First published in 1993, this fully revised edition of a best-selling classic distils all the essential information needed by an aspiring photographer into one volume.

The book starts at the beginning: getting to know your camera - how it works, film speeds, and looking after your equipment. This is followed by an examination of the 20 key areas of photography that the amateur picture-taker should focus on to improve the quality of their work. This includes advice on light, colour, depth of field, framing, posing, movement, changing the viewpoint and angle, and using on-camera flash.

Next you'll see how to apply these theories in practice, whether you are taking formal portraits or holiday snaps, wedding photographs or still lifes. There are also tips on overcoming and coping with shafts of light, inclement weather conditions, reflections and night photography. A fourth and final chapter goes beyond the basics, providing hints on interchangeable lenses, exposure, shutter speed, filters and the developments in the digital world.