Nationally renowned nature photographer John Fielder reveals the photographic techniques that he has honed over his 35-year career as a landscape photographer in his first instructional book. But to call this a simple 'How To' book is a gross understatement; readers will have to decide whether to keep this book on the coffee table or the reference desk. Combining technical instruction with reverent observations of nature, Fielder offers valuable lessons for photographers, hikers, and virtually anyone with an open eye. He not only explains the basics of photography, but reveals the art of 'seeing' a photograph before ever clicking the shutter. In this newly revised edition, John Fielder gives his tips for DIGITAL photography as well as classic tips for film.
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Editorial Reviews
Review
Beginners to professionals will find this a useful guide to landscape photography: it provides candid assessments of films and techniques, uses numerous full-page color photo examples to feature various contrasts and techniques in landscape imagery, and blends camera mechanics and basics with advice on how to visualize a picture and produce satisfying results. The result is an exceptional 'bible' of detail which should be a 'must' for any photographer. -- Midwest Book Review
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
About the Author
John Fielder is Colorado's best-known nature photographer, publisher, teacher and preservationist with 39 exhibit-format books and guidebooks to his credit, including John Fielder's Best of Colorado and Colorado 1870-2000. He is also the recipient of numerous awards, including the Sierra Club's Ansel Adams Award for Conservation Photography (1993) and the Aldo Leopold Foundation's first ever Achievement Award (2011). John Fielder's photography has influenced people and legislation, and he has worked tirelessly to promote the protection of Colorado's open space and wildlands.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
17 of 20 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
John Fielder is one of the best photographers of this age. Perhaps not as commonly know as a Tom Till or a Larry Ulrich, he centers the majority of his work in the backcountry of Colorado where he's hiked virtually every inch of terrain.
This is one of the most beautiful books on photography that I own and his images taught me more than his words. He has some of the more typical landscape scenes that could be done by most competent professionals. But where Fielder stands out the most are the pictures that truly look like a complex model of math and art. He blends perfectly the elements of his trade. Photography is as much a technical craft as it is an art. To be great, you need both. Fielder is a virtual Bach of photography where he punctuates his gorgeous style with obvious control of technique.
What sets him apart from most other photographers is his style. Most of his images are not typical and clearly make use of simplicity, beautiful lines, hazy afternoons. He doesn't rely on perfect buttermilk clouds to paint a photograph for him. He uses the soft folds of a hill on a cloudy day or the sheer layers of a clear sunrise on a beach to make his pictures. He doesn't need much to turn his world in a vivid piece of artwork captured precisely on his large format.
His writing style is very much like his photographs. Simple and concise. Though at times, I did wish he would explain some concepts a bit more in depth. Mostly though, he uses his images as an example of what to do or what not to do.
He writes how he learned photography by taking pictures and then comparing them to the best (Ansel Adams and Eliot Porter). His own photographs have set a precedent, a standard beyond many landscape photographers could even dream. Take his advice and study the greats to develop an eye for the craft. The technical aspect requires some learning but to be great like Fielder, follow in his footsteps until your own style emerges.
I also enjoyed his accounts of a day in the life of a landscape photographer. To find those beautiful, untouched places, you have to be tough and be able to hike miles at altitude. It's always great to have a personal touch to an educational book. Nothing could be more mundane than a purely technical photography book especially when we all know that photographers are fairly opinionated and outspoken.
If you want a strictly technical book, invest in National Geographic's field guide. But if you are looking for inspiration, for a chance to study a master in his prime, look to Fielder. He will teach you in his images, in the subtle language of art and make the text on the page virtually unecessary.
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
In comparison to Galen Rowell's books, the content is better organized and it is quite a good reference book for landscape photography.
If you have read any of Galen's books, you'll know that you literally have to mine for the relevant info in the midst of his philosophies and the accounts of his stories.
This one is closer to the idea of a how-to book and quite similar to John Shaw's style.
If you have read any of Galen's books, you'll know that you literally have to mine for the relevant info in the midst of his philosophies and the accounts of his stories.
This one is closer to the idea of a how-to book and quite similar to John Shaw's style.
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Fielder's "The Art of Seeing" is above all a testament to the power of passion and hard work in the life of an artist. The author's writing is personal, proud and sometimes a bit arrogant, but he supports his panache with some powerful results--a collection of lovely and powerful landscape photographs. He moves too quickly through some of the technical information, and his "pizza" analogy is disappointing. But this "how-to" book is about more than technique. Between the lines, Fielder tells us that talent and technical skill are not enough...that life-long passion, dedication, care and hard work are the foundations of superior art.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
For the Novice Photographer
Fielder's book provides the basics, at best, for those who don't already have some technical knowledge related to the art & science of photography. Read more
Published 16 months ago by OutdoorsColorado
Photographing the Blandscape: The Art of Blowing One's Own Trumpet
Colorado is at saturation point with Fielder's books, calendars etc. Whenever I picked one up in a bookshop I would think, "yeah, nice" and put it back with all the other pretty... Read more
Published on August 27, 2007 by Robbie
Great resource for photo composition and technique
I saw John Fielder at a public event and I was impressed with his matter of fact work flow model. This book lays it all out. Its a great how to resource.
Published on May 30, 2007 by Donald R. Stark
Organizes to see and capture a scene
What a great help this book is to learn to see, visualize and capture the panorama and the detail in landscape photography. Read more
Published on May 22, 2005 by Just Jayne
nice layout...concepts expressed simply
This is a book that explains basic concepts of landscape photography -- rhythm, proportion, etc. -- in ways that will allow you to easily understand and use those concepts. Read more
Published on March 11, 2003
Arrogant and Annoying
I recently purchased this book on the advice from a fellow photographer that critiqued my work as an amatuer photographer. Read more
Published on January 25, 2002
Best landscape book I've found
It's always bothered me that another reviewer found fault with John's book, but I found none. John explains everything you need to know to become a great photographer. Read more
Published on July 12, 2001 by Bob McInnis
Best landscape book I've found
It's always bothered me that another reviewer found fault with John's book, but I found none. John explains everything you need to know to become a great photographer. Read more
Published on July 12, 2001 by Bob McInnis
It is truely an ART OF SEEING
I have been taking pictures for the last twenty years. I like photography because of the challenges and possibilities everytime I press the shutter. Read more
Published on July 14, 2000 by Tom Madilao
He can take pictures but he can't write
The entertaining diatribes in this customer review section to the contrary, John Fielder does know how to take striking large-format landscape pictures. Read more
Published on March 8, 2000 by Kevin Geraghty
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