Best book for a photographer

Forum|Forum|6 years ago
March 8, 2019
4 replies
2887 views

Hi all:

What is your favorite book for a novice photographer who wants to learn Photoshop—outside of the Photoshop Classroom in a Book titles.

Thanks in advance,

~Barb

This topic has been closed for replies.

ProDesignTools

Community Expert

Hey Barb,

Here's an excellent free one which recently came out, covering Photography together with Photoshop/ACR and Lightroom Classic:

Download Free New Book on Digital Photography Using Adobe Photoshop & Lightroom

It's 331 pages long, and impressively in-depth for a free book!

Norman Sanders

Legend

I haven't seen the latest version of the Photoshop Visual Quickstart Guide but past versions were very helpful. Later, the greatest treasure was Dan Margulis' Professional Photoshop (which I guess is out of print. If you can find a copy, grab it.) Martin Evening is a superb author and I will never part with his Adobe Photoshop CS6 for Photographers. All of Scott Kelby's books are great for clear step-by-step instructions and photographs. (I found the writing to be a bit sophomoric at times, but chalk that up to my being old.) Later, I'd move on to Margulis' Photoshop Lab Color. His first version of that book, dated 2006, is a jewel but not for beginners.

EDIT: Barb, one more thing. I am not a fan of e-books for instruction. Give me ink-on-paper and a yellow Magic Marker every time.

Barb Binder

Author

Community Expert

Thanks, Norman. I have the (dusty) Dan Margulis books, too. I remember my father working though them when he was learning Photoshop, and he recommended them. I was already working as a Photoshop instructor and found them both challenging and valuable. I did make a leap in understanding color, though. And I think that's where I learned color correction by the numbers—which I still teach when the situation merits.

The Visual Quickstart Guide (2015 seems to be the latest) is yet another good recommendation. I knew you guys would come through!

~Barb

~Barb at Rocky Mountain Training

Norman Sanders

Legend

Barb-- Years ago, when Dan's first edition of "Professional Photoshop" was published, I invited him to lecture at my college and he was masterful. Best of all, as a lithographer I lived in a world of densitometric monitoring aim points and controls, so he talked my language and I relished it. Welcome to the fan club.

jane-e

Community Expert

BarbBinder wrote
...novice photographer who wants to learn Photoshop...

Not for you, right Barb? To recommend to someone else?

Barb Binder

Author

Community Expert

Yes, Jane. A neighbor looking for a book recommendation—doesn't want a class.

~Barb

~Barb at Rocky Mountain Training

jane-e

Community Expert

Hi BarbBinder

I’ll let professional photographers davescm and Trevor.Dennis recommend the books. I’ll recommend that he take a class with the best Adobe Certified Photoshop Instructor on his block!