What photography books would you recommend?

Im new to Photography. Do you have any tips or recommend any books or courses on taking better pics?

• Answer:

  I always recommend to anyone interested in photography that they read, read and then do some more reading. Each and every advanced amateur and professional photographer I know began by reading everything they could find on the topic of photography. When I first started out in photography before the Age of Hippies (when “getting stoned” meant getting pelted by rocks), the public libraries provided me with a wealth of free information. Today, you have many sites that provide free tutorials and/lessons or great reading material on different aspects of photography without leaving the comfort of your home... by going Online. Do yourself a favor and learn the jargon (or vocabulary) used in photography and you’ll find it so much easier to learn, really. Read and stay curious. Check and "Bookmark" the following sites and look around for the different lessons, tutorials and free information on techniques offered: http://www.photo.net http://www.photoSIG.com http://www.usefilm.com http://www.popphoto.com http://www.nikon.pixelcritic.com Here are a few URLS to check and "Bookmark" for more lessons and tutorials on photography (just browse and see what you can make out and don't try to memorize anything): http://jzportraits.home.att.net/chapter-08.html http://www.nikonians.org/html/resources/software/Adobe_digital_workflow/index.html http://strobist.blogspot.com/ http://www.earthboundlight.com/phototips/digital-versus-film-resolution.html http://www.lunacore.com/training/training.htm http://www.betterphoto.com/home.asp http://library.thinkquest.org/25780/ http://www.outdooreyes.com/wildlifephotoindex.php3 If you’re still considering getting a camera or lens, check out my answer in: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AhTCVUQ3G2q8KUh2Ixuq6APsy6IX?qid=20061126151644AA2H1VE Of course, the best thing you can do for yourself is to take a photography class or two whether in high school or at a community college at night or during weekends or at a YMCA/YWCA or some similar institution; the Beginner courses up to their Advanced courses are very well planned and very well organized, and you’ll learn so much in such a short time! If you’re in school consider joining the school newspaper and also consider joining a photography club. If you’re out of school and working, and you’re a self-starter and don’t require prodding to get things done, consider contacting New York Institute of Photography and take their correspondence course (contact them and wait until they start offering you discounts… up to $350, which is a great deal, if you pay in advance). Good luck and best wishes.