Digital Video for Beginners

Title: Digital Video for Beginners
Sub-title: A Step-by-Step Guide to Making Great Home Movies
Author: Colin Barrett
Paperback: 144 pages
UK Publisher: Ilex (March 2005)
US: Publisher: Lark (March 2005)

I was approached to write this book for Ilex Press – a highly-respected British publisher of books in the field of creative art, design and media – after having contributed over 300 magazine reviews, features, columns and “hot-to” tutorials for major UK magazine publishers.

I had been working on a fixed-term contract for the Open University and – with the contract ending just as my publishing contract due to start – the timing couldn’t have been better. Digital Video for Beginners took me just over three months to write 30,000 words; I also supplied close to 300 images (many of which I created myself). The book has been published in six languages and sold particularly well in the USA where it was re-packaged by Lark Books.

Publisher’s Synopsis:

“Whether you are buying your first camcorder or just moving from analogue to digital video, Digital Video for Beginners is the perfect guide to making great home movies in the digital age. Written with the newcomer in mind, it explains in clear, jargon-free language everything that novice video-makers need to know. Covers everything from getting the most from your camera, to shooting creatively, transferring your video onto your computer, and making the most of it once it’s there. Comprehensive advice on getting great video from family events, holidays, school plays and concerts, sports events, and more. Easy-to-follow examples take you through creative editing techniques, transitions and special effects, and how to work with audio and music. Also, discover ways of showing and sharing your work, from transferring video to DVD, to broadcasting it across the Internet”.

This snippet from an Amazon.com Reader Review is something I’m very pleased with:

“Whether it’s your first camcorder or whether you’re moving into digital video from analog, you need Digital Video For Beginners, a guide which goes beyond the owner’s manual: one that covers all the basics from choosing the right camera to using it efficiently and getting great shots from vacations, events and more. The examples are quick and easy to follow whether you’re reading cover-to-cover or looking for quick answers. A handy little guide which should’ve been packed with every digital video”.

That’s good enough for me!