Please point me toward some good photography books (updated)

[FlipsidE]

Hey all,

I am currently reading this book:

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?userid=D36xDY7Aqc&isbn=0764518003& itm=4

Whatever you may think about Dummies books (good or bad), this book really has been teaching me a few things as I really am very new to photography.

I also picked up this book:

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?userid=D36xDY7Aqc&isbn=1556708955& itm=1

I've gotten some good tips from this one on how to photograph babies and toddlers.

What I'm looking for are a few more good books. I'd like a book or two on general photography, one on portrait photography, and probably one on macro photography.

Can anyone point me toward a few of these types of books?

Thanks in advance

FlipsidE

[sGu]

for techniques, i would recommend National Geographics' field guide; for photoshop, Scott Kelby's Photoshop CS for digital photographer; for photojournalism, "photojournalism, professional approach", "art of seeing", "art of seeing, best of photography(Reuters)", "five thousand days in press photography", "truth ally" just to name a few.

[aam1234]

"Digital Photography All-in-One Desk Reference For Dummies"

Hi FlipsidE, I have that book but didn't have a chance to read it. Is it any good, do you like it.

[FlipsidE]

"Digital Photography All-in-One Desk Reference For Dummies"

Hi FlipsidE, I have that book but didn't have a chance to read it. Is it any good, do you like it.

So far, I'm really enjoying it. It's been a good intro book for me to learn the very basics of photography and photo editing, and so far I've only gotten through books 1 & 2. I still have five more to go.

From my experience with it, I would recommend it to someone who is starting out in photography.

FlipsidE

[aam1234]

Thanks FlipsidE,

One of the reasons I bought it is that it's a good reference book. So if you need a certain thing (say printing for example) you just read about it in that section.

[MazerRakhm]

for techniques, i would recommend National Geographics' field guide

National Geographic Photography Field Guide - The BEST book I have read on photography. It covers a lot of material while being very clear and concise. I have yet to find another book that I didn't have to force myself to read, or gave as much information.

[FlipsidE]

Thanks for the advice guys. I went out book shopping tonight and came home with:

National Geographic Photography Field Guide: Secrets to Making Great Pictures (Second Edition)
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?userid=D36xDY7Aqc&isbn=079225676X& itm=12

National Geographic Photography Field Guide: Landscapes
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?userid=D36xDY7Aqc&isbn=0792264983& itm=6

Lighting For Glamour Photography
http://www.booksamillion.com/ncom/books?id=2983251983426&pid=0817442324

Thanks again!

FlipsidE

[aam1234]

FlipsidE, can you give us a quick review after you read them, especially the first one.

Thanks

[FlipsidE]

Absolutely! Just as a forewarning, I'm not the fastest reader.

FlipsidE

[aam1234]

Don't worry about it, take your time.

Talking about reading fast, there are courses to help people read faster. I took one. You will be amazed at how fast some people can read, I'm talking 5-7 minutes to finish a 100 pages book. It's not that hard really, just needs practice.

[FlipsidE]

^^^

HOLY CRAP...that is fast. I've tried some home courses to help read faster, but they didn't work out too well. Plus, I'm not one to sit and read for hours on end. I usually only read in about 15 to 20 minute spurts a few times per day.

FlipsidE

[aam1234]

The guy taught us one trick that can easily triple one's speed in reading. Not sure this is the right place to discuss it though.

[Digital Prophet]

I am goinng to toss in some of my favorites:
Understanding Exposure (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0817463003/qid=1098371275/sr=8-1/ref=pd_csp_1/103-2379291-8243054?v=glance&s=books&n=507846) by Bryan Peterson
Photography Your Way (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1581150245/qid=1098371327/sr=2-1/ref=pd_ka_b_2_1/103-2379291-8243054) by Chuck DeLaney
The New Manual of Photography (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1581150245/qid=1098371327/sr=2-1/ref=pd_ka_b_2_1/103-2379291-8243054) by John Hedgecoe (anything by Hedgecoe is good)
Business and Legal Forms for Photographers (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1581150245/qid=1098371327/sr=2-1/ref=pd_ka_b_2_1/103-2379291-8243054) by Tad Crawford
Pricing Photography: The Complete Guide to Assignment and Stock Prices (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1581152078/qid=1098371449/sr=1-18/ref=sr_1_18/103-2379291-8243054?v=glance&s=books) by Michal Heron and David McTavish
Starting Your Career as a Freeland Photographer (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1581152809/qid=1098371562/sr=1-7/ref=sr_1_7/103-2379291-8243054?v=glance&s=books) by Tad Crawford
There are just so many good books. But I think, and this is just me, that you are going to get alot of good references. But really try checking out the books "Photography your way" and "Starting your career as a freeland photographer". They are excellent books and worth thier price. But not so much for the "techier" side. These books really give a good bit of insight into the life of photography. For instance, and this is what really made me like Chuck DeLaney, he feels that photography is a lifestyle and that there is no one way of doing or being done. Tad Crawford also touches on the aspects of photography that surround the camera, not just in the camera.

Don't get so caught up in the details that you forget to learn about the culture of photography and photographers. After reading these books and some others I realized that the path I was on wasn't quite as screwed up as I had been led to believe.

- Digital Prophet -

[FlipsidE]

Well, I finished reading this one:

Lighting For Glamour Photography
http://www.booksamillion.com/ncom/books?id=2983251983426&pid=0817442324

IMO, it's a great book. Really good for someone who wants to know more about Glamour Photography. I'd say it's probably good for both the new guy as well as the seasoned amateur. Really easy to read, and there is a lot of good information. I learned a good bit about photography in general as well as Glamour Photography. I'd say you need to know the very basics to understand this book (like aperture, shutter speed, and how they are measured). The book covers everything else. I really enjoy how it shows the lighting setup for most of the photos in the book. It really helped me to understand how to put together certain lighting setups.

I think this same publisher has a glamour posing book. I need to go find that one now!

I recommend this one highly.

FlipsidE

[FlipsidE]

Flipside,

You forgot to mention that "Lighting For Glamour Photography" has some GREAT photos in it.

Bloo Dog

Why yes...yes it does!! :) Very nice photos.

FlipsidE

[ThanhTung]

Hi Flipside,

You can send to me table content of the book "Lighting for Glamour Photography Rev" ?

Thanks

[bachscuttler]

This one (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0072229497/103-4776691-1472609?v=glance) is a really good allrounder
Covers all the basics from composition, lighting, settings and lots of top pro tips.

[Olegis]

Any book from Freeman Patterson is great - the author rarely covers equipment / techniques, but instead he's teaching the most valuable aspect of photography, which is to see. Highly recommended !

[canoflan]

I second the new edition of Chuck Delaney's book Photography Your Way: A Career Guide to Satisfaction and Success.

I am reading it because I want to know how, if I decide to, to sell my work, or get in some side business of performing photo shoots here and there and to know how best to market myself.

The first thing they tell you that is probably the, if the only thing you do, most important thing is to get a professional, simply business card to hand out. I take pictures at my church and simply to just provide a way for people to contact me when they don't have pen and paper handy is to whip out a little card with my name and number/email.

This book is an easy read and applicable for years to come.;)