David duChemin has just released another eBook, The Inspired Eye III. If you read my review of his previous eBook, A Deeper Frame, you know that I’m a fan of David’s writing. He looks at photography in a deeper way than most, and is able to articulate sometimes-complex ideas clearly.
This latest eBook, the third part of his Inspired Eye series, is no exception. It contains lots of interesting thoughts and insights into the creative process of photography. I was particularly struck by this passage:
“You can learn about photography by reading books, watching videos, and listening to other photographers. You can study hundreds of photographs. But you will not learn your own process of making photographs until you have a camera in your hands and you make photograph after photograph.”
As I mentioned in my last post, I went to the Millpond Music Festival last weekend, and in his workshop on Sunday Joe Craven said something similar—that we learn by imitating, and by doing, not by studying theory. I think he’s right on the mark about that, and so is David in saying that you have to make lots of photographs to “learn your own process.”
I don’t want to discount the value of reading and watching and studying (especially the value of reading this blog of course!). You can save a lot of time by learning from those who have traveled similar paths before you, or studied an aspect of photography in more depth than you have.
But ultimately you have to do it yourself. And you have to make mistakes, and learn from them, and try again. I think that’s why I emphasize hands-on learning so much in my workshops—whether behind the camera in field sessions, or using Lightroom or Photoshop in the lab. To me it’s just the best way for people to learn.
But I digress. Maybe I’ll write more about this whole idea of learning photography by doing in a later post. Meanwhile, if you want to understand more about the creative process in photography, David’s new eBook is well worth the $5 price tag—or $4 if you use coupon code EYETHREE4 before Saturday, September 24 at 11:59pm (PST). Or you can buy 5 eBooks (including my eBook Light & Land, if you don’t already own a copy) for the price of 4 (discount code EYETHREE20; also expires midnight Saturday).
—Michael Frye
Related Posts: New eBook: A Deeper Frame by David duChemin; Light & Land eBook Available Today!
Michael Frye is a professional photographer specializing in landscapes and nature. He is the author and photographer of The Photographer’s Guide to Yosemite, Yosemite Meditations, and Digital Landscape Photography: In the Footsteps of Ansel Adams and the Great Masters, plus the eBook Light & Land: Landscapes in the Digital Darkroom. He has written numerous magazine articles on the art and technique of photography, and his images have been published in over thirty countries around the world. Michael has lived either in or near Yosemite National Park since 1983, currently residing just outside the park in Mariposa, California.
I couldn’t agree with you more, Michael … and the quote you chose from David’s book! Having 15 years experience as a musical artist, I can say that learning by doing AND copying artists I liked was the only way I got better as a musician. The same holds true for my photography. I can emphatically say I copy photographers like Galen Rowell, Ansel Adams, David Stark Wilson, Charles Cramer, and YOU! But, I have to get out with the camera AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE and make mistakes as I copy. Also, what I’ve learned…I always have to approach my photography with FUN as a main objective. I might grumble sometimes on my way out to shoot, but once I’m out searching or setting up for a shot, my personal dark cloud has vanished and I’m having a blast! People ask me on camera walks, “If there was one piece of advice…what would it be?” and I always say patience…Patience in the moment for the right photo and patience over the long haul to become a better artist. Thanks for the post Michael!
Wow, this couldn’t come at a better time for me, as I too have been struggling with finding anything remotely resembling creativity. I have taken this period of time to try to learn about digital post-production (bought LR recently and am taking a class at a local community college on it), but getting out to shoot, and what to shoot, has been challenging. Thanks for the post about this, Michael, and I’m looking forward to reading David’s ebook (just bought it).
Kirk, thanks for your thoughtful response. Of course we all want to eventually forge our own style, but that comes naturally at some point, and in the mean time imitation and just getting out and doing it are truly the best ways to learn. And I’m glad you point out the fun aspect – that’s vital. Otherwise, why are we doing it?
Andy, I hope you enjoy the book. There nothing wrong with improving your post-production technique, but there’s no substitute for getting out with a camera! Hope you find more time to do that.
subscribing to your feed and I hope you write once again fairly soon!
Thanks Thomas!
Hello Michael,
i really enjoyed both eBooks Light & Land as Exposure for Outdoor Photography, which i bought from the Craft & Vision Webstore a while ago. Would love to read more thoughts from you. Love Landscape Photography, but can’t afford a FF DSLR or other HighEnd Gear. But at last, it’s you, not the Cam which takes the Shot. Just being a Amateur. Trying to get better within Time. But often i am stuck with no more Ideas or being creative with my surroundings here to shoot.
Greetings from germany,
Marc
Thanks Marc — glad you enjoyed the ebooks. You don’t need a full-frame DSLR for landscape photography. As you say, it’s the photographer, not the gear, that makes the photograph. I find that if I just get out there and look I always find something interesting. The thought that kills creativity is thinking, “I’ve already been to that place before, there’s nothing new there.” There’s always something new. Things are always changing — and you’re changing.