THE HEART OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The Heart of the Photograph examines the processes of thinking like a photographer so you can go beyond images that are merely good to make the images that are unmistakably yours. If you liked The Soul of the Camera, this is an excellent follow-up. 

As a photographer, you undoubtedly look at an image―one you’ve either already created or are in the process of making―and ask yourself, “Is this a good photograph?” It’s an understandable question, but it’s not particularly helpful. How are you supposed to answer that? What does “good” even mean? Is it the same for everyone?

What if you were equipped to ask better, more constructive questions of your work so that you could think more intentionally and creatively? And in doing so, what if you could bring more specific action and vision to the act of creating photographs? What if asking stronger questions allowed you to establish a more effective approach to your image-making? In The Heart of the Photograph: 100 Questions for Making Stronger, More Expressive Photographs, you’ll learn to ask better questions of your work to craft more successful, strong photographs that express and connect. And above all, it will help you make photographs that are truly yours.

From the big-picture questions (“What do I want this image to accomplish?”) to the more detail-oriented questions that help you get there (“What is the light doing? Where do the lines lead? What can I do about it?”), I walk you through my personal thought process so that you can establish your own. Along the way, I discuss the building blocks from which compelling photographs are made, such as gesture, balance, scale, contrast, perspective, story, memory, symbolism, and much more. The Heart of the Photograph is not theoretical; it’s a practical and useful book that equips you to think more intentionally as a photographer. Ultimately, it empowers you to ask more helpful questions about yourself and your work so that you can produce images that are not only better than “good,” but as powerful and authentic as you hope them to be. 

Want a preview? Click here to download sample chapters.

This book is available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Rocky Nook.

 Please note that your final price is determined by your country and currency. 

"The Heart of the Photograph is a wonderful book packed with wisdom rooted in experience. David articulates some complex ideas, distilling them into clear writings and poignant questions, and prompting readers to consider what makes photography not only a means of making images, but also a means to a richer life, self-discovery, and deeper engagement with the world." ~ Guy Tal, best-selling author of More Than a Rock

"Duchemin really gets to the heart of what photography is about, and that’s not f/stops and mechanics (there are plenty of other books about those, though largely un-needed). He invites you not just to think about the reasons for shooting and how to make the image work graphically, but to question all these decisions. To be your own critic, which seems to me an essential that is usually missed." ~ Michael Freeman, best-selling author of The Photographer’s Eye

“David DuChemin’s new book, The Heart Of The Photograph, is an emotional meditation on what really matters when we make photographs. His 100 Questions For Making Stronger, More Expressive Photographs are rich food for thought and for the soul. Reading this book will give you time to pause and reflect on what matters most to you and your photography. What could be more important?” ~ John Paul Caponigro