Whew! I feel much better now that I’ve gotten 40 books out of my head! :-)
So here’s the deal: A new filter, camera, lens, tripod, reflector/diffuser kit and speedlite can surely help you make better photographs – but they can’t necessarily make you a better photographer.
That’s where my 40th book, Photo Therapy Motivation and Wisdom – Discovering the power of pictures, comes in. Understanding why and how we are motivated to make pictures – and what your photography means to you – is of the utmost importance. So is learning about emotional intelligence for photographers, how to steal like an artist, realizing that it’s never to late to be who you might have been, and understanding the difference between looking at seeing. Exploring light and color therapy also helps.
All those topics and much more – including my 40 quick-tip “Sammonisms” and 20 “missions” (self assignments) – are covered in my latest text-only book.
Click here to order the Kindle book from Amazon. $9.99.
Click here to order the paperback book from Amazon. $15.99.
Well-known photo educators, who also believe in the power photo therapy, contributed to my latest work. They include: Art Wolfe, Trey Ratcliff, Scott Bourne, Skip Cohen, Richard Bernabe, Randy Hanna, Ron Clifford, Denise Ippiloto, Derrick Story, Jonathan Scott (The Big Cat Man) and Steve Brazill.
Unlike my other 39 photo-rich books, Photo Therapy Motivation and Wisdom – Discovering the power of pictures, has no photographs between the covers. Yet, I feel as though it is my most important work. I trust this book will make you think – hard – about your photography, and about how using your brain, the best photo “accessory,” will help you become a better photographer. Or as stated by black-and-white landscape photographer Ansel Adams, “The single most important component of a camera is the twelve inches behind it.”
Famed photographer Lewis Hine said, “If I could say in words what I say with my pictures, I would not have to lug around a camera.”
It’s not that I am tired of lugging around a camera. It’s just that I think the motivational and inspirational message of this book is better expressed without showing my own pictures. Rather, in reading the 35,000-word text, I’d like you to imagine your own pictures – and potential pictures – while I am describing a situation, process, technique, feeling or emotion.
My son Marco asked me, “How long did it take you to write this book?” First I answered, “Three months.” But then I changed my answer. “In reality, it took me almost 70 years to write this book – because it includes not only photo lessons, but life lessons as well.
One-on-one Photo Therapy sessions, in person and on-line via Skype are available. The sessions include a portfolio review (on-line gallery). Cost is $125 an hour. Shoot me an email to arrange a session.
Enjoy - and I’d love your feedback, here or via email.
Rick
P.S. Below: This is how I looked while writing 35K words… and after!
