Photography book recommendations

[My2Girls66]

I like Understanding Exposure, too. Scott Kelby's books are also easy to understand. I'd also recommend them. I have books 1 & 2, book 3 is due out this summer along with another book by Bryan Peterson which is due out in Aug sometime. Both look like they will be good.

 

[revrob]

Thanks for the additional recommendations! I'm digesting a bit at a time, and I've really enjoyed the explanation of how things work. It makes sense now! I'll pick up the other books recommended as well, as I'm sure that I'll still have lots to learn when I finish "Understanding Exposure".

 

[Angrypenguin]

I agree, Understanding Exposure and Scott Kelby's "Digital Photography" books are great places to start!

 

[My2Girls66]

If you like Bryan Peterson's book check this out. Video tips.
http://ppsop.net/tips.aspx

 

[GrillMouster]

Understanding Exposure is good but it's also rather dated. I preferred "The Betterphoto Guide to Digital Photography" by Jim Miotke.

These are the top two books I recommend to beginners. Honestly, I'd give a slightly higher recommendation to "The BetterPhoto Guide to Digital Photography". It's just as easy to understand, if not moreso, than "Understanding Photography", and it has a lot more information about digital photography. The BetterPhoto book is nicely broken down into lessons, with activities that really help you understand the concepts.

 

[VickynMickey]

I have to start out by saying I love this board. Each and everyone of you has inspired me. I have played around with photography for years but never really got serious about it until one day I came upon the photography board planning our next trip to WDW.
I currently own a Canon SD800 IS Love the camera but I don't always love the pictures that come from it. I want the ability to take a better picture, so I am taking the SLR plunge.
I need to know if there are any good books out there for newbies
something that can teach me.
Thanks for any advice,
I think I am going with the Canon XS or the XSi, would love the brand new Canon T1i but I am not sure if I want to spend that much yet.

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

Hey! I'm a noob too and I HIGHLY recommend "The Digital Photography Book" by Scott Kelby. Funny, down to Earth, and in plain English! I learned a lot reading it.

Now I'm reading "Understanding Exposure" by Bryan Peterson and it's also very helpful, but I have to read it slow and take in each few pages or I start to get confused. (maybe I'm just slow!)

 

[MKhead72]

Just this past weekend I went and purchased " The BetterPhoto Guide to Digital Photography " by Jim Miotke. This book has been great at explaining what you need to know, and also shows you lots of examples of what he is explaining. At the end of each chapter, you get a little assignment, in which you get to know your camera and different settings. Very good reading !!

 

[oregondaddyof2]

Now I'm reading "Understanding Exposure" by Bryan Peterson and it's also very helpful, but I have to read it slow and take in each few pages or I start to get confused. (maybe I'm just slow!)

I just finished Understanding Exposure... I too had to take it slow, as it was kinda over my head to start out with... But, it was awesome and taught me a lot... I also recently took the jump into the DSLR world, and had no idea about how to shoot good photos... Up until recently, i shot on Auto mode and hoped for the best... Now I realize there is soooo much more you can do with these cameras... That book goes into ISO settings, aperature settings, and shutter speed settings, and explains what each one of them does... I have a lot more knowledge now and have been playing around on Manual mode lately and love it... I am now reading another book by Bryan Peterson called Learning to See Creatively. This book helps teach people how to frame a shot, and how to see what ohers can't see... It really helps also cause a lot of shots can be made better if you just have a different angle... Good luck with the DSLR choice... There are a bunch out there... When you are looking, the guys around here can help with difficult decisions...

 

[MermaidMom]

I HIGHLY recommend "The Digital Photography Book" by Scott Kelby. Funny, down to Earth, and in plain English! I learned a lot reading it.

I also like this book. They sell it in a 2 pack now with volume 2 but volume 2 is mostly about lighting, studio work and a bit on travel photography. I wouldn't spend any extra to get volume 2.

I'd also look for a book specific to your camera if they make one. I relied on the rating system on Amazon to pick a good one and I like the Nikon book I got for my model.

 

[KarenAylwood]

Reading the manual itself helped me a lot- but I also read Understanding Exposure. I was so excited about it I couldn't put it down. I read it on the plane ride to Disney last year- and I had finished it by the time I got home. Very well written and interesting. I found it pretty easy to understand but I think it's maybe because I read the manual first?

I have a Canon SD800 as well- and bought the Canon XSi last August. I love it!! They have some great deals on it now- last I heard Amazon.com had the best price.

 

[lizet313]

WOW great advice

 

[kaffinito]

Understanding Exposure

and DSLR's for Dummies (it does help!)

 

[VickynMickey]

Thank you all so very much!!
I have made my list(checking in twice)
I think I have a lot of learning ahead of me and I am so excited. Again thank you all for the great advice

 

[boBQuincy]

I know I mention this almost every time someone asks the question, but once more: *no one* knew more about exposure than Ansel Adams, and his books contain more information on that subject than any others I have read.

"The Camera" goes into the settings, lenses, and such. One of the chapters explains why a lens does not affect perspective, a topic that is usually misunderstood. "The Negative" shows how (and why) to get the exposure you want, which is rarely the exposure the camera chooses. No, this is not light reading but if you want to learn why not learn from the best?

If you are getting into home printing "The Print" is extremely valuable. These are the photography books I refer to more than any other, and they are still relevant to digital.

 

[mabas9395]

I'm taking some time off work in a few weeks and I'd really like to find a good photography book to read during my down time. I normally read finance text books while on vacation and thought I would go with photography this time and am looking for some suggestions.

I am an experienced amateur (not an advanced amateur because that would imply a certain level of skill) so I'm looking for something above just the basics.

Here are the books/magazines I've read/own already:

* Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson
* Learning to See Creatively by Bryan Peterson
* The Photoshop CS2 Book for Digital Photographers by Scott Kelby
* The Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Book for Digital Photographers by Scott Kelby
* Real World Image Sharpening with Photoshop CS2 by Bruce Fraser
* The Moment it Clicks by Joe McNally
* The Hotshoe Diaries: Big Lights from Small Flashes by Joe McNally
* Subscription to Outdoor Photographer
* Subscription to Popular Photography

Just last week I got another Speedlight (a 580ex II to go with my 430ex) to play with some OCF and my wife has been waiting for years for me to get some portrait style shots of the kids, so a lighting/portraiture book might be a good category. But I am open to anything .

Thanks.

 

[gruZ]

It's not a book - at least not yet - but if you have access to a computer the Strobist Lighting 101 series is outstanding. You've probably been there already, but if not, coupled with desire to get your flash off the camera, it is a great source of information.

Have fun!

 

[spinetnglr]

If you are open to anything you might want to check out The BetterPhoto Guide to Digital Photography by Jim Miotke. I have had this book for a while now and I saw someone else mentioned it on another thread. Its a good book and the author gives you "assignments" for each section, techinique, concept etc. that he covers. I keep it in the laptop sleeve of my camera bag and when I am out with the camera sometimes I will refer to it and browse some of the assignments to maybe get a different perspective or idea for whatever I might be shooting at the time.

 

[jann1033]

kind of specialized and not a whole lot to read but if you are interested in B&w photos it's gotta be more interesting to read than finance texts
Advanced Digital Black and White photography by John Beardsworth...i like it cause it seems so many b&w books are still mainly film. this shows lots of tricks and tips for editing to convert to b&w as well as the normal how to shoot for B&w.
i haven't finished it yet cause i forgot about it since it was buried under my after capture mags..but those mags are imo another good and free source if you enjoy post processing. you get them by going to adobe (i think ) and sign up there. they come every other month so might be to late for vacation.

 

[Groucho]

I really enjoyed The Photographer's Eye, it's a great book for thinking about composition.

Actually, I think I got busy and never actually finished it, but it's there along with a zillion other books to finish reading. But seriously, it was really good and inspiring.