My Favorite Books

I am compiling a list here of digital photography and post-processing books that I have read and loved. Most, if not all, of these books have made a huge impact on my composition, my knowledge of how the camera and other gear works, and/or how to use post-processing software. If you know of a book you think I should read, drop me a line at samantha [at] sassyshutterbug [dot] com.

Digital Photography Books

• The Digital Photography Book, Volume 2, by Scott Kelby - I'm sure Volume 1
  and the brand new Volume 3 are just as good, but Volume 2 is the only one I can truly recommend to you since it's the only one I've read so far. You don't have to read these books in order, they are basically a compilation of super-useful tips for amateur photographers to make the most out of their cameras.
• Mastering Digital SLR Photography by David Busch - This is probably one of the best photography books I've read. I actually read an older version from 2005, and still found it helpful. If you're completely new to DSLR photography but very interested in learning both the science and technique behind how it all works, read this book. Even if you're not a newbie, I guarantee you'll learn a thing or two.
• The Digital SLR Guide by Jon Canfield - Another great DSLR-specific read; not as in-depth, but offers a range of helpful tips.
• Better Available Light Digital Photography by Joe Farace and Barry Staver - I love how this book had a specific focus, which was essentially difficult lighting situations. One of the reasons I stepped up to DSLR photography was to be able to get high quality images in poorly lit situations. But Joe and Barry also tell you how to make the most of any lighting situation, even if it's ideal for shooting.
• Digital SLR Cameras & Photography For Dummies by David D. Busch - This is a great starting point for DSLR newbies. By the time I had read it, though, I found I already knew a good chunk of what was covered in here. Unlike Busch's other book that I recommend here, this book gives a nice overview of different postprocessing programs, so if you've yet to purchase one, you might enjoy that aspect of this book. If you're looking for all the important technical information regarding DSLR photography, both of the books I have read by David D. Busch have surpassed all others in that aspect.
• The Magic of Digital Nature Photography by Rob Sheppard - This book gave me a lot of inspiration and helpful hints on how to approach all aspects of nature photography. Anyone who wants to pursue this will find this book helpful. If you're familiar with all the aperture/shutter speed/ISO jargon, you can skip that portion of the book, but don't be fooled by the presence of "the basics," this book gets right into some real advanced topics and techniques. Oh, and the author is the editor of Outdoor Photographer magazine!
• The Complete Guide to Light & Lighting in Digital Photography by Michael Freeman - If you want a better understanding of how light works in digital photography, this book is for you. Not only does Freeman go into great detail about how natural light affects a photo, he also describes the tools professional photographers use in the studio and on location to get the lighting just right.
• Rick Sammon's Complete Guide to Digital Photography 2.0 - Any shutterbug, beginner or expert, should read this book. Rick Sammon has a great philosophy on photography, and what's so great about this book that sets it apart from other photography learning guides is that he includes so many of his own pictures (not just a few here and there) to illustrate his points and provide inspiration. Although there is a large section devoted to Adobe Photoshop Elements, it covers mostly the basics, so advanced Photoshoppers may just want to skim that part.
  

Post-Processing Books

• Scott Kelby's 7-Point System for Adobe Photoshop CS3 (Voices) - If you're gonna read a book about Photoshop, read this one first. It's not so much the steps even that drew me in, but Scott's ability to look at a "crappy photo" and size up what needs to be done to it. Learn how to use Camera Raw to bring back a blown-out sky, make the reflections on the water look more magical, and a lot more. This book has been indispensable to my Photoshop workflow.
• Photoshop CS4: The Missing Manual by Lesa Snider King - There are lots of Photoshop reference guides out there, and I am sure many of them are great, but I picked this one up because it was just so big and impressive looking (the series title is just so clever too!). I read the 800 pages nearly cover to cover, and I never felt like I was reading a textbook. In fact, I couldn't put it down, it had me locked in like a suspense novel! If you're interested in learning all the tools Photoshop has to offer and how you can use them, give this book a read.