Customer Reviews

Tao of Photography: Unlock your Creativity Using the Wisdom of the East

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

 

 

Once a photographer learns how to manipulate the controls on a camera so that he or she can know what will appear on the film, the next quest is often for a way to make pictures more "artistic" or "creative". Ang's "Tao of Photography" is apparently aimed at such a photographer. Unfortunately his aim isn't very good.

The title of this book suggests that by examining the ancient Asian philosophy, Tao (often translated as "the Way"), and incorporating it into one's photographic approach, one will open new doorways to creativity. The suggestion is not unreasonable since many of the great photographers of the world have suggested adopting photographic approaches that sound remarkably like the Tao.

Unfortunately Ang never really explores many facets of Taoism other then Yin and Yang, a principle that suggests that there are two possible approaches to almost everything in life and that the wise person threads his way between to follow the Way. And even when he refers to this dualism, it is only to suggest that it exists. I would have hoped that he would show us sign posts for the Way. For example he notes that there is a relationship between film speed and film grain, i.e., faster films are usually grainier. But how we are to transform that knowledge into creativity is not suggested, or at least, not usefully.

Moreover, the book doesn't seem to be well organized or sure of its audience. Ideas and sections appear thrown together randomly, as if from a stream of consciousness. And the ideas may apply to a beginning photographer or an advanced photographer. For example a comparison of range finder cameras to single lens reflexes would be old hat to an advanced photographer, while a discussion of the curves function in Photoshop seems designed to scare the beginner.

I found particularly disturbing a number of sections of the book that Ang calls workshops. I expected some kind of exercises here but instead encountered a few more hackneyed aphorisms like "The Tao photographer sees opportunities but does not force results" and "The Tao photographer understands that being awake means knowing when to sleep".

The Tao is not about technique, it is about philosophy. If you want a book that suggests how the Tao can be incorporated into your photography read "The Tao of Photography: Seeing beyond Seeing" by Philippe L. Gross and S.I. Shapiro. On the other hand if you don't want to consider changing your way of living but want to work on your creativity read "Photography and the Art of Seeing" by Freeman Patterson. For outdoor photographers, I would suggest you look at Galen Rowell's "The Inner Game of Outdoor Photography."

Though the title may capture the audience, the book itself is not much different from other photo technique books. I bought this book for some nice photo in their but that only the photo I found at bookstore. Other photo are completely mundane. I wouldn't recommend this book for anyone. If you want to see more art appreciation book, you may look at Freeman Patterson book.

I found many very good essays in this book. But some of the photographs accompany the essays are out of the topics. One thing, Tom use "too" much croping the pictures to make his statement. And thus make it less Tao.

Ang spends a lot of time talking about lenses, cameras, film, etc. and not much time talking about Tao. As a result the book is rather dated (especially comments like, "You can think of digital cameras as being a little like the fast-food of photography.") His photos are Camera Club OK, but leave you asking, "If this is what Tao did for Ang, does it have anything to offer me?" If you want an introduction to Tao and photography, buy Tao of Photography: Seeing Beyond Seeing by Philippe L. Gross, S.I. Shapiro.

Tom has produced yet another beautiful and thought-provoking book. His wide-ranging ideas encourage new associations and different ways of approaching both subject and technique. It is also enlivened by gorgeous photographs of an amazing variety of places and style. I love this book, and dip into it for inspiration, encouragement and Tom's sheer enthusiasm often. Great!

this book is not meant to be a reference book and i think
it's clearly stated in the introduction. it is pretty easy
to read and and it has some good simple suggestions that
inspire me to take some pictures. maybe it's too simple for
some people, but like Thelonious Monk said:
"simple ain't easy"..

In my opinion this book does not serve a functional purpose for either beginning nor advanced photographers. It seems as if the author had a pile of unused photos (mostly snapshots, taken while traveling)and decided to write something about the pile. He mentioned that it took 3 months to assemble the book and it shows. There is little continuty between topics, there is virtually nothing on composition and what data that are presented are not very useful. I do not reccommend this book!

I think reviewers are too harsh on this book. I have been working with photography for 20 years. I am still a beginner, and so am always interested in why a picture works or not. Reading Ang's book has helped me go back to photos I've taken with a new eye. The process helps me think through why I took the picture and why it does or doesn't work for me. Having some technical data next to his photos helps me better understand why or how a similar attempt of my own might work better. As with any book on an art form, the goal is get you moving on your own project. I would reccomend this book for that. It's also an exploration of rules and their modest place in a process.

While this book is filled with some pretty pictures, none of the actual writing contains any substance that will teach you anything about tao or photography. The author just keeps making analogies to yin and yang, most of the time not explaining what he means.

I guess that if your purpose if just a pretty book for the coffee table, this might do, but then again there are so many better choices in the same price range, such as Cartier-Bresson's "A Propos De Paris."

If you are really interested in tao and photography then check out the book by Cross & Shapiro with the same title as this one. If you're just interested in improving your photography, and not necessarily about tao, then check out "Learning to See Creatively" by Peterson.