Focal Press has this week announced the release of a new book series showing amateur photographers how to get the best from their camera.

The series intends to cut through industrial jargon to help serious beginners and hobbyists get the most out of their lens and hone skills to produce the pictures they want.

Each book has been written by a professional photographer, and features tips, step-by-step visuals and actionable advice for snappers.

Focal Press publisher Cara St.Hilaire said: "You could write a whole series on each one of the topics we cover in our Focus On books, but our authors have concentrated on the basics – just the right amount of information – so photographers can easily understand and implement the illustrated techniques."

Composing photos, photoshop and photographing people are among the topics covered in the books.

Amateur photography has seen a boom in popularity in recent years. The Photography Blog predicted that this was due to advances in technology, the flexibility of production, and the lure of the gadgets involved.