Photography & the Art of Seeing

Rating:
Summary: Photos Similar, But Great Text on Fundamental Principles
Review: Freeman Patterson is an artist with camera in his hand. All of this books are not limited to the "talking-of-equipment" nor "exposure setting". Instead, Freeman gives you the visual design; then, you address what you see + what you design on film. In this book, Freeman applied the "visual design" through the framing and composing technique -the art of seeing. Unlike other photo books, this book shows you more on composition of shape and color, not much on equipment. Thus, the gear-luster may found this book is inferior to others. I, however, found this book is a requirement after you master the exposure and gear. Several workshops are given in this book as well as the evaluation techniques that I found very useful. Like other Freeman's books, many nice photo are provided for your joy and learn.

Rating:
Summary: Inspiration
Review: I had hit a wall in my photography. I was uninspired. This book helped a lot. This book can aid you in seeing in abstract form. He offers exercises. This book is fantastic.

Rating:
Summary: Covers the art and emotion of photography, not the mechanics
Review: I have been using cameras for a long time, so I mostly know how they work. But I was looking for guidance and inspiration on how to make my photos more emotionally compelling. This book really hit the sweet spot for me.

First, it discusses and describes important concepts of composition with what I thought were excellent examples, as well as beautiful photographs. While most other books talk about basics like the rule of thirds, leading lines, etc, Art of Seeing goes much further into compositional elements.

But as important is Mr Patterson's clear love of the medium and ability to convey how to see in many different ways. I have been practicing this summer, and am finding now that many more of my images are worth something -- many just helping me understand where I went wrong so I can continue to improve. This book helped me find the subjects that are hidden in many otherwise ordinary things.

My only criticism of the book is that on a personal level I am not as interested in highly asbstract subjects that are a large part of the images in the book, although I will say that there is one shot of trees from an airplane that had me entranced. But this kind of subject makes sense for a book focused on composition.

I really learned a lot from this book, and highly recommend it.

Rating:
Summary: Covers the art and emotion of photography, not the mechanics
Review: I have been using cameras for a long time, so I mostly know how they work. But I was looking for guidance and inspiration on how to make my photos more emotionally compelling. This book really hit the sweet spot for me.

First, it discusses and describes important concepts of composition with what I thought were excellent examples, as well as beautiful photographs. While most other books talk about basics like the rule of thirds, leading lines, etc, Art of Seeing goes much further into compositional elements.

But as important is Mr Patterson's clear love of the medium and ability to convey how to see in many different ways. I have been practicing this summer, and am finding now that many more of my images are worth something -- many just helping me understand where I went wrong so I can continue to improve. This book helped me find the subjects that are hidden in many otherwise ordinary things.

My only criticism of the book is that on a personal level I am not as interested in highly asbstract subjects that are a large part of the images in the book, although I will say that there is one shot of trees from an airplane that had me entranced. But this kind of subject makes sense for a book focused on composition.

I really learned a lot from this book, and highly recommend it.

Rating:
Summary: Not my favorite book, but it is still a good book.
Review: I thought this book was ok. I personally like Bryan Peterson's Learning to See Creatively better. This book was usefull however, and I did learn from it. It is just not my favorite choice.

Rating:
Summary: Not a good book - buy something else.
Review: Of all the photography books I own, this easily rates as
the worst. It seems more concerned with the author and his
interpretations of images than it does teaching/demonstrating
ways to improve your work. "You may have a different
emotional response to brown than I have". Too damn right I do.
Maybe the author is a good photographer in his own right, but
it comes across very poorly here.

Overall the photos are pretty uninspiring, dull sombre colours,
abstract subjects that are hard on the eye, uninteresting compositions ... and so it goes on.

It's all oppinions I suppose in photography, but I suggest
your hard earned cash is better spent elsewhere.
"Photographic Composition" by Grill & friends is how it
should be done, or try "Composition Techniques" by Ernst Wildi.

Regards,

Adrian

Rating:
Summary: Inspiration
Review: Take this book as an inspiration. It offers you new appraoches for the search of subjects and the way to cature them on film.
The book is relatively poor in instruction and something like "swirl your camera with an open shutter at its strap but be carefull that the strap is carefully fixed" can only be taken as an invitation to be more creative. And jumping up and down in a forrest with your camera's shutter open might also not be everybody's idea of innovative photography.
You need to like Freeman Patterson's photos in their simplicity to appreciate his explanations. I do, and I like the book as well!

Rating:
Summary: Interesting but weak coverage of basic principles
Review: This book is mainly for advanced photographers who have a thorough knowledge of the basics of photographic composition and are looking to explore new areas. It's goal is to get you to extend your techniques beyond the usual and develop your own personal style. The basics of composition are addressed only in a cursory fashion.

For a beginning to intermediate photographer like myself, it would help to have a solid grasp of composition before departing from it. If this is your situation, then you would be better served by "Photograhic Composition" by Grill and Scanlon (which is currently in print) or better yet "Image:Designing Effective Pictures" by Michael Freeman. The latter book is by far the best discussion of composition that I've read. Unfortunately, it's no longer in print, so you'll have to find a used copy.

Rating:
Summary: Pretty Good but Freeman Patterson has another better one
Review: This is a good book on composition and related matters but Freeman Patterson has a much better one in "Photographing the World Around You: A Visual Design Workshop". Buy that one instead of this. This book would rate about a B, B+ or at best an A- whereas the other would be solidly in the "A" category. Freeman's text is clear and easy to understand and his photo's are fine but the other book is better in all ways IMHO.

Rating:
Summary: Pretty Good but Freeman Patterson has another better one
Review: This is a good book on composition and related matters but Freeman Patterson has a much better one in "Photographing the World Around You: A Visual Design Workshop". Buy that one instead of this. This book would rate about a B, B+ or at best an A- whereas the other would be solidly in the "A" category. Freeman's text is clear and easy to understand and his photo's are fine but the other book is better in all ways IMHO.