Follow up to The Photographer’s Eye
Jun 28th, 2010 by Keith Chaloner
I had the following comment by email
‘I bought ‘The Photographer’s Eye’ by Michael Freeman from Amazon sometime ago, but hadn’t looked at it very much. I have to admit that, if I had seen it in a shop I probably wouldn’t have bought it. When it arrived my initial impression was that it was quite technical and too advanced for a beginner. Having read your post on the website, I have been taking another look at it, and have found it to be more interesting than I’d first thought. I’m sure that in the future I will be referring to it more often.
As someone new to photography, the book I have found to be very helpful is, ‘Understanding Exposure’ By Bryan Peterson. I have other books by the same author including, ‘Learning To See Creatively’ and find him easy to understand.’
My reply:
The writer was dead right, it is not really a book for beginners and I should also have made it clear that it is not an easy read. I really shouldn’t have let my enthusiasm run away with me and have the temerity to tell anyone what to buy or read!
I think that one of the benefits of a ‘meaty’ book like this is that it can introduce concepts that you wouldn’t have thought of or come across otherwise. It can also reinforce things you ‘feel’ instinctively and thereby increases confidence in your own judgement.
A book like this is not something that ones reads, absorbs and thinks ‘job done’; rather a reference that one dips into over time and gradually absorbs ideas, concepts, ways of looking at things that improve ones knowledge and judgement.
I have now received and read (once) ‘Perfect Exposure’. Again, it is not an easy read and I am still trying to get my head around the concepts and ideas contained. I hope to have more to say about it when I understand it more. By the way it’s all about exposure! You would think that was pretty simple……it aint.
For the moment I am having trouble with the comment facility on the site and until it is sorted, if anyone wants to add something to this topic, please email me
Keith
