I was intrigued when I saw this article, 5 Photography Books from My Shelf, by Dylan Goldby over at f-stoppers. Three of the five are familiar to me and I’m particularly curious about “Belgrade Belongs to Me” by Boogie. That’s why I like these lists. They tell me a little about the person posting the list and they introduce me to books of which I’m not yet aware.

This made me think about which five I would pull from my shelf. As you probably know, I’ve just self-published my own book, which has been pretty darn exciting, so I decided to put mine with four other books that have helped shape me and the work I do.

** Books mentioned below have Amazon affiliate links, meaning I make a few cents if you purchase through my link. I only recommend books that I’ve read.

1. Small Island, Big Picture by Alexandra de Steiguer

Alexandra de Steiguer is the winter caretaker (by herself) for Star Island, ten miles off the coast of New Hampshire. She’s also an amazing photographer. The subtitle of her book is “Winters of Solitude Teach an Artist to See.” I had the pleasure of doing a workshop on Star Island and hearing de Steiguer speak. She lives a very contemplative life while living on the island and this shows through her beautiful work. When I saw her book at the Star Island bookstore, I felt a strong connection through my entire body. That’s when I knew I had to buy it, no matter the price.

2. Ansel Adams, Letters and Images (1916 – 1984)

I write about this book in my own because it was the one that prompted me to take my first darkroom photography class. I was struck by Adams’ passion for life and wilderness. It pointed to something I was missing myself at that particular time. In a letter to his soon-to-be wife he wrote,

“The more of beauty in the mind, the more of peace in the spirit. The structure of life we build for ourselves determines the color of our soul. Develop the sense of inner beauty and majesty of Nature.”

From that point on, I wanted to develop that inner beauty in myself.

3. Shadowlight by Freeman Patterson

I also tell a story in the book about going to a Freeman Patterson workshop. What a role model he has been for me, through his workshops, many books, and the way he lives his life. Shadowlight is the most autobiographical of his many works. It gets to the heart of who he is and why he does what he does. And, the images are incredible. The one on the cover of this book is printed and framed on my living room wall (you can see a hint of it at the top of the picture above). Patterson teaches all over the world, but mostly in his beloved home of Shamper’s Bluff, New Brunswick. This quote from Shadowlight will tell you something of the man.

“For more than twenty years, Shamper’s Bluff has been my home, not because I live and work here much of the year, but because I am part of a nourishing, enabling, sustaining community, including humans, from which I take and to which I give.”

Read this post about Freeman Patterson’s Gardens.

4. The Practice of Contemplative Photography by Michael Wood and Andy Karr

This was the first of many wonderful books on contemplative photography that I’ve read since 2010. Participating in a Miksang workshop in Boulder, Colorado, led by Michael Wood and Julie duBose, was a highlight of my life. They are masters of teaching you to become aware of your perceptions.

“Labeling things “beautiful” and “ugly” masks what they really look like. When you pick and choose in this way, all you really see are the masks, which are your own mental fabrications. Living artistically means appreciating things as they are, in an intimate, unbiased way.” ~ The Practice of Contemplative Photography

I posted about each of the chapters in this book. Here’s Chapter 1.

5. Adventures in Seeing: How the Camera Teaches You to Pause, Focus, and Connect with Life by Kim Manley Ort

This is not your usual photography book. Yes, it contains 45 photographic prompts or exercises. They are “calls to adventure” in the book because the idea is to use your camera as an instrument to help you see in new and surprising ways. The goal is to bring greater awareness and engagement with everyday life. The photographs you make are a bonus. This is a book to DO rather than READ (although there are stories to read).

I must admit, seeing my book on top of these four important books in my life made me tear up a little. A part of the Adventures in Seeing book pays homage to my own mentors in seeing, of which the authors of these four books are only a few. Each of these books contributed to the creation of mine.

Which photography books have shaped you?