Book Reviews

The following is an excerpt from Contemporary Landscape Photography by Carl Heilman II (Amphoto Books, $24.99, paperback, published June 2010). In his first instructional book, Heilman II shares his experiences and techniques in capturing stunning landscape images. With nearly 300 color photos, this illustrated guide is a complete course in taking pro-caliber images of both urban and natural...

Photography books make wonderful gifts because they have the unique power to educate as well as entertain. Some take us on amazing adventures. Some fill us with emotion and others teach us new techniques that raise our work to the next level.

Lighting and Photographing Transparent and Translucent Surfaces: A Comprehensive Guide to Photographing Glass, Water, and More; by Dr. Glenn Rand; Amherst Media; $34.95; (ISBN-13: 978-1-58428-244-0)
Dr. Glenn Rand is a professional photographer and professor of photography at the Brooks Institute. His years of experience have been transformed into a guide that...

BetterPhoto Basics: The Absolute Beginner’s Guide to Taking Photos Like the Pros; by Jim Miotke; Amphoto Books; $21.99; (ISBN: 978-0-8174-0502-1)
Getting started in photography isn’t easy and most books are geared for amateurs who have a certain amount of basic skills and knowledge. The title is an accurate description of this guide because it really...

Hidden Napa Valley; photographs by Wes Walker, introduction by Linda Reiff, edited by Peter Beren; Welcome Books; $19.95; (ISBN: 978-1-59962-080-0)
Explore the lush green and fertile landscape of California’s Napa Valley with noted photographer Wes Walker. For this book he assembled a beautiful collection of well-crafted images that tell the story of the rich...

Sports photojournalist Dave Black wants his photographs to attract and hold your attention. And he wants them to be as different from the next guy’s as possible; the next guy is, after all, the competition.

In search of the big differences that make for high impact photographs, Dave uses ideas as much as he uses technology.Here are four examples of his thinking about...

This article is an excerpt from “Wedding Photography from the Heart: Creative Techniques to Capture the Moments that Matter,” by Joe Buissink and Skip Cohen, with a foreword by Denis Reggie, published by Amphoto Books (2009; $29.99; ISBN: 978-0-8174-2454-1).

Voted as one of American Photo’s Top 10 Wedding Photographers in the World, Joe...