oofoto Posted October 3, 2005 Share Posted October 3, 2005 Are there any essential books that you would deem essential to give an understanding of how a photographers mind might work when 'seeing a final image' and the factors that are involved in the process? This might be from a single well know artist or compiled from a broader base of knowledge. I'm asking here about written word books and not necessarily containing pages of images. Please state your reasons if suggesting a title. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matt_needham Posted October 3, 2005 Share Posted October 3, 2005 Ansel Adams' The Making of 40 Photographs He gives the information, less technical and more what was on his mind, behind 40 of his photographs. Here is an interesting link http://www.artsmia.org/get-the-picture/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ellis_vener_photography Posted October 3, 2005 Share Posted October 3, 2005 <I>Understanding of how a photographers mind might work</I><P>Which photographer, doing what kind of work, at what age and at what point in their experience or, if it is someone who makes a living from photography, at what point in their career, for what type of client and for what purpose? <P> Books I can recommend:<P> "The Nature of Photographs" by Stephen Shore<P> anything by Robert Adams "The Making of Forty Photographs" by Ansel Adams Freeman Patterson's books.<P> The Ansel Adams biography by Mary Street Alinder ( but NOT the A. Adams autobiography)<P> The reasons are: clear and lucid writing from people who not only are passionate about photography but who have also thought quite a lot about photography and about how photographs are perceived. <P> The question I want an answer to is: why do you, Paul Marbs, want to know? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marbing Posted October 3, 2005 Share Posted October 3, 2005 I am very taken with the work of Sam Abell and I have several of his books. There is a very nice interview (and gallery) of his work done by digitaljournalist.org that does give some insights into how he approaches photography.</p><a href="http://digitaljournalist.org/issue0206/sam_intro.htm" >Digital Journalist Sam Abell interview and gallery</a></p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marbing Posted October 3, 2005 Share Posted October 3, 2005 Here is Part I of that interview series, it is excellent too.</p> What I liked about the second series is that you see not only his final shots but he lets us see the shots that didn't 'work' as well.</p> <a href="http://digitaljournalist.org/issue0202/abell_intro.htm" >Sam Abell interview Part I</a></p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oofoto Posted October 3, 2005 Author Share Posted October 3, 2005 Thankyou all for your kind replys and suggestions - I did think I might get some flack for asking this! Aren't we supposed to find our own way without borrowing too heavily from others? Ellis, by asking "Which photographer, doing what kind of work, at what age and at what point in their experience or, if it is someone who makes a living from photography, at what point in their career, for what type of client and for what purpose?" has helped me think about why I want to know these things. All I can tell you at the moment is that I feel I'm missing something from my photographic experience - something which I'll hopefully be able to explain whne I've read some of the suggested books. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matt_needham Posted October 3, 2005 Share Posted October 3, 2005 "Aren't we supposed to find our own way without borrowing too heavily from others?" Even if that were so, and I'm not sure that it is, there is nothing wrong with taking the time to read or listen to the ways other people do things. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ammar_y Posted October 4, 2005 Share Posted October 4, 2005 Hi, this's my first post here at photo.net. Personally, I've always been keen to read about what goes on in the mind of a photographer when he/she takes those pictures, be it a "good" picture or not. I'm not a student of art or photography and do not live in a world where my life revolves around any of these things, career-wise. The thing that got my into photography is how the real world gets manipulated onto the film, and sometimes eventually to print. However, here's where I differ from many serious photographers, i don't study photographs. I either see it and do I like it or not. Does it capture my attention or not. Does it stir up any thoughts in my mind. I don't understand it when people put a caption under the pictures saying "f2.8 1/250 200mm, Velvia 50". I don't appreciate more than half of Ansel Adams or any other "great masters" works. I sometimes frown upon pictures being "named". Maybe I'm just a beginner. Or maybe I'm just not an artist and have no appreciation for good art. I look at an Ansel Adams print sold for $$$$$ on the Internet, dazzled, turn the monitor off, and turn around and put my print on my bedroom wall. My point is, the most interesting aspect of photography that holds value to me is, the very first thought that runs through the mind of a photographer when he/she first decided to "make" a picture, and not how the picture was made. Maybe this is what Paul's seeking. After much surfing on the internet on this topic, I found these two quotes by Gary Winogrand that best reflects on how I feel about photography.. "I photograph something to see what it will look like photographed" "I don't have anything to say in any picture. My only interest in photography is to see what something looks like as a photograph. I have no preconceptions" cheers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stephen hazelton Posted October 4, 2005 Share Posted October 4, 2005 My first thought was Ansel Adams as well. If you like the style of photos, Galen Rowell's books are pretty good. He'll have the photo, then tell you how and why he made it that way. "Mountain Light" in particular. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael_bach2 Posted October 4, 2005 Share Posted October 4, 2005 I like the work of the, German artist / photographer ,Hans-Peter Feldman and his thoughts about art and photography . www.micbach.dk......."Photography workshops in Spain" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_waller Posted October 5, 2005 Share Posted October 5, 2005 I suggest 'Teaching Photography - Notes Assembled' by Philip Perkis, publ. OBpress. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gregg_johnson Posted October 5, 2005 Share Posted October 5, 2005 <a href= "http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0415174902/qid=1128563246/sr=8-1/ref=pd_bbs_1/002-0013291-6974466?v=glance&s=books&n=507846" target= "new">The Art Question</a> by Nigel Warburton will help you answer your question. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john falkenstine Posted October 8, 2005 Share Posted October 8, 2005 Paul; books are only part of the information base. One of my good sources is PHOTO DISTRICT NEWS. They have a good monthly magazine, still in large format so you get some decent sized pictures. They don't assign 99.999% of their space to ads. AND the netsite is extensive. I like them because they also pay attention to LIVING photographers and some younger folks out there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jasper1 Posted October 8, 2005 Share Posted October 8, 2005 Understanding of how a photographers mind might work You have a mind dude use it. Why would you want to use someone else. Unless you want to be someone else. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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