Summers are for vacations and vacations are for reading. Who doesn’t have a stack of books waiting for the time to read them? Because I love reading, I thought I would share the books that I’ve read that have shaped my photography. If you’ve been following the blog for any length of time, several of these books will already be familiar to you. Even though I’ve talked about them before, I thought it would be nice to put them all in one place.
In fact, many of my past blog posts have been inspired by these books. I often cruise bookstores looking for interesting titles. Beside bookstores I also ask my fellow photographers to recommend their favorite books. By doing this, I make sure I break out of my comfort zone. These books inspire me creatively, encourage me to think about photography as well as reinforce basic concepts of both art and photography.
Without further ado, here is what sits on my reference shelf. These are the books that challenge me when I’m lacking motivation. If you’re looking for a book to mix in with your summer reading, take a look at this list and see if anything strikes your fancy.
101 Things to Learn in Art School by Kit White
This is book is the epitome of the quick read. More reference book than prose, this book tackles the art concepts you should have a basic understanding of if you graduated from art school. I picked up this book to not only refresh my memory about what I (supposedly) learned in art school. By reading this book I learned I missed out on a lot in five years of university art education. Either that, or I understand these concepts so much better after struggling with them for years.
I recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn basic art concepts. Ideas like “Context determines meaning”, “Sincerity is a non-value in art” and “Art can be anything”. While each page is only one short paragraph, the ideas being conveyed, will have you thinking for hours.
Art & Fear: Observations on the Perils (and Rewards) or Artmaking by David Bayles & Ted Orland
This book is the corner stone of my library. I turn to Art & Fear when I’m plagued by doubts. Those frequent and familiar doubts we all have: Am I good enough? Will anyone care? Am I an artist? These doubts have been with me for as long as I can remember. They are old friends Ive made peace with and this book was the first step in that process. By reading (and re-reading) this book, I know I’m not alone, these doubts are unique to me.
Besides being an antidote to personal fears of failure, Art and Fear, explains the artistic process. It seems that uncertainty, doubt and failure is part of the process. This books helps to put this in perspective and give you the tools to keep the creativity flowing. I feel that this book is a mandatory read for any creative person. If you read only one book about the creative process, make it this one.
Camera Lucida: Reflections on Photography by Roland Barthes
This is one of those books recommended to me that I doubt I would have found on my own. While Barthes’ book has been around for years, I was only exposed to it recently. Reflections on Photography is more a philosophy book than a photography book. If you’re interested in the ephemeral nature of the photographic image, how images are perceived by the viewer or man’s need to document the passage of time, then I highly recommend this book.
On Photography by Susan Sontag
I’m not even remotely qualified to review this book. This is a book that every dedicated photographer should read if for no other reason in that this book defines modern photography more than any other. Her eight short essays have guided the photography debate for decades. Read the book, get back to me and we can have a discussion. In the mean time, I will be re-reading it myself.
The Photographer’s Playbook: 307 Assignments and Ideas, edited by Jason Fulford and Gregory Halpern
This is a difficult and challenging book. Like all difficult and challenging tasks, you get back what you put into it ten fold. This book is exactly as the title descirbes: 307 assignments and ideas from famous photographers and photography teachers. These assignments are meant to help you focus your thought process. These teachers aren’t concerned about what you create, but the ideas behind those creations. These are assignments are meant to help you look at the world differently, to teach you ‘see’ like a photographer and to face your own photographic fears.
If you’ve ever wondered what its like to take photography classes at the university level, this is the book for you. Even if you never complete any of the assignments, reading the reflections from this collection will help you to think about photography in new and exciting ways. This is a great book if your ready for a challenge.
Read This If You Want to Take Great Photographs by Henry Carroll
Such a simple title. This is the book for you if you want to improve your basic photography skills. Each page is a single photographic concept explained in simple and easy to understand terms. A photograph also accompanies each of these topics from a photographic legend that illustrates the concept. The layout is easy to ready, and very user friendly. With chapter titles like: Composition, Exposure, Light, Lenses and Seeing, you know he’s covering all the basics. The section on Exposure is one of the best explanations of the relationship between shutter speed, ISO and F-Stop I’ve seen.
This is a great book for beginners as well as a refresher for more experienced photographers. It will be the perfect quick reference book for your growing library.
Read This If You Want to Take Great Photographs of People by Henry Carroll
I know what you’re thinking, “Why are you recommending a book about portraits?” I’m recommending this book because I think that many of us are really taking portraits of our toys. This book continues the discussion started in “How to take great photographs” and applies the same ideas to portraits. In concise and easy to understand language it shows you how to manipulate viewpoint, color and composition to create visual stories with depth.
I like how this book helps you to focus on the relationship between photographer, subject and viewer. So often we forget the viewer is a part of the equation, when they are the most important part of the triangle.
Steal Like an Artist (10 Things Nobody Told you About Being Creative) by Austin Kleon
This is the book that put Austin Kleon on the map. I like to think of it as Art & Fear light. Kleon covers many of the same ideas written about in Art & Fear, but he presents them in short, easily digestible bites for the age of the Internet. There are lots of great graphics to keep you entertained as you move through this short book.
If you’re feeling creatively burned out, this is the perfect book to inspire you. There are many great ideas on how to keep your creativity flowing. It also explains clearly the difference between stealing someone else’s ideas and being inspired by them. While I tend to like my books a little heavier hitting, I think this little nugget deserves a place on your artists reference shelf.
Wabi-Sabi: for artists designers, poets & philosophers by Leonard Koen
This slim little volume attempts to explain the Japanese concept of Wabi-Sabi. Have you ever wondered why photographers like to take photos of rusty metal, or abandoned towns, or toy rooms? This book will help you understand the idea of wabi-sabi and the beauty of a hand made object, imperfections and fading beauty.
Personally, I’m trying to figure out if the idea of wabi-sabi can be applied to the world of plastic. Stay tuned, we may be creating a challenge around wabi-sabi in our G+ Community.
Why It Does Not Have To Be in Focus: Modern Photography Explained by Jackie Higgins
I picked this book up because Modern Photography is an amorphous beast of different genres and styles. Photography is more than the finished product; it is also the representation of an idea. Those ideas can be represented in different styles and genres. This book breaks down modern photography into six distinct catagories: portraits, document, still life’s, narrative, landscapes and abstracts.
Within each section a wide variety of photographers are shown whose work exemplifies the many different possibilities these categories represent. Each photographer has a detailed explanation of why this photographer is important, a brief history of their work and the idea behind it. This book is a concise history lesson of the post modern photographic world. In reading this book I was reminded of how malleable the photographic medium can be. This book showcases some of the more innovative and successful photographers working today. If you’re curious how far photographers are pushing the boundaries of this medium – this is a great place to start.
What Books Are on you Reference Shelf
Photography is more than just an image to be published on social media. It’s a form of artistic expression, a language, a way to tell a story. I want to understand why I’m attracted to the photographic process. Reading books, helps me to find those answers.
So while you’re dragging around your toys to photograph this summer, why don’t you throw in a book as well? See how the written word can spark your imagination, inspire you to think deeper about your images, give you the skills and confidence in the knowledge you already know. Books are an amazing resource for the artist and I encourage you to take a deep dive into one of these, or another of your choice.
In the next few months I will go back and re read Barthes and Sontag. I need to read some books multiple times to understand them and I put these two squarely in that category. I also will be reading Art as Therapy by Alain de Botton and John Armstrong. Insure I will be talking about this one in some future blog post! If there is anything else you think I should read, feel free to recommend your favorites in the comments.
Shelly
What books about photography and / or the artistic process have you read and enjoyed?
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I’ve only read a handful of photography books, none of which seem to be mentioned here.
Scott Kelby’s Digital Photography series is a great read for learning technique for a variety of subjects. They don’t cover macro much, but once you realize that shooting toys is exactly the same as shooting regular sized things – techniques etc are the same, its just scale that is different.
The other is “The Moment It Clicks” by Joe McNally – a good read on how he has lived is amazing career, and gotten those shots that no one else gets.
Next on my list is “Photograph Like A Thief” by Glyn Dewis.
Dave, I think the reason I write posts like this is so I can see what other people are reading. I will defiantly be checking out the Scott Kelby series. You’re right that so many of the techniques you need for good photography, work the same on the macro scale. I love the idea of “Photography Like a Thief”. This is a concept that Kristina and I have talked a lot about. I will be purchasing this one and adding it to my reference shelf. Thanks for sharing the books that inspire you! Shelly
Excellent list Shelly, thank you! I’ve added all of these to my Amazon wishlist and will start working through them 🙂 I already have Sontag’s book and Steal Like an Artist, though they’re still sitting on the coffee table in my office gathering dust. This gives me drive to fix that though!
I don’t think I’ve ever read photography books, but do find the “Art Of” movie books to be quite inspirational. They release them for most big blockbusters and feature concept art and behind the scenes stories. My most recent addition is The Art and Making of Wonder Woman, and it’s absolutely fantastic.
Yes James you need to read those books! I think you will find “Steal Like an Artist” and easy and enjoyable read. The Sontag book is 8 separate essays, so feel to take it in small bite size chunks.
I can see how the “Art of” books would inspire you. I think looking at the work of other artists cant help but be inspiring (and humbling). It doesn’t matter if you’re looking at museum masterpieces or pop culture concept work, looking at the work of others, cant help but be inspiring! Thanks for sharing the books that have inspired you. 🙂
Shelly, this is a wonderful post.Of the books you mention, I only know three. So I might have something more to read during my next holidays.
Most of the time, I enjoy reading books that are not just about photography, but about art in more general terms. For example, I already recommended Hans Belting’s Florence and Bagdad to Jennifer. It is about the ‘invention’ of perspective in the Renaissance era. Belting claims that leading Renaissance artists must have known Al-Hazen, an ancient mathematician from Bagdad who wrote an in depth enquiry about light.
Belting reconstructs the efforts to arrive at ‘correct’ representations, but he also traces the different ways oriental and European arts went: Al-Hazen is about light, Renaissance thought circles around the activity of looking. One goes into abstract artworks that celebrate light, the other into playing with persuading the spectator into believing he looks at something real.
Why is this a good read for photographers? The camera automatically creates perspective, so I was not really fully aware of the ‘philosophy’ behind it – since I read this book, I always give perspective an extra thought, sometimes making a point of reducing it to a minimum.
Before this comment gets lengthy, I would like to share another recommendation: A Dutch photo magazine called GUP (“Guide to unique photography”). It is all about art, and zero technical stuff – which I hugely enjoy. I think they also have a website: gupmagazine.com. You sometimes need a strong stomach to digest the works discussed there though…
Tobias, I can always count on you to sending me off in new directions. I’ve read the reviews and synopsis of Florence and Bagdad. I will add this to my reading list, although I think it might be above me intellectually. But a little stretching will be good for me. I’ve run across GUP before. Im intrigued but I will need to figure out a way to follow along that is not a physical magazine. Thanks for reminding me that they exist. Let me know if any other books inspire you!
Your post – plus the replies – make me wonder if there shoud be a “What’s on your shelf?” section along with “What’s in your bag?”
Susan Sontag, for example, should be worth an own discussion. (I find her absolutely poisonous for the aspiring amateur photographer, and much of my photographic motivation roots in the desire to prove her wrong: Photography a death mask of reality? Ha!)
Tobias, I was thinking of making a reference section of books to check out. Sort of a best of books that we all have found to be relevant in our quest to be better photographers and artists. I’m a dedicated reader (both physical and audio) and I find books to be a great medium for stepping outside my own box. For me, its fun to see what other people are reading too!
Susan Sontag is a most divisive individual. If you want to take on an aspect of her work and write up a post – I will happily throw it into the mix. Especially if your motivation comes from a desire to prove her wrong. Although I will confess I think she speaks some truth there. A photograph is only a shadow of reality. This might be why I object to people photographing at concerts. Nothing you can ever capture digitally would ever compare to the experience of being there surrounded by the music and the energy of the crowd. So I would agree with her regarding the death mask. I would interested in hearing how you disagree. 🙂
Yay! I don’t have to think about what book to take away with me for our annual camping trip this summer. Well, I’ve just got to narrow it down to one, but at least I’ll be walking into the book store before we leave with list rather than my usual, “I don’t know, I like reading Selby and Easton Ellis…”.
Thanks for sharing this great selection of reads Shelly. And the guys in my local book store probably send their thanks too!
If you choose only one book, make it “Art and Fear”. If you need something lighter, try “Steal like an Artist.” Also, if you need a good summer read try Iain Banks – The Player of Games or Use of Weapons. You won’t regret it! Cheers!
Summer camping reading is always light, so I’ve ordered Steal Like an Artist for this year’s lazy beach afternoons.
Shelly, you just mention one of my favourite ‘contemporary’ authors here! I very much enjoyed Walking on Glass…
I will add “Walking on Glass” to my reading list. Im not one to re-read books because I find there are too many other books I want to get to. But the moment I finished “Use of Weapons” I immediately started it again. My enjoyment wasn’t diminished in the least on the second reading. I was able to appreciate his use of language and how he constructed the story all the more! What a brilliant mind!
I have read the Scott Kelby book, both on photo and Photoshop. Other than that I have just tried my way on my own.
There is much to recommend in the Scott Kelby books. When you say “tried my own way”, I’m curious what you mean. Are you thinking about the mechanics of photography, composition or underlying meaning? The favorite book I recommended is Art and Fear which is more about coming to terms with being a creative. A book that helps you realize the struggle you feel isn’t unique. It is meant to support the artist finding their own way. My other favorite book in my list is The Photographers Playbook, which is all about helping the artist find their own voice, their own way. These two books might be of interest to you Stefan as you pursue your own creative journey. But rest assured, not everything we post here on Toy Photographers is meant to connect 100% of the time. We try to present a variety of topics so that everyone can find what they need to pursue their creativity, whatever that may be.
Thanks for giving another vote to the Scott Kelby books!
Thank you for the book tips Shelly, very appreciated. What I ment by “my own way” is that I leard much by trial and error. Didn’t go any photoschool or artschool. Just tried my way how to light and take macro photos. Got most of my tips from magazines.
Sry for the unclear answer I gave you 🙁
My reading list just got longer. Check to two of these and I’ve been meaning to read a few others, but some you’ve mentioned I hadn’t even heard of. All in all great list. I love photo and art books for the inspiration they can bring. Even if not directly related to the subject matter, just zoning into artistic thinking brings me so many photo ideas.
I’ve been beating myself up for not keeping up with the blog for some time now. So when insomnia came visiting this morning, I decided to do some catching up!
Of all the books you’ve mentioned, I only know and have one: Steal like an artist. It’s been gathering dust on a bookshelf since today, but now it’s out and waiting to be read thanks to you. I was able to find some of them as e-books, and some of them were translated into Turkish – I’m getting them as well, hopefully the translation is bearable.
I haven’t been able to read much in the last few years, which I regret a lot, but in general I don’t think I ever read a photography book. When I first started, I just went on with what I’ve learned in school (about composition, lighting, etc) and when I wanted to learn more, I read articles on the web. This will be a challenge for me, and a good one. Thank you for that 🙂