As both an art form and a universal language, the photograph has an
extraordinary ability to connect and communicate with others. But with
over one trillion photos taken each year, why do so few of them truly
connect? Why do so few of them grab our emotions or our imaginations? It
is not because the images lack focus or proper exposure; with advances
in technology, the camera does that so well these days. Photographer
David duChemin believes the majority of our images fall short because
they lack soul. And without soul, the images have no ability to resonate
with others. They simply cannot connect with the viewer, or even--if
we're being truthful--with ourselves.
In The Soul of the Camera: The Photographer's Place in Picture-Making,
David explores what it means to make better photographs. Illustrated
with a collection of beautiful black-and-white images, the book's essays
address topics such as craft, mastery, vision, audience, discipline,
story, and authenticity. The Soul of the Camera is a personal and
deeply pragmatic book that quietly yet forcefully challenges the idea
that our cameras, lenses, and settings are anything more than dumb and
mute tools. It is the photographer, not the camera, that can and must
learn to make better photographs--photographs that convey our vision,
connect with others, and, at their core, contain our humanity. The Soul
of the Camera helps us do that.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction
The Place of Craft
The Discovery of Vision
Mindfulness of Language
A Willingness to Interpret
The Need for Openness
Patience
Capturing the Moment
Respect for the Creative Process
A Willingness to Surrender
Obedience to Curiosity
Improvisation
Abandon Perfection
The Search for Story
The Role of Audience
The Rejection of Comparisons
Authenticity
Critique
The Need for Love
Courage
The Rejection of Rules
A (Changing) Eye for Beauty
Discipline
After the Camera
The Pursuit of Mastery
Conclusion
