Take Your Photography to the Next Level: From Inspiration to Image
by George Barr
List Price:
Our Price: $22.66
You Save: $17.29 (43%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $8.51 (click here)
Category: Book
See more book details and other editions
Book Summary Information
Author: George BarrEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2007-12-15
ISBN: 1933952210
Number of pages: 216
Publisher: Rocky Nook
Product features:
- ISBN13: 9781933952215
- Condition: New
- Notes: BRAND NEW FROM PUBLISHER! 100% Satisfaction Guarantee. Tracking provided on most orders. Buy with Confidence! Millions of books sold!
Book Reviews of Take Your Photography to the Next Level: From Inspiration to Image
Book Review: Stunning Book on Photography and the Creative Process
Summary: 5 Stars
George Barr's stunning new book is an impressive debut for George in the world of art instruction in book form, and a "must-read" book for photographers at all skill levels. George is already quite an accomplished master of photography in traditional print and Blog forms. Indeed, according to his Blog, the idea for this book, and a bit of its substance (though markedly enhanced and expanded) came about partly from the many insightful entries he's posted on his Blog over the years [...].
Apart from his obvious writing skill, one of George's great strengths as an artist/communicator is his ability to articulate some of the core - and often mysterious - qualities that describe the process of art in general; and photography in particular. Though he doesn't shy away from philosophical issues (and addresses such issues as "Just what is fine-art photography, anyway?" head-on), he has a veritable wellspring of practical advice to impart photographers, ranging from complete novices to seasoned professionals.
That this book is special is immediately obvious. It is neither an all too common "How To.." instruction manual on what f-stop to choose or what lens to put on your camera, nor is it yet another "This is how it is done in Photoshop..." guidebook (though some allusions to both sets of "problems" are sprinkled throughout). What this book does, and does exceedingly well, is address the much more difficult subjective components of fine-art photography: the nature of creativity in the photographic process, where to "look for" images, and what to do when you find them (and when you cannot!), how to compose your shots and why, how to assess your imagery, and to learn to develop your own "style," and the differences between purely technical acumen and aesthetic vision.
Such matters are rarely if ever are given the attention they deserve, and if they do appear in other books - typically as short side-bars or quick asides - do so more as after-thoughts than substantive discussions. In fact, I know of only perhaps three or four other books (none of which are as well-written as this one, by the way) that similarly delve deeply into the creative and aesthetic parts of photography. It is thus a book that is long-overdue; and I am delighted that a photographer of George's unique blend of artistic skill and expository ability has taken up the challenge.
I am also impressed by the utmost care and attention that has been put into the design and content of the book. The image selection is excellent throughout; and (in another rarity for books in this admittedly small genre) include many "don't quite work" photographs simply because George wants to show what works, what does not, and why. Even the captions to the photos show a quiet attention. Each tells a succinct story about what is being shown, and makes a point all its own that compliments the accompanying text. If all one did was to skim the book reading its captions, and nothing else, one would arguably still learn a great deal of the subject. Another nice feature is that many of the sections include simple but marvelously effective sketches to illustrate the finer points of, say, cropping and composition. While most authors would have contented themselves to include an image example or two and leave it at that, George goes that extra step for the reader. Finally, there is also a generous selection of "portfolio" images, each accompanied by its own "story" of how it came to be, in two-page spreads that appear throughout the book. My personal favorite (and one that, as George reveals, turns out to be among George's all-time popular images) is Windowpane, that appears on page 193. Indeed, it is this particular image, that I first saw in Focus magazine a few years ago, that introduced me to George's photography, and compelled me to become an avid reader of his Blog.
If you are either a budding photographer who wants to learn about the "art" in fine-art photography, or a long-practicing photographer (perhaps even a pro), and are wondering where to look for advice to improve your own vision; or your skill level is anywhere in-between, know that there is no better place to learn, and no better guide to turn to for guidance, than George's superb new book. On the basis of this book alone, I'd say George is about to embark on yet another career track (in addition to already being a physician and photographer); namely that as an accomplished teacher of fine-art photography. Well done George.
Summary of Take Your Photography to the Next Level: From Inspiration to Image
This book is for the photographer who strives to achieve a higher level of results in their work. Take Your Photography to the Next Level is based on a series of essays originally featured on the popular Luminous Landscape website. Barr tackles some of the rarely discussed, yet essential aspects of successful photography. Here is where photographers will learn what is required in order to grow in their creativity and to gain a deeper understanding of their craft.
With a foreward by Michael Reichmann.
Topics include:
- Creativity
- Dealing with disappointment
- Developing an "eye"
- Making stronger images
- What photographs well
- Where to go looking for the best photographic subjects
- How to approach subject material
- A great image is just around the corner
- Dealing with failure
- Mind games
- Becoming a self-aware photographer
- Framing, cropping, & manipulating prints to create mood and transmit your message
Darkroom & Processing Books
Book Subjects
- Arts & Photography
- Biographies & Memoirs
- Business & Investing
- Children's Books
- Comics & Graphic Novels
- Computers & Internet
- Cooking, Food & Wine
- Entertainment
- Gay & Lesbian
- Health, Mind & Body
- History
- Home & Garden
- Horror
- Law
- Literature & Fiction
- Mystery & Thrillers
- Nonfiction
- Outdoors & Nature
- Parenting & Families
- Professional & Technical
- Reference
- Religion & Spirituality
- Romance
- Science
- Science Fiction & Fantasy
- Sports
- Teens
- Travel
Most talked about in Darkroom & Processing Books
Cutting Edge Photo Cropping for Scrapbooks, Book 2Memory Makers; Memory Makers; Published: 2003-11-15; Paperback; Book
Best price: $1.97
Price in other shops:
Re-Engineering the Photo Studioby Joe Farace
Allworth Press; Published: 1998-06-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $0.01
Price in other shops:
Magic Lantern Guides: Nikon D7000by Simon Stafford
Magic Lantern; Pixiq; Published: 2011-05-03; Paperback; Book
Best price: $10.85
Price in other shops:
The Double Exposure Bookby Wayne Floyd
Wayne Floyd; Published: 1985-04; Paperback; Book
Price in other shops:
The Digital Color Printing Handbook: A Photographer's Guide to Creative Color Management and Printing Techniquesby Tim Daly
Amphoto Books; Published: 2005-06-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $1.25
Price in other shops:
Basic Studio Lighting: The Photographer's Complete Guide to Professional Techniquesby Tony L. Corbell
Amphoto Books; Published: 2001-08; Paperback; Book
Best price: $22.18
Price in other shops:
Making Scrapbooks: Complete Guide to Preserving Your Treasured Memoriesby Vanessa-Ann
Sterling Pub Co Inc; Published: 1998-04; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $0.90
Price in other shops:
The Creative Digital Darkroomby Katrin Eismann, Sean Duggan
O'Reilly Media; Published: 2008-01-11; Paperback; Book
Best price: $18.25
Price in other shops:
Essential Darkroom Techniquesby Jonathan Eastland
Cassell; Published: 1995-08; Hardcover; Book
Price in other shops:
Picture Editing, Second Editionby Tom Ang
Focal Press; Published: 2000-09-13; Paperback; Book
Best price: $299.42
Similar Books and other products
The Art of Photography: An Approach to Personal Expressionby Bruce Barnbaum
Rocky Nook; Published: 2010-12-05; Paperback; Book
Best price: $25.25
Price in other shops:
The Practice of Contemplative Photography: Seeing the World with Fresh Eyesby Andy Karr, Michael Wood
Shambhala; Published: 2011-04-12; Paperback; Book
Best price: $16.00
Price in other shops:
The Portrait: Understanding Portrait Photographyby Glenn Rand, Tim Meyer
Rocky Nook; Published: 2010-01-04; Paperback; Book
Best price: $21.17
Price in other shops:
Creative Landscapes: Digital Photography Tips and Techniquesby Harold Davis
Wiley; Published: 2011-05-24; Paperback; Book
Best price: $14.12
Price in other shops:
Fine Art Photography High Dynamic Range: Realism, Superrealism, and Image Optimization for Serious Novices to Advanced Diby Tony Sweet
Stackpole Books; Published: 2011-07-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $14.16
Price in other shops:
Mastering Landscape Photography: The Luminous Landscape Essaysby Alain Briot
Rocky Nook; Published: 2006-12-12; Paperback; Book
Best price: $22.65
Price in other shops:
Marketing Fine Art Photographyby Alain Briot
Rocky Nook; Published: 2011-06-08; Paperback; Book
Best price: $24.97
Price in other shops:
Mastering Photographic Composition, Creativity, and Personal Styleby Alain Briot
Rocky Nook; Published: 2009-09-04; Paperback; Book
Best price: $26.20
Price in other shops:
From Camera to Computer: How to Make Fine Photographs Through Examples, Tips, and Techniquesby George Barr
Rocky Nook; Published: 2009-11-22; Paperback; Book
Best price: $21.84
Price in other shops:
Why Photographs Work: 52 Great Images Who Made Them, What Makes Them Special and Whyby George Barr
Rocky Nook; Published: 2011-01-04; Paperback; Book
Best price: $22.22
Price in other shops: