Acclaimed nature photographer Tony Sweet helps us to see a familiar subject through new eyes in this astonishing collection of flower photography. Ranging from the elegiac to the experimental, these pictures offer a kaleidoscopic survey of innovative photographic techniques--including multiple exposures and "slide sandwiching" --along with instructions for creating similar effects in your own photography. Perfectly balancing grace and spontaneity, Fine Art Flower Photography ensures that none of us will look at (or photograph) flowers the same way again.
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Book Description
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Editorial Reviews
About the Author
Tony Sweet is a professional nature/fine art photographer, lecturer, workshop instructor, and author of many photography books. He is a Nikon "Legend Behind the Lens," a nikSoftware team member, a Lensbaby Guru, and a Bogen Mentor. Tony has written columns for Nikon World and is a contributor to Shutterbug and Rangefinder. He teaches online classes at betterphoto.com. Tony's work is represented by Getty Images. He lives in Eldersburg, Maryland.
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More About the Author
Tony Sweet is a professional nature/fine art photographer, lecturer, workshop instructor, and author of several photography books. He is a Nikon "Legend Behind the Lens," a nikSoftware team member, a Lensbaby Guru, and a Bogen Mentor. Tony has written columns for Nikon World and is a contributor to Shutterbug and Rangefinder. He teaches online classes at betterphoto.com. Tony's work is represented by Getty Images. He lives in Eldersburg, Maryland.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
41 of 41 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The 100 or so photographs in this book are simply stunning and photography/author Tony Sweet shows the reader how he takes them. Each photograph is accompanied by a brief but comprehensive explanatory paragraph. Some have a set of step-by-step instructions. Sweet uses a variety of techniques to achieve these works of art but many of them are achieved with multiple exposures, slide sandwiches, filters and camera movements. Technical info, like types of lenses used and f-stop settings are also provided. In addition to technical tricks, Sweet also shows how he approaches positioning an object in the frame to achieve certain effects as well as achieving the best results with color contrasts. He also provides a list of the equipment (cameras, tripods, lenses, filters, etc.) that he uses as well as websites and addresses of the companies that sell them.
25 of 26 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I expected this book to be more of a training manual of techniques. Instead, every page is a photo with a VERY brief explanation of how or where it was taken, often without enough detail to recreate the idea. Although the photos are beautiful and Tony Sweet is a great photographer, the book is not at all what I expected. If you're looking for a photo book of his work, it's great, but don't expect to learn much from it.
41 of 47 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This book made me reconsider some of my fundamental feelings about art and photography. For example it made me consider the distinction between non-representational and abstract art. I realized that non-representational art has no counterpart in the world. Abstract art might have such a counterpart, but it is more concerned with line, form, color and other indicia as such than with the subject itself. I also realized that just because a photograph must start with something in the real world doesn't mean that it can't be abstract and concern itself with indicia rather than the subject.
All of this is by way of saying that "Fine Art Flower Photography" is a book of abstract art that starts with real flowers, but which has as its subject line, form and color. And it is a terrific and inspiring book.
By using a variety of photographic techniques, Sweet is able to divorce line, form and color from their subject and present them in a pure manner that delights the eye. In fact Sweet was so effective in doing this that he transformed my vision of other abstract art and its value.
Sweet accomplishes this task by manipulating depth of field, multiple exposures and camera movement to present us with a view of flowers that we would never see with the unaided eye. And these views are surprisingly striking, evoking deep, non-rational responses in the viewer. I have never believed that aesthetics was simply the province of the beautiful, but these pictures certainly can be used to support such an argument.
I've long had a feeling that manipulating a photograph in the camera in a way that one could not see in a peek through the viewfinder was somehow not real art. Sweet makes it clear though that he starts with a visualization of his final image and then takes the steps to make that vision come true, which of course is exactly what all the great photographers have done, and which is certainly a process that leads to art.
This book could stand on its own, as a set of beautiful images, but expert photographers will also find valuable lessons here. Sweet's comments are pithy, but for a person who understands the photographic process, they can suggest the technical steps that will allow the photographer to follow in Sweet's footsteps. My question is whether Sweet has set the bar so high that no one can exceed him. But perhaps these same techniques can be applied to other forms of photography to make different statements that are as beautiful.
Although Sweet has used film as his medium, digital photographers will be inspired to apply his same techniques, either in camera or in post processing.
Bravo.
All of this is by way of saying that "Fine Art Flower Photography" is a book of abstract art that starts with real flowers, but which has as its subject line, form and color. And it is a terrific and inspiring book.
By using a variety of photographic techniques, Sweet is able to divorce line, form and color from their subject and present them in a pure manner that delights the eye. In fact Sweet was so effective in doing this that he transformed my vision of other abstract art and its value.
Sweet accomplishes this task by manipulating depth of field, multiple exposures and camera movement to present us with a view of flowers that we would never see with the unaided eye. And these views are surprisingly striking, evoking deep, non-rational responses in the viewer. I have never believed that aesthetics was simply the province of the beautiful, but these pictures certainly can be used to support such an argument.
I've long had a feeling that manipulating a photograph in the camera in a way that one could not see in a peek through the viewfinder was somehow not real art. Sweet makes it clear though that he starts with a visualization of his final image and then takes the steps to make that vision come true, which of course is exactly what all the great photographers have done, and which is certainly a process that leads to art.
This book could stand on its own, as a set of beautiful images, but expert photographers will also find valuable lessons here. Sweet's comments are pithy, but for a person who understands the photographic process, they can suggest the technical steps that will allow the photographer to follow in Sweet's footsteps. My question is whether Sweet has set the bar so high that no one can exceed him. But perhaps these same techniques can be applied to other forms of photography to make different statements that are as beautiful.
Although Sweet has used film as his medium, digital photographers will be inspired to apply his same techniques, either in camera or in post processing.
Bravo.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Another great book by Tony Sweet from Amazon.com
I recently purchased another book by Tony Sweet, "Fine Art Flower Photography: Techniques and the Art of Observation, 2nd Edition. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Robert J. Cyr
Old works
I like tony sweet's work a lot.I have several of his books including the old version of this one. If you don't have the old version this might have some value. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Robert C. Roach
Fine art flower review
No actual instruction. This book contains a collection of pretty ordinary photos with a small amount of detail of camera settings. Read more
Published 13 months ago by SophiS
Very inspiring!
I have read Sweet's "Fine Art Photography: Water, Ice and Fog" and was very inspired. Therefore, I decided to try one of his other books, and I was not disappointed! Read more
Published on June 15, 2009 by F. Knoph
with all due respect to Mr. Cohen
With all due respect, Mr. Cohen, there is no photography without manipulation. The lens used, where one chooses to point it, the depth of field chosen, the film used, how digital... Read more
Published on May 8, 2008 by Tony T. Sweet
Not the Book to Start With
This is not really the book to start flower photography with. I say this for several reasons. It requires elaborate camera and equipment. Read more
Published on May 8, 2008 by Matthew M. Cohen
Fine Art Flower Photography: Creative Techniques and The Art of...
This is a fabulous book! It has great ideas. The techniques used in each photo are described in easy to understand language. Read more
Published on December 12, 2007 by Annie Bradt
Too stylized
The pictures in this book are very beautiful, but I was hoping for more discussion of the basics of outdoor nature/flower photography, like lighting and composition. Read more
Published on August 27, 2007 by Ann Helms
WOW....LOVE IT
Cool...abstract photography. Clear pictures, great as a table book or as a useful 'textbook.' Pleasure to look at; pleasure to read. Well worth it!
Published on June 7, 2007 by D. Espinoza
Wont learn to photograph flowers here.
Don't think that you will learn to photograph flowers with this book.
If you want to learn this, it is not for you. Read more
If you want to learn this, it is not for you. Read more
Published on March 24, 2007 by O. J. Burd
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I always look for sheet webs-spiderwebs on the ground-with colorful subjects under them. Read the first page Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Maryland Nikkor, Kennett Square, Maryland Micro-Nikkor, Pennsylvania Nikkor, Singh Ray New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
I always look for sheet webs-spiderwebs on the ground-with colorful subjects under them. Read the first page Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Maryland Nikkor, Kennett Square, Maryland Micro-Nikkor, Pennsylvania Nikkor, Singh Ray New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
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