Visual Poetry: A Creative Guide for Making Engaging Digital Photographs

Product Author Bios

Chris Orwig is a celebrated photographer, author, and teacher at the Brooks Institute of Photography. From his base in Santa Barbara, California, Chris thrives on surfing and exploring the great outdoors with his wife and two young daughters. For Chris the adventure is now, and the journey has already begun—discover, look, listen, learn, and live. Find inspiration and see his work at www.chrisorwig.com.

Audio

Listen to our publisher's interview with Chris Orwig.

A great photograph has the potential to transcend verbal and written language. But how do you create these photographs? It’s not the how that’s important, but the who and the what. Who you are as a person has a direct impact on what you capture as a photographer.

Whether you are an amateur or professional, architect or acupuncturist, physician or photographer, this guide provides inspiration, simple techniques, and assignments to boost your creative process and improve your digital images using natural light without additional gear.

Chris Orwig’s insights—to reduce and simplify, participate rather than critique, and capture a story—have made him an immensely popular workshop speaker and faculty member at the prestigious Brooks Institute. His engaging stories presented as lessons follow his classroom approach and highlight what students say is his contagious passion for life.

In this accessible and beautifully illustrated four-color guide you will:

• Discover visual poetry in the creative process
• Use less to say more with your subject matter
• Learn to see light, color, shape, and expression
• Understand what gear is essential
• Create compelling portraits
• Make lasting memories of your family and kids
• Capture the outdoors and adventure
• Begin the transition from amateur to professional

Web Resources

Share photos on our Visual Poetry Book flickr group.

Customer Reviews

71 of 78 people found the following review helpful Quality, September 1, 2009 By  R. Caldwell (CA) - See all my reviews    Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?) This review is from: Visual Poetry: A Creative Guide for Making Engaging Digital Photographs (Paperback) Summary I just finished my first of what I suspect will be many reads through this book. I'm initially struck by both the richness and approachability of the content. It's also incredibly inspiring while remaining realistic and practical. The author drew me in with his intimate style, personal accounts, authenticity, and humility while avoiding fluff, filler, and cheese. I will be recommending this to my pro photographer friends, my point-and-shoot friends, and the others in between. To my pro friends, I would expect this book to rekindle the passion that was once the reason they started shooting seriously. To the others, I believe this could be the book that will provide that extra something needed to take photos that truly capture. This book challenged me as a creative person and photographer, but also as a father, spouse, traveler, and friend. Inspiration I had been anticipating this book for a while as I'm familiar with Chris's work and [...]... Read more Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you?  Report abuse | Permalink  Comments (2) 52 of 57 people found the following review helpful Get it if you need some structure to improve your photography practice, October 6, 2009 By  Enche Tjin (Philadelphia, PA) - See all my reviews    Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?) This review is from: Visual Poetry: A Creative Guide for Making Engaging Digital Photographs (Paperback) Visual Poetry: A Creative Guide for Making Engaging Digital Photographs is a book written by Chris Orwig, an instructor of prestigious photography school. The approach of this book is workshop style, meaning that Chris will give you tips and tricks in the chapter, then followed by assignment and reference. The interesting part of the book is when Chris relate literature (especially poetry) to photography. He argues that photography could be a great medium to express or convey a message or story. In addition, this book discussed many kinds of photography from portrait, wedding, sports, and travel. However i feel that the discussion in each chapter is too general. This book is geared towards someone who is already have pretty strong basic photography knowledge such as exposure, composition, equipments, but need an inspiration and a push in the back to try out new things. For beginners, you might be disappointed because there is practically no... Read more Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you?  Report abuse | Permalink  Comment 25 of 29 people found the following review helpful Long on Enthusiasm and References, Short on Analysis, October 27, 2009 By  Shirley A. Lindgren - See all my reviews    Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?) This review is from: Visual Poetry: A Creative Guide for Making Engaging Digital Photographs (Paperback) There is no doubt that the author loves both his photography and his teaching. The book draws on both to ignite the enthusiasm and creative energies of readers in their pursuit of more fulfilling and engaging photographic work. Anecdotes from his own experiences and those of photographers of his acquaintance that fill the pages are used to excite and enable the reader to enter a more exciting and creative world of photography, as are the references to the books and websites of dozens and dozens of accomplished photo-artists in all the major genre. What is not in evidence is analysis of what distinguishes images that succeed in engaging the energies of viewers and in transforming their ways of seeing. Beyond a paragraph here and there devoted to these matters and the answer that interviews with "guest speakers" reported on what makes a good photograph, there is little guidance on what it is that makes some images sing and other hum. It is energizing to read of the author's bursts of... Read more Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you?  Report abuse | Permalink  Comment

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Praise For Visual Poetry: A Creative Guide for Making Engaging Digital Photographs

“Chris Orwig is a vibrant and authentic individual who brings passion to everything that he does. I would unequivocally recommend this book to everyone who wants to reach further with their photography or other creative endeavor they cherish.”
– Douglas Kirkland

Online Sample Chapter

Visual Poetry: Camera Creativity and Technique

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Introduction

Part I: Getting Started
Chapter 1 – Poetry and Photography
Chapter 2 - Creativity and Photography
Chapter 3 - Learning to See
Chapter 4 – Camera Creativity and Technique

Part II: Let the Adventure Begin
Chapter 5 – Portraits
Chapter 6 – Kids and Families
Chapter 7 – Wedding Bells
Chapter 8 – Travel
Chapter 9 – Action and the Great Outdoors
Chapter 10 – Found Objects and Subjects

Part III: What’s Next
Chapter 11 – Camera Gear
Chapter 12 – The Path to Becoming a Professional

Downloadable Sample Chapter

Chapter 2: Creativity and Photography