Books to buy to learn photography with?
My Motley Collection Of Dog-eared Photography Books.
Popular isn't always the best.
Some of the books on this list of books can be found dog eared and well thumbed on my shelves at home and at work, others more recent but just as useful. I would consider these books more than ample for a simple introduction to photography, included are a couple of texts that have a significant value in a further research of materials and processes. Finally some aesthetic and historical texts too that are always useful. This is not a definitive list of books but are merely some of the most readily accessible and useful for teacher and student alike.
These books are ones I keep returning to over and over again, both in my teaching practice, and my own exploration of the relationship between myself and my world around me—with my cameras. Each book listed below is linked to a brief description I have written for it further down the page, the list will grow as I continue to purchase more books and as they are published.
- 'Black and White Photography: A Basic Manual', and 'A Technical Manual Beyond Basic Photography' both by Henry Horenstein. [Published, Little Brown and Co. ISBN 0-316-37312-5]
- 'Exploring Black and White Photography, Second Edition.' by Arnold Gassan, Published by, McGraw Hill ISBN 0-697-12523-8
- Basic Photography and Advanced Photography, by Michael Langford [Published by Focal Press, ISBN 0-240-51257-X, Basic Photography and, 0-240-51088-7 Advanced Photography]
- 'The Darkroom Cookbook'—'The Film Developing Cookbook' — Multi Contrast Papers, all by Steve Anchell [Published by Focal press].
- Darkroom, Darkroom 2, and Contact Theory. All Published by Lustrum press, and their ISBN's in order are, [for the paperback versions] 0-912810-19-x, 0-912810-31-9, 0-912810-21-1]
- 'The History of Photography' by Beaumont Newhall, [Published by The Museum of Modern Art New York, ISBN 0-87070-381-1]
- 'Photography a critical introduction', Edited by Liz Wellis [Published by Routledge ISBN 0-415-12559-6]
- 'Right Brain Left Brain Photography The Art and Technique of 70 modern Masters', written by Kathryn Marx [Published by Amphoto ISBN 0-8174-5717-8]
- 'The Nature of Photographs' by Stephen Shore.[Published by The John Hopkins University Press ISBN 0-8018-5719-8(alk.paper) — ISBN 0-8018-5720-1(pbk. :alk.paper)
- Essays in Defence of Traditional Values, by Robert Adams, and Why People Photograph, Pub Aperture.
- The Pleasure of Good Photographs, by Gerry Badger. [Published by Aperture 2010 ISBN 978-1-59711-139-3]
- Photography Changes Everything, Marvin Heiferman (Editor), Merry Foresta (Foreword) [Pub Aperture, 2012, ISBN-13: 978-1597111997]
- Reframing Photography Theory and Practice, Rebekah Modrak with Bill Anthes. Pub, Routledge ISBN 9780-0-415-77920-3
- Exploring Colour Photography, Robert Hirsch, Pub Lawrence King ISBN 1-855669-420-8
- Interaction of Color, Josef Ablers. Yale University Press, 2006, ISBN-13: 978-0-300-115595-6
- Dialogue with photography. Paul Hill & Thomas Cooper, Dewi Lewis Publishing, 2005, ISBN 1-899235-61-2
- Digital Photography, A basic Manual, Henry Horenstein, Little Brown and Company, New York, 2011, ISBN 978-0-316-02074-9
- Twentieth Century Colour Photographs The complete guide to processes, identification & preservation, Sylvie Pénchion. Thames & Hudson, 2013, ISBN 978-0-500-51719-2
- Each Wild Idea, Geoffrey Batchen. MIT Press, 2002, ISBN 978-0-262-52324-0
- The Photographer's playbook. 307 Assignments and ideas. Edited by Jason Fulford and Gregory Halpern.Pub. Apreture NYC, New York ISBN 978-1-59711-247-5
- Burning with Desire, The Conception of Photography, By Geoffrey Batchen [Published by MIT Press 1997 ISBN 978-0-262-52259-5]
- Stephen Shore Modern Instances The Craft of Photography . A memoir. Published by Mack Books 2022 ISBN 978-1-913620-53-0
Henry Horenstein
This book while not as technically in depth as others out there, is written from the heart, it's illustrations while a bit dated are clear and the approach is one that any curriculum could be based upon. This is the second in Mr Horenstein's series of photography books. Again well written, covers the essentials, and is written by the author based on his own experiences, often using his own images/photographs. His Digital Photography Manual is a great basic introduction and a welcome addition to his other books.
[top]Arnold Gassan
Arnold Gassan, has written several books on photography and teaching, all of which I find to be thought provoking and inspirational. It is written in conjunction with A. J.Meek. It includes several useful items in the front alone, a model release form and an 18% grey card.[top]
Michael Langford
Michael Langford has long Published a series of very good technical manuals, and technical they are, if your style is hard core facts and figures compiled in a logical manner than this is the book for you, it sits on my shelves at home and is only dragged out when I need to confirm a fact or figure. [top]
Steve Anchell
Steve Anchell has Published two books on chemicals for black and white film, and their impact on the whole process. One is a broad overview of the process and includes film developers, paper developers, fixers stop baths and toners. Again this book is not for a quick read, or to plan simple lessons around but it's information is very useful and if applied well could even be used to save money. The other concentrates on film and film developers—'The Film Developing Cookbook', both a worthy addition to any serious black and white worker. [ Both Published by Focal press] His third book looks at Multi contrast papers. It is an in-depth investigation of papers and how to best utilise their characteristics to produce wonderful prints. A vital resource given the scarcity of graded papers the world over these days. [top]
Lustrum Press
Lustrum Press Published several books in the 70's, these books looked at Photographers as individuals and compared and contrasted their practices in the darkroom and on location. They may be a little hard to get these days but are a worthy addition to any serious darkroom workers library. The books are called,Darkroom, Darkroom 2, and Contact theory. They are useful for the way that they discuss several working photographers methods and techniques, very useful when setting up a photo lab/darkroom for the first time. They are all Published by Lustrum press, and their ISBN's in order are, [for the paperback versions] 0-912810-19-x, 0-912810-31-9, 0-912810-21-1] [top]
History of Photography
'The History of Photography' by Beaumont Newhall is a fantastic introductory resource for beginning photographers and teachers who want a broad overview of the history of photography, as most books of this genre do it explains the history of photography as primarily technique based, in that it argues that the development of the technology largely drove the aesthetic and history of the medium. An idea that is only now being argued against by a handful of authors. [Published by The Museum of Modern Art New York, ISBN 0-87070-381-1] [top]
Photography a Critical Introduction
Edited by Liz Wells, this is a good critical introduction to the aesthetics and politics of photography. It's collection of essays amongst other things, argues strongly for accepting less the role of the 'power of photography' as a truth telling device and asks for a more critical appreciation of how photography can be used Both creatively and critically. It is also a good resource for other references and a great leaping off point for anyone interested in some serious research on photography and the history of it. [Published by Routledge ISBN 0-415-12559-6] [top]
Left Brain Right Brain Photography
This book is a nice blend of intuition and logic that helps guide us to the idea that not all photography is pure mechanical fact. It contains a useful set of exercises that help us as individuals or groups make better use of both sides of our brains. [top]
The Nature of Photographs
This book is a little gem, I recently uncovered. It has the most succinct and eloquent discussion about what a photograph is or isn't I have ever read. Just check out this table of contents. Prologue, The Physical Level,The Depictive Level, The Mental Level, Mental Modelling. [top]
Robert Adams
These two tomes are my solace in the desert of creativity that is often our day to day lives. While they would be shredded to pieces by many Post-Modernists these days they are more than justification for me to keep on doing what it is I do, and as Frederick Sommer has been quoted as saying, “...understanding what you are doing only increases the obligations.” [top]
Gerry Badger
A delightful collection of essays, by Mr Badger, asks questions, about Photoshop, and examines Photographers like Thomas Joshua Cooper. [top]
Photography Changes Everything
A collection of essays that raise issues about photography's impact on our lives and culture, fascinating read from specialists as diverse as artists, scientist, advertisers, police, military and historians. [top]
Reframing Photography
This book is an educators dream, but also incredibly accessible to the novice as well. If you are an educator, you can gain access to a wealth of extra materials by creating an account at http://reframingphotography.com
Exploring Colour Photography
This book has a great collection of images by many artists exploring colour photography, both ideas and processes are given equal weight and there is ample background history as well.
The interaction of Color
Josef Albers classic text is pertinent as ever in this the era of screens and permanent online connection. Great for all creative students across all curriculums.
Classic Essays on Photography
This collection lists all the big guns from photography's inception to the 20th Century, lots of good source material here. One stand out essay is Walter Benjaman's 'A short History of Photography, but it includes essays by Daguerre, Talbot, Berger and Barthes.
Twentieth Century Colour Photographs
In providing an accessible overview of the history and technology of the major traditional colour photographic processes, this abundantly illustrated volume promises to become the standard reference in its field. Following an introductory chapter on colour photography in the 19th century, seven chapters discuss the most commercially or historically significant processes of the 20th century, offering readers a user-friendly guide to materials, methods of identification and common kinds of deterioration. A final chapter presents specific guidelines for collection management, storage and preservation, and a glossary of technical terms, along with appendixes presenting detailed chronologies for Kodachrome and Ektachrome transparencies, Cibachrome/Ilfochrome printing materials and Instant Films.
Dialogue with photography
These are the classic interviews with the men and women who shaped so much of twentieth century photography. More than 20 photographers participated in the series, recalling their frustrations and their successes, the effect of world events on their work as well as offering advice to future generations of photographers.
Each Wild Idea
Geoffrey Batchen has plenty to say about the current state of affairs in relation to photography its uses purpose in history, this collection of essay explores the many uses and faces of photography.
In Each Wild Idea, Geoffrey Batchen explores a wide range of photographic subjects, from the timing of the medium's invention to the various implications of cyber culture. Along the way, he reflects on contemporary art photography, the role of the vernacular in photography's history. The essays all focus on a consideration of specific photographs--from a humble combination of baby photos and bronzed booties to a masterwork by Alfred Stieglitz. Although Batchen views each photograph within the context of broader social and political forces, he also engages its own distinctive formal attributes. In short, he sees photography as something that is simultaneously material and cultural. In an effort to evoke the lived experience of history, he frequently relies on sheer description as the mode of analysis, insisting that we look right at--rather than beyond--the photograph being discussed. A constant theme throughout the book is the question of photography's past, present, and future identity
The Photographer's Playbook, 307 Assignments and Ideas
The Photographer’s Playbook features photography assignments, as well as ideas, stories, and anecdotes from many of the world’s most talented photographers and photography professionals. Whether you’re looking for exercises to improve your craft—alone or in a group — or you’re interested in learning more about the medium, this playful collection will inspire fresh ways of engaging with photographic process. Inside you will find advice for better shooting and editing, creative ways to start new projects, games and activities, and insight into the practices of those responsible for our most iconic photographs—John Baldessari, Tina Barney, Philip-Lorca diCorcia, Jim Goldberg, Miranda July, Susan Meiselas, Stephen Shore, Alec Soth, Tim Walker, and many more. The book also features a Polaroid alphabet by Mike Slack, which divides each chapter, and a handy subject guide. Edited by acclaimed photographers Jason Fulford and Gregory Halpern, the assignments and project ideas in this book are indispensable for teachers and students, and great fun for everyone fascinated by taking pictures. [source]
This book has been by summer holiday source for inspiration since buying it in 2014, it continues to challenge, amuse and inspire.
[top]Burning With Desire, the conception of photography
Geoffrey Batchen's seminal text ask some big questions about why photography was invented and by who. He argues instead of sudden singular moment by an individual it was conceived at time when it was needed culturally and scientifically.
[top]Stephen Shore 'Modern Instances'
This rambling text explores many of Shore's inspirations. What makes them unique is that they vary in range and breadth. From ancient Architecture to vernacular photos.
[top]Date Modified? 11.12.2023 10:45