January 2018 Recommend Reading for Serious Photographers
From how-to guides to retrospectives on famous photographers to collections of iconic images, there's plenty of photography books to explore.
But just like it's easy to spend 30 minutes trying to find something to watch on Netflix, you can similarly get lost and overwhelmed trying to find the best photography books.
With that in mind, I've put together this list of ten photography books you need to add to your to-do list.
Some are fun. Others are funny. Yet others are completely serious. It's a smorgasbord of photography!
Adobe Lightroom CC and Photoshop CC for Photographers Classroom in a Book
If you're looking to step up your post-processing game, a good place to start is the Adobe Lightroom CC and Photoshop CC For Photographers Classroom in a Book.
The book has an official training series straight from Adobe, which was developed by Adobe product experts.
That means you get the inside scoop on the tips, tricks, and secrets of Lightroom and Photoshop that will enable you to create stunning photos.
Irving Penn: Centennial
Though he might not be the household name that Ansel Adams is, Irving Penn is revered as one of the most influential photographers of the 20th Century.
In 70 years behind the camera, he perfected his minimalistic aesthetic and attention to detail to create some of the most stunning photos ever taken.
In Irving Penn: Centennial, you'll find one of the largest collections of Penn's photographs ever compiled, including never-before-published photos.
Advancing Your Photography: A Handbook for Creating Photos You'll Love
Take your photography to a new level this year with this easy-to-understand guide that's packed with tips from professional photographers from around the world.
Advancing Your Photography: A Handbook for Creating Photos You'll Love will help you unlock your potential as a photographer with secrets that make outstanding photos more likely.
With details about composition, lighting, camera settings, post-processing, and everything in between, this book offers everything you need to know about photography from start to finish.
Extra! Weegee
Photography is all about timing, and Weegee was a master at being in the right place at the right time.
He made a name for himself photographing the scandals and sensations of 1930s and 1940s New York, including images of cops on the beat and the criminals they arrested.
Extra! Weegee includes an enormous collection of Weegee's photos, including many never-before-seen images that show a softer side of the rough-and-tumble photographer.
The Flash Book
Scott Kelby's The Flash Book is a must-have for any photographer that's to this point been too afraid to try flash photography.
The book outlines an incredibly simple system for mastering flash photography, with each concept and technique taking just one page of the book.
These quick, yet effective flash photography tips will help you master flash settings, the camera settings, and how to use your flash for a variety of subjects.
Understanding Exposure, Fourth Edition: How to Shoot Great Photographs with Any Camera
Learning how to control the exposure in your photographs can be a challenging, and frustrating experience. But that's why Bryan Peterson's Understanding Exposure was written - to help demystify the process.
In the book, you'll learn the basics of light and the fundamentals of aperture, shutter speed, and ISO.
In addition to learning how each of the three exposure controls works independently, you'll also get acquainted with how the exposure triangle works and the creative results that come from mastering exposure.
Obama: An Intimate Portrait
This book obviously focuses less on photography or the photographer, in this case Pete Souza, and more on the documentary power of photography as a medium.
Souza was the official photographer of the Obama Presidency, and as such, had unparalleled access to the events that unfolded over the course of Obama's eight-year term.
Obama: An Intimate Portrait includes over 300 iconic photographs from Souza's collection of nearly 2 million images. From critical moments of high stress to candid moments of great personal significance, this book sheds light on the day-to-day activities of the world's most powerful person.
Seeing Things: A Kid's Guide to Looking at Photographs
If you intend to introduce your child to photography, a great place to start is Seeing Things.
This introductory text takes young readers on a journey through photography, from how photographers transform ordinary things into stunning images to how to master light and composition.
With sample images from world-renowned photographers and an easy-to-understand writing style, this book will get your kids excited about photography and learning how to become a master behind the lens.
Within the Frame: The Journey of Photographic Vision
In a revision of his classic Within the Frame, David duChemin encourages photographers to not just focus on the technicalities of photography, but also on the emotionality of taking photos.
You'll find that you're challenged to develop a creative vision for your photos and chase that vision with passion and authenticity.
Throughout the book, David shares some of his most iconic images to help inspire you to achieve great things and illustrate his teachings about how to photograph everything from people to nature to landscapes.
Little Kids and Their Big Dogs
Not all photography books on your list should be how-to's. That's why we've included the incredibly fun Little Kids and Their Big Dogs on our list.
In combining two of the cutest things in the world - kids and dogs - the author, Andy Seliverstoff - has put together a charming, fun-filled collection of images that reminds you that not everything in the world is doom and gloom.
This book is a great way to find some inspiration for your own work, or simply take a break from the grind!