Santa Claus is coming! And for many photography enthusiasts, that means equipment! For the luckiest among you, it could mean the lens and the camera body. Others may be expecting a Loupedeck live or simple strap. That tool is great, too. However, for me, wedding photography is my job and I don’t ask Santa for gadgets because I buy them when I need them. Instead, my family now often asks, “What book do you want for Christmas?”
My books are my little luxury in life. Some people like fast cars and designer handbags. I love sitting at my desk with a freshly brewed coffee and a picture book. When I’m out and about, I also prefer reading paper books than scrolling through Instagram non-stop.
And so you can categorize all my books into two broad categories. The books I watch, and the books I read.
The first group, picture books, is filled with beautiful, thought-provoking, and nostalgic picture books. I usually pick one up, flip through the pages for 10 minutes, and then put it back on my shelf. I may not touch it for months, but I usually see or absorb something different every time. Some of them are substantial coffee table books.
My reading books are still photography related. These are usually guidebooks by authors like Brian Lloyd Ducket or David Gibson. They can also be inspirational or just pleasant to read. These smaller books fit into a bag and went with me everywhere until I read them all from cover to cover.
You can be different from me. Maybe you don’t want to collect a lot of books. You probably want a book that will take you a year to read in your spare time. On the other hand, you might be looking for a great book to put on your desk and inspire you in times of boredom. Or, like me, you want all the books you have on hand.
So I’ve listed a few below, some from reputable photographers or publishers and a few less known. I recommend also looking for your own; It’s a personal journey.
Why you like this photo: Cognitive Science, Brian Dilg
An interesting read by Brian Dilg, Why do you like this photo? look deeper into our brains. It not only delves into how we photograph, but also explores why we do things a certain way, using proven insights, interviews and infographics. demonstrated study to study what our minds are doing when we look at pictures.
Unfinished Stories, Lucy Hamidzadeh
Lucy is an incredibly talented emerging street photographer based in London, England. Her first book, Unfinished Story, from Trope Publishing, contains beautiful photos, mostly of people going about their day jobs. She was trying to find calm in the hustle and bustle of London’s life, which is not easy. Lucy is also a great writer, which makes this book a great read as well.
Where I Found Myself, Joel Meyerowitz
I’m turning to one of the all-time greats, Joel Meyerowitz. Where I found myself possibly one of my most frequent picture books. The inspirational book contains his entire working life, from his powerful shots at ground zero to playful street photography. The retrospective also includes many of his projects. It’s a big book, not really a subway book, but you’d be hard-pressed to find a better book to soak in a cup of coffee.
A Pocket Guide to Street Photography, Brian Lloyd Ducket
I’m moving from one of the heaviest books in my collection to the smallest. But it’s small for a reason, Brian’s Street Photography Pocket Guide Designed to go wherever your camera does. So if there’s a stockpile for street photography enthusiasts among us, this must be it. Small but powerful, the pocket guide runs through gear, mindset, technique, location, and lighting.
100 Amazing Street Photographs, David Gibson
Acting as a celebration of modern street photography, 100 Great Street Photographs put together a collection of 100 amazing images by a newer generation of talented photographers. The book also contains information about each photographer, some of whom are relatively unknown or have only been around for a few years. It’s a real insight into the work created every day by great photographers, not just legends.
European, Henri Cartier-Bresson
Speaking of legend, no picture book would be complete without at least one title by Henri Cartier-Bresson. European It may not be his most famous book, but it covers a wide period from the 1920s to the 1970s, with images from his travels throughout continental Europe. We’ve all seen Henri’s famous photographs, but The European contains some of his lesser known but always fascinating works.
I could go on listing the books for days, but I want to provide insight into the variety of books available. Whether the title you choose is by a famous photographer or a self-published book by someone new, I know it will do something for you. It could be technical information about camera settings or a nostalgic insight into how life used to be.
My personal collection also contains a lot of books that I find interesting, but may not be for the vast majority of people: books containing smaller projects, shots from several nightclubs, a Some are picture books by anonymous photographers whose photos have taken of the places I’ve been to. visited. Some are from people I’ve met or simply wanted to support. I have a lot of very old books that I picked up at thrift stores. It would be almost pointless to mention any of these, as they are very personal to me, but they are as beloved as anything else.
If you haven’t started your own never-ending journey into the rabbit hole that is photography books, consider buying your first book from a local bookstore. The rest are desperate for our support. If you don’t have anywhere locally, Amazon is the obvious choice, and you can spend hours discovering new titles.
If you have any books that you think I need to try, put it in the comments. I always add to my collection and may ask Santa for a few this year.
