Your Favorite Books?

We are in the process of putting together a list of books as a resource for nature photographers and would like your input. A list of books will be featured on a new permanent reference page on the site.

These would include books on general photography technique, nature photography, digital imaging, PhotoShop and other image editing programs as well as wildlife and nature in general.

If you have something to recommend please share it with us and feel free to elaborate or write a short review on why it is that you like a particular book or books. We may even use some of your comments or reviews on our upcoming reference page (with proper credit of course).

So, what are your favorite books on these subjects, and why?

Thanks in advance!

I'll take the obvious first choice "Birds as Art" written by one of the nicest persons on the planet. As a bonus, contents are outstanding and useful daily.

I second Dan's recommendation. Plus I will add a few myself.

Peterson's field guide to birds, either the Eastern, Western or both.
This is the definitive guide for bird identification bar-none. Petersons system for bird identification makes identification a snap.

Sibley Guide to birds
The most beutiful illustrations for identification work. The bird descriptions always leave me looking for more, that is why I carry the Perterson guides.

Stokes Field Guide to Birds
This guide gives you moch more information about behaviour, and breeding than the two previous ones combined.

Birds by Robert Bateman
This is an incredibly beatiful book of bird illustrations/paintings by what I consider to be the best wildlife painter ever.

I also collect older wildlife books, and I find the early works of Audubon, and Roger Tory Peterson excellent work.

My favorite how-to sort of book would be Seeing the Light by John Fielder. IT is a very detailed book and it has helped me...well..see the light! The photographs are amazing and it covers everthing in nature regarding photography. Equipment, clothing, techniques, etc.

..

For landscape photographers I'd recommend:

Mountain Light by Galen Rowel
Any book by John Shaw: Landscape Photograpy, Nature Photographer's Field Guide, Glose Up in Nature to name a few.

For Landscape Photographers interested in Large Format:
Using the View Camera by Steve Simmons
Large Format Nature Photography by Jack Dykinga

- Dan.

One book that I continually refer to is the National Geographic Photography Field Guide, which includes techncial and artistic information on photography.

As a huge fan of shorebirds, I can recommend Beautiful Beachcombers Shorebirds by Arthur Morris. Not only are the images superb, but the book provides valuable information on finding and identifying these fantastic birds.

Another personal favorite that hasn't been mentioned yet is The World of the Polar Bear, by photographer Norbert Rosing. The book is particularly inspirational because all the images were taken in Churchill, of a variety of subjects (not just bears), and helps me see that there are so many more photographic opportunties than I even realize when at a location.

I like and use the National Audobon Society's Field guide books.
They have helped me a lot. I only have 2 of them, Birds and Mammals, but my Dad has a nice collection of them.

Sometimes simplicity can be best!

My nominee is Bird Photography, Pure and Simple by Arthur Morris.

This booklet packs an entire book into 64 pages. Easy reading and very well done. Only problem is that it needs to be updated as we are now in the digital age!

A few books that have gotten me started as a beginner and are very informative and helpful.

#1- Better picture guide to landscape photography-Michael Busselle
#2-Better picture guide to lowlight photography-David Daye
#3-Understanding exposure-Bryan Peterson
#4-The complete guide to night and low-light photography-Lee Frost

robert..............

Martin Evening's Photoshop for Photographers
National Geographics Photography Field Guide
All of the John Shaw Books
George Lepp's Beyond the Basics (vol 1 and 2)

Freeman Patterson's books
- Photographing the World Around You
- Photography of Natural Things
- Photography and the Art of Seeing

Some excellent books already mentioned above. From the "not yet mentioned" category (not all are nature books):

The Art of Photographing Nature by Art Wolfe and Martha Hill (excellent for learning critiquing skills as well as photography skills)

The Art of Outdoor Photography: Techniques for the Advanced Amateur and Professional by Boyd Norton (good all-around nature photography primer, like a John Shaw book)

Learning to See Creatively by Bryan Peterson (Peterson is one of the most creative 35mm photographers out there, and the book is inspiring)

The Art of Seeing: A Creative Approach to Photography by Derek Doeffinger (another book for inspiration in making unique photos)

Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson (good primer on how to expose correctly)

Designing a Photograph: Visual Techniques for Making Your Photos Work by Bill Smith (good book on composition)

Professional Photoshop by Dan Margulis (the best book on color correction ever written)

Photoshop Restoration & Retouching by Katrin Eisman (excellent book for Photoshop advanced beginners)

Polaroid Transfers: A Complete Visual Guide to Creating Image and Emulsion Transfers by Kathleen Carr (if you're shooting 4x5, you should try this!)

Chased by the Light by Jim Brandenburg (not a "how to" book, but an inspirational nature photography book by one of the best nature photographers shooting today)

The Americans by Robert Frank (a classic, inspiring for all photographers, though it has nothing to do with nature photography)

Here are few books on the shelf by my computer desk. Many have a British perspective, and some are out of print!
"Photographing Wild Birds" by Chris Gomersall
"RSPB Guide To Bird & Nature Photography" by Laurie Campbell
"Photographing The Natural World" by Heather Angel
"A Camera In The Garden" by Heather Angel
"The Art Of Nature Photography" by Niall Benvie
"The Art Of Bird Photography" by Eric Hosking & Cyril Newberry
"The Art Of Bird Photography" by Arthur Morris
"Business Of Nature Photography" by John Shaw
"Nature Photography Field Guide" by John Shaw
"Focus On Nature" by John Shaw
"The Complete Guide To Close-up & Macro Photography" by Paul Harcourt Davies
"Nature Photography Through Four Seasons" by Arnold Wilson
"The Professional Photographer`s Guide To Shooting & Selling Nature & Wildlife Photos" by Jim Zuckerman
"The New Complete Guide To Wildlife Photography" by Joe McDonald
"Nature Photographer`s Handbook" by Ian Beames
"Photographing Birds In The Wild" by Paul Hicks
"Photographing Butterflies & Other Insects" by Paul Hicks
"Photographing Animals In The Wild" by Andy Rouse
"Wild Shots" by Chris Packham
"Professional Nature Photography" by Nigel Hicks
"Practical Wildlife Photography" by Ken Preston-Mafham
"The Illustrated Guide To Bird Photography" by Bob Gibbons & Peter Wilson
"Taking Pictures For Profit" by Lee Frost
"Hidden Shallows" by Michael Leach (very funny!)
"The Wildlife Photographs Of Laurie Campbell" by Laurie Campbell
"Wild Bird Photography" by Tim Fitzharris
"An Essential Guide To Bird Photography" by Steve Young
"A Field Guide To Bird Photography" by Steve Young
"Outdoor Photography: 101 Hints and Tips" by Heather Angel
"The Art Of Wildlife Photography" by Fritz Polking
"The Art Of Photographing Nature" by Art Wolfe & Martha Hill
"Wild Bird Photography" by Tim Gallagher
"The Field Guide To Photographing Birds" by Allen Rokach & Anne Millman
"Bird Photography - Pure & Simple" by Arthur Morris
"Photographing Garden Birds" by C.H.S. Tupholme (1962)
"A Field Guide To Landscape Photography" by Peter Watson
"The Kodak Pocket Guide To Nature Photography" by The Editors of Eastman Kodak Company
"Where To Photograph Wildlife In Britain" by Mike Lane
"Nature & Wildlife Photography" by Susan McCartney
"The Complete Manual Of Nature Photography" by Guglielmo Izzi & Francesco Mezzatesta
"Wildlife Photo Safari" by Dino Sassi
"The Book Of Close-up Photography" by Heather Angel
"Eric Hosking`s Birds" by Eric Hosking
"Eric Hosking`s Classic Birds" by Eric Hosking
"The Natural History Of Britain And Ireland" by Heather Angel
"The Secret Life Of An Oakwood" by Stephen Dalton
"At The Water`s Edge" by Stephen Dalton
"The Secret Life Of A Garden" by Stephen Dalton
"Borne On The Wind" by Stephen Dalton
"Photographing Fungi In The Field" by George McCarthy
"The Wild Side Of Town" by Chris Packham (a couple of my photos in this!)
"A Passion For Birds - Eliot Porter`s Photography" by John B. Rohrbach
"Classic African Wildlife Photography" by Various

...and so on, and so on...

With that little lot in my library, you`d think I`d be a decent photographer by now! :roll:

My personal favorites are all of John Shaw's books. Galen Rowell's Inner Game of Outdoor Photography is good reading material, summing up much of Galen's experience. I do like Bill Fortney's Great Photography Workshop book as well.

Kurt

the John Shaw books-especially the "business of nature photography", Art Morris "the art of bird photography", Joe McDonald "Wildlife Photography", 1997 edition-very good descriptions of multiple flash photo of wildlife.

My favorite technical book would have to be John Shaw's Business of Nature Photography. I thought the book was packed with useful information, and it seems like every book that I have read subsequent to that one can't even compare with regards to useful info.

Hey Greg,

I'm reading " The photoshop CS book for digital photographers" by Scott Kelby. It's awesome.

John Shaw's Nature Photography Field Guide. No nonsense quality info. The first and best photography book I bought. I'm yet to see a more succinct and logical explanation of exposure and metering.

The Book of Color Photography by Adrian Bailey and Adrian Holloway.

It's *the* best book on color photography I've ever seen, and the only book I've ever seen that adequately addresses the visual art in photography.