The Digital Photography Book, Volume 4

The Digital Photography Book, Volume 4/Scott Kelby, Berkeley: Peachpit Press, 2012, 219 p.
This volume continues the format of the three earlier volumes with each chapter dedicated to a single major subject and composed of a series of one page vignettes that can be read in order or reviewed individually. Like Volumes 2 and 3, Volume 4, picks up where the previous books ended and assumes the reader has either read the previous volumes or has a solid understanding of the tips there.

The first three chapters in volume 4 (Shooting People, Using Hot Shoe Flash, and Using Your Studio) concentrate on photographing people, primarily in a studio situation. While I’m sure the tips offered here are excellent, I have little experience to draw on in this area since my principal focus is outdoor and nature photography. Chapter 4 supplements the information provided in Volume 3 on lenses and associated topics. It is followed by chapters on natural light, landscapes, travel, and sports. Two chapters new to this volume cover HDR (High Dynamic Range) photography and digital video. As Kelby indicates most photographers fall into one of two camps – those who love HDR and those who hate HDR. While I have seen some good HDR, my leanings are toward the latter group because most HDR work I have seen is poorly done. Although my camera has video capabilities, I have elected to not pursue this.

Continuing previous practices, this volume closes with two chapters covering pro tips and photo recipes, or techniques used to capture selected sample images. These two chapters provide some of the most useful and easiest to read information because you have clear examples of the technique being covered.

While Peachpit rates this book as a Beginner Level volume (consistent with the other three volumes), my view is that, like Volume 3 it moves into areas that are for slightly more advanced photographers. Even so, I wouldn’t hesitate recommending the series to any digital photographer.

As I noted in my review of volume 2, you can purchase all volumes in the series as a boxed set at with some possible savings. These books are also available in eBook form (for both Kindle and Nook readers).

The Rope

The Rope /Nevada Barr, New York: Minotaur Books, 2012 (357 p.)

By my count this is the seventeenth book in Barr’s Anna Pigeon series.  For some, this should have been the first book since it introduces the reader to how and why Anna Pigeon came to work for the National Park Service and decided to become a full-time park ranger.

Like most of Barr’s books, The Rope combines mystery with the beauty of our National Parks and those who have travelled to the parks where the stories are based will recognize both the geography and many of the specific locations that Barr includes.  In this book, Anna has abandoned her life in New York City and moved to the Glen Canyon/Lake Powell area where she is serving as a part-time summer worker.  While initially living in a shell of self-imposed seclusion, after her life is threatened Anna is forced to become more open and develop friendships with those who will help find the culprits.

I have enjoyed most of the Barr books that I have read, including this one but I agree with others who have indicated that this book is a bit dark when compared with others in the Anna Pigeon series.  It seems like Barr must be going through a change in her writing style because the other recent work of hers that I’ve read, 13 ½ was extremely dark.  Hopefully Barr will move back to the more traditional story lines if she continues with the Anna Pigeon series.

Even though the book is a bit lengthy and dark, I would still recommend it, particularly to those who have followed Anna Pigeon’s National Park Service work at other parks around the U. S.