(Spanish) La visión fotográfica, por Eduardo Momeñe
Pocos libros hablan tan claro sobre lo que es tomar fotografías con voz propia. De echo pocos son los libros que tratan este tema tan complejo y esencial para quienes quieren convertirse en fotógrafos.
En este ensayo de penas 160 páginas Eduardo Momeñe explica de donde viene la fotografía, para que se utiliza y porqué es resulta tan importante que los fotógrafos desarrollen una voz propia. Pero el valor fundamental que tiene este texto, son sin duda las cientos de referencias fotográficas que ofrece a los recién llegados al mundo de la fotografía o a quienes quieren profundizar en él. Unas referencias que lejos de ser meramente decorativas, Momeñe utiliza como ejemplos de diferentes tipos de voz fotográfica y que relaciona inteligentemente entre ellas y con obras de otras artes.
Sin duda, de haber encontrado este libro mucho antes, me habría ahorrado mucha investigación.
Valoración
4 libros sobre 5
Pros:
- económico
- bin escrito. Claro
- una buena fuente de referencias fotográficas con la que expandir nuestra mirada fotográfica
- Se puede releer en varias ocasiones sin que pierda interés.
Contras:
- En ocasiones es repetitivo
- Resulta breve
- Hay que releerlo en varias ocasiones para poder asumir todo el conocimiemto que aporta.
Photography books: “Fotografía de alta calidad” by José M. Mellado
If there is a photographer who teaches clearly how to use Photoshop to enhance your digital photographs, that is José María Mellado. Yes, I know, there are hundreds of books on the subject, but very few (in fact I know no one yet) to reach his level. What makes it different? Well, do not try to teach all the possibilities of Photoshop, but explains his own method of work since they have already captured the image to print.Calibrating the monitor, what equipment to choose to work, what they are megapixels, which is the best way to transform a color image to black and white, adjustment layers, who to enhance images without degrading it … and all focused in a way very enjoyable and practical. Result: he only shows those Photoshop tools that are useful for the photographer. This allows us not to get lost in the immensity of this program. I can assure you that after reading it you will grown as a photographer.
This causes a side effect: Photos tend to “Mellear” Or what is the same: there is a risk that the finish of all our images were very similar, between them, and with Mr. Mellado’s ones. As far as I’m concerned, I recognize I’ve made mine some of the techniques exposed, others have dropped and many have adapted. I think it’s the best way to improve. Learn from those who know how to do what you like. But of course, without copying. We must express what we want to say and the way we see it. If our photos are like those of “someone’s”, they will never be ours, because they won’t show our way of seeing the world. Although we must learn from other photographers’ pictures. And this book is a good opportunity to see the work of a photographer from within.
“It is a good idea to buy this book?” For me it was very handy when I started this digital retouching, and even today I occasionally consulted my copy of “High quality digital photography.” So the answer is a resounding yes.
At this point I’m sure someone will say, “But if there is a second book, why he talks about a book based on Photoshop CS2?”. Because after reading the newly published “High quality photo”, I have a feeling that this is a rewrite of the same book. It is true that the text has been updated to suit the latest versions of Photoshop, the images are new and there are a couple of new techniques, but nothing substantially different. Moreover, if I have to avoid it, all new techniques of this book can be downloaded from the official website as actions for Photoshop. If you have the first volume, for me it makes no sense to buy the second one.
Conclusion (in case it was not clear), for their quick and effective way to enter the world of Photoshop and offer a method that improves our workflow, Mellados’ book is a good starting point for the beginner in world of retouching, and an indispensable reference for any library photographer.
References:
- Official website ”High Quality Digital Photography”(first book).
- The website of ”High quality photo“ (second book).
