I've been reviewing lots of books lately because I'm searching for a new textbook for my course. A few weeks ago, I was shopping on Amazon when I cam across this interesting one: The Nature of Photographs. At less than $15 it's also a great deal.
When it arrived, I was impressed to find very straightforward and inviting text. In contrast to most books that are filled with page after page of wordy text, this book provides succinct, short explanations paired with a visual examples. The reproductions in the book are excellent quality.
If you feel a bit intimidated by heavy textbooks, this is a great one to get you started. Stephen Shore presents a clear foundation for understanding the nature of photographs (as the title implies). He discusses the basic elements of a photograph, why the medium transforms the world, how we can begin to read photographs and understand them better.
This is not a technical book, it's an idea book. I highly recommend this book for my students, or even for experienced photographers who want to develop a deeper understanding of the medium. The more you understand about the language of photography, the more effectively you can use the medium to communicate.
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