Posted by Vandit Kalia on July 17, 2006 at 1:15 PM
Just finished reading a set of 3 books which I enjoyed a lot, and thought I'd pass it on here.
The books are from Lenswork magazine and are called:
- On being a photographer
- Letting go of the camera
- Single exposures
All 3 come for the whopping total of $30.
I wasnt expected too much from them initially, as I am primarily a nature/wildlife photographer, and these books come from a publication focusing on people/fine art/B&W.
However, a couple of things realy jumped out at me and played a big role in helping me get out of a photographic rut that I've been in of late: details on the working mindset of a photographer, as well as how to methodically go about improving the quality of one's output.
I heartily recommend all 3 - especially the middle volume.
Vandit, I read "On Being a Photorapher", and thought highly of it also. Not technical stuff at all, but some good discussions of "what to shoot" and also on the strategy of shooting (NOT technical details). I'll have to check out the others!
Posted by Kent Staubus on July 18, 2006 at 10:18 AM
Could you write a little more about the "Letting Go of the Camera" book? I'm sort of at a point where I think the less attention I pay to a camera, the better my photos are. Is this what the book gets into?
Kent in SD
Posted by Vandit Kalia on July 18, 2006 at 2:34 PM
Hi Kent -
The "Letting Go of the Camera" book was probably the most useful one for me.
It is a bunch of essays dealing with everything *except* the technical aspects of photography - the focus, instead, is on WHAT to shoot, not HOW to shoot.
It includes things like:
- ways to develop your photographic eye (practice, analysing paintings, etc)
- what makes a photo unique and what makes a photo a piece of art - and this is refreshingly clear and easy to grasp, without any of the airy yet contentles prose that one would expect from a discussion on "art"
- how to get the most out of a workshop (and what to look for in a workshop)
- general essays on critiques and how to give/evaluate them
- how to use projects to improve one's yields
- debunking the concept of happy accident
What I liked the most - and which was a pleasant surprise - was that the author completely avoids mumbo-jumbo nonsense-speak. Despite all the potential for fluff in a topic such as this, the book is full of very specific and easy-to-follow ways for improving one's photography, as well as some thought-provoking issues of what a good photo is..
This is not really for beginners - I think experienced photographers are the ones who may get the most of out of it.
I for one have started thinking of the goal of my images a little differently. Also, this book has helped me structure my photo planning and shot-taking a little more differently. The payoff was immediate - I was reading the book on holiday, and the result is here:
http://www.photosafariindia.com/galleries/darjeeling/thumbs.html
For me, who rarely manages a decent people/street shot, this is a substantial leap in my output in this field... and all of it was caused due to shifts in mindset that came about from reading this book. Best $12 you'll spend on a book, I think.
Yikes, I feel like a shill (hell, I dont advertise my own business this vociferously!).... :)
Discussion
3 repliesThe books are from Lenswork magazine and are called:
- On being a photographer
- Letting go of the camera
- Single exposures
All 3 come for the whopping total of $30.
I wasnt expected too much from them initially, as I am primarily a nature/wildlife photographer, and these books come from a publication focusing on people/fine art/B&W.
However, a couple of things realy jumped out at me and played a big role in helping me get out of a photographic rut that I've been in of late: details on the working mindset of a photographer, as well as how to methodically go about improving the quality of one's output.
I heartily recommend all 3 - especially the middle volume.
Cheers,
Vandit
Kent in SD
The "Letting Go of the Camera" book was probably the most useful one for me.
It is a bunch of essays dealing with everything *except* the technical aspects of photography - the focus, instead, is on WHAT to shoot, not HOW to shoot.
It includes things like:
- ways to develop your photographic eye (practice, analysing paintings, etc)
- what makes a photo unique and what makes a photo a piece of art - and this is refreshingly clear and easy to grasp, without any of the airy yet contentles prose that one would expect from a discussion on "art"
- how to get the most out of a workshop (and what to look for in a workshop)
- general essays on critiques and how to give/evaluate them
- how to use projects to improve one's yields
- debunking the concept of happy accident
What I liked the most - and which was a pleasant surprise - was that the author completely avoids mumbo-jumbo nonsense-speak. Despite all the potential for fluff in a topic such as this, the book is full of very specific and easy-to-follow ways for improving one's photography, as well as some thought-provoking issues of what a good photo is..
This is not really for beginners - I think experienced photographers are the ones who may get the most of out of it.
I for one have started thinking of the goal of my images a little differently. Also, this book has helped me structure my photo planning and shot-taking a little more differently. The payoff was immediate - I was reading the book on holiday, and the result is here:
http://www.photosafariindia.com/galleries/darjeeling/thumbs.html
For me, who rarely manages a decent people/street shot, this is a substantial leap in my output in this field... and all of it was caused due to shifts in mindset that came about from reading this book. Best $12 you'll spend on a book, I think.
Yikes, I feel like a shill (hell, I dont advertise my own business this vociferously!).... :)
Regards,
Vandit