“So you just plunked down the big bucks and brought home that new DSLR you have been dreaming of. Check to see if everything is in the box and put it down! Save yourself some time and headache, download Digiphoto Quick Start Guide. Richard Altman has condensed his passion and years of experience into 41 pages of need to know information that will get you started technically on the right track. Then he will help you develop your photographic aesthetic skills and show you how to share them.

Altman starts out with the Digiphoto Workflow providing information on how to shoot play and share your photography. Then he shows the relationship between technical skills, vision and aesthetic skills and how combining these elements will allow you to express yourself creatively.

The Quick Start Guide starts with the technical basics but brings you up to speed rapidly. From f-stops, ISO, and image noise thru histograms, Altman’s clear and concise writing and illustrations will help you understand the digital workflow. You will get a sense of how exposure and shutter speed affects the emotional feeling of your images. After a few lessons on the aesthetic skills you will have your first memory card ready for the digital darkroom. Here the author is a true expert, sought out by professional photographers for his sage advice on digital asset management. Using his advice about creating a master folder and the proper backup are worth the cost of this book!

Volumes have been written on vision and creativity. In a very few words this author has discussed how “you are creative in you own special way” and the very interesting topic of how “art and creative expression are not necessarily the same”. You will find this a brief introduction or a quick review.

Communicating with your photography is probably one of your main goals and the section on sharing will make that happen. Web sharing is thoroughly covered with information on Picasa, Picnik, Flickr, and Facebook. Of particular interest are the terms of service and copyright information which apply to all photographers when they sign onto online sites. Digital photo printing options at home as well as through online sites are discussed with the pro and cons of both options.

According to the author, the objectives of the Digiphoto Quick Start Guide are to “teach the fundamental components of digital photography”, “provide and introduction to the digital darkroom”, and “provide a way to think about photography within an organized framework”. As Altman’s aesthetic skills discussion brings out “The better you get at “seeing”, the better your pictures will be. When you begin to combine your ability to see with good composition, creative camera and digital darkroom techniques, you will be on your way to developing your vision”.

Once you have read Digiphoto Quick Start Guide you can intelligently look for answers to technical questions that relate to your specific camera as you enjoy your ability to express your personal photographic vision.” — Alan Pitcairn

“The advent of the eBook has been a huge boon for students of photography. For a small fee, any number of subjects can be explored, dissected, and considered which can lead to substantial improvements for the photographer who enacts the suggestions contained in the book. I’ve read countless examples of photography eBooks, and most are beautifully done with gorgeous imagery and a superb layout. Justin Reznick’s The Advanced Guide to Photographing Waterfalls and Streams shatters the mold of the traditional approach to photography eBooks. While most instructional aids offer several tips for shooting many different types of subjects, Justin’s approach is to take on one subject and produce the most comprehensive guide in the business. A beginning or intermediate photographer is mentored from the first considerations photographing water all the way through the conclusion of post processing. It is wonderfully thorough, logical, and useable. I’ve known Justin for a number of years, and have always admired his passion and prowess for teaching. While nothing will substitute for a hands on workshop, this guide offers the highest level of instruction for the cost of a fast-food lunch. I could not recommend it more enthusiastically.” — Miles Morgan

“The Advanced Guide to Photographing Waterfalls and Streams, is a great read for ALL levels of shooters. The book goes over proper field techniques, and touches on some great points in post processing. I found the book easy to read and comprehend. For the price and the information that is provided, it is well worth it.” — David Thompson

“I’ve been using photoshop for over a decade, and there is always something to be learned. This book can definitely benefit photographers regardless of their photoshop skill level. I left with some new insight into different ways to approach post editing that I’d never considered. The variety of different genres of modeling photography and how lighting techniques can vary between each of them are great. Also, the inclusion of the exif data and lighting diagrams for each photoshoot were very beneficial.” — Paul Roustan

“Scott does an excellent job of explaining in detail the steps he uses to perfect his work and leads you from beginning to end on how he accomplished some of his best shots. His valuable tips save you time, money, and sanity while you change the techniques to make them your own.

Some of the great things I learned were using adjustments layers to create blending mode effects without increasing file size, selecting before liquifying to save memory, and also some great posing tips. This book covers it all from start to finish in detail but with no filler. I highly recommend this for the aspiring photographer looking to take his or her images to the next level.” — Matt Leitholt

“I don’t have an advanced knowledge of Photoshop but I found this book very easy to understand. It is informative, but not technical enough that I was unable to comprehend the techniques and processes Scott used. I have had the pleasure of seeing Scott work in Photoshop and he is brilliant at it!

Scott has a very pleasant writing style that kept me entertained, and his sense of humour is infused into the lessons to make them informative and fun at the same time!

I really enjoyed the lighting diagrams he included as I am currently trying to learn how to use flash lighting, and Scott uses very simple to understand language to explain things like lighting and sharpening using different techniques.

I learned a lot from this book. There are many tips that I have never heard before, and I know that I will refer back to this book again and again to review the techniques he explains for use in my own work.” — Sandra Parlow

“Your book looks AWESOME. It’s well written, well-laid out and has a lot of great content.” — Erick Danzer, Photocrati

“It’s a really lovely little 75-page PDF e-book with a lot of gorgeous photos. I’m a fairly novice photographer, but I found the book really approachable and helpful and learned a lot from it.” — Diana Heideman

“This handy little ebook is like a focused mini version of one of Joe’s nature photography workshops: Clear, concise, and beautifully illustrated with his own images. A definite help with the elusive pursuit of learning to see good composition and capture it with the camera.” — Pat Kight

“In 321 Stop, Lorilee lays the ground work for decreasing the tendency to run around without any meaning and to really start living our one beautiful life in this world with purpose and intention. In a world filled with noise, many of us are in dire need of coherence and silence in the mess. Whether it’s simplifying your home or taking care of the self, 321 Stop will help you find that much needed clarity.” — Nina Yau – Minimalist at the website Castles In The Air

“3-21 Stop is a must-have for anyone who wants to finally take control of all the “stuff” in their homes and in their lives. Lorilee’s book is inspiring, informational and instructional without being preachy…and her writing style is friendly and fun. I have already used this book to declutter parts of my home and I’m so excited to keep going with it!” — Maggie – blogger at Midwest Sewing Girl

“In 321 Stop — stop running and start living, author Lorilee Lipincott sets out to show how her family simplified their home and life. In her eloquent words, “How can we capture that sense of simple?” She does. And, she shares how anyone can. With simple steps her own family took, this guide is organized so the reader may make the same positive changes—finding greater contentment in a less cluttered home and life. Simply. ” — Heather Cahoon – New York Times Best Selling Illustrator