Buy these 4 books?

[Martin Dixon]

15/9/09 EDIT
I have now ordered 1 & 2 from bookdepository.co.uk and 4 (2nd hand) Thanks to all contribs!

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Thanks largely to Scottes' Sticky: Photography Books (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=53846) thread, I have selected four books:

Understanding Exposure: How to Shoot Great Photographs with a Film or Digital Camera Bryan Peterson £12.43 bookdepository.co.uk

David Busch’s Canon EOS Rebel T1i/500D Guide to Digital SLR Photography (Paperback) £17.72 bookdepository.co.uk

Mastering Digital SLR Photography (Paperback) By (author) David D. Busch £19.44 bookdepository.co.uk

The Photographer's Eye: Composition and Design for Better Digital Photos Michael Freeman £11.51 Amazon

Should I buy all four? Any comments? These are the cheapest prices I could find via Google. I note different covers / slightly differing publishing dates in different places, I am guessing thse wouldnt make any noticable difference.

I obviously have a 500D. I have been taking pics for many many years but realise I could learn so much more. I have already learned quite a bit from this brilliant forum in a few hours.

Thanks!!

[Martin Dixon]

Methinks I chose my thread title badly :(
I'm not selling or promoting anything, I just want some confirmation that I have selected a good set of books, or stop me waste some of my limited cash.

[sleepo]

Understanding Exposure and the Freeman book, yep (IMHO!) - no idea on the other two I'm afraid!

[Tom_D]

I would say yes on the first two. I think you will find a lot of repetition in the two Busch books so I would just get the camera specific one. I'd wait on the Freeman book till you have studied the first two as there will be a lot to digest there.

[Steve Wintrow]

You may also want to check on the Scott Kelby books on digital photography. There are 3 volumes and they have alot of great tips for all levels of photographer. Freeman and Peterson are a must have.

[chauncey]

The Freeman books and others will be available at your local library for you to peruse at your leisure. :lol:

[irishman]

I find Freeman's writing style unreadable and his material esoteric in the extreme.

[Jcas]

The EOS book by David Busch is really helpfull.

If you were only to buy one photography book i would suggest Bryan Peterson's latest release "Understanding Photography Field Guide"

It covers things from all his bestsellers and more, i have a lot of books but this one tops them all for easy to understand and informative info.

[irishman]

+1.
The EOS book by David Busch is really helpfull.

If you were only to buy one photography book i would suggest Bryan Peterson's latest release "Understanding Photography Field Guide"

It covers things from all his bestsellers and more, i have a lot of books but this one tops them all for easy to understand and informative info.

[mattyb240]

I find Freeman's writing style unreadable and his material esoteric in the extreme.

+1 I have it, and have only managed to get half way through it! If you want to make me an offer on it I will quite happily sell it, mint condition with no bends.

Also I think Understanding Exposure might be cheaper on amazon. Hope this helps :)

[Martin Dixon]

All 3 arrived promptly. Thanks to mattyb240 for The Photographer's Eye.

Already read Understanding Exposure which I would reccomend.

It really concentrates on Aperture vs Shutter Speed. I thought it slightly odd that if you read all the way through it ends rather abruptly.

Certainly got me out in Kew Gdns shooting into the sun! and zooming (attached 1st effort zooming, manual, handheld)

[Martin Dixon]

Managed to get through all of the "The Photographer's Eye" It is a fine book. Though I could only read a few pages at a time - with lots of re-reading. I hope some of it rubbed off.

Prompted a"shoot" concentrating on composition - so much so I managed to overexpose everything . D'oh!