literary recommendations, today I bring you an essential one. Jose María Mellado is one of the references in our country in photography and didactic matters. His books are always a safe value, The Fundamentals of Photography was not going to be less.
In this article I will tell you about its content, who it is intended for and why I recommend it. So you can decide if it will be one of the next books to occupy your photographic shelf.
IDEAL FOR
Anyone who wants to learn photography. If you have already flirted with photography and you are consumed by the desire to learn and improve, this is your book. If your photographs need to improve, both at the level of execution and development, here you will find the answers.
IT'S NOT FOR YOU IF...
... yours is not editing. If you are one of those who think that editing and developing programs like Lightroom or Photoshop are loaded by the devil and that the photo has to come out of the camera already finished, this is not your book. You will be disappointed because much of this work is dedicated to this topic.
I don't think it's for you either if you start completely from scratch. If this is the first time you read about photography, you may be overwhelmed by so much information. Either they recommend the desire and motivation to learn, or it can be a bit uphill for you.
Personally, I would recommend that you start with something lighter ( like this one) and if you later feel like continuing to advance in the art of photography and dedicate time and effort to it, you should start with The Fundamentals of Photography.
HIGH QUALITY PHOTOGRAPHY. THE FUNDAMENTALS OF PHOTOGRAPHY
It is a work conceived as a step-by-step guide and is made up of eight chapters, in addition to the Introduction and an alphabetical Index as a closing. Let's see one by one.
1. THE ESSENTIALS
After a brief introduction, you will find a first chapter in which the author offers you the bases to begin to understand the concepts. He talks about image formats (RAW, JPEG, etc.), color space, sensor characteristics (size, noise, jitter) and lenses. Regarding optics, he reviews the types of lenses (zoom and fixed) and then focuses on aspects such as bokeh , depth of field, hyperfocal, sweet spot, etc.
2. THE CAMERA
Choosing a camera is an arduous task, since there are as many options on the market as there are types of photographers. And it is important to find the most suitable for each one and at all times. Mellado introduces this chapter with a review of the different options: mobile phone cameras, compact cameras, mirrorless cameras or SLR cameras.
In a second section, he stops to review basic issues of camera configuration and settings.
End the chapter with exposure: exposure triangle, exposure modes, histogram , and metering modes.
3. VISUAL LANGUAGE
In this third chapter, Jose María Mellado takes us into the visual language, because a photograph goes beyond exposure or the correct approach. To seduce the viewer, move him and evoke memories, you must know the keys to this unwritten language.
After a brief initial reflection, the author explains some basic principles in terms of composition (perspective, focal length, types of format, space, center of interest, etc.) to later tell how to reinforce all of them with the treatment of the image. .
4. THE LABORATORY
We get into another type of matter. Specifically the lab. We took analogue photographs (and continue to take them) to the laboratory to develop them, with digital photography the journey is the other way around and it is the laboratory that comes home. But of course, you have to assemble it and work yourself ? . In this chapter you will find the keys, be careful, do not worry that to start you do not need all the recommended equipment, over time you will see what you need. Now, if you want to professionalize yourself, it is a good starting point.
Computer configuration, monitors, color management, file organization or work space are some of the topics covered.
5. THE REVEALED
Prepared the laboratory, we can begin to reveal. In this chapter you will discover how to get the most out of your photographs.
It starts with synchronizing Camera RAW, Lightroom and Photoshop, to continue with working files, workflow and basic development. The following pages are for local adjustments (tone curve, filters, vignettes, etc.). It ends with the presentation of other tools (blemish removal, noise reduction, etc.) and a case study.
6. IMAGE PROCESSING
Sometimes the development is not enough and the image requires a special treatment, the treatment by zones and 3D light. This is what Mellado explains to you step by step in this almost 90-page chapter.
7. ADVANCED TECHNIQUES
An extensive chapter focused on techniques dedicated to solving certain problems, such as excessive contrast between light and shadow, fusion and image distortion and repair. Step by step in about 40 pages.
8. THE EXIT
The last chapter is also the last step in the treatment of an image. It does not matter if it is for the screen, for a printer or to develop on paper. The author tells you the necessary tasks to make your photography perfect, ready to go out into the world ? .
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
With more than 200,000 followers on social networks, Jose María MelladoHe is the most successful author of photography in the Spanish language with his best seller “High Quality Photography”.
His artistic work is found in four work books: “El Silencio y la Luz”, “Islandia”, “Paisaje. The Eternal Return” and “From Heaven to Earth”. He has been awarded more than a hundred times and his works appear in important Collections and Museums, highlighting the following: Museo Nacional Reina Sofía, Borusan Contemporary Museum in Istanbul, Chazen Museum of Art (Wisconsin-USA), Collection of Contemporary Art in the Community of Madrid, Artium (Basque Museum of Contemporary Art), Santander Museum of Fine Arts, etc.
He has regularly participated in the most relevant international art fairs such as ArtBasel, Art Brussels, Art Cologne, Art Karlsruhe, Photo Miami, Pulse, SCOPE, ArteLisboa or ARCO. He is currently represented by galleries from Germany, Belgium, Turkey, Switzerland, Panama and France.
DETAILS
- Title: High quality photography. The Fundamentals of Photography
- Softcover: 480 pages
- Publisher: ANAYA MULTIMEDIA (PHOTOCLUB) Edition: March 16, 2017
- Language: Spanish
- Dimensions: 19.5 x 25.5 x 3 cm (approx.)
- Price: €55.05
THE BEST
The strengths of The Fundamentals of Photography are many . It is a very complete work that is very well written, Mellado's experience as a photographer and as a communicator are a guarantee that is breathed on each page.
It is a book full of full color examples. Each explanation is accompanied by sample images. All steps are illustrated with screenshots, graphics, and other examples.
In the book you will find tasks that will help you practice and consolidate the concepts that you are learning. It also offers the possibility of following the steps with the same photographs from the book, since these are available for download.
WORST
Well, it's not exactly a pocket book, nor to read straight away or make the trip on the subway a more entertaining moment.
It is one thing for it to be written in a pleasant way and another for it to be a pleasant book for long summer afternoons. If you are looking for something like this, this is not the time to read this work ? .
The only but that we can get in addition to this is that they are books that must be updated over time, because Lightroom and Photoshop are updated and their manuals follow, logically, behind. This is already an update of the one he wrote years ago. But this is what will happen to you with this and with any other book that tells you about any computer program ? .
AUTHOR PRESENTATION
In this video, Jose María Mellado, in addition to giving a master class, presents The Fundamentals of Photography and his other book that we reviewed at the time, and which complements this one, entitled My best techniques and advice :
OTHER PUBLICATIONS BY THE AUTHOR
- Cuba. On the other side of the mirror
- High Quality Panoramic Photography
- Smart photography with Lightroom 5
- Closer
- High Quality Photography. My best Techniques and Tips.(See review )
CONCLUSIONS
This is definitely a manual that should be on the shelf of any photographer who decides to really immerse himself in this art. A complete and entertaining work (with plenty of humor), full of images, examples and screenshots so that you can follow the explanations step by step, as well as tasks to consolidate knowledge and put it into practice.
I also recommend it to make a good gift, or give yourself a good gift ? .
And you? Have you read it? Can you tell us your impressions?
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