The 5 best photography books in 2023
The best way to learn photography is usually going out and shooting but we all know that’s not always a possibility. The weather may be bad, there’s no one available to shoot or tyour schedule just doesn’t make enough room. Having had a job with a lot of travelling I know about not having time to shoot. Trains do all look the same from the inside… So what’s the solution? Grab a photography book and get inspired from other photographers who share their knowledge and experience! Here are the 5 best photography books in 2023!
The photographers eye - Michael Freeman
This book focuses on the fundamental principles of composition and design in photography. It explores topics such as framing, balance, lines, and shapes, helping photographers create visually compelling images. It’s focus is on the art of taking a picture and composition, it’s not about how to expose an image or how to use a camera. So this is more of an advanced read but can be really eye opening!
You might not like their Youtube Personalities, they do have some of the more “clickbaity” content, but their book “Stunning Digital Photography” is really good for conveying the basics of photography: Using your camera, which light looks good in which situation, usage of flash, different types of photography and more. The book even comes with hours of instructional videos. It’s definitely recommended if you’re getting started with photography.
If “Stunning Digital Photography” isn’t your book about the basics of photography or you just don’t want to use video content then “Understanding Exposure, Fourth Edition: How to Shoot Great Photographs with Any Camera” from Bryan Peterson might be the best book you can get! This book is a fantastic guide for understanding exposure, aperture, shutter speed, and ISO settings. It provides practical advice on how to achieve proper exposure and use creative techniques to enhance your photography. It’s definitely one of the most helpful books you can find in the subject matter and if you want to know why you should buy this book: The author is also the founder of the The Bryan Peterson School of Photography and also a well know instructor for photography. Quite the credentials.
“The Moment It Clicks” is a book from a really well known photographer who has more than 30 years of experience and has had assignements in more than 50 countries for various magazines such as Time, Sports Illustrated and National Geographic. In this book he chose some of his photos and tells the story of how these photos came to be, the gear he used and most importantly about the mindset he has for taking amazing shots. He really goes into detail what goes into getting the shot he did and it really make you appreciate the images even more. If you want to hear the stories of how photos come to be, this is the book for you.
On Photography delves into the philosophical aspects of photography. It explores the power and influence of photography on society and the way we perceive the world. It's a thought-provoking read for any photographer seeking a deeper understanding of the art form - It’s in no way a book to learn photography but it can really expand your horizon as to what it means to photograph the world. If you’re looking for inspiration to shoot - or make any other form of art - this book can give you everything you need.
