Steve Kapsinow (bio)

This well laid out and easy to read 9x11 special edition magazine begins with a small note from the editor-in-chief, a digital gallery, and a four-paragraph editorial titled "A Question of Trust".

The bulk of the guide is broken down into four main sections: "Taking great pictures" by award-winning photographer Jim Brandenburg; "Saving priceless memories" by photographer Bruce Dale; "Share fun photos" by senior editor Ken Geiger; and "Learn from the pros" where photographer Randy Olson reveals why he switched to digital and where five other NG photographers share tips for "getting the shot".

What makes this issue truly unique to National Geographic is the number of high-quality, inspirational images that accompany the text and provide visual relief. Each image is captioned with the photographer's name, camera make and model, shutter speed, and aperture value. It would have been nice to know focal length as well, but I guess I shouldn't expect photographers to reveal everything about their work.

Predictably, the issue of image editing and photo manipulation is addressed by some of the photographers/writers, and each offers his own perspective on the subject.

Editor-in-Chief Chris Johns assures readers that "no photographic content is altered or manipulated before publication."

Senior Editor of Photography David Griffin states that "To change a photograph—beyond minor tweaks to correct color balance or remove red-eye, for example—is to undermine the truth."

Photographer Jim Brandenburg offers a unique view when describing how he captured his image of fireweed in front of redpine trees. He says he "lightened the shadows with editing software so that the print ended up the way my eye saw it."

I'm not going to muddle this review with a commentary on image editing, but what this guide begins to do is establish through visual examples and the experiences of the photographers some sort of acceptable boundary for digital image editing. Of course, there will always be a tug of war with this topic, but there first has to be a line to cross.

The issue finishes with a peek into the future of digital photography (i.e. "smart" cameras and interactive digital frames) and a glossary of digital photography terms.

While the issue is geared more toward novices and intermediate photographers who want some guidance as they explore the more advanced settings of their camera, the enthusiast/prosumer and even the professional will undoubtedly discover new pieces of information and find the many images truly inspirational.

You can probably pick up a copy of National Geographic Guide to Digital Photography at any newsstand or order a copy at ngm.com/digitalissue.