Product Description

In David Ward's critically acclaimed first book, Landscape Within, he asked questions about human perception and the creative process and why photographers make images. David takes these deep explorations of photography a step further in his second book by studying what he considers to be the essential attributes of a successful landscape photograph; simplicity, ambiguity and beauty. He looks in detail at how these concepts relate to his own images and also sets them within a wider context; relating, for instance, how the notion of beauty has been viewed by artists and psychologists and discussing how, although interpretations have changed over the centuries, it remains as relevant as ever today. He sets out exactly why he feels each attribute is important to photography - how the notion of simplicity, for example, is intimately related to the reductive approach adopted by photography in contrast to the complexity involved in building up a painting from layers of pigment. He also suggests how each concept relates to the others; how simplicity and ambiguity are, in a sense, aspects of beauty. David always seeks to make his own images open to interpretation and in the final chapter, 'Questions or Answers?', he suggests that all photographers' work either poses a question or seeks to impose the photographer's viewpoint. He goes on to investigate how photography affects our interpretation of the world around us and relates this to his own practice. The book is beautifully illustrated throughout with David's stunning large-format landscape images, which reflect David's thoughtful and refined approach, tending toward abstraction rather than description and evoking deeper meaning from their subjects.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #28403 in Books
• Published on: 2008-04-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 128 pages

About the Author
David Ward is one of Britain's best known and most admired landscape photographers.

Customer Reviews

Thought provoking
I found this book totally engrossing. Having read Davids first book, "Landscape Within" I was eager to hear thoughts from one of the UK's finest photographers. David offers opinions on what he considers to be the most important aspects of a sucessful photograph.

The images presented with the text are second to none and are every bit as captivating as the text. So many of the shots are of "ordinary" subjects that most of us might pass by, David's insight toward these subjects is absolutely second to none and it seems he is the best proponent of the "inner landscape"

The print quality is excellent, the writing style is attractive and I am sure this will be a book I read many times.

Who is the Author
This title comes up on Amazon as "by Joe Cornish" which is very misleading, as he has only written the short Foreword. The vast majority of the words (all the content) are by David Ward who is shown on the front of the book as author. David gives some excellent food for thought, though I felt that it was beneath him to demean other photographic authors.

A rewarding read
As part of my collection of books on photography, I have quite a few on landscape work. I particularly admire the work of Joe Cornish, who has never failed to impress and who contributes the Foreward here.
However, this book by David Ward is well presented and provides a carefully considered dialogue with some stimulating and thought provoking opinions. A worthy addition to any photographers shelves and recommended.