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books instead of cameras.

M

mickdaniel

Guest
Nice point of view. Ansel Adams once said: "The single most important component of a camera is the twelve inches behind it." But still, too many aspiring photographers focus on getting a cool camera instead of a great photography book.
Have a look at photography.pro, which is a great new resource for the best photography books.
 
S

smokysun

New member
Per Ofverbeck

Per Ofverbeck

Member
smokysun said:
this book changed cartier-bresson's view of life and photography:

http://www.amazon.com/Zen-Art-Arche...=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1261962015&sr=8-1

just ran across the follow-up book, aphorisms from the hourse's mouth, the teacher who taught the writer of the book above:

http://www.amazon.com/Zen-Bow-Arrow-Teachings-Archery/dp/159030442X/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_c

substitute camera for bow and you've a very different approach to photography.

wayne
www.pbase.com/wwp
Click to expand...
Wayne, thanks a LOT for this info! I´m one of those who have put Herrighel´s book on my short "shelf of honour", so to say.... It´s not a reference; either I re-read it completely, or I leave it alone. But each new read remains an earth-shattering experience.

I hadn´t seen there was another book abour Master Awa; I´ll get it ASAP! (Just found it was temporarily out of stock with my regular dealer, but Amazon works well even from Sweden).

Again, thanks!
 
Don Libby

Don Libby

Well-known member
My very absolute most favorite hobby/pastime is reading. I brought a Kindle 10 months ago and I’ve already read over 50 books. So much cheaper and easier downloading them – leaves me more money for the second most enjoyable habit – photography.

Happy New Years!

Don
 
pollobarca

pollobarca

New member
I cant sleep unless I read a page of text. But I cannot get into photography books!
I have a few doubts about e-books. One is how can I get the writer to autograph an E book? How can I dedicate a PDF ( you know Happy Birthday messages etc etc ) although this could be resolved by retailers adding an extra dedication page. I must admit that I am tempted by those ebook machines all the same.
Same thing with music- get an MP3 or ITune autographed....
The great things about a book are that it doesn't need electricity, it wont break down (though it might fall apart) and doesn't require that you are a good citizen with an internet connection.
All the best

paul
 
otumay

otumay

New member
I agree with you Paul. Somehow the books I prefer tend to be on subjects other than photography. This may be due to many factors; that the books are mostly written by critics and curators which usually alienates the reader, or photographers philosophizing on their craft which sometimes make the book a poor read. This is by no means a generalization, just that I come across a good photography book very very rarely.
As for preferring a 'real' book to an e-book, well, I'm for analogue and prefer to read LP covers to CD inserts;)
Best,
Osman
 
S

smokysun

New member
since i've been plagued by the transitory nature of existence, i've found solid books a comfort (i'm back up to at least a hundred boxes, many full of photo books). e-books can vanish at the touch of a button! maybe it's time to watch the movie 'farenheit 451' again.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_0...ps&field-keywords=farenheit+451&sprefix=faren

as for photobooks, if the pictures in them (technique or history) don't interest you, pass. i do think studying actual photos can sink into your unconscious.

however, if i were to recommend one book, it would be on painting, and mostly about portraits:

http://www.amazon.com/Art-Spirit-Fr...=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1262141614&sr=8-2

reading, underlining, and re-reading this book will pay off. (that's been my experience.)

wayne
www.pbase.com/wwp

ps. i did run across this book at the san francisco museum of modern art today:

http://www.amazon.com/Artists-Eyes-...=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1262141843&sr=1-1

it looks like it might be really useful.
 
Don Libby

Don Libby

Well-known member
I too love books and have several shelves filled with them; but only one on photography. I brought the Kindle as an experiment earlier this year to see if I could get used to it while on travel and found it works well on travel as it fits along side of my laptop. I just downloaded one of my favorite authors W.E.B. Griffin newest novels and have been reading all day which has also caused me to not set foot into the studio; a place I’ve been spending too many hours of late. As much as I like the Kindle I still like and much prefer a “solid” book, one that after reading can be found along side one of it’s cousins on my shelves.

One thing I’ve never got into is a book on tape. Sorry just not my cup of tea.

Back to reading now…

Don
 
S

smokysun

New member
interesting, don, cause i just love books on tape, but only when i'm traveling by car. the miles vanish. and it can give you a whole new take on a book. once an avid kafka fan, this summer i listened to most of a new translation of the castle:

http://www.amazon.com/Castle-Classi...=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1262147286&sr=8-1

it made me realize how much his stories are 1. like a dream and 2. about how people accomodate to the most unlikely situations and how disoriented and lost they become doing so.

as far as studying photos themselves, i'm looking at a 1999 edition of

http://www.amazon.fr/Patrimoine-pho...=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1262146798&sr=8-5

which i found at half price books today in berkeley (20 percent off the half price. the devil's tempation). 15 photographers who've donated their patrimony to the french state. and what's interesting is how kertesz stands head and shoulders above the others. his gift is here really evident. what is it? in ny he lost it. (pretty much.)

wayne
www.pbase.com/wwp
 
S

smokysun

New member
i'm such a junkie! three books arrived today - and i'd hope to swear off the habit, a life-long one.

for those from philidelphia here's a remarkable book:

http://www.amazon.com/Regulars-Jona...=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1263958033&sr=1-1

actually a lesson in working from where you're at. a barmaid, she took pictures of drinkers where they look unusually dignified. got her to yale and an mfa.

this book great fun if you know your history of photography and recognize most of the pictures on which the drawings are based:

http://www.amazon.com/History-Photo...=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1263958195&sr=1-1

i keep cracking up.

and for the third, this new one from chronicle books should be in every photographer's library:

http://www.amazon.com/Photowisdom-M...=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1263958266&sr=1-1

the photographers here really do talk about their process and the experience of photographing. short paragraphs you can swallow, along with several large, beautifully printed examples of their work.

a book dealer in sf told me the value of photo books going up faster than any others, so you really can't lose. your kids can sell them and pay for college.

wayne
www.pbase.com/wwp
 
S

smokysun

New member
you're welcome. i'm reading in this book mentioned above

http://www.amazon.com/Photowisdom-Ma...3958266&sr=1-1

it's really the best i've found where working photographers of all kinds talk about how and why they do what they do. it's the thought behind their work that makes it stand out. and the quotes short, mostly a paragraph at a time. as people have often stated here, most books of technique and criticism don't help much to make you a better photographer. something, somewhere in this one might. we really need only one good idea!

wayne
www.pbase.com/wwp
 
Godfrey

Godfrey

Well-known member
Currently reading David duChemin's book, "Within The Frame: The Journey of Photographic Vision". Excellent photos, excellent writing. Well worth it.
 
S

smokysun

New member
sometimes you receive a book which feels so good in the hand, you don't even have to read it (tremble kindle)

http://www.amazon.com/Basho-Complet...=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1265187097&sr=8-1

kodansha creates beautiful books (i'm stuck on japanese art and design) and i feel haiku as close as words get to photographs.

another book i can't live without is the one of haiku prose by kawabata:

http://www.amazon.com/Palm-Hand-Sto...1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1265187415&sr=8-1-spell

these are what i like to read when i wake in the middle of the night and can't go back to sleep. here's his masterpiece

http://www.amazon.com/Snow-Country-...=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1265187520&sr=1-1 there's also a beautiful movie based upon it.

the japanese combine nature and human life in a way i find irresistible.

wayne
www.pbase.com/wwp
 
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