Spotlight customer reviews:
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Customer Rating: 
Summary: The Digital Photography Book Vol. 2: an excellent series continues
Comment: 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.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Digital Photography
Comment: 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.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Digital photography
Comment: Excellent book. I would recommend it highly to anyone who wants to improve their photography skills. Written well, easy reading.
Customer Rating: 
Summary: Good Info and Reference
Comment: 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.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Indispensable Guide for Digital Photographers!
Comment: 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!
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