Another New Toy

Although my Nikon D700 is the killer DSLR for assignment-type work, most of the time you just want to carry with you a light compact that is not intimidating to other people. Thanks to Fujifilm that released their Leica-like X100, an APS-C sized sensor rangefinder-like digicam, that doesn't just have superior image quality but looks beautiful too. I bought this in early April 2011 for RM3,888 and got the leather case for free.

Henri Cartier-Bresson - The Modern Century

Peter Gallasi, 2010 [Biography]

This very large book covers the life of perhaps the greatest photographer of the twentieth century. It chronicles his career that spans over sixty years, and shows his photojournalistic pursuits and endeavours, always capturing the vagaries of human behaviour and to produce some of the most memorable and compelling photographs ever published. You can flip though tons of his most famous pictures, and included are a great number images that will be unfamiliar even to specialists. The extensive supporting material - featuring detailed chronologies of the photographer's professional travels and of spreads of his picture stories as they appeared in magazines - will revolutionize the study of Cartier-Bresson's work.

Show more

More information on Amazon.

Show less

Street Photography Now

Sophie Howarth and Stephen McLaren, 2012 [Technique]

This large book presents the work of almost four dozens contemporary image-makers noted for their candid depictions of everyday life in our streets, interspersed with four thought-provoking essays that explores the compelling and often controversial issues in the genre. If anything, the selection of photos makes you realise that there is such a large spectrum of subjects and scenes that can fall in the category of street photography, and an infinite number of styles and approaches were used to express them. Certainly the skills of the photographer, in terms of his vision, observation, anticipation and perseverance outweigh the technical considerations of camera brand, lenses and accessories.

More information on Amazon.

Within the Frame : The Journey of Photographic Vision

David duChemin, 2009 [Technique]

This is a book about chasing your vision and telling your stories as clearly and passionately as possible with compelling photography. It emphasises on discovering your personal vision, evolving it and then expressing it through the visual capture using your camera. It encourages to shoot what moves your heart and mind, and necessitates the need to care and understand the subject. What to include and exclude in the frame, and the consideration of light and time, are part of the discussion on composition, and proceeds to enlighten us on storytelling approaches, and the various styles and techniques on capturing people, places and culture.

More information at Amazon.