Hedgecoe (dean, Royal College of Art, London) has written several excellent handbooks on photo technique. To paraphrase the introduction to his latest guide, most highly regarded photographs "are not the result of chance." Rather, a photographer needs technical training and aesthetic awareness to make the most of being in the right place at the right time. Designed to teach the novice both of these essentials, the manual is divided into three sections: "Basic Techniques," "The Projects," and "Broadening Your Scope." The first and last sections are somewhat lightweight in technical detail for the true beginner, yet the "Projects" section--71 assignments which teach hands-on problem solving--fills in any gap in explanation. This title updates and expands on Hedgecoe's previous works and is likely to be in heavy demand.
