Current reading status - aka my photography education continues

The current reading list has rather expanded -- not because I've more books (I've those a plenty plus library holds), but because I seem to be rather A/D/D about what I read right now.


This book is one that I picked up AGES ago as a comprehensive 'teach me' book about digital photography. Ironically, many of the things I had to search around to get answers for ... I had answers for right in here. Lesson 432: use your resources!
However, as I have it, it makes for good review reading and I expect to learn a few more tidbits that I didn't know before. It'll also be a great review for DGrin once I figure out what target market this book is best suited for from my pov. It's not lightweight reading but not too heavyweight either. It's definitely easier since 90% of it is 'review' for me these days. It'd be daunting as a first time newbie read although HIGHLY educational.


I've come to REALLY like Petterson's writing style, so I was willing to give this one a go, although it doesn't talk about Composition as much as I might want it to. I've started it, but not enough in to figure out his definition of 'creative seeing'. But this starts to hit on my current weakness -- composition. I compose naturally, which works most of the time but NOT ALWAYS. I need to make this a more conscious step for a while until I get better at it. Then I can let composition fall into the 'natural' level and let it be what it is. I need those skills to pull out when I'm in a tight spot or just not feeling the photo doing the scene justice.


In that tune, this is the first of Michael Freeman's books. Visually stunning, he appears to be a visual teacher rather than a talker. Petterson is a combination of both -- others I've had are 99% talk (which I rather like). Freeman has a series of other books out there that I want to investigate further, IF I can get enough out of this book to justify the efforts. However, I believe this just might BE the composition book I really need. I'll have to dig in deeper (probably finishing up Petterson's book first) and see what I can uncover beyond the stunning photos.


And this is my current hardcore reading. Hard core enough that i'm underlining and will take notes later once I've processed everything. A HUGELY invaluable book, I only wish I'd come across it sooner. Fortunately I've a few projects on my plate, so I read with those projects in mind and how I can proceed with the necessary (legally required) negotiations.

Toss in the Lensbaby class (more photos later!) and there's plenty to learn this month!

Not everything is worth it, but it's at least less than the cost of a class....

This was the last book I finished, and it ended up better than expected but still a bit .... eh. I'm past the basics.

Now I'm onto something a lot more complex but nearly MORE disappointing:



I'm certain that this is an excellent book. In fact, I know it is. However, it also decides that drowning you in 99% useless information is a good technique, with the tendency to repeat some of the important parts in case it (as very likely did) get lost. The last legal book I read covered all of this very concisely within a chapter and very few new ideas are presented here.

However, should you desire some need to fully understand this area (especially since 90% of it only applies to stock photographers), this is your book. Just don't expect the obvious: no firm opinions, no sample model releases, no guidelines on when to use and not use one.

Rather, the book seeks to educate you so YOU can make those decisions. Wise perhaps, but in the end a rather fruitless pursuit since the reader very likely did NOT pick up the book expecting this sort of educational tactic.

######

okay, rant over.

Beyond this, I HAVE been looking into online courses for photography. More specific stuff (such as a lensbaby class) that I feel I CAN benefit from no matter what. These are surprisingly reasonably priced, although I could put the funds towards a second lensbaby (but why??) or a dozen new photography books (Oooo. but I think I've found all the 'good' ones so far).

So, things to think about. Classes don't 'start' until May 1st so I've some time. Spring time and a lensbaby could be a rather awesome experience :)

Reading on - business books for photographers

Next up, PROFITABLE PHOTOGRAPHY IN THE DIGITAL AGE. I'm hoping this touches on some areas that PRICING PHOTOGRAPHY entirely skipped over (since that was printed in 2003). I'll see and update here with more thoughts once I'm done.

This book *is* by Dan Heller, who has some excellent FAQs and information on his website about business and photography. I haven't read all of it yet, but will do so eventually.

http://danheller.com/bizfaq.html for those not familiar with him.

Down Time is Reading Time

I've been hanging out in San Diego this weekend for people - not for photography. However, the down time (airports, lazy mornings, etc) has been fabulous for getting into more reading.

I finished up 'Pricing Photography' on the airplane and while the entire stock photo portion doesn't apply to me (not yet at least), it was worth the money spent in what I'll make up in the confidence in my own pricing.

Photographers really DO undersell themselves, I see this quite often in posts in dgrin and EPNet, especially from us newbies. If we're willing to do it for free or cheap, why not price it that way.... right? Erg, wrong. It's a hard mindset to break out of (especially when there's such competition in the photography world) but it's one that needs to be bashed about repeatedly. How much do you value your own photography? What are you offering that's unique and different? I have confidence in that, if anything just that I WILL get there even if I'm not totally there right now.

"Understanding Exposure" was next on the list (of those I brought with me) and it is quite perfect for where my brain is at in my own education. I am not learning anything exactly 'new' to me, but it IS putting concrete words and terms and logic to things I half intuitively understood from my own long experience with cameras.

and the girl, she read on...

At least now I can put even MORE of my 'homework' to good use -- writing up reviews for dgrin since I found their book section to be a bit lacking (NO business books, a CS2 book, etc).

And yes, I still consider this to be quite fun and quite the blast.

Go me!