Fundamental Color Concepts for Photographers
Having reviewed a number of black and white photography books recently, I decided it was time to cover one devoted to color. The Essential Color Manual for Photographers, a 192 page hardcover, claims to be the definitive reference book for everything you need to know about color photography. At the time of publication, the author, Chris Rutter, had been involved in photography for over 20 years.
In the introduction, Rutter gives a description of his book:
“The Essential Color Manual for Photographers is a comprehensive guide to the technical, practical, and inspirational aspects of color photography. Whether you are just beginning your journey into the world of photography, want to know how to get the most from your digital camera, or are an experienced photographer wishing to hone your skills, you will find plenty to inspire and instruct you throughout. Whether you are capturing images on film or digitally, we discuss the many techniques and tricks you can use to add impact or subtlety to your photographs.”
You can get a fairly good sense of the book’s contents and writing style by perusing the book’s table of contents, introduction, and chapter one, which are available in a PDF document (here).
BOOK PROS
- good introductory overview of all aspects of color photography
- hundreds of example photos included
- an easy and quick read
- hardcover with quality paper and binding
BOOK CONS
- dated material due to 2006 publication
- limited to beginner’s level
- many photos oversaturated, resulting in a loss of detail
- no exposure or EXIF data on photos
CONCLUSION
The Essential Color Manual for Photographers has an almost magazine feel to it, and for a good reason. At the time of publication, its author was the Technical Editor of Practical Photography magazine, the UK’s top-selling photography title. Appearing more like a magazine than a textbook should make the book appealing to beginners.
On the negative side, some of the material is a little dated. Film photography has diminished considerably since the book was published in 2006, and thus film-related information, though interesting, has less relevance now. The use of an old version of Photoshop to explain post-processing steps, likewise, may present problems. Using software for post-processing is a given in the digital world, and there’s not much you can do about outdated software. Though the basic concepts usually carry over to newer versions, even if how it’s done changes.
The book is reasonably comprehensive in its coverage of the color photography although it doesn’t cover any particular area in great depth. It covers the fundamental concepts, and so if you’re a beginner looking for a good, introductory book on the subject, you may want to pick up a copy. The book is available on Amazon from third party sellers new starting at $3.61 (here) and used starting at $0.31 (here). (I am quite satisfied with the “like new” copy that I purchased. Buying used copies in good condition from Amazon is a great way to expand your photography library inexpensively.) If, however, you are not a beginner, I would pass on this book entirely.
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Reader Comments (1)
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DSP