The Art of Digital Photography: Step Guide to Creating and Manipulating Great Images

by Tom Ang

Explains how digital cameras work and demonstrates a variety of techniques for manipulating digital photographs

Genres: Photography, Nonfiction, Reference

160 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

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

[Aimi Nibori Yiei · Rating 5 out of 5]

A few notes:
When you want to emphasize face features, shoot in black and white.
Red eyes.
Because the light source is so close to the lens, when it reaches the subject's eyes through the iris, it is reflected back into the lens by the retina. The red dots in the photo are visible because the retina is made up of blood vessels.

Photoshop tools that are used for professional photo editing:
-levels
-curves
-hue/saturation.
The contrast and brightness functions are regarded as too rough for professional use.

[Dolf van der Haven · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first two parts of the book are great, the first part for beginners, the second for more advanced photographers. Unfortunately, the rest of the book is about image post-processing, a.k.a. Photoshopping, which has plenty of coverage in books and online courses elsewhere.

[Roy McDine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superbly written and up to date with digital photography and professional editing techniques.

[Joseph Chen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little old so some of the technical advice don’t hold up well. Otherwise, pretty solid

[RickyTicky · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is NOT for beginners.

I have a feeling that the author lives on another planet where everybody is born knowing what focal length, aperture and exposure are. On my planet, all these words do not make sense for a person who has never been taught photography. I had to watch many videos on YouTube is be able to understand something from this book. Hated it. I'll say again: the book is NOT for beginners.

So on good side the book is:

+ helps to set up high standards,
+ covers lots of topics,
+ teaches a sense of good taste.

On the bad side:
- mostly boring to read,
- not enough info about how photography works and what terms mean,
- lots of photoshop tips which i didn't expect in a photography book.

I didn't enjoy it, tho learnt some useful things from it.

[Luke O'Neill · Rating 4 out of 5]

excellent back to basics photography guide. will be useful for all those planning on developing their photographic skills beyond point and shoot. will keep returning to it, useful reference guide.

[Paul · Rating 2 out of 5]

This edition was pretty dated by digital standards, but there was still plenty of interesting general information.

[Mousa · Rating 2 out of 5]

ككتابه السابق , لم يكن مفيدا جدا ولكن كان تنسيقه افضل وحوى بعض الفائدة خصوصا في تفرع اقسامه

ولكن يظل دون المستوى ~

ستكون آخر قراءة لي لهذا المؤلف "