Photography: A Visual Companion

This book comes in a substantial slip case that would make it a very attractive gift for someone becoming interested in photography.I’m a fan of Tom Ang’s photographic books and have read a few, so I was quite excited when I knew this was on its way. I was more than a little disappointed on opening it up to find that it was a reprint of a book published in 2005 under a different title. So it’s only new in the sense that sections have been updated to account for the massive strides in the technology of digital cameras and software over the past 14 years.It seems to be aimed at beginner’s who intend to take the subject of photography seriously, but to me it was a bit of a mishmash with no meat. An introduction to some famous, and some not so famous, photographers from the past; some photographic history; a look at cameras; then on to how to take better pictures and manipulate them afterwards. It was all a bit too generic for me, but maybe 40 years ago I would have loved it.On photography from its beginnings to the present it certainly paints a picture, but it is a very shallow picture that just skates over the surface. It is enough to whet the appetite but I found myself getting a little bored with reading the same kind of stuff that I’ve read lots of times before. There is nothing new here, but if you’re new to the subject then it will fill you in and give you more than enough to encourage you to pick up your camera and go out and take some pictures.It is well laid out and Tom Ang’s style is engaging and helpful. Lots of little chunks of information scattered around in the way it is done these days to save overloading brains with too much information in case they get bored and wander off. Also loads of pictures to break up and separate these chunks of information. Very easy to pick up and put down because there was never a thread of interest that lasted more than a couple of page spreads.If you haven’t got any books on photography, this wouldn’t be a bad first, but if you have a few –especially in this Dorling Kindersley style – then I’d give it a miss.

This is simply a stuning and amazing book, presenting the history of photography and offering a guide to techniques that will be of interest to all photographers - whatever their choice of camera or genre. On almost every page their are stunning photos and interesting facts, figures and techniques - something for almost everyone.If you are 'full-frame' or 'micro four-thirds', film or digital, JPEG or raw, black and white or arty filter, this book will fascinate and excite you about possibilities and things to try. If you need a guide to something you see mentioned in a photo blog, this book will probably help get you started. Actually, micro-four thirds cameras from Olympus and Panasonic don't get a mention - which is one of the serious omissions I found in the book.Mine is already a major feature on my coffee table, not only to advertise my hobby to visitors but to spark my interest when I'm bored with the TV soaps my wife is catching up on!Thoroghly recommended in a very nice hard-cover and sleeve.

Extremely impressive to look at and to hold. When I got it, I spent a good hour captivated by the look and feel of the book, reading this bit and that bit. Later when I went through it properly, it was a bit of a disappointment. It seems aimed at beginners but it's put together like a work of art. It's bitty on information but pleasant enough to read anyway. I'm approaching intermediate level and the book didn't have as much substance as I'd have hoped for.However, I'm pleased I have it. It's one of those luxury items I wouldn't really buy for myself but is nice to flick through for a moment of inspiration. More art but there is information that a beginner would find useful.It's not the best book for beginners though.

This is another excellent photography book from Tom Ang and this one is particularly attractive. It is made to look like a camera and comes in a sturdy slipcover. It definitely looks more like a coffee-table book and not just another DK how-to guide. This book would be ideal for those who are just starting to become interested in the art of photography and people who have just bought their first D-SLR camera. The book begins with a gallery of famous photographers and a history of photography. It then moves on to more practical matters with a guide to equipment, an overview of the basics of photography, an introduction to the different types of photography and a section on working with digital images. The book ends with advice on what to do if you want to take your photography further and turn professional. The book is well laid out with plenty of beautiful photographs which really help you to understand the text. This book is suitable for both beginners as well as people who have mastered the basics and want to try some new techniques. It is written in a user-friendly style and doesn't use endless jargon just for the sake of it. One thing I like about Tom Ang is that he never comes across as being a camera/gear snob. He talks about everything from camera phones to specialist cameras in this book and makes it clear that they all have their place and can all be used to take amazing photographs.