The Inspired Eye – latest ebook from David duChemin

David duChemin has just released his latest eBook, The Inspired Eye, Vol.I, Notes on Creativity for Photographers. As the title suggest this is first of a two volume set about the creative process, and as such is not at all like the last 4 eBooks that David has produced. These previous eBooks have focused primalrily on the “why” and partly on the “how” of taking compelling images David’s eBooks have always been a visual treat – strong full page images, beautifully layed out text and compelling messages focused on vision, the thought behind the images, and not just the technical know how or the gear. In fact seldom the gear! There success though is down to the clarity of the message, and the quality of the written word.

In some ways this new book is a departure for David, although the quality of the writing and the stylish layout remain. The book’s feel is radically different. Gone are the full colour dramatic images, the use of colour backgrounds and text. In their place is a quiet monochromatic look. It is a style that is perfectly suited to the subject matter, which explore the inner mind and the inspiration behind taking great photographs.

David has an incredible knack to make the reader feel a part of the wider family of photgraphers. Whatever their experience level, whatever their individual passions, whatever their frustrations, each reader suddenly understands that it is okay to feel frustrated, that others feel the same way and that whether Magnum award winning reporter or novice, they have all faced the same doubts and constantly seeks the same inspiration for creativity. As such David addresses the “elephant in the room” – the ability to look within oursleves for inspiration and that having doubts, uncertainty or making mistakes is all part of the creative process. For many photographers who think that the answer lies in better gear or more experience, this will help. The answer for some MAY lie in better gear or more experience, but this eBook gets to the heart of the matter: The idea that you have to work at your creativity, seek new sources of inspiration, incubate ideas, make mistakes. Creativity is both art and science, but one thing is for sure – it doesn’t just happen.

Its an easy yet provocative read, and at every stage the ideas are backed up with metpahor, exmaples. quotes and some of David’s compelling images.

In David’s own words:

It’s time we talked about it openly. It’s time we took a look at issues we all wrestle with – from understanding creativity and inspiration, to hearing – finally – that other photographers struggle to find and express their vision, and in that commonality find a little relief. Because if it’s normal to feel this way and to find it hard to uncover our inspiration or feel good about our efforts to express it, then we can stop wondering what’s wrong with ourselves and get on with the task at hand – the difficult, painful, beautiful, eye-opening process of seeing and photographing the world from our perspective.

And currently it is even discounted from its ridiculously low pice of $5 to $4. Just use coupon: INSPIRED20 and purchase it here

This entry was posted on Thursday, December 3rd, 2009 at 10:30 am. It is filed under Worth following and tagged with David duChemin, eBooks, Photography, Worth following. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.