Reviews & Technical Resources

Digital Photography Review has excellent in-depth reviews, sample images and more.

Photography Review. Looking at buying a camera? Check out the review first.

Photodo.com has hundreds of technical reviews of camera lenses.

Tech Travel FAQ has many areas of useful info like electrical standards, plug and phone socket types, digital storage media safety and so on.

Some Personal Favourite Photographers & Websites

Steve McCurry Beautiful and insightful photographs. Many of India and Afghanistan.

Carl de Keyzer The way Carl lights his shots does my head in. Amazing.

Magnum Photos Some of the world's best documentary photographers.

VII Photo Agency Another group of amazing documentary photographers.

Lomography Some of the most stylish images taken on extremely basic cameras.

Pinhole Fantastic images from the most basic of cameras - ones you can make yourself.

California Light & Structure Some sensational landscape images.

Young Photographers United a foundation supporting and promoting young, unkown photographers.

National Geographic No introduction needed.

TrekEarth Images from around the world.

Books

There are obviously many beautiful books available that will offer insight and inspiration. I find that studying how the photographer has achieved a particular image helps me develop my skills, even if my style and subject matter is often completely different.

Some of my favourite photographers include Sebastiao Salgado, James Nachtwey, Don McCullen, Raghu Rai, Philip Jones Griffiths, Josef Koudelka among others.

DVD

If you haven't seen the film Baraka you must. In fact, buy it now - it is just amazing. Less well know, but also incredible are Powaqqatsi, Koyaanisqatsi and Naqoyqatsi by director Godfrey Reggio. I carry these films with me when I travel and watch them again and again. Everytime I see new things - it is a wonderful visual, aural and mental challenge. The website Spirit of Baraka has information and links about these and other films and their creators.

A film you must see before going to Mexico is Frida. Selma Hayek plays Frida Kahlo wonderfully, and the integration of Frida's art within this film make it worth owning.

Winged Migration and MicroCosmos are stunning films about nature that have an entirely different perspective on life. Extraordinary.

Learning Resources

Magic Lantern Guides make books for a specific camera and work much like an extended manual explaining some of the features of your camera. This link will take you to Amazon where you can type in your camera model in the search box.

Canon Digital Learning Center has some excellent lessons on getting the most from your digital camera whether you have a Canon or not.

Kodak's Take Great Pictures Another good online course.

Agfa Classic Photo Course has many useful tips, ideas and lessons.