I'm looking to expand my library a bit and thought I'd poll the forum on photography books that were inspirational, helped you improve your craft or were just of outstanding quality.
My list as it currently stands, in no particular order:
Understanding Exposure - Phenomenal into to photography book and still has plenty of info for the experienced photographer. Really helps with the foundation of Aperture, ISO and shutter speed.
Photoshop LAB Color - Great book on LAB color mode in photoshop. Really helped me improve my post processing, not only in bringing out colors that pop but sharpening and the like as well.
Light: Science and Magic - Fantastic lighting book. Breaks down every lighting scenario and explains how to avoid reflections and all sorts of other things.
The Hot Shoe Diaries - Great book with a bunch of inspirational photographs and a bit about how they were shot/lit.
I'd really like to find some solid composition books as I feel like that's what I'm the weakest on right now. I have Peterson's "Learning to See Creatively" but I wasn't as impressed with it as I thought I would be.
Of all the books I've read, "Digital Wedding Photography: Capturing Beautiful Memories" by Glen Johnson was the best. It's not a book for a complete novice, but it helped me get past the rut I was in. I can't recommend it enough.
I'll admit that I was a bit underwhelmed by 'Understanding Exposure.' It was ok, but not much there that I hadn't already learned by frequenting good forums such as FM. It is so highly recommended that maybe my expectations were too high.
Vision Mongers (a MUST for any pro or wannabe/future pro)
Galen Rowell's Inner game of Outdoor Photography
How to Wow, Photoshop CS3 for Photography (yes I know CS3, still the best Photoshop book out there)
Natl Audobon Society Guide to Landscape Photography (and their guide to Nature Photography, also by Fitzharris)
Fine Art Nature Photography (or anything by Tony Sweet)
I thoroughly enjoyed it. Mr. Adams was a meticulous perfectionist. It was so interesting to read his own comments on so many of his most famous photos.
I second the previously mentioned John Shaw, Galen Rowell and Michael Freeman's book. All very good.
I second Ansel Adams' Examples. The discussion about the various choices he made when taking the images (filters, perspective, camera location, time of day) are extremely useful and thought provoking.
