As we’re approaching Fall, I’d like to suggest some recommended reading for you during those stormy days inside (if you’re not out photographing the great dramatic landscapes in the storms). I have to be honest, I’m a big fan of printed books and my collection continues to grow. There is something about the tactile experience of holding a book, feeling the paper and smelling the ink, seeing the images in reflected light (not on a screen) and the ability to go as slow or as fast as you want through the book. See, reading online is fine and good for a lot of things, but it’s missing the more nuanced experience. In our on-screen behavior, we are conditioned to scroll and often times scroll as fast as we can. Read what we need and move on to the next page, etc. With a physical book, there is something, dare I say ritualistic, about finishing a page and engaging in the act of turning that page to the next, revealing the contents and surprises that may await.
The closest equivalent (and I’m dating myself here) is the experience of listing to an LP record versus a CD. With a CD you just pop it in the disk player, press play, throw the case on the shelf and listen. When playing a record, it requires much more attention to the actual act of playing the music and is therefore more engaging in my opinion. Taking the record out of its jacket and sleeve, cleaning off any dust, setting the platter spinning and then lowering the needle…much more engaging than with a CD. Then, halfway through, you have to flip the record over to play the other side. Remember the album artwork on records? Something tactile and engaging to read while you sat there and listened to music. You don’t get that with CDs. The same is true, to a point, with reading online versus a printed book. Reading online has been scientifically studied and has shown that there is less engagement and retention than when reading a printed book. It may be a generational thing in who they studied, as the digital generation feels more comfortable with reading online than us older folks and they don’t have the same history with printed books that older folks do. Regardless, my belief is that any activity that you are more engaged in to practice, will be more engaging and therefore more enjoyable.
So, lets get on to some recommended reading suggestions for you.
Another Day Not Wasted by Guy Tal
If you’ve been around the photographic community for even a little bit, you’ve probably heard of Guy Tal. Guy is one of the most prolific and insightful people I’ve ever met and his ability to express his thoughts in such an eloquent way is truly amazing! And, not just “easy” thoughts, Guy delves in to some very deep subjects and yet has a way of writing that can bring almost anyone along on his journey. Guy has been a frequent guest on our WeTalkPhoto podcast 
discussing his various books, his approach to life and creative endeavors and just sharing his latest thinking. His previous book, More Than A Rock, was a fantastic introduction to Guy and how he approaches navigating life and pursuing his creative career.
His latest book is titled Another Day Not Wasted and was just released this summer. It is a collection of 36 essays, arranged in to 4 sub-topics; On Self Expression in Photography, On Philosophical Thinking, On Landscape, On Wild Experiences. This isn’t a guide book or a how-to guide, instead it focuses on Guy’s contemplations, experiences, and the rewards of living a creative life.
See his interview with Brooks Jensen of Lenswork Magazine
I gotta say, this is a “must read” for anyone who is on a creative journey, and most everyone who isn’t. You can read the book sequentially, or jump to individual essays that grab your attention. I recently finished the book, I read it front to back, and all I can say is “wow”, Guy knocked it out of the park on this one. Do yourself a favor and pick up a copy for the next rainy day reading session.
Photographing Acadia National Park, vol 2, by Colleen Miniuk
The next title on my recommended reading list is a bit more specialized, but one that can be the definitive guide if you ever travel to Acadia National Park. Colleen Miniuk just released the second edition of this fantastically selling guidebook and it is now 
available in print, or as an e-book for use on portable tablets (useful when traveling). Photographing Acadia National Park: The Essential Guide to When, Where, and How will help you get in the right place at the right time to create your own treasured photographs of Maine’s coastal gem.
Colleen is a 3-time artist in residence in Acadia NP and has a passion for this park that comes through in the information she lays out in the book. She does a fantastic job of preparing a first-time visitor, or seasoned veteran, to the park to have a great foundation with which to capture some great images. She walks the reader through locations, times of year, a smidge of photography tutelage that she finds helpful for that specific location. The book has three major sections of locations, corresponding to the three main areas of the park. What is particularly intriguing about this book is that Colleen does not steer photographers to the most popular locations, such as Bass Harbor Lighthouse or Cadillac Mountain. Instead, she uses her deep knowledge to suggest locations that are photographically rewarding on many levels and maybe more importantly, not over-run by other photographers or tourists. This book can guide you to less popular spots that really capture the essence of the park, while not having to worry about congestion.
If you are considering a trip to Acadia National Park, this book is a must have on your recommended reading list.
America from 500′ by Bill Fortney and Mark Kettenhofen
Last but not least is this wonderful book by my friend Bill Fortney. It is a visual essay of our great country as shot from 500′. America from 500′ II is the second book in the series and one that 
Bill and Mark put a lot of sweat, tears and love in to and it shows. The first edition is still available HERE. For those of you who fly drones, you know how the landscape changes with just a little bit of altitude, and so it is with this book. What would be “normal” shots turn spectacular when shot from 100′-500′. Bill and Mark shot most of the images using powered parachutes, flying low and slow over the landscape. A few shots were done using small airplanes when the parachutes weren’t feasible.
With a forward by Scott Kelby and Joe McNally, you know that this book that is the real deal. It is a coffee table sized book, hardbound, book that is 207 pages long. Along with hundreds of beautiful images, Bill and Mark tell their stories about this passionate project and how they captured each image and why they chose these images. In this amazingly diverse country there is so much to photograph, but when you get off the ground and in to the air, the photographic possibilities are endless! Bill and Mark captured what I would consider much of the “essence” of our country in this book and I came away feeling grateful to live in this beautiful land.
And there ya have a few titles that I can suggest to add to your recommended reading list. Food for the brain in Guys book. Something to fuel your wanderlust and travel bug in Colleens book. And a big shot of inspiration and wonder in Bills book. If these don’t inspire you to pick up a book, go find one that does. There’s nothing like sitting down with a good book to pass the time during the winter season. As the old saying goes, reading is fundamental.
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