The Moment it Clicks

Self motivation is always a tricky one for me, so one of the ways i keep myself motivated and inspired is to read photography books. The right type of book will really help me to get into the zone and get me wanting to get out there with my camera(s).

I recently finished reading a great photography book called The Moment it Clicks by Joe McNally. This guy really knows his stuff when it comes to portable flash lighting. Well, all lighting actually. Joe McNally is a photographer that has worked for National Geographic and other magazines for many years (check out his blog here), and this book takes you through some of his photos and assignments. He explains how he got the shot in an interesting and often amusing way.

Annie Lebovitz

I didn’t really know too much about American photographer Annie Leibovitz until recently. I think she came to my attention when she photographed the Queen a while ago. There was all that hooha with a BBC documentary that was also being made. 
I recently read her new book ‘Annie Leibovitz At Work’. It’s a book of some of her most famous photographs (obviously) together with stories behind them, and some technical talk. I found it an enjoyable read. The stories about when she worked for Rolling Stone magazine are interesting and made me feel “why aren’t there any cool and creative magazines like that around now?!”. Not that i’ve ever read Rolling Stone, and i get the impression that it is quite different now than it was way back then, but it seemed like a really cool time to be a photographer and a very cool mag to work for.

What have we got these days? Nuts, Zoo etc!!!! Of course, i have to say that i’ve not actually looked into this to see whats out there other than perusing the shelves of WH Smiths when going to buy my copy of Professional Photographer magazine and Scooby Doo comic. Times have changed, and the world of photography and publishing is certainly a much more competitive sophisticated business.