(Part 3) Best photography & video books according to redditors
We found 4,011 Reddit comments discussing the best photography & video books. We ranked the 1,706 resulting products by number of redditors who mentioned them. Here are the products ranked 41-60. You can also go back to the previous section.
I just bought his new photo book, arrives tomorrow, can't wait.
edit: added link
i'm pretty sure the photos are plagiarized
edit: yup, these photos are from this book: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0984074422
From this awesome book about the 80's New York graffiti scene. I really recommend it, the pictures are awesome and it's a cool look at the history of graffiti and street art.
There's a great photo book called ["The Commisar Vanishes"](https://www.amazon.com/Commissar-Vanishes-Falsification.../dp/1849762511
) by David King that has a lot of these types of photos, showing the before and after versions of the doctored photographs.
Check out The Commissar Vanishes to better understand the evil of Leftism. They lie, they deceive, they falsify everything to gain and hold power.
If I were to give you an honest ranking I'd say you're "Below Average" quality.
My biggest critique for you is that all of your photos feel like snap shots. They're all taken from the same angle, they're all kind of flat lighting and editing wise, they're all posed or of nothing of any real importance. The compositions are also very weak - Specifically your backgrounds.
Almost all of the photos look like you just pointed a camera and said "Hell yea" and clicked the button. It doesn't appear like there's a whole lot of thought that went into any thing and the same thought process carried over into your post work.
Your photos are competent (In a technical manner) they just lack any real artistry or intention. One thing I would suggest you do is check out this book which is fucking rock solid for learning some compositional tricks and helping teach yourself to see them on the fly, and work on your post processing technique so that your images stand out a little more.
If you were to ask me what to charge for your wedding photos now, I would say if the middle ground of local photographers is charging ~$2k-2.5k you should be around $1250 for a full day. Maybe after you get a few under your belt around $1500. If you're asking what you should get as a second shooter that depends on who you work for, they usually have set rates for their seconds. I pay $200-300 depending on how much experience they have.
There are a ton of resources out there, but here are what I consider to be the most important things to remember:
Although it takes longer to master, Sue Bryce has an amazing set of rules she uses for photographing women: Chin, Shoulder, Hands, Hourglass, Body Language, Asymmetry, Connection.
Roberto Valenzuela's book (mostly Chapters 16-17) is the best resource I've found for breaking down elusive subtleties of posing down to the elements, especially for couples. He even breaks down things like posing eyes and using awkwardness as a fool-proof way of injecting expression into a photo. Once you know the basics, it's easy to come up with new poses on the fly that will look natural and flattering.
I'm a wedding photographer, and years ago I absolutely hated posing people. I tried to memorize pose after pose, but rigidly trying to get people into a "pose" was a struggle and didn't do anything to bring out the personalities of my couples. But once I figured out how posing works, it became much easier to come up with different poses that looked natural, flattering, and that my couples felt natural doing.
EDIT - sigint_bn makes a very important point, and that is usually the best way to start out a pose. I typically start by having couples just "come together" and then I make minor adjustments following the rules from there (e.g. shift your weight, bend your elbow, tilt your head).
I’ve found it a pretty common staple at public libraries, but I believe the paperback was much cheaper on amazon
This might be tough to hear, but there are a great many things that are wrong with this render and it is not something that can be fixed in photoshop. Pro's mostly use photoshop for sky replacement, color correcting, and things like contrast/sharpness etc. They don't make the render go from bad to good by doing a ton of photoshop. It isn't an effective method as clients often ask for angle changes, different resolutions etc that make heavily photoshopping an image over and over again a huge time constraint.
Things to improve this image:
Composition:
What is the purpose of this image? Is it to show the back of the house across the river? Is it to show the furniture in the foreground? Is it the relationship between the river and the housing development? I am going to assume that it is that one. To highlight this I would lower the camera and use a telephoto like 50mm or longer to push all the elements together. example See how this telephoto image brings the river, the building, and the city together and shows how they are connected? Try something like that. Here is a GREAT book that can help you improve your compositions Learning To See Creatively - Bryan Peterson
Lighting:
By the shadow angle I would say it is an hour or two before or after noon. This is a difficult time of day to make look nice, but if it is required (by the client I guess) It needs to look bright with hard shadows. example Your image is not bright and also lacks contrast. The easiest fix would be to change the time of day. Dusk shots look the best, but are more work because you have to light up and populate interiors as well as "light paint" various elements throughout the image. Near sunset is a good compromise. example If you want to try for a dusk shot, the techniques outlined here can really help out mike kelley dusk photography tips Here is a good place ot get free HRDI's to improve your lighting HDRI Haven
Lack of Effort/Attention to Detail:
Bad mapping on patio edges. Unrealistic patio construction. Should be in the ground or have a border.
The grass is very bad. If you are using v-ray and 3ds max use Autograss or Forest Pack grass.
The bush next to the patio is very bad and is sitting in the grass. Use forest and add some mulch or gravel. Use a better bush model 3dsky bush $7 . Think about where that bush should be it is in a very strange location.
Obvious texture repetition on roof of building in center of shot
Lack of background image. The world just stops or is there a cliff over there? At least ad a tree ring or something needs to be back there.
Building son left and right appear to have no textures
Windows glass is often missing or not reflective enough. You cant see inside a dark building at mid day.
Lack of transition between river and grass. This is possible in some situations but not likely.
​
I hope all this helps. Good luck!
In case you're interested, these are from the book called 'City of Shadows', a collection of police photographs out of Sydney. Great book, you can get it here though Amazon's price is way high. I think I got it for about $40-$60 from book depository though they're out of stock.
better yet, show it to him
You should read some Robert Venturi, he created names for all this crap in the book, Learning from Las Vegas. Basically, that there are no rules anymore and that any style can be applied in anyway one would want. Out of context, against typical uses, etc. No rules and no material definition. It is basically Amusement Park Architecture.
The world of Post Modernism is quite wide though. I would argue everyone from Predock to Koolhaas on the avant side, to your typical contemporary apartment complex, as shown in OP's image, is all POMO.
edit: spelling
Or, Learning From Las Vegas - Revised Edition: The Forgotten Symbolism Of Architectural Form by Robert Venturi, Denise Scott Brown and Steven Izenour.
From Wikipedia
>The book coined the terms "Duck" and "Decorated Shed"--descriptions of the two predominant ways of embodying iconography in buildings. The work of Venturi, Rauch and Scott Brown adopted the latter strategy, producing formally simple "decorated sheds" with rich, complex and often shocking ornamental flourishes. Though he and his wife co-authored several additional books at the end of the century, these two have proved most influential.
Magnum Contact Sheets
Fantastic look into process and history through the contact sheets of some of the greats.
Credit:
Pictures and information are taken from the book "Hungry Planet: What The World Eats" by Peter Menzel & Faith D'Aluisio
If you like this, check out Pete Souza's book of photos from the Obama administration - Obama: An Intimate Portrait. It contains many amazing, emotional photographs and I have it on my coffee table.
/u/SquidLoaf - welcome to the world of filmmaking!
You might want to read a book or two before you start.
The book I recommend to everyone just starting out is "[How to Shoot Video That Doesn't Suck: Advice to Make any Amateur Look Like a Pro] (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0051NHJFU/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0051NHJFU&linkCode=as2&tag=battleforthew-20)" [Referral Link] ($8.99 for Kindle).
This book was written by Hollywood writer/director [Steve Stockman] (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1870021/), who directed Sally Field in [Two Weeks] (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000TV1ST2/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000TV1ST2&linkCode=as2&tag=battleforthew-20) [Referral Link]. It is a great introduction to visual storytelling for beginners.
Here is the book trailer: http://vimeo.com/24147165
Reading Steve's book will save you a lot of time and money - and make your videos better right out of the gate.
It won't really help with equipment selection, but it may help with something even more important - storytelling.
Once you've read the book, you can get started by shooting your first videos with your smartphone. If you have an iPhone, you can download FiLMiC Pro ([$9.99 from iTunes] (https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/filmic-pro/id436577167?mt=8&at=1000l8mT)) [Referral Link].
For Android, you can download [FiLMiC Pro] (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.filmic.filmicpro&hl=en) or [Cinema FV-5 for $2.49] (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.flavionet.android.cinema.pro&hl=en) on Google Play.
These apps will allow you to control aspect ratio, white balance, exposure, resolution and frame rates - turning your phone into a pretty good approximation of a camcorder.
For about $20, the price of a book and an app, you can get started on the road towards becoming a filmmaker.
Hope this is helpful, good luck and best of the holidays to you and yours!
We bought the Souza book. It's full of remarkable photos of this remarkable man.
You might want to consider a warmer color treatment:
example
It's always a good idea to add warmth to subjects in the shade, especially if you're wanting to portray something positive.
Also you subjects should be facing the camera to the point where their noses don't protrude from their profile.
The leg should be closer to a 45 degree angle (high or low). This helps lead the eyes to your subject. Currently the leg does not direct your eyes anywhere useful and draws attention to the cross formed with the tree behind the knee.
Ultimately, don't get too discouraged though. There's a lot of complexity with posing subjects and it takes awhile to master. I'd recommend reading Picture Perfect Practice, as it has a lot of great tips on posing and composition.
> 'Subway' by Bruce Davidson
http://www.amazon.ca/Bruce-Davidson-Subway/dp/1597111945 ?
A nice camera bag if you need one. I have four right now, a big one for a full kit, a very small one that sees no real use, a medium sized old school shoulder bag that I use to pack my back up kit in and a modern messenger style bag that can hold my body and a few lenses/flashes, but usually just holds the body with a fifty and everything else I carry with me day to day (Ipad, phone, ecig stuff, papers, pens, change of clothes for kid, gym clothes etc.) The last is immensely handy as it functions as a man purse and allows me to carry my camera with me pretty much all the time.
Barring that I'd just go for a Amazon gift card and pick out some nice Photography books for inspiration. My last purchase was Steve McCurry the Iconic Photographs, Genesis by Sebastião Salgado, and Frontcountry by Lucas Foglia. All three are fantastic, McCurry's is of course amazing, but you probably seen a lot of his work. Salgado's is rich textured, black and white landscapes. The Arctic shots are simply mindblowing. But my favourite of these three is Frontcountry. Foglia captures such a mood and setting perfectly, the whole book is somewhat diverse, but works as a single piece perfectly.
An Essential Reading List For Designers
Source: www.tomfaulkner.co.uk
All books have been linked to Amazon for review and possible purchase. Remember to support the authors by purchasing their books. If there are any issues with this listing let me know via comments or pm.
Architecture
Communication Design
Fashion Design
Angela ButtolphEditors of Phaidon ?Furniture Design
Game Design
Graphic Design
Information Design
Industrial Design
(cont'd)
The upcoming re-print of The Decisive Moment
This is the work of photographer Bruce Davidson! Find his book here. Just wanted to get visibility for him :)
I like the hotshoe diaries and the moment it clicks, both by Joe McNally. Hot Shoe diaries is more lighting specific, and really focuses on using small flashes to get good results.
When I was in film school 35 years ago, I had to read a bunch of expensive books - none of them taught me the answers to these questions. I had to figure it out for myself. Today, a few inexpensive Kindle books will save you a lot of time and headaches and give you a much better idea of what you actually have to do to make a movie.
Here's what I would read if I were starting out today - all from authors who have actually made movies, not just written about it (prices as of this post):
["11 Simple Steps to turn a Screenplay into a Marketable Movie" - 99 cents] (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009YKJ5UI/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B009YKJ5UI&linkCode=as2&tag=battleforthew-20). This is a real world story of a guy who made a $10,000 movie that made money.
["How to Shoot Video That Doesn't Suck: Advice to Make Any Amateur Look Like a Pro" - $7.69] (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0051NHJFU/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0051NHJFU&linkCode=as2&tag=battleforthew-20). You probably already have a firm foundation in the basics of storytelling, but here is a nice little summary of what it takes to make a movie watchable.
And, if you can afford it
["Raindance Producers' Lab Lo-To-No Budget Filmmaking" - $22.99] (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00GISSHO4/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00GISSHO4&linkCode=as2&tag=battleforthew-20). Soup to nuts for the low budget filmmaker.
The authors of these three books have actually made movies. Better to learn from their hard-won experience than to go out and reinvent the wheel.
Good luck!
This and many like it are featured in a collection at the Sydney Police and Justice Museum after being lost for many years. I forget the exact context but my neighbour worked on the initial collection and many of the old police files were lost due to buildings being transferred between departments. Eventually a building, then belonging to the Historic Houses Trust, was flooded and boxes of hundreds upon hundreds of these glass negatives were found in original condition however the attached notes were destroyed. Peter Doyle has (I'm sure along with many other people) worked for a number of years to put together information on these and created a book called City of Shadows which we gave to our neighbour last Christmas and was captivating just to look into these people's faces, stories, and I really loved the emotion in their eyes.
We went there back in Year 12 a few years ago and they were telling us how the criminals were allowed to adopt any pose they desired, but with the photography at the time (early 1900s) were essentially long exposures so some have blur as one of the men in the picture. Other images can be found here including the man who refused to open his eyes . Doyle has also noted that many faces appear several times with differing names and outfits showing the success of their alias'. Cool Stuff.
Have you ever seen the book The Commissar Vanishes? It is great--and chilling.
Portrait photography is about photographing people.
Ok. Let's start from here.
What is often overlook by all the gear heads on the internet is the people part. A great resource on this is Roberto Valenzuela's book Picture Perfect Practice. It's a long book but it provides simple rules of thumb in order to get better at directing people.
Now let's talk about light.
Here is a little secret. You don't need external light to make good portraits. Let me repeat, I'm making a point here. You. Don't. Need. EXTERNAL LIGHTS. To make. GOOD. Portraits.
What you need is a good eye for reading the light in given situations. I assume you are already good at nature photography. Normally you are looking at the same thing in portraits: great tonal range, even light, nice fall-off...
This is something you can achieve in basically any room with a big window on a cloudy day.
A great inspiration regarding that matter are paintings. At least to me. Delacroix, Gericault, Rembrandt... Look at the light. LOOK AT THE LIGHT. I strongly believe that contemporary portrait photography is very strongly influence by some of the painting Masters.
Finally, let's talk about external light. If you are able to make GOOD portraits in natural light. With a fair amount of practice you'll be able to take GREAT portraits using industrial light. But you need to have strong basics. Because a badly lit portraits suck badly while not-so-good portraits in natural light are just bad luck.
External lights helps having consistency and provides control that mother nature doesn't give.
If you're wanting to improve your design skills, I recommend Design Basics Index.
I'm a huge fan of an old school spreadsheet of ideal and actual costs. My fiance was not, so i got this book (https://www.amazon.com/Budget-Savvy-Wedding-Planner-Organizer-Checklists/dp/1623159857) and had him fill out the workheets and we were able to get on the same page with our vision and budget for our engagement, wedding, and honeymoon.
So far we're in budget. If time is on your side, you can wait for items go on sale.
context : I'm a graphic designer. I designed some t-shirts a while ago to benefit Japan Relief.
Your tshirt's logo is much too large on the shirt, generic, and pays attention to none of the principles of design. The typeface is pretty ill-suited to be going with the script, and I'm not really sure why anyone would purchase something with the 'x' logo.
Get a book, practice, practice, practice, and go through 10 or so revisions, then come back and post here. You may not be good but you'll be a lot better than you are now.
If you think this is mean, well.. you should have heard some of the critiques I got when I was in college.
All right, since you said you do photograph events and weddings:
The Luminous Portrait: Capture the Beauty of Natural Light for Glowing, Flattering Photographs
by Elizabeth Messina et al.
Link: http://amzn.com/0817400125
Picture Perfect Posing: Practicing the Art of Posing for Photographers and Models (Voices That Matter)
by Roberto Valenzuela
Link: http://amzn.com/0321966465
Picture Perfect Practice: A Self-Training Guide to Mastering the Challenges of Taking World-Class Photographs (Voices That Matter)
by Roberto Valenzuela
Link: http://amzn.com/0321803531
These three are from my wishlist. The Valenzuela one on posing comes highly recommended from some of my wedding photographer friends.
If Jose Villa is your thing, he also put out a book:
Fine Art Wedding Photography: How to Capture Images with Style for the Modern Bride
by Jose Villa et al.
Link: http://amzn.com/0817400028
If you might want to expand into boudoir:
The Art of Boudoir Photography: How to Create Stunning Photographs of Women
by Christa Meola
Link: http://amzn.com/0321862708
He literally just did: https://www.amazon.com/Obama-Intimate-Portrait-Pete-Souza/dp/0316512583
His IG is a pretty cool follow as well, just as a day to day contrast of how President Obama handled similar events and situations compared to what Trump does in real time
The SCI-Arc has every single one of their guest speaker lectures online. That's a good way of getting to hear from world class architects in their own words. They'll talk about anything from their recent works, to their philosophies, to other architects.
I'm sure as an architecture lover, you already have some architects you like, so invest in their published works. They will explain their philosophies and design approaches quite well.
I'd recommend S,M,L,XL by Rem Koolhaas, since it's been one of the most influential books for contemporary architecture.
Along the same lines, Learning From Las Vegas by Venturi is another work that exploded onto the scene and changed the discourse.
If you spend a few minutes on Amazon, you can easily be staring at thousands of dollars worth of delicious books.
Humans of New York is a wonderful book. It also happens to be a blog and an Instagram account. By interviewing his subjects, Brandon Stanton brings an interesting sense of reality to his photographs.
Maybe a book? I think the Humans of New York book could pretty much be given to everyone, it's all happy and uplifting and cool.
You said she's on her feet all day so maybe something to help relax a little like a foot spa? Otherwise they make these little balls that you roll under your foot (my grandma used to do this with just a tennis ball) and it's supposed to good for your muscles and kind of like a mini massage.
Does she use anything to help treat her bunions? They make some cool products like this and this that might be helpful! They have some really good reviews, she may already have something like this though?
Not the best ideas haha but maybe it will help! Good luck with shopping! :)
If you're interested in Street Photography or how photographers go about getting the final shot everyone sees, I'd recommend the Magnum Contact Sheets.
Roberto's book, Picture Perfect Practice: A Self-Training Guide to Mastering the Challenges of Taking World-Class Photographs, really opened new horizons for me, totally recommend it!
Learn to improvise. How cute does a home have to be for you to clean up one little corner to shoot? Only the part that's in-frame needs to be cute. You should read Joe McNally's book The Moment it Clicks for dozens of inspiring anecdotes about how he improvised under difficult or even impossible conditions.
Problem-solving is what it's all about.
These photos are all from a great book called Hungry Planet: What the World Eats by Peter Menzel. The book includes itemized lists of all the food pictured with the families. It's very interesting. Would highly recommend.
Design Basics Index - Krausse
http://www.amazon.com/Design-Basics-Index-Jim-Krause/dp/1581805012/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1313252013&sr=8-1
To produce artistic photos, you need to learn how to see the world through the eyes of a camera; that aspect of photography has little to do with gear. I like Bryan Peterson myself. cucurigu suggested "Understanding Exposure", and I agree with his suggestion. I also enjoyed his book Learning to See Creatively
But nothing beats getting out there and shooting, shooting, shooting!
General 'snapshot' street photography is a matter of chance, with a small amount of composition. Very little work and thought goes into the output. What's notable about HCB is that he frequently framed a shot based on artistic composition; and waited for something to happen. Other times he had time to compose a shot he took the time to find the geometry. Even when just out snapping, he looked for scenes where geometry was striking. If you're curious about the way he does this, he talks about it in an old movie.
Asking someone else how to make your work stand out is inherently uncreative, for the record.
One of the most important things I ever learned about photography was that buying gear isn't really useful. Having a working camera and some working lenses is necessary; but if you have something 'semi-professional' or above, there's little to no advantage in upgrading. You have an M8 (or possibly an M6 by now?) and a lens. As long as both are in functional condition; that's all you need in terms of equipment.
Instead, buy books. Here's some suggestions that you might want to consider:
You can also look at libraries for these, and keep an eye on thrift stores and used bookshops. I think you're in London, right? There's a huge gallery on Oxford street, and in Mayfair there's a Leica store where exhibitions are held a few times a year.
The key point is to look at photos; individual photos, contact sheets and whole curated books and exhibitions. Think about how the artists made something like documentary and snapshot photography into an art. Look for ideas you can use, and look for things that haven't been done that you could use to be unique. Look at studio photography. Look at erotic photography. Look at cinema and still life and landscapes and architecture and paintings and drawings and every other image created with artistic intent, that represents a moment of reality. And go from there.
Inserting examples...
> James Nachtwey Inferno [examples]
> Sebastiao Salgado Migrations out of print. [examples] Also see Africa [examples] and Genesis [examples]
>
> Robert Doisneau Paris [examples]
>
> EDIT: Also see Fan Ho [examples]. The books go in and out of print but a third is available for pre-order.
James Nachtwey Inferno
Sebastiao Salgado Migrations out of print. Also see Africa and Genesis
Robert Doisneau Paris
EDIT: Also see Fan Ho. The books go in and out of print but a third is available for pre-order.
heres a book you might like
http://www.amazon.com/Subway-Art-25th-Anniversary-Edition/dp/0811868877
Learning to See Creatively by Bryan Peterson. And for the record, I love all of his books
http://www.amazon.com/Henri-Cartier-Bresson-Decisive-Cartier-Bresson/dp/3869307889/ref=sr_1_sc_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1417696068&sr=8-1-spell&keywords=the+decicive+moment
A book that really helped me learn how to properly shoot was "How To Shoot Video That Doesn't Suck" by Steve Stockman. It's only like 12 bucks on amazon.
Here you go.
https://www.amazon.com/Humans-New-York-Brandon-Stanton/dp/1250038820
Great suggestions all around! I would add a personal favourite of mine: Genesis, Sebastiao Salgado.
Another book that I liked was Syl Arena's Speedliter's Handbook.
One of my favorite books of photos is "The Commissar Vanishes: The Falsification of Photographs and Art in Stalin’s Russia"...
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/71cOyLVK7ZL.jpg
Amazon link
Most worthwhile university art/animation programs require a portfolio, but it does vary by university and you will have to research this on your own.
To help you sharpen your drawing skills and observational eye - I highly recommend getting the book Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain. Do the exercises faithfully and you will become better at drawing because it teaches you how to see.
I've coached students without a portfolio in their final year of secondary school and with the exercises in this book, they were able to get a worthwhile portfolio together. The results were truly outstanding.
Graphic designers require less figure drawing skills, but it is definitely an advantage to be able to draw and communicate your composition ideas to clients. A great basic graphic design book is Design Basics Index
Chances of getting a job are the same as any industry.
A few that I would point out that I have read, loved, and learned a lot from:
Great list, interesting in that one about sampling in particular.
I'd like to plug The Rose That Grew From Concrete, it's a collection of poetry by 2Pac. What I love about it is for each poem, they have the typed out poem and Pac's own handwritten poem. Gives it a more personal connection I think.
Not sure that qualifies for you, but McNally's The Moment It Clicks includes images (with explanations) from all the way back when he was shooting film... Tons of tricks, some of them from a time such that they may not all apply as much now.
Agree. Like everything, it's about balance. It's good to try to have the best crop out of camera to use the maximum of your sensor or film, but as well its good to shoot slightly wider so you have room for some crops of rotation.
A good tool to prove your point is to send them to the Magnum Contact Sheets book and show them the corps they did on film in the darkroom.
Anyone has suggestion for great photo books which I could learn a lot from about photography in general? Recently I bought both Magnum Manifesto and Magnum Contact Sheets, and I really love them, especially the latter, simply because I learned a great deal about composition by poring over it. So another question would be iss there any other book which compiles famous contact sheets of well-regarded photographers?
The Rose That Grew From Concrete
I suggest you visit Magnum, LensCulture, Invisible Photographers Asia, In-Public, British Journal of Photography, etc. Have fun!
All of them should also check out a copy of the books Subway Art and Spraycan Art. Speaking as a teenage graffiti artist in Queens in the mid-to-late-80s, those were our freaking bibles.
Fast forward 25 years -- I was in the reception area of a prestigious midtown Manhattan law firm last week and they had a copy of the 25th anniversary edition on the coffee table. Maybe they represent Martha Cooper.
Start with the NPPA's Code of Ethics. To be a good photojournalist, you need to be an ethical photojournalist. Do not be Souvid Datta. You will be caught, and you will never find work as a photojournalist again.
Then start looking through the winners of Pictures of the Year International, and World Press Photo (keep to recent years on WPP because they had some issues with ethical lapses in the past). Look at the Pulitzer Prize winners too.
Then start reading. Ken Kobre's book is used often in photojournalism college curriculums and just released a new edition. Read the news, and stay current on world events. Stay current on local news and events, and then look at your local publication's coverage of those events. Which ones do they cover with photos? Which ones don't have photos? How do they cover those? How do they write the story? Who do they talk to? Who are the stakeholders? Who does this effect? What is the angle?
To improve your writing, you must read a lot of good stories of all kinds: breaking news, features, investigative stories. Find writers that you admire, and read everything they write. Find photojournalists whose work you like -- either style-wise or subject matter -- and look at everything they've published.
Then start shooting. Photograph events, portraits, animals, sporting events, breaking news, etc. You have to know how to shoot absolutely everything. Learn how to light a portrait, and how to cover a structure fire (see Kobre's book).
Take your camera everywhere because you never know what you might come across. Make sure you get names and other information for captions (in AP style), even if the photos never get to a publication. You'll need them in a portfolio to show that captions are something you know how to write and gather info for.
I'm sure you've seen this webpage, but visit stobist.com or read this book. It helped me learn the basics about using different light sources. https://www.amazon.com/Speedliters-Handbook-Learning-Craft-Speedlites/dp/0134007913/ref=mt_paperback?_encoding=UTF8
Happy Birthday and Merry Christmas! :) Here are a couple things I liked in my planning:
​
Best happy ending yet. I'm a huge proponent of the comparison of architecture, it's writing and theory, and graphic/web design. Christopher Alexander is fantastic. I recommend going back to his earlier work before the three you mentioned called "Notes on the Synthesis of Form."
A few other great architecture books to consider:
Learning from Las Vegas by Robert Venturi —
The Eyes of the Skin: Architecture and the Senses by Juhani Pallasmaa
What color did you get?
I know the feeling. When I bought my K200D it seemed like a ton of money and forever before it arrived.
As soon as you can start using the AF-200 and see what it does and doesnt do to images. Then get on the Strobist and learn what you can do with off camera flash. If you really want to get into that kind of photography it is extremely rewarding. You create light that doesnt exist. Read "The moment it clicks" and "Hot Shoe Diaries" and be prepared to be addicted. When you are ready to take the plunge, go to Gadget Infinity and check out the Cactus RF60 can do.
Taschen makes some wonderful budget photo book options. They have this one on New York which is $10. Bernice Abbot's Changing New York is a wonderful book but is most likely out of your price range unless you're willing to buy used. Diane Arbus' Revelations also falls into that category. There is also Humans of New York by Brandon Stanton though I don't find the photography particularly compelling.
http://www.amazon.com/Henri-Cartier-Bresson-Decisive-Cartier-Bresson/dp/3869307889/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1422551741&sr=8-1&keywords=The+Decisive+Moment
I've gifted this book twice https://www.amazon.com/dp/1623159857/?cv_ct_id=amzn1.idea.22IUWUC89C0FO&cv_ct_pg=storefront&cv_ct_wn=aip-storefront&ref=exp_cov_budgetsavvybride_lv_dp_vv_d. another good one is the Bridechilla book
That wasn't what I based it on. I based it on the fact it's from the 80's.
All by Bruce Davidson from his book 'Subway'
http://www.amazon.com/Bruce-Davidson-Subway/dp/1597111945/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1382469250&sr=8-1&keywords=bruce+subway
You might want to check out some of the poems in Tupac's The Rose That Grew From Concrete. I also pulled some poems from the book Paint me Like I am.
Those mics ain't gonna cut it. If you are fond of Rode, look into their NTG-2. These aren't specifically designed to be mounted on camera, as they work best boomed over (or scooped under) talent. For the best audio possible, you want to have the boom mic just outside of frame. If you plan on shooting interview style setups, I suggest you go the wireless lav mic route, so you can run two or more mics right on talent, and not have to worry about having a boom operator (or two) . I suggest this one from Saramonic set. I have used this in everything from weddings to legal depositions, and it has never let me down.
But you also may need a mixer recorder. This is so you can adjust the levels for each person separately, as everyone doesn't talk the same loudness. I use the Tascam DR-60D, they are cheap, but they have a glaring problem, that they won't recognize over a 16GB SD card. For that reason alone, I recommend getting a DR-70D or a competing mixer/recorder from Zoom. The reason why I recommend these instead of ones that are cheaper, is that these have dedicated physical gain buttons for each channel, so you can "ride the pots" to keep your levels where they need to be.
Lastly, since you're a Noobie, I don't want you to suck, so I picked out some great, cheap, Kindle books that I've bought and read cover to cover, and they really helped BIG TIME! I recommend this book called How to Shoot Video that Doesn't Suck and The Angry Filmmakers Survival Guide - Part One (this is more about indie film production, but damn near everything can be applied to your use case).
I spent several years getting my lighting chops doing portraiture photography. I knew how to do what I needed with soft and hard light from studio strobes. But dealing with "hot lights" (continuous lighting) for multiple people or a whole room is something else altogether! The most expensive book I'll recommend (around $22.00 USD) is Lighting for Cinematography Please buy this book!! It is fascinating the amount of information you learn from this publication, as it's chock full of pictures from on sets of lighting setups.
​
I hope this helps!
Yup, coming out later this year https://www.amazon.com/dp/0316512583
Don't know how much of a reader you are but this book was very interesting! https://www.amazon.com/Commissar-Vanishes-Falsification-Photographs-Stalins/dp/1849762511
If he's more of a reader get About Looking by John Berger
Its a great book that talks about why we take pictures of the things we do and much more.
If he's more interested in looking at actual photographs, I would recommend a number of books
Genesis by Sebastiao Salgado
Magnum Contact Sheets
The Americans by Robert Frank
The Last Resort by Martin Parr
My two faves:
https://www.amazon.com/Henri-Cartier-Bresson-Decisive-Cartier-Bresson/dp/3869307889
https://www.amazon.com/Occams-Razor-Outside-Contemporary-Photography/dp/3923922132
Check out Ken Kobre's book: Photojournalism: The Professionals' Approach
It's used as a textbook for many photojournalism classes in college.
http://www.amazon.com/Photojournalism-Professionals-Approach-Kenneth-Kobre/dp/075068593X
Right?! I'm also waiting for this book because I really like to write stuff down still too.
You might also check out another of Bryan Peterson's books Learning to See Creatively that deals more specifically with the artistic over the technical side of things.
Hi /u/fynnz0r - here's a ten year old article from Videomaker with the basics: http://www.videomaker.com/article/9254-how-to-use-a-camcorder-buttons-and-contols
Once you have the basic terminology down, you may find it useful to read something like: "[How to Shoot Video That Doesn't Suck] (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0051NHJFU/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0051NHJFU&linkCode=as2&tag=battleforthew-20)". The Kindle version is only $3, and it will be a good grounding in the fundamentals of videography.
Then, I would look at some of the basic how-to videos on the Internet - I like the approach over at [Wistia] (http://wistia.com/learning/diy-office-video-studio).
After that, you'll be ready to look at some of the resources other people have recommended (such as IndyMogul, FilmRiot and No Film School). I also like Dave Dugdale's [Learning DSLR Video] (http://www.learningdslrvideo.com/).
Hope this is helpful!
Bill
Read these books, all of the series: http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1581805012/ref=redir_mdp_mobile
I highly recommend you to read this book: https://www.amazon.com/Shoot-Video-That-Doesnt-Suck-ebook/dp/B0051NHJFU/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1484194715&sr=1-1&keywords=how+to+shoot+video+that+doesn%27t+suck
For less messy amazon links you can extract the part after "/dp/" in
https://www.amazon.com/Shoot-Video-That-Doesnt-Suck-ebook/dp/B0051NHJFU/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1484194715&sr=1-1&keywords=how+to+shoot+video+that+doesn%27t+suck
and make it:
https://amzn.com/B0051NHJFU
BEEP BOP
Plz send any recommendations via PM
Ah, OK. If you're in the UK (i.e. UK resident) then yes, fees seem extortionate, but it's still not real debt. It doesn't get counted against credit ratings and you only start to pay it off if you earn over a certain amount (hopefully I don't sound too glib). So don't worry about it too much. That said, the fees are really high if you're a non-UK resident wanting to study here (not sure which is more, US or UK fees).
Languages would be OK, but you would need to have an idea of where you wanted to work, and then what happens if you want to work somewhere else? That's not saying don't do a language degree, but just something to bear in mind. I'm not sure what course I would suggest, just think about something that you would enjoy and would help you with what you want to accomplish. People I know have everything from English degrees to politics and beyond.
As for if it's harder to get jobs. Actual salaried positions are like gold dust here (and in some parts of the world). A lot of jobs tend to be dead man's shoes (they come up when someone retires, quits or moves to another agency). As an example with the guys employed by agencies in the UK (a lot of the guys also do photojournalism as well when they get given assignments or find a project they like), most have usually started off doing casual shifts with an agency or publication (which is a hard enough step to get to already), after a while they end up with a contract for a certain amount of hours per month and after that they apply for jobs when they open up (which is rarely). It's a dog-eat-dog world, so if you should be unavailable for a shift then they'll go to someone else and you end up at the bottom of the pile.
Having a photojournalism degree wouldn't put you above anyone else, plenty of the people working don't have one. I guess the main thing that a degree would teach you (if you were a complete novice) would be things such as working to deadlines, the practical bits and bobs and feedback on the work you're producing as well as networking opportunities (depending on how well connected the university is).
On getting work as a freelance, a lot of the work I do is on spec (I shoot it and send it through), often when I'm away I'll be working with various freelance journalists who have ties to publications, so I'll pop the pictures through to the relevant desk once they've filed their story. Other than that I just put pictures through to desks when I judge that I've shot something newsworthy (this is outside anything I do as a correspondent - hard to describe the agreement I have with the organisation, but it's not the standard stuff).
Hope that helps, to be honest I kind of do my own thing. Everything I do revolves around a long term project I've been working on, so I'm in my own world most of the time and my approach won't work for everyone.
I will say that think one of the main changes in the industry (again, not sure of the situation in the US so I'm talking about the UK again) is that there isn't a normal career path any more. No set steps that people follow to end up in x position; the approach that one person takes doesn't necessarily work for someone else. Others here will also have points of view that, I have no doubt, may fit better than my ramblings.
Maybe a good step would be to find an agency or publication near you and ask if you could do a couple of weeks work experience. Also, you could do worse than pick up a copy of Ken Kobre's Photojournalism: The Professional's Approach (quite a decent book that I recommend to people who want to start out).
https://www.amazon.ca/Rose-That-Grew-Concrete/dp/0671028456
Loved this one!
Budget-Savvy Wedding Planner
Pete's book on Obama finally shipped the other day -- it's on sale and is AMAZING. I got mine in (from preorder) on Tuesday. This photo (in MUCH higher quality) is included in the book.
https://www.amazon.com/Obama-Intimate-Portrait-Pete-Souza/dp/0316512583
(inb4 hailcorporate)
I wish you very much luck, but I sincerely recommend that you take a look at the following books:
Design Basics Index
Thinking with Type
Working through these books, along with creating an actual portfolio site with either Cargo Collective or on your own will make a much bigger impression on potential clients. Sell yourself and the work will come.
Y U NO LINK KEN KOBRE'S PHOTOJOURNALISM?
stupid meme aside, haven't come across the AP book before. Any good?
Don't know if this book will tell you how, but it definitely has some cool pictures.
I wholeheartedly agree.
Did some research!
The photographs were exhibited at the Historic Houses Trust, and taken down on Sunday 11 February, 2007. A 239 page book was later formed called the City of Shadows: Sydney Police Photographs 1912-1948, though a little out of my price range. Fortunately there are tons more mugshots floating around for those interested.
Cheers.
I just loved how Big Frank told the stories about Pac. It gave you an insight of what it was like to be with Pac in that final year.
I haven't read anymore biopic books so I can't recommend anything else. Rebel for the Hell of it has some pretty bad reviews on Amazon so I'd keep that in mind.
The only other Pac book I've read is The Rose that Grew from Concrete which is a collection of poems written by him when he was 19. It inspired me to write some poetry, something that I thought I'd never do.
That is amazing! So weird, but amazing!
I would love to be able to shape shift. It's the perfect power. Need to be invisible? Cool, become a tiny insect or something instead. Need to fly? No worries! Bird! Need to walk through walls? Easy, become a ghost! (I'm sure that counts as shape shifting, right? Right. ¬_¬)
Failing that, I would love to have the power, that when I go to buy anything, I have the exact amount of change in my pocket (or if it's bigger, the exact amount needed in my bank account). Think about it, if you just had a load of money, you would run the risk of running out, this way, you will always have enough for what you want/need. Fabulous.
If I win, I would very much like you to surprise me. Or, failing that, I would really like this, this, this or this. I'm sorry, I couldn't decide D: (all are in my wishlists)
We are RAOA. You will be assimilated. Resistance is futile.
Edit: words
born november 14th and girl.
$20 $40
In The Rose That Grew From Concrete, you see his handwritten notes and the transcribed version. He literally drew 👁 for "I" and U for you.
Great poetry, lotta love songs and stuff. Thematically, it resembles his early music more than his later stuff.
Hell yah! You won't be disappointed--we used it in both of my photo history courses. It's got a lot of technical information on cameras, as well as cool history. This is also one of my favorite books, it gives amazing advice and has really thought-provoking images, whereas the World History book is more about fine art.
Not explicitly about casinos, but Robert Venturi’s Learning from Las Vegas is interesting
https://www.amazon.com/Learning-Las-Vegas-Forgotten-Architectural/dp/026272006X
For an absolute beginner shooting digital, Ken Kobre's Photojournalism and Bruce Barnbaum's The Art of Photography would be my pick, if only because those were the books I learned from in j-school.
For an intermediate film photographer who needs inspiration or thoughtful meditations on the medium more than they need inspiration, I am always going back to Vivian Maier: Street Photographer, Annie Leibovitz's A Photographer's Life: 1990-2005, and the exhibition book from Francesca Woodman's exhibit at SFMOMA/the Guggenheim. But I have an abiding interest in female photographers, self-portraiture, and the female gaze, so YMMV there.
This series of books:
http://www.amazon.com/Design-Basics-Index-Jim-Krause/dp/1581805012
http://imgur.com/VUceyGe better resolution photo here
Photo was by Martha Cooper, 1981, found in this book: https://www.amazon.com/Subway-Art-Anniversary-Martha-Cooper/dp/0811868877
It's a set of images from a Bruce Davidson book - "Subway". First published in 1986.
Anyone interested can have a look at amazon.
Personally, I never have enough camera bags. Understated ones that can be used daily would be a fine gift. Domke, ThinkTank, Billingham are great and bags are a thing I don't like splurging on for myself.
Photography books are also nice. Unfortunately the most anticipated reprint book this year, Cartier-Bresson's The Decisive Moment has been delayed till January.
Those are photographs by the well known photographer Bruce Davidson.
> the Canon speedlites are too expensive for me
I would honestly reconsider the Speedlite 430EX-III RT. It gets 4.8 stars on Amazon. Pretty much nothing on Amazon reviews that well.
I have a Canon EOS 650D and the first flash I purchased for it was the 430EX-II and it's a really good flash. Totally changed my photography game.
Also, this book is super helpful, too: https://www.amazon.com/Speedliters-Handbook-Learning-Craft-Speedlites/dp/0134007913/
OK... help me figure this out!
I absolutely want to buy it, however I feel misled from Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/Magnum-Contact-Sheets-Kristen-Lubben/dp/0500292914/
The listing says "This title will be released on October 24, 2017" however reviews are from 2012 and beyond.
Would this book actually sell at $28.33? If so, DEAL OF THE CENTURY.
IF not, where should I source a copy?
Magnum Contact Sheets is a great book that shows how many shots went into getting the perfect image and the different ways the photographers tried to set up the scene before getting the final shot.
Similarly, if your SO has any interest in Hip-Hop and the iconic photography behind it, Contact High is a great selection.
A good gift. Someone gave me one.
https://www.amazon.com/Obama-Intimate-Portrait-Pete-Souza/dp/0316512583
When I was in J-School this was a required text:
https://www.amazon.com/Photojournalism-Professionals-Approach-Kenneth-Kobre/dp/075068593X
Along with: https://www.amazon.com/Associated-Press-Guide-Photojournalism-Handbooks/dp/0071363874/ref=pd_sbs_14_t_0?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=6NZV54XKAY02PNWDG14H
Lets set a baseline: https://www.amazon.com/Commissar-Vanishes-Falsification-Photographs-Stalin-s/dp/1849762511/ref=pd_sbs_14_t_0?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=JXPQWHSHTS07FZV37RTP
If you all believed in debate on the merits, you wouldn't have to censor those who disagree with you. Communist history wouldn't be rife with the disappearances of political dissidents. I wouldn't be having this conversation here on /r/seattle where I'm subject to the rules of a local city sub after being banned from the sub that sends mental midget conscripts here to try their hand at promoting a system that relies on genocide. No, I'd be free to debate without censorship those who claim they have a better way. But instead of being able to prove your system on the merits, you'd rather hide behind banning those who disagree.
We can consider it a taste of whats to come if your ideology ever gains power.
I'm ready for that day. Are you?
I am interested in getting into photography and recently ordered my first camera. I bought a Canon T5i w/ EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM Lens and a EF 75-300mm F/4-5.6 III Autofocus Telephoto Zoom Lens.
I am mainly interested in taking portraits, landscape and event photos. The events I work at are in everything from hotel ballrooms, private homes to convention spaces, almost always indoors with fairly dim lighting.
I've been trying to do some research on different equipment and gear that I would need, and came up with the following list. Is there anything that I don't need or a better alternative than I have listed? Is there anything I'm missing?
Thanks
"Nifty Fifty" Lens - https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B00X8MRBCW
Bag - https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B00CF5OGP8
Memory Card - https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B007NDL54C
Battery Grip - https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B0039VYN1Y
Speedlite 430 - https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B010W2MAOO
Lightsphere - https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B01JPY41RO
Book 1 - https://smile.amazon.com/dp/1446302172
Book 2 - https://smile.amazon.com/dp/0134007913
GorillaPod - https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B002FGTWOC
Battery Charger - https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B00JHKSMJU
Extra Batteries - https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B00JHKSL28
If you flip the image horizontally, does it still feel a bit off?
I was reading a composition book yesterday that brought up why I think your image might feel a bit off...
If you can view page 101 in the 'book preview' (click on 'Search inside this book' then get to page 101..):
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0817441816/
while I think LadyPenyee is right that a cloud will add balance and make it feel less off, I'm wondering if the image might feel more flat as a result (?)
One of my favorites is Genesis By Sebastiao Salgado. I have the big hardcover published by Taschen.
The decisive moment: http://www.amazon.com/Henri-Cartier-Bresson-The-Decisive-Moment/dp/3869307889
I'm curious. You mentioned you were an undergrad, and in your 3rd and last year of studio? What kind of program is it? Is it for a BS in Arch? I ask because at my college, for a BArch, there are 5 years of studio.
Edit: I'll add what helped me, I'm pretty sure everyone goes through this at some point. I tried to renew my love for architecture, and did so pretty well. Check out some architecture magazines, go on a small field trip to a good building nearby (2-3 hour drive away, something you never got a chance to see). I also highly reccomend these two books on architectural history/theory. Delirious New York by Rem Koolhaas and Learning from Las Vegas by Robert Venturi. I found them both very interesting and, no offense to the theorists of the early 20th century, but these are a little more for our time.
I was given this book on one of my first dates with my now husband. It's still one of my faves.
Also, I love to give the book "Humans of New York" to people who don't live here.
Incidentally, now this crap is at number 6 on the Movers and Shakers:
https://www.amazon.com/Obama-Intimate-Portrait-Pete-Souza/dp/0316512583
From a book called "Hungry Planet":
Link to buy it on amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Hungry-Planet-What-World-Eats/dp/0984074422
the book is 400 usd and up on amazon. it's from australia. however, if you go to australia, the book is much, much less.
http://www.amazon.com/City-Shadows-Sydney-Photographs-1912-1948/dp/1876991208/
http://shop.hht.net.au/Home/Catalogue?productid=e5ebe56a7a9ed9a6
Let me recommend the actual book, which includes facts such as calorie intake, family income, and country overweight percentage. The book describes the daily life of the families, their expectations and general outlook on life.
which in turns is sourced from http://www.amazon.com/Hungry-Planet-What-World-Eats/dp/0984074422/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1278139071&sr=1-1
In any case, it's a good book that covers way more than just what the time article covered.
Thank you. I am planning on picking up this book:
http://www.amazon.com/Picture-Perfect-Practice-Self-Training-World-Class/dp/0321803531/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top
I'm hoping it will help me learn more.
Pretty sure they're taken from here or here.
Back in the 80's my brother got this book regarding Subway Art which looks like was updated for a 25th anniversary edition that came out several years ago.
If anybody wants to see what Subway Art was during the 70's and 80's.
I recently picked up "Learning to See Creatively" and I've really enjoyed it so far.
This?
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0984074422
Following up on this, if you are into photography and don't mind splurging a bit, the following are always fun to play with.
- Speedlighters Handbook if nothing else, every photographer who likes flash should read this.
Bounce flash off the roof is how I typically shoot dark dogs, since I don't often drag out my other lighting stuff.
Additionally, if you want to be more adventurous, the following enable mountains of options.
The wired controller allows full control of the flash from your camera along with flash exposure control. The wireless trigger is manual flash control only.
I've been using The Budget Savy Bride book. You don't need to be having a 'budget' wedding. It's been good for organizing my thoughts, priorities, and planning overall.
Maybe by tuning yourself into basic form (line, shape, texture, etc)? I like this book by Bryan Peterson. http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0817441816/ref=mp_s_a_3?qid=1301167017&sr=8-3
The reason I bothered writing a long comment was because I got the general sense from what you've posted that you were passionate about what you were trying to do, and working it out/improving and not just an asshole. Glad I was right.
See if you can get a copy of this book from your school or local library: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1597111945/ref=s9_simh_gw_g14_i1_r?ie=UTF8&fpl=fresh&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=desktop-1&pf_rd_r=1VBT2F8340N6KEZVM8KK&pf_rd_t=36701&pf_rd_p=2079475242&pf_rd_i=desktop
or any Bruce Davidson book for that matter. I think he manages to capture 70s/80s NYC, which was arguably a far worse place than current Baltimore, in all of it grit/grime/crime/drug use. Try to understand what about his photos works, and what doesn't. What compositionally elevates his subjects of helps you connect with them, then go out shooting with that in mind. To be honest, I think the biggest thing you can do to help yourself is to edit yourself much harder. I think a class where you are getting ripped apart can be good for teaching you to be even harder on your photos than anybody else. This will also make you shoot more because fewer things will make it past your cuts, and shooting more will always make you better (though, for me at least, posting more can sometimes be a negative to me getting better). I think if you can learn to see your photos in the harshest of lights then the good ones that are left will really be great.
This pic is from a great book called City of Shadows: Sydney Police Photographs 1912-1948. seems all these guys were freshly arrested and these special photos were made allowing them to pose as they wished.
I found Speedliter's Handbook: Learning to Craft Light with Canon Speedlites very useful when I began trying to use my flashes more effectively. I've not read the 2nd edition as it's been a few years now since I read the 1st.
Light Science & Magic: http://amzn.com/0415719402
The Moment It Clicks: http://amzn.com/0321544080
Best Business Practices for Photographers: http://amzn.com/1435454294
Scan tips (https://www.scantips.com) is nice, if nerdy/detailed, but fundamentals you must understand regardless. Then I have the speedlighters handbook ( https://www.amazon.com/Speedliters-Handbook-Learning-Craft-Speedlites/dp/0134007913/ref=dp_ob_title_bk) which is a great intro course to the artistic side of strobism (steps for setting your cameras exposure then flash, basic portrait lighting, indoor outdoor, multi flash setups, fill, use of reflectors and gels etc), and almost all of it is relevant even if you aren't a canon person. And finally for film the end of this article always comes to mind as well-written: https://web2.ph.utexas.edu/~yue/misc/35RC.html
Personally I am not good enough to nail flash on film yet but I'd had fantastic and reproduceable results, especially in studio, by getting my continuous and strobe balance and shape right on digital, then firing away with film at same settings (off camera flash of course via pc cord mostly). Here's example I did that way : https://i.imgur.com/sxwGnLJ.jpg
Good luck!
Introduction & enjoyable read:
Scott Kelby's Digital Photography Book series (there are 3 books - 1st one is highly recommended - by many is #1 best selling photography book ever)
...aaaaand The Moment it Clicks (by Joe McNally)
For portraits: Peter Hurley
Masterpiece: James Nachtwey - Inferno (if fact ANYTHING of James Nachtwey - the guy is alone in his own league)
Just a few of the lighter purchases I've made this year that I can recommend to anyone. Maybe these are more like stocking stuffers but they're definitely must-haves.
I like this on net -- it's a composite of many cool things. But the execution for each of those parts could've been done better... e.g., he's picked white fridges and set the pictures on a white background; the cropping is a bit poor in a lot of these pictures, and it would've been cooler to have a full-on "pop out" effect by drawing a simple refrigerator-esque bevel around the picture frame.
And the masterpiece of food-in-your-kitchen-voyeurism: Hungry Planet. Such an awesome book. Good photography too.
[he was a Brilliant poet] https://www.amazon.com/dp/0671028456/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_bx-3DbB0048PS)
Screw it, I suck at html.
Also, I thought it was very racist to charge him for this event, even as a 14 year old at the time. Weird that putting a brilliant man behind a cage made him angry. Had he not been forced to hang out with uneducated gangster who sucked him into thug life, he may have prevented a lot of the national racial strife that continues to linger today.
I think that is what we call institutional racism, where the racists didn't like his popularity, so they damaged a brilliant man. Great job society, now let's smear him from the grave!