For the Love of Books

Where would we be without our wealth of books? On our shelves, our night stands, our coffee tables. Reading to ourselves, to our children, or being read to. Words, illustrations, pictures. Covers, sleeves, pages. Oh, our beloved books!

Ever since our very first Shutter Sisters book has been out, we've seen it on bookstore shelves, being busted out of Amazon boxes, displayed in your homes. There have been encouraging words, rave reviews, and giveaways. We cannot thank you enough for all of your support!

With all this good stuff to report, we've decided to create a little home pagefor all the links that are around the blogosphere. Have your shared your thoughts on Expressive Photography on your blog or somewhere else around the wonderfully wide web?  Please share it with us on our new Expressive Photography page here at Shutter Sisters. And if you've got a shot of the book to share, we've got a new place for those too! It's called Book Sightings and it's just for pictures of the book. All you have to do is add your images into our Flickr Pool tagged "Expressive Photography" (with the quotes) and we'll be featuring your sightings! What better way to celebrate?

And because we are focusing on the love of books of all kinds, our generous sponsor this month Focal Press has offered a number of their stellar titles to YOU for a book love giveaway day today.

All you have to do is share a comment on this post between now and Sunday 11/27 at midnight EST to be entered to win one of these photography titles from Focal Press:

Expressive Photography: A Shutter Sister Guide to Shooting from the Heart (wink wink)

The Elements of Photographyby Angela Faris Belt

Plastic Cameras: Toying with Creativity by Michelle Bates

Lensbaby: Bending Your Perspectiveby Corey Hiltz

The Photographer's Eye: Composition and Design for Better Digital Photos by Michael Freeman

Books! Books! And more books! 5 books means 5 winners! YAY! So, this post begs the question: what are your favorite books? Do tell the story!

Comments

[Anthony]

Sorry for the second post, but some of my favorite books include Lord of the Rings and Sisters of the Earth (really!) Sisters of the Earth is a collection of writings by natural history related female authors such as Terry Tempest Williams (my favorite female author). As far as photographic books, I grew up as a photographer loving to do landscape photography, thus enjoyed photo how-to books by Ansel Adams (The Negative) and such, but I’ve recently discovered the joys of people photography through being a father of a wonderful 5-year old - hence my discovery of this website while I was searching the web for insights and suggestions on photographing children. I think I found my answer here too – just do it from the heart…

[Kathy Jo Camamcho]

If I won one of these books... I'd wrap it up and put it under the Christmas tree for me! It's not Christmas without a book to open.

[Kristie]

Right now I don't have any favorites photography books but I'm trying desperately to learn and know there's so much to learn.....yikes!

[Karen]

I have the shutter sisters book on my nightstand and read from it each night. I would be thrilled to add another beautiful book to my collection!

[Lorena Mora]

My favorite books are definitely ones I can read to my kids. But I always forget myself, I love to read and learn things so any one of these photography books would be awesome to have! Keeping my fingers crossed.

[Martha Cardenas]

It would be awesome to win one of these books. I only have Understanding Exposures at the moment.

[Dario Cordova]

Very cool giveaway. I was just at the bookstore and was overwhelmed with all the photography books. I'm definitely going to write this list down and check them out. Hopefully I win!

[MaryAnn P]

I would love love love to win!

[wendy]

Well, my *favourite* book is Pride & Prejudice. I love Jane Austen! But I'd be super thrilled to win *your* book... it looks great!

[Leslie]

I just received my Expressive Photography. I can’t wait to start reading... if I win another I will offer it as a gift.

[kerri]

My favorite photography book so far is David duChemin's Within the Frame. My favorite work of literature is Les Miserables (unabridged) by Victor Hugo, but most all Dickens and Austen titles are tops as well. I LOVE to read non-fiction... As I am obsessed with photography, this giveaway has me salivating!

[Christa Allgood]

My favorite book of all time is Gone With the Wind....I've probably read it 10 or 12 times. Sometimes I just open it up and read a few pages.

[not2tall1]

I'm not really sure I can choose just one favourite book...but I have been hoping a copy of Expressive Photography will appear under the Christmas tree on Christmas morning (even if I end up having to give it to myself!)...

[zenazero]

One of my favorite books about photography is a classic by Susan Sontag " About Photography "

[Kristin]

What a wonderful giveaway! I am always seeking to grow as a photographer and I would love to have one of these books to inspire me! I recently read The Help and loved it, so it's probably my current favorite book :)

[Deirdre (superdewa)]

I love your book! I will take some photos of it.

[Laurie]

I'd say one of my favorite books is Of Love and Shadows by Isabel Allende. It's one of a very few books that I've actually read twice-the first time for the story and the second time just because it was written so well.

[Angie @ Just Like The Number]

I don't own any photography books yet, but could definitely use the inspiration and knowledge. I love literature set in the south, and re-read "To Kill a Mockingbird" every year. My new favorite is "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett.

[LCSmithSAVED]

The Bible, Little House Books, Atlas Shrugged, Rogets Thesaurus

[Sarah S]

I have Expressive Photography and LOVE it!!

[Kim]

Oops, I accidentally closed my tab, and I think my comment didn't post. If I post twice, please excuse me!

I'm assuming we're talking about photography books? Because if we're opening it up beyond that, I don't even know where to start! Well, okay, I'd start with the Alice in Wonderland books, but I couldn't possibly stop there!

As for photography books, I'll go with what's at the top of my current wishlist:

Andrew Zuckerman's Bird
Andrew Zuckerman's Creature
Leonard Nimoy's The Full Body Project

[jennifer]

I don't have any books on photography yet... I'd love to start with Expressive Photography! One of my favorite books of all time is The Artist's Way -- it's life-changing!

[Andrea]

I love books that give me a new perspective on things. I'm currently reading Michael Pollan's Second Nature. He does with words what my favorite photographers do with photos.

[schtanzerl]

It's like a treasure when kids are asleep and I find time to read within "Expressive Photography" ...

[Barbara]

Love your site and would love to win one of those great books!

[Stephanie]

I have a semi-fancy schmancy camera but have never learned how to really use it. I can take lovely photos with it but have no idea what most of my settings do. I am slowly learning and my goal is to fully take advantage of the fact that I have a decent camera within the next six months. These books would provide great motivation to keep down this path.

[Loranika]

My favorite book is: Little Woman by Louisa May Alcott. There are many but this one I really like.
I also hope to win the photography books....really really hope..

[Leslie]

I would love to own any or all of these books! They would also make awesome gifts.

[cara]

I would love a copy of Expressive Photography for xmas, but I'm also fascinated by Lensbaby lenses, so that would be a good one too! I don't have any photography books.
As an English major, I have too many favorite literature books to start listing them here. ;-)

[Sarah S.]

My favourite photography book is Robert Frank's 'The Americans,' but I would love to read all of the books on this list.

[Michelle]

These books look great! I already have a copy of EP... ;)

[Ellen]

Expressive Photography is definitely on my wish list! But my favorite books are probably the ones that let me escape the real world for a couple minutes or hours! :)

[Jessica]

ANYTHING by Michael Freeman is great! I also have the Angela farris Belt book and really got a lot out of it as well. I've become a focal books fan girl! They rock! : )

[hillary]

i just love my expressive photography book. i love the layout and the way the chapters are organized. and i love getting to know the writers through their words and photos! would love to win another of the titles, or to give away a copy of expressive! thank you for this giveaway!

[pavel]

Expressive Photography its really great ! thanks