Customer Reviews

Working the Light: A Photography Masterclass (Light & Land series)

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I wonder if I am ready for this sort of "master class". The photographs inside are almost intimidating in their beauty and artistry.

I have years of experience with attempting to create photos like these, and I will say that the patience of the artists is well-displayed in the photographs.

I found the text to be informative and thought-provoking, and although I am a little intimidated, I am also greatly inspired by the detail and instruction given.

I have reviewed this book reflecting it's claim to be a landscape master class, and as such it falls way off it's mark. The main fault of the book is that the comments and explanations are without reference to any theory or principals that the reader can become acquainted with and apply in his own images. However, if you are satisfied with a collection of beautiful images it more or less serves fits the bill.

The book is divided into three parts with one for each master photographer. Each section starts with a presentation and some background on how he came to be a landscape photographer. Nice as an introduction, but I really expected more than this. Accompanying the introductions is a small selection of some 4 photographs with some notes on practicalities for managing to capture the image. However, with few exceptions they are not referenced in the text - so why are exactly these photographs included? They are really nice, but what I am expected to learn from looking at these images instead of some other images is unclear to me. Both JC and CW write about images that have inspired them, but you will not find them in the book (I know, Google..). A potentially interesting feature is the inclusion of some images that they claim don't make it. However the images are relatively small and accompanied by a brief explanation containing what appears to be some thoughts passing at the time of writing.

After each photographer's introduction follows a portfolio of images from contributing (amateur?) photographers. The portfolio contains several quite stunning images and ends with a brief commentary on each image by the master photographers. Unfortunately there is little in the comments that will advance you in your own photography. One of the better comments (p 55):

"JC: If Ansel Adams had been a color photographer he would have shot this. It has a soaring, almost Wagnerian quality. There's not much to add. CW: The very bottom is left out of focus, but who cares. One could argue that it's a bit tight on the top; some more sky might have helped - perhaps not. I like that you don't se the source of the light. It is a marvelous picture. DW: Yes, I particularly like the compressed perspective as well."

Really, in my opinion several photo sites do better than this. Other comments contain information such as to use your hand to eliminate flare, or that the photographer handled the subject well since he did not burn out the highlights of some running water. Hardly master class material.

Finally, preceding the commentaries is a page where the master photographers comment on each others images. Actually, on first reading I failed to appreciate that this wasn't written by the photographer himself. So much for critics.

Nice images that may serve as inspiration, but don't expect much to further your photography. I suggest you take a look at : Landscape Beyond: A Journey into Photography.

As a previous reviewer mentioned, it's intimidating to see such incredible photography, especially if you're an aspiring photographer (as I am).

However, I find the beauty of the photography here to be inspirational, and the critiques provided are very informative. I highly recommend reading this book if you're an aspiring nature photographer.

I like the concept of "Working the Light: A Photography Masterclass". First, in each of three sections, an accomplished professional presents and discusses their own work and then gives some general advice. Then there is some cross-critiquing where some of these images are commented on by the other professionals. Finally, in the three sections, the work of non-professionals is presented. At the end of each section each of the non-professional's work is briefly discussed by the photographer and then the professionals discuss each of these images. Overall, the images in this book are excellent and the reproduction quality of the book is worthy of them. My problem is that the comments by the professionals about the images presented by the non-professionals (the bulk of the book) is too short. I would have preferred that the commentary about each image be much much longer. While I appreciate the politeness that all the professionals displayed in critiquing each other as well as the non-professional's work, the reader is the loser in this diplomatic effort. The main purpose IMHO of reading this book is two-fold, the minor one is to see excellent images presented very nicely. Seeing above average images presented well is not very unique. Reading expert, incisive, constructive and instructive commentary about each image is what is most valuable in my opinion. I want to hear the real, fully detailed opinions of these accomplished professionals when they critique an image - that is and should be the unique and real valued added in a book like this. I am giving this book 4 stars, good concept but it could've been better.

I don't like the way the book is set up. The photos are great to try to emulate. But the critiques of the photos are all grouped in a different section. I find it easier to be looking at the photo and then read the critique next to the photo rather than in a different part of the book. Although there are 1 in. by 1 in. photos by the critique. To really get the jist of it all I kept having to refer to the larger photo which as I said is in a different part of the book.
Great photos to look at though.

These are the kind of landscape photos that I want to take when I grow up.

There is a photo of three backlit trees on page 69 that just glows with light, with full shadow detail and no blown highlights. Truly stunning. On page 59 is a forest of sidelit trees and dark sky that I keep going back to over and over again.

And these are only two of more than 150 spectacular photos.

This is the kind of book that will make you a better photographer simply by raising your standards.

Highly recommended.

Recommended; top quality prints. Haven't seen one like it. Notes from the pros for each individual photo offer the aspiring phtographer valuable insight. A true treat for the eye and stimulus for the art in us.

If there were ever a photography book published by people on twitter, you might get something like this book. You're basically going to find a collection of pictures along a disconnected set of 140-character-or-less thoughts/tips sprinkled throughout this book. As with other books from Cornish/Ward that I have read, the images are usually excellent, but I didn't find anything instructive about the text.

There is a very distinct structure to the book. There are three sections written with the same pattern. Each section starts off with fairly random thoughts and photographs by one of the authors (almost auto-biographical), followed by a selection of images from workshop students (peppered with short "fortune cookie"-like tidbits of random advice), and then the chapter closes with a critique of each of the pictures presented in the earlier chapter.

I found the little tidbits of information in the second part of each section pretty superficial (and almost not worth reading). You'd find some general cliche advice like "know the rules of composition, and when to break them (sic)"--stuff you probably have read dozens of times already.

The critiques could have been instructive, but it actually fails in that department because there are only a few sentences (at most) the authors--they don't really say enough to learn anything from. Some of the pictures didn't even have critiques, and instead, the authors just answered a question posed by the photographer. Each image then has some tidbits about where it was taken, the camera work/technique, and some information about the photographer.

Overall, I'd say there are lovely pictures in this book, and it's worth a casual flip through, but if you are looking for an instructional book, this is definitely not what you're looking for.

everyone agrees, i think, the photos in this book are top-rate. what isn't agreed on is whether the text will do you any good. that will depend on what level of photography you're at - after you've mastered the camera operations, what is there left to learn, and can it be taught in words? this book won't tell you to expose for about 1/4 sec to make running water look silky, use a polarizer to cut haze, or anything similar. it won't give you much to teach you how to get the camera in the right place at the right time, but it will help a little. (the NOAA.gov site has cloud-cover forecasts!)

mostly it teaches composition by example, and some discussion. my opinion is that teaching by example is probably the most effective way to improve compositional skills, and this book is better than any others i've seen. however, because of the difficulty of teaching composition, you should not expect that reading this book will instantly and noticeably improve your skill.

still, i gave it 5 stars, because it improved my compositional skill more than any other book has.

This is a very enjoyable and informative book. The layout is different than what I'm used to with books like this, but that's exactly what makes it very interesting to read. Great instruction and intuitive insight on lighting and the landscape. Good job!