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Rating: 
Summary: Outstanding
Review: ... I have always been overwhelmed by the seemingly infinite number of
filters available and used by professionals. This is the first
material I have ever found that not only explains the different types
of filters but also explores the science how they work. I now feel
more confident using filters and am better able to anticipate their
effects. Far from being focused on "special effects", this
book is a great reference for anyone looking to enhance their
photographs through the use of filters.
Rating:
Summary: Outstanding
Review: ... I have always been overwhelmed by the seemingly infinite number of
filters available and used by professionals. This is the first
material I have ever found that not only explains the different types
of filters but also explores the science how they work. I now feel
more confident using filters and am better able to anticipate their
effects. Far from being focused on "special effects", this
book is a great reference for anyone looking to enhance their
photographs through the use of filters.
Rating: 
Summary: Theory is fine, but example images could be better.
Review: I came across this book in the local library. The book has a fair amount of colour theory and some in depth coverage of the different filters available. Unfortunately the example images are another story. Most of them show heavy unnatural filtration and many pictures are really strange. For example, the picture of a building on page 40 has been shot with such heavy magenta filtration, I doubt anyone would attempt anything like this in real life. In the example on page 66, all the buildings have turned magenta. There are some more extreme examples on pages 31, 90 and 91.In a book on filters, I would have expected such examples to be the exception rather than the norm (probably to illustrate what one can do with a strong red or magenta filter, etc). If the author wanted to show the effects of such heavy filtration, he could have chosen better or more appropriate examples.
Rating: 
Summary: Filters Shmilters...
Review: I understand what the other reviewers have said about this book and agree that a good few images are heavily filtered to the point of extreme. On the other hand I think that this is necessary in the facilitation of understanding what effect certain filters can have when placed infront of the lens in different situations. More experienced photographers will be looking for the subtle and almost impercievable use of these wonderful photographic tools and I myself would have liked an emphasis on this area far more than on the bold approach. Nevertheless I feel that this is an excellent *general* work on filters and will be useful to the broadest possible audience. There is some good technical information in here for beginners and intermediates who have little or no knowledge of filters and their uses. Meehan covers quite a bit of ground and does the usual stuff while he's at it. This is the stuff that photographers like myself see over and over again in almost every photography book which every photo book feels it necessary to reproduce over and over again adnausium. Some of the images in this book are excellent and the theory is right on, so if you are a photographer looking for a filter book that will rock your prospective bookshelf, maybe this isn't the book for you, but I have found it generally pleasing and it has it's place among my photo books without any complaints from me.
Rating:
Summary: Not useful for me.
Review: This book is useful if you want to take magenta pictures with a magenta filter, or blue pictures with a blue filter. On the other hand, the parts of the book dedicated to bringing out 'natural' light in photographs is small. It is mainly about creating fancy effects. A photography book should inspire you as you look through and see the photos. This book is full of shots with heavily over-used filtration. Not for me, but if you like more abstract photos, then you might like it.
Rating:
Summary: This guy is a god! Learn from a master of light manipulation
Review: What's up with the three star reviews. This guy is everywhere now. He had his own filters made to alter light in an uniquely artistic way. Something different? Too much filtering? Heaven forbid something looks so good you wished you thought of it. If your not creative or don't wish to broaden your horizons - this isn't a book for you. Go home and put on your little tu- tu!
Excellent examples and explanations. Pick up any art or photo magazine and you'll see some of his work.
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