Whatcha Readin?

[SoCal Steve]

I'd like to make some reading recommendations of photography books that I've got on my desk and bookshelf at the moment.

1. Peter iNova's "dSLR D70" eBook - Graphics Management Press - No surprises here. We all know that this is a good place to start!
2. Scott Kelby's "The Photoshop Book for Digital Photographers" New Riders Press - Excellent tips and shortcut on all kinds of things in Photoshop, although I think there might be a newer version out by now.
3. "Camera Raw with Adobe Photoshop CS" - Bruce Fraser - Adobe and Peachpit Press - Everything you ever wanted to know about and only about the Camera Raw format, but were afraid to ask. The straight scoop.
4. "How to Wow - Photoshop for Photography" - Jack Davis and Ben Willmore - An extremely helpful book that explains almost every imaginable effect to make your pictures special; B&W channel mixing, High pass filtering, Skin softening, antique photo restoration... it's in there. Apparently this is part of a whole series of books.
5. "Photography of Natural Things" - Freeman Patterson - A how-to on Photo Journalism of nature. Don't disturb it or try to tidy it up, shoot it as is, warts and all. He's actually got me getting up early to catch the first light of morning. And that's really saying something.

Well, that's my list at the moment. What are your favorites?

[sheepie]

"How to Wow - Photoshop for Photography" - Jack Davis and Ben Willmore - An extremely helpful book that explains almost every imaginable effect to make your pictures special; B&W channel mixing, High pass filtering, Skin softening, antique photo restoration... it's in there. Apparently this is part of a whole series of books.

Agree with this one - is nice and simple in it's approach, but details some pretty amazing stuff.
I've also got Steve Parish's "Photograph Australia" which, apart from being a little simplistic (ie: not really aimed at the more serious amateur) is very inspirational.
I've looked at many books in the bookshops, and if I didn't want to spend money on glass, would probably have bought many of them too!

That's where this forum is good - you get inspiration, and feedback, everywhere

[Dargan]

I like to read about the lives and the unique approaches of well known photographers to see if I can gain some insight into their approach. The two most recent biographies I have read have been on the lives of Robert Capa and Damien Parer. Capa had an amazing life, quite apart from his pioneering war photojournalism. Oh, and I agree with the iNova book, it is great.

[Alex]

[quote="SoCal Steve"]I'd like to make some reading recommendations of photography books that I've got on my desk and bookshelf at the moment.

1. Peter iNova's "dSLR D70" eBook - Graphics Management Press - No surprises here. We all know that this is a good place to start!

Need to get this one, but reading the Thom Hogans one now.

2. Scott Kelby's "The Photoshop Book for Digital Photographers" New Riders Press - Excellent tips and shortcut on all kinds of things in Photoshop, although I think there might be a newer version out by now.

Got this one too. Have read it and it's great, but I think there is a version for CS now.


3. "Camera Raw with Adobe Photoshop CS" - Bruce Fraser - Adobe and Peachpit Press - Everything you ever wanted to know about and only about the Camera Raw format, but were afraid to ask. The straight scoop.

have this one but haven't started yet.


I found "Understanding exposure" by Bryan Peterson is a very good read.

So many things to read and so little time




Alex

[SoCal Steve]

More for your reading pleasure...

I forgot about a very good book that might not be too well known. It's Kevin Ames' book "Adobe Photoshop CS The Art of Photographing Women." A tremendous book that teaches much more than what the title might imply. It contains very instructive step by step information on lighting, shooting raw, archiving, color correction, retouching, reshaping body parts, etc., etc., etc. I even learned how to use the pen tool. If you haven't learned the useful pen tool yet, it's like learning to ride a bike x10. Try it out. Wah?

And... for those who are masochistic or just like to be awed, there is Bert Monroy's book "Photoshop Studio" filled with Photoshop images that you'd swear were excellent photographs but were actually completely drawn using Photoshop tools. Argggg! This guy is really good!

[sirhc55]

I believe Bert Monroy is one of the world’s top Photoshop/Illustrator artists - Johnny Rockets Hamburgers being one of my favourites

[Matt. K]

Dargan
Capa's "Death of a Spanish Soldier" was almost crtainly a fake. Does that diminish his stature as a photojournalist? Oddly..no. Why? Because he drank a lot, told great stories and was a womaniser. So what's to fault?

[fishingforsquid]

Dargan
Capa's "Death of a Spanish Soldier" was almost crtainly a fake. Does that diminish his stature as a photojournalist? Oddly..no. Why? Because he drank a lot, told great stories and was a womaniser. So what's to fault?

Edited by Glen, because I personally don't like abuse of any members unless a) they are known to each other and understand the intent or b) it is said in good humour. This was a one word insult which I don't believe meets those criteria. Robust discussion and debate is encouraged, abuse is not.

[digitor]

Dargan
Capa's "Death of a Spanish Soldier" was almost crtainly a fake. Does that diminish his stature as a photojournalist? Oddly..no. Why? Because he drank a lot, told great stories and was a womaniser. So what's to fault?

WANKER!

Please explain?

[fishingforsquid]

Please explain?[/quote]

Capa, through a fluke, through an instantaneous reaction, managed to capture in a miraculous moment of time the image of a man being struck by a bullet, the moment of death. It has surprised many people that Capa was not able to name the man in this image. He became world-famous, literally overnight, because of this image. He said he spent a week with the militia to which this man apparently belonged. It seems strange to spend so long with this small group of men, having been in combat with them, having seen this man apparently die, he would not ask then at least someone in the militia ‘who was that?

That's one answer, the other is who waxes about this stuff????

[Matt. K]

fishingforsquid
There has been some robust academic debate about that particular image and it has been going on for many years. I believe...from memory, that it was in Susan Sontags last essay and book that she included a number of frames taken before or after that particular image showing a number of different soldiers in similar poses at that particular spot. Disturbingly...the background was in precisely the same spot for each frame indicating the use of a tripod. These images swung me, and probably anyone else whos has seen them, around to believing the image was set-up. Capa has a kind of hero status amongst many photographers who simply do not want to believe he would do that. The evidence tends to indicate that the issue is not cut and dry. If making a call based on that kind of material makes me a "wanker" then so be it. Thank you for your comments.

[boxerboy]

Oh yes, fishingforsquid, thank you for your comments - and your contribution to this forum. Over 700 members and to date we've had quality to go with the quantity. Obviously fishing using barbs has brought you "success" in the past, I doubt that you're going to get too many bites here though.

[johndec]

FFS,

Your linguistic skills and hypotheses are wasted on we poor simple fools... I would suggest http://www.dpreview.com as a suitable outlet for your superior intellect.

Bye Bye...

[gstark]

All,

I have asked FishingForSquid to explain his words and flaming behaviour.

The last time I asked that question of someone, the post looked to be a spurious post trying to direct attention to that person's sale of items on ebay, and despite that even being some time ago, I still don't have the courtesy of a response.

Maybe FishingForSquid will do better; we'll see.

[Hlop]

I should tell you, I'm disappointed by Peter iNova D70 book. It's for very beginners. Very common and basic things described. In chapter 3 they included a part of Uwe Steinmueller book without even reformatting it!

However, I didn't discover his PS actions yet - they might be good but book itself is biggest disappointment in my experience with photo books.