3 Photography Books to Inspire You for the Year Ahead (including Free Book!)
If you want to read this post then keep scrolling down, or if you'd prefer (and if you have headphones) click play below to hear me talk about the 3 photography books I've recommended right here in this post. If you're reading this in your mailbox you'll need to open this in your browser to list
All over Facebook I see posts with quotes that I imagine are trying to be inspirational and thought provoking. Whilst some of these I believe are rules to live your life by: "You must be the change you want to see in the world", others I've pretty much got into the habit of skipping past. These inspirational quotes are becoming so common now that it's just my instant reaction to keep on scrolling past them.
However, one did jump out at me recently: "Reading books is the way humans upgrade their firmware". Whilst to some this may just be another one of those quotes you skip past, it did make me think for just a second that when it comes to education and learning (especially with photography) some of the best lessons I've picked up over the years have came from books.
Sure, blog posts (like this one I hope) can provide all sorts of useful and Interesting information, books still tend to contain some of the best and most thoughtfully curated information. I guess if they didn't they wouldn't go to print!
The other advantages of reading books are huge - of course there is the benefit of learning from the actual content, but the act of reading improves your memory, reduces stress and can improve your language skills. We should all be reading more.
So, with that in mind I wanted to share with you some of the books and eBooks that really have stood out for me over the past few years. Some of these books I'll read every few months to remind myself of technical information. Others I thumb through when seeking inspiration, whilst others are fantastic motivators and are almost, to an extent, self-help books that have the ability to help you coach yourself through slumps in creativity and confidence.
There are thousands of photography and art related books out there, but here are my top three books to inspire, educate and motivate you for the year ahead:
1. Gregory Heisler: 50 Portraits
I've mentioned a few times that I love this book. Visually this book is awe-inspiring. The portrait photographs made by Gregory Heisler are incredible: engaging, amazing use of light and composition and need no words to tell a story. Despite that though this isn't just some coffee table book packed with images: it's a fantastic read too: Great stories surround each set of images and Heisler also provides us with an insight into the thought process behind each image.
The cover alone begs you to read this book! (image from Amazon)
This book actually contains more than just 50 portraits. For example the portraits of legendary basketball player Shaquille O'neal actually include photographs of his hands (sounds odd, but you have to read the book to see how incredible the photographs are). His hands are of course his tools as a basketball player and through images like this Heisler thought about more than just a head and shoulders-type portrait in great light, he sought to tell a story through his images.
This is a book that is not only a great read for the stories and what is written if you have the time, but as a book you can thumb through simply to look at the photographs themselves this is a book that will inspire you to raise your game to reach a new level and think more creatively.
Well worth a read. This is first on my list for a reason and is, at this point in time, my favourite photography book.
It's available both as an eBook (on Kindle) and a Hard Back. I bought the Kindle Edition with some vouchers I was gifted, but was then given the hard back as a present from my wife. The print version of this book does it far more justice and so I would recommend you pick up a hard copy and get away from a screen to enjoy this book in the format that it was intended to be read in. Print.
Download or Purchase '50 Portraits: Gregory Hesiler' right here on Amazon
2. The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles by Steven Pressfield
Personally, (and fortunately) I'm not someone who has yet struggled with a serious creative slump or had any sort of crisis of confidence. That's not me showing off, some people in life are like that. I do occasionally feel criticism getting to me when it's venomous or not constructive but then I remind myself that people are going to hate on you and your work in the world of photography. So I move on. That's life!
Having said that, when I started out making photographs I felt quite alone. Like I was the first person to be walking the path of frustration. Most of us experience that same learning curve where when we start out we believe we're close to learning everything we need to know (or with some people they think they already know it all). But, the more we learn, we realise how little we know and how much farther we have to go to get to the heady heights of those sitting atop the photography industry; those famous and legendary photographers that win plaudits & Pulitzer Prizes and accolades that many photographers aspire to.
Well, If I had known about Steven Pressfield's 'The War Of Art' when I first started, I'd have realised as I do now that this process is very, very common place indeed and that nearly all of us go through these stages at various times and that we all, in our own ways, battle with ourselves and our own creativity. Pressfield's book is about our internal battles. How we are truly the only ones who can both motivate ourselves to achieve the incredible, all the while being more capable than anyone else of being the person to completely destroy our own motivation and give in to resistance. Having known about this book and possibly had I been more willing to acknowledge what I could learn from books at a younger age / earlier stage, it would have made me realise it was okay and natural to believe that wanting more and better gear was the key to becoming better. (which I'll talk about more with my next book recommendation). Although this book, in my opinion, is perhaps more aimed at those in the literary arts, this makes it no-less relevant to us photographers. Upon reading this book I have no doubt you'll immediately identify yourself as the person that Steven Pressfield is talking to.
On page 63 of The War of Art, Steven writes (about being professional):
Someone once asked Somerset Maugham if he wrote on a schedule or only when struck by inspiration. "I write only when inspiration strikes", he replied. "Fortunately it strikes every morning at nine O'Clock sharp."
As soon as you pick up The War Of Art that passage will have more context. This book is full of gems and reads like a massive, entertaining kick up the backside to motivate you.
It's not a huge book either. I've read this book a few times now and each time it's taken just two evenings from one cover to another.
Just be sure to have a notepad to hand (or a highlighter if you're that way inclined and pick up the hardcover version)
3. Ten Ways to Improve Your Craft Without Buying Gear by David DuChemin (Free to download)
If you read any sort of photography books, then I'm sure that you've heard of Craft & Vision. A fantastic company that has pulled together some of the most talented photographer / writer / educators / business people to produce a variety of photography books. Some are aimed to educate us on the technical aspects of photography, whether it be lighting, getting sharper shots or even post processing, whilst other books are more business-oriented, like 'Ten Ways To Improve Your Craft Without Buying Gear By David DuChemin'
The author of this great book; David DuChemin has a saying: "Gear is great. Vision is better". I asked David DuChemin about this when I interviewed him for the Ready Steady Pro Photography Podcast, and the premise is not to discount what better quality or even different gear can bring to your work, but instead to realise that your own vision and creativity is what will make the most difference and that that should come first. It's ourselves we should look to constantly educate, rather than looking to upgrade our cameras every six months for the latest and greatest.
'Ten' is a concise eBook of just 18 pages. This book more than makes up for quantity with quality. In 'Ten' DuChemin provides us with 10 exercises to practise to improve our photography without the need to go out and buy more gear.
Yes, with each image in this fantastic eBook David shares with us his settings and gear used; this is to help educate. As the years roll on and this book becomes older and older the lessons here only become more relevant as the camera used is a Canon 5D (mark 1). By today's standards many photographers would turn their nose up at such a camera, citing it to have not enough focus points or not enough megapixels. But the fact is, it's the photographer that makes an amazing photograph, not the camera.
An easy read and one that you can pick up and put down after each of the 10 exercises to be consumed in bite-size chapters. This is a book not to be overlooked, especially considering it's FREE!
Ready Steady Pro Members Recommend
I'm only one person and can only read so many books at a time and so I reached out to the members of the Ready Steady Pro community and asked them what books they think you should be reading too. Here's what they said:
Chris Szulwach: 'Personal Best' by Elliott Erwitt
"Inspires me to be concentrating on moments, looking for the out of the ordinary that happens every day and not worry so much about technical perfection."
Paul Griffiths: 'The Decisive Moment' by Henri Cartier-Bresson
"A wonderful book that comes with an insightful commentary on his work and career"
Rob Dodsworth: 'Early Colour' By Saul Leiter
"The subject matter would otherwise be relatively mundane but the interplay between subject, his eye (his framing, composition) and the use of colour is often otherworldly! You find something new each time you revisit a frame!"
Simon Dewey: 'Minutes to Midnight' By Trent Park
"I don't know anyone who uses light as dramatically - the grainy black and white pictures have an otherworldly feel, yet are classified as Street. It's also beautifully bound - so a wonderful item to hold. Really looking forward to his next project"
What do you think?
Know any great photography, art or business books that you think we should all be reading? Drop a link in the comments below, I'd love to know what you have on your book shelves, saved on your KIndles & eBook Readers etc.
Using Smart Collections in Adobe Lightroom
At this time of year many photographers are looking back on the work they did in the previous 12 months. A retrospective view. A year in review. An assessment. Whatever you decide to call it, it can actually be a tedious enough process just finding your best 10 in amongst thousands and thousands of photographs. Don't get me wrong though, this exercise is worth it's weight in gold as you can really gain some perspective on where you were at the start of the year and where you are now, as a photographer. It can often be a real eye opener to see in what ways you've improved and in what ways you've changed your style. After all, we're always evolving and adapting as photographers and therefore the photographs we produce are inevitably going to change as we grow.
Luckily for us though, this deeply rewarding (yet tedious) process can be made much easier now that we're in the digital era. We're fortunate to have software that can stores tags and meta data. It can order and time stamp our photographs, making sorting and filtering through them all and finding the photographs we're most proud of that much easier.
That is...if you know how to use the software you have.
Many people see Adobe Lightroom as a simple piece of software with a couple of sliders. Trust me, it's much more than that. It has brushes, a simple cloning tool, it's amazing at organizing photographs and preparing photographs for printing. It does nearly all a photographer could ask for.
Today, I want to help you to find your top 10 photographs from the previous year. To do this we'll be taking a look at Adobe Lightroom's Smart Collection feature, Target Collections and a few basic rules to set these up.
So, if you've been putting off doing a review of the year that has just passed us by have a watch of this video and the re-assess whether you think you have the time or not.
Grab a coffee, press play on the video below and enjoy!
If you have a Lightroom tip you would like to share, or even a question about Lightroom please do post your comments below, or contact me at michae@rammellphotography.com
Thanks for watching.
Check out Other Lightroom VIdeos here
The Best Way To Improve Your Photography. Period.
There is no magic bullet when it comes to learning photography. Practise, reading and studying are all ways you can improve your craft and become a better photographer.
However, if you ask me there is one, single sure-fire way you can dramatically and quickly improve your photography: Critique.
This applies to every photographer, no matter how raw or how advanced you are. As I've always said: "You can't learn everything through your own experiences".
Feedback from an Artisan
In early June I spent a day with Neil Buchan-Grant. A student of photography - a real craftsman with an eye for detail. After the interview Neil and I went out with the cameras and talked about all things photography and later, over dinner Neil was kind enough to cast his eye over my street photography portfolio. I urged Neil to be honest, harsh and not to hold back and tell me what he really thought of my work.
Whilst Neil was (I believe) very kind and diplomatic to me he did offer some honest feedback. It stung! Neil wasn't horrible about my work at all, but with apparent ease he pointed out many things that were wrong with a number of the photographs and offered ways in which the photographs could be easily improved with a little post-processing alone. Following Neil's feedback all that was wrong with my photographs became clear to me!
I just thought "Damn!", but more than anything it made me determined to go out and make better photographs next time based on the feedback I was given.
I feel like I've come a long way photographically so I was gutted to hear the flaws in my work being highlighted. I personally love my own street photography work, my portraits in particular. Whilst that may sound vein, it is of course because I was there. I remember the moments I made those photographs and the moments that were behind them. I am emotionally invested in my work. Neil is not. So, with a fresh and unbiased pair of eyes Neil was able to offer so much value to my photographs because he is skilled, practised and honest. All components needed to make successful photographs.
My Guide to Critique
Although I already knew and appreciated the value of harsh, honest and open-minded critique, I hadn't really had a session with a photographer whose work I adored like I do Neil's. So on that drive home from Winchester I thought a lot about the process of critique and the benefits it holds. This blog post is borne out of that experience and these are my views on critique...
Seek Critique from a Photographer you Respect and Whose Work You Admire
The first thing I would suggest, if you don't already, is to start making use of bookmarks in your browser, or at least use a notepad: make a list (or a folder of bookmarks) of all of those photographers you respect. By this, I mean photographers whose blogs you read and content you like. If you like their perspective on photography and that photographer resonates with you, great. But also, ensure you truly admire their work. Critique can sometimes be given excellently by people who aren't necessarily the greatest of photographers themselves, but knowing that the person who is critiquing your photographs can actually produce the level of work you aspire to goes a long way to giving their feedback some conviction.
So, like the person, enjoy their work, seek their feedback. Keep in mind though that you shouldn't expect a response from everyone you approach. Be prepared for that.
Positive Feedback is Half as Valuable as Constructive Criticism
Be selective about where you choose to seek critique. Places such as Flickr, in my opinion, are wonderful places to get eyes on your photographs and people are very willing to also drop kind comments on your photographs too. However, kind comments are not always what you want. "Well done!", "Great Shot!", "Love This!" don't offer any real value other than to let you know that the person in question likes the photograph you've posted. You don't know why they like it. It is nice to get a pat on the back for the work you produce, sure, but instead why not look for the feedback where people point out what is wrong with the photograph in a constructive and helpful manner. Only then will you learn what you need to improve upon.
I'm not suggesting you seek out negativity, but just look to gain something more than confirmation that someone likes the photograph you've uploaded.
Take it on Board
It's one thing to seek the feedback and then get it, but another to actually implement changes based on that feedback, or be conscious of what you're doing when you're next on a shoot. Rather than just seeking critique, actually take the critique on board. Consider what it is that person has pointed out or told you and then consider whether you want to implement a change, or research a method of how to improve that weakness in your photographic skill set.
Basically, listen to the critique and then apply it to improve. It sounds simple, but without this element the whole critique process falls down. What's the point in listening if you're not going to use what you've been told?
Have an Open Mind
Furthering the idea of taking the critique on board, you also have to have an open mind when seeking critique. Obviously, you're not always going to agree with what people have to say, even if it is valid. Stubbornness can sometimes be a good thing, but other times it's a good idea to listen to what others have to say with an open mind. If you're not prepared to listen to the feedback of others, you're not going to learn.
If you do decide that the way you've shot or processed an image is better or preferable to what someone says in a comment, that's fine, but still give some thought to what the other person is saying, at least. After all, they have taken the time to write their thoughts down for your benefit. It would be courtesy to consider what they're saying.
Be Selective
Taking one step back to the subject of stubbornness: sometimes, you may get critique, and it may well be very valid and fair, but you may still not agree with it. Your photographs are your work, you blood, sweat and tears. You have invested in making your photographs with your energy, early mornings and late nights - You do have the right to be single-minded about your work and continue pushing on with a style of your own, even if others don't agree. I'm not giving you the green light to ignore everyone's critique, but I am saying you can leave the door open to sometimes not agree with someone's feedback: perhaps that person's feedback is based on their own preferences and styles. Maybe I'm repeating my previous point, but again remember people are taking time to offer feedback. They're doing you the favour.
Don't Take It Personally
We all know that when sitting behind a keyboard people are more bold and will often say things they may not say if they were sitting across a table from you. People can be more ballsy and more blunt. Perhaps more than they would ever be in the real world when talking face to face.
But that can be a good thing...
Having that filter removed is a double-edged sword: it may invite trolls - those people who are just rude and offer criticism (not critique), These people you can choose to ignore. But, having no filter as such also allows certain people to come along and offer feedback in a harsh and honest way - which whilst it may sting a little will certainly offer lots of value.
Ignore The Negative Comments (Trolls)
Further to the above of not taking it personally - even from the trolls. It's in some people's nature to jump on board and slate your work. Let them do it. Just ignore the comments and don't get involved, otherwise you'll just end up arguing with someone who is well versed at over-the-internet debates. Remember that your aim was to seek helpful, constructive and honest feedback - not spend your time getting involved in debates with people on the other side of the planet whose work you've never seen and are unlikely to ever meet.
So be ready to take the rough with the smooth!
Your Style & Approach Will Evolve Over Time
Some people are at different stages in their relationship with photography. Others may have just started, whilst others may have been around the block a few times so to speak. So when someone suggests that a selective colour version of your photograph may look great, don't judge them. They may not know they're committing a faux pas. Remember, that in the same way your photography style has evolved and your knowledge has grown - everyone else is on the same path as well.
If you're not putting your work out there for critique because you think you're not good enough yet, or because you're not ready to do so, then when will you be ready? My answer to that would be never! The sooner you seek critique and start actioning it, the faster you'll develop. Don't wait until you're better. Go and get better!
Think about a band or a musician you're a fan of: over the years how have their albums changed? Their breakthrough album may have sounded 'fresh' and new at the time, but a few albums and a few years later I'm sure you'll agree that their later work is more polished and has a larger production, making their earlier work maybe sound a little more 'raw'. Well, it's the same with us photographers and creatives.
Fashions, Trends and Style
Over the decades trends have changed. At the moment we're apparently in the age of filters and effects. This point I'm making here is not a direct attack on filters and effects, but remember: just because it's fashionable and popular, doesn't mean you have to do it too. In fact, as I've said before being different is just as important as being the best (if not more important). So be wary if you decide to take part in fashions and trends. My advice would be to stick to what you enjoy doing and the way you like doing it, improving along the way.
Harsh and Honest Critique is the Best Critique
Don't always seek validation from those you admire, but instead seek to please yourself
This may sound contradictory to what I said earlier, but there is a difference between seeking validation and seeking critique: yes, you should approach those whose work you admire for critique, but be careful not to get into the habit of just producing work to please those people. These people should be the ones helping you to define a style, carve out an approach and polish your products so to speak, but they're not the people you need to make happy. If you shoot weddings, portraits, pets or any sort of photography where you have a client: it's those people you need to make happy. It's those people who need to love your work. Whilst they may appreciate the straight horizon and defined jaw lines, they may not necessarily care about a little bit of noise, or the bokeh or the extreme, fine details that the photographers you show your work to will point out.
Clients and photographers are very different audiences...which brings me to my next point:
Remember Who your Audience Is When It Comes To Your Photography.
I've written about this subject already in a previous blog post. I want to urge you to remember who you're shooting for. Are you shooting for clients, yourself or for other photographers? You need to know this and keep this in mind as it will impact the work you're producing.
If you're shooting for yourself it can be whatever you want. All that work has to do is please you.
If you're shooting for other photographers then the chances are you're going to be looking at producing the most technically perfect pictures you can.
If you're shooting for clients however, then it's a different game - Now you're looking to make photographs that they'll enjoy and as I mentioned before: they're going to appreciate different aspects of a photograph to both you and other photographers. To a client the photographs are almost always about the moments, the expressions and the people. Not the technical elements.
Giving Critique As Well As Receiving Critique
Ghandi said: "Be the change you want to see in the world". Well, i would say that you should also give the critique you wish to receive.
Giving critique is also valuable. Stop to look at photographs. Inspect them. Don't necessarily search for flaws, but instead look for what works in that photograph, look for the successful elements, the things that make the average photograph a great photograph. Then, tell the photographer who posted that picture what it is you love about it. Sure, mention the halo, or the aberration, or the wonky horizon, but be sure to be positive with your critique, be honest and be helpful. Don't just beat people down. Be courteous.
Want Your work Reviewed by Neil Buchan-Grant?
Neil is now offering single image reviews and portfolio reviews. If you want to have the British Travel Press Photographer of the year take a look at your work, just head on over to Neil's website and click Portfolio Reviews
What do you think?
No matter where you are with your photography I'm sure you've had someone criticise your work (not critique). When was the last time you received solid critique from a fellow photographer? Did you action or change anything as a result of that critique? Did that improve your photography.
I would love to hear your critique experiences - share them below.