The Essence of Photography

There is a lot more to photography than simply picking up a camera, pointing it toward something, and tripping the shutter. Achieving a great photograph requires thought and preparation, an understanding of the photographic process, and a firm grasp of how light and composition affect a photo. There must be personal involvement and personal expression. There must be experimentation, with the recognition that only a small percentage of experiments end successfully.In this richly illustrated book, best-selling author and world-renowned photographer and teacher Bruce Barnbaum explores these seldom-discussed issues by sharing his personal experiences and observations from more than 40 years of photographing and teaching. In addition to photography, Bruce draws upon painting, music, and writing, as well as the sciences and even business, to provide pertinent examples of creative thinking. Bruce's anecdotes and examples serve as stepping stones that will lead you to your own heightened ability to see. They will strengthen your personal intuition and creativity.This book expands on the central ideas of Bruce's methods for teaching photography, which he has used to lead workshops for the past 42 years. The goal of this book is to encourage readers to look inward and to examine the passions and motivations that drive their own photography.Included in the book are in-depth discussions on the following topics:- Defining your own unique rhythm and approach as a photographer- The differences and similarities between how an amateur and a professional approach photography- The differences between realism and abstraction, and the possibilities and limitations of each- Learning to expand your own creativity and photographic eye through classes, workshops, and associating with other photographers- Why the rules of composition should be ignored- How to follow your passion- When to listen to the critics and when to ignore them'I offer no formulas for success because none exist. This book is not meant to be followed in a step-by-step manner, as would be the case with a camera manual or instuctional book. Instead, my hope is that the ideas discussed within the book may stimulate further thought on your part that can lead to new, creative approaches." - Bruce Barnbaum