Within the Frame: The Journey of Photographic Vision (Voices That Matter)

This is a very well written and important new book which will appeal to those photographers wishing to capture better people shots on their travels. David duChemin is clearly a skilful and sensitive photographer who prefers whenever possible to take the time to engage the people he photographs rather than adopt a shoot and retreat approach.David emphasises the importance of developing "Vision". Vision is not what you see (that results in just a record shot) but what you feel and what you want to say about the subject. The challenge is how to interpret that to produce a powerful image which moves the viewer and elicits an emotional reaction in tune with the character, the inner self, the dignity or spirit of the person being photographed.Each image in the book is accompanied by camera data including focal length, shutter speed, aperture and ISO setting. This means that you can see for yourself how, for example, the aperture setting has affected the depth of field so if it's not quite to your liking you might in similar circumstances reduce it to get more of the picture in-focus front to back.Within The Frame is a good read and provides thoughtful insight for those concerned with capturing better travel and street image in-camera rather than looking to major adjustments in Photoshop afterwards.

Just the book for you if you want to think about the creativity and meaning of your photography. Also, very good basic education about how to choose the right lens for the situation and look you which to achieve with your image. Well written and easy to understand. the author writes in a way that makes you feel encouraged and yet he is honest about the requirements to be a good photographer. Good examples to enhance his lessons. I recommend this to any photographer who wants to think about the emotional, personal, and non technical aspects of photography. Also, a good book for understanding how to make decisions about the equipment used for a specific photo. Suggestions for practice are also helpful.

The book very well describes the making and process David duChemim uses to create his photographs. Not only technically settings, but also the reasoning, thoughts and surrounding of each work. While the pictures mainly cover Egypt, Cuba and Nepal, the processes described can be easily used for other settings.What prevented me from giving it 5 starts is only that I quite often found myself to disagree on the described thoughts that went into that respective picture. If you are on the same mental line as him it would be 5/5, but even without the great explanations and pictures leave it at 4/5.

This is unquestionably the most inspiring book on photography I have ever read. While the details of how the images were photographed are included and are informative, it is the vision behind the image that is the core of the book. It can be compared to driving - only when the mechanical part is mastered so that the operater does not have to think about it constantly, can the real art of the subject be developed. It is well written with some humour, but without the silliness which some authors resort to to hide their lack of depth. I am rationing my reading of it to prolong my enjoyment.

I've rated 5 stars because it surpassed my expectation.I was searching for inspirational words on how to "see" through the frame and David does an outstanding job on providing such awareness.I was afraid that this book's photos, mostly on exotic/remote locations would narrow and bias the message, but that is not so: read the book like if you are reading a novel and within some distracted moment you will notice how your perception of the surroundings has changed slightly.I particularly like the balance he puts on "gear is good, vision is better".It has definitely contributed to my photographic growing experience.

I have dozens of photography books of all kinds and this one is in my top 5. I love it!!! could not stop reading it.After you master all the technical stuff of your camera, composition, light, and so on, you need to perfect your vision and that's what this book help you to find.This is the touch i needed for my photography to go up the next level...it really change the way i photograph during my travel photography....Thanks for your work David

It is OK

This was a gift. The recipient has told me the book is excellent, and has given him many times deas for his own photography.

"Vision is the beginning and end of photography. It's the thing that moves you to pick up a camera, and it determines what you look at and what you see when you do. It determines how you shoot and why. Without vision, the photographer perishes" (p. 2).My photographic journey has ebbed and flowed between focusing on creativity and learning all the mechanics...sort of a back and forth rhythm of learning, discovering, and processing. When I first began dabbling in photography, the only tools I had were my eyes and my creativity because I had no idea how a camera formed a photograph, nor how light interacted with the film. Disappointed with the fact that many of my images didn't turn out the way I had envisioned them, I began down the road of learning mechanics and all things "technical." As with any new thing, the scales tipped in the direction of perfecting the image for quite some time. I became focused on light, sharpness, shadows, focus, quality of lenses--and the idea of vision was buried deep in my creative mind, somewhere behind thoughts of gear and aperture and off camera lighting.And as with any tide that ebbs and flows or scale that gets tipped to one side, I began to yearn for balance. I wanted to create something deeper, something creative and an expression of myself. Around the holidays, I stumbled upon David duChemin's blog and began poring over his posts. I loved his writing style and connected deeply with the content and humanitarian work he does. I began to take a look at some of the books he has written, and I chose Within the Frame: The Journey of Photographic Vision to dig into first.As soon as it arrived, I began reading, and underlining, and reading more. I devoured every chapter. I was reading so fast that even in the first few chapters, I had already begun thinking about rereading it. I was coming from a place of knowing a good deal of the "technical" or "how-to" information, but my soul was longing to go deeper, to use these tools I've learned and go back to my first love: having a vision and expressing it creatively. Within the Frame connected with me exactly where I was at in my journey and began to tip the scales back towards creativity. The goal is be able to live in the tension between the two and to find balance between technical perfection and creative expression of my vision."It's as though photographers are afflicted with a chronic split personality. One personality is the Artist, the other the Geek. One is Vision, the other Craft...and in the middle where they meet is the art of photography--the expression of our unique vision through practiced technique. Great photography happens where craft and vision meet" (p. 38).What I enjoyed about this book most was David's ability to discuss some technique and technical aspects of photography within the context of beginning with your vision. He stresses that this is not a how-to book, but rather a why-to book. The book is written from the perspective of traveling and photographing in other places and cultures, but I think the content is applicable to doing work in your own hometown as well. "The art of expressing an encounter with people, places, and cultures remains the same whether or not you get on a plane" (p. xvi).This is a book I'll be going back to many times. I'll take it with me when I do travel work. It is truly a great reference and one I'll be keeping in my library for many years. I would recommend it to anyone, whether you're just starting out or have been on your journey for years. However, I doubly recommend it to those that are at a place of knowing your craft pretty well, knowing how to wield your tools, understanding light and the mechanics of your camera (although, if you're like me, with plenty still left to learn), but perhaps the scales have tipped and you've buried a bit of your inner creative. You've practiced your technique, but as you perfect your craft, you want your images to say something, to mean something and connect with your audience."Vision is everything, and the photographic journey is about discovering your vision, allowing it to evolve, change, and find expression through your camera...It is not something you find and come to terms with once and for all; it is something that changes and grows with you...Finding and expressing your vision is a journey, not a destination" (p. 4).

For those who love photography and photography books, you will find this book to be a great addition to your library. Full of rich photos that please the eye and provide you with ideas for your own compositions. An enjoyable book to go through again and again. I use this book in rotation with other favourites, to be placed out periodically on my antique grain scale I use for my coffee table. I have had numerous comments from both amateur photographers and non-photographers, alike.

Ich lese seit einiger Zeit David duChemins Blog und bin darin auf das Buch aufmerksam geworden. Nachdem ich Rezensionen namhafter Fotografen gelesen habe, musste ich auch einen Blick auf dieses neue Buch werfen.Meine Erwartungen sind nicht enntäuscht worden. Ich finde, dass es ein sehr gutes Buch ist. Der Autor sagt von Anfang an, dass sein Anliegen ist, dass "Warum" zu erklären und nicht das "Wie". Es gibt viele Bücher, die zeigen, wie man ein bestimmtes Bild schießen kann, welche Blende, welche Zeit etc. dahinter steckt. David duChemin geht es um was anderes. Er versucht, die Motivation dahinter zu erklären.Gut finde ich auch, dass er Beispiele bringt. Und zwar nicht nur gute Fotos, sondern auch Alternativen. Er zeigt etwa, wie unterschiedlich Bilder aussehen, wenn man verschiedene Blenden einstellt. Dabei wird trotzdem klar, dass es nicht um das fachliche Wissen geht, sondern allein darum, die Vision, die der Fotograf hat, durch die Technik auszudrücken.Positiv fällt mir auch der Druck der Bilder auf. Auch ohne den guten Text zu lesen, wäre es ein schöne Fotobuch. In der kreativen Ausübung seines Berufs hat er sich nicht für Hochglanzaufnahmen entschieden, sondern für humanitäre Arbeit. Daher sind auch seine Bilder von dieser Vision geprägt. Er zeigt Bilder, die in realen Projekten etwa für World Vision entstanden sind. Die Fotografien zeigen echte Menschen in ihrer Umgebung.Auch die Art und Weise wie er es vermittelt, gefällt mir gut. Sein Stil ist locker und nicht belehrend. Er scheint ein Freund zu sein, der einem anderen etwas erzählt. Er bevormundet nicht, er befiehlt nicht, sondern er versucht die Leser an seinen Erfahrungen teilhaben zu lassen. Und er sagt niemals, dass seine Meinung die richtige sei. Stattdessen sagt er, dass wichtigste an Fotografie ist, die eigene Vision umzusetzen. Er selber tut dies seit Jahren und gibt anderen mit "Within the frame" einen Anhaltspunkt, wie sie ihre eigene Vision umsetzen können.

筆者も本の中で書いていることだが、世の中には「How to」本があふれている。どの機材で、どの露出で、どの道具を使い、どんな写真を撮るのかを解説したテクニック解説書は沢山ある。旅写真のエッセイ本も同じくあふれている。ただ、「なぜ写真を撮るのか？」「写真を撮ることとは、撮影者にとって何なのか？」という問いを正面から投げかけ、それに答えようとする本は少ない。本書は、そのような稀な本と言える。筆者の写真も随所に登場し、その写真をたどりながら、各写真を撮ったときの筆者の心の動き、感情、狙いなどが明らかにされていく。テクニック解説書に飽き足らない人にお勧めの一冊です。ちなみに英語は平易で、普通にペーパーバックを読める人なら苦労しないレベルですいすい読めます。

Finally a book that that makes you think . It doesn't give you only the how but why and the approche to making the photo. Clearly a 5 star for me.