“Great book about the craft of photography.
And I use the word “craft” very intentionally.
Art books that focus on a how-to are always problematic. Because there’s too much to the formula of what makes great art. You can do what Ansel Adams did, but then you’re just doing what Ansel Adams did. You might paint a great painting with very little experience because your lack of experience also equates to a lack of preconceived notion of what is and isn’t a painting, but on the other hand your lack of technical skill can hold you back too.
Art, to me, is all about finding sweet spots. Experience, technical know-how, personal excitement, and just what happens to be in the room when. There’s so much to it, it’s hard to make a helpful guide.
Buuut, I think this book does a great job of opening the world of photography to people who aren’t well-acquainted. And it focuses on craft, the idea of doing something with the express purpose of doing it and improving as opposed to the doing of something to create Art.The book promotes the importance of TAKING PHOTOS over fiddling with a camera, and it recommends settings that get people out there taking pictures. It shows the masters, and it shows how the masters break the rules and why.
More than anything, it espouses the value of committing to the form, getting out there and taking a lot of pictures. “