First, I admit that I don’t have – don’t want! – a Facebook account, and now I’m recommending a book you can actually *hold* in your *hands*. Oh, did I mention it’s by a guy who spent decades shooting with film?  Ha!  I know, I’m such an old-fashioned joke!  But please, don’t write me off yet… and if you’re remotely interested in photography, DON’T write off Bryan Peterson (who switched to digital, by the way).

I’ve checked out just about every digital photography book that I could find in my county’s well-stocked library system.  I found a nugget or two in each.

But Bryan Peterson’s books – these were diamond mines.  Expansive in their reach, full of clear and brilliant explanations.  Two things I liked the most:

1. His books are the ultimate “Don’t tell me, show me” experience
Every picture is annotated with his experience taking the shot.  He includes pertinent weather and lighting conditions.  The thought process behind every lens, aperture, and shutter speed choice is written like a little story.  Many pages contain multiple shots of the same scene accompanied by an explanation of why he thinks one picture is superior.

Below: When I saw this singly-illuminated daylily by our pool, I immediately thought of a Bryan Peterson picture I admired.  Thanks to his little shot story, I knew exactly how to achieve the same look.

2. He brings “creativity” within reach of every photographer
The title intriqued me: Learning to See Creatively.  Can you learn creativity?  In Peterson’s view, ”creative” pictures are achieved by first, perfectly understanding the technical aspects of photography, then by persistently asing the question “what if”. Growth is achieved by taking careful note of answers to the last “what if” session and applying them to the next scene.  That was huge for me!!  Instead of approaching a shot and saying, “How would a creative person see this” (notice the assumption that I am NOT creative), I learned to approach a shot, take it the first way that came to mind, and then to begin asking, “WHAT IF I moved the focal point… WHAT IF I underexposed by two stops… WHAT IF I slowed the shutter speed…”  And all of a sudden, I was taking pictures that I thought were pretty cool – dare I even say…”creative?!”

Below: The pool is a great place for “what if” shots :-)

Any books you recommend?? Let me know!

-Becky

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