OK, I admit it. I like to go dumpster diving.
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I prefer to keep my olfactory factory aroma-free though.
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So, I use Amazon.com instead. Simply by searching through all of their photography books with the search results ordered by Low Price to High you can find all sorts of goodies. I often buy these used as all the books from third-party resellers that I've purchased on Amazon have been in very decent to excellent shape. There are pages and pages of books for only $.01 with $4 shipping in the U.S.
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I picked up <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1560372060/terrysmithnet-20">Great Smoky Mountain Impressions</a> today for only $0.01, because I plan to go back to the Smokies soon. If I can learn possible shooting locations and subjects from this book, then great, but if it turns out to be only inspirational then that's fine too. I always study a LOT of location-specific work by other photographers before visiting a location. NOT to copy their work, but to build a mental database of possibilities and things to look for. Over and over again I pick up on locations and things to see that are not listed in any of the guidebooks and I usually read all of those too, thanks to the library!
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Jay Maisel is one of the greatest photographers of our time. I bought his book, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1560980028/terrysmithnet-20">ON ASSIGNMENT (Photographers at Work)</a>, for only $1.15. Published in 1990, it may not explain how the next version of Photoshop will solve all of my digital workflow problems, but I'm willing to bet I'll learn a lot from it anyway.
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I also picked up a Klik: Showcase Photography annual (I don't think these are published anymore.) for only $0.06, and a very promising book called <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0697131890/terrysmithnet-20">Photographing In The Studio: Tools and Techniques for Creative Expression by Gary Kolb</a> for only $2.59. It has two 5-star reviews and one reviewer said it is the "best studio lighting textbook I have ever found". The book was published in 1993 but that review was written in 2005, so maybe it still has some secrets to share.
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I've created a whole wish list of books like this on Amazon to share with my family members as a birthday and Christmas gift list. You should do the same. There's plenty of great stuff out there to find!
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If you're just starting out in photography, don't overlook your local library either. When I was an amateur photographer I read through pretty much everything the library had, dozens and dozens of tutorial and picture books. It's an important starting place!
