The Soul of the Camera: The Photographer's Place in Picture-Making Hardcover – June 14, 2017

I just finished reading David DuChemin's new book, The Soul of the Camera. Let me just simply say that this book is a "must read" for any photographer looking to add meaning to their photography. There are a ton of places to go to be inspired but there are few credible authors and books like this to add to your work's meaning.First of all, it's not a book to advance your technical skills around the operation of your camera. David's keen insight and resulting inspiration in this book is totally directed towards you, the photographer. David's book will put some perspective into the reasons why you're making an image as as you strive to communicate the heart and soul in your photographs.In some ways, David's book title is a bit of a misnomer. David's clear message is that the soul of our photography is not to be found by the type or brand of camera we shoot with. The camera is fundamental no matter how simple or technologically advanced it may be. Every camera delivers a measure of light through a lens to a sensor that then records and preserves the light's impact. Rather the soul of an image comes from what we give of ourselves in the process of making a picture. The camera itself is a tool, it has no soul, but in the right hands and with the right mindset through its user has the potential to deliver images that that hold the potential to truly stir the emotions of a viewer.As I read the book and walked with David through his brilliant insight around creativity, I couldn't help but acknowledge the logic he was building as he described his insights into being creative. Like many great teachers, David captures what we fundamentally think we know already into a framework that complements and ties together key concepts that can be carried with us as we go forward on our individual journeys to improve with our photography. There were many moments where I just nodded my head in agreement as I was reading his short, easy to follow chapter essays. I'm sure I even mumbled some acknowledgements as I was drawn into the book.As I read the book an inner voice within me consistently sought to know the magic answer to becoming more creative. In truth, nobody can prescribe how to be creative. There are considerations but as David rightfully asserts, creativity comes from your soul.Throughout the book, at the end of each essay, David shares a few of his images. I looked at those amazing black and white pictures at the end of each chapter from his travels around the world as the dessert after a satisfying meal. The photographs exemplify his message delivered through the principles he so generously shares throughout his book. They added inspiration to put his thoughts to work in my own photography. I highly recommend this book to any photographer seeking to find the meaning in their work.

David’s latest book is a manifesto. It is a return to craft, a call to wonder and a rallying cry to change ourselves and the world through our photography.The Soul of the Camera is duChemin at his best. He begs us to stop listening to the dopamine dealers who have built their empires on our backs by pushing techniques, plugins, golden rules and the latest shiny new thing. David urges us to look deeper and to ask the questions that truly matter.I won’t lie. It is painful.This book asks, cajoles and even pleads with us to explore our inner truth - to develop something worth saying and then to toil and burn in the creative fires for no other purpose than to touch ourselves and perhaps another with what we see or feel or fathom.It is inspiring.David urges us to confront what makes us tick - our vision, our intent, and to worry less about sharpness and settings and far more about manifesting who we are into the work we produce. This books is the single, clearest call to the path of craft and meaning that I have ever read. But craft as defined as self-awareness and even soul-making.It is beautiful.The photos in this book are whimsical, challenging, deeply human and introspective. David ponies up. He walks the talk. He shoots what he sees. He shares images that made me laugh, cry and contemplate my humanity.It is relentless.This book punches, dodges, rallies, supports, urges and shouts. David will nibble at the edges of our fears and insecurities even as he is readying a haymaker blow.I had the pleasure of traveling thousands of miles to walk with David on cobbled stones and to raise many a glass of prosecco with him. David never held back. He pushed me to dig deeper and to let go of my fanciful notions of “professional” and “photographer.” He wanted to know what I believed, what interested me and why.But his greatest gift was to believe in myself again - to be able and willing to yearn for personal meaning in my work.This book is your chance to hang with David and to find a mentor who yearns for you to find YOUR joy and to develop and expose your soul in your work. No matter what you may fear or believe, you are worth it. And this book will help you find your way.