Just as the previous books Al Judge has written, I recommend this! My wife and kids have all learned a lot about photography from this book and others by Al Judge. – Amazon Review
Photography Pocket Guide:
Camera Settings for Specific Situations
This very short book might be one of the best investments you have ever made.
It has the potential to save you many hours of frustration and may facilitate photos you never thought you could take. The guidelines and settings in this book are not the only possibility but I have found them to be extremely helpful.
They simplify the process of taking exceptional photos and will save you an enormous amount of time and effort.
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One night I was at one of my favorite spots waiting for the full moon to peak over the horizon. While I was waiting, two other photographers came and joined me on the hill. They were both clearly experienced photographers with top-of-the-line gear. As we talked, they both told me they had no idea how to set their cameras so they would be ready when the moon appeared. This is not so surprising. It just meant they had never done a moon shot before. When I first tried it took me several attempts before I got a keeper. Since these were experienced photographers, communication was easy, and I brought them up to speed in less than a minute.
That night, after the shoot, I started thinking about some of the more difficult lessons I had learned. My biggest challenge had been the night sky and specifically the Milky Way. Even if you live in a dark skies city like I do and know where and when the milky way will be visible, it is still barely visible to the naked eye. For years, I tried unsuccessfully to get a decent shot. Finally, out of frustration I did what men are so reluctant to do. I asked a woman friend how she got her great Milky Way images. In a matter of 30 seconds, she told me what I had been missing in my attempts. This was a transformative moment for me, and I was out night after night photographing in the dark.
I didn’t just shoot the milky way and the night sky, I shot rock formations under the full moon. I then realized a simple cheat sheet for these special shots would be of value to others. This very short book is the result. Just enough to remind you how to capture images you don’t see every day.
I have always been adamant about using a sturdy tripod for landscape photography. I have recently learned how to shoot landscapes without a tripod. This is also a game changer.
Other quick lessons include hand-held HDR images, real estate images, and wildlife.
This book is purposely short because it is intended to be carried in a camera bag and used for quick reference.
Here is the moon shot from that night of inspiration.
About the Author
Al Judge is a professional photographer and author living in Sedona, Arizona. In March 2012, the Sedona Area Guild of Artists (SAGA) included Al in their list of the Best Artists of Sedona 2012.
Many of his photos are on display on SmugMug — and available for purchase at:
Al also tutors via Zoom — send inquiries to ajudex@hotmail.com for details. An hour or two of tutoring can save you months or years of frustration.
Al’s books use numerous illustrations and clear explanations to take the mystery out of creating excellent images.
Although Al’s books are quite comprehensive, they are written in such a way that no prior knowledge of photography is required. We all learn at different speeds and in different ways. For any skill developed, excellence comes with practice. These books will increase the effectiveness of your practice by steering you in the right direction and exposing the error of some common misconceptions. They provide a solid foundation for accelerated learning.
If you would rather be taking pictures than sitting in a classroom, these books are for you.
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