Quick Take
Four photography and video course books sit in different places on the learning spectrum. The National Geographics book-and-DVD set pairs a guide with a video series and comes in at the lowest listed price. Video Basics by Herbert Zettl is the high-investment, comprehensive text. The Complete Video Course by Keith Brookes is a low-priced used paperback. Picture Yourself Capturing Ghosts on Film is the creative outlier. Pick the title that matches how you actually want to learn: by watching, by reading, or by experimenting with a specific photographic genre.
Listed Price Comparison
| Course | Listed Price | Relative Price |
|---|---|---|
| National Geographics Masters of Photography Course Guide Book & DVD | USD 18.00 | |
| The Complete Video Course by Keith Brookes (paperback) | USD 19.37 | |
| Picture Yourself Capturing Ghosts on Film by Christopher Balzano | USD 31.28 | |
| Video Basics by Herbert Zettl (trade paperback) | USD 85.49 |
The price difference between the lowest and highest listed options is USD 67.49, which makes the choice less about budget and more about how much depth you need.
Decision Matrix
- Watch first, read later: Choose the National Geographics book-and-DVD set when you want photography principles demonstrated on screen.
- Read a structured reference: Choose Video Basics when you want a revised trade paperback for video production theory.
- Read quickly and cheaply: Choose The Complete Video Course when you want a used paperback that covers video in a straightforward order.
- Experiment with mood: Choose Picture Yourself Capturing Ghosts on Film when you want to try atmospheric, story-driven photography.
Product Notes
Picture Yourself Capturing Ghosts on Film
Christopher Balzano's Picture Yourself Capturing Ghosts on Film is priced at USD 31.28, with a New Edition feature and a very good used condition. If you want a photography course that leans into mood, atmosphere, and storytelling, this is the most creative pick of the four. A maker who wants to photograph handmade objects in an unusual setting will get ideas for light, shadow, and narrative. The trade-off is practical: the subject is narrow, and the used copy may show minor wear from limited use. It is not a general guide to product photography or video, so buy it only when you already want that eerie, atmospheric angle on your craft images.
The Complete Video Course
The Complete Video Course by Keith Brookes is a Pan Macmillan paperback priced at USD 19.37. It is a third edition in very good condition, which makes it an inexpensive, low-risk read. If your craft maker photography includes short videos of process, tools, or final pieces, this book walks you through video production in a straightforward paperback format. The limitation is that a used copy can carry a creased spine or lightly dog-eared pages, and the content is aimed at video rather than still photography. For the price, it is a solid quick read for makers who want to get started with tutorials without spending textbook money.
Video Basics (MindTap Course List)
Herbert Zettl's Video Basics is the most expensive option at USD 85.49, and the copy is in Like New, near Mint condition. It is a revised trade paperback, so it reads like a proper reference text rather than a casual guide. If you are the kind of maker who keeps a course book open on the desk while planning a shoot, this one will hold up to highlighting and repeated use. The drawback is the price-it is USD 67.49 more than the National Geographics set-and the format is a textbook, so you are reading rather than watching. Choose it for a deep, structured grounding in video basics, not for a quick watch-along.
National Geographics Masters of Photography Course Guide Book & DVD Video Series
The National Geographics Masters of Photography Course Guide Book & DVD Video Series is the lowest-priced pick at USD 18.00. It arrives brand new and pairs a guide with a DVD video series from National Geographic Photographers, so it offers a visual learning path from the start. That makes it a fitting first course for a craft maker who wants to see photography principles in action before reading dense theory. The trade-off is that the package is a book-and-DVD combo rather than a slim paperback, and the teaching focuses on broad photographic artistry rather than on product photography or video production specifics. If your goal is inspiration and fundamentals at a low price, this set delivers.
Final Recommendation
Start with the National Geographics book-and-DVD set if your craft maker photography is mostly about still images and you want a visual, under-$20 introduction. If you produce or plan to produce video tutorials, The Complete Video Course gives you a low-cost overview. If your work has grown serious enough to need a durable reference, Video Basics is worth the higher price. And if you want to push your photography in a more expressive direction, Picture Yourself Capturing Ghosts on Film offers a creative detour. Match the course to your current need, and you will actually finish it.
