The Art of the Photograph
Essential Habits for Stronger Compositions
By Art Wolfe and Rob Sheppard
Foreword by Dewitt Jones
Based on legendary image-maker Art Wolfe’s popular lecture series, THE ART OF THE PHOTOGRAPH (Amphoto Books, on sale December 3, 2013, $29.99) is guaranteed to shift the fundamental way amateur photographers see and capture the world around them. Drawing from a career spanning 40 years of award-winning photography, Art Wolfe gives a rich array of insights, advice, and techniques aimed at dramatically offering the most comprehensive, imaginative master class available in a photography book.
This is Art Wolfe’s instructional magnum opus and a highly personal work. He shares the story of his own artistic discovery and describes the rigors of his experience as a professional photographer, shooting in the field. Utilizing his formal training as an art instructor, Wolfe teaches readers how to explore the elements of design to make compelling and emotionally engaging photographs. Together, Art Wolfe and Rob Sheppard look at the most common traps amateurs fall into and offer the kind of simple yet eye-opening advice that can instantly change anyone’s photos. How do you find inspiration? How do you find unique subjects? How do you know which lens to use? Wolfe also includes the invaluable chapter on the “10 Deadly Sins of Composition” so photographers will know beyond a shadow of a doubt how to take the most satisfying images possible.
THE ART OF THE PHOTOGRAPH runs the full gamut of Art Wolfe’s artistic expertise and lays the true foundation of image-making. Extraordinary photos of the world’s cultures, wildlife and varied landscapes round out this essential curriculum to provide the most thorough and imaginative volume on composition.
About the Authors
ART WOLFE’s stunning images are recognized throughout the world for their mastery of color, composition, and perspective. Wolfe’s television series, Art Wolfe’s Travels to the Edge, airs on PBS stations throughout the country. He is also a popular speaker for such companies as Microsoft, IBM, and Sheraton Hotels. He can be found at artwolfe.com as well as on Facebook and Twitter.
ROB SHEPPARD is the author/photographer of more than 30 books and hundreds of articles and is a well-known speaker and workshop leader. He was formerly the longtime editor of Outdoor Photographer magazine, where he is now editor-at-large.
Even Art has fun with his iPhone from time to time. Now you can win a cruise on Celebrity if your smartphone image is selected by an elite judging panel, which includes Art!
This three day workshop was filled with intensive field sessions. Art’s goal was to work closely with each participant to really transform and refine their skills. An image can have the power to stimulate the imagination and intellect while also telling a story that awakens the senses. He challenged them to explore the nature of creativity and discover ways to bring its power to each image.
Everyone that attended explored photography and the subjects that were presented more thoroughly than they ever had before. They all walked away with a new perspective on photography and a new found inspiration.
Photographs featured by:
Dianne Tomita
Kevin Coughlin
Kevin & Kyle Mullen
Peter Brisley
Steven Sholly
Sue O’Connell
“Kyle and I really enjoyed the workshop and Art helped me see and create some great images that I wouldn’t have considered before the workshop. I look forward to the next time I can travel with Art for some more great images.”
Johsel Namkung’s work was revelatory to me. His work was art and the rhythms of nature permeated it in sophisticated simplicity as only a master can achieve.
I have judged the first Compelling Image Contest at ShutterLoveOnline. There were many terrific entries and here are the results. Special congratulations to Paul Leatherbury and Werner Priller!
Last month Art lectured at Google about The Art of the Image. It is now available for viewing and sharing online!
About Talks at Google: The Talks at Google program brings authors, musicians, innovators, and speakers of all stripes to Google for talks centering on their recently published books and capturing the popular and intellectual zeitgeist of the day.
I am pleased to announce the addition of Denis Glennon of Iconic Images as a new associate instructor at Art Wolfe Workshops.
Denis & I have traveled quite a bit together—to China, Australia, and South Africa—and I have enjoyed every minute of it! Later this year I have two more sold out trips with him that I am really looking forward to. His latest workshops are listed on the international photography tours page.
Beate Dalbec has become a friend over the years and she is celebrating her first big commercial sale of an image of bison and Grand Prismatic to the state of Montana. Hear from Beate in her own words her path as a photographer and the role Art has played along the way:
“My introduction to photography came when I was 15 years old, a gift from my father.
I’ve always had a passion for nature and travel photography which led me to watching Art Wolfe’s “Travels to the Edge” on PBS. It gave me a needed boost and when Art offered a workshop in Acadia National Park in Maine in 2009 I jumped at the opportunity to learn from him. Taking this workshop completely changed the way I approach photography.
Art took me out of my comfort zone and made me look at the world around me with new eyes. I followed up this first workshop with a second one from Art the same year at Mt. Rainier National Park. Though the weather was miserable I was amazed at the photographic opportunities before us.Art has taught me to always keep looking, not just to go for the obvious shot. Sure, take it, but then keep looking for different angles, details, and never walk away too soon. Anyone who has taken one of his seminars or workshops can attest that his passion for photography is infectious and that you walk away inspired to take your photography to a new level.
Through Art I connected with Gavriel Jecan and took my first photo tour with him to Myanmar in 2011 – I was instantly hooked on this gorgeous country and its wonderful people. Seeing it through the eyes of a professional photographer makes all the difference. My next project is an exhibit of my Myanmar images from this first as well as my most recent trip.
The bison at Grand Prismatic is my first big commercial licensing sale (and hopefully not my last). I traveled to Yellowstone National Park in June 2011 with my mother. While there I had hoped to hike up one of the hills surrounding Grand Prismatic hot spring in order to photograph some nice abstracts (I was inspired by Art’s captures which he had shared during the seminar).
With unpredictable weather I headed straight to Grand Prismatic to take advantage of some accommodating afternoon light. As intended I hiked up one of the hills and when I reached a nice vantage point I was quite surprised to see a herd of bison heading straight for the hot spring. I just couldn’t believe it! I couldn’t really be that lucky that they would walk right past it?! But they did! I photographed a variety of compositions, from the entire herd to smaller groups, vertical to horizontal to panoramic. After the herd had passed by, the dark clouds on the horizon earlier opened up into a thunderstorm. We packed up quickly and headed back to the car, drenched but elated to have witnessed and photographed this wonderful scene.
Photography is a wonderful creative medium that is available to anyone. My advice for other aspiring photographers is to photograph what you love and connect with others who share your same passion. Try to connect with photographers that inspire you and take advantage of opportunities to learn from them. Lastly have a website so people can see your work – there are so many different options out there, that there is really no excuse not to have one.
David Hallis a photographer and author specializing in marine life subjects and underwater photography. His photographs have won numerous awards and have appeared in most major magazines in North America and Europe. David’s latest book, Beneath Cold Seas: The Underwater Wilderness of the Pacific Northwest, was recently awarded the 2012 National Outdoor Book Award for best “Design and Artistic Merit”.
Beneath Cold Seas is the first large format photographic book to feature the marine life of the Pacific Northwest. Critics have noted that it is one of the few books of underwater photography to focus on a cold/temperate water ecosystem, successfully challenging the widespread misperception that cold water marine life is dull and uninteresting. Beneath Cold Seas is published in the U.S. by the University of Washington Press and in Canada by Greystone Books and the David Suzuki Foundation; it has also been published in the U.K and in Germany (as Kaltwasserwelten). It is available at Amazon, and in many Barnes & Noble and independent bookstores; it retails for $45.
For more information, including critic’s reviews, a slide show and the link to a four-minute video, visit www.beneathcoldseas.com For more of David Hall’s photography, visit www.seaphotos.com
The Art of the Photograph
Beneath Cold Seas cover: a lion’s mane jellyfish – the world’s largest – swims just beneath the surface
Seaweeds above and below the surface at low tide
Migrating sockeye salmon in the Adam’s River at dusk
An Irish lord sculpin resting in a bed of plumose anemones
Goose-neck barnacles endemic to Nakwakto Rapids, British Columbia
Steller sea lions are among the largest pinnipeds; males may weigh a ton or more.
A northern kelp crab clings to seaweed near the surface
Orange sea pens – a type of soft coral – will retract into the sand if disturbed
The giant Pacific octopus is the worlds’ largest; it may have an arm spread of 20’ or more and weigh over 100lb