- ISBN13: 9781552636145
- Condition: NEW
- Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
Product Description
A practical and inspiring guide. This Third Edition familiarizes readers with the traditional principles of composition and visual design. The jargon-free text provides practical techniques and innovative exercises for breaking with traditional concepts of design to enable the photographer to develop a keen awareness of subject matter and a personal direction. Topics include: – Barriers to seeing – Learning to observe: rethinking the familiar – Learning to… More >>
Photography and the Art of Seeing: A Visual Perception Workshop for Film and Digital Photography
#1 by Mrs. Eileen Hawkins on April 24, 2010 - 7:13 am
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 The little girl had withdrawn from her playmates on the beach; she wanted to be alone.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.
Rating: 1 / 5
#2 by Anne e Nonomous on April 24, 2010 - 9:56 am
I knew that I wasn’t going to like this book after 2 minutes of flipping through the photos. They are mediocre at best. Not one inspiring shot in the entire book! And the advice is useless.
Skip this book and buy “The Simple Secret to Better Painting: How to Immediately Improve Your Work With the Golden Rule of Design” by Greg Albert. And don’t be fooled by the word “painting” in the title. This is a book about composition and it will help make you a better photographer.
Rating: 1 / 5
#3 by Anonymous on April 24, 2010 - 12:39 pm
I thought this book was ok. I personally like Bryan Peterson’s Learning to See Creatively better. This book was usefull however, and I did learn from it. It is just not my favorite choice.
Rating: 3 / 5
#4 by Adrian on April 24, 2010 - 2:36 pm
Of all the photography books I own, this easily rates as
the worst. It seems more concerned with the author and his
interpretations of images than it does teaching/demonstrating
ways to improve your work. “You may have a different
emotional response to brown than I have”. Too damn right I do.
Maybe the author is a good photographer in his own right, but
it comes across very poorly here.
Overall the photos are pretty uninspiring, dull sombre colours,
abstract subjects that are hard on the eye, uninteresting compositions … and so it goes on.
It’s all oppinions I suppose in photography, but I suggest
your hard earned cash is better spent elsewhere.
“Photographic Composition” by Grill & friends is how it
should be done, or try “Composition Techniques” by Ernst Wildi.
Regards,
Adrian
Rating: 1 / 5
#5 by Jackal on April 24, 2010 - 3:53 pm
There are better books on composition out there. This is an updated version of a 25 year old book. If you buy it you will still learn but some of the other books on composition that I’ve reviewed are better (see my page). The book has too much text and very few illustrations
I just bought my first DSLR camera. I bought ten photography books on amazon. I’m evaluating these books from the perspective of a semi-advanced amateur. (On things I’ve learnt is that book by the
Rating: 3 / 5