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Understanding Exposure, 3rd Edition: How to Shoot Great Photographs with Any Camera
With more than 350,000 copies sold, Understanding Exposure has demystified the complex concepts of exposure for countless photographers. Now updated with current technologies, more than one hundred new images, and an all-new chapter, this new edition will inspire you more than ever to free yourself from “auto” and create the pictures you truly want.
In his trademark easy-to...more
In his trademark easy-to...more
Paperback, Revised and Updated Edition, 176 pages
Published
August 10th 2010
by Amphoto Books
(first published August 1st 1990)
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A true teacher and entertainer, Bryan Peterson writes as if he were walking students through a fun lecture course on photography. He introduces phrases that he uses again and again so that you, the student, start to fill in the answers before he finishes; he explains tricky technical details through memorable metaphor; he ties theory to his own photography, showing us just where he took his metering, and why. Halfway through the book you feel like a second semester student filling in all the jok...more
My husband bought me this book after I got my new bridge camera. I would not be without this 'bible', it is my centre of reference. I wanted to improve my skills as an amateur photographer and bought the camera for the zoom and many other options but I was a complete beginner. I have learnt so much from this wonderful guide and my photography has improved a lot. I am quite happy using manual mode, aperture, shutterspeed, playing with picture size, white balance to name just a few functions.
My da...more
My da...more
1 like · like · see review
I couldn't put this book down! I read almost all of it in one sitting. I am a very amateur photographer and I learned so much from this book. I learned the value of the manual setting and how to properly use it. I learned from where to meter light. I had no idea there was a problem metering light from black and from white images. I learned many insights into creatively composed images and how to make them. Very informative and well laid out. Easy to understand.
2 likes · like · see review
I purchased Understanding Exposure from a book catalog to which I subscribe. I have a small collection of photography books, mostly information-related, and this seemed like a good one to add to the shelves.
This is Bryan Peterson's Revised Edition, with the subtitle of "How to Shoot Great Photographs with A Film of Digital Camera." I shot film for many decades, and switched to digital just a few years ago; I was ready for some more tips on how to get the best from my pixelated (maybe pixilated :
...more
1 like · like · see review
This was an excellent book for beginners. It's also a great book for the more experienced. It is useless for a pro or advanced amateur photographer. The author gives a very easy to understand method for getting the correct "creative" exposure on any camera. He explains the three most important aspects and how to use them. They are ISO, aperture and shutter. He explains white balance. He explains the use of the flash. He tells you how to meter. He really helps get you out of using the "Auto" mode...more
"Understanding Exposure" is a must read for anyone venturing into the world of SLR photography for the first time. The 2010 update completely addresses, and, indeed, primarily focuses on, shooting digitally. Both Canon and Nikon are handled individually, while other notable manufactures get a mention here and there as well. Most surprisingly, within only the first 30 or 40 pages, I was able to shoot in full manual mode, and compose photographs that, while not prize-winning, were in focus and exp...more
One of my favorite photography books, this one taught me to venture into the world of manual camera settings and forget the A, S, and P modes. I've never looked back.
It's written in a clear, engaging style, and the author's examples and photos are fabulous. He's also got a sense of humor. His photographs hold up well even today and I love his style.
I think this is an essential for anyone who wants to learn the basics of aperture, shutter speed, and ISO.
It's written in a clear, engaging style, and the author's examples and photos are fabulous. He's also got a sense of humor. His photographs hold up well even today and I love his style.
I think this is an essential for anyone who wants to learn the basics of aperture, shutter speed, and ISO.
2 likes · like · see review
I think this book was too basic for what I already know. Peterson does a very good job explaining f-stop, shutter speed, and ISO. He begins to go a bit beyond and explain some of the WHY behind the HOW. However, he doesn't go very far beyond. Also, I found much of it marked with his hokey sense of humor, which was kind of irritating. Some of the pictures are beautiful, and he does write about how he made each image, but that isn't entirely useful to learning about the craft of photography.
Since...more
Since...more
A few thoughts:
1) Not the fault of the book, but I knew much (maybe 50%) of the material already.
2) It has beautiful photos, with explanations on how each was made. This was very useful.
3) The writing is lousy, with silly and unhelpful analogies. ISO is like buckets under a running water faucet? And stupid attempts at humor or something resembling it: the author doesn't eat donuts, but he does eat bagels and so will sometimes use a ring flash. Get it? Bagels are round and a ring flash is round...more
1) Not the fault of the book, but I knew much (maybe 50%) of the material already.
2) It has beautiful photos, with explanations on how each was made. This was very useful.
3) The writing is lousy, with silly and unhelpful analogies. ISO is like buckets under a running water faucet? And stupid attempts at humor or something resembling it: the author doesn't eat donuts, but he does eat bagels and so will sometimes use a ring flash. Get it? Bagels are round and a ring flash is round...more
Feb 22, 2007
Adam
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Beginning SLR photographers
This is easily the best introductory photography book I've ever read. It was a great refresher for the photography stuff that I've forgotten over the last 15 years, full of concise, easily understood explanations of useful photographic techniques. Some of the writing is corny, and the mnemonic devices get old pretty fast, but I'd still recommend it to anyone who wants to learn the basics of shooting with an SLR.
Took a break from reading novels to immerse myself in some meaty nonfiction, and this book wins the prize! I received a Digital SLR camera last year, and tried to take some photos on the "intelligent auto" mode; the photos didn't turn out very well, unfortunately. I knew that meant I'd have to spend some time with a good book, and devote lots of time to taking pictures.
Well, I've had a first read through this book, and have taken some photos. And while it will take me a bit longer to really gra...more
Well, I've had a first read through this book, and have taken some photos. And while it will take me a bit longer to really gra...more
This book provides the basics of shooting in manual mode and getting good exposures in a consistent fashion. Peterson clearly explains how the elements of your camera work together to produce different kinds of "creative" exposures, rather than the "correct" exposure you would get if you left it in Auto mode all the time. I did learn quite a bit from the book, and several things were clarified and I am no longer clueless about Manual mode.
However--
Peterson himself seems to be an "aperture first...more
However--
Peterson himself seems to be an "aperture first...more
My wife surprised me with a DSLR camera and a couple of lenses for my last birthday. I am loving it; I didn’t realize how much I wanted one. A friend recommended this book and I am glad he did. I found it very informative and enjoyable to read. Learning can be fun, whoduv thunk! It was not weighed down with a lot of technical jargon that would have shot right over my head and it did not dictate any rules that though shall follow. It stresses the concept that for every picture there is more than...more
This was a pretty decent book which, while I already knew a fair bit of this info regarding exposure, did provide me with some useful tips and techniques.
It does contain a couple of minor editing/typo issues in the first few pages but then I didn't notice any more after that. Of far more consequence, the images on p. 23 in support of "Understanding the Exposure Info in Your Viewfinder" are a complete mess. It took me a minute or so to figure out what the problem was and I understand this bit. I...more
It does contain a couple of minor editing/typo issues in the first few pages but then I didn't notice any more after that. Of far more consequence, the images on p. 23 in support of "Understanding the Exposure Info in Your Viewfinder" are a complete mess. It took me a minute or so to figure out what the problem was and I understand this bit. I...more
This is a great read for someone interested in learning the foundation of photography, well some of it at least. Peterson doesn't cover things, like composition for fairly obvious reasons. By no means is this a perfect book, the author has some rather strong opinions on certain things as far as photography goes, and he's not shy about sharing them. It never really becomes a problem, though, as he'll tell you when he's speaking from a place of opinion, and when to take what he's saying with a gra...more
Great for beginner photographers. Very easy to read and understand. If you just got a digital SLR and need some direction, this is the best place to start!
Truly the BEST photography book I have ever read. If you feel even a little unsure about how aperture, shutter speed and ISO work together then you MUST read this book (well, that is, if you WANT to know all that :) His explanations are so clear and easy to follow. This book taught me how to shoot in manual with confidence and ease. This book will allow you to explore photography with more creativity than ever before.
I was amazed at how much I learned, or understood more clearly, after reading...more
I was amazed at how much I learned, or understood more clearly, after reading...more
This book is really fun to read if you enjoy photography and want to learn more. I read the third edition and the style in which Bryan Peterson writes is very easy to understand. He discusses light meters, aperture, shutter speed, ISO, white balance, light, and flash. Much of the information is available online in blogs, but there is something about reading about all the information from one author that is compiled into one collection; it has an easy flow to it. There are also some videos to wat...more
I definitely learned things from this book. It has useful information about how aperture relates to depth of field and how ISO, aperture, and exposure time are related. For me, the tone of the book turned me off. The author comes across as very egotistical and condescending. At various points in the book he spends more time talking about how others are wrong and he knows better than the photography tip. His constant reference to the "correct exposure" was very frustrating. I see photography as a...more
Jun 15, 2012
Jonas Wiklund
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
non-fiction,
photography
A good introduction to elementary photography.
Sensitivity (film speed or signal gain of the sensor depending on medium), aperture, and shutter-speed and how they relate is explained in layman's term (which might be slightly annoying to readers with a pass grade in high-school physics). The workings of the built in exposure meter in a modern camera is partly explained and a few - but very useful – methods for getting the correct exposure in some common but quite difficult situations are given. T...more
Sensitivity (film speed or signal gain of the sensor depending on medium), aperture, and shutter-speed and how they relate is explained in layman's term (which might be slightly annoying to readers with a pass grade in high-school physics). The workings of the built in exposure meter in a modern camera is partly explained and a few - but very useful – methods for getting the correct exposure in some common but quite difficult situations are given. T...more
Everything I've learned about pitcher takin', I learned from this book. I've read ten photography book in the last year, and this is the only one that spells things out to a dunderhead amateur like me while not talking down or starting with things like 'This is the lens. Be sure to take the cap off.'
Peterson talks a bunch of gobbledygook, but than he shows an example of what all the gobbledygook produces. He even tells you the exact settings for evey photo he took for the book, so you can -goll...more
Peterson talks a bunch of gobbledygook, but than he shows an example of what all the gobbledygook produces. He even tells you the exact settings for evey photo he took for the book, so you can -goll...more
Understanding Exposure is regularly touted as the bible for understanding exposure; I guess it's lucky that Peterson titled the book as he did. I've had my copy for a while now – a generous Christmas or birthday present some years ago – and had kinda delayed even looking at it; somehow expecting some weighty tome of technical explanations. The subject is one that I pretty much felt I already had a good handle on – especially after the excellent (but sadly no longer available) article by Ryan Bre...more
I have been frustrated by the lack of local photography classes and since several people suggested I read this, I did. I am SO glad I did! This was a fantastic, thorough and VERY enlightening book about photography. And by photography, I mean TECHNICAL photography. Bryan Peterson didn't dwell on the oft discussed topics under the umbrella of composition. Instead, he explained the finer details of aperture, shutter speed and light and how to apply them all together for creatively perfect images....more
What separates good photos from great photos? More often than not, the answer is exposure. Not just whether a picture is too dark or too light, but the way exposure settings can affect things like composition, movement or even getting the shot at all.
Fortunately, there’s Bryan Peterson. In his best-selling guide “Understanding Exposure,” Peterson ‘exposes’ (sorry, we couldn’t help it) the secrets of obtaining the best, most impactful photographs using exposure, lighting, shutter speed and apertu...more
Fortunately, there’s Bryan Peterson. In his best-selling guide “Understanding Exposure,” Peterson ‘exposes’ (sorry, we couldn’t help it) the secrets of obtaining the best, most impactful photographs using exposure, lighting, shutter speed and apertu...more
Nov 23, 2010
Crystal
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Amateurs who are serious about getting good at photography.
Recommended to Crystal by:
Ariana
This book is awesome. My understanding of photography has grown leaps and bounds since reading it. The author gives the perfect balance of technical jargon and metaphor to explain how things work and why you would do something so that those going into the book with absolutely no knowledge of what an aperture is, how shutter speed works, and what ISO means can understand.
I'm so glad my friend recommended this to me. I'm really excited to try out what I've learned. I've been going around the hous...more
I'm so glad my friend recommended this to me. I'm really excited to try out what I've learned. I've been going around the hous...more
Until a couple of years ago I seldom took photos at all, leaving the task to my wife Carla when we were on vacation, or on special holidays or occasions. Then she gave me a fancy (at least to me it's fancy) Sony digital camera for Christmas. It's not an SRL, but it takes great pictures in auto mode, and I now take lots of photos. But I've never dared to try any of the many other features the camera has, never having quite understood aperture and shutter speed and all that. So some of my attempte...more
Peterson's books are top notch for learning about photography... and he lives or at least use to live in OR so that is an added bonus. This book is a pretty fast read, but it is chalk full of great info.. I had to read parts of it a few times to let it all sink in and I am sure I will buy it soon and reference it all the time.. I own two more of his books also .. reading one now.. and am looking to buy the rest of his collection as I continue my quest for photography knowledge.
Excellent book for the novice shooter: I'm a relatively new photographer, with a pretty good grasp of the technology behind it all. Even so, this book really crystallized some of the concepts that I had learned, but which hadn't become very clear yet. This book is probably not recommended for the advanced novice, and certainly not for the photographer, as this may already be stuff they know.
I'm not sure how useful this book would be to the very brand new beginner, as it gets into quite a bit of...more
I'm not sure how useful this book would be to the very brand new beginner, as it gets into quite a bit of...more
This is a great book for all levels of photographers. Peterson is an excellent teacher. Not too wordy but conveying the essential information. The book is loaded with important concepts that will help to transform your photography and take it to a new level. And every concept is illustrated with a photo from Peterson's own work with detailed explanations. Get this book if you want to take your photos to the next level!
This is awesome book to start with. This book really made me at home with that dreaded M mode of DSLR.
It's not a Bible though and you need to go out and learn yourself in practical situations.
But it does give you lots of ideas about choosing a right exposure for a given situation.
I have got some awesome Bokeh and slow shutters pics following this book.
A nice read if you love photography.
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Bryan F. Peterson has been a full-time commercial photographer since 1981, shooting assignments all over the world for many of the Fortune 500 companies, including Kodak, UPS, and American Expiress. He is also a contract stock photographer for Corbis and Getty. He has been a contributing editor at Outdoor Photographer Magazine and is currently a contributing editor at Popular Photography and Imagi...more
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07 sept. 10:48