Reading for the Aspiring Photographer
A list of great books that I own, read, and refer to often.
Choosing a book often comes down to preference and individual tastes can vary wildly. However, that’s one thing I find fascinating about each-other. Here are some books that really pushed my photography, creativity, and work to the next level. This isn’t a list based on popularity, its actually a personal list of mine that I hold dear. Many of these books I have read many times and look forward to breaking them open again soon.
Meat and Potatoes
This is the foundation of the meal and we will go hungry without it. Here we have a strong foundation of technical knowledge, while still maintaining creative and compelling thought.
Ansel Adams, The Photographer Series/Parts 1-3 (The Camera, The Negative, The Print) - Ansel Adams devoted his life to the photographic fine arts. Education about photography came natural and publishing his knowledge about experience he personally developed in the field is invaluable as a beginner as an experienced photographer. These books define how photography is methodically made and will be amiss if it is not included in any list in any photographic book list.
Steve Simmons, Using the View Camera - Simmons expands upon many techniques and specifications that the more advanced photography student will very much appreciate. Definitely catered for intermediate to advanced users of photography and large format view cameras who are looking for more details on how it works and how to make the best of the equipment.
Susan Sontag, On Photography - Sontag’s philosophical dialogues on photography will leave you questioning yourself and why you started photography in the first place (At least I did). If you ever thought about why photographs are made, what makes them good, and how they not only affect yourself, but society at large, then this is a good place to start.
Peas and Carrots
Building upon the main course of the meal, we compliment it with some essential side dishes that really make the meal shine and balance out our taste and appetite. Here the focus is more upon how photographers see the world, relate to people, make photographs about it, and evolve over time as artists.
Henri Cartier-Bresson: Interviews and Conversations - Arguably the most famous street photographer of all time, Bresson was interviewed many times during the span of his photography career. His words are interesting because he talks about why he uses the camera and very little about how he used it. His life seems full, inspired, and photography is the expression that he used for many years to draw instantly. He is an artist at heart and speaks that way.
Ansel Adams, Examples of 40 Photographs - Adams was repeatedly asked, How did you do that with your camera? There is a story behind every photograph and he shares with us forty of these stories. Ranging from early days to the very end, from 35mm to 8x10. His body of work is simply great. He shares the struggle, the friendship, the fun of photography, and how he thinks while making amazing photographs. A valuable addition to any collection.
Rebecca Senf, Making a Photographer: The Early Work of Ansel Adams - This book is an anthology of Adams’ work starting with his earliest trips to Yosemite with his Brownie No. 2 at age 14. Senf identifies, in pictures, how Adams went from seeing a photograph to feeling a photograph. She analyses not only the photographs, but his decisions he made as a person and as a business man in the pursuit of fine art photographer.
Sally Mann, Hold Still - A memoir with photographs and the life of a artistic photographer, Mann talks about how she grew up and was raised in the deep American South. She makes photographs with large format and wet plate collodion, but goes into detail about her family history, her own past, the trauma she faces, and her fears.
Palate Cleanser
In order to keep our taste and are mind sharp, here are a couple additions to clean our mental plate from the photo centric genre. However, these still retain the theme of self exploration and improvement of the mind and body.
Austin Kleon, Steal Like an Artist - This fun little book is a quick and easy read, but not to be overlooked for its simplicity. It has a powerful message that can be applied to many facets of life. A best selling book brought together from his own blog articles, Kleon continues to write and inspire. Just check out the other two titles he has published!
James Clear, Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones - There are many books out there on forming and keeping good habits, but this is the one that I read and I connected with. Clear is an great writer that has you hooked to the page while learning how to improve yourself in the process. Another best selling book that was published from a blog!
Adding on to my original list:
Charles F. Haanel, The Master Key System - A 24 week self study course designed around mental and spiritual awakening.
Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel, Introductory Lectures on Aesthetics - A short, yet dense, philosophical read about what the essence of art is in itself and society (for the 19th century).