Digital Photography Masterclass: Advanced Techniques for Creating Perfect Pictures

by Tom Ang

Digital Photography Masterclass is a one-on-one photography course, perfect for readers looking to master advanced techniques.

Structured around tutorials, assignments, and projects, and featuring key advice from experts, Digital Photography Masterclass provides the perfect guide to developing skills with your camera. With expert guidance and encouragement from Tom Ang, readers will learn how to snap masterful, stunning photographs.

Updated with the latest developments in technology and equipment, including new cameras, photo editing methods, and importing pictures, Digital Photography Masterclass teaches you how to take expert photos using expert techniques.

Genres: Photography, Nonfiction, Reference, Art, Art and Photography, How To

360 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2008

About the author

Photographer, author, traveler and academic. An early pioneer in digital photography, I have written over 30 books on photography as well as on video. This work was recognised by the award of the HIPA Content Producer Award in 2019. I also won the Thomas Cook award for best Illustrated Travel Book for my coverage of the Marco Polo Expedition.

I was senior lecturer in photographic practice at the University of Westminster for over 12 years (1991–2004) and created the MA Photographic Journalism course. For over 10 years I photographed in Central Asia, traveling in Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan. I led a Know How Fund project that helped equip a radio studio for radio students and which reformed the journalism curriculum for the Kyrgyz Russian Slavonic University in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.

I have written over thirty books on photography and video including Digital Photography Masterclass (now 3rd edition), Fundamentals of Photography,Tao of Photography, Digital Photographer’s Handbook (now 7th edition), Picture Editing (2nd edition), Eyewitness Companion: Photography, and Digital Video Handbook, How to Photograph Absolutely Everything.

I presented the BBC series ‘A Digital Picture of Britain’, first transmitted in 2005 on BBC4. A second series, entitled 'Britain in Pictures' was transmitted in 2007. I also presented an 8-part TV series for CNA (Channel News Asia) in Singapore which was broadcast in August 2009. This took a Bronze at the New York Film and TV Festival the following year.

I have served on juries of Hamdan International Photography Award, Wildlife Photographer of the Year, World Photography Award, Czech Press Photo.

I am a Sony NZ Digital Imaging Ambassador.

Reviews

[Jiaying · Rating 4 out of 5]

Likewise, this book has been an enlightening one. While the book on "Street Photography" was much more brief yet well-summarised, I like that this book goes into the details especially on creating certain effects. It was also from this book I got to know a few other old masters, whom despite coming from different fields shared the same passion for photography. Each effects also has their own terms which I also got to learn from. I'd say this book is almost like a personalised visual journal documenting the lessons gained and assignments to continue undertaking and applying. Each chapter has been really clear and I appreciated that.

[Vikas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a wonderful resource for all photographers. I am no longer a beginner so first few chapters which introduced camera functions and photography basics for all were not terribly important for me but still they are brilliantly explained in a simple language which is very easy to understand. Most of the topics are covered in different parts with each part explained in 2 or more pages with explanation photos all along the way. This is really a masterclass in photography which goes from basics of photography to the editing of images and then to the image management to secure your pics. I would recommend this book to all the aspiring photographers.

People who don't read generally ask me my reasons for reading. Simply put I just love reading and so to that end I have made it my motto to just Keep on Reading. I love to read everything except for Self Help books but even those once in a while. I read almost all the genre but YA, Fantasy, Biographies are the most. My favorite series is, of course, Harry Potter but then there are many more books that I just adore. I have bookcases filled with books which are waiting to be read so can't stay and spend more time in this review, so remember I loved reading this and love reading more, you should also read what you love and then just Keep on Reading.

[James Mason · Rating 5 out of 5]

I learned so much from this book. I really liked how it was laid out into tutorials rather than chapters: introduce a topic, show plenty of examples, then give an assignment with examples, and then critique some submissions. Appropriately, this book was absolutely full of photos to show you what the text was explaining. That was very effective. It was trickier to follow the Photoshop / digital editing tutorials just because it's a static book, not a video, so you can't see where things are in the menus and the impact of edits in real time. The book did the best it could by showing how some edits were done by showing step by step what the photo looked like. Throughout the book there were sub-panels on photos that would zoom in to show details of what was being described. The overall arch of the book was great too: from the basics of how digital cameras work to how to edit photos digitally, then to how these things come together for mastery, and finally interviews and photos from professional photographers in a variety of categories (artistic, landscape, wildlife, etc).
Very highly recommended for anyone with an interest in photography.

[Shawna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got this book to help me learn about the various settings and controls on my DSLR. My requirements for the text were that it have a glossary with commonly used technical terms and that it cover the basics of using the camera to capture different types of images (portrait, nature, landscape, macro, etc.) This book does both and so far so good. I'm taking it very, very slowly.

This text also offers assignments and breaks down photographs in each short section so that you learn how to critique and thereby improve your own work as you go. I recommend it in conjunction with your owner's manual or video how-to for the DSLR you have.

[Sheila Guevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great overview book for digital technique. There are plenty of great examples from each category and assignments at the end of each chapter.

Covers a broad range of topics:

City lights, still life; urban nature; city streets; pet portraits; light and shadow; portrait; landscape; nature photography; sports photography; action photos; wildlife; architecture; and spiritual.

A real how to and what to for anyone looking to master their DSLR camera.

[Kathleen Messmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

While this book is a little dated - 2006 - it still has a boatload of practical tips and exercises to assist in honing your photographic skills. There are critiques if images of other photographer's work which is helpful when visualizing what you want your project to look like. Overall, a really great, practical guide that I recommend to any photographer; beginner or not.

[Tina Panik · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phenomenal. Every page.

[Misbah Arif · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent guide for photographers who want to take their editing skills to the next level. The hands-on projects and image breakdowns are incredibly useful, especially for those who want to bridge the gap between capturing and perfecting a photo.

Recently, I’ve been exploring more tools and resources on photo enhancement — here’s a site I found useful:
https://reminimodapkai.com/

Highly recommend checking it out alongside this book.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Looked through this quickly and would like to spend more time with this book. Lots of good information. Easy to read and understand.

[Gill · Rating 4 out of 5]

A practical help to produce better photos. I used it during a summer in England and it completely changed my way of looking at things. Clear instructions, interesting projects and lasting results.

[Bruce Gumbert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good overview of digital photography. Nice introduction especially for those coming from the film world of photography

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great resource if a little dated in parts (published 2008).

[Fiona Angelica · Rating 3 out of 5]

An easy to follow book which I recommend for anyone new to photography.

However, for more intermediate/advanced users, and I myself as a Canon DSLR/photoshop/Lightroom user, the advice is given is too context independent. With regards to the manipulation chapters, a more software specific book would perhaps be more appropriate.

I thoroughly enjoyed the interviews with photographers from different niches, and the image evaluations from photographers were also insightful.

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Awesome book ! Great easy to read information. Lots of photos that are broken down to tell you about the different elements and techniques used in the photo. It's easy to read because of the way it's written but it not over-simple by any means! There are lots of technical explanations too. :)

[Joanagps · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. It has really good information on how to go about photography and improve technique, with exercises at the end of each chapter to keep you motivated and give pointers as to where to go next.

[Chrissy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think I will always be reading this book because it is such a great reference manual when I need to learn how to do something else with my camera. I really like Tom Ang's style and appreciate his books very much!

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Covers everything you need to know about your DSLR camera. Sometimes it's a bit over my head, but that pushes me to discover new things about my camera I didn't know it could do. This is not a beginner's book.

[Diogo · Rating 2 out of 5]

Tem vários exemplos, mas nem sempre os mais espectaculares. A manipulação de Photoshop não passa de uma introdução. É um livro para consolidar conhecimentos, não é de todo um livro para quem quer começar a aprender.

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book for photographers ready for slightly more advanced training. Not necessarily the easiest for a beginner. Nice to have a more advanced photographer handy to help with grasping some of the terms and ideas.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not that I'm a master by any stretch but the other digital photography book was for true novices. I really like how this book shows you 6 different shots of the same thing and how the different settings affected it. I'm hopeful it will help my photography improve even more.

[Josh · Rating 3 out of 5]

I borrowed this from my neighbor who is a good photographer. It is a good book. Each chapter discusses techniques and then give several good and bad examples of the technique. It definitely would make a good photography reference book.

[Becky · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not directly very helpful - no real information, just different sections on different aspects and types of photography, lots of sample photos but little real useful info. Got some decent ideas for things to try, further reinforcement to get a 50mm f1.8 prime lens.

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love it. This is the good stuff as far as photography books go. Ang knows how to make things easy to understand. I use this book as a reference before I go out for a shoot. I also use it whenever I want to brush up on my skills and expand as a photographer.

[Jonathan]

More of an invitation to experiment than didactic instruction.

[Craig · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very enjoyable. Tom explains complex info through pictures.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I checked this one out from the library and definitely need to purchase a copy. A handy reference for the novice, that's me, and loads of ideas.

[Nathan Rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun to look at.

[Jim Grasley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Advanced photographic and image manipulation techniques for creating perfect pictures. Lot's of advice and photo examples - perhaps too much.

[Adhi Rachdian · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's a great book.
It has really good information on how to improve technique, with motivation and philosophy from fame photographers.

[Mike Murray · Rating 4 out of 5]

tutorial 4