Your favorite three books on photography, and why

<p>Michael Freeman's foursome of "The Photographer's Eye/Mind/Vision/Story." Each title brings you in-depth as to what's happening, or what can/should be happening, to make a great photo, and none of it has anything to do with the camera.</p>

<p>David duChemin, "Photographically Speaking..." It's teaching me to not only think, but to feel as I bring the camera to my eye.</p>

<p>Henri Cartier-Bresson, "Henri Cartier-Bresson, Photographer" Compilation of arguably his best work.</p>

<p>John Szarkowski, "The Faces of Minnesota". (This is from his pre- New York MOMA career, and a commissioned piece for the centennial celebration [1958] of MN's statehood.) This is my home state. The time frame pre-dates my life but I'm able to place myself at or near so much of what he gives us that it really makes it feel like the book was made for me. (Well, it was, it was made for the people of MN.) And that it shows wonderfully captured images makes it that much better. You don't have to be a Minnesotan to appreciate this book.</p>

<p>Sorry, that's seven. I've got about a hundred more, want me to list them? (Never mind. Damn used book stores.) Oh, and Viv's books, and Alec Soth, and...</p>

<p>Lots more good stuff here people. Thanks again for contributing. Warren, I have bookmarked it as well.</p>

<p>Jeff, what are the freakin odds that I mention Parks right when there is a big showing of his over in San Fran? I am in the Sacramento area so yeah, I think I can make it over. Thanks so much for letting me know, that was very nice of you.</p>

<p>JDM, you better start assembling it. :)</p>

<p>not your average "cheese" portrait photographer : Mike Disfarmer.<br>

"Disfarmer: The Vintage Prints" (2005) {Houk,Sander,Woodward,Mattis} Woodward offers a good analysis here.</p>

<p>Perhaps you connoisseur's of fine photography can help me relocate a book whose theme was birds, but taken from a distance. The whole book was a magnificent study of birds taken in and around average home settings, but without any close-ups. They conveyed more than the conventional full frame trophy, because they were how we ordinarily see birds. This was published five or six years ago, and I think the man was european, but I'm not sure. I should have snatched this up but I probably was scolding myself for buying too many photo books. Some favorites: Emmet Gowin: Changing the Earth, John Gossage: The Pond, Robert Adams, anything, Diane Arbus, everything, Ken Light: Delta Time, Abelardo Morell, Linda Conner: Odyssey (available extremely cheap by the way) There's too many. Thanks.</p>

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<p>Nevermind. Slogged thru 50 pages at Amazon. Jean-Luc Mylayne. Viola. Very interesting treatment. 99% of bird books demonstrate how you need to get close, and this artist shows you how to make a strong statement otherwise. </p>