Books – ExpertPhotography

35 Best Photography Books in 2024 (Updated)

Christopher Bryan-Smith — Fri, 02 Dec 2022 11:40:26 +0000

Can’t find reliable content on the internet? Then you should try reading photography books by famous professionals! The best photography books are still relevant for improving your photo skills and inspiring you.

Read This If You Want to Take Great Photographs is our favorite photography book. It’s the ultimate how-to guide that explores techniques, styles, and practical tips. Buying this book is the first step to becoming a better photographer.

Our Top 3 Choices for The Best Photography Books

Read This If You Want to Take Great Photographs

Master Digital Photography: Pro Tips & Tricks

Complete Digital Photography: 9th Edition

Finding the Best Photography Books

There are so many amazing photography books out there it can be hard to find what you’re looking for.

There are photography books to learn about the art form’s history. There are photo books to help you with your composition. And there are also ones to inspire you from some of the photography greats!

We have every type of photography book, so the list is fairly extensive. But we’ve broken it down so you can find the book you need. Click on one of the links below to skip to your desired section.

Photography basics
Composition and technique
Photography lighting
Niche photography books
Collections and compilations
Editing photography books

Best Books on Photography Basics

Learning how to take amazing pictures requires a strong foundation of the basics. If you struggle with these areas, read publications on the basics of photography. I assure you that you’ll learn much faster.

Our list of how-to books on photography ensures you learn exactly how to use your gear. It includes how to use camera settings and technical knowledge properly. Also, you can learn a little bit about the history of photography along the way.

Here’s a quick look at the best books on photography basics. We’ll take a more detailed look at each book in the section after.

Our Top Choice

Read This If You Want to Take Great Photographs

Great entry-point for new photographers
Full of practical guides for easy learning
Playful language anyone can understand

Best for New Photographers

Master Digital Photography: Pro Tips & Tricks

One of the most popular photography guide books
Specific chapters on portrait, sports, and wedding photography
A helpful book if you're looking to make money in photography

Best Resource

Complete Digital Photography: 9th Edition

Takes a deep dive into all aspects of digital photography
Everything is covered, from camera basics to photo editing
A rich recourse even experienced photographers can use

Best for Starting a Career

Mastering Photography: From Beginner to Pro

Career-focused objective from the outset
Well-explained, practical guidance to help you master your camera
The author's wealth of experience give the words heft

Most Comprehensive

Langford’s Photography: Mastering the Art

A complete and comprehensive study of photography
Teaches techniques and skills with suggestions for equipment
Chapters on editing and organizing your photos

Best Illustrations

Mastering Photography: A National Geographic Guide

Awe-inspiring illustrations throughout the book
Well-explained tutorials for absolute beginners
A perfect choice for younger photographers

Best for Beginners

Digital Photography: Pro Tips for Amazing Photos

Great explanations on different cameras and how to get the most out of them
Fantastic illustrations with the settings used to capture them
Written by one of LIFE's most prominent photographers

Best for Fundamentals

Mastering Photography: Shoot Great Photos with Any Camera

One of the most popular photography books for beginners
Gives you a technical foundation from which you can flourish
Author has a personal and easy-to-follow style of writing

Best for Conceptual Skills

The Art of Photography: A Personal Approach to Artistic Expression

Teaches you how to express yourself through photography
New dedicated chapters on digital photography
A beneficial read for anyone interested in the visual arts

Best for History

Photography: A Cultural History (4th Edition)

Helps you see history through the lens of a camera
Explores the cultural impact of the camera
An interesting read for any history buff

Best for Theory

On Photography

A timeless classic that still holds up
Helps you understand how context can change a photo's meaning
It'll take your image-making in a new direction

1. Read This If You Want to Take Great Photographs

Subtitle	Subtitle N/A
Author(s)	Author(s) Henry Carroll
Number of Pages	Number of Pages 128
Best For	Best For Beginners

Are you looking for the best photography how-to books for beginners? Read This If You Want to Take Great Photographs is worth checking out. It has practical guides, easy-to-read text, and simple, playful language. It’s easy for a beginner to follow!

This book offers an excellent foundation for improving as a photographer. It puts beginners on the fast track to better photography results. And even experienced photographers will find useful information.

The book’s title might be in-your-face, but it’s not wrong. It also includes tips from 50 famous photographers!

2. The Digital Photography Book

Subtitle	Subtitle The Step-by-step Secrets for How to Make Your Photos Look Like Pros'
Author(s)	Author(s) Scott Kelby
Number of Pages	Number of Pages 272
Best For	Best For Absolute beginners through to enthusiasts looking for a refresh

The Digital Photography Book is the number-one, best-selling digital photography book. It has been translated into dozens of languages. And it remains one of the most comprehensive photography books available.

This book contains everything you need to get into photography. There are chapters on portrait photography. You can learn how to use a flash for pro results. It even gives you a head start on wedding and sports photography.

Scott Kelby’s award-winning book is a great companion. You will take it from your shelf again and again to reread it. It’s essential reading for anyone serious about picking up a digital camera.

3. Complete Digital Photography

Subtitle	Subtitle 9th Edition
Author(s)	Author(s) Ben Long
Number of Pages	Number of Pages 416
Best For	Best For Anyone interested in digital photography

If you like to explore the fine details of the craft, then Complete Digital Photography is for you. Written by photographer Ben Long, it teaches you all the basics of photography. It has everything from the mechanics of a camera to post-processing.

It covers both the technical aspects and the art of taking photos. With the level of detail and the number of topics this book covers, you won’t even need Google!

Ben Long’s book gives beginners a thorough introduction to digital photography. But it’s such a rich resource, so all digital photographers should take a look. There’s so much to learn in these pages.

4. Learning to See

Subtitle	Subtitle A Photographer's Guide From Zero to Your First Paid Gigs
Author(s)	Author(s) David Molnar
Number of Pages	Number of Pages 256
Best For	Best For Beginners and enthusiasts looking to become professionals

Learning to See is for you if you want insider information from a seasoned professional. David Molnar is a professional at the top of the photography industry. His client list includes Pepsi, Sony, and Google. His photos have appeared in People Magazine and the New York Times.

Molnar takes you through the basics of photography. You learn how to use your camera and a range of photography techniques. But it’s all geared around making photography a career. It’s serious stuff. But it’s easy to follow and understandable for photographers at any level.

Buying this book is an investment in your photography career, and you will see a positive return. Expert advice doesn’t get much more expert than this.

5. Langford's Basic Photography

Subtitle	Subtitle The Guide for Serious Photographers
Author(s)	Author(s) Michael Langford
Number of Pages	Number of Pages 568
Best For	Best For Beginners and anyone looking to advance their skills

Langford’s Basic Photography is for people who want to pursue photography as a career. Some might find it academic. But it’s one of the most comprehensive photography books for beginners.

This publication is valuable because it helps you choose the best camera and lens for your work. It even offers useful suggestions about the equipment you need for great lighting. Of course, it teaches you skills such as framing and measuring exposure.

Apart from the technical aspects, it also teaches you how to edit and organize your images, print, finish, and present them. This is one of the best books on photography to help you jump-start your professional work.

6. National Geographic Photo Basics

Subtitle	Subtitle The Ultimate Beginner's Guide to Great Photography
Author(s)	Author(s) Joel Sartore, Heather Perry
Number of Pages	Number of Pages 256
Best For	Best For Beginners and young photographers

National Geographic magazine has been a source of inspiration for photographers for decades. Flip through the pages of any edition, and you’ll be itching to pick up your camera. But if you’re a beginner, you might not know how to achieve the best results.

National Geographic Photo Basics inspires with its stunning photographs. It teaches you photography basics so you can create images that are just as breathtaking. You don’t even need a camera to read this book. The early chapters help you choose a camera that’s right for you.

They then take you through the early stages of photography. It’s a fast track to competency with your camera. And it puts you on a path to creating glorious images like those in the book.

7. LIFE Guide to Digital Photography

Subtitle	Subtitle Everything You Need to Shoot Like the Pros
Author(s)	Author(s) Joe McNally
Number of Pages	Number of Pages 256
Best For	Best For Beginners and Enthusiasts

Learn from one of the best photo books about photography on the market. The subtitle of the LIFE Guide to Digital Photography—Everything You Need to Shoot Like the Pros—pretty much sums it up.

Joe explains how to take advantage of your camera’s strengths. He also helps you understand when it is wise to outthink your camera and push it to its limits.

What I found useful was the short caption under each photo. It shows you the camera settings it took to create each image. Knowing which settings he uses to recreate breathtaking photos is always beneficial.

8. Understanding Exposure 4th Edition

Subtitle	Subtitle How to Shoot Great Photographs with Any Camera
Author(s)	Author(s) Bryan Peterson
Number of Pages	Number of Pages 176
Best For	Best For Beginners who want to know more about the fundamentals

With more than 350,000 copies sold, Understanding Exposure 4th Edition is one of the most popular books in photography. It demystifies the complex concepts of exposure for countless photographers.

This photography book maintains Bryan Peterson’s trademark easy-to-understand style. Its best section includes how to achieve successful exposures in challenging situations. This photography book also provides information about white balance, flash, and HDR photography.

Sure, these topics may seem a bit advanced. But Peterson makes it all easy to understand. You can always take this with you for better photos anytime, anywhere, and with any camera.

9. The Art of Photography

Subtitle	Subtitle A Personal Approach to Artistic Expression
Author(s)	Author(s) Bruce Barnbaum
Number of Pages	Number of Pages 408
Best For	Best For Photographers at all levels and other creative artists

Bruce Barnbaum’s The Art of Photography was originally published in 1994 and was first revised in 2010. The 2017 edition has dedicated chapters on digital photography.

It represents and explores the more artistic and conceptual sides of photography. And it helps you develop your artistic voice as a photographer. It features 200 color and black-and-white photos accompanied by easily readable text.

Anyone interested in the visual arts should read this book. It is beneficial to graphic designers, cinematographers, and even painters.

10. Photography

Subtitle	Subtitle A Cultural History (4th Edition)
Author(s)	Author(s) Mary Warner Marien
Number of Pages	Number of Pages 352
Best For	Best For Photographers at all levels, history fans

Marien’s Photography is a fascinating account of how photography has altered our perception of the world. She shows us history through the lens of a camera. It’s a gripping account. And the illustrations are spectacular!

This book is easy to understand as you don’t need any technical knowledge. And it’s not just for photographers. Any history buff will be gripped and excited by this photography book.

It aims to educate and inform us about photography. It gives information about photography and photographers within their historical and cultural contexts.

11. On Photography

Subtitle	Subtitle N/A
Author(s)	Author(s) Susan Sontag
Number of Pages	Number of Pages 224
Best For	Best For Anyone interested in photography

Susan Sontag’s On Photography was first published in 1977. It is one of the most-read books about photography. And it remains an evergreen book for photographers. On Photography contains essays about the changing meaning of photography and photographs.

She examines the role photography plays in different circumstances. Most importantly, she looks at photography’s impact on us and the world. This book is for anyone interested in image-making.

It’s a seminal piece of work everyone should read. It’s eye-opening, educational, and inspiring.

Best Books on Composition and Technique

Once you know what you’re doing, the next step is to hone those skills. The secret is to learn what makes photos great. You then make a goal to replicate that in your photos.

I’ve learned a lot from the books on this list. What these publications teach can be a lot of information to take in at once. But when you master the techniques, your photos will improve dramatically!

Our Top Choice

Extraordinary Everyday Photography: Awaken Your Vision to Create Stunning Images Wherever You Are

A great book for photographers of all levels
Teaches you how to create dynamic pictures everywhere
The techniques can be used with any camera including smartphones

Best for Landscape Photographers

The Landscape Photography Book: The Step-by-step Techniques You Need to Capture Breathtaking Landscape Photos Like the Pros

Expert advice from a master of landscape photography
Useful for landscape photographers at all skill levels
A blend of technical and conceptual advice for better landscapes

Best for Photography on Location

Unconventional Photography: Mastering the Art of Location

Helps you achieve the best results in any location
Tells you how to achieve studio results when working on location
A great book for portrait, fashion, and product photographers

Best for Portrait Photgraphers

One Face 50 Ways: The Portrait Photography Idea Book

Chock full of portrait inspiration
Broadens your mind for more creative portraiture
Portrait, fashion, and even boudoir photographers will learn a lot

Best for Concepts

The Photographer’s Eye Remastered

Packed with practical and conceptual advice
Helps sharpen your vision as a photographer
Easy-to-follow writing style

Best for Composition

Unlock Your Creative Potential: Digital Photography

Improves your composition with eye-opening ideas
Helps you find your visual voice
Gives tips on avoiding photography clichés

Best for Editorial Photography

Unlock the Secrets of Photography: Tips from a Pro

Full of McNally's iconic photography work
True expert advice from an industry insider
Practical advice that's explained well and easy to read

Best for Black and White Photography

Mastering Black & White Digital Photography

Ideal for black and white photo enthusiasts
Breaks down the key elements of B&W photography
Excellent bold and dynamic photography examples

1. Extraordinary Everyday Photography

Subtitle	Subtitle Awaken Your Vision to Create Stunning Images Wherever You Are
Author(s)	Author(s) Brenda Tharp, Jed Manwaring
Number of Pages	Number of Pages 160
Best For	Best For All creative photographers

Photography is not just taking pictures of staged portraits and exotic travel destinations. Photography is looking at simple things with a new perspective.

Extraordinary Everyday Photography teaches you to capture the unexpected in the mundane. It can be your local park or the street where you live.

Rather than teach photography techniques, the photo book inspires photographers. It includes examples from DSLRs and smartphone cameras. It shows that good photography doesn’t depend on gear or location. Instead, it depends on the photographer’s eye.

2. The Landscape Photography Book

Subtitle	Subtitle The Step-by-step Techniques You Need to Capture Breathtaking Landscape Photos
Author(s)	Author(s) Scott Kelby
Number of Pages	Number of Pages 208
Best For	Best For Landscape photographers

Here’s another book by award-winning photographer and author Scott Kelby. It’s a must-read if you’re interested in landscape photography or plan to start shooting landscapes.

But you don’t have to be a beginner to find new ideas and tips in The Landscape Photography Book. You’ll learn new skills, improve your composition, and sharpen your vision.

3. Studio Anywhere

Subtitle	Subtitle A Photographer's Guide to Shooting in Unconventional Locations
Author(s)	Author(s) Nick Fancher
Number of Pages	Number of Pages 241
Best For	Best For Portrait, fashion, product, and commercial photographers

Finding an excellent spot to shoot can often be overwhelming. Studio Anywhere is a must-read for photographers who are unlucky in picking the perfect location. Nick shows us how to use any less-than-ideal location and still get amazing portraits.

He offers practical tips for creating a portfolio without a dedicated studio space. This book is perfect for anyone who needs help conceptualizing shoots with minimal equipment.

4. One Face Fifty Ways

Subtitle	Subtitle The Portrait Idea Book
Author(s)	Author(s) Imogen Dyer, Mark Wilkinson
Number of Pages	Number of Pages 160
Best For	Best For Portrait, fashion, and product photographers

This fabulous photography book explores the art of portraiture. It shows how to take 50 different types of shots of the same model, and it’s a practical guide that uses simple camera techniques.

But do you know what makes One Face Fifty Ways even more valuable? It uses budget-friendly items from your wardrobe to create a wide variety of shots.

5. The Photographer's Eye Remastered

Subtitle	Subtitle Composition and Design for Better Digital Photos
Author(s)	Author(s) Michael Freeman
Number of Pages	Number of Pages 192
Best For	Best For All photographers

Michael Freeman is on this list twice—and for good reason. I love the way he writes.

Design is the most critical factor in creating a successful photograph. It helps your ability to see the potential for a strong picture. You then organize the graphic elements into a productive and compelling composition.

The Photographer’s Eye Remastered is a must-read photography book for beginners. It trains you to develop your visual style early on, and it’s unique compared to the other publications on this list.

6. The Photographer's Mind

Subtitle	Subtitle Creative Thinking for Better Digital Photos
Author(s)	Author(s) Michael Freeman
Number of Pages	Number of Pages 194
Best For	Best For All photographers

The nature of photography includes the demand to intrigue the viewer continually. So this book aims to answer the question, “What makes a photograph great?” It explores how top photographers achieve this goal time and time again.

The Photographer’s Mind provides invaluable knowledge you can’t learn from practical guides. For instance, it helps you avoid clichés on the cyclical nature of fashion, style, mannerisms, and light. It even shows you how to handle the unexpected.

7. The Moment it Clicks

Subtitle	Subtitle Photography Secrets from One of the World's Top Shooters
Author(s)	Author(s) Joe McNally
Number of Pages	Number of Pages 256
Best For	Best For Portrait, fashion, product, and fine art photographers

The Moment it Clicks illustrates Joe McNally’s different techniques throughout his career. I’m sure you’ll recognize many of his photos from magazine covers. You gain insight into how each shot was taken, including his equipment.

You also gain useful knowledge about the challenges of each type of project. This photography book is excellent for setting up a similar shot.

8. Creative Black and White

Subtitle	Subtitle Digital Photography Tips and Techniques
Author(s)	Author(s) Harold Davis
Number of Pages	Number of Pages 320
Best For	Best For Artistic photographers interesting in black and white photography

Creative Black and White is one of the best black-and-white photography books ever published. Black-and-white photography poses unique challenges. It makes the point that contrast, lighting, and composition are crucial without color.

Renowned photographer Harold Davis explains these elements in this book. He demonstrates the basic rules of black-and-white photography and shows you when and how to break them.

Best Books on Photography Lighting

Lighting is an intrinsic component of photography. Mastering it can take years, and it’s more complex than understanding other aspects, like exposure settings. But you can always speed up this process by learning from the pros.

Amateurs rarely achieve great lighting. But learning techniques from these great photography books is the best way to improve. You’ll have professional illumination in no time!

Our Top Choice

Mastering Canon Speedlites: Crafting Light with Ease

Best book on working with flashes for Canon users
Fantastic tips and techniques for using flash lights for different effects
Useful for any photographer, not just Canon users

Highly Recommended

Hot Shoe Diaries: Big Light from Small Flashes

Joe's experience inspires and educates
Tells you how to use flashes for maximum effect
Great tips for different low-light conditions

Best for Dynamic Lighting

Studio Anywhere 2: Hard Light Mastery

Techniques for maximizing natural light
DIY tips for getting the most out of your gear
Helps you master a variety of lighting techniques for dramatic photos

1. Speedliter's Handbook

Subtitle	Subtitle Learning to Craft Light with Canon Speedlites
Author(s)	Author(s) Syl Arena
Number of Pages	Number of Pages 391
Best For	Best For Flash Photography with Canon cameras

Speedliter’s Handbook is mainly for Canon camera users, but it is still useful for people who use other cameras. Most of the information can be used with other camera brands.

This is an excellent book for those new to flash photography. Using clear language, this book is also ideal for anyone who has given up learning out of frustration.

Arena teaches you everything from creating a classical portrait to shooting an event. Whatever it is, this photography book will show you how.

2. Hot Shoe Diaries

Subtitle	Subtitle Big Light from Small Flashes
Author(s)	Author(s) Joe McNally
Number of Pages	Number of Pages 303
Best For	Best For Anyone interested in flash or low-light photography

Joe shares his lighting solutions for many beautiful images in Hot Shoe Diaries. Joe’s photographs are quite inspirational. He uses a flash every time he shoots his subjects.

Using Nikon speedlights, Joe lets you in on his uncensored thought process. He demonstrates how he makes his pictures with these small flashes.

3. Studio Anywhere 2: Hard Light

Subtitle	Subtitle A Photographer's Guide to Shaping Hard Light
Author(s)	Author(s) Nick Fancher
Number of Pages	Number of Pages 224
Best For	Best For Fashion, portrait, and commercial photographers

Nick Fancher’s second entry on our list—Studio Anywhere 2: Hard Light—teaches you how to master light. He gives tips and techniques on maximizing and controlling natural light. And he goes deep into using artificial light, like flashes.

He provides experienced information about lighting equipment and some handy DIY tips for getting the most out of what you have. He shows you how to shape, bounce, and manipulate light in any location. You’ll be a light master before you get to the final page!

Best Niche Photography Books

Lots of publications focus too much on the most popular genres in photography. But what if you’re into a specific style, such as food or still-life photography? Are there any options for you out there? The answer is yes, and there are a lot of them!

For this section, we are only covering five. But even if you don’t practice the niche topics on this list, you should still consider reading them. Who knows? You might end up liking them! Or, if anything, you might learn a thing or two that you can apply to your work.

Best for Travel Photography

Mastering Travel Photography: 55 Pro Tips

Well-structured and highly consumable information
Each principle is explained and illustrated well
Opens your eyes to new aspects in travel photography

Best for Fine Art Photography

Still Life in Photography

Helps you construct stronger and more dynamic images
Brilliant tips for improving composition
Illustrations include work from photography masters

Best for Film Photography

Discovering the Art of Film Photography

Teaches you about 35mm, medium format, and large format photography
Explains everything you need to know from loading film to printing in a dark room
Fantastic techniques that use digital technology to enhance your film photography

Best for Influencers and Social Media

Create Your Brand: Master Instagram Photos

The authority on building a social media brand
Teaches you how to take pictures for social media formats
Timeless advice for ever-changing tech platforms

1. The Enthusiast's Guide to Travel Photography

Subtitle	Subtitle 55 Photographic Principles You Need to Know
Author(s)	Author(s) Jordana Wright
Number of Pages	Number of Pages 232
Best For	Best For Travel photographers and photojournalists

The Enthusiast’s Guide to Travel Photography is the best book to pick up before your next backpacking trip. Travel photography is perhaps one of the most challenging genres in photography.

A travel photographer must know how to photograph several niches, such as food and wildlife. This book provides all the photo knowledge you need to travel the globe.

Of course, it includes the usual lessons on architecture and urban photography. But it also includes tips on taking portraits of strangers and nighttime landscapes.

2. Still Life in Photography

Subtitle	Subtitle N/A
Author(s)	Author(s) Paul Martineau
Number of Pages	Number of Pages 112
Best For	Best For Creative and artistic photographers

Still Life in Photography isn’t necessarily a collection of tutorials. Instead, it’s a compendium of the works of some of the best still-life photographers.

The photos come from the J Paul Getty Museum, so the collection feels limited. But regardless, the samples you see are enough to inspire you to create your own masterpieces.

Photographers in this book include Edward Weston, Irving Penn, and Roger Fenton. They’re big names with incredible work that will get your attention!

3. The Film Photography Handbook

Subtitle	Subtitle Rediscovering Photography in 35mm, Medium Format, and Large Format
Author(s)	Author(s) Chris Marquardt, Monika Andrae
Number of Pages	Number of Pages 282
Best For	Best For Anyone interested in film photography

Film photography is back in fashion. Whether you’re a film photography veteran or a beginner, you need The Film Photography Handbook. This is the ultimate handbook for film photography. It has all the necessary information, from loading film to printing photos.

What makes this invaluable is that it includes digital technology in the mix. Where else can you find a book that shows you how to digitize your film? It even shows you how to use your smartphone as a light meter!

4. Capture Your Style

Subtitle	Subtitle Transform Your Instagram Photos, Showcase Your Life, and Build the Ultimate Platform
Author(s)	Author(s) Aimee Song
Number of Pages	Number of Pages 208
Best For	Best For Influencers and social media creators

Instagram evolves so fast that any book written about it could be useless by now. But social media star Aimee Song’s Capture Your Style is an outlier.

The book was published in 2016 to massive fanfare. Years later, it remains one of the authoritative books on Instagram and influencer photography. Song teaches you the basics of taking pictures for Instagram and shows you how to gain followers and become Instagram-famous.

Sure, there are tons of new features on Instagram that you can’t find in this older book. But the main tenets of social media photography are still there and will remain for years. Because, in the end, taking click-worthy photos will never be out of fashion.

Best Collection and Compilation Books

You can learn a lot by looking at other people’s photos. It’s what makes these books on photography as crucial as regular textbooks.

But it was hard to choose one photographer over another for this list. I felt I had to disregard 100 photographers for each one I included.

The photographers below are perhaps some of my ultimate idols in photography. But they are by no means the only ones I look up to.

Our Top Choice

Decade Book

A brilliant visual history of a momentous decade
Beautifully printed and well-written accounts
A must-have for fans of modern history

Best Historical Viewpoint

Robert Frank: In America

A fantastic collection from an icon of American photography
Printed well with crisp and clear photographs
A personal view into 1950s America

Best for Wildlife and Nature

National Geographic Image Collection

Breathtaking wildlife and natural photographs
Includes classic images from early NGO publications
Documents the lengths the photographers took to achieve these incredible photos

Best Traditional Collection

Examples: The Making of 40 Photographs

A behind-the-lens account from a pioneer of photography
Illustrated with incredible black and white images
A personal account that helps you improve your own photography skills

Best Cultural History Collection

70 Years of Iconic Photography: Platinum Anniv.

Includes hundreds of iconic images from the pages of LIFE
Features work from the finest photographers of the last century
A true expression of cultural history any history buff can enjoy

Best for Photojournalism

Robert Capa: Photographs

Contains some of Capa's most memorable war images
Demonstrates Capa's versatility as a photographer
Shows the basis for modern photojournalism

1. Decade

Subtitle	Subtitle N/A
Author(s)	Author(s) Aemmon McCabe, Terrence McNamee
Number of Pages	Number of Pages 512
Best For	Best For History buffs and photojournalism fans

Decade was a birthday present from a past birthday, and I’ve picked it up daily since then. It’s easy to understand why this is one of the best photo books.

It’s a collection of famous photos of memorable events between 2000 and 2010. Each image has a brief description that serves as a history lesson.

It jogs your memory and reminds you what a momentous decade it was. It’s a good source of inspiration. But it’s also a great coffee table book or conversation piece.

2. Robert Frank

Subtitle	Subtitle In America
Author(s)	Author(s) Robert Frank
Number of Pages	Number of Pages 196
Best For	Best For Documentary photography and history fans

Robert Frank is a fantastic collection of photos from the seminal photographer. He was a central figure who documented the United States in the 1950s.

He also created some of the most iconic images from that era. Frank’s cultural documentation is invaluable for anyone interested in that period.

It is hard to believe his photos came from one photographer’s viewfinder. It covers racial tension, glamor, and Americans’ love for cars. The latter might be because Frank himself had a fondness for the road.

He shows a cultural history with a human touch. This book is a great reminder of America’s past through fantastic images. This famous photographer’s inspirational work deserves to be on your bookshelf.

3. National Geographic Image Collection

Subtitle	Subtitle N/A
Author(s)	Author(s) Leah Bendavid-Val
Number of Pages	Number of Pages 512
Best For	Best For Travel, landscape, wildlife, nature, and documentary photographers

Behind this title lies one of the most compelling graphic resources on Earth. I present The National Geographic Image Collection.

It’s an archive that includes a wide range of images from the earliest photos from the late 19th century to modern ones taken today. It includes iconic and never-before-seen images from around the world.

Of course, we already know that this book represents thousands of species. But it also showcases terrific human achievements in exploration, adventure, and science. They are placed in a historical, artistic, technical, and journalistic context.

If you’re into portraits, look at National Geographic’s book of portraits.

4. Examples

Subtitle	Subtitle The Making of 40 Photographs
Author(s)	Author(s) Ansel Adams
Number of Pages	Number of Pages 180
Best For	Best For Landscape and film photographers, and anyone interested in traditional photography

Examples has some of the best black-and-white photography I’ve ever seen. Each of Adams’ 40 photographs presented here accompanies an engaging narrative. The text explores the technical and aesthetic problems of each scene he photographed.

For famous photographers, Ansel Adams is at the top of the list. So grab a copy to understand what makes this one of the best photography books.

5. LIFE 70 Years of Extraordinary Photography

Subtitle	Subtitle The Platinum Anniversary Collection
Author(s)	Author(s) Editors of LIFE
Number of Pages	Number of Pages 304
Best For	Best For All photographers and history fans

LIFE 70 Years of Extraordinary Photography is one of the best photography books, with over 70 years of great images. And they all come from one of the most influential magazines of the 20th century—LIFE.

This book is like Decade and National Geographic Image Collection. LIFE 70 Years of Extraordinary Photography presents history in photos. It highlights the most famous and beautiful pictures from the magazine’s history. It has some of the best photography you will ever see.

6. Robert Capa

Subtitle	Subtitle Photographs
Author(s)	Author(s) Robert Capa
Number of Pages	Number of Pages 192
Best For	Best For Photojournalists, documentary photographers, and history fans

Robert Capa is the father of modern photojournalism. He was fearless, brave, and had a fantastic eye for a photo. He is most well-known for his war reportage, snapping violence in the Spanish Civil War and World War II.

His shots remain some of the most famous examples of wartime. But he was more than just a war photographer. This collection shows the true breadth of his photography work.

His documentary work is powerful and poignant. You also find intimate and engaging portraits.

Capa was a true photography talent. And his photographs are still as striking as ever.

Best Post-Processing Photography Books

When you’ve been out taking photos all day, there are always going to be a few that need extra work. If you’re shooting in RAW, there will be a lot. So below are the best books on the three most popular post-processing software.

Our Top Choice

Adobe Lightroom Classic CC: The Photog’s Guide

A must-have for anyone using Adobe Lightroom
Written by one of the world's leading photographers and editors
The plain-English style makes it accessible for all users

Best for Elements Beginners

Mastering Adobe Photoshop Elements 2022

The most comprehensive book on Photoshop Elements
Handy practical tips for getting setup and organizing work
Detailed and thorough but understandable throughout

Best for Photoshop Beginners

Adobe Photoshop Classroom in a Book

The official Adobe workbook
Takes you through the basics to more advanced editing techniques
Valuable for anyone in the creative industries
The language is accessible for everyone from beginners to experienced editors

1. The Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic CC Book for Digital Photographers

Subtitle	Subtitle (Voices That Matter)
Author(s)	Author(s) Scott Kelby
Number of Pages	Number of Pages 504
Best For	Best For All digital photographers

As mentioned, Scott Kelby is an American photographer and the author of many books. He is an avid user and educator of Adobe Photoshop Lightroom.

He did his biggest update with The Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic CC Book for Digital Photographers. He shares all his latest techniques, insights, and invaluable tips for Lightroom.

His award-winning, step-by-step, plain English style makes learning Lightroom easy and fun. He shares his settings and time-tested techniques. This book consists of proven methods for learning Lightroom. You can begin using it like a pro from the start.

2. Mastering Adobe Photoshop Elements 2022

Subtitle	Subtitle Boost Your Image-editing Skills Using the Lastest Adobe Tools and Techniques
Author(s)	Author(s) Robin Nichols
Number of Pages	Number of Pages 420
Best For	Best For All Adobe users

Mastering Adobe Photoshop Elements 2022 is the book for using Adobe Photoshop Elements for photo editing. It’s thorough, detailed, and extremely well-written.

Any photographer can breeze through the pages and learn as they go. It’s a great way for beginners to get a head start on photo editing with Photoshop Elements.

Nicolas provides useful tips and techniques for managing your setup and organizing your library. But he doesn’t only focus on editing. He also helps you develop your visual style.

Adobe software can seem daunting for photographers new to photo editing. But this book is understandable and practical. It’s an investment worth making.

3. Adobe Photoshop Classroom in a Book

Subtitle	Subtitle (2020 Realease) 1st Edition
Author(s)	Author(s) Andrew Faulkner, Conrad Chavez
Number of Pages	Number of Pages 416
Best For	Best For All Photoshop users

For beginners, Adobe Photoshop can be stressful and challenging to learn. Post-production software has a very steep learning curve. Thankfully, Andrew Faulkner and Conrad Chavez created Adobe Photoshop Classroom in a Book.

Don’t worry if the title gives you flashbacks from your school days. It’s well-written and easy to understand. It takes you through the basics. And you never feel like you’re being talked down to.

Plus, all the text is accompanied by helpful illustrations. It helps you click in all the right places!

Bonus Book: Your Camera Manual!

Your camera manual contains so much information—not just irrelevant facts specific to your camera. The day I got my first DSLR, I took out the manual and began reading. I must have read it while playing with my camera for two weeks.

It always frustrates me when friends don’t know how to do something on their cameras. That’s the one thing holding them back. They’d be much better photographers if they knew how to work their cameras. So I encourage you to read it.

Conclusion: The Best Photography Books

These days, you can find everything you need about photography online. But nothing compares to flipping the pages and viewing printed pictures. So go ahead and pick up a book. You’ll learn, develop, and find inspiration.

Read This If You Want to Take Great Photographs is our favorite photography book. Any photographer can pick it up and learn something new, and that’s true of all the photography books on our list.

There are hundreds of amazing photography books. But these 35 are the best photography books right now!

Our Top 3 Choices for The Best Photography Books

Read This If You Want to Take Great Photographs

Master Digital Photography: Pro Tips & Tricks

Complete Digital Photography: 9th Edition

Photzy Review: Complete Guide to Long Exposure Photography

Gabor Holtzer — Mon, 10 Feb 2020 18:22:10 +0000

Long exposures can produce wonderful results. But they can also be a disaster. Photzy wants to help you be more successful with your experiments in this field with their Complete Guide to Long Exposure Photography e-book.

So the question is, how complete is the guide and is it worth your money? Well, in this review, we’ll look at this e-book from Photzy and consider its strengths and weaknesses. Finally, we’ll let you know if we think it’s worth buying. So read on to find out!

We Highly Recommend

Photzy's Complete Guide to Long Exposure

Looking for information on long exposure photography? Photzy’s eBook has you covered! With step-by-step instructions and video tutorials, you’ll learn how to capture stunning long exposure shots.

What to Expect from the Photzy eBook

The ‘Long Exposure eBook’ is made up of five main chapters, which are the following:

Equipment
Setting Up The Shot: Technique
Subject Selection and Framing
Long Exposure Photography and Composition
Final Notes, Suggestions, and Techniques

Take a look at its contents in detail here:

It’s not a particularly long ebook, consisting of roughly 100 pages and 20000 words. It comes in the form of a PDF file, which you can open on practically any device. Keep in mind that it’s not dynamically scalable, so I don’t advise viewing it on a smartphone. A tablet or computer is best.

As for its contents, the author declares at the very beginning that this ebook only covers daytime long exposure photography. However, there’s no mention of this on the sales website or else. I was surprised, as the full title says ‘Complete Guide’. This can’t be true if the book misses out on nighttime or other long exposures.

The actual content is pretty well organised. A large part of the book is occupied by technical advice. Its other core element is how composition rules change when shooting long exposures.

At the end of each chapter, you’ll find self-check quizzes, reflecting on the key content of the respective chapter.

There are also parts marked as ‘Key Lessons’. These are what the author considers to be the most important takeaways.

You can get this guide for $17 at the time of writing. It’s a discounted price from $40.

Who Is the Author?

The author of the ‘Long Exposure eBook’ is Kent DuFault, a photographer from Minnesota, US. He is Director of Content at Photzy and most of their products are written by him.

I have previously reviewed one of his works, ‘Advanced Composition’. His style is entertaining but too wordy (at least for my taste).

What Is the Sales Page Like?

When we’re talking about expectations for ‘Long Exposure eBook’, I have to mention the sales website. I find it a bit misleading. And here’s why.

At the very top of the page, there is a photo, which is a stock image. And it’s not featured in the book. In my opinion, a photography firm should market their product with their own image.

Scrolling down, the next image we encounter is a beautiful shot of a sunset on a rocky shore. The page says “You can do this… and it’s not as hard as you might believe”.

Sadly, this image is also not the author’s own. And, just like the previous one, you can’t find it in the ebook itself.

Consequently, the ebook doesn’t teach you how to recreate it. This photo uses several techniques (such as focus stacking, potentially light painting, HDR, and sky replacement) that you won’t find in the ‘Long Exposure eBook’.

As we continue reading, there is a story of how the author dazzled a friend of his by a long exposure photo. Clearly, the text indicates that this photo is his original creation.

Unfortunately, my research proves the contrary. I went through the author’s publically available portfolios and I couldn’t find it. However, a quick image search on Google revealed the original.

Despite the (made-up?) story, this photo doesn’t belong to the author. Instead, it’s a stock image by Dave Hostad, a photographer from the UK.

What I Liked

Composition Parts

Kent is great in showing different perspectives and options for composing an image. This has already become clear in his other ebook ‘Advanced Composition’.

His skill for composition is prevalent here, too. The ‘Long Exposure eBook’ teaches you the key skills to analyse a composition, both on the spot and in post-processing.

Setting Up The Shot

I find the sections detailing the preparation and setup steps for long exposure photography quite informative.

They show you precisely what you should do and how. Apart from minor issues, they form a strong part of the ebook. Although they don’t make you a better photographer instantly, they’re practical advice.

Kent is cautious and precise about the problems you might encounter before and during your shoot.

Areas To Improve

Now let’s see in what aspect the ‘Long Exposure eBook’ missed the point.

The Graphics

A key problem which I’ve already mentioned in my review of ‘Advanced Composition’ is the sketchiness of the graphics. In my opinion, they look quite confusing and lack professional design.

This issue is even more prevalent in the ‘Long Exposure eBook’, with the addition of text elements on images.

With a bit of time (and maybe the help of a visual designer), they could have been redesigned. This would have enhanced the overall feel of the ebook.

A representative example of the graphics featured in the book

The Photographs

In ‘Advanced Composition’, I’ve noticed that most of the photos displayed are stock photos. This, however, is not the case in the ‘Long Exposure eBook’. Here, I couldn’t find a single one of them, only on the sales page.

But this creates a problem on its own: a lot of the images look amateurish, and are not illustrative. This is certainly not a judgement on Kent’s entire portfolio – his work in many other fields is respectable and professional.

I believe that more effort should have gone into creating the imagery for this product. Not only is it not inspiring, but it also doesn’t match the standards many creators on the internet offer for free.

Style, Formatting, and Writing

Although the ebook is about 20000 words long, it could be easily shortened by leaving out parts that don’t add information or value. Some of them do add to the entertainment factor – but some don’t.

For instance, there are sections that closely resemble the tone of the sales page, trying to convince me that my purchase was worthwhile.

There are pages that could be better expressed in a fewer number of sentences, such as the one below.

A page towards the middle of the ebook

Key Lessons and Quizzes

Although most of them are informative, some of the ‘Key Lessons’ seem to be rushed. Take a look at the one below. It’s split between two pages, and it’s almost longer than the actual chapter.

Some of the ‘Self-Check Quizzes’ feel quite arbitrary. Take a glance again at the image above.

No. 5, for instance, really depends on the photographer. What’s difficult to the author might not be difficult for someone else, and vice versa.

The questions are not answered in the book explicitly. The right answers (in most cases) are clear from the surrounding text. You have to go back and search for them manually if you’re unsure about the solutions.

Wrong Advice

I’ve found several instances where the author gives bad advice. These are (probably) based on his experience – but should not be deemed as general guidance.

For example, he emphasizes that he couldn’t get a stable shot using lenses longer than 100mm. This is not generally true, it’s rather a question of equipment and weather. On calmer days, I’ve been able to get crisp images with a 400mm f/2.8 lens – at 20 seconds.

There’s a suggestion to use 4lbs weights to stabilize the camera on the tripod. One of them is shown weighing down the lens. I strongly disapprove of this. It could damage your lens, especially if it has a weaker construction.

Such problems can be found throughout the book, I’ve just highlighted a few.

Wrong Information

There are parts which are wrong in technical terms. Let me point out one of them. I’ve picked this one because it’s marked as ‘Key Lesson’. In this particular instance, it might even damage your equipment.

Why is it wrong? Internal focusing and zoom are two independent things. Non-internal focus doesn’t mean that the front is rotating.

Gaffer-taping the extended barrel is not a good idea. It can leave some glue behind, making focusing problematic, or even stuck in the extreme case.

Is There a Good Alternative?

I have recently reviewed ‘The Photography Tutorial eBook’ by Richard Schneider of PictureCorrect.

While it doesn’t concentrate on long exposures only, it’s definitely a viable alternative. It gives a broader perspective of various long exposure techniques, along with uncomparably better images and writing.

It’s slightly more expensive, but the difference is worth it multiple times. Check out the ebook and my review of it.

Conclusion

For the first time on our site, I have to completely advise against purchasing a product.

The ‘Long Exposure eBook’ is marketed as a complete, expert, exclusive, and premium guide.

In my opinion, it’s neither of those. It feels rushed, unfinished, and amateurish. It doesn’t deliver what it promises. Apart from some good technical advice, it only causes further confusion.

I very much missed the inclusion of nighttime and other types of long exposure techniques. Also, some of Photzy’s marketing efforts raise questions and might mislead their potential customers.

If you’re still interested, check out the ‘Long Exposure eBook’ here.

Scores

To standardise and compare our product reviews, we’ve decided to use a scored-based ranking system. To learn more about interpreting these numbers and how other courses measure, please visit our review roundup page here.

Measurement	Measurement Score
Coverage	Coverage
Accuracy	Accuracy
Ease of Learning	Ease of Learning
Production Value	Production Value
Uniqueness	Uniqueness
Value for Money	Value for Money
Total Score	Total Score

Complete Guide to Long Exposure by Photzy

A good place to start for long exposure photography. But there are some info holes and unexplored areas, so it’s not the complete package.