Recommended photography books

Status
Not open for further replies.
Sort by date Sort by votes
A

aprotosimaki

Oct 4, 2011
49
0
4,916
#1
I am an avid reader and I was just wondering which books you have read that helped you further your understanding of photography, whether from a technical or a compositional angle.

Myself, I recently discovered John Szarkowski's "The Photographer's Eye" and I have been studying it slowly. This got me to thinking that there must be other great books which I have not yet discovered. I also like Edward Hopper's paintings very much and I saw its application to photography as a higher art form not realizing of course that this is a well trodden road.
 
#2
If you're studying Szarkowski's The Photographer's Eye, you are already demonstrating more discernment than most.

The Nature of Photographs, by Stephen Shore, is almost a companion or sequel to Szarkowski. Two books by Robert Adams will inspire you: Beauty in Photography and Why People Photograph. Try Szarkowski's Looking at Photographs as well. Then, if you want to challenge yourself, pick up Susan Sontag's On Photography and Roland Barthe's Camera Lucida.

All of these books are short, but contain lifetimes of lessons. Each can be read over and over again and each time you will learn something new. And, not a single one talks about f-stops, ISO, noise, bokeh, crop factor, or any of the other drivel that bogs people down. They are all about vision and understanding this fascinating and addictive craft.
 
Upvote 0
#5
unfocused said:
Then, if you want to challenge yourself, pick up Susan Sontag's On Photography and Roland Barthe's Camera Lucida ...

Each can be read over and over again and each time you will learn something new. And, not a single one talks about f-stops, ISO, noise, bokeh, crop factor, or any of the other drivel that bogs people down. They are all about vision and understanding this fascinating and addictive craft.
Click to expand...

Excellent recommendations. Thank you.
 
Upvote 0
#9
unfocused said:
If you're studying Szarkowski's The Photographer's Eye, you are already demonstrating more discernment than most.

The Nature of Photographs, by Stephen Shore, is almost a companion or sequel to Szarkowski. Two books by Robert Adams will inspire you: Beauty in Photography and Why People Photograph. Try Szarkowski's Looking at Photographs as well. Then, if you want to challenge yourself, pick up Susan Sontag's On Photography and Roland Barthe's Camera Lucida.

All of these books are short, but contain lifetimes of lessons. Each can be read over and over again and each time you will learn something new. And, not a single one talks about f-stops, ISO, noise, bokeh, crop factor, or any of the other drivel that bogs people down. They are all about vision and understanding this fascinating and addictive craft.
Click to expand...

Wonderfull advice!

I would only add that photography books without text " help you further your understanding of photography"!
I go through Martin Parr's books over and over.
 
Upvote 0
#12
aprotosimaki said:
I am an avid reader and I was just wondering which books you have read that helped you further your understanding of photography, whether from a technical or a compositional angle.

Myself, I recently discovered John Szarkowski's "The Photographer's Eye" and I have been studying it slowly. This got me to thinking that there must be other great books which I have not yet discovered. I also like Edward Hopper's paintings very much and I saw its application to photography as a higher art form not realizing of course that this is a well trodden road.
Click to expand...

There is also a cheaper alternative like e-books which can be found on this site: http://craftandvision.com

Happy reading! :D
 
Upvote 0
#14
Zv said:
This is great, I was just thinking I wanted to make up a reading list made up of good Photography books. Thanks!

Unfocused - just bookmarked your blog, will be checking it out in detail over the winter break!
Click to expand...

Thanks. Now I feel bad that I haven't been keeping the blog up lately. I have probably about a dozen books I want to write about. Between full-time job, hobby photography and life, it's hard to set aside the time, but this will encourage me.

codewizpt said:
I would only add that photography books without text " help you further your understanding of photography"!
I go through Martin Parr's books over and over.
Click to expand...

Great point. I was going to suggest to the OP that he look at portfolio books by some of the great photographers. (or go online to Masters of Photography.) Martin Paar is great. Too many photographers start and stop with Ansel Adams and never get beyond that. I think every serious photographer needs to have a working knowledge of Weston, Arbus, Frank, Winogrand, Strand, Cartier-Bresson, Uelsmann, well the list just goes on and on.

Quasimodo said:
Brilliant advice in here. Looking forward to reading those. I am guessing that Barthes books are quite dense. I have read a few of him, and they are heavy. His book on rhetorics is the toughest I have ever read, and I have read quite a few :)
Click to expand...

Actually, Barthes' Camera Lucida is a pretty easy read. Although 1) you'll wonder about halfway through what the "f" does this have to do with photography?; 2) it's addictive and you can read it over and over and still get something out of it each time.

Finally, one additional pitch for Robert Adams. Adams was an English Literature teacher before he became a photographer and his writing on photography is some of the most beautiful and poetic you will ever read.
 
Upvote 0
#15
Not quite an "Art" or composition or book about skills, but for anyone having trouble learning how to use any particular camera, I'd recommend any of the books by David Busch. His books are much more interesting and readable than the manual that came with the camera and are full of tricks that add to the use of your particular camera.
 
Upvote 0
#16
I like Bruce Barnbaum: The Art of Photography - he tells a lot of technique, but technique is for him a precursor for the expression of your vision of a photograph. Nothing less, nothing more.

It helped me to get focused on the photograph itself and reconditioned me to use cameras just as a tool which is without any value by itself.

(And a good opportunity to refresh my english knowledge by reading the original version!)

My 2ct. - Best, Michael
 
Upvote 0
#17
If you are mostly interested in portrait photography (as I am), the following list of books might prove to be very educational.
Sometimes you don't need to read about the technicalities of an image to gain a vast amount. Simply absorbing the image itself will educate you immensely - the pose, the composition, the props used etc. As I look through the many books I own I sometimes wonder if the image is fantastic because it depicts a famous person I like or whether it would still be a great photograph if it were of the man next door. Mostly it would be a great image no matter who it was of - the great photographers can make anyone look remarkable. That's the trick.

Two pieces of advice I'd give anyone doing portraiture:
1. Rarely have the subject smile: it can sometimes look too much like a snapshot.
2. Have them do something with their hands: we are so graphic with our hands when talking that it can change a portrait into a story - "I wonder what was being said?".

Anyway, I highly recommend all of these (get 'em off Amazon or wherever):

1. Vanity Fair Portraits
2. Patrick Demarchelier (self-titled and currently out of print - second-hand on Amazon currently for £300!! Glad I bought my copy a few years ago!)
3. Planton's Republic
4. Taking Aim by Graham Nash
5. Star Trak by Anton Corbijn
6. Degrees by Andy Gotts
7. Portraits by Uli Weber
8. UFO by Albert Watson
9. Jeanloup Seiff (self-titled and published by Taschen)
10. Les Indescretes by Jeanloup Sieff

Assuming all except 2. are still in print and easily available, they offer a lot to the aspiring photographer. Considering what we spend on equipment, a few bucks spent on books will provide years of pleasure. Plus think how much nicer your living room will look with quality books on its shelves.
 
Upvote 0
#20
Not sure what level or type of book you are considering, art, composition, technique, lighting?

Anything by Scott Kelby, Joe McNally, Joel Sartore, Bryan Peterson and Ansel Adams.

However, you might have a great time going to HALF PRICE BOOKS after dinner one night and going over what they have. That's always fun and I've found some gems from as far back as the '70's. One I got that is lots of fun to look at is a large thin book by Mary Ellen Mark and Annie Leibovitz from 1974. It has some great images from that time including a great shot of Canice Bergen shortly after her father passed away.

I've learned a lot from just looking at pictures and trying to see what works in them and makes them interesting and distinctive.

Have fun!
 
Upvote 0
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

L
Beware of Canon Europe web store - it might take your money without registering the order
Replies
8
Views
6K
kaihp
K
LSXPhotog
Canon R5 Electronic Shutter Performance is Better Than The Internet Thinks...
Replies
24
Views
17K
Deleted member 385220
D
MrFotoFool
My Experience: From Canon 5D4 to Nikon D850
Replies
9
Views
5K
Sharlin
Sharlin
Canon Rumors
Canon UK Launches Competition to Find Ultimate Summer Storyteller
Replies
0
Views
3K
Canon Rumors
Canon Rumors
Danglin52
Using camera gear with vision issues.
Replies
13
Views
4K
Mt Spokane Photography
Mt Spokane Photography
Top Bottom
Home
Forums
Media
Menu