Appendix B. Where to Go from Here
Your Mac, your trusty digital camera, and this book are all you need to begin enjoying the art and science of modern photography. But as your skills increase and your interests broaden, you may want to explore new techniques, add equipment, and learn from people who’ve become just as obsessed as you. Here’s a tasty menu of resources to help you along the way.
iPhoto and the Web
Apple’s iPhoto for Mac support page (www.apple.com/support/mac-apps/iphoto) features the latest product information, QuickTime tutorials, FAQ (frequently asked questions) lists, camera and printer compatibility charts, and links to discussion forums where other iPhoto lovers share knowledge and lend helping hands. There’s even a feedback form that goes directly to Apple. In fact, each piece of feedback is read personally by top-level Apple executives. (Just a little joke there.)
Apple’s iPhoto for iOS support page (www.apple.com/support/ios/iphoto) features the latest info on using iPhoto on your iOS device.
Apple’s iCloud support page (www.apple.com/support/icloud) contains, you guessed it, helpful info on using iCloud.
Macworld magazine (www.macworld.com)regularly posts reviews on new versions and helpful how-to articles on using iPhoto.
Digital Photo Equipment Online
Imaging-Resource (www.imaging-resource.com) offers equipment reviews, price comparisons, and forums, all dedicated to putting the right digital camera in your hands.
Digital Photography Review (www.dpreview.com) is similar: It offers news, reviews, buying guides, photo galleries, and forums. It’s a must-visit site for the digicam nut.
Digital Camera Resource (www.dcresource.com) is just what it says: a comprehensive resource page comparing the latest in digital cameras.
Photo.net (www.photo.net) offers industry news, galleries, shopping, critiques, and community sharing.
Photo District News (www.pdnonline) covers trends on the photography industry, news, and camera reviews, plus RSS feeds to keep you updated on the go.
LensProToGo (www.lensprotogo.com) offers an incredible variety of camera gear for rent. Use it to try out a camera body, lens, and even lighting equipment, before buying it. Pricing is affordable, and the whole staff is comprised of professional photographers.
When it comes time to buy, you can’t beat your local camera store for service (some stores offer training, too). Camera gear is almost always cheaper online, though. At www.shopping.com, for example, you can find a price roundup of all the online shops selling a particular camera.
Show Your Pictures
Nothing beats Flickr, Facebook, Twitter, and iCloud for easily posting your pictures online, straight from iPhoto. But there are alternatives:
Photobucket (www.photobucket.com) offers its members web space for 10,000 photos—free. The photo-sharing site groups submitted pictures into categories like “Funny Signs” and “Black & White” for easy browsing on its home page, and features one-click posting to sites like Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and so on.
SmugMug (www.smugmug.com) is another popular site for creating beautiful and secure photo galleries (special programming blocks visitors from Control-clicking to save images to their desktops). If you spring for the pro version, you can generate some extra income by selling your photos as files, prints, and photo products (you get to set the pricing). If you want to start an online photography business, this site is worth checking out. Pricing ranges from $40 to $300 a year.
Fotki.com (www.fotki.com) is similar—it, too, is a thriving online community of photo fans who share their work on the Web—but the free account is unlimited. Chime in with your shots, or just check out what everyone else is shooting.
Online Instruction
creativeLIVE (www.creativeLIVE.com) is relatively new to the online training realm, though it features some of the best instructors in the world. It offers a multitude of streaming videos on all aspects of photography, along with related software (Photoshop, Photoshop Elements, Lightroom, and so on). Courses are free while they’re live (you watch them through your web browser), or you can purchase course videos for a small fee. Visit your coauthor’s instructor page at www.lesa.in/clvideos.
Lynda.com (www.lynda.com) is another video-training company that’s been around for years. Here you’ll find all manner of instruction on the basics of digital photography, using iPhoto, and a lot more. Subscriptions range from $25 a month to $375 a year.
Online Printing
Mpix (www.mpix.com) is a wonderfully friendly online service that provides high-quality prints, books, greeting cards, and anything else that a photo can be attractively printed on. This lab is regarded very highly by photo pros all over the world.
Shutterfly (www.shutterfly.com) is another alternative to iPhoto’s built-in photo-ordering system. It’s OS X–friendly and highly reviewed (at least by Macworld).
American Greetings PhotoWorks (www.photoworks.com) is another OS X–friendly photo printing site that’s also received high marks for quality.
Books
David Pogue’s Digital Photography: The Missing Manual (O’Reilly) offers expert advice from the moment you start shopping for a digital camera to producing your own stunning shots—with plenty of nuts-and-bolts instruction on lighting, composition, and choosing the best camera settings along the way.
Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson (Amphoto Books) is another fantastic guide. To get the most out of your camera, you have to understand exposure, a confusing concept, but this book makes it crystal clear through text and beautiful imagery. If you’re passionate about photography or just want to get a little more serious, this book is an essential and enjoyable read (as are all of Bryan’s books on photography).
The Skinny Books (www.theskinnybooks.com) offers several slim, to-the-point ebooks on topics such as digital photography (Take Better Pictures with Any Camera, for example), image editing (The Skinny on Photoshop Elements, The Skinny on Lightroom), graphic design, and more, all hand-crafted by your coauthor, Lesa Snider.
Photoshop CC: The Missing Manual by Lesa Snider (O’Reilly) teaches you everything you need to know about using this complicated program in a comprehensive yet conversational manner. It includes a slew of exercise files, too, so you can follow along. This book is considered the Photoshop Bible.
The Moment It Clicks by Joe McNally (New Riders Press) is an attractive book that gives you unique insight into the realm of one of the world’s best shooters.
The Digital Photography Book by Scott Kelby (Peachpit Press) contains all kinds of wonderful advice on taking better pictures and choosing essential gear, along with tips and tricks for setting up simple lighting yourself.
The Digital Photography Companion by Derrick Story (O’Reilly) is a handy, on-the-go digital-photo reference that fits nicely in your camera bag.
Take Your Best Shot by Tim Grey (O’Reilly) dives into the digital darkroom, covering the fundamentals of camera hardware as well as more advanced topics like color management and optimizing images.