As a photographer, I get inspiration from other photographers. Gazing at images created by master photographers is inspirational. In addition to looking at images, also read books about photography. And they are written by some of my favorite photographers. The following is a list of my favorites:
The Moment It Clicks: Photography Secrets from One of the World’s Top Shooters
Joe McNally
I met Joe McNally at Photoshop World in 2010. He had a great presentation about lighting techniques. His book is chock full of tips and tricks about photography. This is a coffee table book with stunning images and information about how he created the photographs.
Within the Frame
David duChemin
This is another book full of compelling images created by a master photographer. David insists that it’s not about the gear you have, it’s about vision, stopping when something piques your curiosity, and then taking a picture. David talks about picking the low-hanging fruit, that’s your first image. But is there an image within the image. Pick the low hanging fruit and then create more images before you move on. Great advise. Great book.
Light, Gesture & Color
Jay Maisel
Jay Maisel is another photographer I’ve had the pleasure of meeting. In his first book, he shares what he’s learned from a lifetime behind the lens. Jay writes about what he considers to be the three most important aspects of street photography: Light gesture, and color. This is another book about seeing. It’s about plucking the extraordinary from the ordinary. At Photoshop World, Jay told a story about his friends asking him what he’d shot that day. His answer was the arrow in the FedEx symbol. His friends laughed and said there was no arrow in the FedEx symbol. Jay showed them a picture that proved them wrong.
It’s Not About the F-Stop
Jay Maisel
Jay is a great photographer who shares his experience in this book. Jay’s second book is another tome that deserves space on a coffee table, and it deserves more than one read. Jay teaches you how to see as a photographer.
400 Photographs
Ansel Adams
This is a stunning book of black and white images created by a master landscape photographer. The book is filled with photographs. Under each photograph is a caption. ‘nuff said. Great book.
Those are some of my favorite books on photography. Leave a comment and tell me which photography book is your favorite.
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