Your most important photography book

[MRohlfing]

Ansel Adams: The Negative

 

[shiro_kuro]

Ilford Multigrade Papers
A Manual For The Darkroom ....... $2.00


This book I am reading at the moment is also very good ...

The Education of a Photographer

 

[victoriapio]

Gary Winogrand: The Animals

 

[djon]

Edward Weston's "Daybook II" (California)

Richard Avedon & James Baldwin's "Nothing Personal"

I just discovered a 1977 copy of "Edward Weston Nudes" ...I hadn't realized this was so beautifully printed in the hardbound version (like the Daybooks)...my copy was a big bargain because it was unusually bookstore-musty: a few hours with pages opened in bright sun made that vanish.

I wait to find "good" used hardbound books rather than buying new paperbacks because I favor used bookstores and fine books rather than cheaper versions.

 

[pesphoto]

 

[palec]

Gary Winogrand: The Animals

I agree, excellent one!

At the same time I have to say that I don't have only one most important book. You can't tell everything in one book, except if it's blank.

 

[amateriat]

Right now:

Steichen: A Life in Photography

There you go...that one comes off my shelf once in a while as well. Was a gift from a good friend about 20 years ago.

Like I said, as far as books of photography go, there are way too many "favorites"...quite a few of which I don't own yet, only borrowed.

And I forgot another book about a photographer: David Hume Kennerly's Shooter. Other than his habit of puffing himself up a bit much at times, it's an interesting read.


- Barrett

 

[Nebulon]

I too find it difficult to choose a single most important book. Having enjoyed and practiced photography for many years, I feel that my technique is mature and satisfactory. And I do have many books to thank for their guidance and knowlege over the years. Today, my library is more for inspiration and motivation than for finding a personal style. And to list a couple of favorites would be to omit other equally worthy volumes. (Ask me again next week, any I'll supply a different list.) Anyway, here are some recently acquired Hypno-Tomes:
1. Adam Bartos: Kosmos, A Portrait of the Russian Space Age
2. Ben Maddow: Faces
3. Das Atelier des Photographen, 1912

 

[shadowfox]

One of my favorites is George E. Todd's "From Seeing to Showing" a.k.a "Elements of Black & white Photography". I like how he shares his thought process for each photos featured in the book. And he doesn't cram his ideals/philosophy down the reader's throat. 🙂