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.
If you like the Radiolab you should check out Errol Morris's book Believing is Seeing for the full essay. Definitely worth reading.
I believe it might from the book
LaChapelle: Heaven to Hell Hardcover – June 1, 2010
eta: NSFW other photos from the book
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
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.
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
Quite academic, but a classic:
Susan Sontag - On Photography
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.
He's even written a book about it.
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.
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.
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
The Photographer’s Playbook from Aperture should keep you busy. I use it with my students and it’s overwhelmingly amazing.
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:
The two theory texts (Sontag and Barthes) are collegiate level so I would introduce them lightly - maybe use a section out of both to structure a project around. If you want to PM me I can email you a syllabus I created for when I taught 6 week adult course at a community studio. This will give basic gist of how it can be structured and what you will need supply-wise. Also- if you want - I'd be happy to review any syllabus you make.
>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
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
Theory/Motivational advice
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.
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.
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.
The Nature of Photographs: A Primer https://www.amazon.com/dp/0714859044/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_dV1qDbZTVX4BE
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.
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
Papageorge's Aperture core curriculum is also a good place to start.
Highly recommend this read: https://www.amazon.com/Photographers-Playbook-307-Assignments-Ideas/dp/159711247X
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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
Here's a book full of ideas: https://www.amazon.com/Photographers-Playbook-307-Assignments-Ideas/dp/159711247X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1536092081&sr=8-1&keywords=the+photographers+playbook
Photo comes from this amazing anthology of 1970's skate culture in California.
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!
Pretty sure it's Jay Adams. RIP.
Here's the rest of the set: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/in-sight/wp/2015/08/20/locals-only-sun-drenched-vintage-photos-show-the-dawn-of-californias-skateboarding-culture-in-the-1970s/
And it's the cover of this book: https://www.amazon.com/Locals-Only-California-Skateboarding-1975-1978/dp/193442983X
http://www.ammobooks.com/products/locals
Local's Only. I've been wanting to get this one for a while. http://www.amazon.com/Locals-Only-California-Skateboarding-1975-1978/dp/1934429473/ref=pd_sim_b_2/178-4638009-1767528
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.
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 ;)
I suggest you visit Magnum, LensCulture, Invisible Photographers Asia, In-Public, British Journal of Photography, etc. Have fun!
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
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.
Hi :D
Thank you so much for this contest.
edit: Oh and I have this planner on my wishlist that I would love to have for the new school year :D
https://www.amazon.ca/World-History-Photography-Naomi-Rosenblum/dp/0789209373/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=
> 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.
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
Should read Susan Sontog's "On 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).
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:
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:
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.
The Photographer's Eye by John Szarkowski, and
The Nature of Photographs by Stephen Shore are two must have books.
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".
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
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.
He has a very good book that he wrote on the subject
edit: here it is for anyone interested
https://www.amazon.com/Ive-Never-Met-Idiot-River/dp/1608870200/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1493046606&sr=8-1&keywords=henry+winkler+fly+fishing
Not quite a daily assignment thing, but quite interesting.
http://www.amazon.com/The-Photographers-Playbook-Assignments-Ideas/dp/159711247X