Photo Impressionism and the Subjective Image: An Imagination Workshop for Photographers

Freeman Patterson’s photography is beautiful and his advice on seeing creatively and creating impressionist photos is very helpful

The photos are fantastic and very inspirational. It's well laid out and easy to follow the theory. I'll be buying more of Patterson's books.

You may or may not like many of the photos included in this book. That is irrelevant. The authors are trying to engage the "artist" within you, to encourage you to view the world not in its stark realism, but in an emotional way. The authors ask that you look at each scene you wish to photograph, and determine what emotions it evokes. Then, decide what technique can be employed to capture and convey that emotion. Sometimes this results in an abstract photo where the underlying subject is hardly discernable. Other times, the subject is very identifiable, but chosen, positioned (interms of composition) to recall memories, feelings, senses. I wish that the authors had provided more technical details for many of the photos (which lenses, f-stops, etc.), perhaps as a footnote, even at the risk of detracting from the overall message of "art" rather than photography. This book is entirely about film photography, and translationn of some of the authors' techniques to the digital world is not always straight-forward. Certainly, any such translation would require Photoshop, and a rather sophisticated understanding of layers, masks, opacity, etc.

Its basically a short book on impressionist photographs, lasting some 90 pages. In the introduction to the remainder, it is declared to be is other than about impressionism. Indeed this is declared in the title of the book. I found it disappointing.

Old published title. Was is very good shape. Processed quickly. Would order from this seller again.

At first glance, this book might appear to offer photographers a step beyond straight picture-taking as a tool to invoke a response from viewers. Freeman Patterson has always been an important teacher who talks about the role of the photographer, rather than equipment, in creating photographic art. Unfortunately, this book doesn't deliver on its premise or promise. This book seems to have been made by joining together smaller pieces. There are two short books here under one cover, one called "Photo Impressionism" and the other "the Subjective Image". Then each of these books is made up of relatively unrelated chapters, like the first which discusses the creating of multiple images of the same subject on the same frame of film by making multiple exposures and the second which discusses creating images by sandwiching two or more pieces of film together. That the chapters are unrelated is made obvious by the fact that they are written by each author individually with no collaboration between the authors. What one learns are a couple of techniques. One involves randomness in the creation of pictures that makes a mockery of the description of photo impressionism as a "depiction...intended to achieve...a vividness or effectiveness...." Ansel Adams' teachings about the role of vision in photography have guided fine photography for many years. Perhaps that has been an error in the conventional wisdom, but most serious photographers would deny any error. Randomness is the antithesis of intention and vision. Other than that, the book is a collection of trite advice like the fact that exposure and film are important to good photography! A description of an author's trip to Morocco provides little guidance about photo-impressionism, and advice that a "long chin or nose will appear shorter if you lower your camera position" sounds very conventional. What is amazingly lacking in a book released in the 21st century is any reference to the manipulation of images digitally. However, the photographs in the book are beautiful, and one can see how the authors have tried to speak to our emotions. At the same time many of even the best images appear to be quite conventional in approach. Photography needs a good book on this subject that can tell serious camera wielders how to "achieve a vividness or effectiveness more by invoking subjective and sensory impressions than by re-creating an objective reality" (to quote the authors' paraphrase of the dictionary). How can one look at a subject and see the potential for its image to be adjusted in a way that will tell the viewer something that could not be said if a mere record was made? This book doesn't tell us that. In fact Patterson's earlier "Photography and the Art of Seeing" does a better job. Someone interested in seeing how one practitioner does this, along with the photographer's thoughts on individual pictures, would probably benefit more by reading Tony Sweet's "Fine Art Nature Photography: Advanced Techniques and the Creative Process" In summary, nice pictures and weak words.

Some interesting ideas for abstract compositions along with a lot of the standard Patterson shtick. Although its film based, an experienced Photoshop user can readily adapt the suggested techniques to the digital world. Also, a web search will help if the exact digital work flow is not obvious. For example, Ellen Anon has a page on how to do Andre Gallant's montage process -- but you do need to be proficient in the use of layers.

I ordered this book, I received a different Photo Impressionism and subjective image, not the imagination workshop that I wanted. I kept the book that was sent as it is great too, but this is the book I ordered and did not receive??

Primarily a stimulus for analogue film camera users, but an excellent book. There are photo examples on almost every other page, and the inspiration and methodology is well explained. It is written in easy to understand language without the 'pseudo' self-justifying speak that is merely an ego-trip for the author. This book has none of that - just how it was seen; how the theme developed; how it was finalised. Consequently, an able digital photographer should be able to translate the techniques with ease.

Like all of Freeman Patterson's instruction books this is a wonderful book for anyone who wants to expand their photography. It is not about technology and how to use camera features, but about creating subjective images.

I expected it to be a bit more advanced and innovative. Well, over 10 years (copy right 2001) appears to be a lot not only in technology but in methods and creativity as well. Anyway, still worth reading - can teach you a bit

One of the very few books that tackles the topic of impressionistic photography.

I ordered a new current edition . the book I received was vert old and was obviously bought at a library sale for about one dollar. The price was the same as that of a brand new current edition.