What 3 books would you recommend...

[Raycj]

If a beginner were to only read 3 photo related books, what should they be? (and why if you feel up to it).

[James Godman]

Lighting and the Dramatic Portrait by Michael Grecco.
Ways of Seeing by John Berger.
A World History of Photography by Rosenblum

That's three, but after those I would suggest you read Focus on Profit by Zimberoff, The Unknown Masterpiece by Balzac, and Stieglitz on Photography.

Good luck.

[marcmccalmont]

If a beginner were to only read 3 photo related books, what should they be? (and why if you feel up to it).
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=131489\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Is your question about photography in general or getting up to speed in digital photography specifically or both?
Marc

[wolfnowl]

1) Photography and the Art of Seeing by Freeman Patterson is a book about learning how to see the world photographically.  There's also 'More Photography and the Art of Seeing'.

2) Any photo books that catch your interest.  Not books about photo techniques, but books of photographs.  By looking at what others have done and trying to understand them for yourself, you expand your own knowledge and creative potential.

3) The Time-Life 'Photo' series.  It's a series of about a dozen books that cover many different aspects of photography.  It was published before digital was invented, but the concepts are still good.

Mike.

[Raycj]

Is your question about photography in general or getting up to speed in digital photography specifically or both?
Marc
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=131553\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

My question was asked for people like myself, who love to read, and could benefit from the wisdom of experienced photographers. The question is best answered with the books that you think would best benefit a beginner. I set 3 books as an arbitrary limit just to focus in on the few that you think would be most beneficial to a novice. As a rule I will not buy the "Photography for Idiots and Dummies" type books since I am not an idiot nor a dummy, I am just ignorant on the topic of photography (and many other topics as well) and I don't know how good those books are anyways. Aside from those books, the selection of books available is huge and add in sites like abebooks.com and almost anything ever printed becomes available and some of it is good stuff and that is why I am seeking your opinions.

Thanks

Ray  

P.S. I know that some of you might be tempted to say just get out there and shoot, and I know that that is good advice, but I still love to read and so will continue to seek out books to read.

[marcmccalmont]

My question was asked for people like myself, who love to read, and could benefit from the wisdom of experienced photographers. The question is best answered with the books that you think would best benefit a beginner. I set 3 books as an arbitrary limit just to focus in on the few that you think would be most beneficial to a novice. As a rule I will not buy the "Photography for Idiots and Dummies" type books since I am not an idiot nor a dummy, I am just ignorant on the topic of photography (and many other topics as well) and I don't know how good those books are anyways. Aside from those books, the selection of books available is huge and add in sites like abebooks.com and almost anything ever printed becomes available and some of it is good stuff and that is why I am seeking your opinions.

Thanks

Ray   

P.S. I know that some of you might be tempted to say just get out there and shoot, and I know that that is good advice, but I still love to read and so will continue to seek out books to read.
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=131817\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

I found that increasing my technical knowledge in digital capture (photography) and Photoshop was a great help in the first 6 months. It kind of jumpstarted my progress. The artistic end comes when it comes so I would recommend the following as a good way to get up to speed on the tools you will use:

Stephen Johnson on digital Photography
George DeWolfe's Digital Photography Fine Print Workshop
Jay Kinghorn/Jay Dickman Perfect Digital Photography
Scott Kelly the Photoshop Book for Digital Photographers

Marc

[Raoul]

If a beginner were to only read 3 photo related books, (...)

... he/she will stay a beginner.

Go to a library, browse through as many photo books as you can. Borrow or buy the ones containing pictures that somehow stir you, and then some by acknowledged masters. Go and see photo exhibitions and painting exhibitions. Visit events 1) you are interested in and 2) which could be visually interesting.

Get a vague idea of what kind of photos you would like to take, then go and take them. See for yourself what works for you.

Play with the technical parameters: shutter speed and aperture. See how they influence the result. You must read one technical book and you should read a second one: the must-read is your camera's user guide, the should-read book is a book on optics and lenses. Get a basic grasp on what happens when light travels through a lens.

And be realistic: a good reportage takes weeks, months or years to research and prepare. It's a bit like cooking: if you are a real chef, you may prepare a complex dish. Otherwise just take good ingredients and try to mess them up as little as possible.  

[MikeMike]

Scott Kelby's http://www.amazon.com/Digital-Photography-...86714774&sr=8-1

Honestly the best book in the world for the first time beginner i must say.

Also understanding exposures by Bryan Peterson
http://www.amazon.com/Understanding-Exposu...86714883&sr=1-1


Sorry only two, but they're two that i own and i know for a fact that they are great

[pixelpro]

In the digital age it is very important to organise your images in a way that you cand them when you need them. Many people only look into image management once they encounter a serious problem. My suggestion is to be practical and implement universal programme right from the start so I recommend you buy "The DAM Book, Digital Asset Management for Photographers" by Peter Krogh and have this book in your armoury from day one. I wish I had.

[DarkPenguin]

Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson.

Now that you've got your technical manuals out of the way we go to inspiration.

Jim Brandenburg's Chased by the Light.  He clicks the shutter exactly once per day for 90 days.  These are the 90 photos.

Within the Stone by Bill Atkinson.  I almost smashed my printer after I looked at this book.  Then I bought the From Camera to Print tutorial.

[Neil Hunt]

Hey James - ways of seeing takes me back it was obligatory reading at art school in the 80s! Actually a really excellent and thoroughly recommended book that makes you look at the visual arts in a completely new way though.

That said as this is the Luminous Landscape forum, Raycj,  if you want the classic 'fine art' black and white in the American landscape why not try Minor White's The Sound of One Hand Clapping. He's a well underated photographer you hear little about these days, but the guy was bracketed in with Ansel Adams and Edward Weston in his own time and perhaps he's a bit more approachable than either of them.

My third book recommendation for a complete beginner would be forget about a book. Spend the money on a trip to the nearest museum or gallery with a great photography collection.

Lighting and the Dramatic Portrait by Michael Grecco.
Ways of Seeing by John Berger.
A World History of Photography by Rosenblum

That's three, but after those I would suggest you read Focus on Profit by Zimberoff, The Unknown Masterpiece by Balzac, and Stieglitz on Photography.

Good luck.
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=131495\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

[christianb]

If a beginner were to only read 3 photo related books, what should they be? (and why if you feel up to it).
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=131489\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

This is what I would give to a beginner (together with a stack of books and magazines with inspiration):

Read the interview with David Hurn by Bill Jay titled "Selecting a Subject".

The Camera by Ansel Adams (Well-written basic technique in chapter 1, 5-8, and 11).

(The) Image by Michael Freeman (Composition).

[RogerW]

This is what I would give to a beginner (together with a stack of books and magazines with inspiration):

Read the interview with David Hurn by Bill Jay titled "Selecting a Subject".

The Camera by Ansel Adams (Well-written basic technique in chapter 1, 5-8, and 11).

(The) Image by Michael Freeman (Composition).
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=135926\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Add "The Print" by Adams.