Discussion
Straight to the point, what books are recommended to help one improve their photography?
I have myself under the impression this one was one of THE ones to have - http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1861085338/
Of course, I was f
ked if I was paying anything like the prices there, given it retailed for £15!
So I've found a small camera shop in Ireland who sold their last copy yesterday (pfft!) but can and will order me one on Monday.
I'm more focused on landscape, so I solicit opinions on which book(s) are THE one to have covering that aspect, but I'm happy if we leave this or even sticky it, as an open thread for recommending a book or article/link that is useful for rank amateurs right the way through to seasoned casual shooters.
I'll ask one question, but would rather keep the thread for links to recommendations, can one be taught to see THE shot?
For me, I'll snap either nothing, 'cause I don't see anything worth capturing (in my mind) or I'll photo any old thing, and then look back at it, and delete it after thinking, "WTF did I take a picture of that?!".
In some way, I'd like to buck convention by not trying to see things in thirds, not that I entirely understand the concept, but I've a bit of an idea, since I see that as almost the same as painting a "picture" with numbers on the canvas, corresponding to the palette.
So how do I square those two circles?
I have myself under the impression this one was one of THE ones to have - http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1861085338/
Of course, I was f
ked if I was paying anything like the prices there, given it retailed for £15!So I've found a small camera shop in Ireland who sold their last copy yesterday (pfft!) but can and will order me one on Monday.
I'm more focused on landscape, so I solicit opinions on which book(s) are THE one to have covering that aspect, but I'm happy if we leave this or even sticky it, as an open thread for recommending a book or article/link that is useful for rank amateurs right the way through to seasoned casual shooters.
I'll ask one question, but would rather keep the thread for links to recommendations, can one be taught to see THE shot?
For me, I'll snap either nothing, 'cause I don't see anything worth capturing (in my mind) or I'll photo any old thing, and then look back at it, and delete it after thinking, "WTF did I take a picture of that?!".
In some way, I'd like to buck convention by not trying to see things in thirds, not that I entirely understand the concept, but I've a bit of an idea, since I see that as almost the same as painting a "picture" with numbers on the canvas, corresponding to the palette.
So how do I square those two circles?
Simpo Two said:
Sell the camera and buy golf clubs?
Last time I played golf, I started out with handful of balls and a full bag.
First hole went well - one over. By the time I arrived back at the clubhouse, I'd an empty bag and someone else's ball in my pocket!
Never af
kinggain!At that attrition rate, I'd be keeping Rory McIlroy in Lamborghinis with the amount of money Ping would be making off me alone.
So, you, and your suggestion, can leave and phone your own taxis from the phonebox down the road!
Golf indeed.....pffft!
Shaping up to be an interesting thread!
But, more seriously than "a good walk spoilt" is that a book, of itself, cannot/will not improve your photography! It will be very useful in helping to understand how a camera works, or how to process into something lovely.
You learn how to be a better photographer by taking more shots
And then some more
And more again
And you don't get better, but you start to understand!!!!!
I think some people inherently see themselves as artists and that it's something which cannot be taught. I'd disagree with that and say that people are essentially capable of almost anything they want to achieve. I can't really recommend a good book to be honest, but I don't see anything wrong with learning what it is you kike about certain "professional" images and trying to emulate it with lots of practice.
I'd agree that 'reverse engineering' a photo you like is useful, and then try to re-embrace the salient points in something else you see.
Some people I suspect take the view 'Look there's a river!' and think that if they try hard enough with angles or filters or HDR they can make it into a great landscape - when in fact it has no potential and a seasoned landscape tog would carry on to the ice-cream van instead.
And then if you create a 'robot' landscape which obeys all the rules, and therefore must be the perfect landscape because the theory says so - does it have anything new to offer or is it sterile and boring?
In conclusion, I can't help thinking that you need to work with what talent you have and go from there (it need not be landscapes; there are plenty of other kinds of photography). What you propose would be rather like me wanting to play the piano like Jools Holland - whilst I like listening to it, it doesn't mean I have the talent to do it even if I buy a book
Some people I suspect take the view 'Look there's a river!' and think that if they try hard enough with angles or filters or HDR they can make it into a great landscape - when in fact it has no potential and a seasoned landscape tog would carry on to the ice-cream van instead.
And then if you create a 'robot' landscape which obeys all the rules, and therefore must be the perfect landscape because the theory says so - does it have anything new to offer or is it sterile and boring?
In conclusion, I can't help thinking that you need to work with what talent you have and go from there (it need not be landscapes; there are plenty of other kinds of photography). What you propose would be rather like me wanting to play the piano like Jools Holland - whilst I like listening to it, it doesn't mean I have the talent to do it even if I buy a book
I don't really see why not. I'm fairly certain that there isn't something inherently unique about his DNA that allows him to play piano, and that if you set aside time to learn (in whichever way you find it easiest to learn) and practice, there's no reason why you couldn't play piano to the same standard.
I think photography is the same. If you are motivated and committed enough, you're capable of anything that other people can do. Obviously PH is full of pedantism, so just to clarify I'm not saying that if you buy a book you're guaranteed to become a professional photographer raking in huge sums of money, dripping in cocaine and models in your LA Mansion.
If there's something you identify as making a shot "good", then I'd find it most useful to see how that key thing is done. Whether that's the focal length of the lens, the time of day it's taken at, the level of editing gone into the final image or how details within that frame are laid out. Once you've got to grips with a basic set of skills, you can then be comfortable in creating your own style.
Photography is so subjective I can't see it ever becoming sterile, just like art. While there are always groups of people who are happy to sit back and say "it's all been done before" (without creating anything new themselves), there will always be people who will love it. Unless you're planning on making money out of this hobby, the only person you really need to please is yourself.
I think photography is the same. If you are motivated and committed enough, you're capable of anything that other people can do. Obviously PH is full of pedantism, so just to clarify I'm not saying that if you buy a book you're guaranteed to become a professional photographer raking in huge sums of money, dripping in cocaine and models in your LA Mansion.
If there's something you identify as making a shot "good", then I'd find it most useful to see how that key thing is done. Whether that's the focal length of the lens, the time of day it's taken at, the level of editing gone into the final image or how details within that frame are laid out. Once you've got to grips with a basic set of skills, you can then be comfortable in creating your own style.
Photography is so subjective I can't see it ever becoming sterile, just like art. While there are always groups of people who are happy to sit back and say "it's all been done before" (without creating anything new themselves), there will always be people who will love it. Unless you're planning on making money out of this hobby, the only person you really need to please is yourself.
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