The Digital Photography Book, Volume 2

• #3 in Best Photography Books

159 Reviews

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This book truly has a brilliant premise and here's how Scott Kelby describes it: "If you & I were out on a shoot & you asked me, `When I use my flash, the background behind the person I'm shooting turns black. How do I fix that?' I wouldn't give you a lecture on flash ratios, or start a discussion on flash synchronization and rear curtain synch. I'd just say, 'Lower your shutter speed to 1/60 of a second. That should do it.' Well, that's what this book is all about: you & I out shooting where I answers questions, give you advice, and share the secrets I have learned just as I would a friend-without all the technical explanations and techie photo speak."

Each page covers a single concept on how to make your photography better. Every time you turn the page, you'll learn another pro setting, tool, or trick to transform your work from snapshots into gallery prints. If you are tired of taking shots that are "okay," and if you are tired of looking in photography magazines and thinking, "Why don't my shots look like that?" then this is the book for you.

This isn't a book of theory-full of confusing jargon and detailed concepts. This is a book on which button to push, which setting to use, and when to use it. With nearly 200 more of the most closely guarded photographic "tricks of the trade" this book gets you shooting dramatically better-looking, sharper, more colorful, more professionally-looking photos every time"

Table Of Contents:

CHAPTER 1
Using Flash Like A Pro


10 Things You Wished You Had Known Before Reading This Book!
Here Are Those Last Three Things
Pop-Up Flash: Use It As A Weapon
The Advantages Of A Dedicated Flash
Get Your Flash Off With Your Camera
Making Your Flash Wireless
Going Wireless (Nikon), Part I
Going Wireless (Nikon), Part II
Going Wireless (Canon), Part I
Going Wireless (Canon), Part II
"Drag The Shutter" To See More Background
How To Soften The Light From Your Flash
Softer Light By Bouncing It
Softbox-Quality Light From Your Flash
Tip For Shooting Through A Diffuser
Putting That Nice Twinkle Of Light In The Eyes
Why You Might Want A Stand For Your Flash
Mounting Flashes Anywhere
Rear Synch Rocks (& Why You Should Use It)
The Fourth Secret To Pro Flash Results
Using Gels (& Why You Need Them)
Using Gels To Get That SI Look
If You Have To Use Pop-Up Flash, Do This
Using A Second Flash
Controlling Your Second Flash (Nikon)
Controlling Your Second Flash (Canon)
How Far Back Can You Stand Using Flash?
How To Stand Back Even Farther
Controlling Light To Add Drama
Shooting Sunset Portraits With Flash

CHAPTER 2
Building A Studio From Scratch


Studio Backgrounds
Using Studio Flash (Called Strobes)
Softening Harsh Studio Strobes
Why I Prefer Softboxes To Umbrellas
What A Speed Ring Does (& Why You Need It)
Using A Molding Light
Firing Your Studio Strobe
Firing Your Studio Strobe Wirelessly
Using Contiguous Light Instead
Choosing The Size For Your Softbox
Why You Really Need A Light Meter
How To Use A Light Meter
Adding A Hair Light
Where To Position Your Hair Light
Testing Your Hair Light's Position
Keeping Your Hair Light From Spilling
Which Mode To Shoot In
Where To Position Your Main Light
Using A Fan For Windblown Effects
Want Softer, More Even Light? Feather It?
What That Extra Panel In Your Softbox Does
Using A Pop-Up Collapsible Background
The Least Expensive Extra Light
Three Backgrounds For The Price Of One
Using Off-Camera Flash To Light Backgrounds
The Advantage Of Shooting Tethered
Getting Super-Saturated Background Color
Lighting A White Background
Which Color Reflector To Use
Where To Position A Reflector
Reflectors Without An Assistant
Seeing The Light From Your Reflector
Keep Light From Hitting Background

CHAPTER 3
Shooting Portraits Like A Prayer


Don't Leave To Much Headroom
Shoot In Portrait Orientation
Shooting Portraits? Get A Battery Grip!
The "Sun Over Your Shoulder Rule" Is Bogus
Shoot Wide & Zoom In Tight
Shoot Profile Shots In Horizontal
Shoot Long For More Flattering Portraits
Why Diffusers Rock For Outdoor Portraits
Making A Better Background For Portraits
Trendy Composition Tip
Cropping Off The Top Of Their Head
Group Photos Are Easier Outdoors
Tip For Posing Group Portraits
Great Tip For Casual Group Shots
Don't Light You Entire Subject Evenly
Want Better Portraits? Don't Count Down!
Window Light: Where To Position Your Subject
Window Light: Where You Should Shoot From
Six Quick Tips For Fixing Facial Challenges
Don't Shoot With Their Shoulders Straight On
Making Your Subject Look Slimmer
Using A Poser Chair
Keeping Your Subject "In The Zone"
Avoid Dappled Light
Window Light: Where To Position Your Reflector
Get Couples Really, Really Close
Which Color Reflector To Use
Shoot Outdoor Portraits Shallow
Minimizing Shadows Under The Eyes


CHAPTER 4
Shooting Landscapes Like A Pro

The Secret To Shooting Sunsets
Cutting Reflection In Water
For Landscapes You Need A Clear Subject
Using Your LCD Monitor Outdoors
How To Shoot A Panorama That Works
How To Have Photoshop CS3 Put It Together
Shoot Fast When Shooting Landscape Panos
A Timesaving Pano Trick
The Trick To Using A Fisheye Lens
When To Shoot Streams
Don't Stop Shooting At Sunset
How To Shoot Fog
Getting Shots Of Lightning (Manually)
Getting Shots Of Lightning (Automatically)
A Trick For Shooting Great Rainbows
Removing Distracting Junk
Where To Focus For Landscapes Shots
Find The Great Light First
How To Shoot On A Gray, Overcast Day
A Trick For Great-Looking Flower Shots
The Full Frame Camera Advantage

CHAPTER 5
Shooting Weddings Like A Pro


Create A Shot List
Have Backups For Everything!
Silencing Your Camera's Beep
Backlighting Your Bride
Don't Change Lenses, Change Cameras
Bring A Stepladder For A Higher Vantage Point
Why You Want A Second Shooter
When To Shoot In RAW
Where To Aim Your Flash
Shoot In Lower Light Without Raising Your ISO
A Recipe For Balanced Flash In Church
Add B&W To The Album
The Advantage Of A Flash Bracket
Tip For Posing The Bride
Keeping The Detail In The Bridal Gown
Getting More Flashes Per Wedding
How To Lessen Noise In Your Photos
Tips For Shooting The Brides Profile
Wedding Zoom Effect Made Easy
Read David Ziser's Digital Pro Talk Blog Daily


CHAPTER 6
Shooting Travel Like A Pro


In This Case, Less Gear Is Good
Working People Into Your Travel Shots
Getting People To Pose
What To Shoot On Overcast Days
Shooting From Your Hotel Room
The Magic Time For Cityscapes
Get These Shots Out Of The Way First
Shooting Famous Landmarks
Air Travel With Photo Gear
Shoot The Food
Get A GPS For Your Digital Camera
Shooting Where They Don't Allow Flash
Look For High Vantage Points
Give Yourself A Theme


CHAPTER 7
Shooting Macro Like A Pro


Maximize Your Depth Of Field
Why You Should Turn Auto-Focus Off
Don't Touch That Shutter Button!
Which F-Stop Works Best
Point-&-Shoot Macro Photography
A Tip For Visualizing Macro
Why You Might Want To Shoot Indoors
Buying A Macro Lens
Perfect, Even Light For Macro Shots
Making Your Lens Into A Macro Lens


CHAPTER 8
Pro Tips For Getting Better Photos


Which Mode To Shoot In
Choosing The Right ISO
Which Format To Shoot In (RAW, JPEF, Or TIFF)
Which Size To Shoot In
WHIMS Will Keep You Out Of Trouble
How To Lock Focus
Zooming In Close? Use A High Shutter Speed
When It's Okay To Erase Your Memory Card
Why You Need To Get In Really Close
What To Use Your Histogram For
Leave Your Lens Cap Off
Removing Spots & Specks After The Fact
What Looks Good In Black & White
Recompose, Don't "Fix It" In Photoshop
Want To Be Taken Seriously? Start Editing
Label Your Memory Cards
Go Square
Tips For Shooting At Night (Long Exposure Noise)
The Very Next Book You Should Get


CHAPTER 9
More Photo Recipes To Help You Get "The Shot"

Like Mr. Kelby's best-selling first Digital Photography Book, this book is a gem. Every page is a single tip, clearly explained and illustrated. It's like sitting next to the best photographer you know while he explains what gear you need, and when and how to use it. No matter what brand your camera, what level your experience, or how big your budget, you're sure to find this book useful.

Highlights of Book 2 include how to set up and use studio lighting, flash, macro photography, weddings, portraits, and much, much more. At the end are sixteen "recipes" for getting specific types of shots, with all the details you need to know.

Keep this one in your camera bag. Not only is it full of information, it's inspirational. And a great gift for the photographer in your life.

The digital photography handbook,

This is the most helpful book on digital photography I have seen in a while. Each page of the book has some scenario and a ways to work with is to get the best possible shot. It's also covers many different ways to overcome what ever adverse shooting situation you might be. Kelby Talks about cheap ways to overcome situations. He also talks about more expensive ways to overcome situations. On each subject where he discusses a scenario there are usually multiple photos to show you each effect of each solution will have on the photo. Each subject is covered very well in about two pages. The photography is outstanding and in color.

Kelby covers all types of digital photography from portraiture to landscape, lighting flashes, different types of digital cameras.

Kelby covers using a flash, building a studio from scratch, shooting portraits like a pro, shooting landscapes like a pro, shooting weddings like a pro, shooting travel like a pro, shooting macro like a pro, pro tips for getting photos and more photo recipes to help you get the shot. All of these subject are covered very well.

The book is written in an easy to understand, easy to read and with some humor. Each topic is about one page in length.

I consider myself to me an intermediate photographer and I can say that this is and continue to be very helpful to me. I This is a must for the beginner to intermediate photographer. The book is small enough to carry in your camera equipment bag. This book is packed with information and extremely helpful tips.

A photography tip is a short instruction on how to do something in photography - "put the softbox as close as possible to the subject for the softest light" - without trying to put the instruction into any larger context.

This is a short book of photography tips that contains tips on using flash, studio photography, portraits, landscapes, weddings, travel, macro, and what should probably be called miscellany. There is a final section in which Kelby shows particular pictures and indicates his considerations in taking them. Each tip is less then a small page in length and includes an illustrative photograph.

Kelby is a Photoshop guru turned photography guru, and his images while nice, certainly are not inspiring. Be warned: many people are put off by his sophomoric sense of humor, which he displays throughout the book (e.g., the Committee for Creation of Complex Sounding Studio Gear Names).

I dislike tip books because they don't put photography technique within a larger context so that the reader learns a principle which he can apply to any circumstance. "Give a man a fish...." might have been written about tip books. For example, in the space of a few pages, the author tells us to shoot portraits with wide angle lenses and then tells us to use telephoto lenses. What might be called a comprehensive book would help us to understand the considerations involved in making a choice of focal length for portraits.

Most of the tips that Kelby provides are really quite basic, and will be familiar to anyone who has spent any time at all learning techniques. (I acknowledge there is some value in being reminded about a small technique, although one could be reminded as well by reading a more comprehensive book.) Some of the tips are repeated, like telling us to keep shooting after sunset, or to buy a fast normal lens to shoot in dim places where you can't use flash. Some of the tips are even contradictory, as when he tells the reader not to cut off the chin in a close-up portrait and then does just that later on. I particularly resented a so-called tip to buy a book that Kelby just happens to have edited and which I found to be interesting but not essential reading.

On the other hand, this is a book that you can pick up, read for a few minutes, and then put down. If you feel that's an essential quality for an instruction book, this certainly fills the bill.

It's a good book for the price but I guess I was looking for a bit more.

There are some good tips but the book is incredibly short. I went through the whole thing in about 2 hours. He gives some good advice on using a flash and setting up a studio for about 1/3 of the book. The last 2/3 are filled with photography tips showing pictures and then explaining how to get the same picture. Most of the advice I found was pretty basic although I did learn a few things here and there. This would have been a good book if I was brand new to digital photography. It's well written and his tips are good but I was looking for something little more in-depth than this,

This book is good as an introduction and set of tips that can elevate the photography of aspiring photographers. Unfortunately it is just a collection of tips with very little information on the how of using the tips to actually create better images. An example is the tips on the use of reflectors which does not mention the different reflector needs based on the skin color of the subject or the ambient color temperatures involved.

It is also unfortunate that so much space was devoted to wedding photography and provides just enough information as to encourage a novice to give it a try. What is missing is the perspective that the person who takes on the responsibility of being the primary and possible sole photographer for a wedding had better be prepared in terms of experience (with people and photo gear), technical proficiency under pressure, and have backup gear for everything, and be able to work without a net.

This "no-retakes" approach would encourage the person contemplating wedding photography to do more than read a book of wedding photography tips and to truly apprentice themselves to someone with experience. As a 3rd photographer at a wedding, the novice is not likely to do any harm while they learn what to do and also what not to do.

What this book is very much missing is a recommending reading list or recommendations on workshops which could take the reader the next step whether they are pursuing macro, wedding, wildlife, landscape, portrait, or other photography niche.

In the end I would not recommend this book to anyone, as there are far better books on each segment covered, and is someone for example really wants to make better portraits they are far better served by spending $20 and getting a book that is dedicated to portrait photography.

I always want to like Kelby's columns and books. He is a fantastic writer. He knows how to break things down simply. But perhaps in his mad rush to produce so many books and magazines and such he has not always attended to the details. I did not read Digital Photography volume one and chose instead volume 2.

I read it cover to cover, twice! I really liked the samples, lay out, and coaching. But then as I tried out a few items I noted he often did not provide enough detail to replicate his technique. When shooting a backlit subject he suggested adding a bit of flash. Are we talking manual exposure? Is he using flash compensation to reduce flash output? Is he just shooting in auto with ttl flash? It would be helpful to know more details.

I suspect, given his bibliography that many images are farmed out to others and this is why the writing is not as detailed or informed as it could be. This detracts from his ability to teach.

I originally wanted to give him 5 starts, but took off 1 star for lack of detail or specifics. Then I tried a photoshop technique that appeared in a column. Again, great idea for correcting color, but leaves out enough details that I eventually gave up trying to get the same effect on one of my photo images. So, I'm taking off another start...down to 3.

Then I looked under the hood. When I like an author, I like to read about him and see what he says in his bio or acknowledgements. The acknowledgements section runs 2 pages. Ah, details and specifics at last. Only here, it is unwarranted. Lose a half star. But then it ends with thanking "God and his son Jesus Christ." When I want ol' time religion I'll by the Kelby book on that, but I sure found it offensive to see it in this book. And for you bible-thumpers, imagine if he had thanked Allah and the Koran? Would it have taken away from this author's effort?

Lastly, he repeatedly states he is not promoting products. And I bought that line until the end of the book. The last 4 pages contain ful page ads promoting specific products he is linked to. Now come on, even Jesus would call that hypocrisy. Sorry, fella, you just lost another star.

This will be the last Kelby book I buy. I hate to see such a talent wasted.

I picked this book up about a week ago and have been pouring over it reading it over and over again. I just ordered Scott Kelby's The Digital Photography Book as I found this one really great. I recently picked up a few photo books to try and gain some insight to what other photographers do. I don't have the money to spend on the Nikon Mentor courses and I think this pair of books would come pretty close.

Scott's information is laid out in easy to read one or two page tips. The lighting sections are great and the tips for landscape photography are first rate. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is just beginning or all the way to semi pro/pro.

Scott Kelby's The Digital Photography Book, Volume 2 is a must have for anyone with a digital camera and wants to get more out of it.

Pete

Kelby is one of the best when it comes to letting the rest of us in on the techniques of good photography. His first book lead to a quantum (perhaps an exaggeration) improvement in my own pictures, both from a composition and execution point of view. This book adds to the first, updates a couple of things, and gives a broader application.

In my opinion this book functions more as completing the set than as a stand alone work. If you do not have the first book then buy them both together and read them serially. Kelby's writing style is a bit (excessively?) "homey" and that can be a bit off-putting for some people. I personally don't mind and even enjoy his humor. There is no denying the effectiveness of his teaching though... short, pointed articles, each of which stands alone on its own but which add incrementally to the others. You can bounce around in his books to your hearts delight, pick up something and start using it right away and then go back and read something else which may add even more.

This book, along with his first, should be standard items in serious amateur photographers' libraries.

The Good:
- the book contains all-new info and picks up where vol.1 left off
- written in the same "let me show you how it's done without going too deep into "why" style" - great for DSLR newbies like me
- lottsa "aha!" and "oh, so that's how the pros do it" moments
- Scott Kelby is a great teacher and writes in casual, easy-to-read style (although vol. 1 is by far funnier)

The Bad:
- Big section on Wedding Photography - I know these tips could generally be applied to shooting people indoors; however, at times the book is too detailed for regular folks like me who don't shoot weddings.
- For $24.95 the book could've been thicker, and some tips are repeated either from vol. 1 or throughout the book.
- When will we see a dedicated section on how to shoot fast-moving small kids (i.e. toddlers) ?

Conclusion:
If you are a DSLR newbie or intermediate-advanced beginner this book is perfect for you. Scott Kelby is the best!

This book is really refreshing because it tells you how the pros get some of the shots that look great. What really impressed me is the focus on taking a great shot, not the Photoshop fix which Kelby is a well known expert on. He explains lighting better than any of the books I have purchased. Great information on how various types of flashes and lighting works, price ranges to get the items he mentions with high low and middle pricing. Good explanation of what lens to use for certain shots and how to get the right shutter speed and aperature. I think I have a better understanding of why my flash cost so much and what all those settings mean and it says wireless too which is a very good thing! Good advice on portrait shots, vacation pics and wedding shots to name a few. Very easy to understand and down to earth on some complex equipment.

Of his two books, I found this one the most helpful and useful. He covers portrait and group photography, the proper use of flash and studio lighting, and many other topics in a very clear and concise manner that simply changes the way you approach these areas of photography.

Highly recommend this book...found virtually every page to be incredibly useful in my attempt at amateur photography.

If you've read some of his other books, he has toned down his humor quite a bit so its not as 'overbearing' as some others have portrayed it in reviews of his other books. I find him funny for the most part...others don't care for his brand of humor...so if you don't, pick up the book anyway because its 'toned down' and contains 'to-the-point' hints tough to find anywhere short of a photography class.

Excellent work Mr. Kelby!

The tips found in this book are mostly intuitive and doesn't need one or two pages to be explained, they all can be found pretty easily on the Internet. Also, a better sense of humor (or no jokes at all) would have made this book easier to read.

As a beginner photographer, I found volume 1 incredibly helpful. I felt that after reading it, I'd saved myself about 6 months of annoying "why didn't I think of that ages ago?" realizations. Tips like using a UV filter (using one has saved a lens already for me), or taking an indicator shot before and after a series of panoramic images, are just useful. Unfortunately, volume 2 starts scraping the barrel. The tips here are useful, but you'll likely figure them out on your own if you've read book 1 and/or are a thoughtful photographer. Good, but not great.

Kelby can be addicting! I purchased this title immediately after reading "The Digital Photography Book." In this second volume to his first work, the author has another winner in providing digital photography tips. Kelby's expertise, humor, and down-to-earth approach all combine to make this a must-read for the amateur photograph. If you liked the first one, you'll love the second!

Provides the digital photographer with lots of great tips and tricks for getting super shots. Excellent layout and easy reading.

I have grown to be a Scott Kelby fan. His approach is as if he was with you and giving you tips as a freind would. Scott also tells you the exact settings for a particular result. Both volume 1 and volume 2 are great, but if you are skilled in photography, Volume 2 is the meat and potatoes.

I wish I could meet Mr. Kelby in person. Because I would like
to shake his hand and tell him face to face how fabulous this
book and its predecessor are.

The detail he goes into regarding flash settings and lighting tips
in this edition are especially helpful. His cut to the chase
explainations make it an easy read. His humor lightens up
the instructions, as well.

It is no wonder that he is a best selling author! I recommend
this book without hesitation and look forward to any more
volumes that may follow.

Thank you Mr. Kelby.

Equally as good as volume 1, fast reading, great info, and FUN to read. Scott Kelby has done it again! I look forward to his next book!

I read Scott Kelby's first Digital Photography Book and found it quite useful. So when this one came out, I didn't hesitate. Keep in mind though that this book spends a great deal on studio and portrait/wedding photography. If your interests lie here, this is a good one for you. I'm not interested as much in these areas so I found the book not as useful as the first. Other topics include, travel, landscape, macro and miscellaneous photo tips. Each contains helpful hints that are worthwhile knowing but there are a few overlaps with his last book. I like Mr. Kelby's style so I'm a fan of his work. The thing about Mr. Kelby's writing is that he makes it simple and straight forward. Most photography books give you lots of info but sometimes not the most useful info. Overall I'd say this is a good book and the price is reasonable. Would I have bought it had I paged through it at a bookstore? Not sure.

Dear fellow amazon.com shoppers,

I bought volume 1 and volume 2 of Scott Kelby's books together with my Pentax K200D. As a photo-enthusiast and DSLR starter I really enjoyed reading this two books. Both read very easy and takes you in a fast pace through the basic and intermediate know-abouts of professional digital photography. Volume two picks up right where volume 1 stopped, so both books actualy make 1 big total package. The author doesn't bother you with too technical explanations but takes you with him on a shoot as a friend would do. Every chapter he describes how to best do this and that. Starts with landscape shooting, all the way to sports, macro, weddings, nighttime shooting etc. Every chapter is dedicated to a certain discipline and gives you more usefull information than you'll be able to remember the next time you go out on a shoot. So the book grows with you as your experience grows. You read the chapter again, ie. Landscapes, and hey: i forgot about this and that, let me try that the next time when I'm in the mountains. When you control every discipline described in these books, then and only then you can move on to more technical and specific books. The chapters read very fluently with a great deal of humor and pragmatic 'aah, so that's how they do it' moments.
For the price, get both at once as you really need both to get going!

Good luck improving your photografic skills!

This was an informative continuation from Scott Kelby's Digital Photography Book 1. I liked book 1 a bit better. Book 2 focuses a lot on studio work, and as a landscape photographer this didn't apply much to me. Still, it was worth the money and it did have information other than the studio stuff.

I got this book thinking "ok, volume 1 is for beginners, v2 will be about advanced photography skills". Wrong, it's still for beginners (and even says so on the back of the book). Yes, it's well written, I like Scott's goofy style. It provides good information but all at a pretty basic level, like describing how your D200/300 can be used in commander mode. This is a great book if you're just starting out but most if not all of this information also available at places like "strobist".

I thought the first volume couldn't be beat. WOW -- I was wrong. The insights in the book are clearly presented and will forever change the way you capture and process your images. WONDERFUL!

Scott Kelby did it again. He's short and to the point, easy to understand. One doesn't need to be a professional photographer to comprehend his instructions.

I purchased both books (Vol 1 and Vol 2) together, and so far no disappointment. My concern about vol 2 was that it may be just an updated version of vol 1. I was wrong - it's a totally different material, answers many questions, and written in a human language - meaning, you do not have to be a pro to understand everything. Of course, Kelby's humor ir right here as well, you like it or not.

This book answered so many questions that I had it. It was amazing. If your concerned about indoor lighting in studio, pick up this book. Also,if you're just starting out I think you'll find this book very refreshing. It is written like he says, as if he was just giving instructions to a friend. A ton of grrreat tips. Ive read a ton of books to help me a long, but I found this book and his previous one, to be the best ever. I don't think you'll be disappointed.

In a way, this book is something of a marketing ploy. What do you do if you've written one of the best-selling (if not the best-selling) digital photography books of all time? Can you top it? Can you come up with a new, related topic? Hey, why not just come out with a Volume 2, so readers who were captivated by the first book will feel that they have to own the second one?

That's actually a brilliant plan. Volume 2 may just be more of the same...but we needed more of what Kelby gave us the first time around. If you want to know more about studio lighting, close-up photography, electronic flash, or portraits, you'll find a treasure chest of valuable tips in this book, presented in an easy-to-digest form.

Anyone who enjoyed the first book (and the reviews profile shows that an overwhelming majority of those who took the time to write a review did) you don't be disappointed by this latest installment. If you're new to the party, buy both these books and get up to speed faster than you would have believed possible.

This book only for beginer. If you have read other books about photography you do not need this one.
-Page 13 "Drag the Shutter" to see more background. I could not understand what he meant.
-He wrote: " First, set your camera to shoot in program mode. Then, aim at your subject and hold the shutter button halfway so your camera takes a meter reading of the scene. Look in your viewfinder and see the f stop and shutter speed your camera chose to properly expose your subject, and remember those two numbers. Now switch to manual mode and dial those same two numbers. If the camera showed speed of 1/60 of a second, to drag the shutter you'd need to use a slower shutter speed, right? So try lowering the shutter speed to 1/15 of a cecond and take the shot". The problem is: If I lowered the speed two stop the photo would be overexposure, if I also lowered the speed and closed the aperture two stop the photo still got right exposure without the flash.
-Page 21 "Rear sync Rock(& why you should use it)
As matter of fact if I change from leading curtain to rear curtain sync the amount of light fall on the sensor remain the same. I think that in this topic he want to talk about slow-speed-sync.

I bought both Volume One and Volume Two and have found them to be full of good practical advise. These are the best books I've come across dealing with digital SLR cameras. I have been a photographer for 30 years and recently switched to digital. In doing so I encountered a whole new world. These books gave me a solid foundation to build a digital only photo business from a film only business. The approach of the books is a no-nonsense hands on approach which deals with the specifics instead of bogging down with the whole history of photography. Good for beginners and experts alike. The only thing that kept me from giving 5 stars is the lame jokes. I don't mind humor, but after page after page of "..nudge nudge wink wink, hey, I fooled ya didn't I?..really I did, hey...you knew I couldn't resist." If you put all the goofy lines together they probably take up 5% of the book (which could have been used with helpful information). Mr. Kelby, you are consummate professional and these are awesome books, just tone down the cutesy stuff and stick with what you know best...excellent photo tips.

Scott Kelby writes his books just like he's sitting or standing right next to you and tells in simple English how to do what ever you're reading about. I own at least 3 of his books and love them! AND I don't have to read a whole book to get to what I need to learn! You can't go wrong with Scott Kelby's books!

I have read this book from cover to cover. It is full of very good advice about tricks to improve your pictures. It is not a photoshop book (Thanks GOD!!)it is a book to help you to get better as a photographer.

This book has some good (but basic) information. I recommend it for beginners only. Kelby's tone gets very old very fast, despite his knowledge.

Well Scott Kelby has done it again. He impressed me with Volume 1 of Digital Photography and I jumped at the chance to purchase Volume 2 with the assumption that it might not be as good as Volume 1 because I really liked Volume 1. That assumption was wrong. His humor and writing skills never cease to amaze me. I read Volume 2 in 2 days and I keep going back and reading chapters over again to try to incorporate everything he is telling me into my brain to reference later. I like the way he tells me how to do something and then shows examples of how to do it.

If You liked Vol. I, you will also like Vol II. This book has very helpful, practical tips like the first one. However, a decent third of it is tailored to the specifics of studio shooting. And, as Scott plainly states, to achieve most of the effects he is teaching you to do, you really gotta buy the gear. Most of the tips can be applied to shooting anywhere, but you'll need the professional gear to get results like he does. And scott, if you're reading this, in the next volume I'd like to see a section geared toward what to do when you feel like throwing your camera at the wall because it's just not giving you the shot you want. Capiche`? Thanks!

If you're like me, disgusting those awful phone book manuals from the manufacturers that are absolutely impossible to understand and use, Scott Kelby's The Digital Photography Book 1 and 2 are the things for you. Here you'll find just about everything you need to know and do in easy steps to get the same results the pros does - without having to study those horribly technical manuals in detail and experiment for years before you get there.

I recommend these books highly to any serious amateur out there with a digital system camera. Scott doesn't beat about the bush. He'll tell you exactly what aperture to use in various situations for correct depth-of-field, getting the correct white balance, how to shoot for optimum sharpness, what equipment to buy or use to tackle various tricky situations or light conditions, how to use flash and why you should consider using it in direct sunlight, and hundred of other things you've been wondering about. And as a bonus it is all presented in a very humorous way, so watch it - you may end up having to read it twice or thrice like I had to, because of getting completely carried away by it. Other than that - just go for it. Buy them. They'll get you started from page one. Just get your gear and start shooting along with the books' clear instructions, and you'll start getting results you never thought possible.

Note that these books are not intended for the compact camera users. But if you own a digital system camera with interchangeable lenses - you'll never regret buying them.

This book gives you exactly what it says it will - great tips from the pros. I find every chapter helpful, even though I probably won't do a wedding, the tips can be used for other shots as well. And I won't use them all, probably not even half. But you get ideas to expand on or help you decide how to shoot something.

The book includes great photos, too, to help you understand the subject.

And if you (are a) know it all, why are you buying a book, shouldn't you be writing one?

He does try to be funny (not successfully) but I still get the point of the tip.

This is the 2nd volume. Make sure you buy the first one and second one together, since they are complementary.

I was so impressed with Volume 1 that I immediately ordered Volume 2. I was not dissapointed. Scott Kelby provided non-stop, relavent and useful information. I read both books with highlighter in hand. I will reference them over and over as I progress through my new digital photography journey.

I am a photography moron and I did nont want a book that told me all about the theory of photography and alot of technical terms. I wanted a bokk that said "to take good pictures based on these conditions do this". This book more then delivers. It is small enough to fit in all but the smnallest camera bags and tells you how to get good equipment on any budget, then how to use it. Simple, straightforward language and enough detial on setup and execution but no so much you are overwhelmed. If you want to take good pictures and just need to know how without understanding in great detail the science of it, this is your book

I brought volume one and two at the same time.
Volume two is an extension (not update) of volume one. The same comments apply. See below.

This is probably the best how-to photography book I've ever read. This covers only a few topics that general consumers are interested most. This book is very easy to read. This is a vertical dissection of the interested areas. Instructions are very clear and precise. This helps you to the take reasonably good (if not professional) looking pictures very quickly. From there, you would have enough skills to expand your horizon. Enjoy!

If you have a digital single-lens reflex (SLR) camera and you want to learn how to take the camera out of "auto mode" and get great pictures, then this book (and its predecessor) is for you. If you don't know how to use that flower on the mode dial, this book can teach you. Even people with point-and-shoot digital cameras will find valuable tips throughout this book.

The Digital Photography Book Volume 2 by Scott Kelby is not an update of his previous work, but rather it starts where Volume 1 left off with a whole new set of topics. Written with Scott Kelby's dry sense of humor, the book explains how to use a flash, improve shots using the standard flash that comes with the camera, how to set up a digital photography studio, and how to get great shots. For example, if you want to learn how to take macro shots of a flower, rather than explaining depth of field and apertures, Kelby tells you the settings you need to adjust on your camera to get the shot; this is when to use that flower mode button on point-and-shoot cameras. This step-by-step formula is repeated in the section on how to take great travel photos "it won't be long before you friends are overcome with emotion (jealousy)," portraits, landscapes, macro shots and even how to shoot a wedding. However, once you've read that section, you might be more inclined to tell Cousin Jennifer that your camera is broken when asked to shoot her wedding. In addition, there are tips on using your camera's features to get better shots, and, like Volume 1, recipes for getting a particular shot. Each page shows a photo of a scene or the camera and a short explanation of how to achieve the desired shot. The book is written as if Kelby is standing next you giving you how-to tips.

Kelby is a professional photographer, designer, and podcast star. Volume 1 is the best selling digital photography book of all time. However, most digital photographers know Kelby for his work with Adobe Photoshop users. He teaches on-line photography and Photoshop classes, and he participates in photo walks and teaches at photo workshops in locations like Yosemite and Santa Fe, New Mexico. He has an on-line blog and asked his loyal readers how to convince people to read the introduction to his book. He incorporated their suggestions and rewrote chapter 1 just prior to the book's publication.

The Digital Photography Book Volume 2 by Scott Kelby is an entertaining read for those for whom photography is a serious hobby or for wanna-be pros. It is well-written with easy-to-understand instructions. You can literally open the book to a particular page, grab your camera and go shoot a great scene. A word of warning, though, if you think all you need is a digital camera, a memory card and this book to achieve professional results! You will soon learn that to get the "good" shots like the pros, you need more camera accessories - like an external flash, remote shutter control, polarizing filter, a flash screen and of course, a tripod... and I could go on. Scott Kelby gives away the pro's secrets. With practice, an alarm clock (the best light is at dawn) and a few accessories, you can wow your friends and family with some amazing photographs. This book should be carried right alongside Volume 1 in your camera bag.

I bought the 2nd edition of Scott Kelby's book and found it to be quite instructive..so much so that I then purchased the 1st edition. Don't look for indepth instructions. If you want a quick and succinct answer to your question, this is a good book.

this book picked up where the vol 1 left off... majority of the book covers off-camera flash and lighting. it really helps simplify the intricacies of using off-camera flash, diffusers, etc.

get this book if you want to learn the basics of light, flash, reflectors...

Scott covers many areas and types of photography and although we are not all going to be involved in all the areas covered, it is great to learn about them, none the less. The skills can always be applied to other types of photography. For instance, we all won't work as a wedding photographer, but the majority of people will hire one at some point in life. If nothing else I would know what to look for as a consumer. The other way of looking at it is that most of us will shoot some photos at a family function of one kind or another and these are transferable skills. Scott's books always teach me something new. I was so pleased with Volumes 1 & 2 that I am now going to try his PhotoShop books. His are great "how to" manuals. I find myself using them as reference for different aspects of photography.

When I first bought this book, I flipped through the pages and was really excited over all of the great tips and insights. I was so excited that I showed it to my uncle who is a really talented veteran professional photographer. He was skeptical at first, but the more he read, the better he liked it. Much to my dismay, he told me he was keeping it. He handed me some cash and told me to go buy another one. This is a great book that appeals to all levels of experience. I now have my own copy of this book (once again) as well as a copy of Kelby's first digital photography book.

For anyone who has read Scot Kelbys first volume of this book, this is a great book for you. if not, but your still interested in learning all about flash photography and how to properly implement it to help you take photos better, this book is also for you as it centers around the use of a flash. Great book, and shipping with standard was shockingly fast, i recieved it in 2 days.

This is an excellent book - or primer - on digital photography and photography in general.

This is definatly a great book, it has helped me understand quite a few things. I am not a professional photographer by any means, I do my own work for myself and my family. Photography is a passion of mine and I continue to learn more and more every step of the way. This book helped me to make sense of many things, I didn't understand or that I really needed to know, but had nobody to ask. Thanks.

Thats right, this book is fantastic just like the first volume. Mr Kelby hits the bullseye again with
his "This is how you get the shot" writing style. I can't tell you how much I have learned from this guy.
After reading the first volume, I got out there, and started taking pictures, and I LEARNED from working the camera, not reading book after book. Kelbys books gave me the boost to take the shot the right way, but I am
learning from experimentation. I learned how to drive faster behind the wheel, than from reading the drivers manual. I have become a much better photographer just reading Kelbys books!! My confidence level is much greater from getting out there, and playing with the camera.

Just buy this book, you will not be sorry. Also check out his adobe photoshop books too. I read one of his volumes on ELEMENTS version 5. It was also excellent, and very easy to understand.

Last but not least, I have to say that Kelby has a great writing style with no hokus pokus crap. Kelby is
a great guy, and great teacher.

I read both books and I love both. It tells you a lot about how to eliminate shadows and improve your portraits. The book also talks about using light meters, reflectors and light diffusers.

This is a continuation of Kelby's Volume 1--not an update to the earlier version. He picks up where he left off in the earlier book, by taking the reader on a virtual "photo shoot," explaining how to set up various shots. I found his ideas on lighting to be very useful. I own several photography books and this is simply one of the best. Kelby simply tells you what works and how to set up various shots. His book is much more useful than the "industry bible" by Hedgecoe.

This book picks up right where the original Digital Photography book ends. This book is not a replacement for Vol. 1 - you'll want both books. These books are packed with useful tips you can start using immediately to improve your shots.

This book is a continuation of the original 'The Digital Photography Book' and covers new territory. For me, this book was worth the purchase price just for the section on lighting. In a few short pages Scott actually explained what you need, how it works and approximately how much it costs. This was amazing to me as I have been trying to figure out what all that lighting stuff does forever with not much success. The veil has been lifted!
As for Scott's lame jokes - I love 'em especially page 71.
j.

Loved the book more than the first one. For me, the book payed for itself, when Mr. Kelby simplified the directions on how to fire an off camera flash via the camera. The flash and camera instructions we're driving me crazy. Thank you Mr. Kelby for helping me to remain somewhat sane. Some wonderful little tips on how to create some stunning photos. I would highly recommend the book to anyone. I am eagerly awaiting book 3.

I loved this book for the following reasons:

1. It is very easy to read and the lessons are short.
2. It shows you how to create shots in very simple steps.
3. The photo examples are great.
4. Kelbys writing style is entertaining.

I would highly recommend this book.

I always look for Scott Kelby when looking for photography books BEFORE I look anywhere else. He has easy step by step instructions for whatever you want to do. I also find myself recommending Mr. Kelby's books to people getting started in the editing field. You can't go wrong with Scott Kelby's books. Now if he would just come out with one for the newest Elements 7!!

As usual my order was promptly received and in stated condition. I find having "Prime" for shipping is a great savings and would recommend it to anyone that regularly uses Amazon.

BOOK: The Digital Photography Book, Volume 2 (Paperback)
by Scott Kelby (Author)

RATING: 5 stars

FIRST IMPRESSIONS: I received Scott Kelby's "The Digital Photography Book Volume 2 as a gift and it was a great gift indeed. Even though I have probably read every photography book out there, this book still had a few handy tips that surprised me.

PROS:
-Easy reading/ conversational style
- Plenty of tips and tricks. There were even a few i didn't know of.

CONS: Nothing major, I just hoped for more examples and some lighting diagrams.


CONCLUSION: If you are just starting out and haven't started reading any photography books, this is a great FIRST book. This book will provide a great framework to the skills necessary to be a good photographer. Google me and check out my work and let me know if this book helped me or not. You be the judge.

I learned from the information in the book, but I was looking for a little different information. I guess that will come with experenice.

Inexpensive but very helpful little book full of pointers for a beginning photographer who wants to get a little serious about his/her work. The book is composed of a bunch of pointers that are clearly explained and illustrated. I have bought both volumes just as I was getting into photography and found them to be very useful. They are also nice because they are a quick read.

This book is very good. It is written in a way that anybody can understand. It truely is written as if you where talking to a friend and explaining to him how you do something, in this case photography. I highly reccomend it to anyone wanting to know a little more about digital photography and how to do certain things. It covers many areas of how toos like Flash Photography or Macro (Close up) Photography. Very Good Book.

If you are interested in Digital Photography, this is the book for you. Scott Kelby did not go into technical details for the photography tips, instead he would just tell you what f-stop or shutter speed for taking certain types of shots. Wonderful book. Highly recommended.

I received this book quickly,and in good condition. The book is well laid out to use for a quick reference guide and very easy to understand. I also purchased the second edition and I am happy with it as well. Scott has some wacky humor to go along with learning, easy to overlook if that's not your reading type. I will add this book to my growing library, it's a keeper.

This is a must have for amateur photographers trying to learn the tricks of the trade. I highly recommend it.

Ok this is book number 2 and if you dont have number one...GET it!! ive been doing self taught digital photography for about 7-8 years now and these books have helped sooooo much. you wont regret it its all informative and answers those questions you couldnt pin point in other digital how tos..

I'm actually most impressed that this book gets as much press as it does. It *does* have concise and useful information, but even with it being a "second volume", overall, the content is still pretty much just a regurgitation of the first volume. Read Scott's blog, or items from his website, to get the same information. I bought both volumes as the same time. For me, personally, that was a mistake. Having studied photography (film) in high school and college (too many years ago), I've been interested in getting back into the hobby and am digging into digital. I was looking for something to dig into more of the technology, exposure, blah, blah, blah. It's a great premise, but I don't think it requires two volumes. My recommendation, get volume 1, and save the $ (reasonable as V2 is), and apply it to a book on Photoshop, or something else.

I am an intermediate level photographer but pretty much using the automatic setting on the camera. This book is extremely valuable in learning how to understand and make the adjustments in manual options. There are also a lot of just fun helpful suggestions. The author's sense of humor is fun too. I liked how the book got right to the point. I have recommended to several people to purchase this book and also Volume One as gifts. The price is certainly right - an excellent value

Using the one-page lesson format is smart. Scott Kelby truly evokes in every page a coach who wants to lay down useable tips for the budding photographer. This book is truly ideal, and will give immediate dividends and satisfaction to first time users of a DSLR.

The section on putting up your own studio is the most interesting. One caveat though: as you are reading this book, you will want to spend, spend, spend. To create your own studio, in fact, you must pluck-out 3 K USD easily.

I'm giving just 4-stars because I feel that some of the lessons could have been illustrated more in detail. Am not looking for spoonfeeding, but rather just a bit more detail in some of the lessons--also because this book is supposed to be for beginners, and the one page allotted for each tip are rarely filled-up, anyway. For example, a drawing/diagram on where to place the light, or how to structure the elements exactly, or include more pictures of the actual shoot (meaning with the photographer and stands included) are not too much to ask for. Perhaps in the conscious effort to be as concise and quick as possible, some important details are left out. Not every accessory has a price, and where to place the camera and light can only be explained in words so much... a picture or drawing on where to place them are still better, quicker illustrations.

These are just humble suggestions for vol. 3, which I will surely buy as well.

I bought this book because I considered it as a very informative and well explained book on the digital photography and I expected some explanations about the digital editing as well, but when I start reading the book, it disappointed me so much.
The book is extremely for beginners and has very short contents (without any details), the 60% of the book is filled with photos, and the content is not enough for a person who has already an average knowledge about his own point-and-shoot camera, So I don't recommend it to all of you guys who already know a little about the digital camera functions like, aperture, shutter speed, focal length and flash etc,, believe me this book is not more than just telling u press this button and release that button.. not even explains you why should u do that?

I am so excited! I spent about two weeks looking for books on exactly what Scott Kelby explains in this ONE book! I have saved hundreds of dollars! Everything I need to know is in this publication AND I don't have to read and reread the subjects to understand what in the world he's talking about! It's very simple to understand. Each topic is mostly one or two pages, covers SO much information and is and will be a phenomenal reference for my photography business! NOW, because I love this book so much, I'm going to order his first one. I can't wait for more.(course he's covered so much info in these two that he may have nothing left to write a book about ) :o) I have nothing but positive comments and everyone, from professional to those who just bought a digital camera, must purchase this book. :o) There's information on every level of photographers, be it for a business or for fun. P.S. Also, it's a medium sized book, which I love so I can put it in my camera bag and take it with me.

This Book is Fantastic for anyone and everyone who wants to start learing photography as a hobby or profession, the knowledge shared in this book is really great and the way the author interacts with the reader is fantastic, I feel I have really got the value for my money invested......

Volume 2 continues where volume 1 ended. Perforce, the solutions explsined are a little bit more advanced, more exotic in their applicability and rarer to occur but when you need them, they are worth their weight in gold. Nice book to have. You will be tempted to try a lot more photography.

Highly recommended book! I've seen how funny the author on their show in PhotoShop User TV is, and you can imagine how he must have written this! Overall, very concise, straight-forward, no-BS, entertaining content. Although some of the techniques he gave here are not new to me, (all of it are helpful, btw) it is primarily targeted for dSLR beginners. Don't get me wrong! but some of the tips are unknown to some Pros. The easy-to-digest approach of single technique per page is what makes this book very interesting to read.

I enjoyed reading the review entitled "Short Cuts" and gave this a three star rating. I agree with this review on the facts, but not its judgment.

I am a photographer. Knowing the underlying fundamentals is essential to making the difference between a snapshot and a work of superior craft or fine art. A good photographer pre-visualizes the final work (e.g., the print) and then executes each step (capture, edit and output) to effect that vision. Now the moment of pre-visualization may be a fraction of a second before the shutter is released, and visions may evolve after capture. Nevertheless, when we (good photographers included) don't start with an idea of what the eventual print is supposed to look like, then luck will play a major factor in getting a good image. And gosh knows digital gives you lots of shot on goal and a larger range of acceptable, so it does happen. But when you understand the instrument at a fundamental level, you can optimize each step to achieve the vision. Kelby does not help with that.

There is, however, a place for shortcut books. Particularly with something like Photoshop, you can know the fundamentals of a technique you don't use often and still not remember what d@#$ submenu it's in. And then for the folks who have lives plenty full and don't really have time to individually test each lens to learn its "sweet spot" nor learn to use alpha channels in Photoshop, books like Kelby's are invaluable. Afterall, 99.999% of all shutter releases are by someone just trying to capture the scene in front of them, not trying to create a vision. This and Kelbey's other books meet the 80-20 rule and is a pretty fair trade off for folks that just want to take better pictures. Cookie cutters don't work all the time, but working most of the time for the limited effort shortcuts require is a pretty good deal. I don't know of anything better than (or even close) to Kelby's books at this task.

Nothing new, just lots of commonsense.

Without reading this book, I don't know that I am so knowledgeable (based on so many reviews, giving this book so high rating)

It was wonderful - lots of tips that I would have never thought about before reading

Excellent books for the amateur SLR digital camera photographer - just what I was looking for!

I love Scott Kelby books!
He writes in a manner the beignner and intermediate photographer can understand.
He reads my thoughts as we go along and answers my questions the moment they pop into my head!
His wit at times does get a bit monotonous IF you are reading for facts.
If so, then just skip the veryu first page of each chapter.
If you find you need a bit of comic relief, then read the whole book.
It is a book I will constantly be refereing to til I am an old hand at photography.
Don't forget to buy volume one as it is invaluable!

This is the second book in the series. Everything he says is practical and help/ed me a lot. However, I think he will write until book #10 or who knows #20. And you would spend US$200.00 to have the whole collection.
So I quit now! Why he does not issue such a book of, lets say 500 pages, and charge us one time only!!
Otherwise it would be TOO Expensive for me.

Instead of struggling to bridge the theory of photography to practice, Mr. Kelby just jumps in with examples and says, "here's the picture, here's how I got the picture."

While his humor is..quirky, the advice was easy to follow and opened up things to me that had not dawned on me before. I'm an advanced hobbyist, who'd like to go pro, so these books are a great thing to me. I don't have years of background behind me and most of my other books did not adequately cover where digital technology has changed some fundamental aspect of photography.

Lighting is lighting, but the newer cameras can do things the old ones could simply not do.

Please read this book , if you know the first volume of Digital Photography. After , begin too study both books , that will make the difference in all you can doo with your camera. The photos you made are surely more prof. Practice my friend , and sutdy ,and practice.

Once again Scott Kelby does it again. Even though some of this book is common cents Scott add his insight and his unique humor. I have been taking photos for 20 years and I learned a great deal from Scott!

This book from Scott Kelby is Awesome ...
A friend of mine who is into photography lend it to me and I loved so much that book that I bought it.
It does explain in very simple ways how to take pictures and why to do so without going into any complex pro explanations.
I even bought the second edition as well ....
Do not hesitate , you will enjoy it

Great book, written like he was standing there, telling you how to do what you want to do. A must buy for photographers of all abilities.

Ever wanted to sit down with a great photographer and and ask a bunch of questions, about how they got those great shots? That is exactly what this book is. It a conversation about how to get those perfect shots. He discusses various techniques, and equipments, giving you the pros and cons of the different options.

Be ready to go take some pictures! These are practical, hands on tips that you need to practice and learn to apply. There is very little theory here, it's one page one technique, next page something different. Something like an apprenticeship, get this, do that, don't ask why, it's not important. Here is how you do this technique.

Well worth the money for a someone who understands how the camera works and wants to learn how to make different types of shots "LIKE A PRO".

this is a great book for beginners. Straight to the point and with some good tips. The humor wasn't too much and it was like getting advice from a buddy. I recommend it for amateurs. More advance shooters should look elsewhere but you never know there might be a little trick in there for you too.

I really like the presentation and layout of this book! I've got other books by Scott Kelby and I like them as well. I know some people have knocked his attempts at adding humor to the publications. Overall, the information is definitely useful and worthwhile. I bought two copies of this book. I gave one to a friend in Ireland who does wedding photography. He thought that it was brilliant! He's a very talented photographer but was still fascinated with the contents of the book. My point is that beginner to advanced can learn something that they previously did not know. Highly recommended.

The polar opposite to the manual for informative camera settings and use, this book is fun (sometimes goofy) reading and REALLY helps you. So many photo books spout how good the writer is or don't tell you how a shot is made, and this makes up for all of them-- the second book "#2" is also incredible.

This book contains a little something for just about every area of photography.

The book contains nne chapters, but my initial forcus was only on about four of the chapters shooting landscapes, macros, pro tips for better photos and the photo recipes at the end of the book.

Despite my narrow focus, I found MANY new methods that will immediately improve my photography.

This is a must read for all photographers starting out and for intermediate shooters.

I bought this book after reading the first addition. This is the kind of book that I read cover-to-cover, and then a few months later, pick it back up and read again! Things seems to make so much more sense to me that second time around - after having some experience with what he covers! This is also one of those reference books to keep so that if you have a question about something, you can find it in this book. I don't like books that I read once and then it sits on a shelf. I like books that can help me again and again!

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone getting into or just starting photography!

I bought this book since I had the first volume and was extremely happy with the simplicity and approach of the text. It does not assume that you are the best photographer on earth but opens the road to become one.

The second volume gets a bit more into the depth of the art of photography and addresses critical topics, such as portraits, flash photography, more equipment and wedding photography. I particularly liked the 8th chapter, called "Pro Tips for Getting Better Photos", which I am planning to make a copy and have it always in my bag.

I would have liked to have together with a book a small reminder, water-proofed and card-sized, which would be handy to have in everyone's bag. A definite must buy, but please read the first volume first. These are kind of books that every amateur photographer must have in his bookcase. I have personally used the first volume so much that already looks old and now regret not buying two.

I was already really into photography when I got this book (actually, it's the 2nd of two books), and I learned SO much it's not even funny. This book is stuffed with great tips on getting sharp pictures, lighting, using flash, composition, and every other practical thing you could imagine. get BOTH of the books--they are great. I have read through them both two or three times each already and I'm always getting more out of them.

Also--they are highly readable--not boring at all.

If you aren't an expert already, buy these books!

The book is well written and well worth the time. it has helped
me in a lot of ways, as i am a total beginner. it sure did help

Very insightful, fun read and gives specifics as to how to achieve the photographic results you want.

Loved it! Have read it several times and will read it again along with volume one. full of info and inspiration. I fall asleep with Scott every night :)

Nice, easy read with some great information. Some of the attempts at humor are a little annoying, but overall lots of great content. Features of the Canon and Nikon and compatible equipment etc. are mentioned most often, but other brands are really not mentioned at all. While I realize they are the most popular, it might be nice to mention some in the top 10. It was still very useful, most of the information applicable to my own camera and I really enjoyed it.

This is easy to read and understand. He explains situations in simply illustrations, easy for the beginner and helpful for the more seasoned photographer.

Scott gets it that and average guy who has a good camera and had the patience to read its instruction manual wants just to the point short tips and tricks to take his photography to the next level. I love that he doesnt ramble unnecessarily even for one more sentence than he has to, to get his point across.
I am a professional photographer. Infact all men in my whole family are photographers. I always keep both volumes of this book in my camera bag. Its something even a pro can read over and over again. I know I do it when I have break during an assigment, especially wedding gigs. I dont see any reason for anybody to regret buying this book.

Read a topic or two on the way to a photo shoot. I used the techniques recommended and got excellent results. Scott Kelby is a god.

Book 2 is just as good as Book 1. Scott Kelby wrote two excellent books. My kind of teacher. Will look to see if he has more books.

He breaks it down in a concise manner once again. I've been shooting for years now and I'm still finding out new things from Kelby. A must have for photographers!

The book use real world situation to discus , the lingo is simple and not for techi geeks .
Loved the book !

Very easly written book - it's realy only a pleasure to read it. There are many usefull information about gettin good shoots. I read in two days and I think this book is too short;)
It can be recommended for every fun of photography. So don't wait and buy it and read it!:)

It worth to spend some time to read this book. Some helpful tips are very good and practical.

Wow, what a great book packed with so much information in such a small amout of space. It is user friendly and easy to understand. There are so many great tips for "how to" situations and they really work. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it from cover to cover

This book continues where the first left off to provide great tips and tricks for the average and not so average person.
I have just started using my Nikon D80 and the advice provided by Scott has been superb. I didn't know I needed these tools and attachments, but now find that not only do I need them, but I need them NOW!!
Scott makes learning my camera fun and easy to understand!

Was like talking to an experienced photographer and him giving you friendly advice. He tell's you how to do it for cheap or expensive. I took his advice and bought a new lens that he recommended for wedding photography for my camera... I have a Canon 30D with a 17-85mm lens and I bought a 50mm 1.4 lens

This is written short and sweet..to the point,clearly,understandably...Scott Kelby did it again..A must for anyone new to photography.

This book is just the right size to slip into your camera case and take along with you. The book upfront gives great advice before delving into the main chapters. Chapters are broken out by like categories such as using flash, wedding shots, travel and portraiture. The chapters in themselves however are not drawn out affairs. Each page is topic specific running one to two pages with concise to the point advice. The information in each topic is in an easily guided verbiage to get you quickly through the task at hand.

I find that I am not able to always remember all the fine points of advice when it comes time to make that next shot. This book is going to be a handy reference tool to remind me on technique, equipment and do's and don'ts. While you may never plane to be a wedding photographer, the book has lots more info than just this and besides, the information is great for technique and equipment for the serious amateur.

Besides having a great index (most books miss the importance of this) is the final section. A selection of pretty much every type of shot is shown, with the "recipe" to get it. Kind of made me feel like being in the Chef's kitchen getting the goods on a secret process. In a field where professionals wont always want to help out the amateur, this book goes a long way to help.

After reading the first book by Scott Kelby about digital photography I knew I had to get the second book. It did not disappoint me. Just chock full of info and tips and all done in the easy going Kelby style. As he says, he likes you to think you are with him on a shoot and asking him questions, which makes these books very easy to follow. I am working my way into pro photography and his books are the best to learn by. Get them and you will see.

Excellent book with excellent tips. Simply a must read and a keep to read again later. Anyone can get something out of this book. Great photography tips. A must read.

Great information and takes up from where Vol. One left off. SK did an awesome job in putting the reader next to him in casual conversation about the how to's in getting great shots.

EVERYONE can learn something from this book. Easy to read and understand too. Buy it!

I purchased both Volumes 1 and 2 at the same time. Both of these books are great!! Volume 2 builds on the subjects listed in Volume 1, going into more detail about certain subjects like shooting for weddings, landscapes, etc. As I wrote in my review of Volume 1, I really like not having to wade through tons of theory to get to the meat of the subject. The book itself is very nice, with great example photos of each subject along with Scott's commentary, instructions, and advice. I also enjoy his brand of humor. Being able to get the type of photo I want, with minimal figuring out of things, frees me to take Scott's instructions and advice and go a step (or more) beyond, thus learning the theory itself. Think of this book (as well as Vol 1) as a sort of "learn a foreign language while on the plane" type of book. And don't scoff! You'd be surprised at what the brain retains during a plane flight.

I am new to digital photography and have found Scott Kelby's book invaluable. Easy to digest, fun to read and would highly recommend it to anyone interested in learning how to make the most of your camera's and your own capabilities.

This book presents a wide variety of topics for achieving the results you want from your digital camera, point & shoot or DSLR. It is in a "just in time learning" format and helps you get the best shots possible. A great companion to Volume 1!

Buy this book. A lot of real world practical tips. Scott, you did me a great service.

This book out of many I've read is very simple and to the point. It also recommends other helpful products according to your budget. It's a must have for those who are serious about there photography.

This is a darn good little book. Easy to read, you can pick it up and get a few tips, mark your place, and return back later. I'm probably an intermediate digital photographer and have already picked up a few great tips. It's a good read. I'm looking up now at the book and can see I've opened a few dozen times, haha.

Excellent Book. I bought this book after reading Vol 1. The author gets right to the point. Highly recommended.

Lots of very good information, even better than Vol. I.
Easy to read and often humerous. I read through it in just 2 sittings.

As always, Kelby is great. I wish he would target CEO's and corporate lawyers instead of "doctors" as "rich" since the vast majority of physicians are NOT rich.

Not a ton of technical things, just practical, useful, and clearly explained tips. How can u beat that??

While the writing style is a little cavalier, he does make a lot of good suggestions. His equipment suggestions have been a real help. He lists a range of equipment based on price, that he would use/recommend to do the photo. The improvement in my photos was worth the cost of the book. The book is geared to Nikon and Canon users, so I could use the tips with my Nikon.

If you want to bring your phtographic knowledge a step further, buy volume 1 of this book. Here you will find a lot of tips that will improve your pictures. When you know everything in volume 1, and you want some additional tips, buy volume 2. There is nothing wrong with the tips in this book, but they are not for everyone. For instance, a tip for better wedding photos is to bring a second photographer. I'm sure this is perfectly true, but I'm not at that level yet. However, the chapter on flash phtography is very good.

I have bought several books on photography in the past six months but this one has surpassed them all with its unique content. Scott Kelby makes it easy for anyone to understand even the most profound areas of digital photography. I would recommend both books 1 and 2 to any aspiring photographer. Thanks Scott!

This is the kind of book that gets right to the issue. Not a lot of techi stuff, but lots of good points to use. Both of the books digital1 and digital2 are great. Not just for the beginner but also for the more progressed shooter.

Scott Kelby is President of the National Association of Photoshop Professionals (NAPP) and Editor-in-Chief of both Photoshop User and Layers magazines. He is also an excellent photographer in his own right. As such, he is not only highly knowledgeable about the ins and outs of photography, but he is also very aware of the needs of aspiring image makers at all photography skill (and budget) levels.
For those of you who have already read Volume 1 of The Digital Photography Book, this is more of the same: more of Scott's quirky sense of humor, companionable instructional narratives, and excellent photographic tips. This book also continues Scott's concern for all of us not being made out of money. In Volume 2, he follows his earlier practice of offering varyingly priced equipment alternatives to accomplish the book's photographic tasks.
For those of you who haven't read Scott's first volume (which I highly recommend) in what I'm sure will be a continuing series, not to worry. Volume 2 is a stand-alone book that offers a completely different set of photography tips from his book 1. In this volume, Scott's nine chapters cover the use of flash, building a home studio, and portrait, landscape, macro, wedding, and travel photography. He also includes two general chapters on getting overall better photos and recipes for specific types of images, from silky still water to professional-looking product shots.
Scott describes his narrative style as the advice he'd give a friend if he were there while he or she were working to create an image: folksy, but still reasonably directive (but not bossy). And as with all of Scott's books, The Digital Photography Book, Volume 2 includes an associated Web site that offers valuable information and relevant links. And this time, Scott has actually put the introduction to his book on the site, so you can get a flavor for the book before even cracking its cover.
As with most of his books, Scott Kelby assume his readers have at least a good familiarity with their current cameras and a desire to go beyond point and shoot photography. If this is true of you, then I thoroughly recommend The Digital Photography Book, Volume 2.

A very neat book. Each page is a stand alone lesson unto itelf. Kind a reminds me of Hints from Heloise. It is so easy to undertstand I have loaned it to others,(novices) who have found it to be very helpful.
Know what you want to do, then find the page for that criteria and the set up is easy to follow and understand for the situation.

Excellent book. I would recommend it highly to anyone who wants to improve their photography skills. Written well, easy reading.

This book has good information especially for amateur photographers. Advanced amateur photographers would probably not find much new here but for me it is a great reference that compliments my camera's manufacturer's user manuals and a user guide written by a third party (I have a Sony A700 DSLR). I also enjoyed the humor of the author, it puts things in perspective.

I loved volume 1 of this book, and love volume 2 even more!
This book has more in-depth tips and techniques on lighting (studio
and outdoor), and fantastic but simple advice on getting better
portraits of people, something I was definitely interested in.
Based on Scott's advice and tips in this book, I was able to set up
my first home photography "studio" for not very much money, and turned out some really great portraits for my friends and family - something I'm so proud to have been able to do! I absolutely couldn't have done it
without this book.
I even shot an album cover for a friend using Scott's black background/black clothing advice and it turned out absolutely amazing.
Great advice on choosing a lightbox, selecting a professional flash (and how to set up multiple flashes and strobes), tips on posing, using a reflector, and much, much more.
If you're not really into technical photography jargon like me, and just want something that gives you direct, simple advice that anyone can use to improve your photos, this book is DEFINITELY for you!

I'd have to say this book is an excellent purchase for people who want to learn how to improve the look of their photos quickly rather than tedious work, trying to find 10 books on everything that's involved with digital photography.

This book may not be for the advanced user. But even still, I've read over 50 books on photography and digital photography - and I still found things I did not know in this book. All helpful info of course. There was some humor in the book, but instead of looking at it as a defect or flaw, I see it as an out of norm that makes the book less like a text book.

Really any book on photography will be a little differ from another, and this one gave me some new ideas for adjustments to make with my normal work. I highly recommend this book and the first book by scott kelby.

My favorite books are the digital photography books by Rick Sammon but they each are at the moment 30 dollars and there are 4 of them so either these two or those four are my recommendations.

Rick's books are much larger and many many more pictures but for scott's price of less than 20 dollars, you really can't argue that it's not worth the buy. (because it certainly is)

Lots of good info in this book but I would classify it more as a reference or tip book. He's pretty comical and writes about 1/2 a page of info concerning each topic he's telling you about. He gives you pointers and when telling you about items that will make your life more simple he knows that not everyone can afford the best so he gives you a middle item and a cheap item. Usually adding prices too.

Excellent book if you can read through Scott's sense of humor, or lack of it at times. Gives lots of terrific tips and techniques. Try them all at least once. You'll be a better photographer for it.

Fast, effective, "go to" book! Need to de-mystify how to fire your flash remotely...it's in there; Need to know about ISO settings and why important....it's in there! The 2nd edition has got everything that you CAN'T find in the user manual in a logical, easy to understand format!

Aside from his corny humor, Scott Kelby packed a lot of useful information (especially on flash photography) in this book. You will get a lot of bang for your buck. I highly recommend it.

Always looking for publications to help me be a better amateur photographer, without having to take classes. Following in the flavor of Scott Kelby, you will find a great aide to your photo taking moments.

I bought this book hoping it would remind me what I learned in photography.

It did just that and than some.

I found my myself saying , "Oh yeah, I remember now" quite a bit.
I've been taking pictures forever, but go through dry spells.

This book has helped remind me of what I learned and gives new inspiration.

I look forward to his others books...

-Mario

The book is easy to read and provides many tips for taking better photos. Some tips are quite advanced and require equipment (expensive or not-so-expensive)and others are straight forward and will help most anyone. Most photographers will learn something that is useful.

I have never written a review on Amazon so that tells you I must be really impressed with this book. I am passionate about photography as a creative outlet for myself. This book and Scotts first book really helped me take my photography to the next level. I am not an avid reader and this book is laid out perfectly because it gets straight to the point. I am the kind of person that is like just tell me how to do it already and that is what this book does. It takes you to the next level in your photography and does it by getting straight to the point. I had to go to Krakow, Poland and had just received his volumn 1 book which made a huge difference in the way I captured the experience. I am dead jealous of his skills but am so thankful for him sharing them. Thank you Scott!!

Jodi

I could have stacked this on volume 1 and just kept reading. Lots of useful tips! I'll be waiting for volume 3 now.

I like this little book because it gets right to the most important aspects of getting a good photograph. The examples are useful and add to the text. A good review that is worth your time.

Scott, has a way to bring things to simple points. I've been shooting for over 15 yrs and at times you need to go back to the basics. Some very good info. I've relied on to much with my cameras metering system. Granted I shoot fashion, beauty, glamor & artistic where once had a light meter. Used photoshop to correct not that perfect balance at times on those under/overexposed shots. Indeed you can meter bracket but I did buy the Sekonic L-358 light meter and my test shots came out good. I sell my work and rather have less post production and more shooting.

Another excellent book by Scott Kelby, very readable, packed with info. A good read when you first get it ,now it has become a reference book that I will go back to again and again. This is not my first photography book purchase, Kelby ranks as my number 1 photo and everything adobe author.

Scott Kelby has a unique writing style which is right up my alley. He has the ability to make learning fun. This book is not for that "SNOBISH PRO PHOTOGRAPHER" who already knows everything, but its awesome for folks like me who are still in the learning process. And those who enjoy some humor along with the learning. His humor is definately "different", but i thoroughly enjoy his style.

I enjoyed the first book, and this one is no different. Scott Kelby does a great job of dividing his books into small, workable topics that you can absorb and learn as you read. That way you're not reading a long book of information and then thinking "how do I do that?" This book goes several steps more in depth than the first book. The first one is great general information to help any beginning photographer (point & shoot, or SLR) achieve better photos. This book goes into more indepth topics about specific ways to make better portraits through use of "pro tips" for how to use flash more effectively, etc.

I highly recommend anything Scott Kelby writes!

I have taken pictures with a SLR since the 70's and am fairly accomplished but there is always more to learn. Scott Kelby makes it easy to do that. About half the pages of my copy are dog eared and I return to this time and again. A wonderful follow up to his first effort with great tips in easy to understand language. Highly recommended.

Scott Kelby delivers (yet again) with this second volume. As a professional photographer, I'm always reading up on tips and tricks. Kelby gets straight the point with techniques as well as invaluable information of what equipment to buy and why. Unlike all other how-to or instructional guides, Kelby, in a way only he can, makes everything clear and funny.

I would highly recommend this and all other Scott Kelby books to pros and amateurs alike.

Scott Kelby has done it again. This book is full of useful information and is a great resource for any level of photographer. Scott Kelby's style of writing is easy to understand and humourous. Great book at an even better price. You won't be disappointed.

I AM USING BOTH 1 & 2 OF THIS BOOK AND AS A NOVICE PHOTOGRAPHER THEY ARE GREAT! VERY USER FRIENDLY WITH REFERENCES AND ALOT OF EXAMPLES. I HAVE LEARNED MORE ABOUT USING MY CAMERA WITH THESE BOOKS THAN I DID WHEN I ACTUALLY TOOK A CLASS. I WOULD RECOMMEND TO ANYONE, ESPECIALLY THOSE NEW TO DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY.

I have found this book to be very useful. I am in the process of learning digital photography and the shot recipe pages prove to be most helpful. I consider it to be money well spent.

Engaging and practical, like the first book, but aimed at a less general audience than the first -- more like the enthusiasts than the masses, those more likely to buy an external flash, pick up a piece of studio-like equipment here and there.

For a beginner as me Vol II just like Vol I is easy to understand and very practical. I have a lot of photography books aim at the beginner level and The Digital Photography Book series in my view is the best

Scott hits another homerun with his down to earth, straightforward and unpretentious style. I refer to his book regularly for pointers to improve my photography. Don't know if my photography is better but at least I am doing it right. Great advise, nice easy reading. Thanks Scott.

I saw the version II of this book in a store and waited until I got home to see if I could find it on amazon. I saved serious money so I ordered both. I think these are two of the best books you can buy. You don't have to read tons of theory on aperture, light, etc. You get sound advice on how to just go out and do it. Reading these books led me to really research what all my D50 could do and now I'm even more satisfied with my gear. Because of these books, I may finally have my own business up and running very soon! These are straight to the point of showing you the little tricks that make your pictures even better. And not dry at all!

There seems to be some tidbits here for anyone - regardless of experience level or specialization. Like the first volume, you can flip through until a tip which is of particular use to you presents itself. Mr Kelby has a knack for gleaning pragmatic pointers in a breezy, concise style. He's equally informed in Photoshop as well as photography.

Just one useful tip & the book pays for itself. Myself, I flagged at least 8, & I've been a semi-pro for over 30 years. Nobody can know everything. That's why I still read & research photography and Photoshop (my full-time profession).

This book is truly worth the money spent! This book is easy to understand and easy to apply!