While it is true that there is a lot of information on the web about almost everything, and that most aspects related to photography are there for free, the truth is that sometimes the quality of the information is not only questionable, but messy or chaotic, especially when we don't know exactly what we are looking for. And how are we going to find something we didn't even know existed or how are we going to value the content of something we don't know?
That is why we defend the importance of working and consulting reliable reference works, written by professionals backed by the experience and quality of their publications. That the internet is very good when we have some more of our own criteria, but it is not a manual in which we can believe blindly. So with this desire to build a good base to work with, we continue with our literary recommendations, which are part of the baggage of all those who compose this blog, and are a reference guide for many of the publications we write on it. This time we will analyze the work of the photographer José María Mellado: High quality photography .
COMPOSITION AND DESIGN
The book is divided into 12 chapters , each with its corresponding subsections in which it elaborates, in a very detailed way, on how to work a complete workflow from the calibration of the monitors to its printing on paper .CHAPTER 1: FUNDAMENTALS
In this first chapter, Mellado tells us about the different image file formats (RAW, JPEG, TIFF, PSD), what they are, and what are the advantages and disadvantages of each of them. It also deepens the color management , or how to calibrate the different monitors to achieve a true image display.CHAPTER 2: THE CAMERA
In this second chapter, we enter the cameras and everything that makes them up. It explains, for example, what the sensor is or how the size of the sensor influences the quality of the image, what the noise is or how it relates to the ISO. It also delves into the types of lenses, fixed or zoomed focal, diaphragm , hyperfocal distance or sweet spot of the lens. Up to tips for choosing a camera, pros and cons of each type, and the basic settings for working with the camera. In short, almost everything you can think of in relation to camerasCHAPTER 3: THE EXHIBITION
In this chapter, Mellado explains everything related to the exhibition: what is a histogram and how to read it, what types there are, what we consider a correct exposure , what the famous expression consists of: Straighten the histogram or what types of measurement there are.CHAPTER 4: ORGANIZATION
This is, in many cases, the great lack of many photographers and photographers in a workflow. On this occasion, Mellado proposes ways of organizing our photographs and different programs such as Bridge or Photoshop to organize the files .CHAPTER 5: REVEALED
In this chapter you work and explain in detail all the basic development settings , focusing on the Adobe Camera Raw environment; how to read the different information through the histogram, how to improve the contrast, balance the lights, perspective correction, noise reduction, vignetting, etc.CHAPTER 6: VISUAL LANGUAGE
In this case we go into the composition of the image and its different laws or rules: Law of the horizon, rule of thirds, negative space, lines, center of interest or odd numbers among others.CHAPTER 7: TREATMENT BY ZONES
In this chapter, we are taught to identify the different areas of the image to be able to treat them individually: selection tools, adjustment layers, adjustment by curves, correction of masks, and so on.CHAPTER 8: ADVANCED TREATMENT TECHNIQUES. ELE METHOD
On this occasion, Mellado will tell us about the use of advanced selection settings (selection by channels, masks, levels ...) for situations in which we need greater precision or in which a more standard selection does not give good results.CHAPTER 9: BLACK AND WHITE
In Chapter 9, we get all the information necessary to perform a conversion to black and white, both quickly and more worked, in Camera RAW and Photoshop.CHAPTER 10: COLOR CORRECTION AND SPECIAL EFFECTS
In this chapter, you will talk about how to make a good color correction based on files in Raw, JPEG, TIFF or PSD. How to correct the color from Camera Raw, color balance, intensity, tone, as well as different special effects.CHAPTER 11: FUSION, DEFORMATION AND REPAIR
On this occasion, Mellado takes us into the fusion of images, the elimination of objects , the extension of the depth of field, the deformation of the image (crop, transform, liquefy ...) and repair through different tools such as the tampon of clone, concealer brush, patches, etc.CHAPTER 12: DEPARTURE
In this last chapter we reach the end of the workflow proposed by Mellado that composes the entire process of saving files and preparing them for the different outputs that we can give to the image (copy on screen paper, etc.).DETAILS
Number of pages: 528 Soft cover Dimensions: 26x20cm Publisher: ANAYA MULTIMEDIA Edition: 3rd editionIDEAL FOR…
Would it be too bold to say that this book is ideal for everyone? High quality photography is a reference manual, ideal for anyone who wants to know all the fundamentals of digital and general photography . But above all it stands out for being able to detail in a very instructive way (and easy to follow), all the steps necessary to work the photography correctly from the moment it is thought until it is printed on paper. What we call workflow and what is so important when taking photography.ABOUT THE AUTHOR
José María Mellado Martínez, (Ávila 1966) is a photographer, teacher and writer , author of numerous publications on digital photography, as well as president of the Royal Photographic Society for 5 years. He has received numerous awards throughout his professional career and some of his works appear in important collections and museums around the world. He is probably the most successful photography author in the Spanish language .THE BEST
It contains all the essential fundamentals to understand digital photography at a technical and theoretical level. It is pleasant and clear and allows you to follow the steps in an easy and simple way, but above all it exposes us step by step and with great detail how to work the images from the moment even before taking it to its file and printing, what we know as a workflow , which is essential for any photographer and is usually quite complicated to work for oneself from scratch.WORST
It is not a very portable book that we say. It is a good billet that weighs its own, so it becomes a manual to have at home or at work, but it is not a pleasant read to take you to the beach;). In addition, the most recommended way to read much of it (not everything) is to practice the examples at the same time as you read it. If you really are " anti-publishing" of images, here are quite a few pages on the subject.OTHER PUBLICATIONS
- 2007. Iceland. Texts: Miguel Fernández-Cid and Manuel Santos.
- 2007. Silence and Light. Texts: José Luis López Bretones, Catherine Coleman, Fernando Castro Flórez, Manuel Santos and Sandra Muñoz Collado1.
- 2005. High Quality Digital Photography. Editorial Artual (4th Revised Edition)
- 2010. High quality photography
- 2011. High quality photography. CS5
- 2012. From Heaven to Earth
- 2013. High quality photography. Definitive methods and techniques. CS6
- 2013. Smart Photography with Lightroom 5
- 2014. High Quality Panoramic Photography
- 2016. Closer
CONCLUSIONS
There are books to consult them and then there are others to have them. There are books to read once and others to reread them from time to time. This is one of those books that will end up groped, with dots on the pages, arrows and pencil exclamations. This is one of those books that you will consult, look and remirar, because High Quality Photography is a reference book that I do not think you will regret I hope you liked it. If so and you want to recommend it to someone else, do not hesitate to share. Thank you and see you next time