For me, and the journey that I am currently on, documentation and preservation is immensely important, which is why I have been looking into taking my photography skills to the next level, digging deeper into the consciousness behind my photos and hopefully spark creativity and self-discovery.
Zen Camera by David Ulrich is just what I needed to explore this medium. There are six lessons that revolve around observation, awareness, identity, practice, mastery, and presence in photography. There is also basic methods and principles section which includes the fact that you do not need any fancy equipment to practice photography. Zen Camera is more about the mindfulness and finding creativity in the art rather than equipment, which I appreciated.
David Ulrich has been teaching photography for over forty years and really pulls from his experience. It is incredibly well written and the photos included are imaginative and beautiful. Zen Camera is a workbook that is meant to be worked through in several months time but the way you want to work through it is completely up to you. You can read it straight through but I found that skimming and choosing what I wanted to focus on worked better for me.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to go deeper and become more mindful and aware in their photography and to awaken creativity within.
"No experience is complete, no meal finished, no friendship consummated until we have taken a picture. The photograph replies, I was here. I witnessed this event, met this person, or relished this experience."
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Watson-Guptill and Blogging for Books in exchange for an honest, unbiased review. All opinions are my own.
No comments
Thank you for visiting! :)