Sylvan, a columnist for PhotoShop User magazine, gives step-by-step instructions in a conversational tone in this illustrated guide with color photos on every page, screen shots of camera settings, and cross references to the official Nikon D5100 manual. Early chapters cover the basics of operating the Nikon D5100 camera and basics of digital photography such as choosing the right memory card, Raw format versus JPEG, lenses and focal length, exposure, and depth of field. Later chapters cover automatic and professional modes, shooting subjects in motion, portraits and landscapes, mood lighting, and composition. Each chapter begins with 'poring over the picture,' one large photo across two pages, labeled with tips. A website offers two bonus chapters on video with the Nikon D5100; readers are also invited to join the book's Flickr group to share photos and discuss techniques. Sylvan is affiliated with the National Association of Photoshop Professionals. Annotation ©2011 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)