Colortrails.com

Books are an investment that every serious creative professional should add to their studio or office. It boils down to this: no matter what you do -photography, web design, app development, marketing- someone has already done the things you’re trying to accomplish and done them well. You can either learn from their mistakes and advice to improve your own chances of success (or your efficiency), or you can try to operate in a vacuum and learn everything yourself. Here is a list of seven books that have helped me to understand the medium of photography better than I could have by myself.

1. Professional Business Practices in Photography, 7e

(ASMP) – most recently revised in 2008, this guide has a lot of useful advice for photographers; much of it is derived from their popular essays and articles. The first two chapters, which focus on licensing and copyright, are worth the price of admission by themselves. This book was written and compiled by several professional photographers and editors (even attorneys), each a recognized expert in their field. If you want to run a successful photography business, you need this book.

2. Earth from Above

(Arthus-Bertrand) – some of the most beautiful photographs I’ve ever seen, and certainly the best aerial photos. This book will not only provide enjoyment looking at the images, but it will change your perspective of the planet you are standing on right now. It is big, heavy, and worth every penny. You owe this to your coffee table, if you have one. ;-)

3. The Photographer’s Eye

(Michael Freeman) – If you want a visual guide to the art of photographic composition that is both thorough and easy to page through and absorb, and which has plenty of great example shots illustrating each concept, I can’t think of a better book.

4. Seeing Landscapes

(Charlie Waite) – This book is a little long in the tooth by modern, “everything has to be from yesterday or its outdated” standards (see also: the standard by which many things on the internet are judged), but it is as valid and useful today as it was the day it came out. This book uses easy to understand language and contains some really interesting and original landscape shots. Great use of color and format.

5. The Digital Photography Book(s), Vol 1. & 2

(Kelby) – written by a man who certainly doesn’t require any introduction in the world of digital photography, I liken these two books to compact and simple “field guides” that you can stuff in your laptop bag or camera case and keep on hand for any situation you might encounter. The books are mile wide, inch deep (no one topic covered in detail) but sometimes that’s all you need to get the shot!

6. Photo Synthesis

(Jerry Uelsmann) – Was a master photographic compositor before there was such a thing as Photoshop. This guy proves that it’s all about vision; the tools are secondary to making interesting art. Every time I look through this book I’m reminded how much I still have to learn. The print quality of this book and the quality of his black and white images are staggering.

7. Life

(Frans Lanting) – just as Arthus-Bertrand’s photography gives you a different understanding of your planet from the air, this book will do the same only from a ground-level perspective. Literally! If ever there was someone who exemplified the nature photography motto of “get down in the trenches”, Frans Lanting is the guy. Another giant book that will give your coffee table a back ache and your guests and big smile.

8. The Invisible Universe

(David Malin) – one of the very finest (if awkwardly large) astro-photography books you will ever find. Yet another amazing perspective on our place in the cosmos. Photographed and composited (in some cases where multiple plates were used) by one of the world’s foremost astro-photographers, if the universe and stars fascinate you, you want this book on your shelf (just be prepared to make a little extra room for it!). :-)

© Dan Moughamian, 2011