The Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 2 Book for Digital Photographers (Voices That Matter)

I am on my second reading of this book because it is so full of good instruction that I want to make sure I understand all of the capabilities of the LR2 program. The book is sequenced logically and fully explains how to use the various LR2 features by using tutorals that can be followed along with if you download the images from the website. My only criticism is that the downloaded images do not match all of the tutorial images in the book. Some are missing and some are in different chapters as compared to the downlad. But this is not a serious flaw and one can use their own images as well to follow the tutorials. Also, the book assumes you have CS3 or later versions of Photoshop. I didn't, so I could not follow some of the tutorials. Overall, after seriously reading the book and practicing the tutorials, I can truly say that I have learned how to effectively use this great program. Highly recommended.

I knew I would like this book when I read that you could download sample images and make the same adjustments while you read about them. That should be a requirement for all digital imaging books.

The author is funny, very funny. I have laughed about as much as I have learned from the book and I've learned a lot. This book has given me the knowledge I need to get the most out of LightRoom.

As a seasoned Lightroom user, I was skeptical that this author - known for hoary jocularity and being first on the scene with the cream skimmed off the top - would have much to add to Martin Evening's 'Bible'. A casual bookstore browse, however, made me reconsider. I read the book module by Lightroom module, and picked up some slick workflow tips that came in mighty handy in the transition to version 2 [LR2].

This book was written with hands-on insight and fire-in-the-belly passion by a gifted photographer. It's much more than a comprehensive tutorial covering the fundamentals, for it it is laced with pearls for pros, and offers glimpses of the powerful engine under the glossy hood. The writing is smoothly professional, the numerous color graphics are crisp and on point (as well reproduced as any I've seen of Lighroom's low key screens). The layout is attractive, printing is clear, and paper is top-grade for stunning color rendering. Mr Kelby deserves great credit for the spirited upbeat writing of an even-paced and consistently thorough introduction to Lightroom-2.

Adding to the sense of author redemption is that his oft-distracting 'jokes' are now relegated to a chapter's introductory page that you can skip over; the many filler pages of thank-you's have been shortened to just two; the downloadable tutorial photos, many of RAW quality, have a tastefully subdued copyright watermark (no longer disfigured by Kelby's trademark diver's flag); images are zipped in chapter-by-chapter packages, rather than the tedious individual downloads of the past; the instruction style is based on a well-honed step-wise photograph flow [intake, processing, output] rather than on picking an isolated topic ('botoxing wrinkles') as in the past. Paced deliberate workflow, of course, demands more of the reader (as well as of the author) as it builds on preceding skills.

Beginning or intermediate LR2 users will get a flying start using this book. Once you feel comfortable with the LR2 basic workflow, add Martin Evening's "The Lightroom2 Book" to your library to broaden your skills and learn of advanced techniques; I doubt that you'd find much new not covered by these two books that complement and supplement one another surprisingly well.

Kelby's books are all fantastic learning tools. Easy to follow, lots of pictures so they are very visual. Well written and up to date. I only bought one for the software and I think this was the best choice. Same thing with the Photoshop series.

Kelby does it again! His books are so easy to follow and understand as well as very well organized.