It’s coming! Black Friday! Cyber Monday! The holiday shopping season is at hand! This year Rocky Nook has the perfect gifts for the artists and photographers in your life. These titles include books for taking your passions to the next level, whether that be making the perfect ciabatta or snapping better portraits of your friends (or plants… or dogs…). Check out our gift guide for beautiful collector’s items, camera manuals for the latest cameras, and our hottest bestsellers!
You can watch the Rocky Nook 2020 Gift Guide, or scroll down to see it listed out!
For the Dog Lover:
Dogtography: A Knock-Your-Socks-Off Guide to Capturing the Best Dog Photos on Earth
by Kaylee Greer
Whether you’re a professional looking to up your dog photography game, or an amateur striving to take better pictures of your four-legged best friend, Dogtography is your guide to crafting jaw-dropping photographs that are exploding with character. And there is no better teacher than Kaylee Greer, one of the world’s top dog photographers. Dogtography is jam-packed with tips and tricks and—just like Kaylee and her award-winning photographs—an infectious personality.
For the Landscape Lover:
Light on the Landscape
by William Neill
Behold Light on the Landscape, from landscape photographer William Neill. Curated and collected here for the first time, and accompanying 128 beautiful photographs, the essays in this book are pragmatic and profound, offering readers an intimate look at Neill’s creative process and his philosophy and approach to work.
Don’t miss the beautiful hardcover, signed, limited edition of Light on the Landscape! Limited quantity available!
For the Street Photographer:
Street Photography Assignments: 75 Reasons to Hit the Streets and Learn
by Valerie Jardin
Street Photography Assignments: 75 Reasons to Hit the Streets and Learn provides dozens of prompts for you to practice to refine and improve your craft. These activities focus street portraits, gesture, shadows, silhouettes, rim light, humor, abstract, and more. Each assignment includes a description of the technique, various tips and tricks to practice, technical and compositional considerations, and an example photo that the author has captured when practicing the same exercise.
For the Garden Enthusiast:
Creative Garden Photography
by Harold Davis
In this long-awaited guide to garden and flower photography, noted photographer and author Harold Davis tackles the subject of garden photography with an expansive brush. Whether you’re photographing tiny flowers or grand landscapes, wandering outside in the garden or bringing the garden indoors, your photography will be enhanced using the many techniques in Creative Garden Photography.
For the Aspiring Professional:
These books are must-haves for the photographer looking to build their business and expand their arsenal of great go-to poses for any subject.
The Successful Professional Photographer
by Roberto Valenzuela
For nearly a decade, renowned wedding and portrait photographer Roberto Valenzuela has been sharing his vast knowledge and unique, systematic approach to making photographs as he has taught workshops around the world and written five critically acclaimed and bestselling books that cover composition, posing, lighting, and wedding photography (his Picture Perfect and Wedding Storyteller series of books). He has helped countless photographers improve their craft.
The Photographer’s Guide to Posing
by Lindsay Adler
Lindsay discusses elements that affect your subject’s
appearance in photographs, including how your camera sees, camera
angle, lens choice, perspective, body position, and more. She also
shares common “posing pitfalls” that can ruin an otherwise beautiful
poses and guides you through her posing essentials. You’ll learn how
to create endless posing opportunities by making small adjustments
to a base pose; you’ll also explore the critical techniques for bringing
out the best in various types of subjects, including men, women, curvy
women, and couples. Finally, this book covers how to train your eye to
recognize potential posing problems and teaches you how to create
flattering solutions.
The Posing Playbook for Kids
by Tamara Lackey
Tamara Lackey has been photographing children and families for years, and in The Posing Playbook for Photographing Kids, she teaches you her strategies and techniques for successfully posing and photographing children. The book begins with a discussion of “organic posing,” an approach to directing the subject that focuses on making small adjustments that build up to a successful shot. Tamara moves on to the psychology of photographing children, covering how to read your subjects, work with different personality types, and elicit genuine engagement. She also discusses gear, accessories, composition, lighting, and camera settings.
For the Photographer Wanting to Master Light:
These titles will teach any photographer to master the art of lighting the scene with strobes and reflectors. The techniques also cover the use of other accessories, like gels and modifiers, to produce cool effects. Learn to light beautifully and creatively in any scenario!
The Off-Camera Flash Handbook
by Vanessa Joy
If your past attempts at learning flash have all ended in failure (not to mention tears and/or blind rage), then The Off-Camera Flash Handbook is about to change everything for you. For years, photographer Vanessa Joy has been using off-camera flash to create gorgeous portraits that look like they were shot in the most beautiful natural light at the perfect time of day. Well, guess what? That consistent look was not created thanks to the most amazing luck with the weather. No. It was created by a pro photographer who mastered her use of off-camera flash. And with her down-to-earth and practical explanations, that’s exactly what Vanessa teaches you in this book.
Picture Perfect Lighting
by Roberto Valenzuela
Roberto has created a truly original system for understanding and controlling light in photography. After discussing the universal nature of light, Roberto introduces the five key behaviors of light, which are essential to understand in order to improve your knowledge of light. With those behaviors established, Roberto introduces his concept of “circumstantial light,” an ingenious way of examining and breaking down the light around you in any given situation. Providing a detailed analysis of circumstantial light, Roberto develops the top ten circumstantial light elements you need to know in order to fully harness the power of the light around you to create an image that is true to your vision.
Crafting the Natural Light Look
by Sandra Coan
Sandra Coan spent years honing her ability to use artificial light to recreate the look of beautiful, natural light. And now, with a simple one-light approach, she produces “natural” light whenever and wherever she likes, creating great portraits in any situation, at any time of day or night. It’s an approach that has led to a successful career spanning two decades and a signature look to her work. Here, in Crafting the Natural Light Look, Sandra shares her knowledge and techniques so that you, too, can learn to quickly and dependably create the look of natural light in your own portraiture. Unlike other books that address artificial light, Sandra’s tone is conversational and easygoing, and she does not cover everything there is to know about artificial light.
The Flash Book
by Scott Kelby
The Flash Book book was created to help you finally fall in love with your flash and the best news is, it’s way easier than you’d think. In fact, you’ll be surprised at how simple it really can be because you’re not going to learn a bunch of geeky flash stuff, and you’re not going to have to do math, and you’re not going to need a light meter (it’s not that kind of book). Instead, you’re going to learn an amazingly simple system—one that Scott has been using for years—and the best thing about this system is that it’s so darn easy (it’s probably very different from what you might have seen “on the Internet,” but this system works, and once you try it, you’ll become a believer).
The Dramatic Portrait
by Chris Knight
In The Dramatic Portrait: The Art of Crafting Light and Shadow, Chris Knight addresses portraiture with a unique approach to both light and shadow that allows you to improve and elevate your own portraiture. He begins with the history of portraiture, from the early work of Egyptians and Greeks to the sublime treatment of light and subject by artists such as Caravaggio, Rembrandt, and Vermeer. Chris then dives into a deep, hands-on exploration of light, shadow, and portraiture, offering numerous lessons and takeaways.
Chroma
by Nick Fancher
Learning to work with light is an important milestone in every photographer’s career, and the ability to craft light to fit your vision for an image is a skill that cannot be overrated. Most often, that crafting of light is spoken of in terms of the quality and quantity of light. But there is an important, third component of light that heavily influences the final look of the image: the color of light. In Chroma: A Photographer’s Guide to Lighting with Color, photographer Nick Fancher helps you elevate your game when it comes to introducing the bold, creative, and intentional use of color into your work.
For the Scott Kelby Fan:
Peruse our collection of Scott Kelby titles on a variety of topics including flash, landscape photography, and how-to guides for Lightroom and Photoshop. Don’t miss the updated version of the Digital Photography Book, the #1 best-selling digital photography book of all time!
The Digital Photography Book
by Scott Kelby
This is a completely, totally updated version of the #1 best-selling digital photography book of all time! It’s the award winning, worldwide smash hit, written by Scott Kelby, that’s been translated into dozens of different languages.
The Landscape Photography Book
by Scott Kelby
Have you ever dreamed of taking such incredible landscape photos that your friends and family say, “Wait a minute, this is your photo?! You took this?” Well, you’re in luck. Right here, in this book, pro photographer and award-winning author Scott Kelby teaches you how to shoot and edit jaw-dropping landscape photographs. Scott shares all his secrets and time-tested techniques, as he discusses everything from his go-to essential gear and camera settings to the landscape photography techniques you need to create absolutely stunning images. From epic scenes at sunrise to capturing streams and waterfalls with that smooth, silky look, and from photographing the night sky or the Milky Way to creating breathtaking, sweeping panoramas, Scott has got you covered.
How Do I Do That in Lightroom Classic?
by Scott Kelby
Lightroom has become the photographer’s tool because it just has so much power and so much depth, but because it has so much power and depth, sometimes the things you need are…well…kinda hidden or not really obvious. There will be a lot of times when you need to get something done in Lightroom, but you have no idea where Adobe hid that feature, or what the “secret handshake” is to do that thing you need now so you can get back to working on your images. That’s why this book was created: to get you to the technique, the shortcut, or exactly the right setting, right now.
How Do I Do That in Photoshop?
by Scott Kelby
Here’s how it works: When you need to know how to do a particular thing, you turn to the chapter where it would be found (Layers, Printing, Fixing Problems, Special Effects, etc.), find the thing you need to do (it’s easy, each page covers just one single topic), and Scott tells you exactly how to do it just like he was sitting there beside you, using the same casual style as if he were telling a friend. That way, you get back to editing your images fast.
The Natural Light Portrait Book
by Scott Kelby
What would your life be like if you could shoot absolutely amazing portraits? If you could be in any natural lighting situation, indoors or out, and know that you’d be able to create an amazing image every time? If you’ve ever dreamed of making such incredible portraits that your friends and family say, “Wait a minute, this is your photo!? You took this?” then you’re in luck.
The Flash Book
by Scott Kelby
This isn’t a book of theory, full of confusing jargon and complicated concepts. This is a book on which settings to use, and exactly how and when to use them. The whole book is written in Scott’s plain-English, down-to-earth style, which makes the experience more like the two of you are out together on a shoot. It’s time to fall truly head-over-heels in love with your flash, so you can start creating the type of images with your flash that you’ve always dreamed of, and this is the book that can take you there.
For the Mindful Photographer:
These titles bring the art and philosophies of photography to the forefront with essays about creativity, authenticity, and artistic representation through imagery.
The Soul of the Camera
by David duChemin
In The Soul of the Camera: The Photographer’s Place in Picture-Making, David explores what it means to make better photographs. Illustrated with a collection of beautiful black-and-white images, the book’s essays address topics such as craft, mastery, vision, audience, discipline, story, and authenticity. The Soul of the Camera is a personal and deeply pragmatic book that quietly yet forcefully challenges the idea that our cameras, lenses, and settings are anything more than dumb and mute tools. It is the photographer, not the camera, that can and must learn to make better photographs—photographs that convey our vision, connect with others, and, at their core, contain our humanity. The Soul of the Camera helps us do that.
The Heart of the Photograph
by David duChemin
From the big-picture questions—What do I want this image to accomplish?—to the more detail-oriented questions that help you get there—What is the light doing? Where do the lines lead? What can I do about it?—David walks you through his thought process so that you can establish your own. Along the way, he discusses the building blocks from which compelling photographs are made, such as gesture, balance, scale, contrast, perspective, story, memory, symbolism, and much more. The Heart of the Photograph is not a theoretical book. It is a practical and useful book that equips you to think more intentionally as a photographer and empowers you to ask more helpful questions of you and your work, so that you can produce images that are not only better than “good,” but as powerful and authentic as you hope them to be.
More Than a Rock, 2nd Edition
by Guy Tal
More Than a Rock, 2nd Edition is a passionate and personal book about creativity and expression. In this series of over 70 brief essays, photographer and teacher Guy Tal shares his thoughts and experiences as an artist who seeks to express more in his images than the mere appearance of the subject portrayed. Following up on the success of the first edition, this revised edition contains updated imagery, a new essay in each of the book’s four sections—Art, Craft, Experiences, and Meditations—and is presented in a beautiful hardcover format.
Authentic Portraits
by Chris Orwig
In Authentic Portraits, photographer Chris Orwig teaches you that the secret to creating meaningful portraits is simple: curiosity, empathy, kindness, and soul…plus a bit of technique. While Chris spends significant time on the fundamentals of “getting the shot”—working with natural light, nailing focus, dialing in the correct exposure, effectively posing and directing the subject, intentionally composing the frame—he also passionately discusses the need for personal development, creative collaboration, and connection with the subject. Because who you are directly and deeply affects what you create, and it is only through cultivating your own inner light that you will be able to bring it out in your subjects.
For the New Camera Owner:
Rocky Nook has your camera guide needs covered. And don’t forget our durable pocket guides for easy reference in the field!
For The Artist:
Rocky Nook also has titles for the crafters, creators, and artists in your life. You can gift these books to enthusiasts looking to enhance their knowledge, or to novices as a gateway to a new hobby. Check out the best-selling Morpho anatomy drawing guides and Hand Lettering on the iPad with Procreate—follow step-by-step lessons for incredible results.
Morpho: Anatomy for Artists
by Michel Lauricella
In this book, Michel Lauricella presents both his artistic and systematic methods for drawing the human body—with drawing techniques from the écorché (showing the musculature underneath the skin) to sketches of models in action. In more than 1000 illustrations, the human body is shown from a new perspective—from bone structure to musculature, from anatomical detail to the body in motion. Morpho is a rich, fascinating, and helpful book that can go with you everywhere on your sketching journey.
Morpho: Skelton and Bone Reference Points
by Michel Lauricella
This book provides a simplified and practical vision of the human skeleton to help you in your drawing studies. Here you will find the most common and useful approaches to the body’s underlying skeleton and bone structure, which will fuel your imagination and enrich your observational skills as you draw the living form. In this small, portable guide, artist and teacher Michel Lauricella focuses on the essentials you need to know, creating a book that is highly usable and helpful for artists of all kinds.
Morpho: Simplified Forms
by Michel Lauricella
This small, portable book presents a unique perspective on the human body for artists to study and implement in their drawing work. In this book, artist and teacher Michel Lauricella simplifies the human body into basic shapes and forms, offering profound insight for artists of all kinds, sparking the imagination and improving one’s observational abilities. Rather than going the traditional route of memorizing a repertoire of poses, Lauricella instead stresses learning this small collection of forms, which can then be combined and shaped into the more complex and varied forms and postures we see in the living body.
Morpho: Hands and Feet
by Michel Lauricella
In Morpho: Hands and feet, artist and teacher Michel Lauricella presents a unique approach to learning to draw the human body. In this book, Lauricella focuses exclusively on the hands and feet—arguably the most popular and, for many, the most challenging parts of the body to draw successfully. Breaking the subject matter down into the underlying skeletal shapes, followed by the musculature, then skin and fat, and finally, the veins, Lauricella offers multiple approaches—from simple forms to complex renderings—and a plethora of positions and gestures are included to help you improve your drawing skills.
Morpho: Joint Forms and Muscular Functions
by Michel Lauricella
In Morpho: Joint forms and muscular functions, artist and teacher Michel Lauricella presents a mechanical view of the human body. In the same way that paleontologists work, we can deduce the body’s muscular functions by studying the shapes of the bones. Starting with the joints, which are reduced to simple shapes such as pulleys and spheres, Lauricella teaches you their connections and correspondences with the muscular system, which is necessary for understanding movement.
Morpho: Fat and Skin Folds
by Michel Lauricella
In Morpho: Fat and Skin Folds, artist and teacher Michel Lauricella presents a unique approach to learning to draw the human body. The typical approach to teaching anatomy and the sketching of the human form most often focuses on the skeleton and musculature. What often goes ignored is the skin itself—how it moves and the expressions it creates as the body moves and changes positions. This book presents a simplified and practical vision of the fat and skin folds of the human body to help you in your drawing studies, encouraging both accuracy and a rich, diverse representation of the human form. Geared toward artists of all levels—from beginners through professionals—this handy, pocket-sized book will help spark your imagination and creativity.
Hand Lettering on the iPad with Procreate
by Liz Kohler Brown
Hand Lettering on the iPad with Procreate is the ultimate guide to every step of the digital hand lettering process. Using the versatile and intuitive iPad drawing and design app Procreate, author and noted lettering instructor Liz Brown composes a series of fun and easy lettering projects that will build confidence by giving all the necessary tools to create gorgeous compositions from the ground up. Each project comes with its own Procreate brush downloads so users can follow along to create their own unique hand lettered quotes, words, and phrases.
For the Crafter:
The Diamond Painting Guide and Logbook
by Jennifer Roberts
Colorful, creative, and totally addictive, diamond painting has taken the crafting world by storm. Now, with The Diamond Painting Guide and Logbook readers can get expert advice and inspiration on how to take their artwork to the next level.
For Those with Kids:
LEGO® With Dad
by Warren Nash
LEGO® With Dad is the ultimate guide to utilizing your bricks to make creative new projects. No expensive new sets required! With detailed instructions on the basic building techniques as well as more advanced and complex builds, this book is perfect for parents and kids all skill levels.
For the Baker:
Wild Yeast: The French Baker’s Guide to Making Your Own Starter for Delicious Bread, Pizza, Desserts, and More!
by Mouni Abdelli
French baker Mouni Abdelli invites you to discover the joy and satisfaction of making your own natural sourdough starter. Over the course of the book, you will become a breadmaking expert as you learn to maintain your starter—feeding it, storing it, and using it to make delicious homemade breads, baguettes, ciabatta, challah, tortillas, pita, pizza dough, donuts, brownies, and more.