graeme_hodges Posted August 29, 2007 Share Posted August 29, 2007 Hi all, At the risk of starting a "how long is a piece of string?" thread I would like to know what is the book you turn to the most when faced with your personal photographic existential/artistic/curious/other crises. To help in decision making I may clarify that your book of choice can also be the FAVOURITE one in your collection, but here I am more interested in the MOST-USED. That is, your preferred reference to meet the requirements of your own personal photographic bent. Me? Have a rapidly expanding collection of mostly un-leafed books :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeffpolaski Posted August 29, 2007 Share Posted August 29, 2007 "Light on People", by Paul Petzold. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tom leoni Posted August 29, 2007 Share Posted August 29, 2007 "Photography," by Barbara London, Jim Stone and John Upton. I have read at least another 20 reference books on photography, but I found this one to be the most thorough, complete and well-written--which is why it is the most used in my collection. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mohammed_abidally Posted August 29, 2007 Share Posted August 29, 2007 Understanding Exposure, Bryan Peterson - hey I'm just an amatuer! Still searchng for more inspiration in wildlife photography, this should be good thread to follow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul_neuthaler Posted August 29, 2007 Share Posted August 29, 2007 The paperback 3-volume LEICA ILLUSTRATED GUIDE by James Lager, published in the 70's -- before his larger, hardcover 3- volume "History" series. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul_sharratt Posted August 29, 2007 Share Posted August 29, 2007 "In China" by Eve Arnold, owned for more than 25 years, look at it every year with continued awe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john_r._fulton_jr. Posted August 29, 2007 Share Posted August 29, 2007 <I>Travelog</I> by Charles Harbutt and <I>Exiles</I> by Josef Koudelka are my two favorite books. Also, <I>The Americans</I> by Robert Frank and <I>Telex: Iran</I> by Giles Peres have both been helpful. Plus many others. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raymond_tai Posted August 29, 2007 Share Posted August 29, 2007 When I am confronted with dismal percentage of keepers after a few day's shooting and ready to put my gear up for sale I browse through Koudelka's Exiles and remember why I do it in the first place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stuart_richardson Posted August 29, 2007 Share Posted August 29, 2007 For a reference book, my most used is probably an old worn copy of a National Geographic pocket guide from the 80s. My dad gave it to me when I just started learning photography and I used it a lot when I was starting out. These days I don't really read technical books very often, except for Martin Evening's Adobe Photoshop CS2 for Photographers, which is a great photoshop text. <P>In terms of others work, I love Beaumont Newhall's "The History of Photography" that was put out by MoMA, along with works on Kertész. But to be honest, I more often go back to my own work. I certainly do look at a lot of other work and great photographer's work, but if I am in a rut, I tend to look at my own output. It allows me to see what I like, what I don't like, and where there is room for improvement. I am a fairly harsh self-critic, so I think I do a decent job at identifying areas where I need to improve. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steven_moseley1 Posted August 29, 2007 Share Posted August 29, 2007 Hi, 'The OM System Lens Handbook' published by Olympus themselves, but actually has forwards by several photographers and loads of superb shots by them and others...a great resource no matter what type of camera you use.. cheers Steve. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brad_ Posted August 29, 2007 Share Posted August 29, 2007 Any current edition of <a href= "http://www.burgerworldchronicles.com/">Hamburger Eyes Magazine</a>. www.citysnaps.net Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iancoxleigh Posted August 29, 2007 Share Posted August 29, 2007 These days I don't really look up technical stuff any more and am more interested in looking for inspiration. I still find Burtynsky's work awe-inspiring and turn to it often (particularly Manufactured Landscapes -- but, China is great too). For a good mix of technical with some inspiring images I also turn to Brenda Tharp's Creative Nature and Outdoor Photography Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sprouty Posted August 29, 2007 Share Posted August 29, 2007 Bystander: A History Of Street Photography - by Joel Meyerowitz, Colin Westerbeck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fhmillard Posted August 29, 2007 Share Posted August 29, 2007 The Camera -- Ansel Adams Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
george_bonanno Posted August 29, 2007 Share Posted August 29, 2007 Photography, Theory and Practice - - L. P. Clerc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JosvanEekelen Posted August 29, 2007 Share Posted August 29, 2007 Foto en Film Encyclopedie, published by Focus Elsevier in 1981. Almost 800 pages of text and pictures. Great reference work, unfortunately for most readers: only in Dutch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaelging Posted August 29, 2007 Share Posted August 29, 2007 Edge of Darkness by Barry Thornton is a very good book. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
petemillis Posted August 29, 2007 Share Posted August 29, 2007 Errrmmmm, I ain't got one! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles_Webster Posted August 29, 2007 Share Posted August 29, 2007 "Light - Science & Magic" by Fuqua and Fils. It's about controlling light, primarily in the studio. Indispensable if you are shooting w/ strobes or studio lights. <Chas> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bob_gentile Posted August 29, 2007 Share Posted August 29, 2007 <em>The Camera</em> by Ansel Adams. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sacha_de_carlo Posted August 30, 2007 Share Posted August 30, 2007 The camera user's manual :) or... all Scott Kelby's books! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattloeber Posted September 4, 2007 Share Posted September 4, 2007 "The Negative" "The Camera" and "The Print", all by the Master Ansel Adams. Know these and you know photography! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
summitar Posted September 5, 2007 Share Posted September 5, 2007 No contest. Ivor Matanle's two books on classic cameras. I bought two copies of each just so I could have one set at work, and another at home; never know when you are going to stumble on something on the bay. I used Ivor's advice extensively in acquiring my colleciton for classic cameras. My wife has put a price on his head. Another favorite: "How I photograph my self" by Bunny Yeager. Unfortunately, I never looked anything like Bunny Yeager, 1950s era photographer of Playboy Playmates, whose favorite subject, other than herself, was Bettie Page.<div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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