This guide explores and explains all apsects of photography, including the essential functions of cameras, digital photography and which camera is best for your needs. The text explains the history of photography, and leads the reader through the basics to more adventurous topics, such as lighting and composition, and the intricacies of the dark room. Readers should: learn to understand how cameras can work for them and how to choose the right one; discover how to use light sources and lenses, apertures and shutters as cerative tools; master the skills needed to create portraits, landscape, still-life, action and travel photography; and learn how to develop photographs in the darkroom or scan and retouch digital pictures.

John Garrett moved to London in 1966 working as a fashion and advertising photographer. He has worked for most of the leading magazines including The Observer, Time Life, and Stem. John has worked as a photographer, TV-commercial director, lecturer, and writer. This is his eighth book.