Seven Steps Toward Becoming A More Creative Photographer

I think I agree with everything Scott Bourne has to say in this short but insightful post. The fact is that being creative cannot be restricted to one medium, it is part of everything that makes you want to take pictures, this the Scott’s opening

“In this post I am going to lay the ground work for a road map of sorts. It’s really just a random stream of ideas designed to help you navigate that most difficult of journeys – the one to creativity. I’ve made several attempts at this here on Photofocus. This is just another in what will be a string of many. Hopefully this one resonates with someone. These aren’t rules. They are simply guidelines and have personally benefitted me and my work. My hope is that they will help you too.” here is more

Michael Freeman Books

I have just received 2 books I had ordered by Michael Freeman, one of the better writers in the vast world of photography books. The first

The Photographer’s Eye: Composition and Design for Better Digital Photos

Deals mainly with composition and design and is a cut above the average. This review on Amazon reflects my thoughts although it has many images to explain the ideas it is a word driven and intelligent, almost academic book so if you are not into reading it might not be for you. “This is the best single volume on visual design and composition in years. Painters need a book this good. Freeman’s earlier book from the 1980s, “Image,” had long held the status, IMHO, of being the best single volume. His new book surpasses the older one by a significant margin.”  It is only about £10 on Amazon and obviously a bit more elsewhere so a great present to ask for that is not embarrassingly expensive like a 70 – 200 f2.8 zoom from Nikon or Canon.

The second book is more, well academic, it is about the thought processes involved with image making, aimed at people whose first instinct when confronted by a sunset is not to reach for a camera, although in the opening chapter Freeman deals with why we are so drawn to photographing red skies. Interesting, revealing and intelligent.

The Photographer’s Mind: Creative Thinking for Better Digital Photos

These are books for people who realise that owning a camera does not make you a photographer and that how you think about and create images is what makes you a photographer. Even if your intentions with your pictures is attractive, harmonious images rather than some deep concept as to why, how and the meaning of life you might benefit from spending time after lunch on the 25th enjoying a quiet couple of hours indulging your love of photography.