I have only looked at this book in the store--I do not own it, but I do know that 2ByMeta4 (probably the review below me) does not know what he is talking about.The book is not about making a photography out of photoshop 7 and I can not imagine where 2ByMeta4 got this idea. The title of the book is "Photoshop FOR Photographers" and not "Become a photographer without a camera" as 2ByMeta4 would have you believe. You do not make a photograph with photoshop, you make a photograph with your camera and either scan it or import it into photoshop where you then go to work on it. The working on the photo part is where "Adobe Photoshop 7.0 for Photographers" comes in handy.
Other photgraphers have ranked "Real World Adobe Photoshop 7" and "Adobe Photoshop 7 Studio Techniques"--in that order--higher than this book. I will be able to give a full review later, but I felt something must be said about 2ByMeta4's absolutely silly review.
Let's first disclose the author's pretense as digital imagery being for photographers. Nothing could be further from the truth.I am 'picking' on Evening's book because it is good. It does 'sell' the idea that any grandma can add a little cheek blush to the grand-kids and think of herself as a photographer. What Evening does not do is say, in very plain language, the digital, programmed, and limited features of Photoshop 7.0 (considering all available plug-ins, does not add up to photography.
Evening is also caught between those who would invest in a high end software program and their ability to use it as a CGI generator; as a 'quick and easy' means of becoming a 'photograper.' In other words, if one is so stupid to buy PS 7.0, then why would one be doubly stupid in buying this book because Adobe makes the software so simple to use a monkey can create an image?
The answer is as clear as our opposing thumbs: PS 7.0 comes with a manual a high school drop-out who hangs out on sexually-oriented websites and chatrooms can understand, and, Adobe is very good with customer support.
This leaves the consumer with options. One can buy this book and read it. While the consumer reads this book they aren't making pictures. If one has PS 7.0 just use the program and teach yourself. This book is of absolutely no help to a cave dweller who magically wants to become a 'photographer' via PS 7.0.
Evening's work is really condescending to Adobe users since the Adobe website (for FREE) answers all the issues contained in this volume. This volume is overly verbose to be helpful as a cheat sheet and quick fix for those without creativity and a willingness to work through the PS program.
It just might be, for many, the best way to make a photograph is to avoid PS, this book, and just buy a camera and use it. Readers read and photographers photograph. Evening misses the point and has probably done nothing more than familiarize himself, through this tedious, boring, volume with PS7. He's not telling any of use who have used this program and it's support anything new.
The only thing 'photographic' about computer generated images is the micro litho means by which the motherboard and circuitry of the processor is manufactured. Evening is perpetrating a fraud not of his making.
