Book Description
Almost everyone can "see" in the conventional sense, but developing photographic vision takes practice. Learning to See Creatively helps photographers visualize their work, and the world, in a whole new light.
Now totally rewritten, revised, and expanded, this best-selling guide takes a radical approach to creativity. It explains how it is not some gift only for the "chosen few" but actually a skill that can be learned and applied. Using inventive photos from his own stunning portfolio, author and veteran photographer Bryan Peterson deconstructs creativity for photographers. He details the basic techniques that went into not only taking a particular photo, but also provides insights on how to improve upon it—helping readers avoid the visual pitfalls and technical dead ends that can lead to dull, uninventive photographs.
This revised edition features the latest information on digital photography and digital imaging software, as well as an all-new section on color as a design element. Learning to See Creatively is the definitive reference for any photographers looking for a fresh perspective on their work.
* New edition of a best-selling title
* Updated to include digital
* All new artwork, and a totally revised and expanded text
* All-new section on color as a design element
* Written by one of Amphoto's bestselling authors
Customer Reviews:
Exactly what I needed.......2007-08-15
I purchased this book earlier this summer and couldn't be more pleased with the information it contains. I needed some inspiration to "see" things differently to make my photographs more dramatic. Bryan's writing and assignments in this book really changed the way I look at the composition of a scene and the way I see colors and how they compliment each other. My photos have improved A LOT since applying some of the principles written about in this book.
Good deal.......2007-08-10
I found the information in the book worth money I paid. I love photography but something was missing in getting appealing result with my photos. This book fills some holes in my amateur knowledge and also opened my mind to different thinking and approach. Good examples of right and wrong, nice recommendations. Specialy I live author's good sense to explain observation techniques with everyday and real life situations.
I'm still not done, searching for another book.
book.......2007-08-02
good experience, did not speed in sending and prefered no shippimg. I deal with Amazon and they always take care of me
Nice balance of creative & technical advice.......2007-07-26
This book delivers on its promise to teach you how to see the world in ways that will lead to better photos. The examples (photographs and commentary) are inspiring and the author provides enough details about technique so you know how he took the picture but you're not overwhelmed. It is an enjoyable read and I like to go back and look at the examples again and again. I only wish the book were longer, I was sorry when I finished it.
Absolutely worth it!.......2007-06-20
I've been shooting for a few years now and felt I needed something to take me to the next step. While this isn't a 100% solution to that problem it definitely is a huge step in the right direction. This book has opened my thinking to different ways of composing, and in general really helped me to see the bigger picture while shooting. All of the 100+ photos in the book give the details of the exposure which is a huge help in and of itself.
Highly recommended for the avid hobbyist to semi pro and even down to the mom or regular guy/girl who just want to take better pictures.
Book Description
In this third edition of Photography and the Art of Seeing, Freeman Patterson reviews principles of composition and visual design and provides techniques and exercises for breaking away from traditional concepts. Aspiring photographers are made aware of the barriers to seeing and learn how to observe, imagine and express in a personal and creative way.
Customer Reviews:
Breaking the photographical routine.......2007-03-24
Freeman tries to get photographers to break out of their ways, to look at the world with different eyes, to question old habits. This is a good thing, in my opinion. But does he succeed?
I can only answer this from my own perspective: Yes, the book gives me impulses to try out different perspectives than the ones I'm used to.
The writing is fluent and to the point. The images underline the points in the text. I like many of them, even though they seem unspectacular at first. The printing quality could be better, though. I ordered the book together with two volumes by John Shaw ("Focus on Nature" and "The Field Book to Nature Photography", both Amphoto Books), and those are printed much better, with more contrast and color saturation.
Still, a recommended book for anyone who likes taking photos and would like to explore new grounds.
I deeply regret buying this book... RATED NO STARS AT ALL.......2007-02-16
I wrote a review as follows: 'Anyone can take a picture of a hot dog. If this photographer took a picture of a hot dog you would smell the french fries, hear the ocean, and taste the salt water taffy. The author offers the reader a chance to see the world through his eyes.
Then I looked through the book more closely. On page 137 I saw a picture that disgusted me. When I read what he wrote about the subject, I became angry. He wrote, "This photograph captures a moment in the life of a child, and suggests innocence. The little girl had withdrawn from her playmates on the beach; she wanted to be alone. She was crying a little. When I came along, she hid her face to preserve her privacy. I quickly made this picture and left. Note that the expanse of rocks and the girl's small space in the composition strengthen the sense of her privacy."
The picture is of a naked little child who was hiding her face crying and trying to turn away from the man taking her picture with his camera. It is only my opinion, but I think this man is greatly lacking in respect of human dignity.
I am sorry I put money in his pocket. I hope no one else will.
An excellent resource.......2006-12-15
If you have moved up from the technical aspects of photography, and are into "photography as an art", this is the book to buy to take you to that next level.
If there is just one book in the whole world that you can buy, this is it! I own all of patterson's instruction books - and they are all great! a worthy investment and proudly displayed in my bookshelf.
Don't buy this book - PLEASE!.......2006-11-30
Please don't buy this book. It will change your photography. I bought it, and now I have an advantage, and I want to keep it!
Seriously, this is probably the most disturbing photography book I have found. It will challenge everything you do in photography, and that is unsettling.
If you follow the exercises properly, you will develop a whole new way of seeing and taking photos.
Sure, if you want to, you can read it from cover to cover and go "Ho, hum, very nice." and take it no further. But if you want to improve your photography, take your time, and do the exercises carefully. You will be surprised at the results.
I especially like the one where you lock yourself in a small room (bathroom) and have to take 20 images. "If you don't feel desperation before you finish this exercise, then you have to take another 20 photos."
Don't buy this book! Run away and hide. Keep taking boring photos.
Stimulating Creativity.......2006-11-11
I found this book excellent for stimulating the creative process where photography is concerned.
Customer Reviews:
First half excellent, second half vague.......2007-07-26
The first half of the book is a systematic approach to the composition of photographs. It describes `Photographic' and `Graphic' elements: for example, depth of field is a photographic element of the composition, while the placement of a silhouette within the image frame is a graphic element of the composition. I enjoyed reading this material, which really helped me think about what makes a photograph `work' and what makes other photographs `not work'. As some other reviewers have said, this is a really useful aide-memoire about the possibilities for control over the final photograph.
Then the book turns to the aesthetics of composition. What makes one picture communicate a calm and restful feeling, while another hits you right between the eyes? Good question. Unfortunately the book offers some rather vapid generalisations that reminded me of art school lingo. The book says: "a circle or smooth line conveys a feeling of calm, gentle rest." Oh really? I immediately think of a hangman's noose, or a coiled serpent ready to strike. Sorry, but generalisations about the emotional response of humans to an image are just nonsense. Different individuals will react differently to a photograph. Of course, in an art school, everyone has been tutored to believe that curved lines are always calm, etc, and to recognise these conventions when viewing a work of art. So if you are making photographs for assessment in an art school, by all means, follow the precepts of Grill and Scanlon. However in the outside world, not all viewers of all photographs will interpret curved lines as calm and restful. The aesthetics in this book seem rather too dogmatic, over-generalised and perhaps a little pretentious.
The book is worth reading, and certainly thought-provoking, but I think it's a little overrated.
A boring book.......2007-07-12
Got this book by the recommendation of Ken Rockwell on his website.
Though the book provides somewhat useful information, I'm disappointed about it because:
1. It's very boring. It's more like a text book. In my opinion, a book about an inspirational subject like photography should be inspiring to read. (compared to Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson, for instance)
2. Most of the illustrations are ugly. I don't know if the author just threw the pictures in it to make the points or I just can't understand the greatness of those pictures. But in my opinion, they are ugly. Therefore, I can hardly picture myself following the points the author's making because I don't want my photos to look like the ones illustrated in the book.
One of the most useful books I've ever read.......2007-05-26
Generally, I'm not much of a review writer. I'm not that eloquent, easily bored, and lazy in the extreme. This particular book, however, merits an exception.
To put it succinctly, it's one of the best photography books I've ever come across and I've come across quite a few of 'em.
Despite this, I'm not too surprised at the lukewarm ratings and reviews that it's been getting here. Furthermore, I'm sure that the majority of the current wave of photo hobbyists will find it irritating in the extreme. Here's why.
We're an instant gratification society. We've been conditioned to look for easy solutions to complex problems and to want them here and now. Most photography books that get printed right now cater to that trend. They're full of do-this-get-that examples, pre-canned ideas, standard lighting setups, etc., etc.
You will find none of that in "Photographic Composition". It is a book that deals with concepts, not instructions. If you slow down, think things through, and meditate on the material that's presented, then maybe, just maybe, it will help you create something... interesting.
If you're not willing to do that or just not interested, then you should probably look elsewhere.
Dated.......2007-02-18
This book was written before digital photography became mainstream. It reads like an art book (dull) rather than a photography book. In my opinion, there are many books and websites that contain more useful and up-to-date information.
Didn't appreciate the presentation nor the approach used.......2007-01-24
I didn't like to approach used in this book.
The photos didn't impress me.
I also found it hard many times to relate to the interpretation given by the photographer to his photos.
The black&white look and feel were also not appealing to me.
Sure, it covers quite a lot of the "standard approach" to composition. But for me it was like attending a boring class where the only correct answer was the answer that the instructor gave...
I was missing the *creativity* that is so attractive for me in other photography-books. I was also missing the feel of *fun*.
If you want a fun book, loaded with creativity and full with AMAZING photos, then check out Bryan Peterson's books. He has one about composition too which is a lot more useful and a lot more helpful than this book was to me.
Product Description
During the 15 years since the first edition of Designing a Photograph was published, the field of photography has become much more competitive, with much more sophisticated standards. This revised and updated edition of the classic manual provides all the information photographers need to bring their art to the next level. Filled with practical, real-life examples and excellent step-by-step exercises, this valuable reference demonstrates techniques of composition, color, lighting, perspective, and more.
Customer Reviews:
Good Visual Tool.......2007-07-03
This book is a good visual tool. It lacked slightly on the actual technique side. Not enough detail for the actual design of a photo. Was able to work around that however.
Not for the novice.......2007-05-09
For such a small book (page-wise), it conveys an enormous amount of information. Each page contains a photo with a textual description of the design philosophy behind it.
The concepts are presented quickly and without any extra frills. In many cases, I found myself overwhelmed with information without a great deal of elaboration, so the central concept of each photograph did not always come through clearly.
I would recommend this book for intermediate photographers. If you're a novice, I would heartily recommend Understanding Exposure: How to Shoot Great Photographs with a Film or Digital Camera (Updated Edition).
My first serious photographic composition handbook.......2007-04-19
I have first bought this book in 1986 and, I believe, I have learned a substantial lesson from it throughout the years.
True, the book is not for impatient seekers of an instant gratification, or for people who need to be guided by the hand through the process of learning. But, in my opinion, that's its strength and not weakness. It makes you strive to understand the author's vision and concepts he presents. If you get step-by-step instructions on how to obtain any kind of a result (not just in photographic composition), the best you can count on is learning how to imitate or emulate.
The key to successful teaching is to stimulate the learning person to think, experiment and practice on his/her own and to trigger creativity in them - and this task is amply realized by Bill Smith in his excellent work.
By the way, his book is as much relevant to me now - in the digital era - as it's been twenty years ago.
Useful Supplement to First Edition, 1985.......2005-06-29
The first edition of this book is one of my two favorites on compositional matters, the other being Michael Freeman's Image. The first edition stands out among all other books on composition and design in that Smith presents composing from the point of view of Gestalt visualization, presented theoretically by Richard Zakia in Perception and Photography and its update, Perception and Imaging.
The value of this second edition to me is to supplement the first edition with the new photographs. I don't think the second edition stands well on its own.
What the first edition did much better is mainly in the captions to the photographs. In the first edition, Smith discussed at length the visual aspects and structure that were present in each photo to explain how these aspects caused the eye to move throughout the frame. The captions in the second edition are much less devoted to the structure of the image and more like so many others' books in talking more about how he came upon the opportunity to take the image.
The text in the first edition is also more deeply written, while that of the second repeats the first, or cuts some good material.
I have spent several years, intermittently, finding what has been written about composition in photography and other two-dimensional visual arts, and my conclusion to date is rather grim. Using various databases, I have found several dozen books going back to the late 19th century. In general, the best writing on composition is out of print by many years.
I have not been able to find any U.S. art program that teaches composition or design as a stand alone subject; it is almost always blended into drawing classes as exercises and critiques. I'd like to hear that I am wrong about this. Composition is still taught as its own subject in several curricula in Germany.
For photographers, especially amateurs who do not undertake long training programs, a thorough look at the elements, principles, history, and techniques of composition with lots of diagrams, decently sized illustrations of good, bad, and almost, and many comparative problems is long overdue.
The approach that Smith took in his first edition is a significant component of part of what I have in mind.
My recommendation is that if you buy the second edition, then seek out the first to read over and over again with the second edition along side.
Lots of Fluff.......2005-03-14
There is some useful information about composition and design in the first section, but the bulk of this book is full of generalities and common sense information that won't be of much use to the aspiring photographer. A better option is John Freeman's "The Photographer's Guide to Composition."
Book Description
Finally someone has given photographers a truly visual treatment of the craft's core techniques. Step-by-Step Photography Workshop teaches 53 techniques the way photographers were meant to learn, calling sparingly upon explanatory text and instead relying on series of instructional photos and captions.
Acclaimed photographer and frequent workshop leader Adam Jones knows what beginning photographers struggle with most and which techniques, once mastered, will most improve their images. Readers will learn: - Composition basics - Precise, even artistic, exposure - Approaches to natural and urban landscapes - Flash techniques - Macro photography - Action photography
Gallery-quality images run alongside imperfect instructional photos to illustrate processes and explain common mistakes. Step-by-Step Photography Workshop will be the dogeared book photographers toss into their camera bag time and again.
Customer Reviews:
Simply superb for a DSLR newbie.......2007-06-06
This book is very similar to the very popular book "Understanding Exposure", yet I like it more because it provides more examples and techniques in my view. If you are advancing from point-and-shoot to SLR or DSLR camera, or simply want to learn about photography, that's the book for you!
Excellent!.......2005-06-16
This is a wonderfully concise and practical book. The author gets right to the point and demonstrates his points with ample comparision photos. The photographic examples are my favorite part of the book. It's obvious that the author practices what he preaches as this book is filled with beautiful photos, each clearly described. This book is probably too basic for pros or serious amateurs, but for the rest of us, it's a gem.
Taking Your Photography to the Next Level.......2004-09-28
This is a book that will definitely help you take your photography to the next level. I found the book to be rewarding on three levels:
1)Step-by-step guidance on the key aspects of photography
a)From a concise discussion of what equipment to purchase and how to carry it, through excellent illustrations on composition, landscapes, and nature and wildlife
b)Discussion of straight forward techniques that will immediately improve your pictures: e.g. correct fill flash settings that result in removing shadows while adding sparkle in the eyes of the subject (human or animal)
2)Expanding creativity
a)Translating lines and shapes into an image
b)Using exposure to affect moods
c)Shooting with a telephoto lens to isolate and create an image
3)Viewing gallery illustrations
a)Over 50 techniques are illustrated and visually demonstrate the results of taking photography to the next level
b)Each picture is captioned with critical statistics: lens used, f stop, film, etc
This book was easily worth the $18.00 I paid. Adam, thanks for a great book!!
Book Description
Since the beginning of the twentieth century, photographic composition has been taught mostly by applying the principles from the field of graphic design. But the factor that distinguishes the work of master photographers is their ability to see and describe scenes visually. In his newly published book, Photography The Art of Composition, Bert Krages introduces a radically different approach that applies modern cognitive science to show photographers how they can develop their perceptual skills. The book follows contemporary educational methods used to teach fine arts such as drawing and painting, concentrating on teaching the perception of critical visual elements and understanding how they will be rendered photographically. "In many respects, this book can do for photography what Betty Edwards' best-selling Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain did for drawing. Many people believe that seeing is a mysterious gift, the so-called `artist's eye.'" says Krages. The core of the book is a group of sixty exercise that readers perform to learn how to perceive points, lines, and shapes in static and dynamic settings. These exercises are structured enough to push photographers to develop their cognitive abilities while at the same time flexible enough to allow for individual creative expression. They also show the importance of knowing about the subject and provide some history about the specific genres at the heart of each exercise.
Customer Reviews:
Lot of fill, lack of articulation, not the deep-dive you'd expect.......2007-05-16
This was a painful read and I'm minimally better for it.
The author breaks the book into several 1-3 page chapters about various
shapes and objects - the goal here being to teach you how to "see" each
object. The concept is unique, but unfortunately the author starts each
chapter with 3 or 4 paragraphs of absolutely irrelevant, useless history
of each shape or object. It was a waste of ink and space that could
otherwise been used for more (and much better) illustrations. Furthermore
if the author had any geometrical or scientific basis for his lessons, it
failed to show through in the book.
Pass up this one. .......2007-04-03
Very poor presentation with poorly printed BW images and composition is not fully explored. There are much better books on photographic composition. Skip this one.
Lots of good info, but poor photographs.......2006-07-29
Maybe it was just my copy of the book but the images are not very good (fuzzy and flat) and do not reinforce the text.
One particular example stands out. The author talks about removing clutter in a photograph. However, the example is so cluttered and flat, it is difficult to determine what the subject is supposed to be. The text goes on to say "...notice how the flower stands out from the busy background..." . Actually, no, I don't!
There are many thought provoking exercises. And maybe the quality of the photos causes you to look at them a little closer than you normally might be inclined to.
It isn't a bad book. With a little more attention to the images, it could be a GREAT book.
Great Book - Needs Color, though..........2006-04-10
Countless books have been written about composition. Many of us go by the basic, "seat of our pants" approach of "If it looks good in the viewfinder, shoot it!" However, Bert Krages, the photographer and attorney, has not given us just a book... he has given us a workbook.
The Book opens with basic Visual Skills information - primarily, the importance thereof. His section about viewing other people's photographs I found useful in not only looking at my own photography, but at others. Perhaps a valuable skill for readers, not only for judging photo competitions, but to help us compare our own work to the masters of the 20th century.
The remaining chapters touch base on the camera as a tool, then it jumps into the exercises. And there is an exercise for darn near everything! I think that is what so fascinated me with this particular book...it is not all concepts, but rather, practical working exercises. The author walks you through everything from points to lines and shapes. Each exercise has subheadings of "About the Genere," "About the Exercise, "Setting Up the Exercise," and "Technical Considerations." In short, everything you could ask for - you just supply the equipment and other materials necessary to make it happen.
The closing chapter is probably one of the most important in the book - "Thinking Like an Artist." About 10 pages, primarily of text, Krages explores how photography has influenced the other visual arts, and the acceptance of photography as an art form. It is a section I find myself reading several times a week, to reinforce some of the other material in the book.
The only negative I can really say about the book is that the photographs appear to be dark and murky, and a book like this really should have contained color images.
A group of some sixty exercises which teach readers how to perceive points, lines, shapes and more through the camera's eye.......2005-10-08
Where is the 'art' in photography when the typical discussion revolves around technical camera operation? It's right here, in photographer/attorney Bert Krages' Photography: The Art Of Composition, which should be required reading for any photography student. Krages uses the same methods used to teach fine arts to draw important connections between photography and art, providing a group of some sixty exercises which teach readers how to perceive points, lines, shapes and more through the camera's eye.
Book Description
The author shows how to find and choose subjects, position and guide models, and take the pictures.
Customer Reviews:
Terrific underwater photos don't just "happen"........2006-03-19
Jim Church was an astonishing photographer and those that have followed in his footsteps owe much to him. This book is one that I recommend to ALL divers starting off in underwater photography. Have you ever come home with a bunch of shots only to find that none of them really "grab you"?....this boom is for you. Simply and clearly, the text and photo examples show you how to turn an ordinary shot into a "Wow!" shot.
Start here and you can't go wrong.......2002-10-31
This is Jim Church's answer to those who say that you must have a "God given eye" to take great photographs. Jim is above all a teacher. His ability to bring complex ideas down to the level where a novice can comprehend is legendary. His method, rather unique in the world of underwater photography and videography, is not to show you great stuff and say "beat this", but to start with basic principles and work you through until you are automatically seeing the right solution to the situation before you. I would bet that any "name" underwater photographer if asked "where do I start?" would answer "pick up Jim Church's books and read them 3 or 4 times then get in the water.". This book, at less than the cost of 2 rolls of underwater film and developing, should be considered mandatory reading for anyone with a desire to take photographs (or video) underwater.
TIMELESS TEACHINGS.......2002-01-01
When I started in uderwater photography, I was told by a very wise and respected professional, "Composition cannot be taught ... it is not a concept or a method. The photographer is born with an eye for composition and it is an art." To which Jim Church's book has proven that statement to be "Hogwash, INDEED!" Composition may be a gift, but it is a gift that can be honed and trained, just as Jim Church has done with this book. He has given the reader all the tools, tricks and tips to develop that skill into an art. Liberally sprinkled with the Jim Church wit and humour, this book stands up to reading after reading after reading. This book stands alongside his "Guide to the Nikonos" and his "Underwater Video" books as "bibles" for the ardent underwater photographer. As for Jim Church's method of teaching and guidance, I can tell you that nine years ago I was using a disposable underwater camera. I have studied the books and travelled with Jim Church as often as possible and I am now a contributing editor and Photo Pro for an international dive magazine. So, if you ask me if Jim Church's methods work, I would resoundingly answer "YES." If you aks me if this is a book worth buying, I would answer resoundingly "YES!" No matter how many times you read this book and no matter what level of photographer you might be, there is always something new in this book that you can apply in your pursuit of great photos. These concepts of composition are NOT restricted to the ocean floor, either. The methods and concepts explained in this text --- in easy to understand terms --- also apply to land photography. This Essential Guide is exactly that---- ESSENTIAL! I regret that five stars is the highest rank offered for this book. The only thíng wrong with this book ---- it wasn't written sooner! I could have saved a lot of film on badly composed shots!!!!
"Something Here for Everyone".......2001-06-10
People come to photography by many strange and varied routes and my own is as different as the next - though I shall not bore you with that particular story here. Suffice to say that, my first photograph was published in 1974, my first underwater photograph in 1980 and, right at this time, my work has appeared (somewhere) every month since December 1998, I am in the process of completing my fourth book and my photography has even been purchased by National Geographic.
The relevance of all this, however, is that I am largely self-taught and that always leaves me wondering if I am missing some of those basic lessons that would have been explained on the very first day of any professionally run photography course. "Jim Church's Essential Guide to Composition" goes a long way to fill any gaps there might be.
This book has two outstanding qualities; Firstly, it is written by a man who really does know about every aspect of underwater photography. Secondly, and most important of all, however, Jim Church has the power to explain his knowledge in words we can all understand. In so doing he has produced a book for the professional underwater photographer and the amateur diver alike. If you have just bought your first camera and are about to embark on a very expensive trip to try it out, this is your in-flight reading material. Believe me, you will come home with better pictures - I did.
"Jim Church's Essential Guide to Composition" is a 9in x 6in paperback book containing 136 pages, 80 colour photographs and 8 line drawings. Each photograph and drawing serves a purpose and are used to explain each of the many lessons involved with composing underwater pictures and, basically, the difference between taking a good photograph and not. All of which is, of course, supported by the non-technical information imparted in an easy-to-understand style.
The book begins with absolute basics - and what could be more basic than explaining the function of the human eye and then adapting that information in order to provide a better understanding of the function of a camera lens. In short, this is a book about "stepping stones" and each time a relevant point has been explained and demonstrated, the book builds on this knowledge as we step forward onto another stone for even greater knowledge of the subject in hand.
In Summary, this is one of the few books I have ever read which achieves exactly and precisely what it sets out to achieve and is made all the more valuable because the Author is a man who knows his stuff and is able to explain things without getting bogged down in technical jargon.
Five Stars are not enough for this little gem.
NM
Another Good Effort from Jim Church.......2000-09-09
For all UW imaging systems users, this book is less about the technique (which can be found in Jim's books on Nikonos and Video systems), and more about the art of UW photography. Jim again uses the Situations approach, and helps you develop an eye for good pictures. Really useful stuff on working with models.
Book Description
Second to lighting, composition is the key ingredient for the creation of a successful photograph. Whatever other technical skill is involved, if the formal organization of an image is lacking, there is little to hold the interest of the viewer. But what makes a winning composition? Is it about following the rules-or about breaking them?
Basics Photography: Composition is divided into six core chapters that cover everything the beginner needs to know to improve their composition, including the basics of composition, exploring the formal elements, how to organize space and time, learning the real world ‘rules’ and, beyond that, how to use the ideas presented in the book to create original, compelling images. The book is illustrated throughout with photography to inform the mind and inspire the eyes.
Includes work by:
Henri Cartier-Bresson, Dorothea Lange, James Nachtwey, Martin Parr, Marc Riboud, David Hockney, Duane Michals, Harry Callahan and John Darwell, and many more.
Includes the following subjects:
The basic rules of composition, including viewpoint, perspective and scale; the formal elements, such as point, line, shape, form, texture, pattern, tone and color; how to organize space using frames, balance and space; capturing the passing of time and specific moments, the decisive moment and sequences; applications of composition, featuring landscape, still life, portraiture, documentary, the figure, action and sports, fine art and advertising; finally, finding your own view and the specific considerations of digital imaging.
Customer Reviews:
Fantastic book.......2007-07-30
Despite the sheer number of photography books in the marketplace, finding one that defines, explains and teaches the basics of composition has been difficult - until now. David Prakel's fine book explains the fundamentals of composition in clear and understandable ways, providing examples and definitions. Far from being a mechanical "how-to" book, "Composition" provides the building blocks that a photographer can use to build a style, or simply improve casual picture-taking. This book is a must-have for photography students, amateurs interested in improving their photos (like me!), or people interested in the art of photography.
I cannot recommend this book highly enough. Is there a six-star button in here somewhere?
Explained a Complex Subject Well.......2007-07-25
I am an experienced amatuer photographer who has done work for school classes and I've also been offered jobs by the local newspaper. [...]
This book is awesome. At least enough for me to write a review. I bought this book after reading a review of it in Advanced Photoshop magazine, and it was definitely worth it. It is smaller than I thought in cover size and font size, around the size of a national geographic magazine, and much thicker.
It covers all the details of composition from the basic everyone knows (but only very little about) like the "rule of thirds," and goes on to formal elements of point, line, shape, form, texture, pattern, tone, and color. It discussing organizing space through balance and different aspects of its appearance, and even explains more complex concepts such as "negative space." It goes into how each rule can be applied to real-world jobs and setups such as journalism, documentary, portraiture or advertising. Finally it sets you in the right direction for developing your own "look" for photography so that you don't have to rely on mimicing others.
Bottom line: The book is almost like a mini-course in compositional photography, and covers the conceptual and technical aspects of all, with plenty of examples from a wide variety of photographers, as well as famous photography quotes. The way this book is organized it reads like an interesting textbook and is immediately applicable to experienced photographers and newbies alike.
Book Description
It has never been easier to make panoramas--both in terms of the new lightweight equipment and the spectacular quality of the final image output. New vistas concerning this unique way to see the world and express oneself abound in Panoramic Photography: From Composition and Exposure to Final Exhibition. Written by one of the world's pre-eminent panoramic photographers, the author, Arnaud Frich, provides diagrams to explain the technical details involved in various shots. Long on inspiration, you will find beautiful images by the author, as well as by Benoît Ancelot, François-Xavier Bouchart, Franck Charel, Macduff Everton, David J. Osborn, and many others. Camera equipment examples and a list of suppliers make this book a valuable resource for all panoramic photographers. Inside you will find all the information you need to create your perfect panorama!
Only with Panoramic Photography can you:
*Explore flatback and rotating panoramic cameras and learn how swing-lens and rotational cameras work
*Observe how camera choice affects the image and final composition
*Learn the joining (or "stitching") method for assembling photographs with the Realvis Stitcher and Panavue ImageAssembler
*Archive and store original negatives and digital files, as well as distribute panoramic images over the Internet
Customer Reviews:
Generally informative but not technically useful.......2007-08-04
I received the book in this morning. And after a quick flipping, i was disappointed by the content.
Almost half of the book is showing you panoramic photography equipment in the market, from camera to tripod, panohead, software, etc. And also some history on panoramic photography. Well i appreciate all these for general information purpose, but that's not why i bought this book in the first place. Rather than what the book suggests "From composition and exposure to final exhibition", so little information is provided on the technical aspect.
Also, one thing really annoys me is that the book includes quite some panoramas made by other photographers, not the author.
So if you are looking for some oringal panoramas and techniques in shooting panoramas, i will not recommend this book.
Brilliant!!.......2007-05-26
Fantastic book. I knew this book has been around in French for some time and was very pleased to see they translated it. Really worth the money.. covers all aspects of Panoramic photography. Highly recommended..
Book Description
How do you experience a photograph? What do you want a viewer to feel when they look at your image?
Perception and Imaging explains how we see and what we dont see. Relevant psychological principles will help you predict your viewers emotional reaction to your photographic images, giving you more power, control, and tools for communicating your desired message. Knowing how our minds work helps photographers, graphic designers, videographers, animators, and visual communicators both create and critique sophisticated works of visual art. Benefit from this insight in your work.
Topics covered in this book: gestalt grouping, memory and association, space, time, color, contours, illusion and ambiguity, morphics, personality, subliminals, critiquing photographs, and rhetoric.
·Provocative color images demonstrate the power of visual perception
·Photographs by Bresson, Bruce Davidson, Nathan Lyons, Lisette Model, Barbara Morgan, Man Ray, August Sander, Pete Turner, and Edward Weston
·Paintings by Degas, Escher, Hockney, Holbein, Kandinsky, Magritte and Warhol
·Hundreds of inspirational quotes from famous photographers, painters, and writers
Customer Reviews:
Uelsmann's Review.......2007-09-08
Jerry Uelsmann sent me an email with a short review of my book. I asked him if he would post it on Amazon
and he agreed. Unfortunately he ran into some problems so I am taking the liberty of posting it for him. With many thanks to Jerry, here is his short review, which I feel states precisely and concisely what I was attempting to accomplish with my book.
Perception and Imaging is a great teaching resource... That addresses both the mind & the eye! Congratulations... I love all of the quotes... I think I have read them all and I plan to use some in my next lecture!
Jerry N. Uelsmann
The Ultimate Photography Book.......2007-09-01
One of the many outstanding features of "Perception and Imaging" is its irresistible friendliness.
The layout is engaging, the illustrations varied and absorbing, the quotations from artists delightful
and provocative. Whether you are looking for technical information, historical data or graphic
challenges you will find it here in an easy-to-access format. Dr. Zakia's vision is all-encompassing: he
is equally familiar with a 2000-year-old Sicilian mosaic and the latest in digital concepts. You don't want to miss this one.
Perception and imaging masterfully explained.......2007-08-08
Perception and Imaging, Third Edition: Photography--A Way of Seeing
By Dr. Richard Zakia
What's the difference between ordinary people and photographers when they are on vacation? Ordinary people on vacation go up to an attraction, take a photograph, look around and drive to the next stop. Photographers drive up to the location, look around for possible images, and then take a photograph. The difference is in their perception, or lack thereof, and Dr. Zakia covers the topic thoroughly in this book. His knowledge comes from a life-long love, and study of the image and how we interact with it. Many of the images that we see create a feeling or idea in our mind - the process of which we are usually unaware - such is the conditioning of our visual education since birth. This book helps us understand this process better. His approach certainly helped me better understand images as he was the advisor for my master's thesis on photographic literacy way back in 1976. We have been trading interesting visuals ever since!
Professor Zakia, Professor Emeritus at Rochester Institute of Technology, takes us on a visual journey of discovery as he shows us the results of his life's quest into the meanings of images, whether they be paintings, sketches, conventional or digital photographs. It really doesn't matter which medium one uses, as a successful image that resonates with the viewer can be made in any medium. And it is in this spirit that Zakia guides us through the centuries of illustrations that delight us and shape our understanding and feelings about the external world, and ourselves.
Using illustrations from many of the most successful and intriguing paintings and photographs, Zakia leads us to question how we make and evaluate photographs using the knowledge of Gestalt theory, figure/ground associations, colors, contours, shapes and our own feelings - often subliminal - to arrive at a renewed vision whether we create, or simply observe, images. Photographers should read this book to better help them create and appreciate images!
Gordon Brown
RIT Photo graduate
This book should be read by anyone interested in perception.......2007-08-02
The layout is clear and allows the reader to move to any chapter and start reading. But this makes you want to return to the beginning. The many illustrations, the quotes keep the reader involved in the writer's journey. This book begs the reader to read it cover to cover with a reward; understanding perception from multiple levels of understanding. Leaving only one question. How do we use this knowledge now acquired ?
The #1 Book I Recommend for ALL Photographers.......2007-08-02
It's a fact. Ask anyone who has attended one of my workshops and seminars "What's the #1 book I recommend?" and they will tell you: Perception and Imaging, Third Edition: Photography - A Way of Seeing.
Why do I so highly recommend Dr. Zakia's book? Simply put, when it comes to photography, you can probably figure out all the camera controls yourself (exposure, white balance, etc.) But when it comes to actually seeing pictures and understanding their meaning, one needs a good guide, an expert, someone with a lifetime of experience. Let Dr. Zakia be your guide, and you'll see your world differently - and perhaps picture it more creatively. There is non better that the "good doctor." The book is an easy read filled with powerful illustrations. It's also fun (like Dr. Zakia). P.S Don't miss the Ads from the Past and Answers to Selected Exercises sections. Most interesting information here! And surprising.
Books:
- Little Earthquakes: A Novel (Washington Square Press)
- Macromedia Flash 8 @work: Projects and Techniques to Get the Job Done (@Work)
- Magic Eye Gallery: A Showing Of 88 Images
- Maori Tattooing (Dover Pictorial Archives)
- Matisse: From Color to Architecture
- Merce Cunningham: Fifty Years
- More Than Words Volume 3: Homecoming Season\Find The Way\Here Come The Heroes\Touched By Love\A Stitch In Time (More Than Words Anthology)
- Murder on a Girls' Night Out: A Southern Sisters Mystery
- Natural Light: Visions of British Columbia
- Obsession (Alex Delaware Novels)
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- Jews of Spain: A History of the Sephardic Experience
- Ghost Rider: Travels on the Healing Road
- Ada, or Ardor: A Family Chronicle
- Batman Detective Comics #700 Legacy Part 1
- Architectural Graphic Standards, Tenth Edition
- Genetics: From Genes to Genomes
- Fighting Ships of the Far East
- Looking for the Summer
- As I See It: The Autobiography of J. Paul Getty
- Memories of a Tour of Duty: WWII in Europe
General
| Photography
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
Understanding Exposure: How to Shoot Great Photographs with a Film or Digital Camera (Updated Edition)
Beyond Portraiture: Creative People Photography
Understanding Digital Photography: Techniques for Getting Great Pictures
The Digital Photography Book
Photography and the Art of Seeing: A Visual Perception Workshop for Film and Digital Photography
