book recommendations?

I look for some helpful books about photography..

to advance my skills technically or artistically :))

any recommendations?

anything you enjoyed reading?

or any classics that are "must"?

Thanks!

So that your camera never hits the ground:

http://photojojo.com/content/diy/diy-camera-hand-strap/

For those of us on a limited budget

http://lifehacker.com/5382554/make-a-diy-photography-light-box-with-knex

One in 8 Million

Awesome urban portrait feature from the NY Times.

Integrity

Red Arms

Seat Yourself

Red Room

Young Me/Now Me site

Here it is: http://colorwar2008.com/submissions/youngnow. People mimicking childhood photos of themselves.

Rachel's final project start

For my final project, I decided to take advantage of an upcoming trip to NYC, and try to capture the essence of the east coast vs the west coast (or the Bay area vs NYC) in a series of photos. This week it's all photos of SF (and Berkeley, because I'm there more). Jason advised me to just make "the best damn pictures" I could of each city. Here's what I came up with...

repost of Museum visitors

Here's my repost. I know the pictures aren't great technically (I think I should learn how to make technical OK pics once!), but I like the sequence. I put a lot of effort in 'rhytm' (the hole getting bigger and smaller. People 'in' the hole or out of the hole. B/W and color. Static pics and moving pics. I'm really interested in the way people stand, how they move. I'm often struck by the way you can recognize people from a far distance, not by their faces or clothes but by their stand. Having the same object in each picture (the hole) makes it easyer to identify this stand. Besides I really love Anish Kapoor. And I like the abstraction / the 'graphic' feel the hole gives to the pics.

If you are so kind to comment please tell me if the rhytm op the pics works for you, maybe some technical tips? Too many of my pics unsharp, too dark or too light. Thank you.


Museum Visitors




Taken on a Free Tuesday in front of Anish Kapoor's 'Hole'

So, my idea with these was to include the most commonly seen signs with ones that were really unique and that you really don't see everyday.

After a little thought and tonights class... I've decided to completely change directions on what I am doing for my final project.

Ultimately, street signs, no matter how 'uncommon' are pretty boring. Expect something more interesting from my final project. :^)