The best book you ever read: describe how it has changed you photography

[OL9245]

In a recent poll (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=414292), It appeared that most of us are self-taught photographers, which probably means that we have read many books. Among them, one must be at the top of the heap: the one which had the greater impact on your photography. This topic is for you to describe your experience with this book.

Please, go subjective and personal. Amazon is there for objectiveness and facts.

[Chandler.]

Learning to See Creatively by Bryan Peterson. Great book, well illustrated of course, and very insightful into how to compose shots well.

[Cybnew]

National Geographic Field Guide for Photographers.

Simple little book that fit in my gear bag...loved that book...it even has a gray card on the inside cover!

I also like Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson

[sharkii]

National Geographic Field Guide for Photographers +1

[NZDoug]

The old Time-Life series was good to subscribe to.

[EOSAddict]

Gordon Stainforth's Book Eyes to the Hills was the book that I read where I first went "I really want to take pictures like that!"

[eesparx]

The old Time-Life series was good to subscribe to.
Great series.

[vdao1972]

**** You Heroes by Glen E. Friedman

[GORDO]

The "BASIC BOOK OF PHOTOGRAPHY","THE PHOTOGRAPHERS EYE".I got more out of those 2 books than all the books i have.I have the likes of understanding exposure and night and low light photography but the first 2 made me think and for me i believe thats what made the difference.Now im working on books on inkjet printing.I am self taught and just dont have the time to take any courses.Regards GORDO.

[airfrogusmc]

Well for me its not just one but one that really changed my photography not a beginners book Ansel Adams The Negative. I learned more about exposure and the zone system from that book than any other book I had read up until that point or since.

[Chandler.]

Well for me its not just one but one that really changed my photography not a beginners book Ansel Adams The Negative. I learned more about exposure and the zone system from that book than any other book I had read up until that point or since.

+1. The Negative is an AWESOME book, although the zone system is a little intimidating. :oops:

[Elphaba]

The old Time-Life series was good to subscribe to.

My SO gave me a whole TL series set that is from the 70's... they helped me build a base in regards of photography skills.

[bacchanal]

Light: Science and Magic (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0240808193/bookstorenow79-20)

This book has really helped me in understanding how to overcome some of the pitfalls of off camera lighting.

[doidinho]

"The Photographers Eye" by Freeman. This book is about composition and it opens your eyes to the various forces that exist within photographic composition, or any graphic composition for that matter. It gives you a basic understanding of how the forces work and how to use them to your advantage in photography. The book is a bit dry, but it packs the goods.

I would also reccomend Peterson's book "Understanding Exposure" to anyone new to photography; It gives you the basics of photography and I found it very captivating at the time.

[John_B]

OL9245,
Here are the top three books that I enjoyed about photography :)

1st is The Camera by Ansel Adams, gives an excellent explanation of the camera.

2nd is Learning To See Creatively by Bryan Peterson, great photos and great tips.

3rd is Create Dynamic Photographs with Visual Impact by Jim Zukerman

[snogger]

Last spring when I was getting ready to buy my Xti, it was recommended, that I check out Understanding Exposure: http://www.amazon.com/Understanding-Exposure-Photographs-Digital-Updated/dp/0817463003/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1198930070&sr=8-1

I have since checked that book out of the library at least 2 more times. Probably should just buy the dang thing as I seem to learn something each time, but my money keeps disappearing into other Camera items. ;)

[OL9245]

Last spring when I was getting ready to buy my Xti, it was recommended, that I check out Understanding Exposure: http://www.amazon.com/Understanding-Exposure-Photographs-Digital-Updated/dp/0817463003/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1198930070&sr=8-1

I have since checked that book out of the library at least 2 more times. Probably should just buy the dang thing as I seem to learn something each time, but my money keeps disappearing into other Camera items. ;)
I get your point :D
Sometimes it happens that a good-enough book brings more good pictures than the best lens ever (and for much less money). After 30 years of weekend photography and the trial-n-error method as the only teacher, I want to start being serious about phhotography and I thought I wanted to learn from others, rather than from my own mistakes....

[Michael]

Learning to See Creatively by Bryan Peterson. Great book, well illustrated of course, and very insightful into how to compose shots well.
Agreed, I love that book. Read it heaps of times.

[SuzyView]

I have the two books by Bryan Peterson and they are good for beginners and wonderfully anxious amateurs. For those that can open a brand new camera and thumb through the manual without any "Oh, is that what it does?" comments, go on the forum and read the stickys. Curtis, for instance has great information about flash work. If you are truly interested in improving, a book won't do it. Meet up with POTN members where you are and learn. That's what I've found. When I meet people, I learn, I can ask questions, I can get direct advice. This forum has made my hobby the most rewarding of all I've done previous.

[oaktree]

Bill Jay "On Being a Photographer" and Michael Freeman "The Photographer's Eye". Both emphasize: (1) having an idea of the type of shots you want before going on a shoot; (2) importance of standing in the right place, pointing the camera in the right direction and pressing the shutter at the right time; (3) how slight difference in #2 can have great effects in a shot (i.e., take multiple shots, but not necessarily a burst); and,(4) being able to anticipate when moving subjects in a shot are coming together into the "right" composition.

[KirkHMB]

Zone VI workshop by Fred Picker

http://www.amazon.com/Zone-VI-Workshop-Fred-Picker/dp/0817405747

Required reading before a UC Santa Cruz field workshop. Taught me how color "value" is more important than color to exposure, and about the limitation of slide film (and digital sensors). (I need to re-read it after totally fouling snow shots last week.) After I read it, I was greatly able to reduce my bracketing shots to 1 or two to hit an exposure, and had a much higher keeper rate.

[butcha27]

I'm mainly self taught too but I learnt all the basics, ie what apeture, depth of field, shutter speed, composing, exposing, ISO etc was when I still shot film from a book called The 35mm Handbook by Michael Langford