Can anyone recommend a good book
- Thread starter AdamcMWCK
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Appreciate that option, however I do not know which of the books on the shelf is best for a beginner, hence asking on here.
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- Jon
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I am new to photography and I went to the library, I picked up Digital photography by Ken Bluttman , Digital SLR in easy steps by lois Benjamin , Michael Freeman's 101 Top Tips , Rough Guide to DSLR by Sophie Goldsworthy , Digital SLR Handbook by Michael Freeman , Nude and Beauty by Bill Lemons , Beauty and Glam by Jon Gray. I took all these books out.
I am reading slowly through them, and while some may contradict another as they all have their own take on things the basic idea is the same. But I will make my own mind up after reading them all.
When I have read these books, I will go back the the library and take out a load more. As I read them I try an remember what I have read, and I simply jot things down as I go along.
So in short go through all the books your library has, that's what I have planned to do
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At some point someone will mention Bryan Peterson's Understanding Exposure as the book to buy. It's not. Don't waste your money on it, you'll learn more by spending a wee while just reading posts and asking questions here on tp....
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Borrow it from the library.. I bought a copy, but tbh after going through it a couple of times it's been out on loan to various friends. It is a useful quick guide and is not complicated.
What book? is a very vague question.
I'd suggest The Photographer's Eye by Michael Freeman or Hot Shots by Kevin Meredith (or both) and completely forget about anything titled DSLR for dummies/idiots, or the Complete guide to..
The modern camera is a very capable tool and can make thousands of calculations about exposure, etc. However, it's also an idiot. It hasn't a clue whether the scene you've put it in front of is interesting or how to make it interesting. That's the bit you have no option but to learn for yourself.
Don't be another technically proficient photographer of boring photographs. There's enough of them already. Be someone that takes interesting photographs.
My photography bookshelf is in my signature - it's much more interesting to see what's on someones bookshelf than what's inside their camera bag.
thank you, i have just ordered both of the books from amazon.
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I started with 'Understanding Exposure' by Bryan Peterson. It was ok as an introduction but TBH I don't think I learned anything that I hadn't picked up on here or through other online reading. It was handy to have around when I first got my dslr as a quick reference guide. I've given it to my younger brother now who has just bought a camera with manual controls.
Just last week I ordered 'The Photographer's Eye' by Michael Freeman and have only just started reading it. Even though i'm only a couple of pages in I can see already that it is much more about composition and design rather than exposure. Looking forward to getting stuck into it!
Just last week I ordered 'The Photographer's Eye' by Michael Freeman and have only just started reading it. Even though i'm only a couple of pages in I can see already that it is much more about composition and design rather than exposure. Looking forward to getting stuck into it!
An important questions hasn't been addressed: what area of photography do you want to learn about?
Composition / lighting / how to use a camera / how to get particular shots -different books will address different questions and some few will address all of them.
Rather than a library, take a look in a good bookshop if you have one near you and flick through a few there.
Of the above, I have a a number as well as the Scott Kelby Digital Photography collection and found these latter to be very helpful.
Composition / lighting / how to use a camera / how to get particular shots -different books will address different questions and some few will address all of them.
Rather than a library, take a look in a good bookshop if you have one near you and flick through a few there.
Of the above, I have a a number as well as the Scott Kelby Digital Photography collection and found these latter to be very helpful.
At the moment I am just trying to learn what does what and how different things affect the picture.
I mainly shoot pictures of my two young children, although love nature and want to pursue Macro at some point.
At present I am a point and click man, just learning and snapping everything in sight. I have downloaded some photo editing software, paint.net, gimp and picaso which I am playing around with. I also have the Canon software for processing RAW images, although I am yet to do so.
I suppose I just want a decent book that covers off the basics and can give me a better understanding of things. The books ordered came to sub £20 so have no issue buying and reading them.
I mainly shoot pictures of my two young children, although love nature and want to pursue Macro at some point.
At present I am a point and click man, just learning and snapping everything in sight. I have downloaded some photo editing software, paint.net, gimp and picaso which I am playing around with. I also have the Canon software for processing RAW images, although I am yet to do so.
I suppose I just want a decent book that covers off the basics and can give me a better understanding of things. The books ordered came to sub £20 so have no issue buying and reading them.
That's understandable
Knowing the basics like aperture, ISO, depth of field, metering and so forth, is a good starting place; hopefully the books you have purchased will point you in the right direction.