Books?

Joshwain

Joshwain

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Hey all, I was just wondering if there are any books that you reckon are a must-read. As you may or may not know, I'm fairly new to photography so I have quite a lot to learn. I know the basics and understand ISO, aperture, shutter speed ect. so to further my knowledge I would need a good technique and understand when and under what circumstances I should use certain lenses and what not.

Anyway, on with the suggestions! :D
 
Hi Josh

Look at these, hope it helps you.

Bryan Peterson - Understanding Exposure 3rd Edition 2010

Digital SLR Cameras and Photography For Dummies 3rd Ed. 2009 - (Malestrom)

Digital Photography Lighting For Dummies.
 
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I'd stay away from Understanding Exposure, especially if you've already got a basic handle on aperture, shutter speed and ISO - it just confuses matters. I started reading it thinking I more or less understood the basics, after a while I didn't know if I did or didn't! Turns out my rough understanding was correct, confirmation gained from the superior Digital Exposure Handbook by Ross Hoddinott.


Have a look for Scott Kelby's The Digital Photography Book - it's a series, but I've only personally read the first one. If memory serves me correctly, all of the pictures come with captions of what aperture, shutter speed and focal length were used ... which is very useful for figuring out which lens to use to gain what effect.

EDIT: Now being driven mental because, thinking about it, I'm not sure if it is Kelby's book that gave the settings for every picture, but I know one did and it would be perfect for this situation. It may have been Tom Ang, How to Photograph Absolutely Everything.
 
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Go for Light, Science & Magic it's just been updated. Yes it will cost you circa £20 but will last you a lot longer than Understanding Exposure will of which you will find just as useful information in the tutorials section of this forum.
 
+1 for Understanding Exposure. I was lucky enough to find it online and get it free and it helped me out a lot. I had the basics by using AV and TV and I still do use them when necessary, but it gave me the confidence to put the camera on M and have a go. As luck would have it I did have a good idea of what to do, but it was just that niggling feeling that something would be wrong. I now use M most of the time and my photography has improved because of it.
 
EdBray said:
Go for Light, Science & Magic it's just been updated. Yes it will cost you circa £20 but will last you a lot longer than Understanding Exposure will of which you will find just as useful information in the tutorials section of this forum.
Click to expand...

+1

And also The Photographer's Eye by Michael Freeman.

There are a lot of books about the technical aspects of photography, and there are likewise some technically very good but extremely boring images. I've found that books on the aesthetics of photography (and art in general) give more useful ideas on how to create interesting images. These books have other advantages as well, they're frequently older and available very cheaply secondhand (e.g. The Making of Landscape Photographs by Charlie Waite - no less relevant to now just because it's written about using film cameras).
 
Perhaps it's not much of a 'how-to' book as such but I recently bought the "Pring's Photographer's Miscellany" which
is full of quotes, little facts, tips & techniques? After flicking through it, I just had to get it at £7.99 in Urban Outfitters hahaha.
 
+1 Scott Kelby's The Digital Photography Book.

The 4th one is due out soon. Start with the first one though :)

anything by Kelby training is great, and easy to read!
 
Digital SLR Cameras and Photography For Dummies 3rd Ed. 2009 - (Malestrom)
One for sale in the classifieds.
 
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