Books with author Tim Stevens

This is a fun approach to photography, showing children how to take better pictures using the kind of equipment they are most likely to have. The subjects photographed, such as parents and family pets, are all familiar to children. The book runs through the first steps such as focusing, composition, landscape or portrait format, simple self portraits and exposure problems with step-by-step instructions. It then leads onto the finer points of successful picture taking including action photography which necessitates more thought and planning than posed photography. An exercise to improve the photographer's ability to tell a story with photographs, is given. Tips and checklists are listed for use when taking holiday and underwater photographs with a disposable camera. Close-up photography is gone into in some detail showing how objects should be arranged and recommendations given for the correct film and lenses to be used. Imaginative suggestions are made for the use of all the left-over prints such as collage- or montage-making on a chosen subject. There is also a section on pets and animal photography recommending that it helps to understand animals and how they behave, aim for natural shots not posed ones, be sensitive, not to get too close and how to attempt to show both detail and movement. Finally, flash photography is explained, showing how it can be used to compensate for light at night but also in daylight to give extra detail in the shadowy area. Tips are given to prevent unnecessary shine on skin and red-eye problems and special effects using subject movement is described. For the more advanced photographer there are suggestions for the use of gadgets and filters and creative ideas for the construction of sets (backdrops and models) to photograph.