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For those of us who are Mac users and would like more than ever to finally have an “all-in-one” software program that can handle capture to finish, Apple’s Aperture, now in Version 1.5.2, shows fine promise towards that end. But as with any new software, there is a learning curve that one can ascend with more or less difficulty depending on the quality of the instruction. Ellen Anon and Josh Anon’s well-written book on taming the workflow is a handy push up that slope.
Aperture Exposed: The Mac Photographer’s Guide to Taming the Workflow by Ellen Anon and Josh Anon is laid out in a sequential manner with clear, concise headings that make the index quite useful. One can read straight through the book or just access sticky topics with equal ease.
Ellen is an Apple Certified Trainer for Aperture. Josh is a cinematographer and software developer. Both are photographers and teachers who know their stuff and don’t find it necessary to add a lot of filler to make their points. They included tips or “Notes” throughout the book, which are good to know, short and to the point. The book has a great overview in the first chapter that warms the reader up nicely with new vocabulary and a preview of what is to follow. That is sometimes the missing step in instructional books, which leaves readers wondering if they should move right into or right out of the book. For any level of Aperture proficiency, with Aperture Exposed, the reader can move right in.
By reviewing the Aperture on-line forums, talking with others and with my own experience using Aperture, there are still a few bugs with the software, which are not addressed in the book. Apple is addressing these on an on-going basis and Ellen and Josh are right on the ball as far as explaining the improvements since the software first appeared. Be sure to download their free update, a PDF available at www.sunbearphoto.com or www.sybex.com, as a companion to the book.
The publisher, Sybex, should address one unsatisfactory aspect of the book – a few screen shots with small print on dark or gray backgrounds. These are very difficult to read. A quick look at two other Sybex books with screenshots shows these on a cream-colored background, and although unsharp, they are easy to read.
Aperture Exposed seems as complete and useful as can be under these circumstances. Aperture shows great promise for the working pro or for anyone with a Mac who is quite serious about an all-in-one system for processing and publishing their photos. Towards that end, Aperture Exposed with updates is an excellent reference guide.
Aperture Exposed: The Mac Photographer’s Guide to Taming the Workflow by Ellen Anon and Josh Anon may be purchased via Amazon.com.
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