot variety as well as fancier models meant for professional photographers--are overall neither better nor worse than cameras of older design, and goes on to show you how to take advantage of their special traits. He shows how to compensate for their shortcomings, too, notably shutter lag (for which he documents a useful testing procedure) and color fringing. Though there's some coverage of creating animated GIFs, this book generally sticks to shooting time and leaves editing to other volumes.

Aaland never forgets that digital cameras should be more cameras than digital, and his book serves as an excellent photography text for hobbyists and aspiring professionals. The author's advice in this area is both technical (how to light a still life and how to best a strobe to eliminate shadows) and artistic (why kids should be encouraged to photograph other kids, and how you can use perspective to create weird effects). He's an accomplished photographer who obviously loves his work, and his enthusiasm for making art with a camera--and, for that matter, just playing with one--come through brilliantly. --David Wall

Topics covered: Photography--of objects, people, places, action, nature, and other subjects--as accomplished with a modern digital camera. Emphasis falls on the relationship between camera and subject, as defined by focus, lighting, composition, and motion. Further attention goes to image manipulation accomplished via camera settings (like white balance and exposure, and, a little bit, to post-shoot processing with image software. There's also nice coverage of the differences among various image file formats.


Michael Rogers, The Practical Futurist, Newsweek.com
"Shooting Digital is perhaps the most detailed popular guide to using digital cameras yet assembled..."


Leo Laporte, Host of TechTV's The ScreenSavers
"There is no better guide to the magical transformation of light and dark into bits and bytes."


Book Description
Shooting Digital is a unique, full-color guide to the art and craft of taking great pictures with your digital camera. With his exceptionally personable style, acclaimed author and professional photographer Mikkel Aaland shows beginning and intermediate photographers how to improve their shots, while helping more experienced photographers make the transition from traditional cameras to digital. Throughout, he gives techniques for taking great pictures with digital cameras, using step-by-step examples and case studies contributed by a team of professional photographers. These are complemented by stunning images that will inspire readers to take their digital photos to the next level. Topics covered include: Bridging the gap between film and digital; choosing the right digital camera; taking great portraits; photographing groups and social events; secrets of good travel photography; getting great action shots; shooting architecture and interiors; making beautiful landscapes; shooting merchandise; panoramics and VR; organizing and sharing digital photos; and more. Sidebars show how to get the most out of digital cameras and accessories and how to use software like Adobe Photoshop Elements to improve photos. Filled with valuable insights and instruction, this book's outstanding written content is matched by its elegant design, high-quality coated paper, and hundreds of full-color images.


From the Back Cover
"Be a part of the revolution." -- Leo Laporte, TechTV Shooting Digital is the authoritative guide to getting the most out of your digital camera. Noted photographer and best-selling author Mikkel Aaland has drawn on his 28 years of experience in the field and collected wisdom and images from more than 30 contributors, many of them professional photographers who shoot digital every day. The result is a wealth of pro tips, shooting techniques, and technical recommendations, accompanied by stunning photographs. Whether you're a digital photographer honing your skills or a film photographer making the transition to digital, you'll be inspired and equipped to get consistently great results. Through straightforward explanation and illustrative examples you'll learn how to: Use digital-specific techniques to take great pictures of people, events, sports, landscapes, buildings, and products Fully exploit the minimovie capabilities of your digital camera Recognize and compensate for the dreaded shutter release lag Use the LCD preview to turn portrait subjects into collaborators Create stunning panoramas and object movies Work with RAW data, the holy grail of digital photography Extend the tonal range of digital cameras Archive your digital images while on the roadAnd much more...


About the Author
Mikkel Aaland is an award-winning photographer and author of eight books, including Digital Photography, Photoshop for the Web, and Photoshop Elements 2 Solutions. His photography has been published in Wired, Newsweek, and several European periodicals. His work has also been exhibited in major institutions around the world, including the Bibliothèque Nationale in Paris and the former Lenin Museum in Prague.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Shooting Digital is the authoritative guide to getting the most out of your digital camera. Noted photographer and best-selling author Mikkel Aaland has drawn on his 28 years of experience in the field and collected wisdom and images from more than 30 contributors, many of them professional photographers who shoot digital every day. The result is a wealth of pro tips, shooting techniques, and technical recommendations, accompanied by stunning photographs. Whether you're a digital photographer honing your skills or a film photographer making the transition to digital, you'll be inspired and equipped to get consistently great results.

Through straightforward explanation and illustrative examples you'll learn how to:
Use digital-specific techniques to take great pictures of people, events, sports, landscapes, buildings, and products
Fully exploit the minimovie capabilities of your digital camera
Recognize and compensate for the dreaded shutter release lag
Use the LCD preview to turn portrait subjects into collaborators
Create stunning panoramas and object movies
Work with RAW data, the holy grail of digital photography
Extend the tonal range of digital cameras
Archive your digital images while on the road
And much more...

About the Author
Mikkel Aaland is an award-winning photographer and author of eight books, including Digital Photography, Photoshop for the Web, and Photoshop Elements 2 Solutions. His photography has been published in Wired, Newsweek, and several European periodicals. His work has also been exhibited in major institutions around the world, including the Biblioth￯﾿ﾽque Nationale in Paris and the former Lenin Museum in Prague.

SYNOPSIS

Shooting Digital is a unique, full-color guide to the art and craft of taking great pictures with your digital camera. With his exceptionally personable style, acclaimed author and professional photographer Mikkel Aaland shows beginning and intermediate photographers how to improve their shots, while helping more experienced photographers make the transition from traditional cameras to digital. Throughout, he gives techniques for taking great pictures with digital cameras, using step-by-step examples and case studies contributed by a team of professional photographers. These are complemented by stunning images that will inspire readers to take their digital photos to the next level.

Topics covered include: Bridging the gap between film and digital; choosing the right digital camera; taking great portraits; photographing groups and social events; secrets of good travel photography; getting great action shots; shooting architecture and interiors; making beautiful landscapes; shooting merchandise; panoramics and VR; organizing and sharing digital photos; and more. Sidebars show how to get the most out of digital cameras and accessories and how to use software like Adobe Photoshop Elements to improve photos.