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Photography Books

“A Selection of Good Buys”

If you were to read all the photography books available, you would have no time to take photographs.

How do you pick a few which will help you?

The books listed here have all been read and recommended by visitors to better-photographs.com. Some of them cover a broad range of topics and techniques whilst others specialize on specific areas and subject types.

General Technique Books

Landscape & Travel Books

Underwater Books
Wildlife & Nature Books
Wedding and Portrait Books

They have all helped their readers to improve and progress.

If you have read one which is not on the list and you would recommend it, then please spare a minute to help your fellow photographers by completing the short form at the bottom of this page. photography books


General Technique Photography Books



The History of Photography in 50 Cameras - Michael Pritchard

The history of photography, perhaps more so than any other art, is a history of technology that is best revealed in the very vehicle that makes it possible the camera.

Through a selection of fifty landmark cameras, Michael Pritchard tells the story of this ground-breaking piece of equipment that changed the way we saw the world around us.

Available from amazon.co.uk



Beginner's Guide to Digital Painting in Photoshop - Nykolai Aleksander & Richard Tilbury

Beginner’s Guide to Digital Painting in Photoshop: Volume 1 is a brand new series dedicated to providing a truly comprehensive guide to the basics of digital painting in this versatile program.

The step-by-step tutorials within this book don’t just describe techniques, but actively demonstrate how these techniques can be applied to an artwork. Industry veterans including Nykolai Aleksander and Richard Tilbury share the benefits of their years of experience in a clear and methodical fashion.

They examine the various basic Photoshop tools on offer, and also look at fundamental art theory, including classic topics such as composition, story-telling, portraying emotion, lighting and color.

Instructive and inspirational, Beginner’s Guide to Digital Painting in Photoshop: Volume 1 is an ideal resource for anyone taking their first steps into the digital painting world.




Panoramic Photography: From Composition and Exposure to Final Exhibition - Arnaud Frich

It has never been easier to make panoramas--both in terms of the new lightweight equipment and the spectacular quality of the final image output.

New vistas concerning this unique way to see the world and express oneself abound in Panoramic Photography: From Composition and Exposure to Final Exhibition.

Written by one of the world's pre-eminent panoramic photographers, the author, Arnaud Frich, provides diagrams to explain the technical details involved in various shots. Long on inspiration, you will find beautiful images by the author, as well as by Benoît Ancelot, François-Xavier Bouchart, Franck Charel, Macduff Everton, David J. Osborn, and many others.

Camera equipment examples and a list of suppliers make this book a valuable resource for all panoramic photographers.

Inside you will find all the information you need to create your perfect panorama!




Mastering Digital Panoramic Photography -  Harald Woeste

The unusual perspective of a panoramic image creates a unique and intriguing visual experience for the viewer. Skillfully executed, panoramic photography can realize scenes which could otherwise never be captured in an image or seen with the naked eye.

Panoramas offer new possibilities for creative photographers, either as flat, two-dimensional images, or mapped into a 3D space that can be visited on a virtual tour. New, powerful, panorama software makes the workflow easier and more efficient than ever before.

Author Harald Woeste takes the reader on a tour from the basics of capturing panoramas, all the way through stitching, editing, and printing panoramic images. He provides a detailed description of the necessary equipment and materials, as well as the various software tools that can be used in the workflow. The latter half of the book illustrates the making of panoramas through a number of example projects.

In Mastering Digital Panoramic Photography you will find everything you need to know to create amazing panoramic images.




Digital Photography Month by Month -  Tom Ang

Capture the seasons with photographer Tom Ang

From photographing a dew drop in spring to a beautiful winter frost you can now follow your hobby throughout the year with Digital Photography Month by Month. Be inspired as renowned photographer Tom Ang shows you how to capture the moods and moments of each season to stunning effect.

Whatever your level of expertise or type of camera from the best digital SLRs on the market right down to camera phones, you'll find tips and tricks to help you get the most out of your shot.

Packed with "how to" advice and projects to keep you snapping throughout the year, Digital Photography Month by Month is an inspiring and practical guide to taking beautiful photos in every season.

Tom Ang is renowned as a photographer, author, and broadcaster. A specialist in travel and digital photography, he is the author of 23 books on photography and video including the best-selling Digital Photographer's Handbook published in twenty languages and sold over half a million copies. He is now busily creating eBooks.



Lenses for Digital SLRsLenses for Digital SLRs: The Complete Guide - Ross Hoddinott

It's very easy, when investing in new camera gear, to put all your energy into choosing the right body, only for that most crucial of factors - the lens - to become an almost secondary consideration.

"Lenses for Digital SLRs: The Complete Guide", redresses that balance. Covering everything from focal length to depth of field, prime versus zoom lenses and specialist optics, this book manages to unravel the technicalities of lenses while remaining comprehensible and reader-friendly. photography books

Throughout the book, the reader is guided through basic terminology, common focal lengths, what optical quality means in terms of the photographs they take and eventually comes to understand the anatomy of the camera lens and its effect on the image. photography books

Available from amazon.co.uk and amazon.com




A Guide to Astrophotography with Digital SLR Cameras - Jerry Lodriguss

This book on CD-ROM is a practical guide to astrophotography with digital single lens reflex (DSLR) cameras. It explains how digital cameras work and everything you need to know about how to take astrophotos with them.

It also tells you how to process the images after you have shot them, with step-by-step directions that will produce beautiful results. With this book you will discover how easy it is to shoot the Sun, Moon, stars, nebulae, galaxies, and other celestial objects.





Creative Night: Digital Photography Tips and Techniques - Harold Davis

Shooting in low light and at night is challenging, but it can result in stunning images, so don't put that digital camera away after the sun goes down! Start capturing eerie and intriguing photographs at all levels of light with this information-packed guide from renowned photographer and author Harold Davis.

He provides pages of field-tested techniques to help you find the proper exposures, including the best settings for ISO, aperture, and shutter. Don't miss the intriguing examples of his own work, including cityscapes, landscapes, and more.
  • Walks readers through the intricacies of night and low light photography
  • Explores the fundamental rules of exposure, including creative settings for ISO, aperture, and shutter speeds
  • Informs and inspires with the author's own breathtaking examples of night photography, including cityscapes, landscapes, exciting night events, and other photos that illustrate the concepts
Capture the visually exciting world after the sun goes down with this essential guide to night photography. photography books





The Complete Guide to Digital Night & Low-Light Photography - Tony Worobiec

Low-light photography can mean early mornings, late nights and bad weather, but with the right technique it does offer wonderful rewards and the opportunity to capture stunningly beautiful images.

The Complete Guide to Digital Night and Low-Light Photography is the ultimate guide to achieving the most striking results in your work. It takes you through the standard features of modern Digital SLR cameras, specifically discussing how these can help in low-light photography.

Tony Worobiec's expert advice covering in-camera techniques—some conventional and others less so—and invaluable post-production techniques extend the possibilities of low-light photography even further.

Practical guidance on tackling a comprehensive range of situations also ensure that whatever circumstances you are faced with, expert help is close at hand.

Whether you want to capture the vibrancy of a city at night or the eerie beauty of a misty landscape at dusk, this practical guide will help you to make the most of every low-light situation. photography books





Photography at Sea: Techniques for Capturing Amazing Photographs Afloat - Patrick Roach and Fred Barter

Sailing yachts under full sail, motorboats with huge bow waves, seemingly impossible angles and close encounters - even before you factor in the spray-filled atmosphere, blinding sunlight, fast-moving targets and an unstable platform, photography at sea is a very tricky proposition. photography books

But it is an attractive one.

The glamour and the excitement can result in amazing photographs, but it helps to have some expert guidance. In this full-colour, highly illustrated guide, one of the world's leading yachting photographers explains how to get the best shot and dramatic effects, looking at all the elements photographers afloat will need to cover, including:

Composing the shot Capturing groups, fast action and reflections Dealing with confined interiors Taking dramatic creative shots: up the mast, from the bows etc.

This is a unique, informative and instructive book, and for those back from a day on the water, it will be an inspiring and attractive addition to any bookshelf. photography books



Photography Books - Points of View: Capturing the 19th Century in Photographs - John Falconer and Louise HideSport and Action (World's Top Photographers Workshops) - Andy Steel

The sports and action photography community is rich with imagination, inspiration, and artistry, making it the most dynamic arm of contemporary professional photography. photography books

The World s Top Photographers Workshops Sport & Action is the definitive guide to the genre, presenting readers with the skills, techniques, and unrivalled portfolios of some of the very best in the business. They take readers to the core of sports and action photography, from the equipment and kit needed for profitable work, to the enthusiasm and creativity required by those wanting to reach the highest echelons of their profession.

This book seeks not only to teach the technological know-how and timing needed to master fast-paced situations, it also helps to guide keen amateur photographers toward finding their own inspiration and creative voice to record the perfect action shot.

Available from amazon.co.uk and amazon.com






A Village Lost and Found - Brian May & Elena Vidal

Based on 30 years of research, Brian May's painstaking excavation of exquisite stereo photographs from the dawn of photography transports readers to the lost world of an Oxfordshire village of the 1850s.

At the book's heart is a reproduction of T. R. Williams' 1856 series of stereo photographs, "Scenes In Our Village." Using the viewer supplied with this book, the reader can become absorbed in a village idyll of the early Victorian era: the subjects seem to be on the point of suddenly bursting back into life and continuing with their daily rounds.

The book is also something of a detective story, as the village itself was only identified in 2003 as Hinton Waldrist in Oxfordshire, and the authors' research constantly reveals further clues about the society of those distant times, historic photographic techniques, and the life of the enigmatic Williams himself, who appears, Hitchcock-like, from time to time in his own photographs.


Photography Books - Points of View: Capturing the 19th Century in Photographs - John Falconer and Louise HidePoints of View: Capturing the 19th Century in Photographs - John Falconer and Louise Hide 

From its beginnings in the 1840s up to the mass democratisation of photography as a widespread leisure pursuit, the development of the medium was swept along by a tide of artistic and entrepreneurial activity that gathered pace throughout the 19th century. photography books

Since the first public announcement of the invention in 1839, photography has both reflected and shaped society. Science, government, industry and a growing media quickly recognised its value as a documentary tool, a shaper of opinion and a potentially lucrative profession. Both as art form and social document, the photograph has played a critical role as the primary means of visual expression in the modern age. 

"Points of View" brings together, for the first time, a selection of images from the British Library's collections, examining the history, diversity and influence of photography from its invention and early years up to the growth of a popular amateur market in the early 20th century. Beginning with the work of William Henry Fox Talbot and other influential pioneers, the book includes many of the most celebrated names in 19th century photography from across the world, including Francis Frith, Felix Teynard, Samuel Bourne and Peter Henry Emerson, as well as numerous lesser known names who made significant contributions to the medium. 

Organised by subject matter in a broadly chronological arrangement, it asks: who was taking the photograph and why? Section by section, items are presented within their cultural, contexts, exploring some of the major themes of the 19th century, from imperial expansion to industrialisation and the emergence of new scientific and social disciplines in an era of rapid social change. 

The final sections of the exhibition will examine the ways in which the development of simplified cameras and accessible technology responded to the demands of a developing mass market for photography, which continues up to present day.photography books

Available from amazon.co.uk and amazon.com



Photography Books -The Photographer's Eye: Composition and Design for Better Digital Photos - Michael FreemanThe Photographer's Eye: Composition and Design for Better Digital Photos - Michael Freeman

Design is the single most important factor in creating a successful photograph. The ability to see the potential for a strong picture and then organize the graphic elements into an effective, compelling composition has always been one of the key skills in making photographs. photography books

Of course, digital photography has brought a new, exciting aspect to design first because the instant feedback from a digital camera allows immediate appraisal and improvement; and second because image-editing tools make it possible to alter and enhance the design after the shutter has been pressed. This has had a profound effect on the way digital photographers take pictures.

The Photographers Eye shows how anyone can develop an eye for seeing great digital photos. The book explores all the traditional approaches to composition and design, but crucially, it also addresses the new digital technique of shooting in the knowledge that a picture will later be edited, manipulated, or montaged to result in a final image that may be very different from the one seen in the viewfinder.photography books

Available from amazon.co.uk and amazon.com



Photography Books - Guide to Great Photography - Peter Bargh Guide to Great Photography - Peter Bargh

This high quality book presents hundreds of truly amazing images, along with the secrets behind their creation. Prepare to be stunned, inspired and provoked. It's much more than just a showcase of great images though. photography books
Photography Books
Inside, you will find a wealth of useful tips to help you take better photographs, along with step-by-step guides to advanced photographic techniques. Whether you are still a film user, or have fully embraced the world of digital, this book has something to offer, regardless of your level of experience.photography books

Available from amazon.co.uk



Photography Books - Digital Photographer's Handbook - Tom Ang Digital Photographer's Handbook - Tom Ang

If you're a beginner and new to ISO's, Spot metering and Apertures, its really good. But it's not just that. It is full of really good advice, tips and maybe more importantly, ideas. Every photo in the book has an explanation of how it was taken and what equipment was used etc...
Photography Books
This is invaluable stuff to beginners. But the best aspect is the fact that it attempts to get you thinking. It talks about project ideas and basically "getting you out there" taking pictures. As for covering film as well as digital!?! Surely this is a good thing as digital photography is based on film technology, where did the ISO come from after all… It's a great companion and a great starting point in photography.photography books

Available from amazon.co.uk and amazon.com



Photography Books - Digital Photography Masterclass - Tom Ang Digital Photography Masterclass - Tom Ang

It's easy to see why digital photography has overtaken analog in popularity-it's affordable, convenient, versatile, and, above all, it makes photography more fun than ever before. Tom Ang's latest book is an in-depth, inspirational, and uniquely practical guide to every aspect of digital photography. photography books

There are assignments and analysis spreads, and step-by-step tutorials to help you hone your skills. He teaches you to look at the world with a photographer's "eye" and shows you how to get great shots every time. In short, this book shows you how to master your camera to ensure the best results in every situation and how to push the computer to keep up with your vision. photography books

Available from amazon.co.uk and amazon.com



Photography Books - The Art of Digital Photography - John Hedgecoe The Art of Digital Photography - John Hedgecoe

Need inspiration? Get the best out of your equipment and explore your creative side with this practical guide. Still life or action, portrait or abstract - whatever your subject, discover how to take amazing digital images with this expert photographer and inspiring teacher.
Photography Books
Learn the fundamentals of composing an image - from lighting, camera angle, drama, colour, time of day, style to subject matter. Get the most out of your camera, so whatever moment you are capturing: from stunning landscapes, action-packed sport, beautiful weddings to playful children, you'll be picture perfect, again and again. We'll show you what others only tell. Enjoy 500 breathtaking photos and learn how to take great pictures every time.

Available from amazon.co.uk



Photography Books - Understanding Exposure - Bryan Peterson Understanding Exposure - Bryan Peterson

More than 100 vivid, graphic comparison pictures illustrate every point in this classic and can help any photographer maximize the creative impact of his or her exposure decisions.
Photography Books
Peterson stresses the importance of metering the subject for a starting exposure and then explains how to use various exposure meters and different kinds of lighting. The book contains lessons on each element of the triangle and how it relates to the other two in terms of depth of field, freezing and blurring action, and shooting in low light or at night.

A section on special techniques explores such options as deliberate under-and over-exposures, how to produce double exposures, bracketing, shooting the moon, and the use of filters. Understanding Exposure demonstrates that there are always creative choices about how to expose a picture - and that the decision is up to the photographer, not the camera. photography books

Available from amazon.co.uk and amazon.com





Digital Painting Techniques: Practical Techniques of Digital Art  - 3dtotal

Discover the tips, tricks and techniques that really work for concept artists, matte painters and animators.

More than just a gallery book - within Digital Painting Techniques each artist has written a breakdown overview, with supporting imagery of how they made their piece of work.

Beginner and intermediate digital artists will be inspired by the gallery style collection of the finest examples of digital painting from world renowned digital artists.

Start your mentorship into the world of digital painting today with some of the greatest digital artists in the world and delve into professional digital painting techiques, such as speed painting, custom brush creation and matte painting.

Develop your digital painting skills beyond the variety of free online digital painting tutorials and apply the most up to date techniques to your digital canvas with Digital Painting Techniques for Animators.





Adobe Photoshop CS5 One-on-One (Digital Media) - Deke McClelland

Master the fundamentals of Photoshop CS5 and make all of your images come alive. With Deke McClelland's unique and effective learning system, you get step-by-step tutorials, hours of DVD-video demonstrations, and lots of hands-on projects to help you improve your knowledge and hone your skills.

  • Find out everything you need to know to be productive with Photoshop CS5 right away
  • Learn at your own speed with 12 self-paced tutorials
  • Try out professional techniques with engaging, real-world projects
  • Read about a particular technique and watch the video to see how it's done
  • Follow every key step with hundreds of full-color photos, diagrams, and screen shots
  • Test your knowledge with multiple-choice quizzes in each chapter

Adobe Photoshop CS5 One-on-One simulates a classroom environment with one-on-one attention as you proceed from lesson to lesson. Deke's expert advice is like working with a personal coach -- you'll learn Photoshop faster, more creatively, and more efficiently than you thought possible.


 

Recommend Photography Books



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