Within the Frame
A friend of mine has just published his own book and this week I finally got round to getting a copy of it and having a read. The book in question is ‘Within the Frame’, by David DuChemin. I’m sure some of you will know David’s work from his site the pixelatedimage.com.
I met David pretty much by chance. He’d stumbled upon my site and had written a very kind review of my work and we got talking. He’s very enthusiastic but I didn’t really get a chance to meet him until I was in Nepal this year. I’ve since kept up correspondence with him and I find him to be very inspiring: when you’re busy trying to make a go of being 100% professional, it’s always good to surround yourself with people who are positive, forward thinking and inspiring.
So David has published his first book, and although he is predominantly a ‘people photographer’, what I found striking about his book was that I feel the contents apply to anyone be it a landscape photographer or a street photographer. The text is engaging and if I didn’t know better, I’d say that David is a very talented writer – end of story. But his images are very beautiful too. He’s got an innocent charm in how he approaches subjects and I personally felt I could draw a lot of parallels to how he approaches his photography to my own.
This book is not a technical book. And I’m grateful for it. The last good read I had was Galen Rowell’s ‘Mountain Light’, an inspiring book about being out there and ‘connecting’ with what you see. David’s book is similar in that respect, but it’s more aimed at the enthusiast who wants to improve his skills. he talks about ‘Vision’ – something that the late Galen Rowell brought up, as did Ansel Adams, but what David does is break vision down into it’s integral parts. It’s a nice book which makes you *think* more about what it is you are trying to do with your photography, rather than what gear you want to buy. And for that, It’s rather refreshing.
David used to be a stand up comedian. I only bring this up because each time I pick a paragraph to read, I can’t help being reeled in. It’s nice writing, humourous, humble and engaging.
Oh God. I read about this book somewhere else recently and thought it sounded interesting. And then I thought, haven’t I got enough books, and haven’t I just indulged myself with the latest Steve McCurry opus ? And now I read this. And now I have to buy it …. :-)
By the way, have you read David Ward’s books ? One of the few people to go beyond the superficial in landscape photography books – in my humble opinion.
Comment by David Mantripp — 1 July, 2009 @ 5:08 pm
Hi David,
It’s a nice read for perhaps for someone less experienced than yourself as from what I’ve seen of your work – it’s very good.
David Wards books are interesting, but sometimes I’m not convinced that I know what he’s talking about, let alone that he knows what he’s talking about! ;-)
Comment by Bruce Percy — 1 July, 2009 @ 5:23 pm
Yes, he certainly leaves me a little in the dust at times. But he does a good job of convincing me that he does know what he’s talking about. More so than certain others, anyway.
Comment by David Mantripp — 1 July, 2009 @ 7:01 pm
I loved Within the Frame as well. I’ve had the pleasure of meeting David and he is as wonderfully approachable in person as he comes off in the book.
The book takes a difficult concept to define (vision) and give you tools to implement your own. I loved both that practical aspect and the more cerebral aspect.
Highly recommended.
Comment by olwick — 1 July, 2009 @ 9:40 pm
I read his book and loved it, agreeing with all that you said. His emphasis on vision is one important thing he put in my head. I have experienced those moments of vision then took the steps to make them happen but did not associate them with vision.
I also like how he stressed the integrity of the people he photographs, how he tries to make a connection. That alone will generate authentic portraits.
By the way I’ve just found your blog and have enjoyed it. Well done!
Comment by monstev — 11 July, 2009 @ 10:39 pm
Well I finally got around to reading – and finishing this book. I hate to be a lone dissenting voice (well maybe I don’t…) but I really don’t share the joy. After the first 100 pages or so, I find it got very repetitive, both textually and visually. Perhaps the publishes demanded 270 pages – after all New Riders publishes mainly software & design geek books, which are by default padded beyond belief, so it isn’t unlikely. But there just isn’t enough substance to justify it. Potentially it could have been a good book, at half the size – I mean really, make your point, make it well, and now let me get out and make photographs. But no, it goes on, and on, and on.
The photography doesn’t do much for me either. Location by location, yours are very noticeably better. Your portraits give me a more convincing feeling of engagement too. As far as I can see, duChemin has visited about 4 locations…. I really wonder that he didn’t think to illustrate his topic with at least a few photos which didn’t require him to travel to far-fling locations and don’t rely on the exotic to mask a certain degree of banality.
Great marketing though.
Comment by David Mantripp — 27 August, 2009 @ 4:26 pm
I think it’s a nice book for beginners David. I know your photography well and felt that you were well beyond the scope of this book, and did suggest so to you.
I think points need to be re-iterated at times…. it’s pretty much what I find myself doing too. If you’re a real beginner, then I think this book is a very nice introduction and it’s very readable.
Yes, I’d also have to agree there has been a tremendous amount of marketing about this book. I like David and I like his writing style. It’s a book, for beginners. And I’m sure there are plenty of people who will get a lot out of it, and be inspired by it : not everyone gets to photograph for a living and travel to places. But it’s just a book.
Thanks very much for the appreciative comments about my own photography. I just do what I do, take it or leave it. It’s everyone elses choice.
Comment by Bruce Percy — 27 August, 2009 @ 6:28 pm
well it does say “intermediate / advanced” on the back …
I think the problem is it tries to be too broad. I’d like it to be a lot more anecdotal, and to go deeper into the core topics. But for that it would also need to be located within an appropriate frame of reference, and I suspect that would push it well beyond what New Riders would be interested in publishing.
The thing is about the travel topic, is I don’t need words to be inspired by people’s photography. I’m sure I’d much rather see a monograph of David’s work, well presented, and sympathetically printed, that something which somewhow is neither fish nor fowl.
But monographs are not known for raking in the zlotys….
Comment by David Mantripp — 27 August, 2009 @ 7:20 pm
“But monographs are not known for raking in the zlotys….”
I doubt he’s making anything much from this book. From what I’ve learned so far, books don’t make money unless you publish them yourself.
Comment by Bruce Percy — 27 August, 2009 @ 7:26 pm