I don’t know about you but even though I get a lot of my knowledge online, I still read plenty of books.
I read more now than I ever did. I find reading a book just allows me to put the phone, tablet and laptop away… about a minute before my head explodes.
Most of what I read is about photography or botany. Two fairly unrelated subjects I know, I just love plants as well.
Of course there are many less-than-average books but overall I feel the level of scrutiny is much higher when publishing books than most of what we find online, hence why photography books are still very relevant in my opinion if you want to find quality advice, information and photography tips.
Let's begin this new book review section with a pretty delightful little book I have had for a long time which I think most of you will enjoy.
Photography Book Review
Pring's Photographer's Miscellany
Author: Roger Pring
Publisher: Ilex
ISBN 978-1-907579-43-1
Discontinued, can be bought second hand from Abe Books for under three quid: LINK
Pring’s Photographer’s Miscellany is a mixed collection of photography stories, techniques, tips and trivia.
It’s as if they’d each been written on a piece of paper, tossed in a bowl and picked at random to fill the pages in this book.
This is exactly what I find attractive about it.
I’m the sort of person who, when a book covers a broad subject and many themes, picks a page at random here and there before reading the whole thing in the way it was intended from page one to the end.
A bit like going to a museum without a guide, or walking London’s streets without a map… you get a bit lost and find gems you didn’t expect. You can keep revisiting but never quite end up in the same place.
This is a book without a huge purpose other than entertain the inquisitive photographer in an educational way yet remaining fun.
Aimed I would say at beginners, although I still enjoying flicking through its pages a few years down the line.
This tiny book packs a ton of trivia and information from technical aspects such as what are ISO, Aperture, etc… to famous photography quotes, a bit of photography history, origin of words in the photographer’s vocabulary, introduction to a handful of renowned photographers… all in bite size paragraphs alongside many attractive illustrations.
Frankly for what it cost it’s superb value and I highly recommend it.
Until next time,