I’m Lovin’ It – The UNmanual
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You all know how much I love photography! Everything I know about it is all pretty much self taught or what I’ve learned from friends. I know there is so much about photography that I don’t know, or maybe I’m doing incorrectly.
So I was THRILLED recently when Drew of Momtog contacted me about reviewing The UNmanual, a guide that explains why your DSLR camera does what it does… in English! Ummm, YES PLEASE! I was all over that!
Photography Guide
Drew is a mom who loves photography. She’s an insanely talented photographer who shares her vast knowledge of photography and her camera on her Momtog blog.
The UNmanual was born when Drew realized that most of us don’t understand a word of our camera manuals, and most courses offered at universities will leave you even more confused!
“Once you break down the information you need to know and forget the information you don’t need, shooting in manual really isn’t that complicated! “~DrewB
Drew says The UNmanual is for beginners, but let me tell you, I’ve been shooting my dSLR in manual for over two years now, and there was still information I learned while reading thru the book.
You will learn about all the buttons on your camera (Drew shoots with a Cannon, but does a good job covering what you need for a Nikon as well), what settings she shoots with and why, how to shoot on manual and still get the correct exposure. You will also learn about lighting and how to create ideal lighting situations (my favorite section!)
What’s really awesome is, when you purchase the UNmanual, you instantly receive a downloadable file, but you will also receive a hard/paper copy in the mail! Which I LOVED. As much as I enjoy being on the computer, something like this I like to hold in my hands and read thru and make my own notes.
Drew’s UNmanual is everything you could want in a camera manual and more! It was easy to read, understand and follow. It is packed full of beautiful photos to illustrate every topic that is covered, giving you a great visual on what is being explained. I’m not much of a “manual reading girl” – more of a “visual girl” and the UNmanual is the perfect solution!
It will change the way you think of your camera. Words like aperture and exposure will no longer scare you. You will take pictures you only dreamed you could take. You will have the confidence to use your camera like it should be used.
I can’t wait to get hold of her UNposing Guide! Break the habit of saying “Cheese!”………. The UNposing Guide helps you capture new, unique, natural and candid looking poses…… something I think a lot of photographers tend to struggle with! **The UNposing Guide is geared more towards professional photographers rather than the amateur Mom*tog.
Right now thru June 10, 2011 you can use the code “tidymom” to receive 20% off when you purchase either The UNmanual or The UNposing Guide or both in The Momtog Store.
GIVEAWAY has ENDED – Congrats to #3 Jenny
Drew would like to give one lucky TidyMom reader The UNmanual of their very own!
Giveaway Prize (1 winner)
1 copy of The UNmanual (downloadable version and hard/paper copy)
Required Entry:
Visit Drew’s shop and blog and come back here and leave a comment telling me how The UNmanual would help your photography
Extra Entries (be sure to leave a separate comment for each)
- Tweet about this giveaway: I want to understand my camera with @Drew_b and #win her UNmanual via @TidyMom https://ow.ly/5774V #photography #giveaway
Giveaway will end on June 9, 2011 at 5 pm CST. One winner with a valid entry will be selected at random using random.org. I will email the winner and they will have 48 hours to claim their prize or another winner will be selected.
Now it’s your turn! Please remember to link back to https://Tidymom.net
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I follow you both on twitter
I like you both on facebook
I would love to be able to use my DSLR in manual mode with confidence!!
Thank you so much for hosting…
Thank you for hosting the link party! I linked up my skirt & cow photograph. I’d love to win this manual and actually be able to read the manual! I too did the same thing Drew did. I started with my camera and manual… frustrated I took a community college course which made me even more confused, and then I just started trying to figure out the camera on my own… I’m half way their but with this manual I think (and hope) I’ll finally understand it all!
I like you both on Facebook!
Hi Cheryl and Drew-
I not only would love to win a copy of the Un Manual (clever name – love it), but need it so I wont be afraid to delve into the world of DSLR’s. I look at them in the store and play, but then get overwhelmed. I so need so help and the Un-Manual would inspire me to make the most out of my future camera and probably even help with the camera I use now.
I hope you have an enjoyable weekend.
My best- Diane
I just wanted to say thank you for always hosting a great linky party! I love those homemade moon pies! I bet your Happy Hubby loves going to Cracker Barrel! That is like an old-fashioned candy FESTIVAL! 🙂
I now follow Drew on twitter.
I love manuals that are in English!! 🙂 My biggest thing is lighting. How to hold my camera in my hands and get good lighting w/o a lot of shakiness.
I follow Tidy Mom on twitter already!
I tweeted!
I’m following both of you on Twitter.
Shared on my fb page!
Would love the Unmanual!!!
Even have the Dummies book for my Cannon and still sometimes think What??
I usually rely on trial and error. Thank heaven there’s no film to pay for anymore-lol.
Thank you for the oppertunity to being able to win a copy!
Thanks for hosting Cheryl! Have a great weekend!
I love this! I so need a simple way to decipher how to use my dslr on manual. I love the info and photos on their site. They make want to run out with my camera right now (or very very soon after I learn how to use it properly!). This looks a great manual. Thanks for the giveaway, I hope I win. I would love to have some great pics of friends and family.
I like you on facebook as well, both of you :^)
The UNmanual would help so much with lighting!!! I have a new camera and would love to learn all about it and be a better momtog!!!
This means that Drew is a ‘techwriter.’ Good for her!! I can’t tell you how many manuals I’ve looked at and wondered why they couldn’t make the instructions less complicated – for most of us out there! Don’t they realize that’s why the ‘Dummies’ books are so popular?? I’d love to win this Giveaway! 🙂
Would love to win a copy of the UnManual! I take pictures for our preschool but know I could use my camera better if I understood it! 🙂
i like momtog on FB and wrote on her wall
Shared the contest on Facebook
I am now following TidyMom on Facebook
Just became a follower of MomTog on FB! Can’t wait to get some great tips!
this manual would really help me understand everything about my camera that I am having trouble with now….
I have a really great camera-but there are just some buttons I just don’t use because I am not comfortable with what they do-I would love this UNmanual!
I am already following you on Twitter
New liker on FB!
Just became a follower of Momtog on FB–she is adorable!
I went to her site to go ahead and buy the book, but my budget won’t allow it right now 🙁 I would love to win this because I struggle with lighting and with aperture / ISO settings constantly!
I am now following Drew on Twitter—
I learned metering (or at least the basics) in the 15 minutes I got to glance at the un-manual and it helped me a ton!
I also tweeted for an extra entry!
I would love to win the UNmanual and learn how to take better pictures of my growing family!
I NEED this…because I need help with lighting in my photos…I creepy away from auto most of the time, but rarely in low light…help! Love you TidyMom..thanks!
I’m a friend of Mom*Tog on FB
I’m a friend of TidyMom on FB
Following drew_b on twitter
Following TidyMom on twitter.
It would help me with everything!! I’ve been wanting a Nikon for so long, but don’t understand how all of those great pics are taken! Especially the focusing where the background is blurry! I love that!
I visited her blog and loved it. I have taken several classes on photography, The Unmanual is just what I have been looking for. It would be easy to take with you and read when needed… Would love to win this booklet…..
My husband and I are just getting started with a small photography business and need HELP! We have both taken photography classes in college but hardly remember or learned anything really useful about our cameras. This would help us become more proficient as photographer and make use sound like we know what we’re talking about! A breakdown of what we need to know so we can have fun doing our new jobs!
I liked you both on facebook and I’m following you both twitter! (and I retwetted!)
My husband and I are just getting started with a small photography business and need HELP! We have both taken photography classes in college but hardly remember or learned anything really useful about our cameras. This would help us become more proficient as photographer and make use sound like we know what we’re talking about! A breakdown of what we need to know so we can have fun doing our new jobs!
I liked you both on facebook and I’m following you both twitter! (and I retwetted!)
I hope the unManual would help me learn to get off auto with my 2 year old Olympus DSLR.
Wow!! I would love this. I have a Canon Rebel and would love to understand how to get the lighting correct when taking shots of my food prep for recipes. The lighting in my kitchen is horrible – fluorescent. Also would love to “frame” the pictures correctly.
I take pictures of my son all the time and friends ask me to take pictures of their families as well, but I only wish I new how to make those images and memories even more perfect. I love my DSLR but I am self taught like many of you out there. If I win, I plan to spend a lot of my educating myself to create works of art. I think what Drew has done is such a great thing!!
Now following Drew on Twitter—have been a blog reader for a while.
Follow you both on Twitter. @busyathome
Like you both on Facebook. (Glenda Embree)