Resources

Every photographer has resources, and in this day and age it's not just people and places, but books, journals, Websites, and then people and places. And every photographer's resources are specific to their interests in photography, which is usually listed under "Links" Web page on their Website. But I don't list any, for that very reason, it doesn't make any sense that my resources would be of interest to you except maybe to think, "Hmmm..., interesting."

So I'll list the most important to me here, just so you know where I'm coming from and where I'm at, sorta' speaking. So, here they are by type.

Journals

I only subscribe to four magazines and journals, I prefer to view and sometimes read them first on a newstand, which Seattle-Tacoma is rich with independent and chain book and magazine stores. In photography I subscribe to the three I consider the best to read. These are:

LensWork - http://www.lenswork.com/
View Camera - http://www.viewcamera.com/
Photo Techniques - http://www.phototechmag.com/

And the fourth? I've been an incidental fly fisherman for almost 30 years and have subscribed to Fly Fisherman ever since. You can't go wrong with this magazine.

Websites

While there are a lot of personal and professional photographer's Website, I only recommend two for consistent information by excellent photographers. These are:

Photo.net - http://www.photo.net/
LF Photography - http://www.largeformatphotography.info/
   and especially the "Question and Answer" forum.

Books

Ah, books, there are so many, so much to read, and so much to learn in photography. But really, not if you focus on a few good ones. And being a research reader, meaning I keep and read books for times I need specific information and rarely read them through, but simply keep them as references. However, a few are good enough for me to sit down over time and read cover to cover. These are:


"Using the View Camera", by Steve Simmons, Amphoto,
"A User's Guide to the View Camera", by Jim Stone, Prentice-Hall,
"View Camera Technique", by Leslie Stroebel, Focal Press,
"Large Format Nature Photography", by Jack Dykinga, Amphoto,
"Galen Rowell's Inner Game of Outdoor Photography", by Galen Rowell, WW Norton & Co.


That's about it for me, except the occasional philosophy or essays on photography. Bookstores are full of technical books on photography, and they beat you to death with technology and techniques, but in the end, the most important part is you, the photographer. The rest are the mechanics.

Organizations

Every photographer should belong to some organization who's philosophy they believe is good for the environment and their profession. Personally, I belong to only two. These are:

The Mountaineers - http://www.mountaineers.org/
The Washington Trails Association - http://www.wta.org/

Sorry, I'm no longer a member of the Sierra Club, I don't like the local chapter's treatment of members, and some of the national Chapter's political philosophy and views. They're a very top-down organization which takes your money and then ignores you unless you want to be fodder for their politics. It's sad they're not better considering their history and achievements.

But that's life. So, that's it as they say, and also, "Think Global, Act local.", to which I'll add, "Carry a camera."