Scott Kelby's Digital Photography Boxed Set, Volumes 1 and 2 (Includes The Digital Photography Book Volume 1 and The Digital Photography Book Volume 2)

• #22 in Best Photography Books

57 Reviews

Sort by: Most Helpful ▲ Date Rating

Okay, this is perhaps the best venue to compare the two volumes.

So, in a nutshell... if you have the budget for just one, get volume 2.

Vol 2 is perhaps three times stronger, and Scott Kelby repeats most tips that was said in Vol. 1 anyway.

In Vol 2 reflectors, diffusers, softboxes are discussed. In volume 1, pages are somehow wasted on superficial, commonsensical things like the purpose of lens hoods.

The quality of pictures are likewise better in volume 2.

The few solids that I got in vol 1 are Photoshop settings (values to input for sharpness) and the weblinks especially created to supplement the one page lessons; in volume 2, the tips on building up a studio from scratch, the great use of flash, and 'photo recipes' are truly superb.

But if you are really a beginner, budding photographer, entirely new to dslr perhaps, then these two combined in one set is perfect. The one-point-lesson format is a noble idea and they really would help!

There is still plenty of topics for Volume 3, such as how to wield the picture styles embedded (color saturation), and illustration on the differences between white balance, more techniques applicable to studios, panning, more urban travel photography, more on flash work,... so Im awaiting that one as well (Scott says it will be out next year).

I have read other books by Scott so when I saw this set I knew it would be a smart buy. He "talks" to you in his style of writing. He is a bit of a ham at times but truly gets the point across while injecting humor now and again. Many how to books will put you to sleep but this set shows you how to easily produce the shots the professional photographers create. I also love the ending chapters where Scott gives you the "recipe" for many shots and you can go out and try them for yourself with great success.
I have been a Photoshop user for several years and have read several other books by Scott. I have never been disappointed by his books. This set is a great source for quick reference when I have ideas on a shot I wish to take. I am sure they have and will continue to quicken the process of going from a beginner to intermediate and even higher levels of photography.

I was looking for books to teach me something substantial about digital photography. By "substantial" I mean that, although I'm not planning to become a professional photographer, I would like to escalate this hobby of mine, and enrich both my technique and my understanding of how things work (which is, eventually, what helps you become more creative). Unfortunately, I bought this book set without reading the 1-star reviews of the first book.

I will not talk about the unacceptable humour, especially in volume 1. I admit it's a matter of taste, but personally after going through the first pages I just wanted to burn the book. It constantly feels like the author is mocking you (see also 1-star reviews of volume 1). Giving the benefit of the doubt, I continued reading. Let me say already that I only started reading through volume 2, when I realised that it says the same things as in the 1st volume, and quit).

The book completely lacks focus. It tries to be casual and provide you with tips without telling you the "why" of each tip. I would understand and accept that, except then it starts talking about studio photography and contracting for weddings. I can't find any sense in that. The tips it provides are, for the biggest part, extremely shallow. "Photograph children and old people"???? I found use only in the tips for gadgets, filters to use, etc. Even the pictures the book has inside are nothing impressive, at least for my taste.

I find that the major flaw of the book is that it really doesn't teach you anything that will allow you to express yourself in the end, it just turns you into a parrot which learns by example, then just does what it was taught without any creativity involved. I strongly suggest that you avoid this book/book set. I would, on the other hand, strongly recommend Bryan Peterson's "Understanding Exposure", which is actually recommended even by Scott Kelby himself in this book.

Ok i have seen complaints about these books so here is the skinny from my view.....

If you are an awesome photographer with years of experiance, these are not the books for you!!!

Now if you are learning and getting started with this subject these both are a must read! You will not be bombarded with terms you dont understand. Its like what he says it is. Just a buddy telling you simply how to take the pictures you want. He explains the tools you might want to invest in, and how to get the type of shots you want. It is even entertaining. I laughed alot reading these books, they're filled with humor.

I am just getting started in digital photography. These books where a HUGE help for me! I got some great shots, and learned about the nifty things my complicated camera can do. It gave me nudge and encouragement to learn more without overwhelming me. I can't wait for the next one!!!

Scott (Kelby) went to the every possible corner to get you up to speed and really ready to take GREAT pictures. Buy these beautiful guides and don't let ANYONE borrow them (or at least not take them out of your sight!) Well worth the money! Many reviews go on and on; I'll get to the point. You will not regret this purchase.

I've actually read all 3 of these books.
I bought them to help my kid--a beginner with his SLR--in his Photo class in high school, and in my opinion, they'll help him a lot.
For me, however, the "basic" points in the books were like review of grade school (I learned to shoot back when everything, on every camera, was manual....)And yes, I could have skipped the humor and been just as happy, but it did not detract from the information in the books.
These books are stuffed with solid information.

For my kid, the beginner, a lot of the information was spot on--particularly the recommendation to read the book "Understanding Exposure" (by B. Peterson)--because if you don't understand exposure, you don't understand photography. Everything in this book is plainly spoken. No unexplained jargon. Nothing confusing.

Kelby covers a lot of ground, everything from techniques (which he calls "recipes") for photos to hardware (like lenses), and he spreads it around among examples drawn from travel photography, portraits, macro, sports.

The explanations are short and to the point. He shows you a photograph, then tells you how to accomplish the same effect; this is great for beginners.
Most pages contain tips--some in boxes--that you might otherwise spend hours trying to figure out, or end up sorry you didn't know to start with. (Like, oops, don't go changing your lens if it's at all dusty outside...)

Better yet, Kelby explains how to work your camera--admit it, digital dSLRs with all their knobs, buttons and overkill menus are a pain to figure out when you're a beginner--and he gives specific instructions for a few popular Nikon or Canon models; other books often show only one brand of camera and if you've got another, tough for you, you'll still be confused. These books include photos of the camera bodies/dials/buttons and menus. You won't be confused.

Bottom line: Easy to read. Easy to understand. Clearly illustrated. Excellent index. Great for beginners and less-experienced intermediates. Good for general intermediate photographers. Not necessary for very experienced or art-school-educated photographers.

I first read these books when a photographer friend of mine lent me her copies. I am an amateur photo enthusiast and immediately got hooked -- finally,, some straightforward tips that I can use right off the bat! I had just bought a Canon Rebel Xsi and after reading just a few pages of these books, I already got tips and suggested camera settings that I could use.I would strongly recommend these books for the beginner who wants to do more with their camera. (450)Scott Kelby's Digital Photography Boxed Set, Volumes 1 and 2 (Includes The Digital Photography Book Volume 1 and The Digital Photography Book Volume 2)

I purchased the boxed set for my husband.
These books are great and helped here learn how to use better a digital camera.

Great down-to-the-point digital photography set. Gave me new insights on various aspects of setting up my shots.

I loved the first book, lots of great tips. The author thinks he is funny but his silly jokes could get on your nerves. 2nd book not as good.

Scott Kelby created a great digital photography guide when he wrote these series of books. Volum one and two gives photography information that is in plain english without the Technical jargon that most beginners don't undersand. The helpfull tips in the last chapter of these books are designed to get the potential photographer to create the same conditions and adjustments on their camera to obtain the same results as Scott did when he achieved the displayed photo on the particular page. I recomend these books to all who want to learn photography.

The books are good. Some of the information in book 1 is outdated. The new updated information is in the second book. Overall book 2 good -- book 1 okay.

These books are so good. The Author is great the way he tells you what you need to know. Easy to understand. My Wife loves these so much I Pre-Ordered the third Book several months ago and can't wait to get it and read it from cover to cover in one sitting. When these arrived I picked up one and started to read it, I could not put it down. I don't read many books but these are so good I think I read them in one sitting each. My Wife is the Semi Pro photographer not me. I use a Nikon S-10 and love it She uses a Nikon D-70.

I purchased this set of books and enjoyed them tremendously. They provide a quick easy read with a ton of tips to give your photos that extra boost that makes them worthy of printing.

What I found best about the books however, was their usefullness in giving others "that extra boost" to make their photos better....

To explain: I took a three week vacation abroad with my daughters (ages 18 and 19) both of which are not too keen on reading books about photography. I equipped both girls with cameras because I knew this may be the last big trip we take together so I wanted to ensure we could preserve the memories.

I packed the books in my carry-on for the multiple 8 hour flights and when the girls became bored I presented them with the books. They were both able to complete the books on the planes and both chattered and shared their new knowledge with each other.

The best part: Unlike previous trips, their cameras came home filled with beautiful pictures!!! The easy tips presented in these books made it so the most novis of photographers could improve their shots! Thank You for giving my girls a bit of extra skill so that all three of us could bring home memories worthy of hanging on the wall!

This book makes learning about photography fun. Each page discusses a small topic and by the end of the book the reader has really picked up some useful information after a really easy read. Furthermore, because it is broken down into 1 page discussions it is easy to reference a topic at a later date. I strongly recommend this book advanced amateur photographers looking to improve their skills.

These books are fantastic. There even more helpful if you have a Canon or Nikon. You'll pick up tips that will help you as you want to improve your photography. Everything is practical and hands on. It's fun reading. I dogtagged and earmarked many pages for re referencing. It's from the pros to you. Nothing technical, just here's how you do it so go give it a try. I highly recommend these books for your photo library.

This is a great book if you are looking for extra hints and tips. I love the way Scott Kelby writes in his books, it really feels like he is speaking straight at you with his little funny comments here and there. I carry these around with me when I am trying to learn something new so I can recall back to it when needed. Great Book!

The books are great and I am going to get the third edition, soon. I like them very much, and are complementing each other.
Also they are, do-this style, and there is not much useless info about the camera, that we all know.
Only important stuff.

Its not a classic book. Just teach you some tricks to get photos to look professional in front of non-professionals

Kelby's photography books are hands down the most straightforward and immediately beneficial books available when it comes to digital Photography. The pages are filled with useful tips, real world applications, and great advice. If you just bought a new digital camera nothing will help your photography more quickly than picking up and reading his books. The first book is more generic and more basic but still provides plenty of useful advice. The second book is chock full of tips that even a seasoned pro would appreciate. In particular his studio lighting advice is invaluable. Also his tongue in cheek humor and style grabs you right from the beginning and makes it easy to read the book cover to cover. Plus once your done the books are designed with clear chapter headings so you can find that tip again when you need to get the shot.
Before you buy that fancy lens your eying, or upgrade your flash, buy this book... then go out and buy a good tripod and a proper ball-head. The rest is practice experience, and occasionally a piece of equipment. Good luck, happy shooting, and enjoy the book.

Like many of you reading this review, I love my family and I love photography. So I no longer have days at a time to get smart on a topic. That is one of the reasons why I really like Scott Kelby's style of writing books that are digestible 30 minutes at a time. I have two of his books open right now. I'm taking better photos thanks to the suggestions in this book set. And I'm doing a better job editing thanks to his Lightroom book. If you have an SLR and are a relatively new photo enthusiast, you should consider this book set and Scott Kelby books in general. If you are an experienced photographer making the the transition from film, look elsewhere.

The first few pages of this book I thought the author was crazy but after I got to understand his writing style it was great. If you want to learn about photography in a fun and personal way Scott Kelby's books are the best. I have read seven photography books in the last month and his are the only ones I could finish. Scott treats the reader as if they were friends out shooting together and he has some great insights not only from years of taking pictures but from famous photographers who have helped him get better results. He doesn't go over every technical detail. He just helps you take better pictures.

Max Hoskins

My review of all three of volumes by Scott Kelby is shown with the Volume 3 review I wrote already.

This is a great set of books on how to become a better photograher. If you are looking for the Why of photograhy do not buy these. This is a down to basics with receipe tips and tricks. Scott tells it to you like he was standing next to you while you are out shooting. I always review these books before I head out on assignment to reiterate the facts and suggestions Scott has to offer.

I just received Scott Kelby's Digital Photography Volumes 1 and 2 boxed set. I'm an instant fan his teaching by example style. And of his witty, sometimes quirky writing style. It's fun, engaging and informative for us amateur photographers. He begins with "If you and I were out on a shoot together and you asked me, "how do I?...". I can't wait to have Scott by my virtual elbow as I try out these awesome tips. I'm a Realtor and mostly shoot interior and architectural photos (not a focus of these books unfortunately) but I feel encouraged to broaden my scope and have more fun with my digital photography.

I WAS WANTING THE FIRST IN THE SERIES OF 3 DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY BY SCOTT KELBY. I NOTICED AFTER THE FACT AND CONTACTED SELLER AND THEY WERE VERY PROMPT IN THEIR REPLY AND HAD AMAZON CREDIT ME BACK EVEN THOUGH IT WAS MY MISTAKE...

I WOULD RECOMMEND TO ANYONE TO PURCHASE WITH THIS SELLER AS THEY ARE PROPMPT WITH THEIR SHIPMENTS AND OTHER ITEMS I HAVE RECIEVED FROM THEM WERE IN EXCELLENT CONDITION AND THEY TAKE THE TIME TO RESPOND TO THE BUYER.

GREAT CUSTOMER SERVICE......THESE DAYS THAT IS VERY HARD TO COME BY.

THANKS "THE BOOK DEPOSITORY" !!!!

DENISE

The book is arrived early from the date given, which is quite fast. Even, the condition is good and well packed. The content is also excellent with a colourful picture and easy to understand explaination. I would like to recomand to all digital photographer to buy this book...I'm really sure, you may not returning it back. For your information, the volume 3 is just resently out.

If you can get past his off the wall humor, Scott Kelby's Digital Photography series is a valuble tool
for the beginning photographer. The author covers the entire spectrum of digital photography: equipment, getting sharp photos, flowers/closeups, weddings, landscapes, sports, portraits, printing, problem shots. For each area a tool or trick is revealed which improves your shots. A great investment
of your photography dollar and much cheaper than a new lens.

If you just bought a decent camera, this boxed set is a smart place to start learning the art of photography. It's not lengthy or wordy. Just gets straight to the point, tells you what you NEED to know. And it works! If you're trying to get a history of photography or expert skills and maneuvers, then these may not be your kind of books. But if you're like me, a novice who just wants to start taking great photos quickly, this set contains spot-on advice for doing just that.

We've just bought these book to improve our skills woth our digital reflex camera, and it works!
Easy and funny reading and good tips to make your photos look better.

Seller was very fast, and accurate! I received my purchase before my actual camera got to me, and I ordered the camera 3 days before I ordered this bookset!
I was very pleased! Thank You!

Purchased the "betterphoto guide to exposure" by arbabi and fell asleep with that one. It is a good book for people who are techies; I am just a point and shooter trying to improve my images. I don't need the math equations and hell's bells, I won't be memorizing the f stops. Kelby was great; in two hours in barnes and nobles I picked up tips to improve my images. Just tell me when to use the lower f stops and what it will do for the pictures. When to use different shutter speeds and what it will do. If I'm interested in why's I'll look it up on the net or in another book.

Not a bad couple of books, but he tells you what, not why. As a person who needs to understand why he's doing something to learn it, I didn't like these books.

Both books are very good, nice photos and friendly language to understand the pro photography. Sincerely I expect more technical information but the book is good to start taking pro photos. I recommend this book for all new beginners photographs. If someone knows about another advanced Kelby's photography book, please dont hesitate to offer me.

this is a good book because of it's plain simplicity. i recommend it to the up and coming photographer that wants to finish reading book, and have an accurate understanding of shutter speeds and f-stops...

his humor is pretty funny, but you can skip the first page to every chapter because it does not help with anything at all...it's just an intro, and scott shares that same point with you in volume two...

good buy for the money...i purchased vol 1 and 2 together for a decent price...

Entertaining reading from the start. No nonsense approach to the "how-to" aspect of digital photography. I've wasted plenty of money on books, only to come away with no practical knowledge. The buck stopped here -- Scott Kelby gives it to you straight and in English. Definitely the most practical set of books I own. I am glad I bought the boxed set!

I read what sections I need to brush up on before I go out to shoot. They are to the point with no unnecessary content. I will buy the third installment of this series for sure. BUY THESE BOOKS

These are the best hands-on guides for photography available to date. For those that have a problem with Scott's sense of humor, get over yourself, try some prune juice (it is amazing to witness how pride can become a stumbling stone to gaining greater knowledge, which in acquisition always mandates humility). The point is whether Scott uses humor as filler, or a sagway; in these guides what you want is concise information which by its nature can be rather dry in which humor can be a good icebreaker, and it should be remembered that a field guide should not be an ostentatious and superfluous volume of verbiage. Scott gives it to you like a friend, but to the point, and in a way that you can use, immediately. There is no other short guide that even comes close to presenting as many detailed descriptions on how to achieve specific photographic insights as these two guides. Enough cannot be said of the small investment that would made financially, that in the end will produce the greatest significance in your photography.

I was studying in the library and I went to look for some books for photography after. I happened to pick up this one and started to read the first few chapters. I started to take photos as a hobby about a year and found this book very useful. The tips are really good and simple. They are very simple but effective. The tips was so useful that I never thought of or aware of. After reading the 1st few chapters of the book, I decided to buy both of them to read them but also share them with my friends!!!! A+, cant wait to see what is in the 3rd one!

I don't know how Scot Kelby can make even technical books interesting, but he does. Buy it!

The books were very informative- Volume one was definitely more useful than volume 2. Great intro to photography with people who have little experience

the book is very good on references, and gives you the info to become a better photographer

These books are fun to read, simple instructions on how to get those pictures you want, and very informative. Scott Kelby is a very good writer with a great sense of humor!

I purchased the boxed set (volumes 1 and 2) for my wife when I purchased her an entry level DSLR. These books are great and helped here learn how to use her new camera.
The books were also a great bargain at Amazon.com!

I love the pure and simple and informative way the book was written . I have read many books and got bored easily . This book keeps me interested . Very well done .The Digital Photography Book

Unlike most Photography books, Kelby's is easy to understand, simple, complete and full of never-told tricks of professional photographers. He tackles topics on composition, light, motion, aperture, flash and more, with precise steps and advice for each of them, with a tinge of humour that makes it an easy, pleasant read.
He doesn't use difficult techie jargon, he just explains things in a simple yet clear way.
Also, as a plus, he gives excellent Photoshop tips as well as the advice on equipment, brands and prices for all budgets.
As a starting amateur photographer, I've profitted a lot from the purchase of this boxed set, and I'm looking forward to the release of the third one soon. I fully recommend it!

Both books are full of useful information, and products that the pros
would use everyday. The best part being, the format in which it is
presented, where you are the best buddy and you are being told all of
these wonderful secrets, that only the pros know. And it is in best buddy
talk, not big words and language you could not possible understand. A
must read, if you are interested in digital photography.

I am only half way through the first book, but I am very happy with my purchase. There are great tips from a professional photog that you would only get if you were on the job site with him/her. I do wish that I could look up the topic of "iso" and just get the basics behind it, BUT the advice in this book is priceless.

As ever this is an exceptional Kelby book. His light and common sense approach makes even the most technical aspects of photography easier to grasp. And, the humor he inserts breaks up the subject matter nicely.

I'm yoinking this from the back cover:

"If you and I were out on a shoot, and you asked me, 'Hey, how do I get this flower to be in focus, with the background out of focus?,' I wouldn't stand there and give you a photography lecture. In real life, I'd just say, 'Put on your zoom lens, set your f-stop to f/2.8, focus on the flower, and fire away.' That's what this book is all about."

And it is. This book is like having an experienced friend in the field. It's NOT going to tell you HOW to use your camera -- it's just easily digestible, excitingly USABLE tips and tricks on how to take it the extra mile.

I still have a lot to learn about my Nikon D40, but this book is just fantastic for filling in the spaces between the technical lessons.

great non-techie guide to photography and getting great pictures, delivered with a fun and hands-on approcach

This book is very simple, but I loved it and loved the references it gave me for more information.

I unfortunately bought this from "brick and nortar" on my way to the airport for a trip. But I wanted some reading material. But I'm glad I did (although I got stiffed $12 extra). But this set is awesome. So straight to the point and setup in a way that it's so easy to refer back to. I like Scott's writing style too. Definitely worth having.

These books are great if you just want to get to the point of how to shoot certain subjects. With minium frills and enhanced with some light humor, this book is great for a beginner/intermedia digital camera user. I got them for my bf for the holidays and he dove right in despite the fact that he normally doesn't read books. I too found myself reading them on vacation and picking up some handy tricks that did make photos a bit more special.

I just opened the package 2 hours ago, and I couldn't put down Book1 since. I started getting into photography but started with the wrong books. Ok, maybe not "wrong", but more like, really technical ones. These books by Scott Kelby actually communicates with you as if you're shooting right beside him, and he ain't talking to you in hifalutin photography words. Of course, you need to know the technical aspects behind the settings he proposes, but if you're aim is to try out your camera in the best settings it should be in, he's got bright suggestions professionals use anyways. Besides, when you're already out and about to shoot away, you don't have time to flip from one page to another on those way-up-there resources. Everything's gonna come together as a photographer tries and errs several times, sure, but these books by Kelby set up 'the crumbs for hansel and gretel', so that you will be led correctly to smart configurations you most likely can't set up by yourself even after understanding the mathematics behind focal lengths and apertures, etc. I really appreciate all the key pointers laid out here that are universal with professional photographers. He also gives good tips on what gears to buy for several rational purposes (again, as easily understood by us amateurs). VERY MUCH RECOMMENDED.

The best book(s) on how to shoot specific situations, from portraits to landscapes to weddings. Equally applicable to regular and digital cameras. In fact there is very little that is technology specific.
Very good for non-pros.

These are some great books, great info on how to take better photos...would recomend to anyone wanting good advice on takeing better pics