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Within The Frame [Book Review]

Damien Franco | Jul 30, 2009 | Comments Comments

Within the Frame: The Journey of Photographic Vision (Voices That Matter) by David duChemin

Within The Frame

Within The Frame

Within The Frame is about finding and expressing your photographic vision. A rare book on the why, rather than the how, of finding, chasing, and expressing your vision from with a camera from your eye.

About the Author

David duChemin is an international assignment photographer specializing in humanitarian projects and world photography. David’s work has taken him around the globe, where his adventures have deepened his love for this world and the people who inhabit it. Find him online at PixelatedImage.com.

Once again we have a book that is different in scope from many of the others we’ve reviewed. Therefore, we will do this review in a manner more suiting in my opinion.

Concept

Our author takes on a very challenging task in attempting to create a book that blends well the theory of art and technique in harmony as a photographic whole. It’s something that I try to keep in mind as I write articles on this blog, but my advantage is that I can jump from subject to subject as I so choose (that is the nature of a blog as we now know it). When an author is posed at creating a book he has to write it in a manner that will be read from cover to cover, A to Z, or beginning to end, all whilst creating a stream of conscience that is cohesive in element and form.

David, without doubt, hits a home run.

This book can, and should, be read from cover to cover. It takes you through a journey that speaks to the artist and the craftsman and attempts to create a merge of both. The goal is to help bring together art and technique into that special realm of “The art of photography”.

The Images

David duChemin provides wonderfully captured photographs from his journeys throughout the world. You get bombarded with stunning imagery full of life, color, emotion, and storytelling. While his assignment style is that of a photo-journalist his provocative photographs come from an artist who has mastered the technical side of photography. David uses color when it is appropriate and throws it out when it isn’t. What you’re left with is inspiration that leaves you yearning to head out the door and capture life. This actually makes the book a long read if, like me, you’re inspired to grab your camera after every chapter. This is a very good thing.

The Best

While the book is great throughout, I particularly enjoyed Chapter 3 “The Artist and the Geek”. This chapter is where the true form of the book’s intention starts to take shape. As you read the book you’ll probably find that you align yourself as a photographic artist or a photographic geek. Simply put, your emphasis is either creative or technical. This is where our author attempts to bring the reader to a place of harmony between the two by emphasizing how the creative and the technical aspects of photography interact with each other to create visual imagery that captures it’s viewer with the intention of the photographer.

At no point does David hold one aspect more important over the other. The technical side is a means to help the artist properly portray his vision. Furthermore, learning to listen to your creative muse will help the technician produce powerful photographs that will help to tell the tale. They work in cohesion to reach that sweet spot of “the art of photography”.

Conclusion

This book is an instant classic. It will never go out of style, it will never seem outdated, and it will stand the test of time. I’m hard pressed to think of any photographer who wouldn’t gain a great deal of personal insight and inspiration from reading this book. It is the best book on photography I have read to date.

I give it a five out of five.

You can, and should, purchase Within the Frame: The Journey of Photographic Vision (Voices That Matter) at Amazon.


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  • macphotographytips
    I also read "Within the Frame" and found it to be a very beautifully written book. New Riders press is coming out with a very nice series of books aimed at both the art and how-to of digital photography. "Within the Frame" seems more suited for travel photographers; however, I think much can be learned from this book when doing street photography anywhere. The best part of the book is when he shares some of the behind the picture scenes and advice that went into capturing particular photos. Having spent over an year completing a street portrait project, I realized just how difficult it is to meet and photograph strangers.

    I do think, however the author should have included at least a chapter on postproduction so that readers don't think that his photos come out his camera looking as they do in the book. But other than that, "Within the Frame" makes for a very inspirational book.
  • Guest
    I also read "Within the Frame" and found it to be a very beautifully written book. New Riders press is coming out with a very nice series of books aimed at both the art and how-to of digital photography. "Within the Frame" seems more suited for travel photographers; however, I think much can be learned from this book when doing street photography anywhere. The best part of the book is when he shares some of the behind the picture scenes and advice that went into capturing particular photos. Having spent over an year completing a street portrait project, I realized just how difficult it is to meet and photograph strangers.

    I do think, however the author should have included at least a chapter on postproduction so that readers don't think that his photos come out his camera looking as they do in the book. But other than that, "Within the Frame" makes for a very inspirational book.
  • Yes Indeed! What a Great review and tip! This is an amazing book, and even though it might sound as a cliché, I must agrée with the foreword by Joe McNally: you'll not be the same after having read it!
  • Guest
    hi, nice post.
  • Excellent review! The cover alone intrigues me, and I'm sure if I would see it at a bookstore it would be gone within a heartbeat.
  • Great review and tip! This is an amazing book, and even though it might sound as a cliché, I must agrée with the foreword by Joe McNally: you'll not be the same after having read it!
  • RJS
    I've been reading this book - I find that I concur with this review. It's it's why-to book, not a how-to book. Dave really walks you through a variety of scenarios, dealing with not only what you frame, but how you go about it- how to interact with people- Something that so few photography related books bother with.

    I think the book is well worth reading-
  • Cool! Very cool.
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