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Creative Techniques with Nik Software by Jim Zuckerman
This is a second new ebook from Zuckerman, but this one is totally about how he uses Nik Software to create many of his images. It has 79 pages with 11 chapters that include, Creating light, Control points, Combining F/x, and the newly popular HDR. The chapters don’t just “tell” you how the program was used, but it also includes screen shots of the tool settings showing what amounts were used on the sliders. If you are into special effects with some of your images there is also a chapter on “Grunge” that I see him use in a lot of his images. Another special effect covered in the ebook is on blending modes for those who like to also add textures to their images. One other feature he covers, that this software has, is the ability to actually “ADD” sunlight to an image. But the HDR section is probably the one that most people are going to use a lot, I know I am, is the last chapter on HDR. It covers both how to do the grunge effects that a lot of people turn their HDR images into, but mainly it covers the way to get an HDR image to look natural the way it would look if it would of had totally balanced lighting. All I can say is that if you want your images to have that extra quality, then this is one book you should have on hand.
You can purchase Jim’s ebook for just $9.95 on his website at www.jimzuckerman.com/ebooks.php.
PANOBOOK 2011 by Kolor - Developer of image stitching software.
This is the first book I have ever reviewed that was put out by a company and not an author, but I like it! There is no How-To info in this book other than the technical details given for each image. The whole book is on Pano (panoramic) images, so the book is a pano shape and when opened you will see some images that measure 2-feet across. (The 2-page spread of the Egyptian Pyramids is enough to hook anyone on pano work for life) There are nine different pano subjects including, Architecture, Cityscapes, and Interiors. A great book for your coffee table that everyone will be looking at.
This hardback book is about 8x12 inches, with 240 pages, retails for US-$39.95 - and is published by RockyNook and distributed by O’Reilly Media and can be checked out at www.oreilly.com. I Rate it: A+
Marketing Fine Art Photography by Alain Briot
Here is a new reference book that anyone, and everyone, who would like to have their photography pay for it-self needs to have. You only have to look at the internet to see how many gallery sites that are selling prints. (I have some of my work in three of them) But the internet is not the only place a photographer can sell their work, and this book covers all of them, including how-to info and tips on up-to date techniques tested and used in the field. The sales info you will get in this book will pay for itself in no time.
This hardback book is about 8x10 inches, with 313 pages, retails for US-$44.95 - and is published by RockyNook and distributed by O’Reilly Media and can be checked out at www.oreilly.com. I Rate it: A+
Flash Techniques for Macro and Close-up Photography by Rod and Robin Deutschmann
I have seen my share of lighting books, and Macro books, but I cannot remember seeing one on the two subjects together. The book is well illustrated to show you how all the different macro subjects are lit, including step-by-step and before and after images. There is also macro info in this book that you don’t find in most others, such as how to “reverse” a lens to get even more magnification. I did some of that 25 years ago and have not seen anyone talk about it since, and it is a shame since it is such a good way to capture extreme close-ups, and it is also a really cheap way of doing it. Now you’ll have to buy the book to find out what I am talking about, but it will be more than worth it.
This soft cover book is about 9x11 inches, with 126 pages, retails for US $34.95 and is published by Amherst Media at www.AmherstMedia.com. I Rate it: A
Paul W. Faust is a self-taught Photographer, Writer, Digital Imaging, Photo Restoration, and Photo Stock Service professional. You can see more of his images on his web site at www.Impressions-of-Light.com plus two web galleries of his images at www.paul-w-faust.artistwebsites.com and www.redbubble.com/people/pwfiol.
