Now that July is upon us and the days are getting hotter and hotter (at least here in Southern California), I thought it would be a good idea to highlight a few photography books that would be good companions for staying indoors out of the heat.
Even when you aren't outside snapping photos, you can still hone your craft and find inspiration in any of these excellent books for photographers.
Some of these books are instructional while others are purely intended to stoke your creativity and curiosity about photography.
Without further ado, here's July's must-read list of photography books.
Ansel Adams in the National Parks: Photographs from America's Wild Places
If you love landscapes like me, you likely adore the work of Ansel Adams.
In Ansel Adams in the National Parks, you get to explore over 200 photos taken by Adams, some of which have never been published before.
From Yellowstone to Yosemite to Glacier National Park and points in between, you get to experience these iconic places through the impeccable eye of the 20th Century's most accomplished landscape photographer.
The editor, Andrea G. Stillman, is the foremost expert on Adams' photography, and she offers her commentary on his work in the National Parks.
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National Geographic Visual Atlas of the World, 2nd Edition
Another must-read book for photographers is National Geographic's Visual Atlas of the World.
From every corner of the planet, National Geographic has put together a collection of photos, maps, and even satellite imagery to tell the story of our home planet.
With detailed information on each location from scientists, historians, cartographers, and geographers, this book is one part visual journey and one part history lesson.
The Secrets to Amazing Photos: 83 Composition Tools From the Masters
Marc Silber's The Secrets to Amazing Photos is essentially a recipe for composing more impactful and impressive imagery.
The book, which is written in an easy-to-understand manner, simplifies the process of photography composition by giving you clear, definable steps to follow.
That makes it a great resource for beginner photographers that want to develop a more defined photographer's eye.
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DSLR Photography for Beginners
Another excellent resource for beginner photographers is Brian Black's DSLR Photography for Beginners.
This book focuses your attention on both technical and creative aspects of photography, like how to compose an image, how to tell compelling stories with your photos, how to use accessories like lens filters, and how to get a sharply focused photograph.
If you've found photography to be confusing or overwhelming to learn, this book will help lay it all out for you in simple terms from an expert photographer.
Lightroom CC Complete Training
Serge Ramelli is a renown photographer whose expertise in using Lightroom is undeniable.
He brings that expertise to Lightroom CC Complete Training to give you a complete guide on how to use Lightroom to create fantastic images.
From basic techniques like cropping and adjusting contrast to advanced topics like using selection tools and adjustment layers, this book will help you become a Lightroom master!
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Expressive Nature Photography: Design, Composition, and Color in Outdoor Imagery
The great thing about being a nature photographer is that there is no shortage of subject matter for your images.
The difficult part is creating photos that stand out from the crowd. That's something you can learn how to do by reading Expressive Nature Photography.
Brenda Tharp uses single images and before and after examples to drive home how developing your creative eye can help you create more interesting and unique images.
From timing your shots to using natural lighting to manipulating shutter speed and everything in between, this book will set you on a course for creating memorable photos of nature.
Overview: A New Perspective of Earth
If it's a collection of awe-inspiring photos you're after, then Overview: A New Perspective of Earth might be the book for you.
Composed entirely of satellite images, this book gives you a completely new look at Earth and how humankind has shaped its landscapes.
With more than 200 photos of nature, industry, and everything in between, author Benjamin Grant's book is an extraordinary tour of our home planet.
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Vivian Maier: Street Photographer
For history buffs, John Maloof's retrospective, Vivian Maier: Street Photographer, is a must-read book for photographers.
The book outlines the experience of Vivian Maier, a nanny from Chicago who took over 100,000 photos during her lifetime, yet showed no one her images.
It was only after her death that her incredible collection of photos and the sheer talent that she had for taking them, were discovered.
You can see her raw talent on full display in this book - and get inspired by her work to improve the quality of your own images as well.