Usefulness of books

So I have been researching books and find a 50/50 split on the usefulness of photography books. I have Bryan Peterson's Understanding Exposure and have ordered Light Science and Magic. Do you find that technical books help? Books like those two that teach you? What about books that are more artistic like The Photographers Eye, which teach but more about how to artistically do things? Does anyone read books about photography? I saw one on sale at B&N, Tom Ang Photography The Definitive Visual History, which looked interesting.

Im not looking for specific books, Ive already got a list a mile long if i decie to start buying, Im just wondering if you guys get your moneys out of them? Ex: I buy a lot of history and music books but refuse to drop money on computer books because what you get for the cost is ridiculous

In this day and age, all of the information found in books is on the internet. If you've got the time you can access all the information for free from the web. If you need the information quickly and in consolidated form then books may be the answer.

Nowadays, I prefer my reading to be in electronic format.

Books are nice if they have step by step instructions. Video also works for me. There is a plethora of video tutorials on YouTube.

I'm not sure if they help or not, but I do enjoy reading/looking at photography books.

But I have a library card and a library that's about a mile away, so I don't really have to spend a dime. Sometimes the latest and greatest and/or the exact book I want isn't available or I have to reserve it but well... free. So yes, please.

When I was studying the zone system in college these books were so important in that journey.
The Camera-Ansel Adams
The Negative-Ansel Adams
The Print-Ansel Adams
The Zone VI Workshop-Fred Picker

And many books have been important in my visual journey.
Robert Franks-The Americans
Meyerowitz-Cape Light
Adams- Yosemite and The Range of Light
Roy DeCarava-A Retrospective
Several books by Ralph Gibson, Garry Winogrand, Walker Evans and Bresson.

I have to second the library suggestion. Your library has a web site so you don't even have to go in until the book you want is available. With inter library loan practically any book is available.

When I discovered that libraries do ebook loans it rekindled my library use. Ebook lending is done entirely online. So, I read fiction on my tablet, but I still borrow physical books for photography and some other topics.

tandemhearts wrote in post #17342673
I have to second the library suggestion. Your library has a web site so you don't even have to go in until the book you want is available. With inter library loan practically any book is available.

When I discovered that libraries do ebook loans it rekindled my library use. Ebook lending is done entirely online. So, I read fiction on my tablet, but I still borrow physical books for photography and some other topics.

That's what I do. I go on the library's website and look for books that may interest me. I request them and the library sends me an email when they're ready. They also let me save the ones I want to request later in lists. The time I spend in the actual library is almost nothing.

Usefulness of books is the useful information they might contain.

I was largely self taught by books and by experience and shot professionally for 10 years before I went to photography school. There is nothing that will teach you as fast as just going out and shooting, shooting, shooting and then evaluating your results, but I still find books to be helpful. The main thing that I realized is that you need to find someone whose style suits the way you learn. I find myself recommending different authors to different people for different reasons, depending on how I think they need to be taught. For example, Ree Drummond, the Pioneer Cookbook author, also blogs about photography in a way that would make a 2 year old understand it. Lots of examples, simple analogies etc. Someone else might be a way more technical writer and maybe THAT is your style. The point is, you need to find that person who writes in a way that speaks to your learning style. So, yes, I do think that books have a place in your pursuit of knowledge, right along side experience and critique and coaching either through a mentor or school/courses.

Books all the way. Not only is it healthier for your eyes to read on a reflective surface instead of on a luminiscent one, but the information on a book is better presented and better researched than on some bloke's blog (though there are very good blogs out there). Sure, there's a plethora of videos online, but again, only a number of them are good —there're tons of people out there cranking videos with little idea of what they're talking about. Separating the wheat from the chaff takes time and with a book (which costs money to produce and must generate a revenue) a lot of that work has already been done for you.

I have a pretty good collection of photography books on a wide variety of subtopics, about 60 of them collected over a lifetime. Truth be told, there are fewer than 15% of them that I find to be 'valuable' on a continuing or repeat basis...the rest were OK reads at one point in my distant photographic past, but they did not contain useful information that I want to refresh in my head from time to time! A lot of books contain 'bits of information' but not real 'knowledge' that I would suggest to others! The web is just as bad, if not worse...anyone can self publish a web page, with no review by any editor or peers!

airfrogusmc wrote in post #17342663
When I was studying the zone system in college these books were so important in that journey.
The Camera-Ansel Adams
The Negative-Ansel Adams
The Print-Ansel Adams
The Zone VI Workshop-Fred Picker

Especially The Negative! So full of key concepts-- applicable even to those not interested in Zone System processes, or who shoot Color. One of the 15% !


I agree with suecassidy...the ultimate is shooting, but especially when you do so under the 'old pro' like the old Master and apprentice kind of Master Course knowledge conveyance!

My current e-book collection 142 items :

Wilt wrote in post #17343177
Especially The Negative! So full of key concepts-- applicable even to those not interested in Zone System processes, or who shoot Color. One of the 15% !

Yup, with The Print right behind. My two favorites of the five.

Personally I find watching films (movies of the Hollywood variety) most inspiring when it comes to composition and creative lighting.

I ask this because I love reading. I am able to read at work, I have a lot of down time. I do watch some videos but my laptop has trouble streaming, it's old but it was free so it's good enough. But as I said some subjects have great material some have good material but.just aren't worth it. Maybe I'll look at picking up a few key books and grab a magazine subscription or two.

I also prefer reading hard copies. I still can't get into e books.