I had the pleasure of reading through the highly acclaimed photography book The Moment It Clicks by world-renowned photographer Joe McNally. My official assessment? WOW!

Each page is filled with stories, insights, behind-the-scenes tips about setups, and of course some of Joe’s amazing work. We are treated to a look behind the lens into the unpredictable world of professional photography at the hands of one of the industry’s masters.

Throughout the book, Joe takes an image and uses it to illustrate an important concept or technique. Whether it’s how to bounce light from one source to fill an area of your subject or how to soften sunlight coming through a window or how to get your subject(s) to look more natural.

Though he doesn’t give an exact lighting diagram - which a number of reviewers had hoped for - many of the amazing images come with a short discussion about the position and number of lights in relation to the camera and subject and what to look out for while setting up a similar shot.

It’s not just about lights and angles, though. Yes, using interesting lighting, compositions, and poses help to make your images look their best the main thing is always the subject and how that subject is communicating with the viewer. Photography can be a very intimate medium, capturing moments in time, conveying emotion, telling stories. As Joe talks about over and over in the book, light and color are what we as photographers use to tell those stories.

Along with the opportunity to examine the tremendous examples of Joe’s art, the chance to read the stories behind the images were just as moving and truly set this book apart from your average “how-to” or “coffee-table” book.

Joe’s style is conversational. Just as the idea for the book was inspired by one of Joe’s live presentations, the book is told as though you are sitting with Joe and asked him to tell you how he accomplished this photo or that. I sat at times in awe, at times close to tears, and at times laughing out loud at all the things you don’t see when you look at an image and how the back story can really make an already beautiful photo unforgetable.

I was amazed by how often and how easily luck and the unexpected can trump the best layed plans. The number of times Joe recounts how he was in the right place at the right time or he fired his camera at a decisive moment that just made the frame is astonishing. In the end, it just goes to show you that experience and know-how are key and the equipment, while important, is secondary.

I can’t recommend a book much more highly than I do this one. I was inspired on every level and came to the bottom of each page wanting more. Not only will you witness the work of one of the world’s top shooters, you will learn how to be a better photographer yourself.

I’d heard his praises on Photoshop User TV time and again and caught a few minutes of one of his tech expo classes at Photoshop World in Boston in 2005. But it wasn’t until I saw his work and heard his passionate narrative at Photoshop World Boston’s Art of Digital Photography panel last year that I was a believer.

Vincent Versace is just plain amazing. His eye for creating compelling, dramatic images makes me want to be a better photographer. Not only are his images well composed and well lit, they tell a story and evoke an emotional response at the shear beauty he captures.

After listening to him speak and viewing his photography I went right down to the tech expo and picked up a copy of his book Welcome to Oz: A Cinematic Approach to Digial Still Photography Using Photoshop. This isn’t your ordinary, everyday Photoshop book. Rather than just showing you techniques for making your images better, Vincent walks you through his process and helps you to understand why you should make certain choices. You don’t just learn how to do it, you learn how to look at images in a different way.

It’s a little more on the more ponderous, philosophical side of things as he explains how the eyes move around an image and how to process your images to direct the viewer’s gaze. He takes us step-by-step from raw file to finished product so that you aren’t just able to create the same result he did, but you’ll develop a workflow that will help you approach your photos in a more complete way.

Check out Vincent Versace’s website for more information and a tremendous gallery of his images. And be sure to pick up a copy of his book, Welcome to Oz through my Amazon store.

More than just a simple “Wednesday Inspiration” post where I find a photographer I like and direct my wonderful readers to view their images, I want to let you know about an amazing piece of work.

Julieanne Kost, digital imaging evangelist for Adobe, is a tremendous photographer. Over the course of a number of years traveling on business, Julieanne was searching for a way to be creative while surrounded by the often-times bland, sterile, impersonal surroundings of airplanes, cabs, hotels, and convention centers. And thus, Window Seat was born.

The book, in three parts, is, “a manifesto of ways to stay creatively alive; a portfolio of stunning photographs, with commentaries describing her experiences and thought process; and a technical appendix that includes the details of [how] the images were shot, manipulated, and prepared for printing.”

Now, I must admit, I don’t own a copy of this book (yet) but from the images alone it is, for me, a must have. The combination of the natural and abstract, the organic and the man made, the perspective and vision of it all is what takes me from saying “those are nice shots” to “I want to shoot like that!”

Found via John Nack’s Blog, you can view a sample chapter and, if you like what you see, click here to order your copy today!

And pick one for you friendly neighborhood Photoshop & Photography blogger too… ;)

Back in mid-December, Friend-of-the-Blog Scott Kelby opened the comments on his blog to his readers for some help in developing the introduction to his latest book, The Digital Photography Book, Volume 2. I was one of the lucky ones to garner a free copy for my suggestion to create supplemental videos to offer another avenue for readers to absorb the outstanding information contained in the new book.

Volume 2 is  the continuation, not rewriting, of Scott’s hit The Digital Photography Book. My review of the first volume, and the subsequent mention on Scott’s blog, gave my blog and the blogroll it’s first major boost.

Like Volume 1, in part two Scott takes us along with him on a shoot. Without a lot of “tech-talk” we’re treated to the plain-spoken “when you’re faced with this situation, do this” style we’ve come to expect from Scott’s work.

Each page is filled with great images, befores and afters of the techniques described, the settings to dial in, and ideas for how to become a more creative photographer - all punctuated by humor that is signature Kelby. With one concept per page, this book is bursting at the bindings with insights and tips to help you become the best photographer you can be.

Scott’s wide circle of “photo friends” - including David Ziser, Joe McNally, Bill Fortney, Monte Zucker, David Hobby, and others - add to the depth and breadth of an already wide-reaching book. One of the great things about Scott’s work is that he gets excited about new tips and techniques. He goes to the source to get the best information and eagerly passes it along to those of us that can use a little help along our photographic journeys. And then he directs you to the “tell me all about it” resources s0 you can go to take this “show me how to do it” book, and your photography even further.

Topics covered in the book include using a flash, setting up a studio, shooting portraits, landscapes, weddings, travel and macro like the pros followed by some more universal tips for getting “the shot” as well as some case studies to bring the concepts home.

Scott knows that his readers represent the range of shooters from the person who just got their first point and shoot for Christmas on up to a working pro who wants to learn the tricks to get even better. By laying out his recommendations based on your budget and explaining things in a user-friendly way, Scott makes it easier than ever before to elevate your skills to the next level.

No more do you have to struggle through books about photographic theory before becoming a photographer rather than someone who takes pictures. With this book, you can jump right in and learn the hows first and start taking great photos.

Pick up your copy today! (And don’t forget to grab Volume 1 too!)

Three weeks ago I got an email from Friend-of-the-Blog Matt Kloskowski letting me know about his new book, Layers: The Complete Guide to Photoshop’s Most Powerful Feature, with an offer of sending me a copy. Of course I said yes!

Well it arrived in the mail on Tuesday and when I finally got the chance to open it Wednesday morning I just couldn’t put it down! I’ve been working with Photoshop for about 6 years now and I’ve drunk the NAPP Kool-Aid so I’m an old hand at layers and how they work. I’ve seen all the tutorials and videos on everything Matt talks about in the book. But I have to say, even though I’ve picked up all of this information over the years, I wish I had a resource like this when I was just starting out.

I remember the turning points in my understanding of Photoshop, and the quality of work I produced, was when I first learned about adjustment layers and masks, working on a duplicate layer, sampling all layers when cloning and healing, and working with blend modes. All of which are layed out in the book.

From the start, Matt walks us through the basic concept of the digital layer using a very analog method. He starts drawing with a marker on a photo print and asks, “what would happen if you tried to erase what you just drew?” Damage to the photo during erasure would be certain, even moreso if you used a permanent marker and can’t erase at all. Then, he places a transparency overtop of another print and does the same thing. The difference? Using a dry-erase marker means you can erase easily or, if you don’t like what you’ve done, you can throw the transparency away and start over with a new one.

From there, Matt builds each new concept on the last in the same manner as we’ve come to expect from the whole NAPP team. Everything is explained in a clear way, complete with detailed screen captures to illustrate the hows and whys and how it all fits together.

Chapters move from the basics of working with layers through to, blending, adjustment layers, masking, working with type and shapes, enhancements, retouching, layer styles, and all the way to the revolutionary smart layers. Readers are given access to all of the images used in the book as well as a couple of videos in the style of Matt’s well-known tutorials that you’ve been watching for years.

Whether you’re an advanced user already and want to figure out a good method of teaching layers or if you’re a layer rookie just learning the ropes, Layers is a great place to start.

Visit my Amazon Store to pick up your copy today!

Also, next week look for a video on creating the cool “layers” effect used on the cover!