Understanding Exposure [Book Review]

Damien Franco | Feb 03, 2009 | Comments Comments

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I was pretty excited to get my copy of Understanding Exposure: How to Shoot Great Photographs with a Film or Digital Camera (Updated Edition) in the mail from Amazon. I had heard such wonderful things about the scope of this photography book that it really should have been in my library long ago.

Understanding Exposure: How to Shoot Great Photographs with a Film or Digital Camera (Updated Edition)

Understanding Exposure: How to Shoot Great Photographs with a Film or Digital Camera (Updated Edition) by Bryan Peterson was first published in 2004 by Amphoto Books.

It’s really hard to do a book review on a book that covers so much about the fundamentals of photography. It would be easy for me to say “Go get this book right now because it’s probably one of the best books on photography I’ve ever read!” I wouldn’t be lying to you at all if that was the only line in this review.

Bryan writes in a style that is easy to understand with wonderful illustrations and captions to keep your interest throughout.

Defining Exposure

The first part of the book lays great foundation and helps to create an environment where reading is done from cover to cover. You’ll learn the meaning of “Exposure” and how the photographic triangle works as well as the differences between “correct exposure” and “creative exposure”. In truth I’ve never seen it explained in such a spot on manner.

Aperture

Bryan then takes you on a journey through aperture and depth of field where you’ll learn why it matters to think about what f-stop to use. Do you want to tell a story or is this just a “who cares?” kind of moment?

Shutter Speed

Shutter speed is one of the often overlooked fundamentals behind creative photography for beginners. This section of the book really illustrates the various uses of shutter speed in many different situations. You’ll learn panning, implying motion, and how to freeze motion as well.

Light

As we all know light is the most important part of photography. This will help you thinking about overcast frontlight, sidelight, and of course backlight. Plus the section on low-light and night photography is stellar (yep, that’s a pun).

Special Techniques and Filters and Film vs. Digital

The last couple of sections are short but sweet. In truth I’d consider this bonus material.

Conclusion

Go out and buy this book today. It belongs in your library!

Understanding Exposure: How to Shoot Great Photographs with a Film or Digital Camera (Updated Edition) doesn’t come across as outdated at all. It shines in all the right places for a book on photographic techniques. The images are great, the writing is well done, and the captions throughout the book really help add to the ebb and flow. This is a great read from cover to cover.

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Tags: Amazon • Amphoto Books • aperture • backlight • book on photography • Bryan Peterson • correct exposure • creative exposure • creative photography • defining exposure • depth of field • Film vs. Digital • Fim or Digital Camera • frontlight • fundamentals of photography • Hot to Shoot Great Photographs • learn photography • library • low light • night photography • photographic triangle • photography book • photography tip • photography tutorial • shutter speed • sidelight • teaching photography • Understanding Exposure

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Ted A.

I've been reading this book over the weekend, and have to say it is one of the best I've read to date. I agree with most of the praise above. For me, the writing style stands out... I've read too many photography books lately that seem more like a platform for the photographer's own ego-stroking than anything else, or very patronizing. I think the author really respects his audience with this one. I also appreciate that the book stays true to its purpose. It stays on topic, it's concise, and it doesn't try to cram in obligitory photography topics to be an 'everything-to-everyone' book... in sumary, thanks for the recommendation and I endorse it with my own.

Kirk

Damien,

I subscribe to your blog through “google reader” and some time ago you recommended reading this book Understanding Exposure: How to Shoot Great Photographs with a Film or Digital Camera (Updated Edition) (Paperback). I purchased it from a local store and commenced reading it on my daily commute into the city.

I have been a hobby photographer for years. However I didn’t get serious until just a few years ago when I purchased my first DSLR.

I thought I understood exposure and it’s relationship between ISO, Shutter Speed and Aperture. After finishing Bryan Peterson’s I realized I had no clue.

I would recommend this book to anyone. I found the writing to be clear and intuitive.

Thanks for the recommendation. Keep up the great work on the blog.

Kirk Howard

Damien Franco

Thanks Kirk for being a loyal reader and for taking the time to say a few words about this book.

I'm glad that you enjoyed the book and found it as informative as I have. This has quickly become the book I recommend to serious photographers that want to get a more solid grasp of how the camera and light work in conjunction with each other. The simple explanations and ease of read make this book a sure fit on any shutterbug's book shelf.

Thanks

Antoine Khater

It is really funny but I seem to be the only one who doesn't like Peterson's books. After reading all the hype about them on the net I bought, a few years ago, both Understanding Exposure and learning to see creatively.

I can't say the books are bad, I did pick up a tip or two from each but my overall feeling is far from being WOW. It was not a "revelation"if you see what I mean.

Scott Thomas Photography

This is THE book I reccomend to people who are getting their first SLR camera. It's good to have your camera in hand as you read through the text and work along with the book, too. I try to read it once a year for review and inspiration.

Christina

Hey! Thanks for commenting on my blog. Now, I also have to second this book. I read it and thought it was very helpful. I had already knew a few basics but I did enjoy how he elaborated on them.

golightly

How funny that you reviewed this book, I've been wanting to get it for some time now. I was on my short Christmas list, but I got a new tripod and some macro filters instead. So now it just waits in my Amazon shopping cart for my to come up with some extra spending cash to get it! I CAN"T wait! Thanks!