Your opinion, please

Photography---Seeing and Composition

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Donald Miller

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One of the things that I am considering during my upcoming trip to Italy is the production of a book on CD. The topic of this book will be learning to see photographically. It would concern itself with photographic composition as a departure from our normal ways of looking and seeing. It would include visual examples and descriptive text.

Subtopics covered would provide examples of and considerations pertaining to the placement of components within a visual space.

There would be no discussion of film exposure, development, or printing because a wealth of information already exists on those topics.

My question is this, would something of this nature be helpful? Would you be interested in purchasing material addressing this topic if the price were in the $50 range?
 

Eric Rose

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What could help people make up their minds might be an example chapter to preview. The concept is a good one and I'm sure the execution would be first rate. Once people see what the product is they can better determine a) whether they want it, and b) how much they feel it's worth. Just my 2 cents.
 

bill schwab

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Hi Donald,

You should have a check box for "just have a good and safe time and shoot lots of film". That would be my vote! I only say this because I have tried projects like this while on the road. In my case they end up ruling the trip and rarely become what you had hoped. It might be better to draw from your complete history of work for such a project rather than 1 trip to Italy.

Bill
 

Robert Kerwin

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Have to agree with Eric S., I'd prefer a book versus a CD, though given what I've seen of your work in the gallery, I'd still be interested.
 
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Donald Miller

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To give everyone a bit more of an idea of what I am addressing here, the following is the Table of Contents of this material.

Photography Seeing and Composition


Table of contents

Chapter one Photographic sight compared to ordinary sight.

Chapter two The three types of visual balance.

Chapter three The aspects of the first type of visual balance and how to use them. Includes visual examples and supporting text.

Chapter four The aspects of the second type of visual balance and how to use them . Includes visual examples and supporting text.

Chapter five The aspects of the third type of visual balance and how to use them. Includes visual examples and supporting text.

Chapter six The seven aspects of form. Includes visual examples and supporting text. Utilizing these aspects in composition in the strengthening and vitalizing of photographic images.

Chapter seven The five aspects of perspective. Includes visual examples and supporting text. Utilizing these aspects to create vital photographic images.

Chapter eight The symbolic aspects of a photographic image. Utilizing symbolism as a means to artistic expression.

Chapter nine Managing the visual space, using this material in your unique photographic expression.


I hope that this will give more of an idea of this than my obscure description at the outset.

Thanks for your time and your thoughts.
 

reellis67

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I'm not big on books that require a computer to read, (yours would be the only one I own) but given the author, and what you have posted for a table of contents, I would be interested if it were priced a bit lower. There are a number of books that I would have to place above this one in the priority list at that price (no offense intended).

- Randy
 
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Donald Miller

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Hi Bill, Perhaps I failed to express myself clearly. This is not something that is the focus of my trip to Italy...just an adjunct to do while the sun is down, so to speak.

This will be drawn from what I have learned over the past twenty plus years behind the lens.

Thanks for your thoughts.
 

RobLewis

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Donald-
I'd be interested in a book devoted to composition.
A CD possibly, but at a much lower price.

Good luck!
 
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Donald Miller

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Hi Randy,

No offense taken. I would certainly consider making this widely available and if price were a deterrent to that then I would need to reconsider. Thanks for your thoughts on this.

I may need to look into a paper edition rather than CD...
 
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Donald Miller

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TheFlyingCamera said:
Donald- I would be interested, but not at $50. Maybe $20-25. I think this is a great idea, and would like to think of it as a possible textbook for future classes I might offer.
Click to expand...

Thanks for your thoughts on this.
 

blaze-on

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You might garnish a greater interest using a lulu.com book or similar.
Ordering through them and no hassle for you.

$50 for as cd is a bit exorbitant..
IMHO
 
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Donald Miller

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blaze-on said:
You might garnish a greater interest using a lulu.com book or similar.
Ordering through them and no hassle for you.

$50 for as cd is a bit exorbitant..
IMHO
Click to expand...


Yes, on the face of things a CD is not worth $50...but then again, do you consider what may be on the CD or, heaven forbid, that you may learn something that you may not presently know?

Certainly if one is satisfied with their photographs and they are strong compositions then the knowledge that I can share is probably not even worth the cost of a blank CE.

I have found that it is awfully difficult to learn anything when one knows all there is to know about something.

Thanks for your suggestion about Lulu...the problem that I have with a publisher of that type is the quality of the photographic reproductions. Examples are vitally important to the understanding of this material.
 

MattKing

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Donald:

You might want to try something like:

Purchase the CD for $50.00, which includes a transferable coupon for a $40.00 discount on one of your prints....

You could probably specify the choice of prints.

Just a thought.

Matt
 
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Donald Miller

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MattKing said:
Donald:

You might want to try something like:

Purchase the CD for $50.00, which includes a transferable coupon for a $40.00 discount on one of your prints....

You could probably specify the choice of prints.

Just a thought.

Matt
Click to expand...


Matt, Thanks that is certainly an idea.
 

Travis Nunn

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I don't think I'd ever be interested in a book on CD. I stare at a monitor enough at work. The price (to me) seems a bit steep, however this is something I'd be interested in at a lower price.
 
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Donald Miller

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t_nunn said:
I don't think I'd ever be interested in a book on CD. I stare at a monitor enough at work. The price (to me) seems a bit steep, however this is something I'd be interested in at a lower price.
Click to expand...

Thanks for your thoughts on this. It seems that this clearly needs to go to a publisher if I decide to pursue it. The question that I need to determine for myself now is how much potential market is available. While this is a film only site, the same considerations apply to all those who strive for photographic expression regardless of discipline or methodology. It would not be of particular interest to those who are primarily interested in portraiture, weddings, or commercial/product photography.
 

Eric Rose

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Donald, welcome to the WalMart generation. No one wants to pay for another persons knowledge or expertise, but boy they sure want to be paid top buck their knowledge and expertise.
 

Travis Nunn

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Eric Rose said:
Donald, welcome to the WalMart generation. No one wants to pay for another persons knowledge or expertise, but boy they sure want to be paid top buck their knowledge and expertise.
Click to expand...

I don't think its a matter of not wanting to pay for another person's knowledge, its just that $50 for a book on CD is a bit much. Disagree with me if you like but if I'm going to spend $50 on a book, I want it to be a nicely published book, not a cd that degrades over time.


On the other hand, Donald could certainly offer both a hardcopy and a cd and let the buyer choose.
 

CGross

Donald, I would absolutely be interested in either a CD based publication or a book. I actually have been looking for something of similar content lately now that I kicked the dust off of 20 years being away photography.

The price for me would be acceptable so long as you could provide a format that is printable. I would most likely take it to Kinkos and get a binded and printed version. I too stare at computers most of my day, and I need to read print that is on paper!!!

I look forward to hearing more about the idea and your progress. And about your trip once you return.

Cody
 
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