lmTrying Loc: WV Northern Panhandle

Last Wednesday I ask for suggestions for books that would explain the terms discussed here on the forum like; RAW, Dng, Jpeg, Tiff, how one relates to another, what gets done first, second, third, workflow. With your encouragement, I hit Amazon and started looking for Brian Peterson and David Bush, then I found Al Judge's Mastering Digital Images: Capture - Process - Display - Sell (Digital Photography Book 3).

The reviews were good. I read the contents, introduction, and previews. I downloaded it to my Kindle. I'm about 80 percent thru it. Basically he is a man of few words. He gets straight to the point. He tells you what he's going to tell ya, he tells ya, then he tells ya what he told ya. Introduce, explain, conclude. My confusion is GONE!

Does he explain every detail? No. His intent is to get you up and running, understanding. He includes links to other books that go into deeper in detail. Many he has read. Go there when you are ready.

Al has written many books on every aspect of digital photography, all designed to get the novice up and running quickly. These are the books he wished he could have read when he started and was floundering like so many of us.

I highly recommend this book. I will be getting more.

jstpsgthruyrwrld

Thanks! Will this book teach me to use my Nikon J4? I am a less than noob to photography.

lmTrying Loc: WV Northern Panhandle

No. His Mastering Digital Cameras (Book 1) might help. But if you want something specific to your Nikon J4, I'd look into David Bush. It's my understanding he has written hundreds of books on the operation of specific cameras.

jstpsgthruyrwrld

Thank you, I appreciate your kind help.

rjaywallace Loc: Wisconsin

Went to Amazon - it appears Mr. Judge has a large number of books available on various photographic topics.
Thanks for sharing this suggestion. /Ralph

Joe Blow

If you have specific questions, ask them here on UHH. If you want hints on composition, again, there are many here that can answer or give hints.

LensWork

The “inverted pyramid”; journalism 101, day 1. Glad to hear someone still uses it.

sueyeisert Loc: New Jersey

I have to disagree about Dave Bush. I bought his book on the Olympus EM-5 when the camera first came out and it was the only book on the market. I found mis information in his book, he left out important information. He also spent a lot of the book on processing the image. Bush writes intro books to many brands of cameras like a factory.
There is a site called Nikonians which may be helpful also there is an author his name is Darrell Youngsee what he has written.
Also Creative Live has a series for new camera owners called fast start. That insreuctor is excellent.

lmTrying Loc: WV Northern Panhandle

Actually I learned that from an old joke (or story), long, long time ago. From time to time I try to re-run the whole thing in my brain so I don't forget it. But I'll always remember the punch line.

lmTrying Loc: WV Northern Panhandle

Ok. I thought I had one of his "general" digital camera books. I was wrong. So basically, I was going off of hearsay. I'll try not to do that again.

I did finish Al Judge's book last night. It got a little further into workflow, printing, and posting than I am ready for, and into sales that I will probably never do. But the background learned is enlightening, and a start for the future. I will buy more of his books.

The OP has a Nikon, and I'm sure your information will be of benefit for them. However, I am a Canon guy. I just like the feel of them in my hands. I have a Rebel XSi and a SX710HS. I am contemplating an 80D. Do you have any recommendations specifically for those. I don't speak Techese, so I find reading the manual to be difficult at the very least. Thanx! (Can't get the DVD/BlueRay player I bought yesterday to work either. Looks like another trip to Best Buy.)

jstpsgthruyrwrld

Thanks for the all the replies. I got Al Judges 3 book deal on Amazon. I will research Creative Live, Nikonians and Darrell Young. Good info. Thanks, again.

lmTrying Loc: WV Northern Panhandle

I just deciphered your avitar. I like it.

Believe it or not, I saw this on a license plate on a car in Ohio: IM JAFO.

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

For that purpose, I'd recommend first getting Bryan Peterson's "Understanding Exposure". That will give you all the basics of how cameras work and how to utilize many of their features.

Then get one of the guide books specific to your particular camera model. Those guides go beyond the user manual with further explanations and can help you apply what you learned reading Peterson's book.

Then just get out and shoot! There's no substitute for experience... making mistakes and learning from them!

lmTrying Loc: WV Northern Panhandle

I think you are the first, that I have read, to say that Bryan P. gives the basics of how the camera works. I thought his book was all about composition. Thanks for the insight. Amazon, here I come.

dbfalconer Loc: Salida CO

I must be really dumb: what is ‘OP’ please? Guess I’m just not up on the latest jargon! Thanks!