When we rolled around to image editing I was surprised to find that the work focused primarily on Photoshop Elements for editing, rather than the industry standard Adobe Photoshop for photo editing. I may be only further accentuating my ignorance of photography, but I was previously unfamiliar with Elements, though I do have some Photoshop experience. In any case, a general feel for the procedures, steps and processes used in basic image editing (yes, goodbye red-eyes!) The many before and after photographs demonstrate the effects of the various tools normally available and give ideas for situations in which image editing may be profitably used. Those comfortable with image editing software will likely be able to transfer these steps to their own programs. If not, a manual specific to image editing within your own software would make an excellent complementary purchase for the course.
The chapter on RAW file use and conversion left me completely stumped once again , but we were soon moving into the practical topics of printing and presenting digital photographs, followed by image capturing and management. Included in the appendix are fabulous time saving charts that lay out quick and easy answers for those of us who have difficult times composing our own formulas such as: output sizes of various camera resolutions in inches, standard image formats and their image and file sizes, etc. Even if you’re like me and have a tricky time thinking of what these tables represent at the moment, you’ll find them a huge time-saver at the end of the book. A glossary, list of additional resources and full index are also included for ease of use.
Working through Digital Photography from the Ground Up won’t likely transform you into a pro, but it will certainly equip you with the knowledge you need in order to embark upon a rewarding journey into digital photography. Just make sure you count the cost; there are some deep, sludgy technical jungles in there that you might just have to wade through. Then again, there are those of us who love to get their waders on and start plowing in; by all means, have at it!
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