photon38

Can anyone recommend an illustrated dictionary or better still, a work book of some sort which focuses on illustrating the more subtle topics in photography.
I realize that will always be a subjective and personal preference.

The reason I am asking is that I see so many comments/questions from people, who have already spent thousands on a hobby which seems far more than my uninformed mind says is warranted for plain old good composition, focus and color, available from equipment costing hundreds, rather than thousands.
Obviously I am not talking about professionals and semi-professionals.
What am I missing?

To put this in context, of recent years I have spent far more time behind a video camera than a still camera

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

"Subtle topics" - Not 100% sure exactly what you're asking, but let's try this: when I first got back into photography, even though I had just purchased a digital slr, I found great value from older books written for film camera photography - such basics as light and composition. And I found them at the library!

As for a workbook ("lessons," photo examples, exercises to do), try Bryan Peterson's "Learning to See Creatively" and Michael Freeman's "The Photographer's Eye."

TucsonCoyote Loc: Tucson AZ

No big deal photon38, photography is all about capturing photons !
This said I would suggest just Googling your questions (or which-ever search tool you use)
and ask questions you have today, tomorrow ....etc
Try and find explanations that use pictures and examples.(since we are dealing with a visual medium)
Lots of people put out lots of YouTube vids and you will prefer certain people over others for the way they
explain what is being discussed !

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

Photon, welcome to the Hog.
I know of no such book but maybe others can help you with that.
But I am going to say that in pretty much ANY pursuit maybe it's human instinct to want more, whether it's for us or wanting our children to have more or do better than we did.
I'm going to guess that there is not one person reading this, including yourself that does not have more car than they need or more house than they need. Does any woman need a $20 purse when one from Goodwill at $5 would do just as well. Why send your kids to a private school when the public school teaches more? I know people that have more wrapped up in clothes than I've got in photo equipment but I've NEVER question their choices, it's not my place to do so.
So how does all of this relate to expensive cameras?
Most of the time it has nothing to do with need but purely with want. Just like your house and your car!
But from experience there are some doing certain genres of photography that just CAN'T be done as well with a lessor camera or lens.
Good luck with you video endeavors and again, welcome!!!
Good luck with that book!
SS

G Brown Loc: Sunny Bognor Regis West Sussex UK

Most books I have looked at seem to have a similar format. Suggest that you look at links and resources section. The internet is always going to be the best source of recent information it is just a case of finding the source that suits you. on my old computer I downloaded someone's alphabetical list 'of photography' and started to bookmark topics that I found interesting under the correct or nearest heading. It made going back to the source much easier. Sadly the computer went and so did the file as it was not backed up. (live and learn). I find that some sites seem to rehash info on quite a quick rotation, so it is a case of moving on and exploring somewhere else.
Have fun

Billy Bob

Illustrated photography dictionary... you know you can copy stills for video with software I've did it years back. I get my stock photos all over the place. I take a day to go photography just what ever I like. I do a lot of green screen when I set up my booth people love to be front of town land marks. I have 1,000 of photos to do just that.
Its great you work with video that is what people with in years to come, still photo will be a thing of the past. Just make it a FUN thing anGODbless

Billy Bob

In the next two days I'll make a list of what I File picture under.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I've done the same thing with photography books, but I looked on alibris.com for used books.

BJW

Some books I would recommend are:
1) Bryan Peterson, Understanding Exposure
2) same, Understanding Composition
3) Tony Northup, How to Create Stunning Digital Photography
4) Tom Ang, Digital Photography Essentials
5) same, Digital Photography Masters

For the finer details of your camera, which are hard to appreciate from the manufacturer's manual, try something like David Busch, "Nikon D500" or David Taylor "Canon EOS...The Expanded Guide"

Many authors also have excellent tutorial websites and youtube videos to which you can subscribe w/o charge.

NYIP.edu has some very good courses on line too. I took their Basic course when I started about 18 months ago.
Lynda.com has a variety of courses too.

but the best learning tool is experience using your camera and critical comparison of your images.

Have fun!

BJ

BuckeyeBilly Loc: St. Petersburg, FL

Try this:
http://photonotes.org/books/photographers-dictionary/

This is an online site that explains photography terms:
http://www.photographytips.com/page.cfm/1587

Another one:
http://www.steves-digicams.com/pdf/digi_dictionary.pdf

And another one:
http://pupul.ir/FMT_23/root/RACHJbG1.pdf

This seems like a really good one:
http://www.photocourse.com/download/Textbook-of-Digital-Photography-samples.pdf

Says it's illustrated and is 145 pages in length:
file:///C:/Users/Billy/Downloads/Barbara_A._Lynch-Johnt__Michelle_Perkins-Illustrated_Dictionary_of_Photography__The_Professional_s_Guide_to_Terms_and_Techniques__2008_.pdf

These should keep you busy AND well-informed! Merry Christmas!

Mary Kate Loc: NYC

Write down exactly what you want to know go to YouTube and punch it in. A wealth of information is available.

chase4 Loc: Punta Corona, California

Hi photon - Here's something you might find useful, although written in 1984 and about film photography, it does have pictures and vauable information, much can be applied to digital photography See attached scans of: Kodak Pocket Guide to 35 mm Photography, Simon and Schuster/New York, 1984.
Cheers, chase

Book cover

(Download)

Book table of contents

(Download)

SusanFromVermont Loc: Southwest corner of Vermont

Learning the basics of composition, etc. is possible without a dictionary/workbook... As others have pointed out, there are plenty of books written on these subjects. Look in the library and see if they have any to start with. After that, there are many very good photographers who have websites where you can find tutorials and ebooks (for sale), and often free stuff as well. It takes time and work to go through these things, but the information is out there.

Places to look: CreativeLive.com, KelbyOne.com, PHLEARN.com, Lynda.com, IanPlant.com are only a few. When you see work you like, look the photographers up on the internet. Many of their sites are just photo galleries, but plenty have all kinds of information available.

Mark1948

I'll never dismiss books, but these days, I find answers to many very specific questions online. As an added bonus, I've run into more than a few very good topic specific tutorials/classes

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

Go to a real bookstore and rifle through a few of the newest on digital photography. Go to a USED book store or library and find a set of Time Life Library of Photography books. It has classic images throughout, and is still mostly relevant for film photography.

RTFM and then browse A few thousand old National Geographic magazines...