On Digital Photography by Stephen Johnson

reviewed by Chris Marshall, November 2006

What they say: "We are in the Stone Age of digital photography. We've figured out how to make some tools, but it is just now beginning to dawn on us what we might do with them. I've often been frustrated at the concentration on the technical aspect of digital photography with so little discussion of the aesthetics and heart behind the image making. This book is essentially a distillation of what I've been teaching over the last 25 years."

Master photographer Stephen Johnson has been taking beautiful landscape photography for decades, and teaching others the practical art of image making since 1977. While he started out with traditional film camera techniques, Johnson is widely recognized among his peers as a pioneer of digital photography. Stephen Johnson on Digital Photography chronicles his ride on the bleeding edge of this medium's evolution, and provides a practical in-depth introduction to digital photography that offers the latest techniques for beginning and experienced photographers alike.

What sets this guide apart from other books on the topic is its approach and execution: This isn't a Photoshop book, although Photoshop has its place within the book; it's a book that a master teacher and photographer creates after a lifetime of showing others how to understand and make great photography. With five color photographs throughout, including black/gray duotones, and 715 illustrations reproduced with a 200-line screen, Johnson's book covers everything from:

• The basics of digital photography
• Film camera techniques vs. digital Practical approaches of the filmless photographer
• Techniques of the digital darkroom
• A photographer ™s digital journey
• Photography, art and the future

This is a holistic work (and method for teaching) that embraces the state of photographic tools and techniques, blended with suggestions and experiences on why I make photographs, Johnson says. At its best, photography rides that crest where technology and art intersect. But the deepest engagement that photography can bring remains its ability to capture and hold a moment before the lens. In this age of digital manipulation, that fundamental fact must be remembered.

What I say: Never judge a book by its cover, even one with such a great photograph as this one J

I was excited at the thought of this book as I have been taking digital pictures with varying degrees of success for many years and I really fancied learning a few “tips and tricks” as to how I could improve. If that is something you after then stop right there, this isn’t the book for you.

I should have known that, as with everything else in life there really aren’t any short cuts. Once I had put that (inevitable) disappointment to one side and knuckled down to really reading and understanding the book I was hooked. I came out the other end of the journey knowing much more about the mechanics of photography, especially digital photography, and a lot more besides e.g. color spaces and printing, input and the light to silicon! I think that if it wasn’t for Part 6: A Photographer’s Digital Journey and Part 7: Photography, Art and the Future, I would have fallen before the finish line. As it was, these two sections brought some much needed clarity and confidence to the previous sections, and left me feeling very positive, excited and motivated about taking more pictures.

However, I am still trying to work out if I know how to take a better picture, or if my pictures are actually any better. Time, and this book, will tell, but as I said before, there are no shortcuts here. In fact I would say it has the opposite effect – it knocks you back a bit initially, when you realize just how little you (probably) know about the subject, and how laisez faire your attempts to date have probably been.

I read the reviews on the web site and was somewhat surprised that all the reviewers gave the book 5 *’s. I was concerned that my 3 *’s seemed overly harsh, until I dug a bit deeper into the other reviews. I should point out that I would agree with the reviewers (nearly all academic or experienced photographers) totally, if I were reviewing this book solely as an instruction manual. There is an argument that it is worth the cover price alone for its sections on Photoshop, but I can’t see it as a manual instead of a book! I tend to agree with one reviewer who said “Reviewing Steve's new book on digital photography is like standing with your camera at the rim of the Grand Canyon...where do you start?”. Although to be honest, I don’t think he meant it in the way that I have taken it. For me though, it sums up the book – immense piece of work, breathtaking in its entirety, but a little to daunting to take on, on my own. Another reviewer said that they taught Digital Photography and would recommend the book as “the definitive text for my students”, and I have to ask how many college textbooks do you have on your coffee table?

Don’t get me wrong though, this is an excellent book full of invaluable historic background, and instructional advice. I just find it a little hard to place exactly in my own mind as to where it sits. Don’t let that stop you buying it though, just be prepared to be confused and delighted at the same time!

In summary: A solid book that probably covers more ground that you would (initially) require, it is best “dipped into” from time to time to a) learn a new subject or b) refresh your mind on the detail that may have slipped away from you over time.