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SAFARI - A Monograph cover spread
SAFARI - A Monograph, inside page spread
SAFARI - A Monograph, inside page spread
SAFARI - A Monograph, inside page spread
SAFARI - A Monograph, inside page spread

SAFARI, A Monograph

The Print & The Process Series

David duChemin

An honest discussion about the issues connected to the creation of duChemin’s SAFARI monograph, including the gear used, the techniques employed, and the lessons learned. David duChemin unpacks the images from a 10-day safari in Kenya, first letting the images speak for themselves then diving deep into the process behind the photographs.

This eBook offers an honest discussion about the issues connected to the creation of duChemin’s SAFARI monograph, including the gear used, the techniques employed, and the lessons learned. It’s a 62-page PDF eBook that will provide you with inspiration amidst the details of the Why and the How. This is not so much about how to photograph your first safari, though you’ll learn that too; it’s a look at the lessons learned, and re-learned, by a photographer who is now 25 years into his craft. Also included are the Adobe Lightroom settings used for Serengeti Chocolate, the duo-tone look in which much of his SAFARI monograph has been styled, and a downloadable Lightroom Preset.

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Reviews and Comments
  1. This eBook is great – the images are large enough to fully appreciate them, unlike in many other books.

    I really like the section at the end showing the settings used to take the photo too. Because it is at the end of the book it means the info is accessible, but doesn’t detract from the full sized photos in the rest of the eBook.

  2. “Safari – a monograph” is a second e-book in The Print and The Process series from Craft and Vision, also the second authored by David duChemin. Within 62 pages of this e-book you can find as many as 36 great photographs from his trip to Kenya. The book organization, introduced already in the first monograph, enables to enjoy the photographs first, before we learn more about the story behind, and all the technical and post-processing details.
    The e-book is not just about the photographs. After all, David DuChemin enjoys teaching his photographic philosophy and does it well. The worth taking lesson from the monograph is that for a skilled vision monger the subject doesn’t matter that much. Author is not a wild-life or landscape photographer, but he still finds a way to photograph his surroundings in an engaging way. It is also a lesson on patience, on taking your time and looking around, on slowing down instead of thoughtless snapping pictures.
    You can also find some great great tips for a safari type of photo outing.
    (This is just a fragment of the review I wrote on my blog. You can read it here: http://tinyurl.com/safarimonograph)

  3. Part of my pleasure in reading this book is that I agree and actually already implement some of the advice provided in the book. The one that really hit home was the idea that if you have a bad day when reviewing your images for a days shooting to not let it affect your next day. It is so important to review your day of shooting before heading out the next day so that you can learn from your mistakes. Often it is the last thing we want to do after a long day on a photo shoot, but just a few minutes review can bring tremendous dividends the next day.

    I am really taking a liking to the Monograph approach because of the way it focuses on the images first and then deals with the background. It then focuses on specifics of each photograph, almost as if David duChemin is discussing those details with me personally.

    David also includes the Adobe Lightroom settings used for Serengeti Chocolate, the duo-tone look in which much of his SAFARI monograph has been styled, and a downloadable Lightroom Preset.

  4. The photos alone make this book worth far more than the asking price, but to add the process information so aspiring photographers can learn more from the images is remarkable. Beyond that, to have added a link for Serengeti Chocolate was generous beyond the pale. I’ve been playing with it on a series I did for the local zoo – really cool stuff. Thank you David.

  5. First, I would like to comment on the format of the Print & Process ebooks. I think that it is great to see the images first without any text as it forces you to have a deeper look and make some assumptions, which can be later on compared against explanatory text at the end of the book. I must admit that I have mixed feelings about the photos. Only half of them are good in my eyes and I share an opinion expressed above that they lack of variety (same subject / location, etc.). However, having read the text content it all makes sense. These are not ready-to-present photos that we are used to see in photo collections. They merely serve a point to show the process and how you can can approach a trip. At least that is my impression. The real value of this ebook is in writing. I believe that the more conscious our approach to shooting, the better our results. This book allows us to have a glimpse at David’s way of thinking and consequently gives us a chance to apply it to our own work. Great value for money – that is for sure.

  6. “Safari” was not the first eBook I bought from Craft & Vision, and since I loved all the other ones, I had no doubt about buying this one. And I was not dissapointed.
    The most valuable element of “Safari – Print and Process”, which you can rarely find elsewhere, is the honest and open description of photo-creating process that David went through when taking all of these pictures. What was he thinking when going for safari, what was he looking for at this specific day/moment, how did he use the opportunity when it presented itself or how has he helped it to come around and finally – what changes or edit has he applied in post-edit process (and more imporantly – why these specific changes).
    Sure there’s description of gear used for every photo, but to me that’s not the important part at all. I’m not using Canon and don’t have access to kind of lenses David uses. Who cares? I will work my own settings in the light that I find and on the gear I have on me at that moment. The important part is I can take a peek into David’s mind when he was preparing and taking the photo. This is quickly and easily applicaple to me taking photos and yes, I think it has much improved my skills as a photographer.
    And that’s I think the value that you can get through a $500 workshop or by buying a $5 eBook. The choice is clear, really…

  7. duChemin has a great balance between letting us know about the gear and technical details and then reminding us that those aren’t really what matters. We all dream of going on safari, but the ultimate lesson of the eBook is that you need the same respect for your subject whether it’s in your yard or in the bush (someone else’s “backyard”).

  8. I’ve been at this “photography” thing since the old film days, and these ebooks have reignited my enthusiasm and desire to improve my photography in not only the technical aspects, but also in the compositional and story/vision aspects. The ebooks are not only glorious to look at, they also have more information than i can soak up in one sitting, and i find myself going back again and again to the wisdom found within.

  9. Great e-book, I really like the duo-tone look of the safari images, it’s certainly different than your usual safari image.
    I found this book inspiring and insightful and even though I doubt I would go on safari I really enjoyed it.

  10. I skipped eating out for lunch today so I could buy this book. The core lesson I took from this book was “An interesting photograph is not the same thing as a photograph of an interesting thing”.

    Thanks for the great read, and I’m looking forward to picking up your other books.

  11. Love the look of the new site. I’m currently reading “Within the Frame” and I have The inspired eye 1 and 2. Definitely worth the 5 bucks a piece if not more. Would eventually like to purchase all of them.

  12. I recently purchased “Below the Horizon” and it has been very helpful. It is full of information and user friendly advice.

  13. Great new site! I enjoyed a lot reading these ebooks, specially on the road, easy to carry and a good reference when you are in front of a white frame…
    Good source of inspirations!!!

  14. I’ve bought all ebooks available from Craft & Vision. Love the style where David focusses more on the “why” of a photograph rather than the technical details. Safari , as with other books of David has been enlightening – love the Lightroom preset ;-)

  15. The new site looks beautiful. So easy to navigate and seems to balance well with the types of ebooks you offer. I’m looking forward to the new things you guys will publish!

  16. Great new site David. I own Ten and Ten More and enjoyed and still enjoy both. They offer a great foundation to aid in honing your vision as a photographer.

  17. I LOVE the inspired eye I & II. There are many books on the technical aspects of photography, but a book on creativity and inspiration is a rare thing. Couple that with David’s simple, clear, exciting and humorous approach – with amazing accompanying photographs and it becomes an absolute Diamond. I continue to look back on these books at times when the muse is evading me. An essential two part series for any creative photographer.

  18. The second ebook in the he Print & The Process Series. I actually think this is one sequel that is better than the original. The photos are absolutely stunning and the quick insights into each are highly valuable.

  19. I really enjoy David’s Monographs as they showcase his work in a plain and simple way that lets the photos speak for themselves, and then he goes through each photo and gives insight to the features of each photo that make them special to him. Whether it is design, technical details, or “vision”, David has a gift in conveying his message with both photographs and words.

  20. “Safari” is my first and so far only eBook from Craft & Vision. I bought it based on the argument that it is less than the cost of a decent cigar (sorry, I’m not going with the Frappuccino comparison ;-)).

    It’s not a “book” in the sense that you can spend an entire weekend reading it curled up on your couch – I don’t think it’s supposed to be either. It’s a nice, quick and informative read about how the pictures in the book came into existence.

    The first section is like a coffee table book, just beautiful big pictures filling the entire page. Second section is some background and general information, and the final section consists of a few sentences for each picture from the first section, explaining some background for each picture from the first section.

    All in all, a lot of information for little money. I definitely got useful information for the way I approach my future shoots out of this book.

    If somebody would twist my arm to say something negative (hey David, you asked for it ;-)), it would be following:
    I wish David would have chosen pictures from a bigger number of locations. For example: There are seven pictures from a morning before a balloon ride. I felt that I could have learned more if there would have been pictures from two or three locations instead of just the balloon session.

    But again, that’s being picky – I enjoy the book and would certainly purchase it again. Will probably buy some more C&V books and read them while sitting on my porch with a good cigar…

  21. The Print & The Process Series:

    I really enjoyed these books. They’re not a technical guide on how to shoot Travel or Safari photographs. There are plenty of tips in there, but in my opinion that’s not the primary focus. They’re more a documentation of the creative process of the author, from conception of the project through to the final (beautiful) prints. In between there are lessons learned and the reasoning behind creative decisions discussed.

    The layout of the books, after the Premise, begins with a full-page view of each of the prints. Then the Process of creating the series of prints is detailed… The reason for the project (Why), the methods of creating the images (How) and the challenges encountered along the way. Finally, some notes and technical data on each of the prints are provided, which are very helpful.

    I’ve found, as I’ve become more and more engrossed in photography, that going out to shoot with an intention in mind, such as a specific project or even a certain subject (‘reflections’, for example), yields far better results than just wandering about with a camera in my hand. It gives purpose, a goal and a great sense of achievement on the occasions when I capture the image I set out to create, however rare those occasions may be. These books document the authors intentions and follows them through to completion.

    Highly Recommended!

  22. Having gone on a 4 month trip through Southern and East Africa earlier this year i could definitely relate to the experiences and lessons presented in this ebook. Especially in regards to how we view the African populace in relation to poverty. I couldn’t have explained it better. This also made me think more about the images i captured, and how stopping to think about what you want to get across in an image generally results in a photograph with more depth, and that you are ultimately more proud of.

  23. I’ve only just started reading “Safari, A Monograph” and I’m already impressed. Another home run for David! I appreciate the transparency into what David felt and what challenges he had on this trip. I am encouraged, motivated, and thankful to receive all that for such a small cost.

  24. Love the new site, first of all!

    I have all the ebooks… and they are informative and challenging. They make me want to be more artful in my photography. As well, they are beautifully laid out. I am looking forward to seeing future ebooks as published.

  25. I love all of David’s ebooks, but Safari is my favorite. The images are breathtaking, of course, and his short explanation of his thought process and settings for each one is very helpful. But the middle section is the most important for me, where David encourages us to go beyond our expectations, to experience and then photograph what is really there before (and behind) us. David DuChemin has a remarkable combination of skills, as a photographer, a writer, and a teacher. I look forward to future ebooks and, someday, to going on Safari.

  26. I have just returned to canada after several years of traveling and photographing people and places around the world and my biggest regret is that I got to read David’s books after my trip. My photographs and my experiences abroad would have been richer if I got my hands on hi wisdom earlier. But hey, now I know what to bring as reading material for my next trip.

  27. The Print and Process series are my favorite photography ebooks on the market, both inspirational and informative these are a must read.

  28. I have almost all the books. I think my favorites are ones like Vision is better, drawing the eve and also the black and white. As a person with ‘terminal curiosity, it is always interesting to follow someones analysis of why they did something a certain way. This last book, Safari is excellent at the explanation of why/how the image evolved. It is especially interesting because I was there in the same places at the same times! Did I get images like that? No – not even close but i learned from being there, watching David in action and now reading this. I buy lattes and for the same price I buy these books – and then I can visit and revisit = something different every time so thanks David and to your team
    maureen

  29. Ten and Ten More not only offer great tips but provide practical and challenging exercises that build your vision and creative skills. These books are practical and useful…not just more words

  30. I heard about your work from Scott Kelby. I purchased your book and since then have purchased all of your ebooks. (Now to read all of them).
    I have been taking photographs for 35 years, but never had a vision.
    While reading your books, I can look at your photos and then read about your photos and find items I didn’t notice in the photo.
    It’s going to be are REAL Learning Experience for me.
    Thanks for sharing your work and vision.
    I hope to improve hundreds fold, Ken.

  31. I have almost everyone of your ebooks.I am often overwhelmed by your commitment to everyone’s photographic journey and the amount you get accomplished both the writing,traveling and photographing and always keeping you sense of humor too. I wonder do you ever sleep. I too am consumed by photography or entwined .I am looking for the grace notes – the sense of wonder in our world. Capturing and interpreting our world photographically,I also travel to far off places to immerse myself in tribal cultures and their rituals and how they live and connect with eachother and the world.Your comments,these books on craft and vision are truly inspirational and at 5$ easy to purchase and learn from.As an artist I often work alone and I truly enjoy the creative interplay. Keep up the great work and thanks to you and the team.

  32. As usual David provides us, not only an entertaining read, but also an insight to the way he shoots. The way he approaches a scene and how he thinks about a frame is valuable information for us whom shoot in unfamiliar territory.

  33. In this eBook, David presents his beautiful photographs followed by a great discussion about the joys and the difficulties about photographing during a safari in Africa. David also provides insightful ideas and thoughts about how you can nurture your vision on a safari.

    Great writing by David duChemin.

    Highly recommended.

  34. I got the “SAFARI, A Monograph – The Print & The Process Series” on PDF. I put it on my iPad and it looks great. I’ve been reading a bit of it everyday and examining a different image each night before I go to bed.

    There are a ton of great images and insights from this book as David explains the thought process and experiences that went with creating each of the images. This has really helped me start a conversation in my head and really think about the images I am taking while I am taking it. I believe it has helped me improve my own work.

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