Brooks Stover, the author, is a really nice and down to earth guy, who believes in making the most of things that are readily available: his book on modelling the Buffalo Creek and Gauley is a master class in getting on with things, and he had also co-written books on the real thing, to share his knowledge.
In the days of film, professional photographers used to soot off rolls and rolls of film, reckoning to be lucky if they got a usable shot out of a single reel. Digital photography makes that a cheap possibility for us all, but to be honest, nothing is as good as proper technique based on lighting and composition. If you want proof of this, look at Chris Nevard's work above all others in the hobby, for he is the greatest exponent of it in this country.