Photo Books: Continuing Education

Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, Spain

On Wednesday I wrote about books that will help a newby photographer get started in the hobby.  Since a good education never ends, today I would like to recommend some books that will help any photographer improve his or her developing skills.  These are great titles to aquire after you’ve spent a few months out in the field making images.

Composition:

Developing the skill of photographic composition requires a bit of knowledge and a lot of practice. There are a number of worthwhile older books out there that cover this skill both from the general artistic and the photographic perspective.  One of those classic volumes is Photographic Composition (Amphoto 1990) by Tom Gill and Mark Scanlon, well worth a look.

One of the more recent books on composition is The Photographer’s Eye (Focal Press 2007) by Michael Freeman.  Freeman covers all of the main topics in photographic composition.  Where should we place the subject in the frame?  Where does the horizon go? Geometric shapes, how do they affect the composition?  Freeman then delves deeper into compositional theory including how the photographic elements come together the affect the viewer, how the viewer’s eye moves around a picture and other rather esoteric topics that he explains in easy to understand layman’s terms.  The images he uses to illustrate his points are interesting and well done photos.

I think this is one of the best books on photo composition on the market today.  Well worth the purchase price

The Photographer’s Eye: Composition and Design for Better Digital Photos $30

By Michael Freeman

Focal Press 2007

ISBN-13: 978-0-240-80934-2

Travel Photography Exposed:

Much of the photography that we do can be classified as “travel photography.” Even the photos we shoot around home.  With that in mind I have a few books that are worth a read.  One long out of print book by Lisl Dennis is The Traveler’s Eye Clarkston Potter).  Published in 1996, Lisl’s book is well worth a visit to the library or the used book store.  Another more recent, but still “film centric,” book is a wonderful volume by Bob Krist, Spirit of Place (Amphoto 2000).  "Spirit" is easier to find than Lisl’s book and should be available in most libraries and on-line.

A newer book by Bob Krist is Travel Photography (Lark 2008).  This one is digital based and outdoes his earlier, excellent volume.  Krist starts out talking about gear, file formats, and digital workflow.  He then moves on to the elements of travel images such as light sources and quality, photographic composition and capturing the moment.  Krist also has chapters on flash photography, photographing people and survival tips for traveling and keeping yourself and your equipment safe.  The images are excellent and illustrate his points perfectly.  This is a must-buy travel photography book.

Digital Masters, Travel Photography: Documenting the World’s People and Places $25

By Bob Krist

Lark Books 2008

ISBN-13: 978-1-60059-110-5

One more recommendation:

I have to give a plug here for what I consider the photo book of the year.  David DuChemin has hit a home run with his absolutely inspiring Within the Frame.  This is a book, not about the how but about the why of photography.  David writes about all of the standard photographic topics such as lenses, composition and light, but his emphasis is on why rather than how.  Vision is David’s real topic.  This book will help you find yours.  He talks about getting to know your subject, whether a person or a place.  The book is illustrated with images the will inspire any photographer to go out and create images, to shoot to tell a story. 

When David writes about photographing people he tells you not only how and why he made the image but also how he got to know the subject on a personal level.  He explains how he joked around, shared tales and in a true sense became a friend of the people as he created their portraits.

This book will challenge and inspire you.  It will make you a better photographer if for no other reason that you have thought about what David has written. 

If you buy no other book this year, get this one!  You won’t regret it! 

Within The Frame: The Journey of Photographic Vision $40

By David DuChemin (forward by Joe McNally)

New Riders (2009)

ISBN-13: 978-0-321-60502-3

Wednesday I blog about photographing The Point Betsie Lighthouse on Lake Michigan. Come on back and visit then.

© Tim Marks 2009

Comments

[Dominique]

So, do I get to read DuChemin's book now? :)

[Tim]

Sure, Any time you want!

[Becks Davis]

Thanks for the suggestions, Tim. Photography is something I've been interested in for 20 years but never had the equipment or have done the work. And I used that as my excuse.

Now I'm realizing that even with a point and shoot, I can still become a better photographer by doing the homework. Hopefully, I'll be getting a "real" camera soon and hope to take some classes as well. I'll definitely give these books and the ones in the previous post a look.

[Tim]

Becks
While great equipment helps, the Point & Shoots made today are head and shoulders above what we had only a few years ago. Some of my best shots in Spain and France were shot with a point and shoot. I carried a pock size P&S and an advanced compact camera with me. I left the heavy dSLR at home.