good photo technique book

[stevescivic]

Is there a book out there that teaches a novice on better photographic technique? I am mainly concerned with composition and I guess to a lesser degree exposure.

I find that I can competenly take pictures of subjects but I find it rather difficult at times to truly realize the best way of taking a picture.

I am looking for a book that will help point out the primary guidelines on taking a good photo.

I like taking pictures of weddings, people, landscapes.... a broad range of subjects but nothing that is out of the ordinary.

For example I have a book by Scott Kelby on Photoshop CS2 techniques and that book is fantastic as it is easy to read and easy to understand.

Anyone have recommendations?
Thanks

[airfrogusmc]

Ansel Adams The Camera, The Negative and The Print. If you can grasp the technique that Adams is teaching; well good exposure is good exposure and can be invaluable to any photographer whether your shooting film or digital. As far as aesthetics, look at all the great photographers work. Heres a list of a few of my favorites.

Adams
Weston
Robert Frank
Harry Callahan
Henri Cartier-Bresson
Bruce Davidson
Roy DeCarava
Gordon Parks
Walker Evans
Dorothea Lange
Atget
Imogen Cunningham
Ralph Gibson
Minor White
August Sander
Aaron Siskind

These are just a few....Technique is the easy part. Finding your own vision is infinitely harder.

[rammy]

The most recommended book(s) on POTN is probably a good starter for a novice:

Bryan Peterson: Learning to see creatively
Bryan Peterson: Understanding Exposure
Bryan Peterson: Beyond Portraiture

And then you can probably look at the more precise and in-depth ones.

[Mstar]

Ansel Adams above.

How about an online book,... try..

http://www.photo.net/making-photographs/

[gradstudent]

i second "Understanding exposure".... really awesome book and easy to understand.

[Chip Payet]

i second "Understanding exposure".... really awesome book and easy to understand.

I'll give that another vote -- made shooting in Manual a LOT easier and more understandable. Learning to use that little light meter alone (sadly, I'd never learned/been taught that) made a huge difference.

[mchong75]

The Digital Photography Book by Scott Kelby. An excellent book to read.

[Naturalist]

Ansel Adams The Camera, The Negative and The Print.

Very good recommendation and you can check them out at your local lobrary for free. In fact, I would recommend the library for reading to gain comprehension so you can then get out there and practice what is in the written word. There are many good books out there discussion composition and posing as well as exposure.

[tomr7]

Well that Scott Kelby has another book 'The Digital Photography Book'. You may be interested: http://www.amazon.com/Digital-Photography-Book-Scott-Kelby/dp/032147404X/ref=pd_bbs_1/105-8543540-9596449?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1184562648&sr=8-1

[Anke]

The Photographers Eye (2007) is an inspiring read on composition

[Anke]

The Photographer's Eye: Composition and Design for Better Digital Photos (Paperback)
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Photographers-Eye-Composition-Design-Digital/dp/1905814046/ref=pd_bbs_1/202-8935517-8275053?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1184563311&sr=8-1

[Anke]

I also loved:
Light in the Landscape by Peter Watson
&
Capturing the Light: An Inspirational and Instructional Guide to Landscape Photography by Peter Watson

[Anke]

In fact, I am slightly addicted to Photography Books :o there I admit it, I have a problem