Are you ready to take your photography to the next level, from snapshot shooter to photographer? Have you always loved “taking pictures” but feel your photos just don’t stand out when you look at other photography? If so, then this book is for you! Through the Lens is not necessarily a beginner’s photography book, although beginners will learn some basics. It’s a book where you learn nuances such as getting everything you want in the shot, avoiding what you don’t want, and getting everything to look like you want it to, whether you’re just starting out or have been shooting for years. You’ll learn about lighting, positioning your subjects (be they human or inanimate), and post processing to include color and contrast enhancement, and the all-important cropping. Learn what sets professionals’ photography apart from amateur work, and how to make your images “snap.”

Another important aspect of this book is networking. You’ll learn about local and national photography organizations and how they benefit you. Whether you’re a novice or a professional, you’ll want to consider joining one or more groups to learn about getting involved in gallery exhibitions and getting your own work shown, and more important, sold!

Reviews

PSA Journal, Stan Ashbrook, December 1, 2010
Through the Lens—A Field Guide to Digital Photography by Gary Michael Smith. Published by Chatgris Press, soft cover, 6x9, 242 pages. $14.95 US, ISBN 978-1-930554-08-5. Rating * (Beginner). ** (Intermediate), and *** (Advanced)
    The author, Gary Michael Smith, asks if the photographer is ready to take their photography to the next level, from snapshot shooter to photographer. He also asks if the photographer loves taking pictures, but feels the photos just don't stand out when compared to others’ photographs. If the answer is yes, he says Through the Lens provides the answers.
    Smith says that Through the Lens is not necessarily a beginner's photography book, although beginners will learn some basics. Through the Lens is where the photographer will learn nuances such as getting everything wanted in the shot, avoiding what isn't wanted, and getting everything to look just like the photographer wants, whether the photographer is just starting out or has been shooting for years.
    The photographer will learn about lighting, positioning subjects (be they human or inanimate), post processing to include color and contrast enhancement, and the all-important cropping. Learn what sets professionals’ photography apart from amateur work, and how to make images snap.
    Topics addressed are: ensuring sharpness, using a variety of lenses, using flashes, shooting indoors, shooting outdoors, travel shooting, organizing image files, and printing the images.