THE JOY OF DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY, Jeff Wignall, Sterling Publishing, $24.95, hardback, 304 pp. (all in color).
The plethora of photography books — from "how-tos" for film and digital to high-priced tomes from famous shooters — will be joined in December by one more: "The Joy of Digital Photography," by Jeff Wignall.
Thankfully, this book really does treat the "joy" of photography, as well as all the technically related gobbledygook necessary to master the digital domain.
"With the possible exception of cell phones," writes Wignall in the book's introduction, "it's hard to think of a technological gadget that has won over as many imaginations — or wallets — as quickly and completely as digital cameras."
In easy, step-by-step explanations, the author instructs and encourages photographers of all skill levels. He examines — often with subtle humor — digital cameras, lenses and accessories; exposure and flash; working with light; solving common problems and finding solutions; travel and landscape; portraiture and sports photography.
Wignall also covers the seeing, sharing and storing of digital images. A brief overview of Adobe Photoshop helps readers understand image manipulation and the digital darkroom. Basic desktop printing and much, much more is considered.
The best feature of "The Joy of Digital Photography," however, is the way Wignall makes everything sound so easy and exciting. He writes as if he were a trusted, teaching friend, and the gorgeous photography that accompanies each subject only serves to inspire the reader more.
The instantaneous nature of digital technology — something Wignall summarizes with clarity of word and image — has helped to free up creative thinking. It has also, according to Wignall, given photographers greater control over their ideas and resulting images.
The book's design — typography; quick-read boxes; large, supporting color photographs — also assists the reader in understanding digital technology. Included in the book is a very comprehensive and easy-to-understand glossary, as well as a section on useful photographic Web sites.
Yet as rich as this book is in technical information, great digital photography is more than simply worrying about pixel resolution. It's about passion for image, and "The Joy of Digital Photography" is a perfect primer for working in and enjoying the art of photography.
E-mail: gag@desnews.com