Recommend Books

I've had to cut back on things lately due to health... but managed to get some serious reading in instead

So, here's a list of recommended books:
"The Photographer's Eye" by Michael Freeman - an excellent book indeed! Lots of analysis over what works and (more importantly) why. Filled with excellent images and lots of diagrams analysing the images.

"Creative Digital Darkroom" by Katrin Eismann and Seán Duggan - Another superb publication from Katrin. Although it deals with Photoshop CS3 quite a bit, much of the information is applicable to any other editing package. Deals extensively with exposure, dodging & burning, colour corrections and other fundamental "darkroom" bits and pieces. More about keeping the integrity of the image (rather than compositing etc). Definitely worth reading and keeping to hand!

I'll add some older books that I've found useful later...
Matt

From few books I have read the one I liked was National Geograpic's -The ultimate field guide to photography link

As a newcomer to photography I have found Langford's basic Photography very useful. I have the 2007, eight edition, which has been updated for digital photography. I come from a technical background and have been impressed with the clarity of diagrams and descriptions.

My favourites to date are Bryan Peterson's "Learning to see creatively" & Understanding Exposure".

Lot's of useful info, tips 'n tricks in both.

Yes, the Bryan Peterson books are excellent too! I have the one about portraiture which is also good (but difficult to get)!
Matt

My tatty and dog-eared copy of The Photographer's Handbook by John Hedgecoe has been with me since I was a kid and I still refer to it from time-to-time. Although written in a pre-digital age the basics haven't changed and it makes a great reference and source of ideas - a real treasure trove of photo techniques.

Do someone know some excellent books over studio photography?

John Shaw. The author of:
# The Nature Photographer's Complete Guide to Professional Field Techniques
# Close ups in Nature
# Focus on Nature
# Landscape Photography

Those are the books that inspired me many years back, and still do.
Written in the Pre-Digital age, but still going strong.

Martin.

I found this book very useful. Although it is more to do with the appreciation of photographs, it helped me see what to look for when taking the shot.

http://www.amazon.com/How-Look-Photographs-David-Finn/dp/0810925532

Which book is that Matt, "People in Focus: How to Photograph Anyone, Anywhere" or "Beyond Portraiture" ?

I too am finding Langford good. I like their format of a chapter of theory then a page of summaries then an exercise for you to try.

Shame you have to rip half the book (film cameras, developing etc) out and bin it.

I would not want to do that. I might want to sell on the Langford book one day

I enjoyed the film and developing parts. It brought back memories from many years ago when I had to photograph printed circuit board layouts on an enormous 4:1 reduction camera. It also created a nice feeling that I no longer had to mix and use all those nasty smelling chemicals.

Glyn

[quote:3496ace15f="GlynM]I would not want to do that. I might want to sell on the Langford book one day [/quote]Oh alright

[quote:3496ace15f="GlynM]...all those nasty smelling chemicals.

Glyn[/quote]Yup, that's what I remember as well. Gawd bless York Laboritories

Peter:
It has a lot of good common sense information.
However, I find that Robin Gillander's The Photographic Portrait to be just wonderful! It deals with a "considered" approach to portraiture and is packed with beautiful and thought provoking images - many B&W. Has information on lighting & flash as well as how to approach it all. Definitely worth a read

Matt