I was asked in an email today about which books I would recommend for aspiring photographers who are starting to get into photography beyond auto mode. As I began typing my response, I realized that it would make a good blog post, so here we are. Thanks Kelley!
If I had only one book to recommend it is LIFE Guide to Digital Photography: Everything You Need to Shoot Like the Pros by Joe McNally. This book is a Swiss Army Knife of photo information, and Joe has such an endearing personality in his writing that you will almost forget that he's giving you valuable information. It's an easy read and the author is pretty much the top of the food chain when it comes to his knowledge of photography. Joe's done it all and been everywhere, and has a resume that can't be beaten. Even if you are an experienced photographer, this book will inspire you with the examples McNally provides. I've already lent my copy out more than once, because it's the easiest answer to new DSLR owners who ask, "How do I use this?"
Another good "all-in-one" book that's an easy read is Bryan Peterson's Understanding Photography Field Guide: How to Shoot Great Photographs with Any Camera. Bryan has written quite a few books on photography, each one going into great detail. This book is almost like a greatest hits of his previous work. He goes through each aspect with enough detail to give you a general understanding of the topic, and if you wish to delve in deeper, you can order his book that focuses on that one subject. I do feel though that he is quite thorough in this book and for my needs he explains everything in a way that didn't leave me wondering if I'm not getting the full picture. Between this book and Joe's book above, you should have enough knowledge to start using your camera as a tool that allows you to create the images you really want to create. That leads us to the most important books I can recommend...
While learning how to use your camera is an obstacle that seems like a large mountain of technology to overcome at first, no amount of technical expertise can save a photo that lacks a clear vision. David duChemin is the pioneer of vision-based photography, and his book Within The Frame, The Journey of Photographic Vision is an eye-opening look into the why of photography over the how.
If I had only one book to recommend it is LIFE Guide to Digital Photography: Everything You Need to Shoot Like the Pros by Joe McNally. This book is a Swiss Army Knife of photo information, and Joe has such an endearing personality in his writing that you will almost forget that he's giving you valuable information. It's an easy read and the author is pretty much the top of the food chain when it comes to his knowledge of photography. Joe's done it all and been everywhere, and has a resume that can't be beaten. Even if you are an experienced photographer, this book will inspire you with the examples McNally provides. I've already lent my copy out more than once, because it's the easiest answer to new DSLR owners who ask, "How do I use this?"
Another good "all-in-one" book that's an easy read is Bryan Peterson's Understanding Photography Field Guide: How to Shoot Great Photographs with Any Camera. Bryan has written quite a few books on photography, each one going into great detail. This book is almost like a greatest hits of his previous work. He goes through each aspect with enough detail to give you a general understanding of the topic, and if you wish to delve in deeper, you can order his book that focuses on that one subject. I do feel though that he is quite thorough in this book and for my needs he explains everything in a way that didn't leave me wondering if I'm not getting the full picture. Between this book and Joe's book above, you should have enough knowledge to start using your camera as a tool that allows you to create the images you really want to create. That leads us to the most important books I can recommend...
While learning how to use your camera is an obstacle that seems like a large mountain of technology to overcome at first, no amount of technical expertise can save a photo that lacks a clear vision. David duChemin is the pioneer of vision-based photography, and his book Within The Frame, The Journey of Photographic Vision is an eye-opening look into the why of photography over the how.I was asked in an email today about which books I would recommend for aspiring photographers who are starting to get into photography beyond auto mode. As I began typing my response, I realized that it would make a good blog post, so here we are. Thanks Kelley!
If I had only one book to recommend it is LIFE Guide to Digital Photography: Everything You Need to Shoot Like the Pros by Joe McNally. This book is a Swiss Army Knife of photo information, and Joe has such an endearing personality in his writing that you will almost forget that he's giving you valuable information. It's an easy read and the author is pretty much the top of the food chain when it comes to his knowledge of photography. Joe's done it all and been everywhere, and has a resume that can't be beaten. Even if you are an experienced photographer, this book will inspire you with the examples McNally provides. I've already lent my copy out more than once, because it's the easiest answer to new DSLR owners who ask, "How do I use this?"
Another good "all-in-one" book that's an easy read is Bryan Peterson's Understanding Photography Field Guide: How to Shoot Great Photographs with Any Camera. Bryan has written quite a few books on photography, each one going into great detail. This book is almost like a greatest hits of his previous work. He goes through each aspect with enough detail to give you a general understanding of the topic, and if you wish to delve in deeper, you can order his book that focuses on that one subject. I do feel though that he is quite thorough in this book and for my needs he explains everything in a way that didn't leave me wondering if I'm not getting the full picture. Between this book and Joe's book above, you should have enough knowledge to start using your camera as a tool that allows you to create the images you really want to create. That leads us to the most important books I can recommend...
While learning how to use your camera is an obstacle that seems like a large mountain of technology to overcome at first, no amount of technical expertise can save a photo that lacks a clear vision. David duChemin is the pioneer of vision-based photography, and his book Within The Frame, The Journey of Photographic Vision is an eye-opening look into the why of photography over the how. Anyone and everyone can snap a photo to document what is going on around them, but it's the skilled photographer that plans out the photograph before he or she squeezes the shutter. Thinking about the photograph and using your tools to best represent the vision of it in your mind are what David preaches. Ansel Adams once said that "There is nothing worse than a sharp image of a fuzzy concept", and duChemin has taken that idea and expanded it across a series of books, his blog, and his storefront for photography eBooks called Craft & Vision.
If I had only one book to recommend it is LIFE Guide to Digital Photography: Everything You Need to Shoot Like the Pros by Joe McNally. This book is a Swiss Army Knife of photo information, and Joe has such an endearing personality in his writing that you will almost forget that he's giving you valuable information. It's an easy read and the author is pretty much the top of the food chain when it comes to his knowledge of photography. Joe's done it all and been everywhere, and has a resume that can't be beaten. Even if you are an experienced photographer, this book will inspire you with the examples McNally provides. I've already lent my copy out more than once, because it's the easiest answer to new DSLR owners who ask, "How do I use this?"
Another good "all-in-one" book that's an easy read is Bryan Peterson's Understanding Photography Field Guide: How to Shoot Great Photographs with Any Camera. Bryan has written quite a few books on photography, each one going into great detail. This book is almost like a greatest hits of his previous work. He goes through each aspect with enough detail to give you a general understanding of the topic, and if you wish to delve in deeper, you can order his book that focuses on that one subject. I do feel though that he is quite thorough in this book and for my needs he explains everything in a way that didn't leave me wondering if I'm not getting the full picture. Between this book and Joe's book above, you should have enough knowledge to start using your camera as a tool that allows you to create the images you really want to create. That leads us to the most important books I can recommend...
While learning how to use your camera is an obstacle that seems like a large mountain of technology to overcome at first, no amount of technical expertise can save a photo that lacks a clear vision. David duChemin is the pioneer of vision-based photography, and his book Within The Frame, The Journey of Photographic Vision is an eye-opening look into the why of photography over the how. Anyone and everyone can snap a photo to document what is going on around them, but it's the skilled photographer that plans out the photograph before he or she squeezes the shutter. Thinking about the photograph and using your tools to best represent the vision of it in your mind are what David preaches. Ansel Adams once said that "There is nothing worse than a sharp image of a fuzzy concept", and duChemin has taken that idea and expanded it across a series of books, his blog, and his storefront for photography eBooks called Craft & Vision.I was asked in an email today about which books I would recommend for aspiring photographers who are starting to get into photography beyond auto mode. As I began typing my response, I realized that it would make a good blog post, so here we are. Thanks Kelley!
If I had only one book to recommend it is LIFE Guide to Digital Photography: Everything You Need to Shoot Like the Pros by Joe McNally. This book is a Swiss Army Knife of photo information, and Joe has such an endearing personality in his writing that you will almost forget that he's giving you valuable information. It's an easy read and the author is pretty much the top of the food chain when it comes to his knowledge of photography. Joe's done it all and been everywhere, and has a resume that can't be beaten. Even if you are an experienced photographer, this book will inspire you with the examples McNally provides. I've already lent my copy out more than once, because it's the easiest answer to new DSLR owners who ask, "How do I use this?"
Another good "all-in-one" book that's an easy read is Bryan Peterson's Understanding Photography Field Guide: How to Shoot Great Photographs with Any Camera. Bryan has written quite a few books on photography, each one going into great detail. This book is almost like a greatest hits of his previous work. He goes through each aspect with enough detail to give you a general understanding of the topic, and if you wish to delve in deeper, you can order his book that focuses on that one subject. I do feel though that he is quite thorough in this book and for my needs he explains everything in a way that didn't leave me wondering if I'm not getting the full picture. Between this book and Joe's book above, you should have enough knowledge to start using your camera as a tool that allows you to create the images you really want to create. That leads us to the most important books I can recommend...
While learning how to use your camera is an obstacle that seems like a large mountain of technology to overcome at first, no amount of technical expertise can save a photo that lacks a clear vision. David duChemin is the pioneer of vision-based photography, and his book Within The Frame, The Journey of Photographic Vision is an eye-opening look into the why of photography over the how. Anyone and everyone can snap a photo to document what is going on around them, but it's the skilled photographer that plans out the photograph before he or she squeezes the shutter. Thinking about the photograph and using your tools to best represent the vision of it in your mind are what David preaches. Ansel Adams once said that "There is nothing worse than a sharp image of a fuzzy concept", and duChemin has taken that idea and expanded it across a series of books, his blog, and his storefront for photography eBooks called Craft & Vision. An inexpensive way to get a lot in return without buying more gear is to check out his eBooks Ten, Chasing the Look, & Drawing The Eye.
Finally, bouncing off of the vision of photography is a more advanced book on composition. The Photographer's Eye: Composition and Design for Better Digital Photos by Michael Freeman is an exhaustive look at composition in the two dimensional medium of photography.
If I had only one book to recommend it is LIFE Guide to Digital Photography: Everything You Need to Shoot Like the Pros by Joe McNally. This book is a Swiss Army Knife of photo information, and Joe has such an endearing personality in his writing that you will almost forget that he's giving you valuable information. It's an easy read and the author is pretty much the top of the food chain when it comes to his knowledge of photography. Joe's done it all and been everywhere, and has a resume that can't be beaten. Even if you are an experienced photographer, this book will inspire you with the examples McNally provides. I've already lent my copy out more than once, because it's the easiest answer to new DSLR owners who ask, "How do I use this?"
Another good "all-in-one" book that's an easy read is Bryan Peterson's Understanding Photography Field Guide: How to Shoot Great Photographs with Any Camera. Bryan has written quite a few books on photography, each one going into great detail. This book is almost like a greatest hits of his previous work. He goes through each aspect with enough detail to give you a general understanding of the topic, and if you wish to delve in deeper, you can order his book that focuses on that one subject. I do feel though that he is quite thorough in this book and for my needs he explains everything in a way that didn't leave me wondering if I'm not getting the full picture. Between this book and Joe's book above, you should have enough knowledge to start using your camera as a tool that allows you to create the images you really want to create. That leads us to the most important books I can recommend...
While learning how to use your camera is an obstacle that seems like a large mountain of technology to overcome at first, no amount of technical expertise can save a photo that lacks a clear vision. David duChemin is the pioneer of vision-based photography, and his book Within The Frame, The Journey of Photographic Vision is an eye-opening look into the why of photography over the how. Anyone and everyone can snap a photo to document what is going on around them, but it's the skilled photographer that plans out the photograph before he or she squeezes the shutter. Thinking about the photograph and using your tools to best represent the vision of it in your mind are what David preaches. Ansel Adams once said that "There is nothing worse than a sharp image of a fuzzy concept", and duChemin has taken that idea and expanded it across a series of books, his blog, and his storefront for photography eBooks called Craft & Vision. An inexpensive way to get a lot in return without buying more gear is to check out his eBooks Ten, Chasing the Look, & Drawing The Eye.
Finally, bouncing off of the vision of photography is a more advanced book on composition. The Photographer's Eye: Composition and Design for Better Digital Photos by Michael Freeman is an exhaustive look at composition in the two dimensional medium of photography.I was asked in an email today about which books I would recommend for aspiring photographers who are starting to get into photography beyond auto mode. As I began typing my response, I realized that it would make a good blog post, so here we are. Thanks Kelley!
If I had only one book to recommend it is LIFE Guide to Digital Photography: Everything You Need to Shoot Like the Pros by Joe McNally. This book is a Swiss Army Knife of photo information, and Joe has such an endearing personality in his writing that you will almost forget that he's giving you valuable information. It's an easy read and the author is pretty much the top of the food chain when it comes to his knowledge of photography. Joe's done it all and been everywhere, and has a resume that can't be beaten. Even if you are an experienced photographer, this book will inspire you with the examples McNally provides. I've already lent my copy out more than once, because it's the easiest answer to new DSLR owners who ask, "How do I use this?"
Another good "all-in-one" book that's an easy read is Bryan Peterson's Understanding Photography Field Guide: How to Shoot Great Photographs with Any Camera. Bryan has written quite a few books on photography, each one going into great detail. This book is almost like a greatest hits of his previous work. He goes through each aspect with enough detail to give you a general understanding of the topic, and if you wish to delve in deeper, you can order his book that focuses on that one subject. I do feel though that he is quite thorough in this book and for my needs he explains everything in a way that didn't leave me wondering if I'm not getting the full picture. Between this book and Joe's book above, you should have enough knowledge to start using your camera as a tool that allows you to create the images you really want to create. That leads us to the most important books I can recommend...
While learning how to use your camera is an obstacle that seems like a large mountain of technology to overcome at first, no amount of technical expertise can save a photo that lacks a clear vision. David duChemin is the pioneer of vision-based photography, and his book Within The Frame, The Journey of Photographic Vision is an eye-opening look into the why of photography over the how. Anyone and everyone can snap a photo to document what is going on around them, but it's the skilled photographer that plans out the photograph before he or she squeezes the shutter. Thinking about the photograph and using your tools to best represent the vision of it in your mind are what David preaches. Ansel Adams once said that "There is nothing worse than a sharp image of a fuzzy concept", and duChemin has taken that idea and expanded it across a series of books, his blog, and his storefront for photography eBooks called Craft & Vision. An inexpensive way to get a lot in return without buying more gear is to check out his eBooks Ten, Chasing the Look, & Drawing The Eye.
Finally, bouncing off of the vision of photography is a more advanced book on composition. The Photographer's Eye: Composition and Design for Better Digital Photos by Michael Freeman is an exhaustive look at composition in the two dimensional medium of photography. From understanding the Golden Ratio, the relationship of color, and the movement of shapes, this book will open your eyes to why some photographs work better than others. More importantly, you learn how to make more successful images because of this knowledge. Make no bones about it, there is no substitute for good design. Composition will separate an average photo and a timeless one.
So there you have it - use the first two books to learn how to use your camera and learn the basics of photography. Use the second two to find a purpose for your photography and design your images to best convey your vision.
If I had only one book to recommend it is LIFE Guide to Digital Photography: Everything You Need to Shoot Like the Pros by Joe McNally. This book is a Swiss Army Knife of photo information, and Joe has such an endearing personality in his writing that you will almost forget that he's giving you valuable information. It's an easy read and the author is pretty much the top of the food chain when it comes to his knowledge of photography. Joe's done it all and been everywhere, and has a resume that can't be beaten. Even if you are an experienced photographer, this book will inspire you with the examples McNally provides. I've already lent my copy out more than once, because it's the easiest answer to new DSLR owners who ask, "How do I use this?"
Another good "all-in-one" book that's an easy read is Bryan Peterson's Understanding Photography Field Guide: How to Shoot Great Photographs with Any Camera. Bryan has written quite a few books on photography, each one going into great detail. This book is almost like a greatest hits of his previous work. He goes through each aspect with enough detail to give you a general understanding of the topic, and if you wish to delve in deeper, you can order his book that focuses on that one subject. I do feel though that he is quite thorough in this book and for my needs he explains everything in a way that didn't leave me wondering if I'm not getting the full picture. Between this book and Joe's book above, you should have enough knowledge to start using your camera as a tool that allows you to create the images you really want to create. That leads us to the most important books I can recommend...
While learning how to use your camera is an obstacle that seems like a large mountain of technology to overcome at first, no amount of technical expertise can save a photo that lacks a clear vision. David duChemin is the pioneer of vision-based photography, and his book Within The Frame, The Journey of Photographic Vision is an eye-opening look into the why of photography over the how. Anyone and everyone can snap a photo to document what is going on around them, but it's the skilled photographer that plans out the photograph before he or she squeezes the shutter. Thinking about the photograph and using your tools to best represent the vision of it in your mind are what David preaches. Ansel Adams once said that "There is nothing worse than a sharp image of a fuzzy concept", and duChemin has taken that idea and expanded it across a series of books, his blog, and his storefront for photography eBooks called Craft & Vision. An inexpensive way to get a lot in return without buying more gear is to check out his eBooks Ten, Chasing the Look, & Drawing The Eye.
Finally, bouncing off of the vision of photography is a more advanced book on composition. The Photographer's Eye: Composition and Design for Better Digital Photos by Michael Freeman is an exhaustive look at composition in the two dimensional medium of photography. From understanding the Golden Ratio, the relationship of color, and the movement of shapes, this book will open your eyes to why some photographs work better than others. More importantly, you learn how to make more successful images because of this knowledge. Make no bones about it, there is no substitute for good design. Composition will separate an average photo and a timeless one.
So there you have it - use the first two books to learn how to use your camera and learn the basics of photography. Use the second two to find a purpose for your photography and design your images to best convey your vision.
