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!

I’m in the process of reading Scott Kelby’s new The Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Book for Digital Photographers. Because of my normal work responsibilities I’m only able to read a chapter every few days but I am already hooked. I’ve read other books by Scott - his Digital Photography Book and his Photoshop Channels Book, a great read on my flight back from Alaska last May - and this one has so far proven to be a great read. It is, of course, chocked full of great information and tips on how to make work in Lightroom faster, easier, and with the highest possible quality. And it wouldn’t be a Scott Kelby book without the elaborate “non-introductions” at the head of each chapter - the first one is on a conspiracy theory surrounding the covert government plot to conceal stock piles of missing Chapter 1s in an unmarked Midwestern warehouse and Scott’s heroic efforts to stand up to “the man” to bring us a Chapter 1 - or “An Unexpected Q&A Section” at the beginning of the book.

I’ll write a more comprehensive review when I’m finished, complete with some of my favorite tips. Already, though, I know this is going to be great!

If you are at all interested in digital photography a great resource to learn more is Scott Kelby’s The Digital Photography Book. It just arrived in the mail yesterday and I’m already halfway through it and have learned a lot.

The premise of the book is not to teach you about theory or to throw tons of technical terms at you - you can get that out of almost any other book on photography - Scott simply treats it as though you and he are out shooting together and you ask, “How do I get the shot to look like this?” Instead of describing how the aperture and shutter speed work, he simply gives you the settings to use and offers tips on how to turn your photos from average snapshots into more professional-looking and more interesting images.

Each page has a different tip or technique that lays out what to do in various shooting situations. There are whole chapters outlining where to start, how to shoot close-ups (of flowers, but really anything), weddings, landscapes, sports, people, what to avoid, taking travel/city life shots, printing, and tons of other tips thrown in - like how to get wrinkles out of your clothes when you don’t have an iron.

Throughout you are treated to Scott’s tremendous amount of knowledge about digital imaging that he has learned from some of the best photographers shooting today. Sprinkled in are moments of shear wackiness that is signature Kelby humor. From fake page headers to the opening pages to chapters that are totally made up, readers are never left wanting with this, or any of Scott’s books. A real page-turner. Funny. Educational. And informative.

Whenever Scott mentions what the pros use to get those tack-sharp photos, he lists quality products that will fit a number of budgets from the budget photographer to the “you don’t mind if your kids have to work a part-time job once they get to college to buy books” to “I’ll tell you which one I would buy if I was [a] rich bas*%$#d.” There are some non-negotiables - like a good tripod - but he almost always has tips and tricks that can get the same results on a budget that the pros spend hundreds or thousands on - and even some of the pros use some of these very simple techniques. For example, instead of getting a “soft box” to diffuse light, buy a frosted white shower curtain and tack it in front of a window.

It’s a great book, so far, and I highly recommend it. And it’s quite reasonably priced too. While I’m at it, I’ll just say that if you’re an intermediate Photoshop user, check out Scott’s The Photoshop Channels Book (inventive titles, I know). They can be found directly from Scott Kelby Books, Amazon, or any good bookstore.

*Scott Kelby is a co-host of the Photoshop TV weekly video podcast, instructor, editor, publisher, photographer, designer, President of the National Association of Photoshop Professionals (NAPP), and “has been awarded the distinction of being the the world’s #1 best-selling author of all computer and technology books, across all categories” for two years in a row.