The Art of Photography: An Approach to Personal Expression [Paperback]

Bruce Barnbaum (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review

Enjoy an exceptional presentation of photography, revised and enlarged and promising to reach new audiences through a wider distribution medium than previously. The meat of this title lies in its logical, thorough explanations of the photographic process which blends fine art with clear examples throughout, including technical as well as artistic and philosophical insights. -- Midwest Book Review

Product Details

• Paperback: 218 pages
• Publisher: Kendall Hunt Pub Co; 1st edition (May 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0840396473
• ISBN-13: 978-0840396471
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,895,412 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

82 of 86 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent mix of technical and artistic information, February 11, 1999

By 

Woodworker (Plymouth, MA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: The Art of Photography: An Approach to Personal Expression (Paperback)

Kudos to Mr. Barnbaum, not only for his artistic excellence, but also for his ability to communicate his thoughts and ideas in a clear and interesting manner. "The Art of Photography" is written in a very personal style, and is a wonderful mix of technical and artistic information. Although the technical details about the Zone system and darkroom techniques are certainly directed toward the serious, advanced photographer, the discussions about composition, visualization, and creativity should be of interest to photographers at all levels of ability and experience. Most importantly, Mr. Barnbaum shares his thoughts about the purpose of photography: to communicate a feeling or message to the viewer and to elicit a response. This theme is reiterated throughout the book and is frequently compared to similar concepts in other art forms. I've read a number of very good books on photography, but this one is now at the top of my list. If you are serious about photography and are looking for a stimulating book, this is the one!

35 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A good book for the advanced b&w photographer, August 16, 1996

By A Customer

This review is from: The Art of Photography: An Approach to Personal Expression (Paperback)

Barnbaum is a serious black and white photographer, and this is a personal book in which he describes how he uses his own sense of aesthetic to "break" the rules of the Zone System. A good book for the advanced b&w photographer, this book provides a view of the way in which one photographer finds his own vision. It is less about technique and more about art than most photography books. My only quibble is that the reproductions in the book could have been of a higher quality.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book., December 2, 2010

By 

Chesters - See all my reviews

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This review is from: The Art of Photography: An Approach to Personal Expression (Paperback)

I am 40 pages into this book and i have learned more about myself and my own phorography just form reading this book then i have from any other. There are excellent examples. the book is a very easy read, you don't need a dictionary handy to be able ot understand this.