Introduction
The D3200 is a wonderful bit of camera technology and a very capable tool for creating photographs that you will be proud to show others. The intention of this book is not to be a rehash of the owner’s manual that came with the camera, but rather to be a resource for learning how to improve your photography while specifically using your D3200. I am very excited and honored to help you in that process, and to that end I have put together a short Q&A to help you get a better understanding of just what it is that you can expect from this book.
Q: IS EVERY CAMERA FEATURE GOING TO BE COVERED?
A: Nope, just the ones I felt you need to know about in order to start taking great photos. Believe it or not, you already own a great resource that covers every feature of your camera: the owner’s manual. Writing a book that just repeats this information would have been a waste of my time and your money. What I did want to write about was how to harness certain camera features to the benefit of your photography. As you read through the book, you will also see callouts that point you to specific pages in your owner’s manual (either the small printed manual or the more complete PDF found on the disc that comes with the camera) that are related to the topic being discussed. For example, I discuss the use of the AE-L button, but there is more information available on this feature in the manual. I cover the function as it applies to our specific needs, but I also give you the page numbers in the manual so you can explore it even further.
Q: WHAT ABOUT VIDEO?
While the focus of this book is on creating still photographs, I have devoted one chapter (Chapter 10) to helping you get started with the video functions of the D3200.
Q: SO IF I ALREADY OWN THE MANUAL, WHY DO I NEED THIS BOOK?
A: The manual does a pretty good job of telling you how to use a feature or turn it on in the menus, but it doesn’t necessarily tell you why and when you should use it. If you really want to improve your photography, you need to know the whys and whens to put all of those great camera features to use at the right time. To that extent, the manual just isn’t going to cut it. It is, however, a great resource on the camera’s features, and it is for that reason that I treat it like a companion to this book. You already own it, so why not get something of value from it?
Q: WHAT CAN I EXPECT TO LEARN FROM THIS BOOK?
A: Hopefully, you will learn how to take great photographs. My goal, and the reason the book is laid out the way it is, is to guide you through the basics of photography as they relate to different situations and scenarios. By using the features of your D3200 and this book, you will learn about aperture, shutter speed, ISO, lens selection, depth of field, and many other photographic concepts. You will also find plenty of full-page photos that include captions, shooting data, and callouts so you can see how all of the photography fundamentals come together to make great images. All the while, you will be learning how your camera works and how to apply its functions and features to your photography.
Q: WHAT ARE THE ASSIGNMENTS ALL ABOUT?
A: At the end of most of the chapters, you will find shooting assignments, where I give you some suggestions as to how you can apply the lessons of the chapter to help reinforce everything you just learned. Let’s face it—using the camera is much more fun than reading about it, so the assignments are a way of taking a little break after each chapter and having some fun.
Q: SHOULD I READ THE BOOK STRAIGHT THROUGH OR CAN I SKIP AROUND FROM CHAPTER TO CHAPTER?
A: Here’s the easy answer: yes and no. No, because the first four chapters give you the basic information that you need to know about your camera. These are the building blocks for using the camera. After that, yes, you can move around the book as you see fit because those chapters are written to stand on their own as guides to specific types of photography or shooting situations. So you can bounce from portraits to shooting landscapes and then maybe to a little action photography. It’s all about your needs and how you want to address them. Or you can read it straight through. The choice is up to you.
Q: IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE I SHOULD KNOW BEFORE GETTING STARTED?
A: In order to keep the book short and focused, I had to be selective about what I included in each chapter. The problem is that there is a little more information that might come in handy after you’ve gone through all the chapters. So as an added value for you, I have written a bonus chapter: Chapter 12, called “Pimp My Ride.” It is full of information on accessories that will assist you in making better photographs. You will find my recommendations for things like filters, tripods, and much more. To access the bonus chapter, just log in or join Peachpit.com (it’s free), then enter the book’s ISBN on this page: www.peachpit.com/store/register.aspx. After you register the book, a link to the bonus chapter will be listed on your Account page under Registered Products. Note: If you purchased an electronic version of this book, you’re set—Chapter 12 is already included in it.
Q: IS THAT IT?
A: One last thought before you dive into the first chapter. My goal in writing this book has been to give you a resource that you can turn to for creating great photographs with your Nikon D3200. Take some time to learn the basics and then put them to use. I have been a photographer for many years and I’m still learning. Always remember that it’s not the camera that makes beautiful photographs—it’s the person using it.
Finally, don’t forget to register your book at www.peachpit.com/NikonD3200 for updates and a free bonus chapter.