JM de Bont said
Steven Johnson Is someone that knows what he is doing and I am happy that there are still people like him in this world. Not only is he a true professional photographer but he is also aware of ethical and environmental issues regarding photography. I had the luck to be in one of his workshops and I an recommend it to you all. This book guided me there and I will never regret it. So buy the book and learn how to take real pictures. :-)
Eric Flescher said
Strengths: This practical guide has extensive information integrated with the screenshots, exquisite photographs and visuals. The tutorials and information are well done and provide much assistance for those Mac users who want to become familiar and gain and understanding of their system. Good for those who are starting with Macs or want to become more efficient with the
Weaknesses: Questions relating to troubleshooting in the first chapter could have better been placed in a section at the end or integrated into another chapter.
The author Stephen Johnson is a landscape photographer, designer and teacher. He a world recognized digital photographer and pioneer. Many of his remarkable photographs are part of many collections in world institutions. Many of this photos and world famous photos from other photographers showcase the techniques and photographic topics.
Chapter 1 focuses with a great a great introduction to several reasons for working with digital imagery. Specific conceptual troubleshooting issues are elaborated upon while focusing upon real problems. However with all the emphasis on perfectionistic photography throughout the later parts of the book it was interesting how troubleshooting techniques were placed here. Possibly this was done to focus on what can go wrong to further demonstrate proper techniques but this section should most likely have been placed elsewhere as in the appendix.
The 21 chapters have sections relating to basics of digital photography, Film camera techniques vs. digital, Practical approaches of the non film photographer, Techniques of the digital darkroom , A photographer (tm)s digital journey, Photography, art and the future. Among the most interesting parts of the book are a section on compositing and faking of images (Chapter 19 : Photography and Truth - Imaging Ethics in the Digital Age), highlighted using photographs of space missions, Mt. St. Helens, and war related images. These different perspectives give a fresh perspective on comparing and contrasting historical and other techniques. What I liked is that photographic perspectives related to me personally and could relate to others based on how old you are. The author's perspectives and photographs of him standing on the rim of the crater of Mt. St. Helens compared to my experience as a teacher that was allowed to helicopter into the crater and videotape and photograph the inside of the crater. Other readers will relate to many other photos while others will be amused or uplifted by the clarity and poignant qualities of the photographs.
Conclusion:
This book is thoughtfully produced and comprehensively written. The author has crafted a book which covers many views of digital photography taken from a historical perspective as photography has progressed through time. While it is guide, it is not an easy. The troubleshooting perspectives, which I thought should go elsewhere, were important and would help with beginning essentials. It is the additional views and perspectives that this guide has in the rest of the book that a photographer can use over time, for producing better digital photographs. The bottom line it is not an easy read. You will have to pause and reflect on the importance of digital photography through the "eyes " of the author. That is what makes a great read.
Carl Amoth said
'Stephen Johnson on Digital Photography' is an excellent book on the tools, techniques, science, history, and art of digital photography that will appeal to digital photographers of any skill level. Johnson is a genuine pioneer and evangelist in the field of digital photography. Drawing on over three decades of experience as an accomplished photographer, educator, and product consultant to the "Who's Whos" of the digital imaging industry, Johnson succinctly and eloquently imparts to the reader/student practical and interesting information on a variety of subjects. I found the coverage of digital camera techniques, color correction and editing, color management, and fine-art printing particularly useful. This information has truly helped me to make better photographs.
'On Digital Photography' is a timeless and inspiring book that is thoughtfully organized, richly furnished with numerous beautiful and educational 5-color photographs, and superbly bound with quality paper and a resilient binding. It's manufactured to last, which is great, as I refer to it often.
Harold McFarland said
This book starts with the basics of working with digital photography and a basic guide to digital cameras. The author does a particularly good job of discussing both the similarities and the differences in film and digital camera techniques including dealing with sensor artifact repair and sensor noise. As the leading professional digital photography software most of the examples are detailed using Photoshop. Using this product Stephen Johnson discusses how and why to adjust tone and contrast, color correction and editing, changing hue and saturation, and photographic reproduction.
Throughout the book are beautiful examples of the techniques being presented including realistic photography, sensor matched techniques, scanning camera photography, and photography as art. Mr. Johnson does not have his head in the clouds when it concerns digital photography. He realizes that there are still advances that need to be made in the area of digital photography and discusses them candidly.
Stephen Johnson on Digital Photography is a well written, easy to follow, easy to understand, and very approachable introduction to digital photography as both a science and an art form. While most books on digital photography work only with the digital darkroom options this book provides a detailed understanding of each step of creating a digital photograph including how the camera works and why it is important for you to understand how it works. He discusses how various camera features affect the end result. And because of this more complete approach to the subject as well as the quality of the information Stephen Johnson on Digital Photography is a highly recommended purchase.
Manny Hernandez said
Steve Johnson has been at the forefront of the digital photography movement since it became possible to shoot photos digitally, completely abandoning film as early as 1994. He also helped push the envelope of technology by collaborating with manufacturers and software companies, to help refine many of the technologies that today make digital photography not only possible but far superior than its film-based counterpart.
In this book, Johnson takes a trip on which he takes us by the hand. This is no trip for the casual or amateur digital photographer, though there are introductory pages to the many topics he covers. He quickly dives into the depths of each chapter, covering everything from history and techniques of digital photography to a philosophical discussion about the medium as art, imaging ethics and the role of photographers in the digital age.
The result of Johnson's work in "Stephen Johnson on Digital Photography" is a 300-page volume that will surely become a standard in the desks of those passionate about digital photography.
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