Adobe Master Class: Photoshop Compositing with John Lund

Rating:
Summary: A WINDOW TO CREATIVITY
Review: After spending so much time learning how to use Photoshop we finally have a book that in simple and understandable ways instructs the user in how to open up their creative side and really do wonderful and unusual things with photography and photoshop. It really opens the window of your imagination which inspires you to begin thinking outside the box and producing your own unique works of art. What a great addition to the Photoshop library.

Rating:
Summary: Great book! Must have for any level Photoshop user.
Review: John Lund invites you into his studio, gives you a cup of coffee and lets you look over his shoulder while he works, all the while explaining what he's doing in a way that makes it easy to understand. And what he does is amazing!

This book is inspirational, not very heady (as in 'you could never in your wildest dreams ever do this') and practical (as in 'you can do this') with easy-to-follow, easy-to-understand steps to making some very unusual Photoshop illustrations.

The book has me thinking. I've been keeping a lot of photos I've taken with my digital camera for later use. With John's book I'm thinking of how I can do more than put someone's head on a cow. Compositing images is exciting, and John gives a lot to think about.

This book is human, kind, generous and it made me feel comfortable. John's attitude makes me feel like I can do it, and therefore, I'm encouraged that I can actually do things beyond what I might do on my own. His own story is inspirational and his techniques will get any level Photoshop user or photographer excited.

I highly recommed John Lund's Photoshop Compositing.

Rating:
Summary: Doesn't worth the money
Review: The book as no CD or a pointer to a web location where you can download the images to practice. There is no point to explain the techniques if you don't have the images.

There are a lot of other books on Photoshop, that are no so beatifull illustrated, but that you can learn a lot more by following the step by step instructions.

Rating:
Summary: Complex Digital Compositing for the Rest of Us
Review: While most Photoshop books, teach compositing techniques by building on very simple images, John Lund uses real complex-looking advertising images and breaks them down into the simple steps used to create them. I found that made it easier for me to visualize the possibilities of the techniques he teaches in the book.
Another aspect of the book that I think is really succesful is the personal perspective that the author uses which makes the book easier to read than other Photoshop books I've read, which often have the pace and humor of a manual.
I strongly recommend this book to anyone interested in taking their photography further, this book can truly be read and understood by users of any level, and I never would have thought that a Photoshop book could actually be enjoyable to read.