Digital Photography Pocket Guide [Paperback]

With three kids, photos are important to me as I want to take capture many times of their lives so we may reflect on them with a visual aid. A good photo does make a difference. Again, three kids, who has time to read a book or take a class to become one with a camera? This pocket guide fills that need.

It has three chapters with quick reference tables in the back of the book. It's small enough to fit into your camera bag, laptop case, briefcase, suitcase, or jacket pocket. The chapters address what is it, what do I do, and how do I questions.

What is it covers the basic, intermediate, and advanced features found on digital cameras. It's the shortest chapter as once you get familiar with the features, you won't need the chapter anymore and you still have roughly 85 pages of material to support you when you're out there trying to capture the world you see.

Once you've conquered the buttons and figured out what most of the symbols and modes mean, you're ready to dig deeper into the features and gain control of the camera with answers to your what does it do types of questions relating to exposure and flash compensation, white balance, ISO speed, and resolution.

The last chapter is more free flowing as you and the camera have become one. Get tips on taking outdoor and group shots including sporting events where players are moving fast. Capture kids, travel spots, and wedding memories with class as kids grow up, you may not return to the same places, and weddings happen only once (we would hope unless it's a renewal of vows).

Adding this book to your camera bag is a step toward to better pictures and better understanding of those fancy photography terms, which aren't a big deal after you read author Derrick Story's simple and clear explanations.

First I will tell you why this book is good for me and then you decide if it is good for you! First few words about me:

I am not a professional photographer -- I am a professional web developer! I do not know much about aperture, exposure, white balance, etc. I am a newly-minted father whose task is to launch a new website with new photos of his beautiful daughter taken with a newly purchased Canon digital camera... All these new things can be daunting.

Here comes help from O'Reilly. I know O'Reilly for their wonderful computer books. I did not know O'Reilly could deliver such high quality consumer information for digital media novices and professionals alike.

The book tells you:

1. The basics of your digital camera.
2. How to operate it and take full advantage of its features.
3. How to achieve success with specific tasks: taking outdoor portraits, taking interesting children shots (try taking a photo of a three-week old baby!), creative architecture shots, landscapes that would make you feel like a pro, and so on...

Last but not least, the book shares computer tips and tricks which would be helpful for any digital camera user, whether professional or amateur: working with RAW files, sending and archiving photos and preparing them for print.

The quick reference tables listed in the appendix of this wonderful pocket guide alone would justify its gentle price ($14.95 in the US):

- exposure compensation reference guide
- flash mode settings
- white balance settings
- metering modes explained in plain English
- camera modes explained in plain English
- reference of number of pictures per memory card depending on its capacity
- etc, etc.

If you spend $300+ on a decent digital camera and all you can use is just its basic auto modes, you are not doing yourself and your camera justice. For less than $15 more with the help of O'Reilly and this pleasantly witty and informative guide written by Derrick Story, you would multiple the value of your digital photography investment -- by taking, storing and sharing better photos quicker and with higher quality and artistry!

All in all, the book is a perfect way to quickly understand both your camera and the science of photography. There are definitely books that are more comprehensive, but none that are as practical in as short a volume as you'll find here.