I'm sure folks younger than me have numerous candidates for this list, but for me, the past decade or so hasn't been all that interesting. Yes, the new tools are great, but maybe that's a problem? That being said, I'd have to mention Angela Bacon-Kidwell even though she's guilty of placing angel wings on a human, which was a ubiquitous trangression in the early days of digital and one that I thought I could never forgive. Digital photography seems a natural vehicle for Bacon-Kidwell's vision in a way that I rarely see for others.

Luke, every now and then I look at my darkroom light switch and wonder why did I place it so high? (It's about six feet from the floor.) You've reminded me.

Setting larkish and owlish genetic tendencies aside, I'm all for scheduling sleep-time in order to get as much daylight as possible. I'm pretty sure our mental health benefits from daylight; I know mine does. It saddens me to think of owls sleeping through the sweet light of morning. I rejoice at Daylight Savings Time and always regret its passing in the fall.

This is exactly the sort of camera I jump for, except I made the move a few days ago to the Sigma DP1 Merrill. Why? Because 28mm-E is my go-to focal length for landscape and because there are darn few good (affordable, reasonably sized, optically excellent) lens choices in that focal length matched to a state-of-the-art APS sensor.

Where you refer to "truthfulness in movies," I wonder whether "truthiness" might be more apt.

In the first paragraph of Dowd's piece, she references the film Argo and "courageous Canadian diplomats." Dowd gets it right by mentioning the Canadians first. Unlike their portrayal in the film, the CIA were minor players. Here's an account of "Ken Taylor and the Canadian Caper" on a Government of Canada website: http://international.gc.ca/history-histoire/people-gens/ken_taylor.aspx?lang=eng&view=d

I just placed my order, but I feel bad that you, Mike, won't benefit. As a Canadian, I prefer to buy at Chapters.indigo.ca, and that's where I've purchased a number of books you've recommended. Have you looked at their affiliate program?

'On Being A Photographer' is available in print (via Lulu), in Kindle format, and in ePUB format through Lenswork: http://www.lenswork.com/obp.htm

I think it's important to consider aspect ratio when photographs comprise a series, e.g. in a monograph, portfolio, or exhibition. Some thoughtful variation often livens things up, but I very much dislike layouts where aspect ratios are all over the place. So, for me, shooting to a particular aspect ratio is second nature. Mark me down on the side of framing with intent.

I remember as a kid getting a good laugh out of those Japanese soldiers hiding out for years and years on some Pacific island, refusing to comprehend World War II was over. Strange to think that it's going to be me, toiling away in my darkroom long after they finally pull the plug on film. Bought the book, by the way. I guess I'm a sucker for punishment.

For shame, Mike. Are you telling me you don't have a couple of extra Gordy's wrist straps around? http://www.electricedge.com/gordy_s_straps/ Every time I buy a camera, the first thing I do is order a custom wrist strap from Gordy. In fact I bought 3 just in the last week. Best wrist straps on the planet.

I confess that I, too, hear the siren song of digital cameras that might give me better B&W prints. For me it's the NEX-7. I'm sure I could learn to love that camera. Then I remind myself of how much I dislike the workflow that takes me from raw file to inkjet print. That's what stops me from ordering a NEX-7 from B&H right now. I like darkroom work. I like darkroom prints. My credit card stays in my wallet.

Thank you for injecting some much needed sanity into the discussion. I'm with you right down the line, except that right at the end, I've tipped over to the film side. I have my reasons, i.e. MY reasons. I agree with you that digital cameras offer some great advantages: e.g., high ISO and almost ubiquitous image stabilization. (For me immediate feedback is an unwanted distraction.) I also think it's worth mentioning how much auto-focus has improved in the last decade. I am very aware that I'm shooting without the three advantages cited above. It's not the digital aspect that tempts me.

A million monkeys with a million typewriters...that's about where I am with this. Lame.

Mike, I'm grateful for your TOP recommendation of American Photographs. I was aware that there was a gap in my knowledge of photo history where Evans was concerned, and I am now so glad to have this excellent edition to help fill it. Truly a seminal work in terms of modern American photography and photo book design.

You would think that news organizations would do more opinion pieces on this topic. It's in their interest to protect their own photographers as well as the non-professionals who more and more may be the source of news photos. And, historically at least, news organizations have been fierce defenders of the First Amendment. Newspapers and broadcast companies have the ability to turn up the heat on this issue. Perhaps its time for photographers and photographer associations to make common cause with news organizations.

I've been following TOP since the beginning, and I don't recall even one mention of Aperture. I know it's not a typical magazine, but I think Aperture and the Aperture Foundation are worthy topics for an article someday.

"I assume non-Americans have even less idea." I wouldn't assume this, Mike. Many of us peruse U.S. media. I doubt there's a comparable proportion of Americans that pay attention to foreign media. But maybe that's a questionable assumption, as well.

Exactly. Put me in the group of people of who is interested in refinement and especially in the maturity of expression. This can only be achieved and appreciated if the nature of the tools is well understood. Photography has always involved technological change. However, change in the digital era has been so fast that--in my opinion--maturity of expression has suffered.

These are heartbreaking photographs, made well and made with empathy and respect. The second one--showing the casket being removed from the plane--is particularly poignant in light of prohibitions in recent years on photo-journalists showing military caskets in transit. The passengers staring out the windows are witness to what the public must see, i.e., the terrible price that is paid.

Silver or black? I suggest silver. The less pro you look, the better, at least when it comes to a decisive moment. Black SUVs, men in black, dark shades...they all impart an aggressiveness that can be off putting. Not to mention that the silver is real purty.

I'd like to respond to Derek with respect to KOBO. It's true the KOBO model of having my wife's purchases backed up online "only works so long as KOBO exists." This is also true of appliance warranties, uninsured houses built on flood plains, and my wife herself. Stuff happens. But I still prefer the KOBO model to that of many other sellers of digital property. And yes, all she's getting are bits. And physical books are merely row upon row of inked letters. I don't get the point.

I like the way it works with my wife's KOBO e-reader. If she buys a book from KOBO, she always owns the book even if she loses her e-reader or upgrades to a newer KOBO device. She can just download her book again from her KOBO account. Perhaps this is how it works with iTunes? I wouldn't know. Perhaps someone can tell me. I'm always uncomfortable with piracy even though I think Ctein makes a reasonable argument. I wouldn't do what he did. It's a slippery slope.

A small point, but in noticing how Michael laid out the vertical images with the horizontal images, I was reminded again how there's a tyranny of the landscape format over monitors and other screens that I really don't like. I suppose there's no hope of it ever changing. At least we can have square books.

"Try going to Canada" That's a laugh. For one thing, there's a fair chunk of populated Canada that is south of the 49th parallel. Global warming will have a drastic effect on most parts of Canada. I live on Nova Scotia's Atlantic coast, and today the weather is headed into the mid-70s. That is a tad unusual to say the least. In the past we often got some of our worst winter weather in March. There are so many strong indications of global warming--rising sea level, ocean acidity, shrinking glaciers, disappearing polar ice, increasing insurance costs for weather events, animals and plants migrating north (in the northern hemisphere)--it can't be denied. I really fear for my grandchildren.