File :-(, x, )
Anonymous
i'm new to photography, and basically i suck at it as expected. does /p/ have any book recommendations? i was looking at this one

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?z=y&EAN=9780452284258&itm=1

but i don't know how to tell if a photography book is full of shit or not, or if its even a common thing for photography books to be full of shit.

crappy pic of my neighbor's dish sort of related, i guess as proof that i need some help.
EXIF data available. Clickhereto show/hide.
Camera-Specific Properties:Equipment MakeCanonCamera ModelCanon PowerShot A570 ISCamera SoftwareAdobe Photoshop 7.0Maximum Lens Aperturef/5.5Sensing MethodOne-Chip Color AreaImage-Specific Properties:Image OrientationTop, Left-HandHorizontal Resolution180 dpiVertical Resolution180 dpiImage Created2008:01:12 11:14:27Exposure Time1/60 secF-Numberf/5.5ISO Speed Rating200Lens Aperturef/5.5Exposure Bias0 EVMetering ModePatternFlashNo Flash, AutoFocal Length23.20 mmColor Space InformationsRGBImage Width1000Image Height750RenderingNormalExposure ModeAutoWhite BalanceAutoScene Capture TypeStandard
>> Anonymous
Here's the quick test: if the book spends more than a couple of pages talking about equipment, it's full of shit. A good book will focus almost exclusively on technique and examples.

You can go to the library, they're bound to have a lot of books on photography and they'll even let you try before you buy.
>> ac !!VPzQAxYPAMA
>>112100
Not necessarily. Depends heavily on the teacher and your learning style. And in any case, taking a photography class is going to cost a nontrivial amount of money; money you could instead use, for instance, on going on a trip somewhere interesting to take some pictures.

Whether this is an argument for or against taking a class is something you'll have to decide for yourself, but I'm entirely self-taught thanks to The Internet and a library system that has frequent used book sales.
>> DB
>>112106

Right, and where have you been published?
>> thefamilyman !!rTVzm2BgTOa
i never read photography books, takes too much thinking, hurts my brain.
>> ac !!VPzQAxYPAMA
>>112108
My mommy says I take great pictures. So nyah.

(And on the other hand, I've never actually tried to sell any pictures. My Real Job is as a software developer)
>> Anonymous
>>112111
I cut down trees. I skip and jump.
I like to press wild flowers.
I put on women's clothing
And hang around in bars.

Mounties : He cuts down trees. He skips and jumps.
He likes to press wild flowers.
He puts on women's clothing
And hangs around in bars?!
>> Anonymous
>>112108
I actually have been published, quite a few times in nationally distributed newspapers and magazines as well as lots of local stuff and a few international newspapers, and I have never taken any classes in photography. Photo school is fine if that's what you want to do, but nothing in photography is so difficult or technical that you can't learn to do it on your own with a book and a little effort. The biggest benefit to photography school is critique, the value of which is highly dependent on the quality of your instructors. There are also lots of places to get good critique outside of a photo school.
>> Anonymous
op here

between other classes and my job, i just don't have time for a photography class, although i may look into it next semester. thanks for the suggestions, i'll go look around the school library and some public ones for a decent book.

>>112154
would one of those places be /p/ or should i search for good critique elsewhere?
>> Anonymous
Judging by op, the following might help. But a real teacher will help much more. It's like the difference between drivers ed in the classroom and on the actual road.

Watch the following and 'related videos'
if you can palette the gameshow host guy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xnn5nzPvoIM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CpWtq-haaCQ
>> Anonymous
That's not a bad book. It is basic, but if it's the one I remember it should teach you a lot of basics. Michael Freeman's "The Photographer's Eye" is much better, though advanced enough that with NO background in photography it may not help much. It's the only book I've spent money on. Instead of buying a book, go to the library. (it's the place you may go to get internet access when your home connection goes down) There should be plenty of books you can look through there. You can also read the same topic from different authors this way. Finally, look around on the internet. Most of what I've learned about photographic theory I've read on the internet. Use your google fu over and over again. you can start with photographyonthenet.com or something like that.

tl;dr no matter how good the book, don't buy it if you have to ask. there's plenty of free information out there.