Photography Books [Archive] - Canon Digital Photography Forums

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Scottes

13th of January 2005 (Thu), 08:54

It seems we've been getting this question almost daily lately, so I decided to start a thread on good beginner's photography books and sites. I've scoured the site to find people's recommendations and I've posted them here. If someone had some comments I've posted them and credited the author. Every book here has been recommended by several people, but I just picked a good quote. I also happen to agree that every book & link is something that I would recommend.

PLEASE NOTE: There are *still* a lot of books on this list - too many to make an easy choice by someone new to Photography. If you can, PLEASE make a recommendation for the ONE BOOK a newbie should get.

If you have any other books or site suggestions please add it to this thread.

Authors
The following authors have repeatedly been recommended by members of this site. And I mean like 10 or 12 people recommending each of the following authors. If in you're in the bookstore browsing then look for these authors - chances are extremely good that you will get a good book.

Ansel Adams
Michael Freeman
Lee Frost
John Hedgecoe
Bryan Peterson
Freeman Patterson
John Shaw
Any of the National Geographic Field Guides

Books
Shoot!: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About 35Mm Photography (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0817458697/qid=1105625255/sr=1-15/ref=sr_1_15/102-6412478-2865734?v=glance&s=books)
A collection of articles covering a wide range of subjects, all written by some top people in the field. Though meant for 35mm almost all of it is pertinent to digital. The articles are very informative without being too long or technical. Though not a first book to get I found it very informative and useful, and I still read it from time to time.

The Photographers Handbook by John Hedgecoe (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0679742042/qid=1105625520/sr=8-2/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i2_xgl14/102-6412478-2865734?v=glance&s=books&n=507846)
It is old, but it covers everything, good for a beginner/intermediate. Not a lighting specific book, though it covers it. This is probably geared to someone like you and probably a little further ahead. As far as I know, it is considered one of the "must have" books, based on the amount of times I have seen it suggested. I don't think I have seen any other book reccomended as much as this one.
Recommendation by Persian-Rice
Note: The URL I linked is for the 3rd edition, so maybe it's not so old as Persian-Rice says

http://www.shortcourses.com/bookstore/book.htm
ShortCourses.com lists a lot of free info but they also have a number of books they've written. I got the 10D book and it's very good - I'm sure the others are also good. If you're looking for a very good book specifically on your new 10D or 20D or DRebel then check these guides out. Edit: Please realize that these ShortCourses books are not just camera manuals. Do not compare them to the Canon manuals or the Magic Lantern Guides. They do more than tell you what the controls and features do. They'll teach you a bit about photography on the way, and how the different camera features relate to your photography and why, when, and how to use them.

National Geographic Photography Field Guide (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/079225676X/qid=1105627021/sr=2-1/ref=pd_ka_b_2_1/102-6412478-2865734)
The other is the National Geographic Photography Field Guide, second edition, by Peter Burian and Robert Caputo. About the first half of this book is a concise overview of equipment issues, written with an emphasis on the results, not the gadget-factor, and chock-a-block with example photos to demonstrate the difference between one piece of equipment and another. The rest of the book consists of short chapters on specific photography subject types and profiles of NG photographers. The book actually reads a lot like an issue of NG, and I think that's a good thing. This book includes advice on how to interact favorably with the people you'll meet while traveling and how to keep an eye out for a compelling subject.
Recommendation by Lagged2Death
They also have Field Guides on Digital Photography, People & Portraits, Landscapes, and maybe more. All are recommended.

Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0817463003/qid=1105627594/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/102-6412478-2865734?v=glance&s=books)
An outstanding book which has been recommended many many times by a number of people here. It's not the first book to get since it won't cover everything about the camera. But it is a thorough beginner's book, and not overly technical. This is probably the most recommended book I found in my search.

Mastering Digital Photography (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1592001149/qid=1085691945/sr=1-2/ref=sr_1_2/002-8690591-3677656?v=glance&s=books)
Mastering Digital Photography is by far the best book that on digital photography that I have read and I constantly go back to it. It is the best nuts and bolts digital photography and general photography book I have. This book does what I wished the others had done. From this book I actually began to understand the process of general photography. I have read "film photography" books in order to understand the basics of photography, but I always felt ripped off because half of the book did not apply to me. This book is very current. It was published in 2004. This is one of the problems with some other books. If it is 2yrs. old it might as well be the Rosetta Stone. It has an outstanding section on lighting. The best thing that I like about the book is the "Pro Tips". Throughout the book there are boxes of text labeled "Pro Tips" that cut to the chase and explain how to do, what the "Pros" do. If the book was just the "Pro Tips" it would be worth the price. If you have not figured it out yet. This is the book to buy. I will go out on a limb and say, every non-pro should buy this book.
Recommendation by robekert

Rick Sammon's Complete Guide to Digital Photography (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0393325512/qid=1105629968/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl14/102-6412478-2865734?v=glance&s=books&n=507846)
I highly recommend Rick Sammon's Complete Guide to Digital Photography by Rick Sammon. I am new to Canon digital photography and Photoshop. Rick uses both, and the book is pretty darn complete for the beginner. I'm sure there's a few hints for the intermediate to advanced as well. At nearly 500 pages I felt I got my money's worth.
Recommendation by stevekwiz

The A-Z Of Creative Photography by Lee Frost (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0817433139/qid=1105630102/sr=2-1/102-6412478-2865734?v=glance&s=books)
This book has one short chapter on each of over 70 different special techniques or project ideas. For example, there's a section on stained glass windows, a section on colored flash light, a section on floodlit buildings, etc. Each section offers not general photography advice, but tips specific to the subject or situation the chapter is about. This isn't meant to turn the reader into an expert at any particular technique, it's intended to show the reader something new to try, with enough advice to get started, and in that capacity, it works. Probably 80% of the sections are as applicable to digital as to film.
Recommendation by Lagged2Death

Digital Photographer's Handbook by Tom Ang (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0789489074/qid=1105630323/sr=2-1/102-6412478-2865734?v=glance&s=books)
My Mom bought me this on for my birthday. It is a pretty good all around book discussing everything from equipment, techniques, effects and post processing. Give it a shot!
Recommendation by Chris1le

Digital Photography For Dummies (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0764516647/qid=1105630463/sr=2-1/ref=pd_ka_b_2_1/102-6412478-2865734)
If this is your first camera (of any type?) you may want to look at Digital Photography For Dummies. It explains things in a very basic manner, and may help you get up to speed quickly. Despite the name, and my 30+ years of photographic experience, I bought it when I became serious about digital. I believe there is an Idiot's Guide as well. Either one will get you on track with camera basics and the essential elements of photography quickly.
Recommendation by CoolToolGuy

Scottes

13th of January 2005 (Thu), 09:12

Again,

If you can, PLEASE make a recommendation for the ONE BOOK a newbie should get.

OceanRider

15th of January 2005 (Sat), 14:48

Olegis

26th of January 2005 (Wed), 06:22

Scottes

26th of January 2005 (Wed), 06:31

Sorry for not obeying the rules by recommending two books (instead of one), but I really think that these two are very good quides.

Considering that these are both excellent books I can forgive the rule-breaking. :-)

These books should definitely be on your list eventually. Can't compose a decent picture? Wonder why your pictures don't look as good as others? Wonder what's missing in your shots? Can't think of something to photograph? These books will help.

Either or both of these books are wonderful assets. They're both fun and easy to read and you'll end up with different - and better - thoughts about composing a photograph.

Thanks Olegis!

Scottes

6th of February 2005 (Sun), 15:36

I was playing with my flash today and realized that I kept forgetting to buy a book on it....

The Nikon Flash Guide by Thom Hogan (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1883403847/qid=1107728982/sr=1-2/ref=sr_1_2/002-5736047-6976841?v=glance&s=books) has been recommended many times around here, notably by ScottBergerPhoto though I'm sure that others have also recommended it.

Of course - just because I want it - Amazon is out of stock. Grrrrrrr.....

musthavemuzk

13th of February 2005 (Sun), 17:49

I just got this book and its EXCELLENT for beginners, Called AMPHOTO's Completye book of Photography by Jenni Bidner and photo by Russ Burden. Covers everything and has tons of before and after photo for those visual learners. ISBN 0-8174-3486-0 192 pages

Joel

i was out and about yesterday and hit a barnes and noble bookstore.
i had not read this thread yet but i did spend quite awhile scanning the books they had on photography and digital photography.
i ended up with this one. it just seemed like a good choice since i am new to this.

Monty

musthavemuzk

13th of February 2005 (Sun), 17:56

Mac borrowed this book to me awhile back. i suppose i should return it soon.

Digital Photography by Michael Wright
2004
ISBN: 1-59258-064-5
You are holding the best book on digital photography there is: with the most illustrations, the clearest instructions, the most detailed step-by-steps, and the most prectical advice. It is packed with comprehensive easy-to-follow advice and more than 1,500 full-color photographs. Covering Photoshop Elements in detail as well as Photoshop 7 and Photoshop CS, the techniques in this book can be applied to almost any image-editing program.

i enjoy it as it has photos to show what is being talked about instead of you having to imagine the before and after.

Monty

cfcRebel

17th of February 2005 (Thu), 17:06

Hi guys & gals,

Hello! This is my first post in this forum. Glad to find such as nice place to talk about photography, especially for Canon users.

I finally bought a Canon 300D(digital rebel) about 2 months ago, after drooling for a yr because short of $$$. I was using a Canon EOS G2 before I dived into digital world.

Thanks for the great recommendations up there. I do have a question when shopping for some of aforementioned books. While hunting for David Busch's Mastering Digital Photography, I ran across another book of his. It is called "Mastering Digital SLR Photography". They are almost priced the same at Amazon. Has anyone read about the latter one? Does anyone know if one is better than the other, especially for a digital amateur like myself?
I thank u in advance.

ISBN:1592001149 (published Nov 19, 2003 - recommended in the first post)
ISBN:1592006051 (published Dec 21, 2004)

lkorell

25th of February 2005 (Fri), 16:54

It took me 30+ years to find my best material for learning:

If you're digital, read:

your camera's users manual
your histogram

If you're film, read:
your negatives
your prints

In other words, get out and shoot! Practice photography instead of reading about others who do. I spent hours browsing in Barnes & Noble that could have been spent practicing with my cameras.

I have lived vicariously through Adams, Cantrell, McCurry, Shaw, Wolfe, Brandenburg, Muensch, Rowell, Salgado, etc.
I wished I would have DONE what they have done instead of read about their lives and works. Let others read about you.

Just an opinion from a late blooming semi-pro. ;)

Lou

Redbird_xo

3rd of March 2005 (Thu), 01:37

I came across this book at a bookstore and found it to be very informative for beginners of digital photography.

Title : The Digital SLR Handbook
Author : Michael Freeman
Publisher : The ILEX Press Limited
ISBN : 1-904705-36-7
256 pages

TOC headlines:

Section I : Digital Capture
Section II : Image Workflow
Section III : Image Editing
Section IV : Film to Digital
Section V : Delivery

karusel

4th of March 2005 (Fri), 05:28

Are there any good ADVANCED books, those that on the first page it says in big fat letters: NOT for beginners? I've read 4 photography books and only one has actually taught me a few new things. I'm no expert, btw.

Tom Camilleri

9th of March 2005 (Wed), 08:23

I have seen that "Understanding Exposure" by Bryan Petersen is still available in at least two editions, one a few years old and one over 10 years old. Seems likely that the new "updated" one has some material relevant to digital cameras but I'm curious as to why the old edition is still available. Are there some classic nuggets of wisdom in the old edition that the new one lacks?

photofinish

15th of March 2005 (Tue), 05:43

Here's my contribution:
Galen Rowell’s Inner Game of Outdoor Photography
By Galen Rowell

Also, check out his website articles:
http://mountainlight.com/articles.html

He did have a way with words. He and his wife died in a plane crash in 2002...

---jerry

DustinC

17th of March 2005 (Thu), 06:58

Amherst Media publishes a lot of great photography books by well respected authors.
Dustin Cannon
http://www.prophotosource.com

symes

27th of April 2005 (Wed), 07:08

Again,

If you can, PLEASE make a recommendation for the ONE BOOK a newbie should get.

The National Geographic Photography Field Guide (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/079225676X/qid=1105627021/sr=2-1/ref=pd_ka_b_2_1/102-6412478-2865734) is fantastic for real life situations...

The stories are great, but for a beginner like myself the little hints help me prepare for the situation I am about to face that day/night.

Cheers,

fetching

2nd of May 2005 (Mon), 00:23

can anyone recommend a book specific to getting good exposure with a DSLR?

aam1234

19th of May 2005 (Thu), 07:03

can anyone recommend a book specific to getting good exposure with a DSLR?

See Scottes's list on the first page. Look for "Understanding Exposure" by Bryan Peterson.

lordjim

26th of May 2005 (Thu), 18:00

Here is my favorite book:

National Aududon Society Guide to Nature Photography written by Tim Fitzharris and published by Firefly (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1552978087/qid=1117151491/sr=8-1/ref=pd_csp_1/103-7336524-8400626?v=glance&s=books&n=507846)

You can find it here: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1552978087/qid=1117151491/sr=8-1/ref=pd_csp_1/103-7336524-8400626?v=glance&s=books&n=507846

A great book which goes from the basic tips (e.g., shutter speed at 1/focal length for telephoto, the sunny F16 rule, etc..) to advanced pro advices. Beautiful pictures, very clear explanations and a lot of humor.

bkstyl

15th of July 2005 (Fri), 14:35

While researching photography books I noticed that Mastering Digital Photography will be releasing a 'second edition' version in early September. In case you were thinking about buying this book it might be worth it to wait and get the updated version.
http://www.buy.com/retail/product.asp?sku=31251639&SearchEngine=Froogle&SearchTerm=31251639&Type=PE&Category=Book&dcaid=17379

Tess320

3rd of August 2005 (Wed), 21:35

I don't know if it has a bad rep or not, but the book I have so far found the most helpful and clear is "The Basic Book of Photgraphy" by Tom & MIchelle Grimm.

Nat

foxriverbullrush

9th of August 2005 (Tue), 08:17

I am also a new photographer. The two best ones I have read so far are by Bryan Peterson. Understanding Exposure and Learning to See Creatively. They are very easy to read and understand.

Tadhg

30th of September 2005 (Fri), 11:20

Can anyone point me in the direction of a good book that focuses more on the settings side of photography. For example, the benfits of long or short exposure,large aperture vs small aperture, high iso vs low iso and basically how to compose photographs.

Scottes

30th of September 2005 (Fri), 11:41

Tadhg, I'd look at one of the books by Hedgecoe. If you're lucky you'll get to the bookstore and find 3 of his books that all imply that every one of them is a complete guide to photography. Well, his "Complete Guide to Photography" is 224 pages, his "Photographer's Handbook" is 352 pages, and his "New Manual of Photography" is 416 pages. I would think that the biggest book would be the Complete Guide, right? I don't get it.

I'm not knocking him - his stuff is very good, very pertinent, and very well explained. He knows what he's doing and how to teach it. Any one of his books is easy for me to recommend, and I'd lean towards the "New Manual..."

Now if 416 pages is too much take a look at the National Geographer books. Short and sweet and to the point. Proven over time for many years. Also very easy to recommend.

jlacoy82

20th of February 2006 (Mon), 15:01

jlacoy82

26th of February 2006 (Sun), 19:34

I managed to find "Understanding Exposure" this afternoon, after finishing my other book last night. Now I got more reading to do. ;)

danster

18th of April 2006 (Tue), 20:22

I'm reading "Switch To Digital" by William Cheung. Its inspiring and explains without boring you with too much techical knowledge.

ghosh

19th of April 2006 (Wed), 21:02

Hello friends
I was a Lands cape and flower photographer till recently. One of my friend happened to see my port folio since then he has been introducing me to many people who requires port folios (model photographs), since most of them work for Stage shows or Model or sort off.. I am being paid for taking their photographs. I am thinking in venturing into model photography since I'm earning lot of pocket money (which I can use to buy more equipment).
Since I always have to take pic out door so lighting is not a big factor but I am not very familiar with many poses. Can you suggest me a link where I can find many poses which I can print into a book. While shooting may be I will show this pic to my clients and ask them to pose exactly.

Mark_48

23rd of April 2006 (Sun), 08:47

Quiz Time Boys and Girls !!!

The following link will get you to the Prentice Hall website which is a companion website for the Barbara London Photography series of books. Clicking on one of the books will take you to an introductory page which lists the chapters of the online study guide. Each of the chapters lists the objectives of the chapter and has interactive "Study Questions" to evaluate your knowledge and other links as well related to the chapters content. It was entertaining taking the quizzes and I found quite a few things I've got to study up on. Your quizzes are graded and the correct answer shown if you get a question incorrect.

http://prenhall.com/london/

I can not yet attest to the content of the book itself, but I did recently purchase a preowned one on eBay which should arrive next week. It is available through Amazon.com at the following link. A bit pricy at $80-$90 new, which is the reason I went the eBay route. This book presumably is used as a text/reference in a few photography schools.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0131896091/sr=8-1/qid=1145799123/ref=pd_bbs_1/104-3909396-1351163?%5Fencoding=UTF8

damansidhu

4th of May 2006 (Thu), 14:38

I would like to recommend a very unique book which i found was a great read. Though it is mainly intended for landscape photography, the insights the author provides would appeal to every type of photographer. It's not technical "how to" book but rather looks at "why" we all make the photographs we do. It also explore's the area of Art vs Photography over the years and makes some very interesting points throughout. Add to this the stunning photographs by David throughout the book.

The book's titled Landscape Within by David Ward. Here's its link at amazon (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/190253834X/sr=8-1/qid=1146771365/ref=pd_bbs_1/002-3665977-3004024?%5Fencoding=UTF8)

futura

7th of June 2006 (Wed), 17:52

Not sure if this has been posted yet but I just came across it on the warehouseexpress site.

Its a collection of writeups Joe Cornish has done for lee filters... obviously advertising lee filters but he talks about how he has setup his shots.

Joe Cornish (http://www.warehouseexpress.co.uk/photo/cornish/joecornish.html)

Aray_Of_Art

16th of July 2006 (Sun), 15:42

dafnis

15th of August 2006 (Tue), 09:54

Ansel Adam's "The Camera", no.1 in his fabulous photography series.
Nos.2 & 3 are not sooo useful for digital photography.

F8th637

16th of August 2006 (Wed), 15:28

As a general newbie to photography, thus far, I have found Michael Freeman's "Complete Guide to Digital Photography" to be great. I like how he starts very low-level with how a digital camera sensor works and how it relates to film. Definitely looking forward to the rest of the book.

coreypolis

16th of August 2006 (Wed), 15:33

I have a lot of links to photo related products, PDFs of guides and instructions, and reccommended software in my resources page in my sig

ibdb

7th of December 2006 (Thu), 14:35

Tim recently added a list of books to this thread (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=242640) in the Weddings forum.

Charlya

22nd of January 2007 (Mon), 14:04

I would recommend anything by Scott Kelby. I love how he doesn't get into all the "theory" behind everything. He just says, if you want to know how to get the picture to look like this, do this. Simply stated. There is so much to learn when you are first starting out you just need to "Do it". I can read all day long on what aperture, shutter speed etc means but I won't understand ANY of it until I do it and see results. Once you understand basics then later start learning the theory behind everything and mature into your own style of photography.

I loved his book "The Digital Photography Book" I also bought his book on Photoshop Elements 5 and it's great!

http://shop.scottkelbybooks.com/index.php

Robukincan

7th of March 2007 (Wed), 11:29

SeattleJerry

7th of March 2007 (Wed), 13:57

My most recent addition is Garage Glamour by Rolando Gomez. A very interesting read for those of you into glamour style photos

SeattleJerry

onBit

9th of March 2007 (Fri), 17:59

I'm new, I read this thread, purchased and read on the back of it, so i'd like to provide some feedback to help future newbies :)

1. Read this one first:
4.5 out of 5 Scott Kelby - The Digital Photography Book
This book provides practical, incredibly easy to understand tips, tricks, basics, and advise on how to shoot good pictures. Highly recommended for anyone new to photography, provides a great grounding, and enough to move on to ....

2. Read this one next:
5 out of 5 Bryan Peterson - Understanding Exposure (Updated Version)
What an absolutely awesome book for folks new (and maybe not so new) to photography. Explains the major concepts of photography in an easy to understand manner while providing practical advise on how to apply them to your shooting. Includes excellent photo examples, a few exercises for you to follow, and a huge wealth of knowledge for your brain. I'm going to have to read this one again and again to understand the implications of everything the author discusses. This book left me feeling like I just learned alot and had alot more to learn.

I wouldn't recommend...
2 out of 5 John Hedgecoe's Photography Basics
While John provides solid theory, for me at least he doesn't explain HOW to capture the shot. Kelby and Peterson's books left me with a warm and fuzzy that I'd learnt something ... Hedgecoe's effort while factually correct, just doesn't really help me.

*****

I hope this helps future newbies - go buy those first 2 books!! :)

-Rob

Very accurate comments Rob.

Scott & Bryan give specific exsposure information which are very helpful to "learn" the shot. (eg; exsposure, aperature, time of day, focal length, lens type and shutter speed)

I have two John Hedgecoe books, "Photographing the Nude" & "Travel Photography". No specific shot/esposure information ever detailed in these two books. Waste of time and money.

Another addition to the first two books you listed :

"Learning to See Creatively" by Bryan Peterson.
This book is just as well written as the first two in your list but on the subject of Design, Color & Composition in Photography. Again this book is very useful as exsposure and composition specifics are detailed in an organized fashion. Also included are examples you can perform on camera to understand points conveyed in the book.

onBit

9th of March 2007 (Fri), 18:07

My most recent addition is Garage Glamour by Rolando Gomez. A very interesting read for those of you into glamour style photos

SeattleJerry

Hi Jerry,
I had viewed this book on Amazon.com it seemed interesting on first glance, plus I like Rolando's work; however, I found all the reviews on Amazon too "controversial" at best and "contrary" in style to the work he produces professionally. http://www.rolandogomez.com/portfolio/?catid=1

He suggests using some homemade lighting setups which yeild less than professional results and do not seem to be the lighting setups which he uses as a pro. Looking at his work with models he obviously uses a pro-lighting setup and not a "diy garage" setup.

ChrisBlaze

11th of April 2007 (Wed), 16:32

Can someone help me find a book or website on portrait photography?

hawk911

19th of April 2007 (Thu), 10:15

Hi Jerry,
I had viewed this book on Amazon.com it seemed interesting on first glance, plus I like Rolando's work; however, I found all the reviews on Amazon too "controversial" at best and "contrary" in style to the work he produces professionally. http://www.rolandogomez.com/portfolio/?catid=1

He suggests using some homemade lighting setups which yeild less than professional results and do not seem to be the lighting setups which he uses as a pro. Looking at his work with models he obviously uses a pro-lighting setup and not a "diy garage" setup.

I looked at this book at B&N, and was disappointed. It's off my list of contenders, and I'm searching for a better resource.

randomgrafix

22nd of June 2007 (Fri), 10:42

Any suggestions on a good MACRO PHOTOGRAPHY for beginners and intermediates.

Scottes

22nd of June 2007 (Fri), 11:57

NOT the one by John Shaw. It's very dated, and there are better ones.

R Ebert

16th of July 2007 (Mon), 09:32

I would recommend anything by Scott Kelby.

I'm currently reading his Digital Photography Book and I have to say that so far I'm loving it. This guys cracks me up too, he knows were the funnies at. :lol:

350d

23rd of July 2007 (Mon), 08:32

ElleKelley

31st of August 2007 (Fri), 15:58

thank you for the recommendations!!!

signed
~a noob

kantonburg

1st of September 2007 (Sat), 21:31

I just yesterday picked up "How To See Creatively" after reading this thread. I'm about 50 pages into it, and have already had quite a few revelations. :) Good pick up IMO for the $25 it cost me at Borders.

This is my first post, but I was wondering if you meant to post "Learning to See Creatively" by Bryan Peterson. I have the Understanding Exposure book and I loved it. I'm about to re-read it. I got an S3 the other day and have been loving it to no end.

Is this the book by the way?

http://www.amazon.com/Learning-See-Creatively-Composition-Photography/dp/0817441816/ref=pd_bbs_sr_3/102-0051845-1591362?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1188700006&sr=1-3

MrGibbage

11th of October 2007 (Thu), 19:36

My photography club has been tossing around the idea of getting an inexpensive book that everyone can buy with tutorials and lessons that can be easily assigned as monthly projects. Having a single book will be great for keeping everyone on the same page, and will add some structure and organization to our monthly meetings. Can anyone recommend such a book? I almost envision a text book, but it certainly wouldn't have to be a text book.

Bizzz

15th of October 2007 (Mon), 22:42

I am a newbie to digital photography and have been trying to find a good and not too expensive book on the subject. I managed to obtain a copy of the eBook Your Guide To Digital Photography. It is good and reasonably priced. Great for someone starting out. Includes more advanced methods as well.

Check it out at

http://www.8thmall.com/Digital_Photography/index_DigPho.html

reneethomas

19th of November 2007 (Mon), 22:55

Thank you all for such wonderful recommendations! I know what I will be asking Santa for this year!

Renee

sanjukoli

22nd of November 2007 (Thu), 03:30

Can anyone pls tell me how is this book,

http://www.amazon.com/Photographers-Eye-Composition-Design-Digital/dp/0240809343/ref=pd_sim_b_title_24

I have just ordered it.Thanks

sanjukoli

22nd of November 2007 (Thu), 03:51

Will the Scott Kelby book work for me since i have an Canon S2 IS camera.

Scottes

22nd of November 2007 (Thu), 08:04

The Scott Kelby books are not specific to any camera. They go over what to do *after* the picture is taken.

mai_lin

27th of November 2007 (Tue), 12:11

I've been working my way through Rick Sammon's Complete Guide to Digital Photography: 107 Lessons on Taking, Making, Editing, Storing, Printing, and Sharing Better Digital Images (http://www.amazon.com/Sammons-Complete-Guide-Digital-Photography/dp/0393325512/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1196186954&sr=1-5)

I finished Understanding Exposure last week and have found this book to be a fantastic second step.

Jen

KimLeece

7th of December 2007 (Fri), 22:43

Well - as a result of this thread I've just ordered:

Scott Kelby - The Digital Photography Book
Bryan Peterson - Understanding Exposure
Bryan Peterson - Learning to see creatively
Freeman Patterson - Photography & the Art of Seeing

I probably won't get them until around New Year, but I'll let you know what I think sometime in January! :D

PuR HART

8th of December 2007 (Sat), 22:29

have all 4 of those good choices

Perry Ge

12th of December 2007 (Wed), 20:19

One of the first books I read, which I really liked and helped me a lot, was 'Mastering Composition with your Digital SLR'

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mastering-Composition-Your-Digital-SLR/dp/2940378258

bobinatcat

26th of December 2007 (Wed), 07:23

Just bought Understanding Exposure, great purchase!

setcode

13th of February 2008 (Wed), 21:21

well,
I have been a member of this site for two yrs.
I have read over 50 books on photography/art
I have read all books listed here..
the best book I have read so far :
1.
Composing Pictures by Donald W. Graham (1970) 1st Ed. (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=290203908926&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=019)
(up to $400)
2. the image-michael freeman (from $150 to $300)
3.THE PHOTOGRAPHIC EYE-Learning to See with a Camera (over $100)
If you want to buy any ny of these please pm me

Doostur

16th of February 2008 (Sat), 23:41

I have the following books which I love and still refer back to from time to time (These are also in the order I recommend you read them):

Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson
The Digital Photography Book 1 by Scott Kelby
The Digital Photography Book 2 by Scott Kelby
Learning to see creatively by Bryan Peterson
The National Geographic Field Guide to Photography: Digital By Rob Sheppard
Photography & the Art of Seeing by Freeman Patterson

auroraskye

20th of February 2008 (Wed), 21:56

I didn't read this whole thread (just being honest!) but I wanted to recommend a book I just got, called "Skin: The Complete Guide to Digitally Lighting, Photographing, and Retouching Faces and Bodies".. it's totally awesome! I know that the goal is to get amazing photos SOOC, but the retouching tips are fantastic to achieve a natural look. I just got it and haven't really read EVERY word cover to cover, but it's super so far. Found it recommended on Strobist.

I loved Understanding Exposure and the Scott Kelby book too.. :)

loony33

28th of February 2008 (Thu), 23:32

I was once a clueless newbie.

Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson helped make sense of this thing they call exposure.

Lee Frost's The A-Z of Creative Photography was also a good read - it is all film, but most of the film techniques can be applied to digital. Plus it's really good to see how they did it back then :)

SlowBlink

28th of February 2008 (Thu), 23:45

Professional Photographer's Survival Guide
Charles Rotkin

Rotkin, an aerial photographer whose work has been exhibited worldwide, has assembled a down-to-earth tool kit for the wannabe as well as the pro. He analyzes the markets in depth, tells how to make the first sale and discusses the in-and-outs of the business with attention to detail--the logistics of preparing equipment for travel, permits, field expenses, liability insurance and the like. Rotkin augments his advice by interviewing photographers whose body of work he respects, including Alfred Eisenstadt, Berenice Abbott, Gordon Parks and Mary Ellen Mark.

Pete

29th of February 2008 (Fri), 02:25

Got a few books through from Amazon

http://www.the-aperture.com/EE/photos/normal/20080229_IMG_0101.jpg

"The Moment It Clicks" - Just awesome. A great collection of magazine standard photos with narrative. Not sterile technical narrative, but dry, witty comment on the way the photog approached the shot and just filled with little nuggets of information - like using the LCD the way that polaroids used to be used (as an indicator of lighting, what's dark, what's hot). Superb.

"Welcome to Oz" - not too sure about this one. The author is showcasing his work and the post processing used to make bland shots better. He takes a few of his shots and then goes into intricate detail about how they got selectively dodged, burned, and sharpened to get them into shape. It'll take some work to extract meaningful knowledge out of it. A bit Nikon-centric, but all's equal in Photoshop.

"Family Portrait Photography" - Judging the book by it's cover gives them impression that it's a standard supermarket cobbled together book (the quality of the cover shot isn't that great). However, inside is a wealth of information - on lighting - posing - group composition - kids - adults - long shots - tight shots. The lot. Going to turn out to be a darned good reference for me.

r.morales

4th of March 2008 (Tue), 21:56

thanks , just ordered short books

monokrome

4th of March 2008 (Tue), 22:00

loony33

4th of March 2008 (Tue), 22:29

He has new book coming out, Understanding Shutter Speed, should be out in about 10 days.

Ahh! Awesome! Thanks for the headsup!

dolfinack

5th of March 2008 (Wed), 08:36

haisai-ojisan

5th of March 2008 (Wed), 20:40

Oops....I'm moving this from another thread........

http://www.amazon.com/Digital-Photog...20458&sr= 8-1

http://www.amazon.com/Digital-Photog...20458&sr= 8-4

"A friend of mine has these both.
I skimmed through both of them and they are real easy to follow.
One tip or trick is covered on one-page so the text doesn't overflow onto the next, like text books do.
I would say that it is the easiest book/s to follow that I have seen yet.
Read the customer reviews toward the bottom of the webpages.

For me, even the Dummies series are alright but I particularly do not like the layout of the book...as I think it isn't the easiest to follow.
I have several books myself and all have the text book look and feel.
They did the job but I am sure it is not for everyone."

loony33

5th of March 2008 (Wed), 21:58

kblair210

6th of March 2008 (Thu), 13:21

Lee Frost's book on Nightime and Low-light photography....

damn its a crackin' book

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Night-Low-light-Photography-Complete-Guide/dp/071531274X/ref=pd_bbs_sr_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1204727772&sr=8-3

It's weird how Amazon UK doesn't share user reviews of its books with Amazon US. I'd been considering this book, but some of the US reviews kind of turned me off on it.

dolfinack

6th of March 2008 (Thu), 14:19

It's weird how Amazon UK doesn't share user reviews of its books with Amazon US. I'd been considering this book, but some of the US reviews kind of turned me off on it.

For reals dogg? Yea I just checked the US comments, to see if they were unfounded (in my opinion)... Maybe, maybe not :D. I guess the problem most people had with it is that it is written with mostly film users in mind. However, that said, a whole lot of the advice is cetainly relevant to all photography.

I reckon everyone should take a pop at this book!

r.morales

6th of March 2008 (Thu), 15:34

in USA
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw/104-2006608-6230359?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Night+and+Low-light+Photography&x=24&y=22
I just ordered it .I trust people here more than a review from who knows who .

r.morales

6th of March 2008 (Thu), 15:36

By the way would you know if Amazon UK carries the latest canon lens book ? I am going to see now if it's listed .

haisai-ojisan

7th of March 2008 (Fri), 00:06

Links need some fine tuning

Oops again!
Here they are

http://www.amazon.com/Digital-Photography-Book-1/dp/032147404X/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1204869966&sr=8-1

http://www.amazon.com/Digital-Photography-Book-2/dp/0321524764/ref=pd_bbs_sr_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1204869966&sr=8-4

hughps

17th of March 2008 (Mon), 16:46

Photoshop LAB Color by Dan Margulis has given me a ton of new insight into the capabilities of the LAB color space and its implications for digital photography. I haven't finished the book yet, but even the first few chapters are extremely helpful if you're a total newbie to LAB (as I am/was).

http://www.amazon.com/Photoshop-LAB-Color-Adventures-Colorspace/dp/0321356780/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1205790339&sr=8-1

susaan evans

25th of March 2008 (Tue), 04:01

O.K,good advice,here-find myself in a bind,wanting to shoot live music,in very differing light conditions,fom local village stages,to full blown T.V. stage lighting,with..don't laugh...a Sony DSC H9,my first camera..as I'm barely off automatic settings,not yet a year old in the job,what book do you guys recommend for me ?
(obviously,i'm saving for a SLR,no i know what one is,and can do !)
Will try the dummies guide-and..?
Also,links for online advice would be really appreciated.
My photos,if anyone wants to critique,are all at
www.myspace.com/debususaan
Thanks !

canonloader

26th of March 2008 (Wed), 08:29

I just got 4 books delivered Monday after a recent upgrade to CS3. I bought the Bible, of course, and the Kelby book for CS3. I also bought the two Kelby books, "The Digital Photography Book", 1 and 2. I have to say, I am thoroughly sick of his humor, if you call it that. So much ink and paper and my time wasted. And these two books, if you have had a DSLR for more than 2 days, are a waste. Too basic and he overdoes the simplify thing for those who would like an explanation now and then. Further, I have also found every one of his tips and hints in one or another of the forums here, even given them myself. Some of them are almost word for word what I have read here.

So, an honest review, the way I see it. I did get the Kelby Photoshop CS2 book for digital photographers, and found it very helpful with a lot of tricks and especially walk through, step by step instructions on how to do certain things in CS2. I now have the CS3 version, which I hope is not just a rewrite of the CS2 version with the same old tricks. And I will try and bypass his 'humor'.

I don't mean to sound harsh, but I am seeing the whole book industry going down the crapper. Anybody it seems can get published nowdays, whether they have anything worthwhile to write or not. I have paid good money for books advertised as the thing you need to use this or that piece of software, only to find out it was a g--damned paper copy of the help files that came with the program. Word for Word. I think Kelby is way over rated, although he's not as bad as some. My disclaimer is, that if I thought he was the second coming, I would also say that too. ;)

lethe

19th of April 2008 (Sat), 20:01

I hope it's okay if I ask this question here (I don't want to start a new topic) - I am looking to buy a book that thoroughly explains exposure and white balance. I understand some of the important stuff - ISO and aperture/DoF for example - but I am still struggling with understanding how light metering works, what to do with grey-cards, how to properly set white balance etc. What would be the best book to learn these things? I would prefer a book that really concentrates on the technical parts and teaches things using lots of examples.
I thought about buying "Understanding Exposure" because the book title leads me to assume that it should be perfect but after reading some reviews on Amazon I'm not so sure anymore. I have read the National Geographic Field Guide and although it did help me a lot, I also had some trouble adjusting some of the information to my personal use since it seemed to concentrate on film, whereas I mostly use digital.
So, any suggestions?

I apologize if this topic is for reviews only. Feel free to move my post to a more appropriate place if that's the case.
And since English is not my first language, I'm sorry for spelling errors and if some of my sentences don't make sense.

r.morales

19th of April 2008 (Sat), 20:16

I bought 2 copies of Understanding Exposure . 1 to leave in Mexico for reference - BUT it is mostly [ 95% ] film .
I am about 1/2 way thru his latest book - not sorry I bought it but so far I have only found useful info on 3 pages . If you are into looking at pictures , you might like it . 1 1/2 pages of pictures and 1/2 page of print .
Several charts on ISO speeds were useful - nothing on white balance I remember .
It's outside in truck right now - I read while the wife browses / shops .

Amamba

30th of June 2008 (Mon), 16:39

I am looking for a book on post processing. But not the "how to" book. Rather, a "what should it look like when I'm done" book.

Most of the books I've rented in the local library are somewhat reminiscent of help files or product manuals. They go in great detail over how to use this or that tool to achieve the desired result. But first, I believe I need to realize what result should I be looking for.

I can spend an hour adjusting the photo just to realize that what I got at the end is too contrasty - too saturated - oversharpened - or the opposite. Yet, I can tell a beautifully processed photo when I see one.

There's plenty of books helping amateurs to get "an eye" for composing shots. I believe I was lucky enough to have a good eye for composition. What I need is something that would help me develop a good eye for color & light - i.e. understand what's wrong with lighting, contrast, color and white balance in a given shot, and what results I should be trying to achieve in pp - without that, knowledge of how processing tools operate is fairly useless.

canonloader

30th of June 2008 (Mon), 16:48

It would help to know what program your using.

r.morales

30th of June 2008 (Mon), 16:57

Adobe's Classroom in a book shows examples of before and after . I don't know where you are but go to a good book store and start looking .
Have an idea what you want to do and look for that .
For example sharpen , shadows , hi-lights .
There are so many programs out there - it would help to know what program you are using . There is a big difference between adobe , canon , apple to name a few .

Amamba

1st of July 2008 (Tue), 11:43

I am using PS7, DPP, LR1 or Gimp.

However, I must not have been clear in my questions.

All software does is providing me with tools. Before I use the tools provided by program I want to make sure I understand what is wrong with photo and what needs to change and what the final result should look like. This is software independent and I think I must develop a good understanding of photo visuals (highlights, shadows, colors) and ability to visually analyze a given photo and understand what's wrong with it and what must be changed. Only then would I need tools to fix the problems. This is what I am looking for.

canonloader

1st of July 2008 (Tue), 11:48

I think your quest is artist specific. Some people love and revere Ansel Adams' B&W photos, others glance at them and move on. It's a matter of tastes really, one mans high key is another mans blown highlights. And no matter what you like or want to change, the software does matter, since CS3 can do almost everything, while others can't even come close.

I say find what you like and learn from that master.

r.morales

1st of July 2008 (Tue), 13:58

An example of your likes - compared to others or me .
I like / want as much DOF [ depth of field as I can get ] so I generally am in the f8 or smaller realm .
I want the bug behind the flower or the Aunt behind the wedding couple in focus . Most people want just the flower or wedding couple in focus .
This doesn't mean I am wrong - just that other people find everything in focus distracting .
You decide what looks good or needs to be changed .
You could take a picture to a camera store and ask what's wrong with it BUT that will be that persons opinion .
Try a few of the forums here that ask for CC [ criticize / suggest ] and see what others think is good /bad / needs to be changed .

WaltA

22nd of July 2008 (Tue), 16:20

I just picked up a book that I am quite impressed with. I am no expert but I got tired of the ones that spend the first 5 chapters explaining the difference between shutter priority and aperature priority.

Its called Exposure and Lighting - For Digital Photographers Only
By Michael Madhrea and Charlotte K Lowrie

Its very good and talks about the 2 most important things I'm trying to become fluent in - exposure and lighting. Not how to operate my camera. Its also filled with tips throughout the pages.

I've gone back to re-read it a couple of times in the last couple of weeks.

Very good stuff.

Dami

4th of September 2008 (Thu), 14:04

r.morales

4th of September 2008 (Thu), 17:06

I found Bryan Peterson's Understanding Shutter Speed not as good as Understanding Exposure . 5 or 6 paragraphs on a page , then a picture on opposite page . not enough before after / this is right and wrong looks like this .

GlennSter

4th of September 2008 (Thu), 23:13

I found Bryan Peterson's Understanding Shutter Speed as informative and easy to read as Understanding Exposure and Learning to See Creatively. I need to re-read all three just to pick up what I missed the first time around.

I'm reading the books again after a year and found that I've been learning new stuff in every page that i read....

jake11375

8th of September 2008 (Mon), 09:45

Just ordered "Mastering Digital Photography" and "Digital Photography for Dummies." I want to start from the ground up so I can understand instantly what to do to get a certain result I have in mind. This thread has been a great help...

Xjayar

3rd of October 2008 (Fri), 09:02

Can anyone offer comments on these two books please?

The Photographer's Eye: Composition and Desing for Better Digital Photographs - Michael Freeman

Photography Foundations for Art and Design: The Creative Photography Handbook - Mark Galer

Both are available on Amazon UK.

Cheers!

jrm27

16th of October 2008 (Thu), 12:54

this is a really good thread, lots of good recommendations... but I'm gonna ask for a book for my specific situation. I apologize if I skimmed over the answer, so please fel free to point me elsewhere if I missed it.

I just got my first DSLR (an XSi), but have been shooting SLR (film, fully manual) for a while now. Took some classes in college and on my own and have a (IMO) decent working knowledge of topics such as exposure, composition, etc... However, when putting my DSLR up to my eye I realize that I'm in a different world. I have the same feeling of when I travel to Mexico... I know enough Spanish to get by, but not enough to do what I really want easily. So is the feeling when looking through the viewfinder of my DSLR.

So, what book might you recommend for someone making the switch from manual film SLR to digital SLR photgraphy? I really even wouldn't mind takign a refresher class geared toward digital, but alas, I am 2+ hours from the nearest metropolitan area that might offer something like that. Thanks!

r.morales

16th of October 2008 (Thu), 17:29

Ist read your manual for camera .
I have Digital photography by Mitchell Wright - Don't bother
I have Digital photography made easy by Ivan Hissey - Don't bother
3 books by Brian Peterson - more for film than Digital . Good books
Digital photography for dummies - over half the book is on software and printers . Browse before you buy if there is a book store close .
XTI / 400D Digital field guide BY C K Lowie - Better than owners manual and bigger print .
Forget the C D's and DVD's - you can't hi-lite or look up a subject . I bought the one for the XTI and the 580 II - watch them and rewatched - can't remember or hi-lite for rereading later .

creme.brulee

16th of October 2008 (Thu), 22:34

I'm a newbie, and I have these so far. I particularly like Scott Kelby's approach.

Jumpstart Video Training DVD for Canon XSi
The Adobe Photoshop CS3 Book for Digital Photographers (Scott Kelby)
The Digital Photography Book (Scott Kelby)
The Digital Photography Book Vol. 2 (Scott Kelby)
Canon EOS XSi/450D Digital Field Guide (C. Lowrie) -- much much more helpful than the manual

Anyone has a recommendation for portrait photography? Thanks!

r.morales

17th of October 2008 (Fri), 09:44

Try Adobe Photoshop CS3 classroom in a book and Adobe Raw .
The raw is in car right now . I keep a book in car to read while wife is shopping .

loony33

20th of October 2008 (Mon), 17:13

Scott Kelby is not my favorite.
I have a few of his books. Although I got a few good advice from these books, I don't like his style nor his humor; especially after becoming a NAPP member and seeing him on Photoshop TV. But I guess this doesn't belong in this thread. Sorry, I had to vent.

Are you looking for portrait photography using natural, available, artificial light or all? I own a copy of Skin and I like it.

[Skin: The Complete Guide to Digitally Lighting, Photographing, and Retouching Faces and Bodies by Lee Varis]

creme.brulee

22nd of October 2008 (Wed), 10:22

Anyone has a suggestion on books about producing stock photos? Thanks

goldcanon

25th of October 2008 (Sat), 02:00

Adobe's Classroom in a book shows examples of before and after .

Mosca

26th of October 2008 (Sun), 22:01

Scott Kelby is not my favorite.
I have a few of his books. Although I got a few good advice from these books, I don't like his style nor his humor; especially after becoming a NAPP member and seeing him on Photoshop TV. But I guess this doesn't belong in this thread. Sorry, I had to vent.

I read a number of reviews that mentioned not liking Kelby's sense of humor; that put me off from trying his books. But the goofy asides don't really bother me. They are generally confined to the opening page of a chapter, and the rest of the chapter is pretty useful; most of the two Digital Photography books are down to earth, "If you do it this way, this is what you results will look like and why" type stuff; very useful for a beginner.

canonloader

27th of October 2008 (Mon), 06:13

I found the Kelby books to be a lot of wasted paper with the unhumor he uses everywhere, but the first book I bought, for CS2 had some good tips in it. It was also mostly a waste for me in another sense, he wasted far too many pages on printing, skin fixing and studio lighting. Good for people who do that kind of photography, totally wasted on those who shoot outdoors or action. Then I wasted more money, on the CS3 book, where he just republished the CS2 book with a new name, but almost no new content. Sheeese.

eosrebelxt

30th of October 2008 (Thu), 09:00

Sorry for not obeying the rules by recommending two books (instead of one), but I really think that these two are very good quides. These books do not concentrate on equipment, but instead they teach you to SEE - the most important thing in photography :

1. Photography And The Art Of Seeing by Freeman Patterson (ISBN: 1552636143)
2. Learning to See Creatively by Bryan Peterson (ISBN: 0817441816)

Thanks for these recommendations. I am a newbie, but I think I've passed the basic theory phase. In other words, I do know those basic theories regarding aperture, depth of field, shutter speed, iso, noise, etc. But I don't take superb pictures. I quite often find myself in a situation where I find nothing to shoot no matter where I go and what I see. I think these seeing books may help, so I ended up getting the 2nd one, simply because it has 4.5 stars with over 100 buyer reviews. Much more than the first one. :D

BKGInc

6th of December 2008 (Sat), 11:39

I realy like the Canon EOS 40D Digital Field Guide by Charlotte K. Lowrie. I use it pretty much anytime I would have normally used the Canon manual. It is much easier to reference things.

kunid

7th of December 2008 (Sun), 18:19

Do any of these books cover extra stuff like HDR, panoramics/panography? (i.e. Scott Kelby's books)

r.morales

8th of December 2008 (Mon), 09:43

There is a little in Camera raw by Ron Sheppard .
It's OK and explains a lot - but mostly over my head .
I am about 1/3 of the way thru a HDR book , but it's in the car . So far it's pretty good , but it also is over my head and goes to much into history but gives a lot of before and after examples and comes with a CD . It says and list which [ not all - but most ] programs work on Mac , linux , windows .
I'll try to post name later .
Yes I would buy both again .

silverhalide

9th of December 2008 (Tue), 00:56

I bought 2 copies of Understanding Exposure . 1 to leave in Mexico for reference - BUT it is mostly [ 95% ] film .

Personally, I found Understanding Exposure is overrated. He over-simplifies and makes gross generalizations that sound good but will lead you astray as you expand you skills. He does a good job of explaining the basic principles, and I know he's trying to avoid being technical, but I felt a few more details were needed.

As a separate issue, I'm looking for an intermediate book. I understand the basics of flash photography, but want to take it to the next level, possibly getting into multiple flashes or studio strobes. I understand the basics of action photography - stopping action, panning, etc. - but want to take it to the next level. And so on for various other styles. Any recommendations for books?

kosin

10th of December 2008 (Wed), 19:57

Just a quick recommendation for a perfect book. A lot of info there:

"The Creative Digital Darkroom" by Katrin Eismann, Sean Duggan link to amazon (http://www.amazon.com/Creative-Digital-Darkroom-Katrin-Eismann/dp/0596100477/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1228960620&sr=8-1)

I hope I didn't double post this title here. To be honest I didn't go thru all the pages of this thread but a quick search didn't find anything...

r.morales

14th of December 2008 (Sun), 11:14

Thanks , just ordered it .
"The Creative Digital Darkroom" by Katrin Eismann, Sean Duggan

LFaluade

18th of December 2008 (Thu), 10:58

dital

30th of December 2008 (Tue), 15:45

Does anyone know of a good studio lighting book? One that covers lighting techniques, equipment and also go into different types of portrait light like Rembrandt, loop light, split, etc...

Thanks in advance!

I would also be interested in hearing peoples replies to this question. I've just purchased 'Lighting for Portrait Photography' but haven't been over impressed.

I'm looking for a great travel sized photography book to take on holiday to India with me so any recommendations would be very helpful.

I go on Friday though!

vaibhav

30th of December 2008 (Tue), 17:06

Anybody has any suggestions on which one to get from these 2?

Digital Photography Book - Scott Kelby
Digital Photography Book (Volume 2) - Scott Kelby

Stems

3rd of January 2009 (Sat), 19:42

Anybody has any suggestions on which one to get from these 2?

Digital Photography Book - Scott Kelby
Digital Photography Book (Volume 2) - Scott Kelby

Both! The second book is like a continuation of the first.

kosin

3rd of January 2009 (Sat), 22:46

Both! The second book is like a continuation of the first.

and there is a box set that includes both books (and a signed photo) for lower price...

brecklundin

5th of January 2009 (Mon), 07:05

Both books are good...they are a nice way to supplement the manual that comes with the camera with the bonus of adding some real world examples. You will out grow them pretty quickly but that's fine...I would hunt for used copies on Amazon and save some cash if you can.

EDIT: I just looked and it seems that Amazon has the best price, especially if you have an Amazon Prime account...

vaibhav

5th of January 2009 (Mon), 19:34

Thanks guys. Will check out amazon and also my local library.

brecklundin

5th of January 2009 (Mon), 19:57

cool...they really are nice references for the camera.

FYI, I did also buy the first book for our Kindle. While the images are just greyscale it's not a bad option. Not that I am allowed to touch the darned thing since it was co-opted last summer...sigh, I am simply too easy. ;)

sagray

8th of January 2009 (Thu), 09:48

Light, Science, and Magic, by Hunter, Biver, and Fuqua

Pretty good reference that gets you thinking about reflections, light angles and such. Not terribly exciting, but it's good basic stuff to know when you're confronted by various lighting situations.

Jeff81

12th of January 2009 (Mon), 03:08

So I've read through the entire thread and I still don't know which book I want...talk about indecisive. I already have Understanding Exposure. I found it helpful, but not as comprehensive as I would have liked. I'm looking for suggestions of a book that will help take me from shooting in P, Av, and Tv into using manual mode more often. I do realize that this will also be accomplished through pure practice. Any suggestions keeping in mind my specific goal?

r.morales

12th of January 2009 (Mon), 09:42

I didn't like the CD / DVD by blue crane .
I like the one called A short course in CANON EOS Digital rebel XTI / 400D Photography by denis P Curtain .
It's a spiral bound book with BIG print and lots of examples , about 8 X10 [ I high light what I think is important to me ]

scorpio_e

13th of January 2009 (Tue), 11:51

I have the following books which I love and still refer back to from time to time (These are also in the order I recommend you read them):
The Digital Photography Book 2 by Scott Kelby

I read the one by Scott. I thought it was well written and had some great information and tips.

tezmo

15th of January 2009 (Thu), 04:08

I just got finished reading Skin, by Lee Varis - it has been mentioned a couple of times in this thread, but it definitely deserves more thumbs up - highly recommended, and very visually pleasing in and of itself:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Skin-Complete-Digitally-Photographing-Retouching/dp/047004733X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1232014021&sr=8-1

r.morales

15th of January 2009 (Thu), 09:32

Thanks , It would be nice if the books were listed with a vote for - against or no opinion . 9 Pages looking for a book on AAA is kind of time consuming .

BLACK MAMBA

20th of January 2009 (Tue), 23:24

Understanding Exposure

bw!

Together with alot of people out there, I highly recommend it!

r.morales

20th of January 2009 (Tue), 23:32

I just got "EXPERT PHOTO TECHNIQUES ' from shutterbug -
Bother bother , other than big print you can read , There are more adds than info

r.morales

20th of January 2009 (Tue), 23:35

Also got PHOTOGRAPIC DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY GUIDEI from shutterbug -
Bother bother , other than big print you can read , There are more adds than info and very basic info at that .

Bullfrog142

29th of January 2009 (Thu), 00:58

Can anyone offer comments on ...
The Photographer's Eye: Composition and Desing for Better Digital Photographs - Michael Freeman

...
Both are available on Amazon UK.

Cheers!

Well you've probably bought it by now given the time since this was posted. But anyway - I think Freeman's book is top-notch. I bought it a couple of months ago and am really learning a LOT from it. One to go back to repeatedly.

Another one not mentioned here yet, and excellent for a beginner such as myself:
Digital Photography Masterclass: Advanced Photographic and Image-manipulation Techniques for Creating Perfect Pictures by Tom Ang.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Digital-Photography-Masterclass-Photographic-Image-manipulation/dp/1405315563/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1233212247&sr=8-1

ipsum43

31st of January 2009 (Sat), 08:08

i second that...Freeman is good...

Spacemunkie

2nd of February 2009 (Mon), 16:11

Anyone remotely interested in black and white photography should have a gander at this:

"Black & White Photography In The Digital Age" by Tony Worobiec and Ray Spence

Beautiful photos too :)

geo1976

10th of February 2009 (Tue), 20:57

Anyone remotely interested in black and white photography should have a gander at this:

"Black & White Photography In The Digital Age" by Tony Worobiec and Ray Spence

Beautiful photos too :)

Just ordered this yesterday.

srsuser

11th of February 2009 (Wed), 18:27

BluewookieJim

11th of February 2009 (Wed), 21:19

Any recommendations for Composition?

I ordered
Learning To See Creatively: Design, Color, & Composition in Photography
by Bryan Peterson

Also thinking about ordering this book:

http://www.amazon.com/Photographers-Eye-Composition-Design-Digital/dp/1905814046/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1233137853&sr=8-1

Thoughts?

I've read that Peterson book. I thought it was a worthwhile read. I have the Freeman book (or at least a version of it) but haven't read it yet.
http://www.amazon.com/Photographers-Eye-Composition-Design-Digital/dp/0240809343/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1234408602&sr=1-1

I'm also currently reading this one, which you might be interested in:
http://www.amazon.com/Photography-Art-Seeing-Perception-Workshop/dp/1552636143/ref=pd_sim_b_23

kidgetup

19th of February 2009 (Thu), 04:03

Any recommendations for Composition?

I ordered
Learning To See Creatively: Design, Color, & Composition in Photography
by Bryan Peterson

Also thinking about ordering this book:

http://www.amazon.com/Photographers-Eye-Composition-Design-Digital/dp/1905814046/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1233137853&sr=8-1

Thoughts?

this has been mentioned, but The photographer's eye, by Freeman is far and away my favorite... could be because it was my first, but I still glance through it now and again... It's great for learning how to 'see.'

ae86trueno

3rd of March 2009 (Tue), 21:02

Hi guys, I was searching for Michael Freeman's book and I found these two books. I'm kind of confused whats the difference between them

http://www.geocities.com/bahamuthz/pics/completeguide1.jpg
This book recently has 4th revision but on this photo above I put the 3rd revision

http://www.geocities.com/bahamuthz/pics/completeguide2.jpg
This one also on 3rd revision.

Why there are two books? :confused:

By the way which book from Michael Freeman is his best book for Photography (in general) ?

r.morales

4th of March 2009 (Wed), 09:07

ae86trueno

6th of March 2009 (Fri), 06:22

Looks like 1st has a CD - so probably a work book leaning more towards pro .
2nd is probably same book but with less how to and less help leaning more for hobby
Or maybe 1st is for beginer and other is for catch-up .
I don't have either one .

Thanks r.morales, if you going to buy one of these book which you will be leaning to for learning?

Edit: After I went through from first page, still not sure which book to get (talk about indecisive...) if only one book to get, which likely the best one to get?

r.morales

6th of March 2009 (Fri), 09:47

When I chose between books , I know what I want .
I check index for that topic .
Example DOF = how many pages on it does the book have ? Does it make sense to you ?
Does not matter how thick book is or how much information it has if you don't understand or want what is there .
I have a lot of books with mostly pictures - not much good .
How and why should be with each picture .
If you are near a collage , there are often a few book stores you can check out - then buy if you like what you see .
There is a camera store only 25 miles from me that probably carries close to 100 photography books . I browse and make note to buy this or that book - I saw and bough lens work III NOT worth the money now - maybe I'll learn more and like it .
You can read reviews on amazon and do a search on net - name of book and review .
Good luck .

ae86trueno

6th of March 2009 (Fri), 18:07

Thank you very much my friend, the one in bold really give me new sight regarding what too look for when buying books. I will definitely give it a go to first go visit some bookstore before buying the books.

When I chose between books , I know what I want .
I check index for that topic .
Example DOF = how many pages on it does the book have ? Does it make sense to you ?
Does not matter how thick book is or how much information it has if you don't understand or want what is there .
I have a lot of books with mostly pictures - not much good .
How and why should be with each picture .
If you are near a collage , there are often a few book stores you can check out - then buy if you like what you see .
There is a camera store only 25 miles from me that probably carries close to 100 photography books . I browse and make note to buy this or that book - I saw and bough lens work III NOT worth the money now - maybe I'll learn more and like it .
You can read reviews on amazon and do a search on net - name of book and review .
Good luck .

AustinRoepke

6th of March 2009 (Fri), 18:10

Usually buying books on photography with a P&S is a bad idea...

For some reason, the in-depth books have higher-end canons or nikons (if any camera on the cover, at all)

BluewookieJim

11th of March 2009 (Wed), 09:29

I noticed several books that may be of interest to this discussion are on track to be released very soon. I haven't seen any of these mentioned so I figured why not do a little public service announcement.

Here they are, in order of estimated release date:

Joe McNally, author of the wildly popular "The Moment it Clicks" has a new book about small strobe lighting coming out this week.
http://www.amazon.com/Hot-Shoe-Diaries-Flashes-Voices/dp/0321580141

Bryan Peterson, author of "Understanding Exposure" has a new book about macro photography coming out at the end of this month.
http://www.amazon.com/Understanding-Close-up-Photography-Creative-Encounters/dp/0817427198

Michael Freeman, author of "The Photographers Eye" has a new book coming out next month focused on exposure, possibly a contender to Bryan Peterson's "Understanding Exposure"
http://www.amazon.com/Michael-Freemans-Perfect-Exposure-Professionals/dp/0240811712

Scott Kelby has another follow up to his Digital Photography Book series scheduled for an August release.
http://www.amazon.com/Digital-Photography-Book-3/dp/0321617657

batch

15th of March 2009 (Sun), 21:42

I'm looking for a good book on composition. I know of Bryan Peterson's book but was wondering if anyone has read Freeman Patterson's "Photography and the Art of Seeing". I heard it's good and it's recommended by Thom Hogan. Problem is, I think it's out of print and difficult to find.

BluewookieJim

15th of March 2009 (Sun), 21:44

Try the book "The Photographers Eye" from Michael Freeman.

batch

16th of March 2009 (Mon), 08:53

Thanks BluewookieJim. I'll have a look at that one.

jcl09

16th of March 2009 (Mon), 08:59

I second Bryan Peterson's book - Understanding Exposure" . It is a great book to get grounded on exposure - which really is a key element in producing outstanding photography.

I also like a couple of other books, you can find the link here on my blog.
http://socalislandgirl.blogspot.com

r.morales

16th of March 2009 (Mon), 09:46

jcl09 - I looked but only saw 3 ads for books

r.morales

4th of April 2009 (Sat), 19:40

brecklundin

11th of April 2009 (Sat), 13:23

I noticed several books that may be of interest to this discussion are on track to be released very soon. I haven't seen any of these mentioned so I figured why not do a little public service announcement.

{snip}

Bryan Peterson, author of "Understanding Exposure" has a new book about macro photography coming out at the end of this month.
http://www.amazon.com/Understanding-Close-up-Photography-Creative-Encounters/dp/0817427198 {/snip}

I thought a follow up to your suggestion might be in order as the book is out now. I read the the couple of reviews over on Amazon about the new Peterson book on macro & close-up photography. Both indicate it's sort of a really beginners book to close-up and macro, but I also got that it might be even more basic than that level. It might even be the sort of book a person would read once and never open again from the tone of the reviews. Still, both gave the book high marks. It is just from reading their actual opinions I got the sense they were awarding the rating based on his reputation more than the content of the book.

Here is the book Understanding Close-up Photography: Creative Close Encounters with or without a Macro Lens (http://www.amazon.com/Understanding-Close-up-Photography-Creative-Encounters/dp/0817427198/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1239473250&sr=8-5)by Brian Peterson.They do not have a preview of the book on Amazon yet so I would wait it if I was considering buying a copy. Though having a concise reference which discusses technique as well as the specialized equipment needed for this sort of photography might be a good buy for someone new to it all. I will say I won't be buying a copy based on the reviews so far, even though I have several other books by Brian Peterson.

Someone mentioned Light: Science & Magic 3rd. Ed. by Hunter, Biver & Fuqua. I do suggest that book for anyone who is serious about learning this even as a hobby since everything about photography comes down to the fundamental concept of using light to create a look you want. or even understanding what a given light situation will allow and how to make the most of it. I combined this book with the Peterson Understanding Exposure and for the first time ever I think I am, of lawd forgive me...but I think I see the light. I KNOW but I cannot stop the puns, it's who I am!! ;)

There are other books that cover the topic of light so use both Google Books as well as read the selected sections, if available on Amazon to get a gauge on if you will like the author's style and where the books seems to take you.

brecklundin

11th of April 2009 (Sat), 13:28

1st read camera manual .

then BRYON PETERSON'S - understanding exposure - this is mainly for film but it's good for digital [ I bought a copy and then another ] . 1st is hi-lited all over .

What book [s] you buy should be determined by what you are going to take pictures of .

It helps to put where you are in post - Bigger towns , you can go look at book at library / book store or camera shop .

Anyway you can generally find used books on amazon and they have people tell what they think of the book .

I thought I might mention the current edition of Understanding exposure was rewritten to add digital into the content over film. Some concepts, naturally apply to both, but it is digital heavy now. Someone shopping for it wants to find Understanding Exposure The Revised Edition (http://www.amazon.com/Understanding-Exposure-Photographs-Digital-Updated/dp/0817463003/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1239474440&sr=1-1). Now for that one the actually have some of the book online so you can read it. For me that helps a LOT.

BluewookieJim

12th of April 2009 (Sun), 22:54

Michael Freeman, author of "The Photographers Eye" has a new book coming out next month focused on exposure, possibly a contender to Bryan Peterson's "Understanding Exposure"
http://www.amazon.com/Michael-Freemans-Perfect-Exposure-Professionals/dp/0240811712

I had a chance to thumb through this at the local bookstore this weekend. I have to say it looked really impressive. Much more technical than Peterson's book. Some of the particular highlights that I can remember off the top of my head.... about 20+ pages dealing with the zoning system, a section dedicated to the various exposure systems available, evaluative, center-weighted, spot, etc..., a section about RAW processing.