National Geographic: The Ultimate Field Guide to Photography (ISBN 0792262093)

Good book but there are better ones:
Coverage is not very systematic or detailed. The basic principles of good photography are mentioned but not elaborated. The photos are mostly excellent but were chosen more for their arresting value than for their ability to illustrate the rules discussed. There is some nice material on using unconventional cameras such as camera phones, polaroid, and antique cameras. There are also some compelling but brief discussions of photojournalism. Nothing really wrong with this book but there are so many better books that it doesn't make sense to buy this one.

Rapid Obsolescence:
Eleven chapters attempt to cover the following topics: Buying Your Digital Camera Point and Shoot Basic Rules - composition, depth of field, etc. Advanced Techniques - motion, portraits, wedding photos Camera Phones Digital Darkroom Making Better Prints - desktop printers, monitor calibration. Film Photography Scanning Archiving Projects - calendars, prints, albums. More On Photography - a list of websites Most of the topics are not well suited to a book. Rapid technical advancement insures that chapters on buying a digital camera, camera phones, printing, scanning and archiving are going to be obsolete the moment the book is published. It appears the book was assembled by a committee that couldn't agree on its direction, scope, or philosophy. Scatter-shot examples (e.g. pinhole cameras, guassian blur and the history of film) coupled with a serious lack of depth (1 page on wedding photography, 1 page on wildlife) makes one wonder how they defined the intended audience.

great guide to many aspects of photography:
This is definitely an ultimate guide. There is so much information, great tips, and very nice photos. There book is filled with amazing photos with tips on how to acquire similar looking photos on your own. The writing style is understandable, with the authors explaining things without talking down to the reader. I highly recommend this guide.

Photography Field Guide Reveiw:
I used this book as a guide for a digital photography course I took in the Teton National Park. Text is very informative and not in the least boring. Includes photos from photographers all around the world. Even has a section on camera phones! I like it and I'm keeping it.

Comprehensive and accessible guide:
It uses simple, easy-to-understand language to draw amateurs into the greater world of photography, and yet contains enough advanced content to expand the understanding of professionals.