I Promise You! These Three Books Will Make You A Better Photographer

I promise you: These three books make better photographers. 

Vision and Art by Margaret Livingstone was recommended by my friend and fellow Canon Explorer of light John Paul Caponigro. I found Color and Light by James Gurney on my own.

While reading Color and Light (after reading Vision and Art), I noticed that James Gurney mentions the outstanding work of Margaret Livingstone. Small world.

Perception and Imaging is written by the late, great Dr. Richard Zakia. All I can say about Dick is that he is my hero. 

Check out the books:

Color and Light – A guide for the Realistic Painter by James Gurney.

From New York Times best-selling author of the Dinotopia series, James Gurney, comes a carefully crafted and researched study on color and light in paintings. This art instruction book will accompany the acclaimed Imaginative Realism: How to Paint What Does Not Exist.

James Gurney, New York Times best-selling author and artist of the Dinotopia series, follows Imaginative Realism with his second art-instruction book, Color and Light: A Guide for the Realist Painter. A researched study on two of art's most fundamental themes, Color and Light bridges the gap between abstract theory and practical knowledge. Beginning with a survey of under appreciated masters who perfected the use of color and light, the book examines how light reveals form, the properties of color and pigments, and the wide variety of atmospheric effects. Gurney cuts though the confusing and contradictory dogma about color, testing it in the light of science and observation. A glossary, pigment index, and bibliography complete what will ultimately become a valuable tool for any artist.

This book is the second in a series based on his blog, gurneyjourney.com. His first in the series, Imaginative Realism, was widely acclaimed in the fantastical art world, and was ranked the #1 Bestseller on the Amazon list for art instruction.

"James Gurney's new book, Color and Light, cleverly bridges the gap between artistic observation and scientific explanation. Not only does he eloquently describe all the effects of color and light an artist might encounter, but he thrills us with his striking paintings in the process." --Armand Cabrera, Artist

Vision and Art – the biology of seeing by Margaret Livingstone.

Now in paperback, this groundbreaking study by Harvard neurobiologist Margaret Livingstone explores the inner workings of vision, demonstrating that how we see art depends ultimately on the cells in our eyes and our brains. In Vision and Art,Livingstone explains how great painters fool the brain: why Mona Lisa s smile seems so mysterious, Monet s Poppy Field appears to sway in the breeze, Mondrian s Broadway Boogie Woogie blinks like the lights of Times Square, and Warhol s Electric Chair pulses with current. Drawing on history and her own cutting- edge discoveries, Livingstone offers intriguing insights, from explanations of common optical illusions, to speculations on the correlation of learning disabilities with artistic skill. By skillfully bridging the space between science and art, Vision and Art will both arm artists and designers with new techniques that they can use in their own craft, and thrill any reader with an interest in the biology of human vision.

Perception and Imaging: Photography – A Way of Seeing by Richard D. Zakia

When you look at an image, what do you see and feel? What do you want your audience to see and feel when they view your work? In today's digital age, it has become all too easy to randomly click away, without really focusing on what exactly it is that you are trying to capture in your shot. For over fifteen years, Professor Richard Zakia has been helping thousands of photographers hone in on their creative vision through the inspirational, informative text and images included in his classic book, Perception and Imaging. In this updated fourth edition, Professor Zakia continues to share his wisdom in what is so much more than a step-by-step, technical photography instruction manual. Instead, it explores the fundamental act of photography - in other words, seeing - through a combination of technique, history, visual perception, philosophy, and psychology. Photographers of all levels will benefit from the information in this book, because it will help you to think more clearly about what it is that you want to convey in your images, no matter what level you are at in terms of technical skill.

Explore the light,
Rick