Bruce Barnbaum is a celebrated fine art photographer and educator who has been creating spectacular photos for more than 4 decades. He is recognized for his mastery of monochrome photography as properly as his inventive use of colour and digital procedures. In this weblog post I will discover his profile his operate and his books. He is also the author of a number of books on photography such as the classic “The Art of Photography: An Strategy to Individual Expression” and its sequel “The Essence of Photography: Seeing and Creativity” which have had fantastic individual influence. In this assessment I will examine the major themes and suggestions of these two books examine them with other related operates and recommend some extra readings that may perhaps complement them.
Profile of Bruce Barnbaum
Barnbaum was born in Chicago in 1943 and grew up in Los Angeles. He studied mathematics at UCLA exactly where he obtained his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees. He worked as a maths instructor and researcher for a number of years prior to pursuing photography as a complete-time profession in the 1970s. He created his personal style of photography which combines artistic vision technical talent and environmental awareness. He has travelled extensively to capture the beauty and diversity of nature as properly as the influence of human civilisation on the landscape.
Barnbaum’s photographs have been exhibited and collected worldwide and he is represented by a number of galleries in the USA and Europe. Some of his most well-known operates involve his abstracts his monochrome landscapes his slit canyons and his geometrics. He utilizes a range of formats from 35mm to 8×10 inch and prints his photos on silver gelatin paper or archival inkjet paper. He is also proficient in digital manipulation generating photos that transcend the boundaries of reality.
Barnbaum is also a prolific author and teacher of photography. He has written six books on photography such as The Art of Photography which has sold more than 100000 copies in English and six other languages. The book is broadly regarded as one particular of the very best guides to photographic expression and method. He has also published Visual Symphony Tone Poems - Book I & Book II The Essence of Photography and Plateau Light. His books are richly illustrated with his personal photographs as properly as examples from other photographers.
Barnbaum has been teaching photography workshops for more than 30 years each in the USA and abroad. He founded the Owens Valley Photography Workshops in 1979 which ran till 1990 and attracted students from all more than the globe. He at the moment delivers workshops in Utah Washington California Italy France Spain and Scotland. His workshops are created to aid students create their personal vision and style though exploring spectacular places and understanding new procedures.
Barnbaum is not only a photographer but also an activist for environmental and social causes. He has been involved in a number of campaigns to safeguard wilderness places from improvement and pollution. He has also donated his photographs to help several organisations such as the Sierra Club the Nature Conservancy the Wilderness Society and Amnesty International.
The Art of Photography: An Strategy to Individual Expression
When I stroll the reader via my definition of “very good composition” and the components of composition in The Art of Photography I do not go over any guidelines for very good composition. I stay away from them mainly because there are none. Each and every composition is exceptional and following some concocted formula will not assure a very good photograph. There are no formulas there are no guidelines of composition. I strongly urge all photographers newbie or knowledgeable to stay away from any instruction or instructor that claims there are - it’s bogus.
Initial published in 1994 “The Art of Photography” is a extensive textbook on photography that covers each the technical and the inventive elements of the medium. Barnbaum presents how-to procedures for each conventional and digital approaches but he goes properly beyond the technical as he delves deeply into the philosophical expressive and artistic elements of photography. He argues that photography is not a mere recording of reality but a individual interpretation and expression of it. He encourages photographers to create their personal vision and style to experiment with distinct strategies and supplies and to communicate successfully via their selected medium.
The book is divided into 4 components: Portion I bargains with the fundamentals of photography such as exposure film filters lenses cameras digital imaging and so on. Portion II explores the components of visual design and style such as light tone colour contrast composition and so on. Portion III discusses the several genres and subjects of photography such as landscape architecture abstract documentary and so on. Portion IV addresses the challenges of presentation and criticism such as printing mounting exhibiting judging and so on.
All through the book Barnbaum illustrates his points with more than 100 gorgeous photographs that showcase his mastery of each black-and-white and colour photography. He also delivers various charts graphs tables and diagrams that clarify the technical ideas in a clear and concise manner. He writes in an accessible and engaging style that reflects his passion and enthusiasm for photography. He also shares his individual experiences and insights that reveal his philosophy and strategy to photography.
Photography is not a sport. It has no guidelines. All the things should be dared and attempted!
Barnbaum’s attitude towards photography as an art type is encapsulated in these 15 words. It calls for experimentation threat-taking and individual expression. He challenges photographers to break totally free from the conventions and guidelines that limit their creativity and to discover their personal possible and possibilities.
The Essence of Photography: Seeing and Creativity
Published in 2015 as a revised and expanded second edition of the original 2014 book “The Essence of Photography” is a sequel to “The Art of Photography” that focuses additional on the inventive and expressive elements of photography. Barnbaum draws upon his 50 years of encounter and observation to teach the art of photographic seeing and creativity. He argues that there is additional to photography than basically selecting up a camera pointing it at anything and tripping the shutter. He claims that reaching a fantastic photograph calls for believed and preparation an understanding of the photographic course of action and a firm grasp of how light and composition impact a photo. He also stresses that there should be individual involvement and individual expression in photography.
Just as persons speak about factors of no genuine interest to them they also take photos of factors that have no genuine interest to them and the benefits are uniformly boring.
The book is divided into 3 components: Portion I bargains with the rhythm and strategy of photography such as defining one’s personal style translating the scene into the final photograph comparing amateur and specialist approaches and so on. Portion II explores the realism and abstraction in photography such as understanding the variations and similarities in between them understanding to expand one’s seeing and creativity via classes workshops and so on. Portion III discusses the passion and criticism in photography such as following one’s passion ignoring or listening to critics and so on.
All through the book Barnbaum utilizes not only photographs but also painting music writing and other arts to deliver examples of inventive pondering. He also utilizes science and business enterprise to illustrate some of his points. He writes in a conversational and humorous style that reflects his character and wit. He also shares his individual stories and anecdotes that reveal his challenges and achievements in photography.
Creativity is not anything you are born with or with out it is anything you can understand.
Barnbaum believes really that photographic seeing and creativity can be taught discovered and enhanced. He delivers sensible suggestions and workout routines to aid photographers create their abilities and skills.
Comparison with Other Works
Barnbaum’s books are not the only ones that deal with the art and essence of photography. There are quite a few other books that cover related subjects and offer you distinct perspectives and approaches. Some of the most notable ones are:
— “On Photography” by Susan Sontag: A collection of essays that examine the cultural social and political implications of photography. Sontag critiques the part of photography in modern day society and queries its claims to truth objectivity and reality. She also explores the aesthetic ethical and moral challenges of photography.
— “Camera Lucida: Reflections on Photography” by Roland Barthes: A individual and philosophical meditation on photography. Barthes analyses the nature and which means of photography via his personal experiences and memories. He distinguishes in between the studium and the punctum of a photograph the former getting the basic interest or cultural context and the latter getting the individual or emotional influence.
— “The Photographer’s Eye: Composition and Style for Far better Digital Photographs” by Michael Freeman: A sensible guide to visual design and style and composition in photography. Freeman explains the principles and procedures of graphic design and style such as shape line colour contrast balance and so on. and how they can be applied to photography. He also delivers examples and workout routines to aid photographers enhance their visual literacy and creativity.
More Reading
Barnbaum’s books are outstanding sources for photographers who want to understand additional about the art and essence of photography. Having said that they are not the only ones that can deliver precious facts and inspiration. Right here are some extra readings that may perhaps complement Barnbaum’s books:
— “The Photographer’s Thoughts: Inventive Considering for Far better Digital Photographs” by Michael Freeman: A sequel to “The Photographer’s Eye” that focuses additional on the inventive and cognitive elements of photography. Freeman explores the psychology and neuroscience of vision and perception and how they impact photographic selection-generating. He also discusses the ideas of intention style narrative and so on. and how they can boost photographic expression.
— “The Nature of Photographs: A Primer” by Stephen Shore: A concise and sophisticated introduction to the visual language of photography. Shore explains the physical depictive mental and abstract levels of a photograph and how they interact to generate which means and emotion. He also delivers examples from several photographers to illustrate his points.
— “Why Photographs Perform: 52 Wonderful Pictures Who Created Them What Tends to make Them Unique and Why” by George Barr: A collection of 52 photographs by distinct photographers that are analysed and discussed by the author and the photographers themselves. Barr examines the technical aesthetic and emotional elements of each and every photograph and reveals what tends to make them operate. He also delivers insights into the photographers’ motivations intentions and processes.
Conclusion
Bruce Barnbaum’s books are amongst the very best books on photography that I have ever study. They are not only informative and extensive but also inspiring and enlightening. They teach me not only how to take superior photographs but also how to see superior and assume superior as a photographer. They challenge me to experiment with distinct strategies and supplies to express my individual vision and style and to communicate successfully via my selected medium. They also enrich my appreciation and understanding of photography as an art type that has infinite possible and possibilities.
Barnbaum is a living legend in the field of photography who continues to inspire and educate other individuals with his operate. He is a correct artist who combines passion creativity and craftsmanship in his photos. If you are interested in understanding additional about the art and essence of photography I very advise you to study Barnbaum’s books. They will not disappoint you. They will make you a superior photographer.