Books published by publisher Rocky Nook

In the past, landscape photography largely ended when the last light of dusk faded from the sky. Today it’s only beginning. The latest digital cameras have made it easy to create images of the landscape at night that film and early digital photographers could only dream of. Equipped with off-the-shelf cameras, more and more photographers are venturing into the night, far beyond the comforting glow of city lights, and returning with spectacular images of places both familiar and unknown that are unlike anything seen before. Dusk to Dawn: A Guide to Landscape Photography at Night is your guide to this new photographic world. In it, photographer Glenn Randall―author of the bestselling The Art, Science, and Craft of Great Landscape Photography―teaches you how to plan, shoot, and process professional-quality images of the Milky Way, the aurora, lunar eclipses, meteor showers, star trails, and landscapes lit solely by moonlight. Throughout the book, Randall emphasizes ways to integrate beautiful depictions of the night sky with equally compelling renditions of the land below to create complete landscape images that evoke a sense of place―and a sense of wonder. Equipped with the knowledge in this book, readers will be prepared to create their own nocturnal masterpieces.

What would your life be like if you could shoot absolutely amazing portraits? If you could be in any natural lighting situation, indoors or out, and know that you’d be able to create an amazing image every time? If you’ve ever dreamed of making such incredible portraits that your friends and family say, “Wait a minute, this is your photo!? You took this?” then you’re in luck. Award-winning photography book author Scott Kelby teaches you exactly how to shoot and edit gorgeous natural light portraits. Scott shares all his secrets and time-tested techniques, as he discusses everything from his essential go-to portrait gear to camera settings to the portrait photography techniques you need to create absolutely stunning images. From window light to taming harsh outdoor light, from the tools and accessories you need to capture beautiful portraits in any lighting condition, Scott has got you covered. Among many other topics, you’ll learn: • The secrets to getting super-sharp portraits every time without breaking a sweat. • Exactly which camera settings work best for natural light portraits (and which ones you should avoid). • How to create separation with a silky smooth, out-of-focus background no matter which lens you have. • How to tame even the harshest light and turn it to your advantage to create soft, beautiful, wrapping light. • Which lenses will get you the best results and why. • What gear you need, which accessories work best, and a ton of killer tips that will help you create better images and make the entire experience that much more fun. It’s all here, including an entire chapter on post-processing and retouching, and another with detailed portrait recipes, and best of all, it’s just one topic per page, so you’ll get straight to the info you need fast. There’s never been a natural light portrait photography book like it! TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter 1: Portrait Lenses Chapter 2: Camera Settings Chapter 3: Window Light Portraits Chapter 4: Shooting Outside Chapter 5: Shooting in Direct Light Chapter 6: Composition Chapter 7: Posing Chapter 8: Post-Processing Chapter 9: Portrait Recipes

This is an updated and newly revised edition of the classic book The Art of Photography: An Approach to Personal Expression. Originally published in 1994 and first revised in 2010, The Art of Photography has sold well over 100,000 copies and has firmly established itself as the most readable, understandable, and complete textbook on photography. Featuring nearly 200 beautiful photographs in both black-and-white and color, as well as numerous charts, graphs, and tables, this book presents the world of photography to beginner, intermediate, and advanced photographers who seek to make a personal statement through the medium of photography.Without talking down to anyone or talking over anyone's head, renowned photographer, teacher, and author Bruce Barnbaum presents how-to techniques for both traditional and digital approaches. In this newest edition of the book, Barnbaum has included many new images and has completely revised the text, with particular focus on two crucial chapters covering digital photography: he revised a chapter covering the digital zone system, and includes a brand-new chapter on image adjustments using digital tools. There is also a new chapter discussing the concepts of “art versus technique” and “traditional versus digital” approaches to photography. Throughout the book, Barnbaum goes well beyond the technical, as he delves deeply into the philosophical, expressive, and creative aspects of photography so often avoided in other books.Barnbaum is recognized as one of the world's finest landscape and architectural photographers, and for decades has been considered one of the best instructors in the field of photography. This latest incarnation of his textbook―which has evolved, grown, and been refined over the past 45 years―will prove to be an ongoing, invaluable photographic reference for years to come. It is truly the resource of choice for the thinking photographer.Topics include: • Elements of Composition • Visualization • Light and Color • Filters • Black-and-White • The Digital Zone System • The Zone System for Film • Printing and Presentation • Exploding Photographic Myths • Artistic Integrity • Realism, Abstraction, and Art • Creativity and Intuition • A Personal Philosophy • And much, much more…

What would your life be like if you could shoot absolutely amazing portraits? If you could be in any natural lighting situation, indoors or out, and know that you’d be able to create an amazing image every time? If you’ve ever dreamed of making such incredible portraits that your friends and family say, “Wait a minute, this is your photo!? You took this?” then you’re in luck.Award-winning photography book author Scott Kelby teaches you exactly how to shoot and edit gorgeous natural light portraits. Scott shares all his secrets and time-tested techniques, as he discusses everything from his essential go-to portrait gear to camera settings to the portrait photography techniques you need to create absolutely stunning images. From window light to taming harsh outdoor light, from the tools and accessories you need to capture beautiful portraits in any lighting condition, Scott has got you covered.Among many other topics, you’ll learn:• The secrets to getting super-sharp portraits every time without breaking a sweat.• Exactly which camera settings work best for natural light portraits (and which ones you should avoid).• How to create separation with a silky smooth, out-of-focus background no matter which lens you have.• How to tame even the harshest light and turn it to your advantage to create soft, beautiful, wrapping light.• Which lenses will get you the best results and why. • What gear you need, which accessories work best, and a ton of killer tips that will help you create better images and make the entire experience that much more fun.It’s all here, including an entire chapter on post-processing and retouching, and another with detailed portrait recipes, and best of all, it’s just one topic per page, so you’ll get straight to the info you need fast. There’s never been a natural light portrait photography book like it!TABLE OF CONTENTSChapter 1: Portrait LensesChapter 2: Camera SettingsChapter 3: Window Light PortraitsChapter 4: Shooting OutsideChapter 5: Shooting in Direct LightChapter 6: CompositionChapter 7: PosingChapter 8: Post-ProcessingChapter 9: Portrait Recipes

Without light, there is no photograph. As almost every photographer knows, the word “photograph” has its roots in two Greek words that, together, mean “drawing with light.” But what is less commonly acknowledged and understood is the role that shadow plays in creating striking, expressive imagery, especially in portraiture. It is through deft, nuanced use of both light and shadow that you can move beyond shooting simply ordinary, competent headshots into the realm of creating dramatic portraiture that can so powerfully convey a subject’s inner essence, communicate a personal narrative, and express your photographic vision. In The Dramatic Portrait: The Art of Crafting Light and Shadow, Chris Knight addresses portraiture with a unique approach to both light and shadow that allows you to improve and elevate your own portraiture. He begins with the history of portraiture, from the early work of Egyptians and Greeks to the sublime treatment of light and subject by artists such as Caravaggio, Rembrandt, and Vermeer. Chris then dives into a deep, hands-on exploration of light, shadow, and portraiture, offering numerous lessons and takeaways. He covers: • The qualities of light: hard, soft, and the spectrum in between • The relationships between light, subject, and background, and how to control them • Lighting patterns such as Paramount, Rembrandt, loop, and split • Lighting ratios and how they affect contrast in your image • Equipment: from big and small modifiers to grids, snoots, barn doors, flags, and gels • Multiple setups for portrait shoots, including those that utilize one, two, and three lights • How color contributes to drama and mood, eliciting an emotional response from the viewer • How to approach styling your portrait, from wardrobe to background • The post-processing workflow, including developing the RAW file, maximizing contrast, color grading, retouching, and dodging and burning for heightened drama and effect • How all of these elements culminate to help you define your personal style and create your own narrative

The most successful portraits take us well beyond the surface of how someone looks and show us the inner essence of who someone is. They reveal character, soul, and depth. They uncover hidden hopes and profound truths, revealing that authentic and deeply human light that shines within. And while technical expertise is undoubtedly important, it’s not the light, camera, or pose that creates a great portrait. It’s you, and it’s the connection you create with the subject that makes all the difference. In Authentic Portraits, photographer Chris Orwig teaches you that the secret to creating meaningful portraits is simple: curiosity, empathy, kindness, and soul…plus a bit of technique. While Chris spends significant time on the fundamentals of “getting the shot”―working with natural light, nailing focus, dialing in the correct exposure, effectively posing and directing the subject, intentionally composing the frame―he also passionately discusses the need for personal development, creative collaboration, and connection with the subject. Because who you are directly and deeply affects what you create, and it is only through cultivating your own inner light that you will be able to bring it out in your subjects. Filled with instruction, insight, and inspiration, Authentic Portraits is an honest and personal book about creating better frames. It’s also about becoming your best self. Take the journey, and you’ll learn to find your vision and voice, bring intention to your photography and your life, embrace mystery, and understand the importance of gratitude and empathy. Along the way, you will teach the camera to see in a way that replicates how you feel, and you’ll find you have all you need to create work of lasting significance. TABLE OF CONTENTS Part 1: The Foundation of Authentic Portraiture 01: Authentic Portraits 02: Beneath the Surface 03: The Paradox of Portraiture 04: Harmony and Discord 05: Thread 06: The Search Part 2: The Art of Authentic Portraiture 07: Light and Soul 08: Invisible Light 09: Defining and Cultivating Soul 10: Silence 11: Wabi Sabi Part 3: Mastering Technique, Gear, and Light 12: Finding the Perfect Portrait Lens 13: Exposure Settings 14: Seven Principles of Natural Light 15: Working with Natural Light Part 4: The Sitter and the Subject 16: Finding Subjects 17: Finding and Approaching People You Want to Photograph 18: Pre-Shoot Prep 19: Preparing Yourself 20: Photograph People, Not Labels Part 5: Posing, Directing, and Connecting 21: Defining Your Directorial Style 22: Practical Posing Tips 23: Connecting with the Subject 24: Unlikely Inspiration for Connecting 25: The Four-Step Approach Part 6: Camera Work 26: Composition 27: This to That Part 7: Stepping Up Your Game 28: The Other Side of the Lens 29: Courage 30: Inner Art 31: Gratitude 32: FAQ 33: The Journey Ahead Thanks Image Details Index

In the past, landscape photography largely ended when the last light of dusk faded from the sky. Today it’s only beginning. The latest digital cameras have made it easy to create images of the landscape at night that film and early digital photographers could only dream of. Equipped with off-the-shelf cameras, more and more photographers are venturing into the night, far beyond the comforting glow of city lights, and returning with spectacular images of places both familiar and unknown that are unlike anything seen before. Dusk to Dawn: A Guide to Landscape Photography at Night is your guide to this new photographic world. In it, photographer Glenn Randall—author of the bestselling The Art, Science, and Craft of Great Landscape Photography—teaches you how to plan, shoot, and process professional-quality images of the Milky Way, the aurora, lunar eclipses, meteor showers, star trails, and landscapes lit solely by moonlight. Throughout the book, Randall emphasizes ways to integrate beautiful depictions of the night sky with equally compelling renditions of the land below to create complete landscape images that evoke a sense of place—and a sense of wonder. Equipped with the knowledge in this book, readers will be prepared to create their own nocturnal masterpieces.

David Busch’s Sony Alpha a6500/ILCE-6500 Guide to Digital Photography is the most comprehensive reference and guide book available for Sony’s advanced APS-C mirrorless camera. This eagerly-anticipated enthusiast/professional digital camera adds in-body image stabilization, a useful touch screen, and better low light performance at up to ISO 51,200. It features a 24 megapixel sensor with 425 embedded phase-detect pixels for lightning-fast autofocus at up to 11 frames per second. With an electronic shutter that provides a silent shooting option, and stunning 4K/UHD video capabilities, the a6500/ILCE-6500 is a versatile digital camera that’s simple to use, yet boasts features demanded by the most avid photo buff. With this book in hand, you will discover all the capabilities of the Sony Alpha a6500/ILCE-6500 as you explore the world of digital photography, develop your creativity, and capture the best photographs you’ve ever taken.Filled with detailed how-to steps and full-color illustrations, David Busch’s Sony Alpha a6500/ILCE-6500 Guide to Digital Photography describes every feature of this sophisticated camera in depth, from taking your first photos through advanced details of setup, exposure, lens selection, lighting, and more. It relates each feature to specific photographic techniques and situations. Also included is the handy camera “roadmap,” an easy-to-use visual guide to the a6500/ILCE-6500’s features and controls. Learn when to use every option and, more importantly, when not to use them, by following the author’s recommended settings for every menu entry. With best-selling photographer and mentor David Busch as your guide, you’ll quickly have full creative mastery of your camera’s capabilities, whether you’re shooting on the job, taking pictures as an advanced enthusiast pushing the limits of your imagination, or are just out for fun. Start building your knowledge and confidence, while bringing your vision to light with the Sony Alpha a6500/ILCE-6500.

David Busch’s Sony Alpha a6500/ILCE-6500 Guide to Digital Photography is the most comprehensive reference and guide book available for Sony’s advanced APS-C mirrorless camera. This eagerly-anticipated enthusiast/professional digital camera adds in-body image stabilization, a useful touch screen, and better low light performance at up to ISO 51,200. It features a 24 megapixel sensor with 425 embedded phase-detect pixels for lightning-fast autofocus at up to 11 frames per second. With an electronic shutter that provides a silent shooting option, and stunning 4K/UHD video capabilities, the a6500/ILCE-6500 is a versatile digital camera that’s simple to use, yet boasts features demanded by the most avid photo buff. With this book in hand, you will discover all the capabilities of the Sony Alpha a6500/ILCE-6500 as you explore the world of digital photography, develop your creativity, and capture the best photographs you’ve ever taken. Filled with detailed how-to steps and full-color illustrations, David Busch’s Sony Alpha a6500/ILCE-6500 Guide to Digital Photography describes every feature of this sophisticated camera in depth, from taking your first photos through advanced details of setup, exposure, lens selection, lighting, and more. It relates each feature to specific photographic techniques and situations. Also included is the handy camera “roadmap,” an easy-to-use visual guide to the a6500/ILCE-6500’s features and controls. Learn when to use every option and, more importantly, when not to use them, by following the author’s recommended settings for every menu entry. With best-selling photographer and mentor David Busch as your guide, you’ll quickly have full creative mastery of your camera’s capabilities, whether you’re shooting on the job, taking pictures as an advanced enthusiast pushing the limits of your imagination, or are just out for fun. Start building your knowledge and confidence, while bringing your vision to light with the Sony Alpha a6500/ILCE-6500.

In The Lettering Workshops, you’ll learn all about the art and practice of drawing letters using hands-on techniques in 30 lessons across five workshops. Whether you’re a beginner or a professional graphic designer, you'll quickly learn how to develop and advance your lettering skills. In this richly illustrated book of lessons and exercises, you’ll find: • 5 Workshops to learn the art of drawing letters―from an introduction to brush lettering and lettering script to the decoration of letters; from the secrets of good composition to the process of digitization and vectorization of your type • 30 Exercises that gradually develop from beginner through intermediate and advanced levels • 16 Analyses of lettering samples to understand what makes good lettering • 52 Inspirational contributions in featured galleries from international letterers and brands • 160 Pages for all skill levels • 26 Letters to learn and explore TABLE OF CONTENTS What Is Lettering? Why This Book? First Lesson Lettering, Calligraphy, or Typography? Basics and Technical Vocabulary WORKSHOP 1: DISCOVERING BRUSH LETTERING Exercise 1: Finding the Right Position Exercise 2: Setting Up a Grid Exercise 3: Carrying Out the First Motions Exercise 4: Drawing the Letters Exercise 5: Connecting the Letters Exercise 6: Reworking Your Drafts Analysis of Lettering Samples Gallery WORKSHOP 2: INTRODUCTION TO SCRIPT LETTERING Exercise 1: Discovering the Skeleton Technique Exercise 2: Drawing an Alphabet Exercise 3: Drawing a Complete Word Exercise 4: Lettering in a Classic Script Exercise 5: Leaving Your Comfort Zone! Analysis of Lettering Samples Gallery WORKSHOP 3: USING TYPOGRAPHIC CHARACTERS Exercise 1: Embellishing a Letter Exercise 2: Practicing on a Complete Word Exercise 3: Going Further with Vintage Style Exercise 4: Discovering Interlock Exercise 5: Practicing Interlock with Serifs Exercise 6: Producing a Complete Interlock Lettering Project Analysis of Lettering Samples Gallery WORKSHOP 4: THE SECRETS OF GOOD COMPOSITION Exercise 1: Thinking in Terms of the Block Exercise 2: Completing the First Sketches Exercise 3: Choosing the Styles for Each Word Exercise 4: Drawing the Skeleton Exercise 5: Developing and Finalizing Your Path Analysis of Lettering Samples Gallery WORKSHOP 5: DIGITIZATION AND VECTORIZATION Exercise 1: Digitizing and Preparing Your Lettering Exercise 2: First Steps in Vectorization Exercise 3: Testing the Vertex Theory Exercise 4: Vectorizing the Entire Lettering Project Exercise 5: Critiquing Your Vectorized Lettering Project Exercise 6: Preparing Your Lettering Project without Vectorization Exercise 7: Isolating the Lettering Exercise 8: Adding Texture to the Lettering Project Exercise 9: Finalizing the Composition Gallery Artists Represented in this Book Resources

The most successful portraits take us well beyond the surface of how someone looks and show us the inner essence of who someone is. They reveal character, soul, and depth. They uncover hidden hopes and profound truths, revealing that authentic and deeply human light that shines within. And while technical expertise is undoubtedly important, it’s not the light, camera, or pose that creates a great portrait. It’s you, and it’s the connection you create with the subject that makes all the difference.In Authentic Portraits, photographer Chris Orwig teaches you that the secret to creating meaningful portraits is simple: curiosity, empathy, kindness, and soul…plus a bit of technique. While Chris spends significant time on the fundamentals of “getting the shot”—working with natural light, nailing focus, dialing in the correct exposure, effectively posing and directing the subject, intentionally composing the frame—he also passionately discusses the need for personal development, creative collaboration, and connection with the subject. Because who you are directly and deeply affects what you create, and it is only through cultivating your own inner light that you will be able to bring it out in your subjects.Filled with instruction, insight, and inspiration, Authentic Portraits is an honest and personal book about creating better frames. It’s also about becoming your best self. Take the journey, and you’ll learn to find your vision and voice, bring intention to your photography and your life, embrace mystery, and understand the importance of gratitude and empathy. Along the way, you will teach the camera to see in a way that replicates how you feel, and you’ll find you have all you need to create work of lasting significance.

Look up! Look down! Move around! Everywhere you go, there are great pictures just waiting to be made! Kids love to take pictures! With Photo Adventures for Kids, you can encourage your child’s passion while exploring the art of photography together! With this book, your child will become an official Photo Adventurer and go on a very important mission to solve the greatest mystery of photography―learning how to find a great photograph no matter where they are. Whether they’re at home or at school, in the backyard or on a field trip, in the city or in nature, they’ll learn the important lesson of how to “see” where the best photographs are hidden in any location. Packed with games, strategies, lessons, and challenges, Photo Adventures for Kids makes learning about photographic composition and framing easy and fun. The book also features a cutout “viewfinder” device at the back of the book, which kids can use to explore their environment. In Photo Adventures for Kids, your child will learn all about: • Composition • Framing • Perspective • Leading lines • Subject placement • And much more! The mission is to find great photographs anywhere and everywhere. Hurry! Adventure awaits!