David duChemin

When looking at a photograph, too often a conversation starts–and, unfortunately, ends–with a statement such as, “I like it.” The logical next question, “Why?”, often goes unasked and unanswered. As photographers, we frequently have difficulty speaking about images because, frankly, we don’t know how to think about them. And if we don’t know how to think about a photograph and its “visual language”– how an image is constructed, how it works, and why it works–then, when we’re behind the camera, are we really making images that best communicate our vision, our original intent? Vision–crucial as it is–is not the ultimate goal of photography; expression is the goal. And to best express ourselves, it is necessary to learn and use the grammar and vocabulary of the visual language. Photographically Speaking is about learning photography’s visual language to better speak to why and how a photograph succeeds, and in turn to consciously use that visual language in the creation of our own photographs, making us stronger photographers who are able to fully express and communicate our vision. By breaking up the visual language into two main components–“elements” make up its vocabulary, and “decisions” are its grammar–David duChemin transforms what has traditionally been esoteric and difficult subject matter into an accessible and practical discussion that photographers can immediately use to improve their craft. Elements are the “words” of the image, what we place within the frame–lines, curves, light, color, contrast. Decisions are the choices we make in assembling those elements to best express and communicate our vision–the use of framing, perspective, point of view, balance, focus, exposure. All content within the frame has meaning, and duChemin establishes that photographers must consciously and deliberately choose the elements that go within their frame and make the decisions about how that frame is constructed and presented. In the second half of the book, duChemin applies this methodology to his own craft, as he explores the visual language in 20 of his own images, discussing how the intentional choices of elements and decisions that went into their creation contribute to their success.

A Deeper Look at Creating Stronger Images

Photographically Speaking

As both an art form and a universal language, the photograph has an extraordinary ability to connect and communicate with others. But with over one trillion photos taken each year, why do so few of them truly connect? Why do so few of them grab our emotions or our imaginations? It is not because the images lack focus or proper exposure; with advances in technology, the camera does that so well these days. Photographer David duChemin believes the majority of our images fall short because they lack soul. And without soul, the images have no ability to resonate with others. They simply cannot connect with the viewer, or even—if we’re being truthful—with ourselves. p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Avenir Next'} p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Avenir Next'; min-height: 16.0px} In The Soul of the Camera: The Photographer’s Place in Picture-Making, David explores what it means to make better photographs. Illustrated with a collection of beautiful black-and-white images, the book’s essays address topics such as craft, mastery, vision, audience, discipline, story, and authenticity. The Soul of the Camera is a personal and deeply pragmatic book that quietly yet forcefully challenges the idea that our cameras, lenses, and settings are anything more than dumb and mute tools. It is the photographer, not the camera, that can and must learn to make better photographs—photographs that convey our vision, connect with others, and, at their core, contain our humanity. The Soul of the Camera helps us do that.

The Photographer's Place in Picture-Making

The Soul of the Camera

Start Ugly is a celebration of the messy creative process and a call to face the obstacles of that process with mindfulness and humanity. This is a book for anyone who has ever wished they were "more creative."

The Unexpected Path to Everyday Creativity

Start Ugly

Was ist eigentlich ein gutes Bild? Ist dieses Bild gut? Nach welchen Kriterien bewerte ich eigentlich meine eigene Arbeit? Und wie sehen das Andere? Diese Fragen stellt sich wohl jeder Fotograf bei der Durchsicht seiner Bilder – und bleibt dabei oft ratlos. Bildkritik ist nicht leicht, eine kritische Analyse der eigenen Arbeiten noch schwerer. Regeln, Formeln oder Rezepte helfen nicht wirklich, um zum Kern der Frage vorzustoßen: Was genau ist ein gutes Bild? David duChemin gibt in seinem Buch auch keine Antwort auf diese Frage, liefert keine Rezepte für das "gute Bild" – er stellt Fragen. Fragen wie "Wo ist die Geschichte?", "Wie sieht es mit Balance und Spannung aus?", "Welche Rolle spielt das Licht?", "Wie führen die Linien den Blick des Betrachters?", Fragen, die dem Fotografen helfen sollen, Bilder besser zu verstehen, ihre Qualität zu erkennen. Die ihm aber auch helfen sollen, den kreativen Prozess des Fotografierens bewusster zu steuern und die Qualität seiner Arbeit zu verbessern. Doch duChemin stellt nicht nur Fragen. Er erklärt, er illustriert mit eigenen Bildern, welche Bedeutung seine Fragen haben, wohin der Weg führt, den er dem Leser mit diesem Buch weist: Zu stärkeren und authentischeren Bildern.

Fragen und Ideen für ausdrucksstärkere Bilder

Das Herz der Fotografie

The Print and the Process is a book of ideas, thoughts, and techniques about our photographs and the process that leads us to the final image. (To be clear, it is not an instructional book about how to print your images.) In this beautiful book, David duChemin takes the reader behind the scenes on four distinct photographic projects, discussing motivation, image creation, and post-production. The projects he walks the reader through are from Iceland, Kenya, Antarctica, and Venice–and for each he discusses the hows and whys of his own image-making process. Each project begins with a beautiful series of 20-30 final images from that project–this is "the print" section, and it's geared for the reader to really take in those images holistically. Then, duChemin discusses "the process" behind creating those images. In this section, the reader will see the project images again but as thumbnails, and David goes through each one, explaining very thoroughly his process. duChemin does not "pre-visualize" a scene, as Ansel Adams famously discussed. Instead, he feels it. And it's from that feeling that he begins working with the elements in front of him and looking at the choices available to him. As he moves around, including and excluding elements from the frame, the camera and the photographer become collaborators. It's from this struggle that the final image emerges. DuChemin has been making images for over two decades, and this process has changed and evolved during that time. By exploring duChemin's images and reflecting on the process behind them–both behind the camera and in post-processing–the reader learns to pay more attention to their own process, and identify ways in which their process can be further examined and improved in order to take more compelling images.

Taking Compelling Photographs from Vision to Expression

The Print and the Process

For those who want to make the transition into the world of vocational photography—staying true to your craft and vision, while fusing that craft with commerce VisionMongers is a great place to begin your journey. With a voice equally realistic and encouraging, photographer David duChemin discusses the experiences he’s had, the lessons he’s learned, and the practices he’s adopted in his own winding journey to becoming a successful working photographer. When it comes to this personal, honest combination of craft and commerce, there is no single path to success. Everyone’s goals are different, as is everyone’s definition of success. As such, VisionMongers does not prescribe a one size-fits-all program. Instead, duChemin candidly shares ideas, wisdom, and inspiration to introduce you to, and help you navigate, the many aspects of transforming your passion into your vocation. He addresses everything from the anxiety-riddled question “Am I good enough?” to the basics—and beyond—of marketing, business, and finance, as well as the core assumption that your product is great and your craft is always improving. Along the way, duChemin features the stories of nine other photographers—including Chase Jarvis, Gavin Gough, and Zack Arias—whose paths, while unique, have all shared a commitment and passion for bringing their own vision to market. With VisionMongers, you’ll learn what paths have been taken—what has worked for these photographers—and you’ll be equipped to begin the process of forging your own.

Making a Life and a Living in Photography

VisionMongers

The Problem with Muses is a collection of transcripts from David duChemin's podcast, A Beautiful Anarchy, pulled together for the first time for those who prefer the written word.

Notes on Everyday Creativity

The Problem with Muses

Using the principles set forth in his book, photographer and humanitarian David duChemin critiques images that members of Peachpit's Within the Frame flickr group have posted.

Within the Frame Podcast

Within the Frame (2009) received critical recognition for its humanity and practical teaching, and in this revision of his classic best-selling book, David duChemin encourages you to search for what matters to you and not give up until you convey it through your photography: “I’m chasing my vision, and you will chase yours in the places best suited to that. What’s important is that you chase that vision intentionally and with passion, refusing to let it be anything but yours and yours alone.” Through a heartfelt discussion about creating photographs of people, places, cultures, and the discovery of a personal point of view that makes those stories compelling and authentic, David teaches how to seek and serve your creative vision through the art of photography by highlighting images from his adventures around the world. Regardless of the setting, it’s the lessons about the central role of vision and expression in photography that sets this book apart, even if you never wander far from home. David shares the nuances of approaching different subjects, the value of scouting locations (and wandering in unfamiliar places), techniques for photographing landscapes, how to capture a sense of place and culture with sensitivity through images of food, festivals, art and faith, and more. This edition includes new images, creative exercises, updated chapters, a streaming companion video, and discussions about changing perspectives, including an increased focus on landscape photography. Most importantly, David maintains the crucial theme of vision–and he helps you find, cultivate, and pursue your own, and then fit it within the frame. “If the book simply stayed right there in the realm of how-to, go-to advice, it would be a wonderful book indeed. But it crosses the line from useful to inspired because David opens up much more than his camera bag. He opens his considerable heart and mind, both of which belong to a masterful storyteller driven by an acute sympathy for the human condition, coupled with an intense curiosity and respect for both the differences and the sameness of the world.” –Joe McNally, photographer, author of The Hot Shoe Diaries and The Moment It Clicks “David does something here that few have ever done–he not only shows his absolutely captivating images, he shows the thought process behind those images, as well as how to start capturing the types of images we all long to take. People will be talking about this book for years to come. It’s that good!” –Scott Kelby, photographer and best-selling author “Some photographers inspire you with how great their photographs are, while other photographers inspire you to be a better photographer; David duChemin does both in Within the Frame.” –John Paul Caponigro, photographer

The Journey of Photographic Vision

Within the Frame

Simply having a certain camera or lens isn’t going to make you a better photographer. So, what will? Understanding your camera. Thinking differently. Studying photographs and knowing what they provoke in you, and why. Giving the craft time to grow. Looking to painters, designers, and others who work in two dimensions and learning from them. Relentlessly looking for light, lines, and moments. Making photographs–thousands and thousands of photographs. There’s no magic bullet to achieving success, but in these pages you will learn the value of studying, practice, and remembering that your most important assets as an artist are imagination, passion, patience, receptivity, curiosity, and a dogged refusal to follow the rules. THE VISUAL TOOLBOX is photographer David duChemin’s curriculum for learning not just how to use a camera–but how to make stronger photographs. He has developed 60 lessons, each one a stepping stone to becoming more proficient with the tools of this art, and the means to create deeper visual experiences with your images. David introduces you to the technical side of the craft but quickly moves on to composition, the creative process, and the principles that have always been responsible for making great photographs; he shows you these principles and invites you to play with them, turn them on their heads, and try a different approach to create beautiful, compelling images with your camera. Features action-oriented micro-chapters designed to improve your photography immediately Includes explanations of 60 concepts with an assignment for nearly every chapter Covers such topics as balance, using negative space, exploring color contrast, waiting for the moment, learning to incorporate mood and motion, and much more

David duChemin

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