Your favorite and/or recommended photography articles or reading material!

For beginners AND experienced :)

<p>Try Bruce Barnbaum's, The Art of Photography--at least those first few chapters that deal with "seeing" and developing your personal vision. Learning the technical stuff can be done eventually by most...It's the "eye" that is hard to develop. At least that's where I am these days.</p>

<p>I've always found looking at photos far more useful than articles and reading. I always recommend getting books of photos that people find interesting. </p>

<p>Harald Mante: The Photograph.</p>

<p>Must-read, I think.</p>

<p>What I am about to say will likely struck you as being silly but I am serious about this one. I am now 73 and I have been in the photo business all my working life. It has been a rewarding career (55+ years). I started as boy, working after school for professional photographers and photofinishers. My advice then is to read everything you can get your hands on. Soon you will discover that it's mostly the basics presented in different ways over and over. I often find that a leaf through even the most basic book brings to light some undiscovered (by me) fact or technique. Additionally go to the museum and truly study what others think is great art. Do not overlook the great oils on canvas. Most prize winning portraits inscope the style of the oils. Then go out and adapt you own style. As to a great read, check out Kodak's Digital Photoguide by Michael A. Guncheon. This is a book is chuck full of facts you can use, a must read.</p>

<p>Other than Photo.net, of course.</p>

<p>I still think the original Life Library of Photography series is the handsomest and most useful set of books I have. Available used at very low prices - but <strong>be sure to get the first edition (gravure printed) volumes</strong> so you can do as Jeff does, and "look at the pictures"</p>

<p>There are some 17 volumes of the set, but it's usually cheaper to buy them one at a time on Amazon or other bookseller of your choice.</p>

<p>+1 for <em>Life Library of Photography</em>. Bought the entire set about 20 years ago for $25 from a gentleman who was downsizing. Of course, some of it is hopelessly outdated, but lighting and composition are still the same. The sections on the technical history, and the great photographers of the past are excellent. If you consider photography an <em>art</em>, you really should know the history of the art.</p>

<p>More recent: <em>Light: Science and Magic</em>, a must-read for anyone who does anything in a studio.</p>

<p>"I sit in the corner and look at the paintings."</p>

<p>Ansel Adams' 'The Camera' and 'Examples: The Making of 50 Photographs'.<br>

Brian Peterson's 'Learning to See Creatively: Design, Color, and Composition in Photography'.<br>

+1 on 'Light: Science and Magic'</p>

<p>A huge +1 for <em>Life Library of Photography </em>again. The entire set makes an excellent series to keep around for whenever the mood strikes. I also found about 20 years of National Geographic that I keep in the living room. They look beautiful as a decoration, but are even better for occasional inspiration. Of course "The Camera", "The Negative<em>", </em>"The Print" By Ansel Adams. Excellent overview for someone taking a first step. <br>

Old copies of any Art/Photo magazine. Ebay is your friend here. Endless inspiration.</p>

<p> </p>

My favorite photo how-to books are by John Shaw, Lee Frost, and Bryan Peterson.

Thanks everyone I will be making a list and will be working my way through it :) I notice alot of you say looking at photos is

most helpful so what are your favorite photographers!?

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<p>I've always found looking at photos far more useful than articles and reading.</p>

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<p>I often find that a leaf through even the most basic book brings to light some undiscovered (by me) fact or technique.</p>

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<p>Both of these statements are true IMO. :-)</p>

<p>I'd like to suggest <a href="http://www.bythom.com/">Thom Hogan's</a> site. There is something so approachable about his style. One of my favourite books (although not comprehensive) is <em>On Assignment: Projects in Photojournalism</em> by Tony Spina.</p>

<p>Favourite photographers? Cecil Beaton, Eugene Smith, Bill Henson, Cindy Sherman. I also like David Lynch's photography (<a href="http://www.thecityofabsurdity.com/photos/index.html">samples here</a>). I am obsessed with his industrial landscapes and his Nudes and Smoke series. I share his preference for abandoned factories over amusement parks.</p>

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<p>what are your favorite photographers!?</p>

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<p>All the big names mentioned here already. Also Andreas Feininger, Michael Freeman, HCB, Joe McNally, Helmut Newton... and really any other image that catches my eye.. even here on pn.</p>

<p>Few years back I checked out all the books of painting by the great masters I could find in the library, and waded through some 5k plates in a week. On a notepad I formulated my own "rules of composition". Memorized them, practiced them and then threw them away once they started becoming a part of me. I've never had major problems with composition since. I need to repeat that for light, color, perspective, emotions...</p>

<p>Books have rules and, since no rule is perfect, rules are helpful only if one also knows the context in which they were derived. Looking at images provides that context.</p>