Here are some of the books I've found very useful, for inspiration as well as technical instruction :
Studio Photography - Essential Skills (3rd Edition) by John Child. This is one of a Focal Press series of books on photography. It is fabulous! Although it is mainly about studio work, it is full of info which relates to
all genres. I got this out of the library + was so impressed that I bought it, + will get around to working my way through it systematically doing the exercises it provides. It shows you how to get predictable results using methodical + precise techniques, i.e. takes the guesswork out of photography, particularly with regard to exposure, colour etc.
Photographic Composition by Tom Grill + Mark Scanlon. "Guidelines for total image control through effective design." This is a
must-have book! I first had it on loan from the library but bought this one as well, it is fabulous! It shows you how all sorts of factors contribute to taking a great photograph + how these affect composition, e.g. colour, light, focal length, focus, contrast, shutter speed etc. etc. i.e. It is not just about arranging shapes, as most of us think of composition being just that.
A Comprehensive Guide to Digital Close-up Photography by John Clements. Another fab book I had from the library. It's full of projects, i.e. shots ppl have taken + how they did it. It has a lot of post-processing information too, which is concise + very useful, + shows you practical applications for different tools in image editing software via these projects. It is very very good, with loads of inspirational ideas, tips + tricks.
The Creative Photography Handbook by Lee Frost. Another favourite of mine. Just as the title says, it gives you creative ideas + how to achieve them.
John Hedgecoe's New Introductory Photography Course. "A complete step-by-step guide to taking great pictures, with 65 projects to improve your skills." This one's very good, too.
Digital Photography Step-by-Step by Jerry Glenwright. This one is nice + concise with brief summaries on different aspects of photography.
Digital Photography, an Introduction by Tom Ang. A great little book packed with technical info + advice from choosing photographic + pc equipment to taking photo's right through the process of manipulating + printing photo's. And it's a small size, just right for bedtime reading
A little cracker, this one.
I advise getting books out of the library first, then if you think you'll get long-term benefit from them, buy them
Oh, and the magazine I got for 2 years (recently stopped it, as I just didn't read it anymore) was Digital Camera Magazine, which I learned a lot from
And check
here for more book suggestions + reviews.
There is so much choice
but start with
one or two books and a regular magazine. As you go along, you'll know which specific areas you want to know more about, but initially avoid an information overload in the beginning, otherwise you won't know where to start