A Year With My Camera, Book 1: The ultimate photography workshop for complete beginners: Volume 1

I am presently following Emma Davies' e-mail course, which is free! This is the accompanying workbook and I find it very useful to have a reference guide to the 'lessons' as well as somewhere to stick my printed off homework. There are also checklists and occasional quizzes to test the learning. Emma's course takes you through the features of your camera in easy explained stages with clear technical definitions. I've tried a range of book based and online based manuals etc before and struggled because they assume a basic technical knowledge of the vocabulary and have excluded the complete beginner. Emma's course and book assume no knowledge and it's very reasonably priced too!

My previous experiences of photography back in the 80's & 90's were a complete disaster, excitedly putting films into Boots to be developed & only getting half back with stickers advising how to achieve better shots! So I gave up.My first introduction to the newer digital cameras was a second hand Sony Cybershot I was surprised at the new technology, however, I dropped it into a river. I replaced it with a new Sony Cybershot & was very pleased for a few years. However, there were limitations to what I wanted to photograph. So I did a bit of research & decided to get a 'grown up' camera. Again I was delighted with it & what I could achieve, however, despite reading the manual, looking on you tube & buying a beginers photography book I remained on auto for my shots and to be honest lost my appetite for photography. I considered joining a photography group but felt my camera & my skills were not up to much. NOT ANY MORE! Emma`s book and online course is pitched just right, for the first time I understand how to use my camera to get the shots I want. Each week a lesson builds on the previous weeks lesson with information & practical excersises (homework!) The online support group is fab, I feel part of something big, and we are all going on this journey together. Well done Emma!

This is the ONLY book to have, if you want to come off Auto. It really is fantastic - the way Emma has written it any one can understand & learn what's what's & how to use all the programmes.I'm a total novice & if it's making sense to me - - - need I say more. I've learnt sooooo much already.If you've been sitting on the fence, get off right now & buy this book. You'll never learn everything taking those day or weekend course's - this is way better & costs way less. I really can't praise this writer highly enough.While you're at it get book 2 too. They are both so worth the money. I'm loving them.

At long last I am beginning to understand how my camera works and how to take pictures that I am proud of all thanks to Emma Davies and her wonderful 'free' on-line course. Emma takes you step by step, week by week with amazing patience. This is the book that accompanies the course, Emma stresses you don't have to buy it, however I would say it was one of the best purchases I have made and can thoroughly recommend it. The book is simply written with large writing and plenty of space to make notes as I follow the course. There are added homework tasks included all which make you think and it is easy to keep referring back to the technical information (which I have to do!) to help remember the information and reinforce the course. With each weeks lesson there is space in the book to put your homework pictures and room around them to write down the settings used to take the pictures and any helpful information and tips learnt along the way! Thank you Emma for writing this easy to understand and follow book and in addition in encouraging everybody to become better photographers! Finally, BUY THE BOOK, you won't regret it!

A great workbook for learning about your camera and taking photos to be proud of. I subscribe to Emma's weekly emails but started late and have never quite managed catch up - now with all the lessons in an easy to follow workbook, I can do just that, in my own time. It takes me through all the basics and encourages me to learn more.I also joined the associated facebook group and have found that to be a lovely, helpful community which provides inspiration and advice when required. It really helps to get feedback and comments from the other members and Emma herself on your "homework". I would highly recommend.

Oh wow. This is one of those don't judge a book by it's cover moments. The book and text isn't flashy and full of glossy photo's - in fact there are blanks for you to fill in! That sets the tone of this wonderful book which has given me and so many others the confidence to switch to manual and start making things happen with our cameras. If you want a proper introduction and a structure to your learning then this is the book for you. As a wonderful benefit you can join the online community of other AYWMC students and know that you are not alone. It's been a revelation and I am looking at the world completely differently since I turned the first page. You really won't regret this. Enjoy!

I bought this to accompany the free online course that I am following, a new lesson arrives each week by e-mail and the book is divided into chapters, each chapter covering the e-mail content for one week.The course goes back to basics and covers just enough each week. Emma's writing style is clear and succinct, backed up with examples.There is homework for each week putting the theory into practice.The course is suitable for complete beginners and more experienced photographers.I have been interested in photography for years and have attended a couple of day courses which were excellent but I came away with information overload and felt confused having to think about so many things at once.The step by step approach works better for me and Emma's explanations mean that in 6 weeks I understand much more about how the camera works and therefore how to take the picture I want to.There are linked Facebook groups and an Instagram account to post pictures, ask questions and receive friendly helpful advice from the other participants, and Emma.Loads more to learn but I am loving this course and really enjoying taking photographs again.