dwmoar Loc: Oregon, Willamette Valley

Why ?

Steve DeMott Loc: St. Louis, Missouri (Oakville area)

Ditto on the Why

luvmypets Loc: Born & raised Texan living in Fayetteville NC

My personal opinion is that this book is an excellent source of information. I don't think it's the best book to start with. Once the new photographer has a little experience with their new camera and feels ready to leave the auto mode start working with the other modes then this book is ideal.

Dodie

cjc2 Loc: Hellertown PA

Thankfully someone mentioned this book. To become a good photographer, this is the place to start. It's the basics of ALL photography film or digital (or mirrorless). Photography is about light! Period. You need to understand and explore that along with the exposure triangle before you can become good. Good basics brings great photography. (Spoken by someone who started developing and printing B&W film at age 13 now using mirrorless at age 70.). Best of luck.

Jimmy T Loc: Virginia

Brian Peterson (Book): Understanding Exposure: $18.39 on Amazon
Tony & Chelsa Northrup "Beginning Photography Fundamentals (assorted videos): Composition, Lighting & Camera Settings" (6:50:43 long): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHcA7pPwYZY&list=PLBE338967F8DB7F2A&index=1
Brian Peterson (assorted videos): https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=brian+peterson+photography
Joe McNally (assorted videos): https://www.youtube.com/user/joemcnallyphoto/videos
Best Wishes for a Speedy Recovery,
JimmyT Sends

Jack 13088 Loc: Central NY

Why? I would likely have recommended it.

SuperflyTNT Loc: Manassas VA

Because there’s a certain faction here that gets all up in arms about the “exposure triangle”. They insist it’s not a triangle because it ignores the 4th element, light. What they’re missing is that the triangle is made up of the three camera controls that the user can change to control the exposure based on the light.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

Correct on both counts. The point is emphasis. Light comes first. Without understanding the various qualities of light (specularity, collation, diffusion, intensity, color, direction, angles of incidence and reflectance, etc.), the triangle is not as useful as it could be. The properties of the light in use must be considered when deciding upon proper exposure...

That's one of the frailties of human existence... We simplify things to a point that does not always work.

Take auto exposure — It's pretty good, most of the time. But in certain situations, it is useless. Try photographing a blonde bride in a white dress against a white fence in bright sun using auto exposure. Or photograph an African American in a black graduation robe against a stage full of faculty in black robes against a black curtain. No way is an autoexposure system going to work there!

There is a certain amount that must be understood about light and the various qualities of it before the triangle makes complete sense. An argument can be made that it is a pyramid-shaped balloon, and that light is the air in the balloon. Fill the "balloon" with light, and the scales on the three triangular axes on each side of the pyramid. shift to accommodate the intensity (EV) shift.

Jack 13088 Loc: Central NY

I do notice that someone who “strongly recommend against” something can’t bother to explain their rationale.

I will tell you that I find objection to a simple abstraction, exposure triangle, ludicrous (definition: laughably silly) and an indication someone has completely missed the point that the basics like the relationship between focus, aperture, and shutter speed need to be selected by a photographer consciously or unconsciously every time you squeeze the button. It is not the end all to satisfying photography but it is the start of all. Stop the BS and master those simple concepts before exposing your ignorance.

chrisg-optical Loc: New York, NY

I would suggest macro photography, if she is house bound, and especially if she has a backyard, and maybe bird photography if that is the case. There are oodles of tutorial videos on YT and forums here on UHH.

BebuLamar

Ask the person who recommended it as to why he recommended it.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

Well, the internet has a LOT of BS, and mis-information. Setting a GOOD foundation from the start is very important in photography ! Since I am very old-school, I can recommend a few BOOKS - at least books have SOME oversight when produced.

The Tom Ang and John Hedgecoe books are both very good. Hedgecoe's "The Photographers Handbook" is the best and the one I started with 50 years ago ....https://www.ebay.com/itm/386514198615?epid=4561374&itmmeta=01HVC4JPQ1RPFXVS919JEA6XMS&hash=item59fe0aa057:g:4lIAAOSwrgFljNfB&itmprp=enc%3AAQAJAAABAPXsd1BW7jVMWcBOs0vYlTmX4XqzWiQ61xMFlDU2fatrlFZb%2FMJFdF1Ei9sQEEShyAVSFupn9FVhEfGR9WsxGY5hJKTuq89yVm5ITRRq4p3D1mjsQhbv48Uyp2TJWjOtxLOpoldmo3paVzJ6NZoL%2FjQLv1ceceO8XmZnoeBe3MWccfHmESO13uxr%2BOWKjnGJQFEQyfTU%2BMqycMFT54qZtJwuPbb2YyZCrUPdXYDcuWJPXZLdLdbyzGrx9%2BtJBZs66aFTr3ZCHbxYlVOjos0Ioqmt00e2li7yDlUjIDwYG27moWbQiFYsOa2Lx6XE%2BK01jIOjKJYKQxj0LbzanIbJNhg%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR9DryoTbYw
This book is from the film era but with great pertinence overall . Ang and Hedgecoe both have later books relating more specific to digital ....

tcthome Loc: NJ

Depends where she is at in photography & what she will be using to take the photos. Phone, DSLR Or Point & Shoot camera, some experience, none. If she is going to pick up or has a camera & needs to learn the exposure triangle & more, Bryan Petersons book mentioned is pretty good & gets down to the nuts & bolts of things. Bryan Peterson also has some vids on you tube & some even might be under the Adorama channel. Some of the books mentioned here will most likely touch on the artistic view of photography.

RKastner Loc: Davenport, FL

Understanding Exposure by Brian Petersen

How to Photograph Fireworks by Tom Bricker, Cory Disbrow & Adam Hansen

Tim Shields has a number of eBooks and printed books, though be warned you're probably going to have to sit through webinars/infomercials to get access/links.simon

As mentioned above....have them go to YouTube. I recommend videos by Chelsea & Tony Northrup along with Simon d'Entremont.

MJPerini

I recommended Ruth Orkin's book above as a really nice one. We only know a few things about the person.....
She was injured hiking, and she will have reduced mobility for some period of time. Her new potential interest is Photography.
I started with Ruth Orkin because she is a great Photographer, who had a famous project , a world through my window. My Idea was inspiration first, and a book that would be worth having even if her interest in photography should wane. But certainly other books would be welcome and informative, and, since we have no idea what will appeal to her, we can let the giver decide. My sense has always been to light the fire with inspiration first then feed it with 'how to' later....because if someone has interest, they will be more inclined to figure stuff out..... which is a great way to learn.