Customer Reviews

Mastering Landscape Photography: The Luminous Landscape Essays

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Mastering Landscape Photography is a masterful work by Alain Briot. In this volume Alain presents the result of years of experience and deep thinking about how to visualize, create, present and even market fine-art landscape photographs.

If you are looking for a book to tell you how to use your digital camera or how to use Photoshop to create images, this is not the book for you. However, if want to learn the art of creating beautiful landscape images and expressing how you feel about and perceive a landscape location, this book is a must have. Alain will take you through all the steps of image creation from visualizing, composing, exposure, lens selection, and creation of a portfolio, to marketing your images.

Alain has a very straightforward way of explaining things. You will find that Alain has no secrets and is very open about the creation of his work. He has obviously given a large amount of thought to the process of image creation over the years. His initial training as an artist in Paris has given him a unique perspective into creating beautiful landscape photographs which he shares in this book.

In addition to the writings on each topic, the book is beautifully illustrated with many of his photographs which are used to illustrate the points that he makes.

Highly recommended for anyone who wants to achieve better results from their photographic endeavors.

I was initially offered this book sometime back when it was much more expensive. After seeing it on Amazon considerably cheaper I decided to purchase the book.

I was under the impression by the title that it would cover off on technical and artistic recommendations for landscape photography.

I found the book to be relatively well written, however, very wordy! The author is not succinct and to the point, but rather very long winded. Much of the text is repeated throughout the book as the writer becomes sidetracked - yet again. Therefore, approximately 30% - 50% of the book is extra words and duplicated information. Furthermore, the images in the book do not teach you anything. Many of the images are duplicated in each chapter.

The book is divided into roughly two sections - technical aspects and artistic aspects relating to landscape photography.

I found the technical aspects to be a little lacking. If you are already versed in the basic technically knowledge of photography, you do not require this book. Everything written can very easily be gleaned form other "free" sources. If you are searching for technical aspects - purchase another book.

Art by it's very nature is highly subjective, and it's very difficult to put into words as this author has demonstrated. There are literally pages and pages in which nothing is actually stated - just "mumbo jumbo". Briot goes on endlessly about his success and the reasons for his success. Although interesting in its own right, the book is a photographic book on the technical and artistic approach to landscape photography - not an autobiography! When reading his book I kept thinking to myself, when will it end, what is this guy trying to say, when will he cease to `blow his own horn".

Many reviewers have mentioned that the book was inspiring, and I must agree with them. Briot makes you want to "get out there and give it a go". But this is what autobiographies do - inspire. I bought the book for information which is sourly lacks.

I have a PhD in earth science which focuses my thoughts to the technical side of photography (science is basically technical). I often feel I lack the artistic side required to make images which is why I bought this book. Unfortunately, the book did not convey the information advertised. After reading the book a month ago, all I can remember is the author's personal history. I should be remembering photographic points - not whether he lived in France, Arizona or Colorado, or whether he hired a removal van for 3 days or 6 days, or whether he moved into a house with 3 or four rooms!

I'd suggest borrowing the book from a library rather than purchasing it.

I rate this book as follows:

Readability 2/10
Information 3/10
Biography 9/10
Imagery 3/10I

I suggest you read the follow up comments as well.....

Besides his eye for breathtaking composition, Alain has a real talent for instruction. He writes passionately about landscape photography, without the pretense that anything other than hard work and readily attainable knowledge led to his creations. This book has a real easy read and a solid "you can do it" feel to it. It makes you want to get up and start taking more photos!

Keep in mind: this is not a book on how to create photos from a technical standpoint, not a book offering a series of technical rules to follow to compose a scene well. There's advice on how one MIGHT approach a shot, some possible techniques to improve the interest of a scene, and some examples on how Alain himself has done this. But the crux of this book is its assertion that artists must find their own style, their own way of composing that matches their personality and philosophy, and that any photographer, no matter how "amateur," can become an artist. And that's precisely what endears it. I consider this an essential companion to the more technical primers on photography, such as Tom Ang's great books on Digital Photography. The technical works will teach you how to shoot a scene. This book helps you learn for yourself what the scene is, when to shoot it for the best effect, and why you shoot it in the first place.

I own probably 40 books on photography. All were well researched before purchase, so all are good books. Of the 40, 10 were very valuable, 10 more were worth reading, the the other half were not. This is the first that I read cover to cover in just a couple of days. Some mentioned there is not a lot of information in the book. Well, it's not filled with tips and tricks and specifics of how to use a tool or camera. It's more a book on how to approach and think about fine art photography, than how to do it. Meaning you will learn what directions to head in, and be given exercises that if you do them, will help get you there. There is a lot of information about subjects many gloss over, and that lead to a lot of thought and introspection. At least it did for me. Some will say the book is too simple. To me, the simplicity is it's strength. The messages are clear. I took away the sense these are the right concepts to think about to be better at this craft.

Briot makes the point that even in todays apparently saturated market (my words, not his), there is room for hard work, quality, and a clear focus to lead to a successfull business. If that's where you want to go. He makes the point that no matter what you do, to do it well will be a lot of hard work. That's just the way it is. So if that's the case, why not work hard at something you love or really want to do? Rather than work hard at something that will pay you to do what you love in your 'spare time'. I've learned the spare time usually doesn't happen. I've read these words before, as I'm sure you have. But this author makes the point in a way I, at least, related to more than any other author. There are whole books about that one subject, actually. But Alain spends a good chapter on it, in the context of a book on how to approach being a fine art photographer. So that chapter was long enough to say something meaningful, but not so long you lost interest and forgot what the message was about in the end. Each chapter fits that mold. Long enough to convey exactly his message. And no longer. That's why the book held my interest to the end.

Those are not the only insights I got from the book. There were many. They're just the ones I believe will be most important over time for me personally. Many will say "that was obvious, you just didn't get it". That's true of just about anything you want to discuss. Some have already gotten it. Some will get it now. Some may never get it. The measure, to me, is how effectively this book conveys concepts to me that are clear, and that I can take away how I can use them in my own life or work. This book more than any other, gave me a lot of that kind of insight. And most of what he says applies to any endeavor, so whether you're a photographer or not, you'll get something from this book. Possibly I was just ready for his message. It doesn't matter. This book did it for me.

So I have to thank Alain Briot for his insight, and for taking the time to write a book that conveys it clearly and deeply. His writing and his photographs are both examples of how deeply he cares about what he does. They're also clear examples of what dedication to a few things you choose to care about deeply can bring.

As a photographer, I am always in search of more knowledge to become better and add new tools in my arsenal. Most books offer the recipe or how-to approach that does offer an opportunity to do specific things. In "Mastering Landscape Photography," Alain takes the reader on a journey through well thought advice and inspiration to become a great photographer in your abilities, creativity and style.

This beautiful publication features incredible examples of Alain's own work to help visualize the ideas he presents. Each chapter presents an essay on an essential aspect of great photography, much of which is applicable to any type of photographic subject, not just landscapes. Ranging from the practical choice of lenses to the creative choices in composition, completing each essay left me invigorated and excited to try out new found ideas for creating better photos.

This book has earned a long standing place in my library, to be read again and again. No matter where you are at in your photographic abilities, from budding amateur to current professional, you can find direction and inspiration from Alain's words. As he himself mentions several times, his style and current choices in photography have changed over the years, evolving with his knowledge, abilities and the changing technology in photography.

Though you will not find step-by-step how-to techniques, you will gain much from the experience shared. I highly recommend this title for any photographer.

I was just starting out in photography when I fortunately discovered Alain's website and his fantastic galleries of images of the southwest.

I started printing these essays as they appeared in the Luminous-Landscape and then decided to attend one of Alain's workshops. The insights, instructions and exercises in this beautifully crafted book can be put into practice to make a great improvement in your photographic style.

As a bonus, the images illustrating the lessons are beautiful. As one reviewer stated, they might not do justice to the original and he is partially right. Order a print of the month, get the master photoshop file copy CD showing how the image was created and you will see why I consider Alain to be a "Master" photographer.

I was in Big Bend National Park last month and chanced to meet an award winning and retired National Geographic photographer. Upon browsing through my copy of this book he stated that Alain is truly a "Master". The way Alain reached this point in his career is completely explained in this book.

Buy the book,attend a workshop, watch your photography improve.
Dedication is optional.

I consider this book a must have for your library.

Although there are alot of great books that teach the range of photographic skills from camera usage to Photoshop to composition, this is the first book I've found that helps you discover how to create your own unique art with your photography. While these essays do go into topics such as exposure and lens selection, what sets them apart are the discussions of how to go about creating images that reveal your individual expression and personal vision. Practicing photography is not just about creating better images...it's about creating *your* images, and this is what Alain focuses on in this book.

You've been taking landscape photos all your life. What could you possibly learn from this book? Good question. It depends, I suppose, on your basic knowledge. If you had formal art or photography training, you are probably very comfortable with all the old standards: rule of thirds, converging lines, foreground/background relationships, framing and overlapping. You add composition and seeing photographically, you have a fairly good handle on things.

Briot, in this beautifully illustrated book, reviews the basics and then explores a wide range of subjects: /composition, lenses, light, best "film," best exposure, what to keep, how to create a portfolio, finding your personal style, being an artist, and finally, a bit a psychological cheerleading to motivate the reader/photographer.

A well known contemporary landscape photographer, Briot photographs primarily in the southwestern United States. The book is written in a friendly, conversational style with tips and instructions nicely layered into comments and personal observations.

The lovely illustrations are illustrative of the points Briot is making. In addition, they are wonderful places to rest your eyes while you consider a point.

I hadn't expected to learn anything new, so I was pleasantly surprised to pick up so much useful and easy-to-understand information. On top of that, I was reminded of so much that I hadn't thought about for years.

Photographers love to talk and compare notes. Briot's personality shines through in this book. It's a treat to see his world.

The book contains an excellent balance of technical and anecdotal information. This artful blend, in combination with numerous photographs results in a book that is readable and educational.

Having followed Alain's writings on his (and other) websites for some years now, I keenly awaited the arrival of his landscape-photography book. The essays contained in this book set out artistic principles combined with real-world examples from Alain's own photographic background & business life-story.

As a photographer struggling to achieve images that represent those I envision in my mind, I can learn about aperture or exposure times (etc) from my camera's manual... however I frequently find inspiration and insight when reading Alain's essays.

I greatly enjoy Alain's insightful writing stlye, and I hope his work continues to be published. I find quality printed texts far more reader-friendly than other mediums.

I enjoyed this book. I would not recommend it for (1) beginning photographers (2) anyone who can't handle a little soapbox diatribe here and there (3) anyone who dislikes occasional mediocre writing.

That said, what I really like about the book are two things. First, it is different than the other photo books I have read. It covers some different ideas, and puts new twists on the usual ones. It covers the usual things like lens selection, point of view, composition and exposure, but in refreshing ways. Then there are many other things.

The other thing I like is that when you are done you feel like you know the author, warts and all. He exposes himself by making some kind of rash statements here and there, but I appreciate the "non-politically-correct" writing. The author reveals himself to be like most people I know - fun, interesting, thoughtful, and a bit flawed.

As far as the content of the book, a look at the table of contents should tell a person what to expect.