

Simply having a certain camera or lens isn’t going to make you a better photographer. So, what will? Understanding your camera. Thinking differently. Studying photographs and knowing what they provoke in you, and why. Giving the craft time to grow. Looking to painters, designers, and others who work in two dimensions and learning from them. Relentlessly looking for light, lines, and moments. Making photographs–thousands and thousands of photographs. There’s no magic bullet to achieving success, but in these pages you will learn the value of studying, practice, and remembering that your most important assets as an artist are imagination, passion, patience, receptivity, curiosity, and a dogged refusal to follow the rules. THE VISUAL TOOLBOX is photographer David duChemin’s curriculum for learning not just how to use a camera–but how to make stronger photographs. He has developed 60 lessons, each one a stepping stone to becoming more proficient with the tools of this art, and the means to create deeper visual experiences with your images. David introduces you to the technical side of the craft but quickly moves on to composition, the creative process, and the principles that have always been responsible for making great photographs; he shows you these principles and invites you to play with them, turn them on their heads, and try a different approach to create beautiful, compelling images with your camera. Features action-oriented micro-chapters designed to improve your photography immediately Includes explanations of 60 concepts with an assignment for nearly every chapter Covers such topics as balance, using negative space, exploring color contrast, waiting for the moment, learning to incorporate mood and motion, and much more Review: Really spectacular ideas to help you grow as an artist - I enjoyed this book immensely over the summer. The lesson plans are well thought out, great examples and simple (or at least not overly complicated) to attempt. I've only made my way through less than a third of the book as I have been taking it slow, practicing many of the lessons over periods of weeks at a time. Not only inspiring, the lessons really help you think out of the box and develop new techniques and approaches. I attached a couple of shots that were from Lesson 9 - Intentional Camera Motion. Review: Very helpful, succinct, a great way to improve your images. Highly recommended. - Excellent!










| Best Sellers Rank | #425,149 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #58 in Photography (Books) #203 in Photography Equipment (Books) #350 in Digital Photography (Books) |
| Customer Reviews | 4.6 out of 5 stars 339 Reviews |
A**S
Really spectacular ideas to help you grow as an artist
I enjoyed this book immensely over the summer. The lesson plans are well thought out, great examples and simple (or at least not overly complicated) to attempt. I've only made my way through less than a third of the book as I have been taking it slow, practicing many of the lessons over periods of weeks at a time. Not only inspiring, the lessons really help you think out of the box and develop new techniques and approaches. I attached a couple of shots that were from Lesson 9 - Intentional Camera Motion.
F**E
Very helpful, succinct, a great way to improve your images. Highly recommended.
Excellent!
W**N
Some of these lessons are quite familiar if you have ...
Some of these lessons are quite familiar if you have been shooting for awhile. That said the author's goal, in which he succeeds, is make one think about what you are doing as you go out and shoot. There were also several suggestions that were quite stimulating. Worth reading and going back to for inspiration when the occasion arises.
T**T
Just like taking a great workshop, at a fraction of the price
This book is more helpful than most of the online photography workshops I've taken, and for a FRACTION of the price. I adore David duChemin's writing, and actually bought this as an ebook about a year ago, but having it in paper form is just so nice. He also improved it since the ebook version, with more chapters and an even better layout. I love the exercises and his writing. If I were to teach a photography class, I would make all my students buy this book and we'd use it as a text. The best thing about it, is that it works at any experience level. I used it when I was still learning the exposure triangle and just starting to shoot in manual mode. And now that I've been comfortable in manual for a year, I still find this book really inspiring and challenging. You won't be disappointed with this book.
R**O
A great inspiration, beyond technical
I was really delighted by this book. The beauty if it is that it goes almost completely beyond the technical - which you should master by yourself separately from the book - and into the "why" we want to take pictures. The many exercises proposed in the book are all aimed at enabling you to see better, see differently, see more possibilities - hence they really help finding your original way into photography. David is not interested in telling us what's right or wrong, he really focuses on helping us to see it our way. Great read, and great practice (I still have to finish all the exercises in the book!).
C**W
Can't Put It Down!
Without a doubt this is the best book I've purchased that teaches a great way to use the manual setting on your camera. You won't ever need to rely on your automatic or scene settings again in order to obtain great photographs. It is quite practical and easily understandable! Aside from requiring you to read this book, it requires you to know your camera! You must practice, practice, practice! I am so happy to have found it during my web searches. By the way, David duChemin is a genius! I'm changed forever! Thank you David duChemin!! I love this book!
T**J
An Effective Tool for the Learning Photographer
I've been learning my hobby for 30yrs. I studied it during my undergraduate degree and I love to see other people's work and try to work out how they did it. However, I've enjoyed taking one of David's assignments reading his thoughts but then trying for myself to accomplish what he discusses. I really appreciate that he doesn't try to lay out some convoluted set of steps for you to repeat. Rather he presents the concept and then gives just enough direction to focus your efforts but then enough freedom for my vision to drive the actual process.
C**Y
Not for advanced photographer; good for beginner to intermediate or someone who has not explored creative aspects of photography
As a somewhat an advanced photographer, (professional wedding photographer and went to art school for photography), I did not find much new to be inspired by. It's well written and for someone who has little to mid level experience, I can see this being a useful book. In that regard it deserves 5 stars, but I wish it would have been introduced as being more about fundamentals....playing with depth of field, slow shutter speed, etc.
M**.
Non solo teorico.
Mi sono piaciuti gli spunti diversi dalle solite chiacchierate superficiali di molti altri libri. Purtroppo ho trovato solo la versione scritta in inglese. Amazon perfetta come al solito.
A**E
It's all about the picture.
It is simply a wonderful and fantastic book. When you read all these photo magazines with all the camera tests, and books about how to expose, it is so up-lifting and inspirational to meet someone who asks you why.
R**F
One of the best books for intermediate photographers
This is a fantastic book full of short but sharp lessons and assignments. Each lesson focuses on a simple concept e.g. shadows, reflections, visual weight, colour palette etc. One of the best of scores of books I’ve read. Whilst beginners could benefit I think it is best for those who understand their camera and have been taking photos for at least a couple of years. It opened my eyes on things to think about and the assignments are very useful. Each lesson takes 5-10 mins to read so very accessible and not over technical.
P**O
Mais que um livro de fotografia, um livro sobre viver a fotografia
um dos melhores livros sobre fotografia que li até hoje. fácil de ler e por em prática os ensinamentos, mas o mais importante é a maneira como o autor sempre incentiva a criarmos nosso próprio "estilo" e não somente imitar.
M**A
excellent book!
While I knew most of the techniques depicted in the book, it's a quite good mind refresher plus some very good ideas to implement and some new techniques to apply.
Trustpilot
1 month ago
1 month ago