Learning composition and basic editing

I've just gotten into photography and would like to know of some good books or sites on learning basic editing (cropping, brightness/contrast adjustment, etc).

I´m sort of a NewB too so I cant give you much help but someone suggested a book called Understanding Exposure(sorry cant recall the author) other than that the best thing to learn IMO is to grab your camera a shoot and shoot some more....understand you camera moods, review you shots and learn as you go...see what others around are doing, get some ideas by reviewing others photos (subjects, scenes, composition, use of light, etc.) and try try try...HTH

I think I would suggest a copy of Photoshop 7 and a book called Classroom in a Book for Photoshop 7. You probably could get a copy of PS7 fairly cheap since it has been out so long. I have used PS7 for several years and it is a powerful tool.

The National Geographic guides to photography, even the older one, are an invaluable resource for any photographer. Newer digital focused version have good starting info about computer techniques in general, if not for your specific software.

They also are one of the best example based starting points for how to compose a photograph from the idea to execution to final product that are available.

I picked up a couple of these as gifts for people this year:

National Geographic Ultimate Field Guide to Photography: Revised and Expanded (Photography Field Guides)


The link is to Amazon.com for that book, no promo of Amazon intended.

Another similar version that is still widely available of the same book is at this link:

http://www.amazon.com/National-Geogr...9435705&sr=8-2

You can't go wrong with either one.

For a specific software package, I'd just buy the latest and greatest after-market manual that makes sense to you. Go to the bookstore and look through the selection and find one that 'speak your language'!

Happy Holiday and welcome to Photography Review!!

Bryan Peterson is the author of the Understanding Exposure book mentioned above. He also has another one that I would recommend, it is called Learning to see Creatively. Also, you did not say if you already have some basic editing software for your camera. A lot of cameras P&Ss, DSLRs etc., come with their own software. It would also be helpful to know what type of computer and operating system you are running. Not all software will run on all computers, particularly if you are running Windows 7 (as I am finding out). HTH a little.

Cheers,

WesternGuy

If you're looking at Elements (or Photoshop) I recommend the "Dummies" guides (ie. 'Photoshop Elements 8 for Dummies', etc..).

They give you a great basic overview of the software, in laymen's terms. I used them when I started learning Photoshop, and went from them to the Photoshop Bible (among the most technical reads out there).

- Joe U.

Thanks for the replies so far. I am running a custom built gaming computer with windows 7 and 4GB or RAM. I have all the software that came with my Nikon D60 but was just looking at lightroom or PS.

Just FYI as an alternative to the rather pricey Photoshop, I would suggest taking a look at GIMP. It has many of the same features as PS and has the advantage of being FREE! :)

http:\\www.gimp.org