opinions on these books

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a friend has recommended i get these books a photographers eye, freeman & langford's basic photography

anybody on here read them what people think worth while purchase?
 
Photographer's Eye, I didn't like. That's probably because I found it a bit too abstract for my tastes. Some people like the arty sort of books, but I'm not one of them - I'd much prefer a book with a picture saying "I used this ISO, this shutter speed and this aperture size to get this picture ... if I'd had a slower shutter speed and adjusted the aperture to keep the same exposure, it would look like this ... and if I'd had a quicker shutter speed and same exposure, it would look like this", I find that more useful.

If you can get to a library and it has a copy, go and have a look at both (not read Basic Photography, although the same author's Starting Photography is good) - not everyone finds the same books equally useful.
 
The photographers eye is about composition not the technical approach. I would highly recommend it. I have bought and sold a few 'toggy books but won't be selling that one.
 
I'm a bit 50:50 on photographer's eye. I didn't find it particularly engaging but I do think there is some good info stuffed in there. I probably should give it another chance some time.
 
BazEP said:
The photographers eye is about composition not the technical approach. I would highly recommend it. I have bought and sold a few 'toggy books but won't be selling that one.
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+1

But it's often about what you're wanting to achieve. If you're comfortable taking an exposure reading and working out your own settings the The Photographer's Eye is very useful for identifying compositional elements in the scene in front of you. The bits covered in this book are rarely consiedered in any depth in typical photography tutorial-style books. I wouldn't call it an "arty" book, but it's a book that begins to talk about the art and aesthetics of photography. At least as far as composition.

I find knowing the exact technical details of exposure pretty meaningless in photography books when presented in isolation from the ideas the photographer had in mins. You're never going to be faced with an identical scene. Only one setting is important from the point of learning from a scene, and I'd rather know why the photographer chose that aperture or shutter speed than know it without knowing why.

I see Freeman has now brought out The Photographer's Mind, I know it's unlikely to appeal to anyone that didn't like The Photographer's Eye but I'd like some impressions from someone that's read it or skimmed it.

If photography for you is just about snapshots or capturing memories then maybe skip this next recommendation, but the photograph as contemporary art by Charlotte Cotton is an interesting book if you view your photography as art/creativity and wonder if/where it has a place in the comtemporary scene. I've found it a very interesting and useful introduction to many photographers and styles I might not have come across otherwise.
 
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Alastair said:
but the photograph as contemporary art by Charlotte Cotton is an interesting book if you view your photography as art/creativity and wonder if/where it has a place in the comtemporary scene. I've found it a very interesting and useful introduction to many photographers and styles I might not have come across otherwise.
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Thats a great read, glad to see someone else on here has read it. If you havent already I would reccomend "The Pleasures Of Good Photographs" by Gerry Badger, quite similar in writing style. Also Vicki Goldberg's book "Light Matters: Writings on Photography" is very good.
 
I have "a photographers eye" but have only really skimmed through it. It is good though.

Photography "manual" type books you can just get a couple of good ones and that's probably all you need. With the other sort, the more "why" something is done type, they all bring a different perspective. I really like the ones by David DuChmin. Very little technical stuff in them but loads of bits about why certain things work etc.
 
Alastair said:
+1

I see Freeman has now brought out The Photographer's Mind, I know it's unlikely to appeal to anyone that didn't like The Photographer's Eye but I'd like some impressions from someone that's read it or skimmed it.
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Some reviews on AMAZON

David
 
I also have and liked The Photographer's Eye - I suspect it is a book I should re-read every so often, as it is not a 'checklist' on how to take a photo, but more guidelines on how to spot photographic opportunities and ways to get the most from a given scene.

Reading the reviews of The Photographer's Mind it looks like I'll be getting that one as well.
 
I've got the Photographers Mind, and TBH it's pretty hard going. If you weren't keen on the Photographers Eye, give it a miss.

Another vote for David DuChemin, Within The Frame is one of my all time favourite photography books. I have to say though, this and the Photographers Eye are books that would probably be lost on me a few years ago. I wouldn't describe them as beginners books.
 
Had a look at The Photographers Mind on Amazon (the look inside is pretty good) and it's now on the wish list...
 
I moved The Photographer's Mind from the wish list to the checkout yesterday.. I'll write up my impressions once it arrives.

It's refreshing to know that there's at least a few on the forum consider the art/aesthetic side of the hobby, doesn't seem to get much of a look-in most of the time.
 
to be fair, I used to think what a load of old tosh it was but with age comes culture I guess. be good to hear your views
 
thanks to everyone for their comments. amazon order placed.


Alastair said:
I moved The Photographer's Mind from the wish list to the checkout yesterday.. I'll write up my impressions once it arrives.

It's refreshing to know that there's at least a few on the forum consider the art/aesthetic side of the hobby, doesn't seem to get much of a look-in most of the time.
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i agree with you for me this is an important aspect of the whole process.
 
Alastair said:
It's refreshing to know that there's at least a few on the forum consider the art/aesthetic side of the hobby, doesn't seem to get much of a look-in most of the time.
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The way I think of this is, if I don't see a good photo opportunity, I don't see it and reading a book about it makes no difference - I may understand it when looking at set pictures, but I still wouldn't see if I was actually out with a camera.

So, I prefer to read about the more technical aspect and figure out how to take a good photo of something, and just use my intuition for composition.
 
Carousels Spin said:
The way I think of this is, if I don't see a good photo opportunity, I don't see it and reading a book about it makes no difference - I may understand it when looking at set pictures, but I still wouldn't see if I was actually out with a camera.

So, I prefer to read about the more technical aspect and figure out how to take a good photo of something, and just use my intuition for composition.
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So, you can't educate you intuition?
 
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