Designed with the upper-elementary through middle-school reader in mind, this volume in the Photography for Teens series will be useful for readers who want to put some thought into their shots. Taking the Shot has short chapters on digital cameras, camera settings, and equipment and accessories. It is slightly more technical and has everything a beginner would need to know about megapixels, apertures, light meters, memory cards, and lenses. This book features well-written, accessible text and is attractively designed with plenty of white space, full-color photographs, fact boxes, and sidebars with quick bits of information, but it is the step-by-step photographs that make them winners for young photographers. The "Do It"sections, which accompany each of the chapters, will help readers visualize and then "do" what the text recommends. For those students who might want to write a report on the topic or who want more information, each book has a short list of titles for further reading and access to FactHound on the Internet. Almost all kids these days have access to some kind of camera, and nearly everyone wants to be a photographer; this set offers information that will certainly help them do a better job. The hardcover price seems a bit steep for such slim volumes, but, happily, the paperback is being published simultaneously. Recommended for upper-elementary and middle-school where there is interest in the topic.

SKOG, Jason . Setting Up the Shot . Vol. 1. ISBN 978-0-7565-4489-8 ; ISBN 978-0-7565-4532-1 . SKOG, Jason . Taking the Shot . Vol. 2. diags. ISBN 978-0-7565-4490-4 ; ISBN 978-0-7565-4533-8 . ea vol: 48p. (Photography for Teens Series). photos. bibliog. further reading. glossary. index. Web sites. Compass Point . 2012. PLB $28.65; pap. $7.95. LC number unavailable. Gr 510 Skog introduces the basic principles for creating and displaying pictures using digital cameras. Setting Up focuses on composition, backgrounds, and lighting levels. Taking discusses specialized equipment, such as tripods, lenses, and filters. Displaying considers editing, printing, and showcasing photos. Each book suggests activities that illustrate relevant principles. The instructions can be a little too general at times, e.g., "After cropping, check the image for clarity. Does it look fuzzy? If so, use the sharpening tool included in most photo-editing programs." The author assumes that readers have equipment and software and some knowledge of how to use them. All of the books are illustrated with good-quality photo examples of the ideas discussed. Although aimed at teens, the concepts covered could be understood and utilized by younger enthusiasts.