Visual Poetry: A Creative Guide for Making Engaging Digital Photographs [Paperback]

Chris Orwig (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 31, 2009 | ISBN-10: 0321636821 | ISBN-13: 978-0321636829 | Edition: 1

A great photograph has the potential to transcend verbal and written language. But how do you create these photographs? It’s not the how that’s important, but the who and the what. Who you are as a person has a direct impact on what you capture as a photographer.

Whether you are an amateur or professional, architect or acupuncturist, physician or photographer, this guide provides inspiration, simple techniques, and assignments to boost your creative process and improve your digital images using natural light without additional gear.

Chris Orwig’s insights—to reduce and simplify, participate rather than critique, and capture a story—have made him an immensely popular workshop speaker and faculty member at the prestigious Brooks Institute. His engaging stories presented as lessons follow his classroom approach and highlight what students say is his contagious passion for life.

In this accessible and beautifully illustrated four-color guide you will:

• Discover visual poetry in the creative process
• Use less to say more with your subject matter
• Learn to see light, color, shape, and expression
• Understand what gear is essential
• Create compelling portraits
• Make lasting memories of your family and kids
• Capture the outdoors and adventure
• Begin the transition from amateur to professional

Chris also includes exclusive interviews with such photographers as: Steve McCurry, Chris Rainier, John Sexton, Rodney Smith, Joyce Tenneson, John Paul Caponigro, Marc Riboud, and Pete Turner.

Share your work with the author and other readers at www.flickr.com/groups/visual-poet and visit the Web site: www.visual-poet.com.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Chris Orwig is a vibrant and authentic individual who brings passion to everything that he does. I would unequivocally recommend this
book to everyone who wants to reach further with their photography or other creative endeavor they cherish.” —Douglas Kirkland

About the Author

Chris Orwig is a celebrated photographer, author, and teacher at the Brooks Institute of Photography. From his base in Santa Barbara, California, Chris thrives on surfing and exploring the great outdoors with his wife and two young daughters. For Chris the adventure is now, and the journey has already begun—discover, look, listen, learn, and live. Find inspiration and see his work at www.chrisorwig.com.

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: New Riders; 1 edition (August 31, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0321636821
• ISBN-13: 978-0321636829
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 0.7 x 9.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (45 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #141,918 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Chris Orwig is a visual artist who brings passion to all that he does. He is a pro photographer, interactive designer, author, speaker and on the faculty of the world-renowned Brooks Institute of Photography in Santa Barbara, California. Apart from his professional endeavors, Chris enjoys getting out in the great outdoors any way he can - from mountain biking, cycling, camping, surfing, kayaking, snow camping, backpacking, running, etc. He currently lives in SB with his three favorite girls - his wife and (very cute) daughters!

For more inspiration visit:
- http://www.chrisorwig.com - portfolio
- http://www.chrisorwig.com/flipside - blog
- http://www.visual-poet.com - book companion site
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rsUXSRuV61o - TEDx presentation

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

70 of 77 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Quality September 1, 2009

By R. Caldwell

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Summary
I just finished my first of what I suspect will be many reads through this book. I'm initially struck by both the richness and approachability of the content. It's also incredibly inspiring while remaining realistic and practical. The author drew me in with his intimate style, personal accounts, authenticity, and humility while avoiding fluff, filler, and cheese. I will be recommending this to my pro photographer friends, my point-and-shoot friends, and the others in between. To my pro friends, I would expect this book to rekindle the passion that was once the reason they started shooting seriously. To the others, I believe this could be the book that will provide that extra something needed to take photos that truly capture. This book challenged me as a creative person and photographer, but also as a father, spouse, traveler, and friend.

Inspiration
I had been anticipating this book for a while as I'm familiar with Chris's work and [...] tutorials, but he has exceeded my expectations. I started perusing the introduction and before I knew it, I found myself in Chapter 4 only to look up and see my camera beckon me from its resting place. This book has reminded me that I'm a creative person daily tempted by uniformity and routine. I'm also reminded that creativity needs to be fought for, invested in, and daily cultivated. The author provides very practical methods and tips to foster and maintain a creative spark. I can honestly say that I'll wake up tomorrow with a polished lens through which to view the world.

Technicalities
It seems Orwig takes somewhat of a minimalist approach to photography. The yuppie and boomer gear fiends tattooed with Nikon logos may miss the value here. He doesn't go into great lengths as to what's in the cookie. He doesn't spend chapters discussing how one type of flour is better due to its molecular composition and the wheat harvest techniques. He instead lights a fire in you to bake with utter abandonment. The emphasis is on vision, risk, perspective, experience, and such, not on shutter speeds and megapixels. That's not to say he doesn't get technical. Every subject, whether it be family portraits or travel, has specific comments on gear. He even goes into certain brands and models. But instead of going on with a comparison of lens noise, he puts the focus on practical tips such as packing power bars for sunrise shoots or how to be incognito when shooting "underground". He regards gear as tools of the craft, not the object of the craft itself. This really resonates with me and gets my focus off what I have (distracting) or don't have (limiting). It reminds me that photos are taken by people, not cameras.

Practicalities
There is nothing more deflating for me than being inspired to do something, but not knowing how to get started. One of the greatest strengths of this book is that the many workshops get you out there putting your new found inspiration to work. There is also a network in place to share results with others. Having first only read the book, I now look forward to journeying through it.

I wholeheartedly recommend this book for anyone looking to capture more of life. I think it is especially valuable for those looking to increase the wow factor in their photos, whether amateur or seasoned pro.

51 of 56 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Get it if you need some structure to improve your photography practice October 6, 2009

By Enche Tjin

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Visual Poetry: A Creative Guide for Making Engaging Digital Photographs is a book written by Chris Orwig, an instructor of prestigious photography school. The approach of this book is workshop style, meaning that Chris will give you tips and tricks in the chapter, then followed by assignment and reference.

The interesting part of the book is when Chris relate literature (especially poetry) to photography. He argues that photography could be a great medium to express or convey a message or story.

In addition, this book discussed many kinds of photography from portrait, wedding, sports, and travel. However i feel that the discussion in each chapter is too general.

This book is geared towards someone who is already have pretty strong basic photography knowledge such as exposure, composition, equipments, but need an inspiration and a push in the back to try out new things.

For beginners, you might be disappointed because there is practically no instruction on how to get those kind of photos. There is no technical information (lens used, focal length, aperture/shutter speed) on each photographs in the book as well.

24 of 28 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Long on Enthusiasm and References, Short on Analysis October 27, 2009

By Shirley A. Lindgren

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

There is no doubt that the author loves both his photography and his teaching. The book draws on both to ignite the enthusiasm and creative energies of readers in their pursuit of more fulfilling and engaging photographic work. Anecdotes from his own experiences and those of photographers of his acquaintance that fill the pages are used to excite and enable the reader to enter a more exciting and creative world of photography, as are the references to the books and websites of dozens and dozens of accomplished photo-artists in all the major genre. What is not in evidence is analysis of what distinguishes images that succeed in engaging the energies of viewers and in transforming their ways of seeing. Beyond a paragraph here and there devoted to these matters and the answer that interviews with "guest speakers" reported on what makes a good photograph, there is little guidance on what it is that makes some images sing and other hum. It is energizing to read of the author's bursts of growth as a photographer. It would have been more useful to the reader had he in addition devoted his talents to clarifying just how the reader can become a better critic of his own work.