books, books, books

the canon eos digital rebel/450d companion by ben long

to be honest, this is a book i haven't owned or read all the way through, but i've flipped through it at barnes & noble several times. every time i've learned something new about my camera. i think the next camera i get, i'll actually go out and purchase a companion book along with it. the most important tool is your camera, why not know the specifics on it? 

digital photography bootcamp by kevin kubota

in photography land, kevin kubuta is a celebrity. this book is great. full of basics and tips and wonderful examples. highly recommended.

fast track photographer by dane sanders

this book is written by another celebrity in the photography world. this book is the best for the business side of photography. while a lot of it runs a little strong for my taste (ryan's the business minded one in this relationship), it's useful. and it got me acting more like a business owner than a photographer. in the long run, i think that's going to help me more than not.

national geographic digital photography field guide by rob sheppard

the best for understanding the very basics of digital photography. illustrates exposure, shutter speed, apeture, memory cards, etc. if you don't read this, or just skim it as a refresher, you'll be missing out!