Books to improve my photography skills

[andrejan]

It's getting cold, wet and dark outside, time for reading books.

Do you have any suggestions on books to improve my photography skills? I don't mean tips & tricks on how to use Photoshop or my Digital Camera. I am looking for books on composition, lightning, how the professionals do it, etc. Books to get some inspiration from.
I find lots of books on Amazon, but could use some recommendations.


Thanks,
Andre

[KmH]

Light: Science and Magic. An Introduction to Photographic Lighting. By Hunter, Biver, Faqua.

The Hot Shoe Diaries. Big light from small flashes. By Joe McNalley

Learning to See Creatively. By Bryan Peterson

Lighting and the Dramatic Portrait. By Michael Greco

Minimalist Lighting. Professional Techniques For Location Lighting. By Kirk Tuck

Professional Business Practices In Photography. A compilation by the American Society of Media Photographers (ASMP) www.asmp.org

Best Business Practices For Photographers. By John Harrington www.johnharrington.com

[Mithras]

The Photographer's Eye by Michael Freeman hs some good info on composition.

Beyond Portraiture by Bryan Peterson is a good read on taking portraits.

[moxi1]

Hi there
the big question is: What type of photography are you interested in"

However I think the best solution is to join a library and have a first-hand look at the books you are interested in. Or go to a book store and browse through the photography section.

My favourites are mostly on macro photography and telling you the titled might not interest you at all
I don't have them handy otherwise I would.
But in my mind all books by John Shaw would be an valuable read.

Cheers Moxi1

[andrejan]

Thanks for all the advice.
I'm not looking for books on a particular genre, but more like "Learning to see creatively" and "The photographer's eye", I will check those out.

Problem is that in most bookstores there are only books on the digital aspects of photography ( how to handle your camera, how to use PS, etc). And English books about photography are even harder to find in my country, so I have to buy them online, without browsing through them first.

Andre

[physicsguy]

I am now working through "The Photographer's Eye" by Michael Freeman, already mentioned. I like it and am going slowly because there is a lot to think about.

Not mentioned so far is a very remarkable little book I got at the same time. "Picture This:How Pictures Work" by Molly Bang. Do not be put off by the description that is it a book for children. I have read Bryan Peterson's classic on exposure. I am studying Freeman's. I have read works by Freeman Patterson and by Grill and Scanlon. But nothing nothing changed the way I see images as Molly Bang's little book did.

[andrejan]

Originally Posted by physicsguy

Not mentioned so far is a very remarkable little book I got at the same time. "Picture This:How Pictures Work" by Molly Bang.

Sounds interesting: Using the tale of Little Red Ridinghood to explain how pictures work.

[andrejan]

I found this one using Keith's list:

Joe McNally: The Moment it Clicks
The video looks interesting.

Andre

[Mike_PEAT]

It all depends on what you're interested in and what you want to improve.

I second going to the public library and not only checking out the books, but also videos/DVDs and if they have it photographic tutorial software. I must have seen at least 20 videos from my public library not to mention a half-dozen computer driven photography tutorials.