In a photography group on Flickr, I recently asked participants to name their photography gurus.<\/p>\n
To me a guru is more than just someone whose work you admire and try to emulate. It\u2019s also someone who\u2019s a teacher. We don\u2019t necessarily try to imitate the styles of our gurus, but we learn from their ideas and techniques as we develop our own styles.<\/p>\n
In my first attempt to answer my own question, I named three photographers whose work I admire for very different reasons. Each though, has published numerous books and articles explaining their techniques \u2013 often in an entertaining manner.<\/p>\n
They are:<\/strong><\/p>\n Joe McNally<\/strong> <\/a>– Joe is an expert on using portable strobes on location, and often works with multiple flashes, linking them wirelessly through the Nikon Creative Lighting System (CLS). Even if you’re not a Nikonian, you’ll learn a lot from his highly readable books like The Hot Shoe Diaries and When the Shutter Clicks. I highly recommend a DVD he appears in A Hands-on Guide to Creative Lighting. His work appears in some of the best magazines, like National Geographic and Sports Illustrated.<\/p>\n Bryan Peterson<\/strong> <\/a>– Bryan runs the online Perfect Picture School of Photography, and he’s authored a number of photography books. I really like the way he focuses on creativity and technique, and dispels the idea that expensive gear is the key to successful photography. He has a very clear and accessible way of explaining things, and his books are richly illustrated with his photos. Some I’ve read are: Understanding Exposure, Understanding Close-up Photography, and Beyond Portraiture: Creative People Photography. Excellent books for beginners, but also lots for more experienced photographers.<\/p>\n Scott Kelby<\/strong> <\/a>– Scott is the guru for post production using software like Photoshop and Lightroom. He too provides online training. As he is a photographer, his books are geared to photographers. He has a goofy sense of humour that isn’t for everyone, but he has a great way of explaining things.<\/p>\n I soon realized that all three of them were American. Nothing wrong with that, of course, but as a Canadian who enjoys landscape photography, I thought I\u2019d better add three Canadian landscape photographers who have also written numerous articles and books I\u2019ve found helpful as I\u2019ve developed my technique:<\/p>\n Darwin Wiggett<\/strong> darwinwiggett.wordpress.com\/<\/a> – based in Alberta.<\/p>\n Daryl Benson<\/strong> www.darylbenson.com\/<\/a> – another Albertan.<\/p>\n Dale Wilson<\/strong> www.dalewilsonphotography.com\/<\/a> – from Nova Scotia.<\/p>\n Others answered with names of photographers they admire, who aren\u2019t necessarily teachers. Check out the discussion:<\/p>\n