I received approval just before leaving for Mexico, for a new book that I’ll be doing with my partner, Jed Manwaring. Tentatively titled “Photography Close to Home – Creating Great Photographs Where you Live” will be a terrific project. We’re really looking forward to completing this book and helping others see more photo opportunities where they live.
I have long advocated that there are great photographs to be made wherever you live, if you just open yourself to seeing more deeply, and to seeing beyond what the subject is to what it represents or becomes with certain light, etc. This book is out to prove that you don’t have to travel to Papua New Guinea, South America, or even New York City to make great pictures (although travel is great). To make the book more widely marketable, we’ll be using images from a radius around our home in the Bay Area, California, as well as other more distant places. What we include will be photographs that could easily be found/made in places that are ‘home’ for readers. A reflection in a boat harbor could be any boat harbor in the world.
True for this blog image, too. This water carrier could have been in just about any city in the world. It’s the play of light coming through the bottle and the shadows that drew my attention. It’s the kind of image that we’re looking to include in this new book. Watch for updates on the publishing schedule, tentatively set for Spring 2012…
On Google+ we have adopted that thought and created a daily photography theme called “MyTownTuesday” which is dedicated to discover the beauty in ones neighborhood. It’s now running for the fifth week (or so) and people really seem to like it. I am one of the curators of this theme (which means I help spread the word about it), and when I mentioned the idea to my co-curator, I had your project in mind as inspiration.
Can’t wait for the new book What a great idea! I’m always looking for new ways of seeing things as possible images. Some times I think it’s harder at home to find things to photograph because we see them every day. Your new book could be the ticket I need to open my eyes at home. Looking forward to it.
I agree, it is harder to see things around our homes to photograph because they become ‘everyday’ and we get caught up in our schedules, etc. We’re having fun doing this one – we all need a shake up to see more right where we live!
Sounds like a book I really need! I do not like the area where I live very much, so maybe this book could open my eyes (and mind)!
Oh, boy, now the pressure’s on! But we’ll try to inspire all who read the book. 🙂
Great idea, Brenda! I make a point to do a photo walk around my home town frequently. Keeps me in touch with my roots as I have lived there all my life. I’ll keep an eye out for the book. I do an annual photo assignment on my blog where I ask people to photograph their hometowns. Such a book would be a nice reference to point to.
That’s a terrific annual project, Scott – I’ve done it as a pre-tour assignment to get people prepped for the trip; there’s so many ways to inspire everyone to get out there and photograph! thanks for sharing.
Awesome news. Congratulations. Looking forward to reading it.
Thanks, Kristi!
This is great Brenda!! I really enjoyed reading your other book and look forward to the new one. I guess that many amateur photographers like me look forward to go to some cool place to take great photos, without considering that there could be many opportunities of taking a “winner” photo at the end of the street. I have to say that I like to travel but can’t wait to take good photos once a year!! Please keep us posted.
Yes, I agree Simone. I love to travel but why wait? Exactly our point – to be making, creating, artistic images all the times, right where you are. 🙂
Looking forward to the new book. There are lots of us that are trying to make the most of ‘home’ and so anything that can help stimulate ideas for how to see the ordinary in extraordinary ways will be great.
Thanks, Andy. That’s our purpose in doing this book.