Book
Extraordinary Everyday Photography
This book teaches amateur photographers how to overcome creative block by developing a fresh vision to find and capture extraordinary images in their everyday surroundings.
What it’s about
For photographers who feel uninspired by their familiar environment and believe they must travel to exotic locales to capture great shots, 'Extraordinary Everyday Photography' offers a transformative new perspective. Authors and professional photographers Brenda Tharp and Jed Manwaring argue that stunning images are hidden everywhere, waiting to be discovered. The book provides a practical guide to reawakening your creative vision, teaching you to see beyond the literal subject and appreciate the abstract qualities of light, shape, color, and texture in your own backyard. Through inspiring examples, personal anecdotes, and actionable exercises, you'll learn to master composition, anticipate fleeting moments, and experiment with creative techniques, ultimately empowering you to create meaningful, beautiful photographs wherever you are and reignite your passion for the craft.
The through-line
- Who it’s for
- An amateur or enthusiast photographer who feels creatively stuck, believing their everyday surroundings are mundane and uninspiring. They want to create beautiful, compelling photographs but feel limited by a lack of interesting subjects near home.
- The problem
- Their camera roll is either empty between vacations or filled with uninspired snapshots of their local environment that fail to capture any magic. They feel frustrated, bored, and uninspired by their photography. They doubt their artistic ability and feel envious of photographers who travel to exciting locations.
- The plan
- Adopt a New Mindset: Learn to see your world with the curiosity and wonder of a child, looking beyond the literal subject to its abstract qualities.
- Practice Active Perception: Train yourself to react instinctively to visual moments of color, shape, and texture that catch your eye.
- Master the Fundamentals: Deepen your understanding of how to use composition, point of view, and light to create strong, impactful images.
- Explore and Experiment: Schedule 'photography playdates' to explore your local area and experiment with creative techniques like panning, multiple exposures, and black-and-white conversions.
- Capture the Moment: Learn to be a 'life watcher' to anticipate and capture the fleeting gestures and actions that tell a story.
- The payoff
- You see compelling photographic opportunities everywhere, transforming daily walks and errands into creative adventures. · Your portfolio is filled with fresh, creative, and personally meaningful images made right in your own community. · You feel creatively re-energized, confident in your artistic eye, and passionate about photography again.