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DPChallenge Forums >> Photography Discussion >> Photography Books - your favorites
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 07/04/2010 01:24:32 PM · #1
So I am going to start reading photography books and building up my knowledge this way.

Please let me know your favorites, what it has taught you, and why you recommend it.

This might make a good thread to go back on and pick someone else's favorite to expand your knowledge too!

Also let me know if they are educational or just show interesting photography!

Ill create a list.

Message edited by author 2010-07-04 13:45:44.
 07/04/2010 01:34:14 PM · #2
China Obscura

Oh I love this book. It truly shows the not so happy fun time part of China. Its a very good journalistic photography book.
 07/04/2010 03:00:27 PM · #3
Start with "Understanding Exposure" by Bryan Peterson. It's been a best selling book for YEARS, and most people who are into photographer have read it at some point or are aware of it at the very least.
 07/04/2010 03:07:07 PM · #4
Ha I thought you meant just a photo book. For instructional material I like Bryan Peterson's stuff. My favorite of his is "Beyond Portraiture: Creative People Photography"
 07/04/2010 03:26:10 PM · #5
I read The Print by Ansel Adams before I started with digital (or, really any sort of serious) photography. The actual chemistry is out-of-date for digital applications, but the explanations of what it's intended to accomplish, and how this can make a "better" print, I think is not. All of the chemical and physical (exposure-modifying) techniques have digital equivalents.
 07/04/2010 03:27:03 PM · #6
The moment it clicks by Joe Mcnally. More of a book of insights than specific nuts and bolts stuff. Joe shows a lot of his photos over the years and tells the stories behind them, giving some insight into how he achieved them.

I also have his book The hot shoe diaries, which is about lighting with strobes. The guy is a wizard and has an instinctual understanding of how to manipulate light. This is not a nuts and bolts guide. You must already understand some of the concepts to follow what he is describing. A lot of it is still above my head.
 07/04/2010 05:22:54 PM · #7
Originally posted by GeneralE:
I read The Print by Ansel Adams before I started with digital (or, really any sort of serious) photography. The actual chemistry is out-of-date for digital applications, but the explanations of what it's intended to accomplish, and how this can make a "better" print, I think is not. All of the chemical and physical (exposure-modifying) techniques have digital equivalents.


I agree! this book comes from a series including...#1 the camera, and #2 the negative.
A Certain Slant of Light by William F. Robinson examines the first 100 yrs of photography in New England (1839-1950). As well as the masters, this book pays homage to many unsung photographers.
For all format shooters Zone System Manual by Minor White. this is a step by step instruction.
 07/04/2010 05:51:52 PM · #8
Originally posted by blad:
A Certain Slant of Light by William F. Robinson examines the first 100 yrs of photography in New England (1839-1950). As well as the masters, this book pays homage to many unsung photographers.
For all format shooters Zone System Manual by Minor White. this is a step by step instruction.


This one sounds very interesting and intriguing. Being from Upstate New York where the beautiful countryside is similar to New England states I think I'd enjoy reading something like this. I'll have to look into it.

Message edited by author 2010-07-04 17:52:04.
 07/04/2010 05:57:02 PM · #9
Visit your local library. There should be some good ones there to look through. Also, if you have a local Barnes and Noble or other bookstores, there could be some great ones there. I've found that my favorite way to find good books is to just browse, my tastes don't always match those of other people. You can also reserve books through the library. Hope that helps.
 07/04/2010 06:23:18 PM · #10
Even better than the library is goodwill or the salvation army, garage sales and the best is Half Price Books, where I buy a lot of photography books on clearance for $1-$3!! There are also lots of resources online for free. Join Digital Photography School (which is free) and get their weekly newsletter- it's fabulous!!!
 07/04/2010 06:55:09 PM · #11
Originally posted by Yo_Spiff:
The moment it clicks by Joe Mcnally. More of a book of insights than specific nuts and bolts stuff. Joe shows a lot of his photos over the years and tells the stories behind them, giving some insight into how he achieved them.

I also have his book The hot shoe diaries, which is about lighting with strobes. The guy is a wizard and has an instinctual understanding of how to manipulate light. This is not a nuts and bolts guide. You must already understand some of the concepts to follow what he is describing. A lot of it is still above my head.


Great books there. I go back through Hot Shoe Diaries often.
 07/04/2010 07:28:15 PM · #12
Originally posted by DCNUTTER:
Start with "Understanding Exposure" by Bryan Peterson. It's been a best selling book for YEARS, and most people who are into photographer have read it at some point or are aware of it at the very least.


I taught at Bryans online school for a few years (and plan on starting it up again soon) so I got to know the guy a bit. He is just an absolutely wonderful teacher and you can't go wrong with his books. I can't say enough positive things about the man...
 07/04/2010 07:36:48 PM · #13
I didn't major in Photography at college, just Advertising, but we still had to know how to shoot(Pentax K-1000s) and develop b/w prints. Our textbook was (and I still have my copy) A Short Course in Photography: An Introduction to Black-and-White Photographic Technique, by Barbara London, publ Scott Foresman/Little Brown (1987)\

Not bad for basics but probably incredibly dated by now.
 07/04/2010 08:14:29 PM · #14
As said by others, "Understanding Exposure" by Bryan Peterson is the best, especially for a beginner. I have read and re-read several times. I always learn something new or understand something better second and third time around. I am not a professional (very much a novice) and I am always looking for good, understandable information. I think I will look into some of the material mentioned.
 07/04/2010 09:51:38 PM · #15
Originally posted by grahamgator:
As said by others, "Understanding Exposure" by Bryan Peterson is the best, especially for a beginner. I have read and re-read several times. I always learn something new or understand something better second and third time around. I am not a professional (very much a novice) and I am always looking for good, understandable information. I think I will look into some of the material mentioned.


I believe a few others here have steered me in the general direction of this book, so should probably put in a request for it at local library.
 07/04/2010 09:58:21 PM · #16
Originally posted by love:
Even better than the library is goodwill or the salvation army, garage sales and the best is Half Price Books, where I buy a lot of photography books on clearance for $1-$3!!

I LOVE half price books. They have one about a block from my house. The large store in Dallas used to be located in an old seafood restaurant that had a pirate ship in the middle of the store. Lots of character there. They moved across the street a few years ago, It's much bigger, with a huge selection but less personality.
 07/04/2010 11:26:10 PM · #17
Originally posted by snaffles:
Originally posted by grahamgator:
As said by others, "Understanding Exposure" by Bryan Peterson is the best, especially for a beginner. I have read and re-read several times. I always learn something new or understand something better second and third time around. I am not a professional (very much a novice) and I am always looking for good, understandable information. I think I will look into some of the material mentioned.


I believe a few others here have steered me in the general direction of this book, so should probably put in a request for it at local library.


You can get a new copy from Amazon for something like $17 dollars, and it's a book worth holding onto rather than having to return it to the library etc. Naturally with tough times though $17 dollars can always be spent elsewhere. Seems like we photographer types don't mind tightening the belt a bit though when we want those new toys. LOL. :)
 07/05/2010 01:02:04 AM · #18
I will get this list started tomorrow. Its 12 am I just got home... and I gotta get up in 4 hours to be on the River.
07/05/2010 01:31:41 AM · #19
Besides the books already mentioned here (especially fan of McNally's stuff), I would also recommend: Light - science & magic: an introduction to photographic lighting by Fil Hunter, Steven Biver, Paul Fuqua. This book breaks down lighting to essential nuts and bolts and will make you think about the subject completely differently. The chapter on surface reflections is particularly good.
 07/05/2010 01:58:55 AM · #20
The Photographer's Eye by Michael Freeman.

Very comprehensive look at the basic elements of composition. Really a worthwhile read. I haven't read his guide to exposure, but I imagine it's in the same calibre.

07/05/2010 05:53:47 PM · #21
Originally posted by salmiakki:
The Photographer's Eye by Michael Freeman.

Very comprehensive look at the basic elements of composition. Really a worthwhile read. I haven't read his guide to exposure, but I imagine it's in the same calibre.


I haven't read that one yet, but I like another of his.

Perfect Exposure
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