Understanding Exposure Book

moonraker

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Neil
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I am thinking of getting the book Understanding Exposure: How to Shoot Great Photographs with a Film or Digital Camera By Bryan Peterson and was wondering how people rate this book? Is one for the book shelf?

Neil
 
I believe there is a couple of threads already on this subject where you might find that out - personally i have never seen this book in the bookstore, although it does interest me also
 
It depends how long you've been taking photos for.

It's brilliant for a beginner who doesn't really understand exposure properly, since it explains it in very simple to understand terms.
I'd been taking photos for around 7/8 months before I bought the book, and honestly, I regretted wasting my money on it. It reitterated what I already know, and while it was an interesting and inspiring read, I learned nothing and could have been equally inspired by looking on here.
 
Without a doubt a good book. Very easy going and even if you just get past the first couple of chapters about manual settings, its worth buying.
I have bough a couple of mates this book as a pressie and they both thought it was great.


Kev
 
Personally - one as a door stop.

People rant about this book, particulary on another unnamed forum, so I just had to have one.
When it arrived, I couldn't see what all the fuss was about, and gave it away shorty afterwards.

It may be of use to a total newbie, but in my opinion not much use to anyone with a little experience.

Thats just my opinion, see if you can obtain it at your local library and give it a viewing first.
 
steveathome said:
Personally - one as a door stop.

People rant about this book, particulary on another unnamed forum, so I just had to have one.
When it arrived, I couldn't see what all the fuss was about, and gave it away shorty afterwards.

It may be of use to a total newbie, but in my opinion not much use to anyone with a little experience.

Thats just my opinion, see if you can obtain it at your local library and give it a viewing first.
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I agree 100%.
 
foodpoison said:
It depends how long you've been taking photos for.

It's brilliant for a beginner who doesn't really understand exposure properly, since it explains it in very simple to understand terms.
I'd been taking photos for around 7/8 months before I bought the book, and honestly, I regretted wasting my money on it. It reitterated what I already know, and while it was an interesting and inspiring read, I learned nothing and could have been equally inspired by looking on here.
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Funny you should say that, I have been into Photography for just under 30 years, 5 as a full time pro and I still found things to learn from the book.

I would recommend this book to anyone, but especially those starting out who want to really understand the mechanics of photography.
 
I have a copy of the book and foun it an interesting book, with good practical examples.
 
Moonraker have a look in YOU TUBE for UNDERSTANDING EXPOSURE, it all in there on video format saves you a few quid on the book.
 
Im sure theres a conspiracy to get this book sold in its thousands im fed up of reading posts on forums about it:bang:

it really isnt all its cracked up to be:shrug:
 
Well I liked it. Made exposure very easy to understand, as its written for idiots really :)
 
I liked it, easy to understand and not camera specific like the magazines!! :D
 
Just another vote here for the book if you're not comfortable with your camera in manual mode. There are nuggets of info in there like using your hand as an impromptu grey card, but I also felt that the cost vs reward ratio of the book was a little disappointing as I was already familiar with what aperature/shutter speed/iso etc control.

IMO, nowadays with the power of google and all the knowledge available in this forum and others, a book has to be seriously good to be worth the money. For instance, "Light Science & Magic" is such a book and complements forums like strobist etc. perfectly. So, whether Understanding Exposure is a good book for you depends on your current level of experience and your ability to glean information from the internet.
 
Studio16 said:
Im sure theres a conspiracy to get this book sold in its thousands im fed up of reading posts on forums about it:bang:
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Dont read posts with 'Understanding exposure Book' titles then? :D:lol::lol::lol:
 
I found it to be a really good book and have definitely learned from reading it. :)
 
Thank you all for your replies and views on the book.
I went ahead and purchased a copy which arrived today I have just had a quick flip through it ,and looks like it has some interesting information in it. Not being a total novice in that I know my way around my camera controls.
The book looks to have information which is of interest and helpful.
It is another source of reference the same as this forum is and I find the its good to get as much information from as many different sources as possible as well as practice and more practice.The ability to practice and view results one of the joys of digital photography.
Neil:)
 
I'm fairly new at this, but I found it patronising beyond belief. Refering to "Brother Blue Sky" and "Brother Grey Sky" ad infinitum just annoyed me. Having read the book cover to cover, I learnt only one thing of value to me (which was the specific proportional distances in focus either side of the area in focus through the viewfinder when using smaller apertures). The best beginners book I bought was the EOS 450D Digital Field Guide. I'm sure they will do one to cover the D80 also.

All in all, I want my £12 back.
 
BigDex said:
The best beginners book I bought was the EOS 450D Digital Field Guide. I'm sure they will do one to cover the D80 also.

All in all, I want my £12 back.
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To be fair, the Digital Field Guides are written specifically for your camera. :)

Stick it on e-Bay, you'll get most of your money back (if not all of it). ;)
 
Meirion 658 said:
Moonraker have a look in YOU TUBE for UNDERSTANDING EXPOSURE, it all in there on video format saves you a few quid on the book.
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Just had a butchers at some of these and as a complete newbie I thought they were great, I'll definately be looking through them all later on, thanks for the tip :clap:
 
sdb123 said:
To be fair, the Digital Field Guides are written specifically for your camera. :)
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Absolutely, and that's what makes it entirely relevant to my needs. What makes it a better book, IMHO, is that not only does it cover a greater range of my requirements than Understanding Exposure does, but it does so without making me cringe!

A great many learned people seem to like Understanding Exposure, but I'm betting that they attained their learned status from sources other than this book :thinking:
 
EdBray said:
Funny you should say that, I have been into Photography for just under 30 years, 5 as a full time pro and I still found things to learn from the book.

I would recommend this book to anyone, but especially those starting out who want to really understand the mechanics of photography.
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Oh, I learned things, but not things that were useful in 'understanding exposure'.
For example, I learned about the differences between compact camera lenses and slr lenses (useful for my job), and I liked the analogy about aperture being a bucket and a pot of paint.

That's about it.

I suppose different people do things in different ways.
 
interesting read but it really got me going on using manual exposure. Always wondered what the graduated scale in the viewfinder was for!!!!!! Still use automatic modes but its nice to know how to go manual
 
foodpoison said:
Oh, I learned things, but not things that were useful in 'understanding exposure'.
For example, I learned about the differences between compact camera lenses and slr lenses (useful for my job), and I liked the analogy about aperture being a bucket and a pot of paint.

That's about it.

I suppose different people do things in different ways.
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Nah, mine weren't about exposure either, too long in the photographic tooth for that, one was how to simulate rain can't remember off the top of my head what the others were.
 
I purchased the book over the weekend after advice from people on here. I find it an excellent book very easy to understand been new to photography i am sure this will help me no end.
 
Sorry, but even as a beginner I found it a pretty poor book after all the hype it gets on here. Finished reading it just before christmas. If I'd read it the minute I'd brought it, rather than waiting for winter then it might have helped, but I've learnt more in my time on here than from reading that book.

My conclusion... donate the money to TP and ask lots of questions instead.
 
I really like my copy, yes to a certain extent it does just re-enforce what I already know as I'd had my DSLR for about 6 months when I read it but it is always nice to have these things confirmed. It also has some excellent pointers on metering etc which I've found a real help, I do appreciate that all this info is available on the web but not in one consistently written easily accessible place. I really liked the fact that I could just pic it up and read a chapter in bed without having to search through loads of sites and styles.

I do appreciate what some are saying about the style it can be a bit iritating and patronising but if you look past the language and the fact the author thinks he's a better tog than he is then there is some good solid practical advice in the book.
 
i read it and i learned a hell of a lot from it, it was s0o simpel to understand and i havent looked back since.
I have obviously developed and feel that i can expose a shot correctly for the given scenario.
 
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