Size matters with new O'Reilly digpho release

Photography pandit Derrick Story's latest digpho volume, The Digital Photography Companion ($24.99) is being released next month by O'Reilly, where the author holds the title of "digital media evangelist." The book "is the culmination of two years work," Story wrote yesterday on his The Digital Story blog. "I spent hours working with photographers and aspiring photographers to find out exactly what they wanted."

"As a result, I settled on an 8.5" x 5.5" trim size that allows enough room for healthy-sized photographs, yet fits in the backpack, purse, camera bag, or jacket pocket," he added.

According to the publisher, chapters in the 240-page book include:

• What is It? Choose the right camera (DSLRs, compact cameras, or hybrids) and get a rundown on all of the typical features they offer, such as face detection, image stabilizers, diopter adjustment, focus assist light, RAM buffer and more.
• How Does it Work? An A-Z guide of digital camera controls that explains everything from Aperture Value (Av) Mode and Autoexposure to White Balance and  Zoom/Magnify Control, and everything in between.
• Shoot Like a Pro. Advice for a variety of photographic adventures, such as capturing existing light portraits, creating powerful landscape images and shooting fireworks, underwater portraits, infrared photos and more, along with lighting and filter tricks.
• I've Taken Great Pictures, Now What? Complete advice for sharing photos and converting them from color to black and white, plus an overview of photo management applications from Adobe Photoshop Lightroom to Apple iPhoto.
• Printing Made Easy. Printing doesn't have to be a painful experience. Learn various options, including direct printing without a computer, ordering out and selecting the right inkjet printer for the home (and what to do with it once it gets there).