digital photography

First off, this book is NOT good for those new to Photoshop Elements or digital photography. But if you're going get serious about making digital images and manipulating and fixing them, you'll want to get this one.

Kelby is on top of his game. His techniques are pratical, fun to read, and packed with projects that can be applied to those who take digital photos on a regular basis. (For those who don't take a lot of pictures, he's web posted the "before" pictures in his book that can be downloaded and used to try out the techniques. But really, you should use your own pictures. It's a lot more fun.)

You'll especially like the techniques about how to make poster size digital photos (even if you only have a 3 megapixel camera), how to create photo backdrops, and cropping for printing purposes. There are also techniques on flesh tone correction, masking, sharpening, getting rid of digital noise, converting color to black and white, retouching, water marking photos, and much much more.

Finally, this book is for those in the business of photo image making. If you can't afford Photoshop or if you just don't need all that kind of power, Kelby's book will show you how to make the most of Elements.

Kelby's work is sure to become a best seller among photo imaging books.

I've never rated anything before, but I have had such good results with this book that I had to contribute. I purchased the books PSE 2 for Dummies, and the Complete Idiot's guide to PSE 2 for obvious reasons. The titles fit me perfectly. After reading both of those books a couple of times, I understood what Photoshop Elements 2 could do, but I never understood how it was really done, and how I could apply it to my photos. I bought this book and within a 1/2 hour I was amazing myself. I was asked to take wedding photos for someone in my family. I did an ok job, but with the help of this book I was able to do some amazing things. I highly recommend this book. I keep the book next to my computer, and when I need some help I can quickly find the answer. I'm getting so good that I don't have to refer to the book as much.

This book is just right for the beginner/amateur who wants to take their photos to the next level, but don't know how to get there.

Like many people, I spent a relatively small amount for PS Elements 2, and roughly three to four times the original purchase price taking classes and buying aftermarket books to teach me how to run the damn thing. Sure, PSE 2 is powerful, but it's pretty obtuse. Most of the aftermarket materials--and you have to include the Adobe documents that came with the software--suffer from being too hypothetical..."If you think you might like to use the dodge or burn tools, follow this procedure." Without a background in photography (and most people buying digital cameras and image editing software don't have one), why would I want to use the dodge and burn tools? What conditions would justify their use? How do I fix the shot I'm working on right now?

Kelby's book is eminently more practical: he shows you a messed up image, loosely defines what's wrong with it, and then leads you by the nose through the steps that will most likely fix it. The procedures, which are arranged like a typical image editing session you might have with your own work, are accompanied by high-quality reproductions printed on highly calendared stock so you can actually see how he's cooked the image in PSE 2. Most other books have cheesy B&W images printed on regular paperstock, so the picture starts out muddy and stays that way, no matter how many times the auther tells you it's vastly improved.

Kelby's book is real short on theory, but it will help you nail basic techniques to get the best out of the images you want to work on right now. If you're curious about theory, what Kelby teaches you will give you sufficient background to re-explore those other PSE 2 books and become a power user...IF that's your goal.

I must, however, concur with any and all negative comments regarding Mr. Kelby's supposed sense of humor. His overwrought anecdotes might fly during the seminars on which he based the book, but once he writes 'em down, they are pretty much a waste of the reader's time.