Bruce Barnbaum - Tone Poems

John McCallum was kind enough to lend me this book for a few days. I think it is an amazing collection or images. To see photographers taking the medium to the outermost limits like this is truly inspiring. Where would we be if we didn't have photographer's like this that can show us what is possible with our materials? I love seeing work of this calibre and dreaming that one day I can 'get there'. Highly recommend this book..

Have not seen this book by BB, but have been lucky enough to see some of his prints and I agrre Sean..I to have dreamed of making prints like his, or Jorge's, Lee's, Mateo's, Donald Miller's, you get the idea...it is always such a Great Joy to see a well made print. For me, it is what drives the need to make beautiful prints.

I have a copy of the Tone Poems and it is truely inspiring. Having taken a workshop with Bruce I can say it shot me forward in my vision and skill set.

The DVD from Lenswork is also very inspiring - great collection of images from Slit Canyons & good interview by Brooks Jensen. Looking forward to getting Art of Photography as christmas present. One frequently hears complaints about lack of great contemporary photographers; but the presence of Bruce Barnbaum proves otherwise.

Mr Barnbaum's Tones Poems is truely an exceptional collection of work.
I didn't mention Sean; it comes complete with a CD of music performed by pianist Judith Cohen, with clarinet, violin and cello accompaniments. The book is divided into "Opus'" entitled Enigmas, Abstractions and Surprises; with the music selected to best accompany each complete Opus.
There are many critique reviews available that are better than I can do it justice. But I would say that if you like landscape B&W photography with flawless technique and a vision clearly accumulated from decades of passionate photography - don't hesitate, just get it. If you don't like B&W landscape photography, this could change you.
I've found fresh inspiration from Tones Poems for my own photography, each time I open it. I think it is one of those rare bodies of work that I would never tire of.
best,
John

My copy arrived today and the pictures are gorgeous. Very inspirational. In fact, I like it so much I brought it to work tonight and am looking at it during lunch. Haven't listened to the CD yet, though.

Cheers, James

I agree, it's a great book. When I attended one of his workshops, he had his 'Darkness and Dispair' photographs on the wall. Seeing them in the book was one thing, but seeing them all arranged on the wall was completely different. It was like driving past a car accident - you just *had* to look. Very disturbing images. And very effective.