Book Review: Read This if You Want to Take Great Photographs
/Henry Carroll’s written tome is one of those well-designed books that explains itself and the concepts within with expert clarity. “If you can’t explain it to a 10 year old, then you don’t understand it yourself” goes the saying.
Well then it’s clear Henry Carroll understands photography; which means he understands that every photographer has their own selection of knowledge regarding the tech and art of picture making, and he can explain it to all of them.
Since photography is a collection of abilities and knowledge, “Read This if Your Want to Take Great Photographs” is both a linear and non-linear education depending on your reading habits; beginning with the camera as a cardboard box with a hole in it, and advancing from there, providing as minimum of a technical crash course as possible using infographics to maintain its referable, pocket-manual form.
Read it backwards, or pick at a random chapter each day, even if it’s a chapter you’ve already read; each section is a timeless nug of wisdom, stripped to the essential truth for anyone to understand.
Photographs included in the pages are exclusively masterpieces, and each one is necessary to directly illustrate the techniques and considerations explained in the book, often being referred to in other sections as to reuse prior references as well as tie chapters together into one whole - excellent - book.
A book I highly recommend.
Mine was gifted to me by my good friend Kai’a, and rather than being on my bookshelf, it’s tucked in my camera bag for inspiration on the road.
Again, highly recommended for any photographer of any skill level.
“Split into five sections, the book covers composition, exposure, light, lenses and the art of seeing. Masterpieces by acclaimed photographers – including Henri Cartier-Bresson, Sebastião Salgado, Fay Godwin, Nadav Kander, Daido Moriyama and Martin Parr – serve to illustrate points and encourage readers to try out new ideas. ”