Beyond tasting diverse cuisines and meeting different people, traveling provides the perfect opportunity to capture new sights and immortalize your memories through photography. And if you feel like you’re lacking in the photography department, you’re in the right place! Here I’ll cover five photography ebooks that’ll help you improve your skills!
And trust me when I say it can be SO fun growing your photography skills! I’m a self-taught photographer, and my skills have grown to the point where capturing content has become my full time job! I’m so grateful!
You might know me from Instagram or for my Instagram travel photo guides, like this travel guide on Salt Lake City most photo-worthy spots. I love finding beautiful photo locations that’ll enhance your Instagram feed no matter what season you visit. In Salt Lake City, these range from the historical buildings and cobblestone streets in the downtown area and Capitol Hill to natural wonders like the lush greenery of Memory Grove Park and Tunnel Springs Park. You can see all of my Instagram travel guides here!
Learning Travel Photography
Regardless of when and where you travel, certain sights and attractions may challenge your photography skills. You might want portraits on a busy street or an aerial shot overlooking the cityscape. But how do you take these and do them well?
Let’s turn to some experts! An article in The Guardian lists tips from expert photographers on improving your pictures. On top of simple tricks like working with the light you have and playing around with the camera’s zoom function, you’re encouraged to do your research on how to get the best shot. You can do this by looking at photos from more experienced and renowned travel photographers. You can read books that discuss essential aspects like lighting, composition, and angles to elevate the images you take.
Fortunately, photography books have become more accessible for both aspiring and long-time photographers through electronic formats. Let’s dive in deeper!
Learning from Photography Ebooks
Due to user-friendly formats like EPUB and PDF optimized for smartphones, tablets, computers, and other digital devices, the ebook market has steadily grown and is expected to reach a value of $12.40 billion by 2028. They are a convenient format allowing you to learn about photography anytime and anywhere. Ebooks are also seen as a low-cost alternative to physical books. You’ve even got major publishers like Wiley and HarperCollins also tapping into the market.
While ebooks are already more affordable than buying individual titles, the digital library Everand makes reading more accessible through its subscription plans. Upon subscribing to the platform, you get unlimited access to its curated selection of art ebooks. These include creative works and top-rated titles on visual arts, art history, and, of course, photography, such as Marc Silber’s The Secrets to Creating Amazing Photos. Everand encourages you to optimize your reading experience through features like offline reading, bookmarks, and annotations. They ultimately help you maximize your photography learning process!
The following section highlights five photography ebooks that will sharpen your skills and elevate your photoshoots throughout your planned travels.
Photography Ebooks to Inspire and Educate You
The Travel Photography Book by Scott Kelby
Whether you’re on a family vacation or embarking on a solo adventure, professional photographer Scott Kelby shares step-by-step techniques for capturing great travel photos that are worth sharing online or even printing to display at home. Instead of being filled with jargon that can discourage beginners to acquire and hone skills, The Travel Photography Book shares tricks of the trade that can help transform your simple snapshots into gallery-worthy images. This recently released ebook is divided into 12 chapters. They discuss key concepts like gear and settings, travel photography accessories, composition, and post-processing.
The Travel Photographer’s Way by Nori Jemil
Like Scott Kelby, Nori Jemil is an award-winning travel photographer. Jemil’s ground-breaking philosophy and approach are shared in The Travel Photographer’s Way: Practical Steps to Taking Unforgettable Travel Photos. It’s more than just a how-to guide that focuses on technical information and gadgetry. This critically acclaimed ebook focuses on the main areas of travel photography, such as people, landscapes, wildlife, and urban culture and street. Jemil has also previously shared her advice on becoming a more organized and confident photographer on the travel magazine Wanderlust Magazine. (That linked article specifically guides you through planning the perfect travel photography trip. It covers things like length of stay, season, and time management!)
On Composition by Michael Freeman
Released in 2022, On Composition by Michael Freeman tackles one of the most powerful tools for every photographer. Namely, a strong composition that injects a sense of individuality in every image you take. An author of other photography bestsellers like The Photographer’s Eye, Freeman first introduces why and how composition works before providing practical compositional templates to make your photos stand out. Capturing architectural landmarks in Italy? Photographing natural wonders in one of the famed Greek islands? Then this is for you.
Street Photography by Gordon Lewis
If you’re looking forward to shooting street portraits and the candid beauty of bustling cities like New York and Los Angeles, Gordon Lewis’ 2015 release is a must-read. The ebook version of Street Photography: The Art of Capturing the Candid Moment takes only an hour to read. Though short, it is filled with insightful information on the different styles of street photography and what makes a great street photograph. Lewis also enlightens you on how your choice of location and environment, from city streets to piers and boardwalks, can transform your approach to capturing images.
How to Rule at Photography by Chronicle Books
Lastly, How to Rule at Photography: 50 Tips and Tricks for Using Your Phone’s Camera is great for phone users! This photography ebook reminds you that you don’t need the latest, most advanced digital camera. You can use your phone’s camera to capture stunning photos throughout your trips! Through 50 bite-size tips and tricks, you will learn how to pose for portraits, work with lighting, and edit and process images. These tips help you tap into your creativity and improve your social media, blog, and website content!
Photography Ebooks: Conclusion
If you enjoyed these recommendations, you might like these articles for more helpful tips and photography resources:
- How to Pose for Photos
- Couples Photo Poses for Your Next Photoshoot
- Cute & Creative Winter Photoshoot Ideas
- Insta-Worthy Summer Photoshoot Ideas
- Best Fall Photoshoot Ideas for Instagram
- Fun & Fresh Spring Photoshoot Ideas
Happy photoshooting!
Jasmine
