Best photography criticism & essays books according to redditors

We found 80 Reddit comments discussing the best photography criticism & essays books. We ranked the 38 resulting products by number of redditors who mentioned them. Here are the top 20.

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Top Reddit comments about Photography Criticism & Essays:

u/funisher · 57 pointsr/HistoryPorn

If you like the Radiolab you should check out Errol Morris's book Believing is Seeing for the full essay. Definitely worth reading.

u/SlippingAbout · 32 pointsr/whatisthisthing
u/shmi · 14 pointsr/photography

Honestly if you don't know what they need from asking them, a gift card to Amazon. I'd much rather have that and spend it on what I need or whatever G.A.S. tells me I need than to receive a piece of kit that I didn't choose. I don't mean to sound rude, it's just that I rather prefer researching and choosing my own gear.

If you absolutely must, though, I recommend a book.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1907708952/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0817439390/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0961454733/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/159711247X/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0312420099/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Or a notebook for taking notes while out shooting, scouting, etc.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/8883701127/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

u/ApatheticAbsurdist · 11 pointsr/photography
  1. Look at other photographers and work... study it. Figure out what works for you and what doesn't. Go to museums, galleries, and exhibitions.

  2. Spend time figuring out what kind of photography you want to make and why you want to make it.

  3. Get a notebook. Write about 1 and 2 as well as ideas of photos you want to make and what you want them to say. Having an idea in your head it one thing but our brains jump from thought A to thought G and we don't notice because the mind is very good at filling in the gaps.

  4. Keep building technique but focus on doing so by defining the problems you have and what knowledge will allow you to create the photograph you want to make.

  5. Travel. This is a bit optional and it's usefulness (and where to travel to) varies depending on what kind of photographs you want to make. But I find at the very least getting out of your comfort zone often helps the process of development. There are several photographers who offer workshops, traveling to such a workshop will give you a different geography and find instructors that you want to emulate or learn from.

  6. See if you can find a place for critique... having to put your work up, hear what others have to say, and on some level defend what you are trying to say is scary but it's important for growth. Local Photoclubs are a start, local community art classes will push with a little more pressure.

    Books: Art & Fear by David Bayles and Ted Orland, Critcizing Photographs by Terry Barrett (you can find previous additions used a lot cheaper), and On Photography by Susan Sontag.
u/superfuluous_u · 10 pointsr/yoga

I'm bored so I did some research. Here are some ideas!

A handmade yoga mat holder shelf

A chakra mug

A yoga wheel with the phases of the moon printed on the inside

Photos of yogis around the world

Private lessons with his favorite teacher

Om wall art carved into reclaimed wood

A cork yoga mat

An appointment to get a yoga-related tattoo

A Tibetan singing bowl

Handstand blocks

A backpack with a pocket for a yoga mat

A beautiful journal (this one is on sale!)

You didn't say what your budget is, so I covered a wide range. I hope this helps!

EDIT to add the best yoga shirt: T-Rex Loves Chaturanga tee shirt

u/lilgreenrosetta · 8 pointsr/photography

Quite academic, but a classic:

Susan Sontag - On Photography

u/TheKow · 7 pointsr/INTP

Spot on. Most of the time I re-read is because I was distracted and knew I didn't read it properly. I don't like to lie to - or trick - myself.

Then I re-read very techy or detailed/important things over if I do not feel I understand them well enough the first time or for clarity if there is a new element added that interacts with or involves a previous concept.

Then in fiction most of the time I read on and even if I was distracted or didn't quite understand, I come across the answer soon enough. Sometimes I do the same with tech/academic material if I feel that there will not be any context or added detail later on, in which case I'll make an effort to research whatever it is myself.

>The whole informs the parts.

I definitely feel this is a very unique perspective...maybe not exclusively to INTPs, but very unique and a very good way to put it. I was trying to explain to a very good friend the other day why I went through the process of learning so many things and not just specializing in one thing concerning my CompSci education and goals, and she could not understand why I needed what she saw as seemingly useless knowledge. She thought it better that a person who specialized in only one branch could make any real progress in that area of study, and that maybe a diverse team of such people could do what I aim to do even better which is true. The only thing is that I am only one person and I feel that I require the perspective of several different people, and the main reason I do this is so that I may see the big picture or the "spectrum". If I can see all the color codes of a limited spectrum, I can see where the gradients don't meet and I can better imagine and/or create a part that would fit. If I was only limited to one perspective I would obviously not be capable of this, even when conversing with a varied group of experts. The big picture is most important, and so I must learn how the big picture is formed and form it for myself so that I can see how to better utilize it and/or improve it, and those missing parts or grey areas will be "informed" by the whole.

I always used to use the example I had read in this book many years ago that was something along the lines of: If a man could see in front of him all the colors he has learned but one or two, he could see where they were not instead and imagine them himself using the rest of the colors and gradients as a reference. I believe it was used to show the difference between imagination being an innate ability that "spawned" things, and that you can't just flat out imagine things you did not previously know about except for in certain instances (such as the example above) but it was so long ago I read it that I'm not too sure about that. Anyway my point was that's always how I thought about my obsession with learning every fact and detail and practice and whatever about something I am very interested in even if it seemed impractical or inefficient to others. I'm trying to learn all the colors so I can fill the colors I don't know (the colors that aren't given) in by myself with my imagination. To be blunt, I suppose it's just "exploring limitations" crossed with my love for knowledge. That brings up more questions, but I've ranted enough.

u/rbkfour · 6 pointsr/pics

He's even written a book about it.

u/NotTheStatusQuo · 6 pointsr/pics

It's from a set of photographs (released as a book.) I tried to find a good quality link to the whole set but alas could not. This is the best I could do.

u/Zigo · 5 pointsr/photography

Usually we recommend the 35 1.8G instead of the 50; it's a lot easier to work with on that kind of camera. It's an awesome lens and will work quite a lot better in low light than the ones you guys have right now.

That said, it's more than possible to get excellent pictures with the kit you already have. There's a pretty big learning curve with photography - well, at least, if you want to get properly good at it. I recommend starting with this, reading your camera's user manual carefully, then grabbing this book. And of course, practice, practice, practice.

u/SenenCito · 4 pointsr/photography

I personally have been very inspired by :

the underwater work of NSFW Howard Schatz

Th way Helmut Newton saw women, also NSFW

The insane colors of Dave LaChapelle

The tribute to sunrise and community of Jose N Silva

Scott Borrero's never ending travels

u/houdinize · 4 pointsr/photography

The Photographer’s Playbook from Aperture should keep you busy. I use it with my students and it’s overwhelmingly amazing.

u/brownkata · 4 pointsr/ArtEd

MA in Photo History and BFA in Studio Photography here. If I was teaching beginning photography, these would be the books I would use to illustrate the history, theory, and techniques behind photography:

u/jcl4 · 4 pointsr/photography

>I would say a professional is someone who lives off their photography and says nothing about their abilities.

The problem with your reply, well intended as it may be, is that it veers into whataboutism territory. The OP is framing their request as seeking resources for a path to excellence, and your reply asserts that some people are professional despite a lack of excellence. While true, it sidesteps the issue and doesn't contribute anything meaningful - as opposed to the post you're replying to, which is not only accurate, but also helpful.

I'm a pro. I can tell you while it's 100% correct that I see two of my defining qualities as exactly what /u/ShitWookie describes, I would add to it a third pillar which is understanding, being receptive to and directing the human component of a shoot. Working to deliver consistency under compromised circumstances, and having a vision are both fantastic… but being able to navigate the egos, the emotions that percolate on set, to quickly gain the trust of your subject and have them engage in a willingness to experiment and go out of their comfort zone, all of that is exceptional. And to repeat for emphasis, the major unifying factor at play with all three is just going out and doing the work a lot. Set goals, fail to hit them, refine and repeat. It's extremely helpful to define objectives clearly and put your work in a guided context.

To the OP's question about resources, I suggest:

For a set of actionable exercises and several new ways to think about your work, try The Photographer's Playbook:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/159711247X/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1511023706

To expand your ability to read a photo and get meaning from it, and in turn, have a more rich vocabulary to impart to your own work, try The Ongoing Moment: https://www.amazon.com/Ongoing-Moment-Geoff-Dyer/dp/1400031680

To see what a 4 time Guggenheim fellow says about his method and the psychology behind how a photo works, check out Winogrand's full speech/workshop/Q&A at Rice University:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=wP6lP3UaP24

To take the mystery out of the working style of a legend in fashion, watch June Newton's doc on her husband Helmut, titled "Helmut By June" - Google it. Often online in 8-10 parts. The whole thing is about an hour and amazing.

If you can't get on set and assist an established pro covering a subject that excites you in a style you admire (this is the single greatest accelerant for learning), the next best thing is creating a list of current working photographers you admire and Googling "their name" plus "bts video". Take notes on their lights, light placement, distances and try to recreate their setups and see what you discover in the process.

Check out The Red List: https://theredlist.com

u/pietpelle · 3 pointsr/photography

Since you don't say whether you want to learn how to operate a camera or the field of photography in general and what interests you in photography in particular this is quite a stab in the dark but here are a few suggestions of books I keep coming back to or hold important.

This assumes that you have a basic understanding on how to operate a camera. If you don't, read your camera manual or something like Adam's The Camera and .


Technical advice

  • Light, Science and Magic - the best theoretical book there is about understanding how light behaves and how to work with it. Its exercises are quite focused on artificial light and if you are just getting into photography it won't be easy but at the end of it you will know how to work with light artificial or natural and get to your vision or have a better understanding of other people's work.
  • Studio Anywhere - this is not the most technical book per se (far from it) and the images are not to my taste but what it lacks in pure knowledge it makes up for with motivating you to take images no matter how little you own. This was a fun (if a bit too quick) read and is a good book to jump into when Light, Science and Magic feels like you are a profoto pack and 3 Chimera modifiers short of what you are trying to do.

    Theory/Motivational advice

  • The Ongoing Moment by Geoff Dyer - Great book about the history of American photography, its origin and how it flourished. This book is really easy to read and a very good way to start gaining some theoretical knowledge about the wide field of photography.
  • Understanding a photograph by John Berger - Great collection of essays from one of the greatest art theorist and a fervent believer in photography as a medium pieced together by Geoff Dyer. Super engaging reads on a variety of topics and styles.
  • Ways of Seeing by John Berger - An absolute must read in my opinion, not focused solely on photography but in the arts in general. The BBC series is also a great watch and its content is still as relevant today as it was when it came out.
  • On Photography by Susan Sontag - A very important book, if not the most important when it comes to identifying the role of photography in our world. Personally found it quite hard to read but when it finally hit home it was with great impact.
u/rogue · 3 pointsr/photography

Although not known exclusively for his color work, Magnum photographer Constantine Manos' American Color and American Color 2 (book) (gallery) comes to mind. His use of light and shadow play against a backdrop of bold carnival colors has always left an impression on me.

u/LucidDreamer18 · 3 pointsr/photography

I think after getting the basics down (exposure triangle) it’s about composition and making creative decisions.

There’s a book called The Photographer’s Playbook that might offer you some cool ideas.

I also like Ted Forbes’ Photo Assignments series on YouTube.

u/azel128 · 3 pointsr/photography

On Photography by Susan Sontag

http://www.amazon.com/On-Photography-Susan-Sontag/dp/0312420099

Good theory on why people do what they do with cameras. It's a little bit tough sometimes and takes a bit of harsh introspection to fully grasp, but studying one's own motivations will make you think harder about what you photograph and why.

u/darkcrustacean · 3 pointsr/photography
u/parkerpyne · 3 pointsr/photography

One way to learn about the important ones would be to read Beaumont Newhall's History of Photography. It's the canonical book on this topic.

As for photographers in the field of journalism, Erich Salomon would have to be considered the first photo-journalist (he also invented that term). But there are some others of that area: Lewis Hine who also happened to be the first teacher of Paul Strand, one of the most famous photographers of all times. Dorothea Lange had similar topics in her photography (documenting the poor conditions during the Great Recession).

One should also mention Jacob Riis. He was not predominantly a photographer but for his book How the Other Half Lives he went into the tenements of New York and documented the squalor and poor living conditions prevalent using one of the earliest forms of flash photography (magnesium powder, this was 1890 afterall). It became one of the most influential publications at the time kindling debates about new labor laws and working conditions of the poor in New York City.

u/GlarkCable · 3 pointsr/WhatIsThisPainting

Did you have to buy any books for your class? Maybe a book where this image is on the cover?

You might want to check out the photography of Rodchenko

u/martinparrslovechild · 2 pointsr/streetphotography

Papageorge's Aperture core curriculum is also a good place to start.

u/SlopeDude · 2 pointsr/photography

Highly recommend this read: https://www.amazon.com/Photographers-Playbook-307-Assignments-Ideas/dp/159711247X

​

The "prompts" (jf you can call them that) are intellectually and creatively engaging--and they're from some of the best photographers alive right now

u/cake_and_cats · 2 pointsr/OldSchoolCool

Photo comes from this amazing anthology of 1970's skate culture in California.

u/gogauguin · 2 pointsr/ArtHistory

That does sound really interesting. I'll look into finding some essays on that subject. I did take a history of photography class in undergrad, but we our only assigned readings were from A World History of Photography Thank you for the suggestion!

u/himynameisderek · 2 pointsr/skateboarding
u/soybobomb · 2 pointsr/photography

Similar to the Adams book (which I love as well!) is Core Curriculum by Tod Papageorge.

Anyone with an interest in photography will find something to glean from this collection, but if you're into street photography you'll especially enjoy it.

u/jippiejee · 2 pointsr/photography

Great tip, thnx! I already had the Susan Sontag book of course. May I also tip: The pleasures of good photographs ... jeebus we should also start a photobook subreddit ;)

u/anotherMiguel · 2 pointsr/photojournalism
u/jessdb19 · 2 pointsr/photography

https://www.amazon.com/History-Photography-1839-Present/dp/0870703811 This book is amazing to teach the history of photography. You can buy it used really cheap.

I highly suggest picking it up if you're going to be teaching the history

u/lukejc1 · 2 pointsr/photography

You could find a project to take up. This book is pretty cool for finding ideas. A 30 day photography challenge with different photo requirements each day can be fun too.

u/beaniebugg · 1 pointr/Random_Acts_Of_Amazon

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    Thank you so much for this contest.

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u/HAL9000000 · 1 pointr/pics

> The overarching theme of my essay is the phenomenon of misinterpreted circulating historical photo's, so this thread is actually really interesting in that regard :P

You should check out Errol Morris's book "Believing Is Seeing: Observations on the Mysteries of Photography"

Or watch his film "Standard Operating Procedure," which talks a lot about how the photographs of some of the people punished for the Abu Ghraib prison scandal basically were taken out of context. Specifically, everything they did they were basically told to do by higher ups (like, up to the White House). But only the little people were punished.

u/err604 · 1 pointr/photography

We use this book in our program, seems like it would useful for this purpose..!

https://www.amazon.com/dp/0789209373/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_awdb_6sgeAbTMP177J

u/LittleSocial · 1 pointr/casualiama

Should read Susan Sontog's "On Photography"

u/peachygizmo · 1 pointr/photography

The Photographer's Playbook: 307 Assignments and Ideas https://www.amazon.com/dp/159711247X/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_gHH2CbS43S1K7

You can try this book. I bought it myself, but haven’t used it yet so I can’t tell you if it’s legit worth it. It seems like it has what you’re looking for tho (bunch of prompts to follow for practice).

u/[deleted] · 1 pointr/photography

That's some quality glass to start out with - I'm a bit jealous!

Based on your hardware I'll assume you're not entirely new to photography so, suggestions for next steps, aside from taking photos:

Books/Websites to read:

  • The Moment it clicks - I got a big kick out of this book, but some didn't like it.

  • Susan Sontag's On Photography is a thought-provoking look into the psychology and philosophy of photography. On some level it feels slightly dated, but it's still incredibly relevant - probably more relevant than when it was originally written.

  • Digital Photography School is an extremely valuable online resource for people getting into photography.

  • Strobist is almost required reading for people wanting to introduce artificial light into their photos.

  • Flickr is a huge site, and a very useful place to find like-minded people. Search their groups for the kind of photography you're interested in and you're sure to find groups full of kindred spirits (and the occasional troll).

    Secondly, I'd suggest you pick some masters to emulate/study/admire. There are far too many to list so I'll just pop down a few that got my juices flowing when I first got into photography:

  • Henri Cartier-Bresson

  • Ansel Adams

  • James Nachtwey


    Cartier-Bresson once said "your first 10,000 photos are always your worst", so get out there and take some! Then take some more :-)

    Edit: Fixed formatting.
u/itsdipping · 1 pointr/analog

The Photographer's Eye by John Szarkowski, and
The Nature of Photographs by Stephen Shore are two must have books.

u/YamilG · 1 pointr/videos

Not exactly research but check out Susan Sontag's "On Photography". There's a reference about Japanese tourist dealing with anxiety using their cameras as a "shield".

u/Phixia · 1 pointr/photography

I'll reccommend a few books chock full of essays that I found useful...it might take awhile to pick through them but there are some real gems.
Photography: A Critical Introduction , The Photography Reader , On Photography , Camera Lucida: Reflections on Photography

u/BrennanOB · 1 pointr/photography

I would recommend ["The Print"] (http://www.amazon.com/New-Photo-Negative-Ansel-Photography/dp/0821221868) by Ansel Adams. A techincally deep but easy to read book covering the zone system and how to capture different forms of light.

For thinking about photography Susan Sontag's ["On Photography"] (http://www.amazon.com/Photography-Susan-Sontag/dp/0312420099/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1341440297&sr=1-1&keywords=sontag+photography) a great book on the meaning of photography.

Both are somewhat dated, but are the basis upon much has been written since. They are the touchstones.

u/zombiereign · 1 pointr/television
u/oblisk · 1 pointr/photography

Not quite a daily assignment thing, but quite interesting.

http://www.amazon.com/The-Photographers-Playbook-Assignments-Ideas/dp/159711247X