I always hear about summer reading lists, rarely a winter reading list, or spring or fall reading lists...  But if you're reading this blog, then you are more than likely interested in photography.  So you'll probably be interested in some good books to read on the topic.

Try out David Shonauer's (of American Photo Magazine - a great read which I subscribe to) Summer Reading ideas.  He's set to read his favorite book on photography - Looking at Photographs: 100 Pictures from the Collection of the Museum of Modern Art.  Sounds like a good book - one I'm going to check the local library for tonight.

But before David reveals that book, he mentions a few others that may also be of interest.  Hopefully there are a few there to keep you busy during the warm months.  Got suggestions?  I'd love to hear your favorites on the topic of Photography. 

I currently tend to lean towards a great collection of images on a certain topic, or by a certain photographer.  But the occasional history, or educational book is always a refreshing change as well.  So let's hear your suggestions.

There's an excellent photo essay book on the market that depicts some great images of America during the night time hours.  It's nearly sold out in most places, and a reprint doesn't seem to be in the cards.  So check out Amazon or a used book store for your copy if this is of any interest to you.

The lighting effects used are clearly setup, but the look is pretty cool.  Brilliant greens, reds and blues make the night scenes really pop.  I'm a big fan of night time photography, so this book is right up my alley.  I'm tempted to grab my own copy.

In the meantime, you can peruse some of the images from the book on the website and get a taste.  Got the book already?  What do you think of it?

There's been a lot of buzz around the internets lately about Digital Asset Management, and more specifically, The DAM Book.  Essentially it examines the process that a digital photographer uses to shoot, sort, and save photo files.  The workflow a photographer uses can make or break their work and time line.  Each person's workflow is probably different from the next - whether subtle, or massive, the differences are bound to be there. 

I recently picked-up The DAM Book, and have slowly started reading it.  I plan to report back here either as I work my way through, or all at once when I'm finished.  I'll just have to see how it goes.  It seems to have a mac tilt to it, though the main software/tools they utilize (Adobe Camera Raw and iView Media Pro) are for Windows & OS X.  I'd love to hear your thoughts about the book, or the subject in general in the meantime of course.

I've already got a workflow of sorts, and it's ever-evolving.  I'm not very strict about it, and there remains a lot of room for improvement.  So I'm excited to see what I can cobble together, using ideas from The DAM Book.

Although the price tag could be considered a little steep, this is a pretty cool idea. The Adesso Album's Polaroid Guest Book Kit allows you to make your own guest book for parties and events in a simple way.

You essentially buy the basic kit for $140USD and it includes a custom dyed Japanese fabric covered book that will hold 30 photos in specially treated paper whilst still closing properly, the polaroid camera (well for that price you'd hope so!) for snapping guests and loved ones and 2 lots of film for 40 photos (spares for those awful shots). Photos simply slide in and guests can jot down there messages, all for you to keep forever. Awww sweet. For the rich folk out there, you can also purchase custom made leather bound guest books starting at $350USD and up, page number dependent.

The founder of Utata - a great place to have fun with photography - and accomplished photographer, Catherine Jamieson has just published her first book.  Entitled, Create Your Own Photo Blog, the book is 350 pages of full color and filled with great information if you're thinking about sharing your photographic work with the world through a photo blog. 

While I haven't read the book [yet], I did pick it up recently while grabbing a couple books at Barnes & Noble.  I flipped through it for a few minutes, cherry-picking different passages to read.  What I saw was intuitive and enjoyable.  Having been around web design for a number of years, I don't think I'm the target audience, but it seems like it would be especially good for beginners - though seasoned photographers may also find some useful tidbits between the covers.

Give the book a look, and maybe you could be our next featured PhotoBlog here  on QJ Photography!

As the shackles of film photography are collectively cast-off by digital photographers and more and more shots are taken without remorse, what becomes of all those photos?  Regardless of whether you shoot a thousand photos a year, or a hundred, you're taking them for a reason - what are you doing with them? 

The obvious is to print them out - or have them printed - to hang on your wall.  Maybe you made a book to set out and keep them from being forgotten on your hard drive.  Photo books make great gifts as well - Apple's iPhoto Books have bailed me out of a few hard-to-buy-for family members. 

The digital revolution makes it easy to do just about anything with your photographs.  You can wear them on t-shirts, sport them on mugs and mouse pads, you can get them printed in poster format.  There's a ton of fun and cool ways to show off your eye for capturing great moments.

So let us know what your favorite idea is - and if you've used a service that wow-ed you, share that as well.

According to its marketing blurb, this e-book will “leapfrog you from beginner or novice to a seasoned amateur in no time.” The book was written mainly for D-SLR users who thought great photographs came with their camera. Those who plan a career in wedding, portrait, fashion or commercial photography could also benefit from this read. “Hopefully by the end of this book you will be on the right track to becoming a more confident and skilled Photographer in whichever field or topic you enjoy most.”

And hopefully your camera won't end up on eBay.

Raise your hand if you've tried taking a photograph out of an airplane window.  I'm guessing it's a lot of you - I know I have.  Well Julieanne's new book, Window Seat Photography focuses on this as the subject matter.  Over the course of 6 years of business travel, she shot 3,000 photographs on the topic, and Window Seat explains her thought process from start to finish.

Kost recounts, "I began shooting photographs out of airplane windows because I needed a creative outlet. I was looking for an opportunity to photograph something, but all I had to look at were the insides of airports, cabs, hotels, and convention centers, and, for the life of me, I just couldn't find a way to make those places into interesting subjects to photograph."  It appears she did find a way to make them interesting.  Look for the book on Amazon.


If you're interested in improving your window seat photography, here's a few quick tips to keep in mind next time the opportunity arises:

• Wipe the window off to get rid of smudges that the camera may try to focus on.
• While avoiding the contact of lens-glass to window, try to have the lens as flush with the window as possible, so as to cut-down on potential glare.
• Don't use a polarized filter, as you'll end up with a rainbow effect in the shot.
• Do your best to omit any window edges, or parts of the plane that aren't supposed to be in the shot.
• Keep your shot as steady as possible - built in Image Stabilization is ideal, or a higher ISO to take a quicker shot.
• For Point & Shoot cameras, select a Landscape or Infinity focus mode, to avoid capturing the window scratches.

If you've got some awesome Window Seat shots you'd like to share, post links in the comments.

(Come on, we really didn't mean that! Just staying clear copyright infringment lawsuit.)

All great images, digital or otherwise, start by capturing a great photo, and capturing great photos requires an understanding of your camera. At least that’s what the introduction to A Short Course in Using Your Digital Camera says. The course, available both in book and ebook format, is designed to give you an understanding of the "whys" and "hows" of photography. The how and when to use simple features on your camera such as focus, exposure controls, flash and lots more stuff you really need to know.

It wouldn't hurt to give this a read as soon as you figure out how to turn on your camera.