The Soul of the Camera: The Photographer's Place in Picture-Making
- 1h 58m
- David duChemin
- Rocky Nook
- 2017
The photograph can be an astonishing means of connecting and communicating with others. But with over one trillion photos taken each year, why are there so few successes? Why do so many fail? With advances in camera technology, it is not because the images lack focus or proper exposure; 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 beautiful collection of black-and-white photographs, the book’s essays speak to 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; that connect with others; that, at their core, contain our humanity.
About the Author
David duChemin is a world and humanitarian assignment photographer, best-selling author, and international workshop leader whose spirit of adventure fuels his fire to create and share.
Based in Vancouver, Canada, David chases compelling images on all seven continents. When on assignment, David creates powerful photographs that convey the hope and dignity of children, the vulnerable, and the oppressed for the international NGO community. When creating the art he so passionately shares, David strives to capture the beauty of the natural world. Find David online at davidduchemin.com.
In this Book
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Introduction
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The Place of Craft
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The Discovery of Vision
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Mindfulness of Language
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A Willingness to Interpret
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The Need for Openness
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Patience
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Capturing the Moment
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Respect for the Creative Process
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A Willingness to Surrender
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Obedience to Curiosity
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Improvisation
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Abandon Perfection
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The Search for Story
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The Role of Audience
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The Rejection of Comparisons
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Authenticity
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Critique
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The Need for Love
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Courage
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The Rejection of Rules
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A (Changing) Eye for Beauty
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Discipline
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After the Camera
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The Pursuit of Mastery
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Conclusion
