If you're a photographer, you know very well how hard it is to find your spot and achieve any type of success. Anything you can find to help you out on your journey is extremely useful, whether it's an inspiring book, an app, or even just a piece of advice.
The industry is highly competitive, and pretty much everyone who owns a decent camera can become your competitor. On the other side, it's not easy to monetize your work and earn a good living unless you're a top player.
That's why we wanted to do some research on this topic, and all of our findings will be available below. In the first part of this article, we will analyze high-quality books you could read to improve the quality of your work. In the second part, we will analyze online resources.
1. The Digital Photography Book by Scott Kelby
This book is extremely well-written and easy to understand. It might take you some time to adjust to this type of writing because there are many jokes in it, and the writer is basically writing the way he thinks. He puts down on paper whatever comes to his mind.
This, in turn, makes it easy for a reader to establish a friendly connection with the book and to digest the content with ease. There are so many great reviews about the quality of the book, and people are very satisfied with the impact it had on their photographs. It's a must-read!
Important tip: Make sure to read both volume 1 and volume 2.
The Digital Photography Book 1, 2 & 3
2. The Photographer's Eye: Composition and Design for Better Digital Photos by Michael Freeman
Everyone has the ability to notice something beautiful, whether it's a natural phenomenon, building, or person. What separates professional photographers from amateurs is the ability to recognize the potential for a great picture while having a strong sense of how to connect all the elements into one professionally designed composition.
In essence, this book will restructure your eye and your brain to expand your focus from the first moment you notice the potential for a good shot all the way to the final composition.
The Photographer's Eye
3. Light: Science and Magic: An Introduction to Photographic Lighting by Fil Hunter, Steven Biver, Paul Fuqua
The ability to understand the lightning and its effects on your final composition is another quality which separates professionals from amateurs.
The author explains everything that's important to know, starting from diffusion, direct reflection, and polarized reflection, while giving you concrete examples for setups. You'll find everything you need to know about lightning in just over 300 pages.
Once you implement the knowledge from this book, your most important step in taking great shots – the preparation, will be dramatically improved. You'll know even before you take the shot what's needed for your picture to be of great quality.
Light: Science and Magic
4. The Moment It Clicks: Photography Secrets from One of the World's Top Shooters by Joe McNally
The author Joe McNally is one of the best photographers in the world. He has worked for National Geographic, Sports Illustrated, and Time magazine, which gives his work an even higher level of credibility.
As a reader, you get the chance to learn these secrets from an expert who dedicated his professional life to photography. His client portfolio is made up of many of the Fortune 500 companies.
Every lesson in this book starts with a personal experience. The second layer in every story is made from an example; the picture will be there to represent the lesson. In the end, he explains the technique and equipment used to take the shot.
The Moment It Clicks:
5. The Camera by Ansel Adams
With this book, you get the
inside view from an artist on many different techniques which make a great photographer. The work of Ansel Adams is recognizable everywhere, and his teachings are of great value, even for experienced professionals.
It will help you to see the final version of your photo in advance, which makes the preparation process easier. There's also a valuable insight into the technique of choosing the right lens, shutter speed, depth of field, and many other subjects.
If you're using a digital SLR, a good amount of content is outdated, but the technique and knowledge behind his work are still extremely valuable for a better understanding of the whole process and what makes the photo great.
In our second part of this article, we want to focus on
online resources, which will make your journey easier and the learning curve shallow.
The Camera
6. Popular Photography
Popular Photography has its own website and a YouTube channel Photography Pro. They offer high-quality content in many different forms. Their videos are of high quality with highly useful techniques explained in them.
The great part is how it's really easy to follow their tips and the even better part is – everything is free!
7. Digital Photography School
This
online school is not free. You have many different subjects to choose from, ranging from portraits all the way to landscape photography.
These courses are adjusted to different skill levels, so everyone could follow. They are complemented with eBooks to make a full experience. The most famous course they offer is 31 Days to Become a Better Photographer.
8. All About Photo
Their website is made for everyone connected to the
world of photography. Whether you're just starting out your career or you're an experienced professional, or if you're an enthusiast or even a collector, this site is for you.
They are focused on the research of everything related to photography. Their magazine (AAP Magazine) comes out every month, and they even have an annual competition called The Mind's Eye.
It's not only great for learning; it's a good site for earning too!
Conclusion
Nowadays, it's much easier to dive into the world of photography than 20 or 30 years ago. There is a myriad of resources at your disposal, and the best part of all is that you don't have to break the bank to learn these skills: a couple of essential books and affordable online resources can do the trick just fine.
About the Author
Helene Cue is a professional content creator at a top
online essay writer. She's an avid photographer who's always looking for new ways to improve her knowledge and skills.
