Must read books for large format photography?

[Wayne]

Dostoyevsky's Note's from Underground. Nothing will better inspire you to get the hell out of wherever you were reading that and into a good place to photograph.

And Stroebel

[Ted R]

PS Coburn was a photographer who saw images in terms of shapes, masses of light and dark in the frame. There is another way of seeing pictures that is based on seeing surfaces, texture and detail. Studying both types of images from photographers helps develop the personal visual language.

[Bill_1856]

Ted R -- thank you!
I was sort of familiar with Coburn's work (mostly from Camera Work). It was a great pleasure to see these images which were new to me. (Also, I never before heard of Luminous Lint.)

[bloodhoundbob]

Please recommend books for a newbie's library. I have printed and punched several article form the home page and they are in a binder. I have the three AA books and look at them a lot. What else should I have. I am looking for more technical oriented books but would also appreciate some on composition, and seeing, and art as it applies to photography. What have you found helpful? I live in west central Illinois and struggle to find landscapes. I know they are here. How do I see them?

Thanks

Ken

Ken: I am a big fan of the Simmons' and Stroebel books, as well. Having lived in central Illinois most of my life, I really can't think of any scenic landscapes. Of course, you could aways drift up north to the Galena area or down around the Grafton to capture the magnificient river bluffs. I am probably biased, but the most scenic part of Illinois is down here in the Shawnee National Forest.

[Vaughn]

Ted Orland's books -- Art and Fear and The View through the Studio Door (or something like that).

Very worthwhile non-technical books that fits your second criteria.

[DennisD]

Ansel Adams - " Examples - The Making of 40 Photographs "

Aside from the fact that it's Ansel speaking... the book gives wonderful insight about making LF images.

The stories, start to finish, about the photographs and the intimate detail, technical and otherwise, gives one a real understanding about what it took to bring the images to life.

[Ted R]

Having lived in central Illinois most of my life, I really can't think of any scenic landscapes.

How about the sky?

[bloodhoundbob]

How about the sky?

Naw, even the sky is boring. Colorado spoiled me.

[John Kasaian]

Here are two to add to the essentials roster:
Examples: The Making of 40 Photographs by Ansel Adams
Also any of the Graflex Graphic Photography editions by Morgan and Lester.

Not LF specific but certainly worth keeping and eye out for as they are probably out of print:
A History of The Photographic Lens by Kingslake
Photography Principles and Practice by Neblette
Photographic Facts and Formula by Wall and Jordan

[Ken Lee]

I live in west central Illinois and struggle to find landscapes. I know they are here. How do I see them?

Try positioning the camera much higher.