Every 2-3 months, I order a photography book from Amazon. I started buying a how-to books on basic photography and ended with more advance ones...ones that talk more about photography as an art form or unique medium of communication.
The last couple of months, I feel as if I got most of those books, and there are no more books to help me advance in this art (I know I am wrong and there are still many). My collection does not exceed more than 40 books, but I carefully choose my books.
I would like to hear from those who already passed the basic level, about what are the books that they think as a must-have for someone who "think" that he exceed the basics and needs topics on advance photography.
I got interested in composition. Most photography books have very little to offer about this subject. I read a few painting books about composition and I found them interesting and helpful. I guess you can't just check them out of the library like I did.
Pete D.
Posted by Richard Wong on August 27, 2007 at 5:21 PM
Study the work of other photographers. Go outside your genre as well and study what they do. Once you learn the basics then that's when the battle really begins. Study graphic design, basically anything that inspires you or makes you curious.
Posted by Jerry Rawdon on August 27, 2007 at 8:32 PM
As a newbie, I'd like to know which of your "basics" books you found most useful.
JR
Posted by Steve Foss on August 27, 2007 at 8:40 PM
Mohsen, first of all, welcome to NPN. Nice to see you here.
I applaud you on your ability to start at the beginning and learn the basics through books before working on advanced photography. I deal with many clients and other inexperienced photographers who jump into photography and want to swim in the deep end of the pool before learning how to tread water, and I spend a lot of time explaining that they need to learn basic steps before they can make their camera gear perform as their heart dictates.
I'm sorry I don't have books on the inspiration of composition to recommend to you. Photographers whose work I admire get my ongoing attention, but once you know the basics and move into the experienced realm, it's less about "how did they do that" when you view a compelling image and much more about "how did they SEE that?"
In your photo book library you've created your own classroom and taught yourself much about photography. So, how do you see the world? Answer that question and develop the photographic style to reflect your vision and you will be far ahead of most who call themselves photographers. Doing that is mostly internal, a matter of working to your own rhythm. The more you rely on others to critique that vision, the more you run the risk of producing photos that are good but do not say "Mohsen captured these images." Peer review can be a good thing, and NPN offers much in that arena. I simply encourage you to show the world the way you see it. If you do that well, people who see the world as you do will find your work and cherish it.
That's what I'm trying to do. Most days, I don't do it well, and I end up taking pictures that bolster a decent portfolio but generally just add to the growing noise of routine photography proliferating this digital age. Yes, that's right, I view the vast majority of my photography as average or routine.
Sometimes, on very rare occasions, I capture an image that is a singular statement from deep within me -- or help another photographer achieve his or her own vision -- and on those days I feel good about both my art and my place in this world. I wish there were more of those days, and I'm always working to make sure there will be.
Try "Learning to see creatively" by Bryan Peterson. I read it about two years ago - it made my think and see like a child again.
Posted by Lon Overacker on August 27, 2007 at 11:19 PM
Mohsen,
If you already have 40+ books, I think purchasing more will not answer your quest. Books and learning are very important, but at some point, only you and your camera can make the leap to the next level.
In my personal view, the more you bog yourself down in "technique," the less you have available for creativity. Go out and shoot, continue to take pictures until you develop your own sense of comfort with image creation.
I have many photography books - mostly table-top with pretty pictures. Of the technical ones, I've never read them cover to cover; it's simply to boring. I'm a visual person and I'm more inspired by the images other photographers create. Through other photographers and combined with my own personal preferences, I've learned to photograph on my own - independant of anyone or anything else.
My personal advice is to listen to your own self and break away from the thought of being a beginner. Think about it - you, me, we are always beginners at something, at some point.
I used to teach drawing Mohson and I used the ideas from this book sometimes. As a concept this book teaches you to look at the line not the object. You do excercises such as turn a line drawing upside down and draw a conture drawing with concentrating on what the subject is. I'm not sure it would be the answer to your quest but I agree with Richard it is good to look at other mediums and in particular graphic design where design elements are not always real. I think as a photographer we always have the problem of how to show a 'real' subject in an artictic fashion and getting away from this in graphics can make our pictures more dynamic.
Rick T
Posted by Merle Cook on August 28, 2007 at 8:19 AM
Welcome to NPN. I can only echo the thoughts already listed. In this digital age you can go out and shoot whatever you think will reflect your vision without the time and expense of developing film. I would recommend going back through what you have captured and finding the parts of the shots that you like. Try to identify what you like about the shots and how you can create the same feeling and emotion in future shots. If you are shooting something you are interested in - technique and composition will follow.
Posted by Josh Anderson on August 28, 2007 at 10:33 AM
I just finished one from Galen Rowell. I was a collection of essays and they were outstanding. I think it is exactly what you are looking for, but I can't remember the name of it. If you are interested in the name, email me and I will check it out when I get home this evening.
Mountain Light: In Search of the Dynamic Landscape
Galen Rowell's Inner Game of Outdoor Photography
Understanding Exposure: How to Shoot Great Photographs with a Film or Digital Camera by Bryan Peterson and Learning to See Creatively
Edge of Darkness: The Art, Craft, and Power of the High-Definition Monochrome Photograph
by Barry Thornton
Creative Nature and Outdoor Photography by Brenda Tharp
Stephen Johnson on Digital Photography
These are some of the books I recommend; I may have multiple copies of some of the books above, if interested I'll look for you and let you know.
Lenswork View Camera - the Journal of Large Format Photography are the magazines I highly recommend for inspiration.
Dear Mohen, more than books I find very interesting and practically useful articles, essays, tutorials that you can find numerous in the web. With articles you can choose the themes really interesting for you of the authors that you feel nearer to you.
For exemple, I always read 'Insights' of J. P. Caponigro and Luminous Landscape, in particularly the essays of Alain Briot. Both teach creativity and aesthetics.
As Briot says, it is not a mattet of learning how to photograph but how to see.
I hope to see your pictures.
I haven't seen anyone mention this book yet but I highly recommend you purchase Michael Freeman's 'The Photographer's Eye' that was released recently. This is a revision of Michael's original book called 'The Image' which is all about composition theory and goes way beyond many other books which deal with the same topic. It reads more like an art theory text book but it's written by a photographer for photographers and should be on everyones bookshelf.
I'm actually looking for other books to read now too but this time around for books with just excellent landscape photographs that can inspire me and learn from. Any recommendations? I just wish my local Australian books were up to the same photographic quality as our overseas cousins, seems to be too many books with mediocre photographs unfortunately.
Discussion
13 repliesThe last couple of months, I feel as if I got most of those books, and there are no more books to help me advance in this art (I know I am wrong and there are still many). My collection does not exceed more than 40 books, but I carefully choose my books.
I would like to hear from those who already passed the basic level, about what are the books that they think as a must-have for someone who "think" that he exceed the basics and needs topics on advance photography.
Pete D.
JR
I applaud you on your ability to start at the beginning and learn the basics through books before working on advanced photography. I deal with many clients and other inexperienced photographers who jump into photography and want to swim in the deep end of the pool before learning how to tread water, and I spend a lot of time explaining that they need to learn basic steps before they can make their camera gear perform as their heart dictates.
I'm sorry I don't have books on the inspiration of composition to recommend to you. Photographers whose work I admire get my ongoing attention, but once you know the basics and move into the experienced realm, it's less about "how did they do that" when you view a compelling image and much more about "how did they SEE that?"
In your photo book library you've created your own classroom and taught yourself much about photography. So, how do you see the world? Answer that question and develop the photographic style to reflect your vision and you will be far ahead of most who call themselves photographers. Doing that is mostly internal, a matter of working to your own rhythm. The more you rely on others to critique that vision, the more you run the risk of producing photos that are good but do not say "Mohsen captured these images." Peer review can be a good thing, and NPN offers much in that arena. I simply encourage you to show the world the way you see it. If you do that well, people who see the world as you do will find your work and cherish it.
That's what I'm trying to do. Most days, I don't do it well, and I end up taking pictures that bolster a decent portfolio but generally just add to the growing noise of routine photography proliferating this digital age. Yes, that's right, I view the vast majority of my photography as average or routine.
Sometimes, on very rare occasions, I capture an image that is a singular statement from deep within me -- or help another photographer achieve his or her own vision -- and on those days I feel good about both my art and my place in this world. I wish there were more of those days, and I'm always working to make sure there will be.
If you already have 40+ books, I think purchasing more will not answer your quest. Books and learning are very important, but at some point, only you and your camera can make the leap to the next level.
In my personal view, the more you bog yourself down in "technique," the less you have available for creativity. Go out and shoot, continue to take pictures until you develop your own sense of comfort with image creation.
I have many photography books - mostly table-top with pretty pictures. Of the technical ones, I've never read them cover to cover; it's simply to boring. I'm a visual person and I'm more inspired by the images other photographers create. Through other photographers and combined with my own personal preferences, I've learned to photograph on my own - independant of anyone or anything else.
My personal advice is to listen to your own self and break away from the thought of being a beginner. Think about it - you, me, we are always beginners at something, at some point.
Go for it.
Lon
Do you think it is going to be of value to a nature photographer?
Rick T
Galen Rowell's Inner Game of Outdoor Photography
Understanding Exposure: How to Shoot Great Photographs with a Film or Digital Camera by Bryan Peterson and Learning to See Creatively
Edge of Darkness: The Art, Craft, and Power of the High-Definition Monochrome Photograph
by Barry Thornton
Creative Nature and Outdoor Photography by Brenda Tharp
Stephen Johnson on Digital Photography
These are some of the books I recommend; I may have multiple copies of some of the books above, if interested I'll look for you and let you know.
Lenswork View Camera - the Journal of Large Format Photography are the magazines I highly recommend for inspiration.
For exemple, I always read 'Insights' of J. P. Caponigro and Luminous Landscape, in particularly the essays of Alain Briot. Both teach creativity and aesthetics.
As Briot says, it is not a mattet of learning how to photograph but how to see.
I hope to see your pictures.
I'm actually looking for other books to read now too but this time around for books with just excellent landscape photographs that can inspire me and learn from. Any recommendations? I just wish my local Australian books were up to the same photographic quality as our overseas cousins, seems to be too many books with mediocre photographs unfortunately.