by : David Noton
Editorial Reviews
Product Description
Waiting for the Light is a breathtaking visual celebration of David Noton's work to date as one of the world's finest landscape photographers. A long-awaited exploration of David's images, this book showcases the very best from his extensive global portfolio, with photographs from every continent. Accompanying text places an emphasis on his use of light, and his ability to capture the essence of a place through outstanding landscape photography. David offers amateurs and professionals inspirational and practical advice on how to achieve this in their own work. The book also includes an invaluable chapter exploring the incorporation digital techniques. Beautifully displayed images combined with explanatory captions and practical, revealing text, make this an indespensable must-have for any photographer.
About the Author
David Noton is one of the world’s most renowned landscape photographers, and runs his own highly successful freelance photography company. For many years he has worked for the UK’s National Trust on countless commissions and he co-authored the NT publication Coast. For the last few years David has written a regular column for Practical Photography.
Product Details
* Paperback: 160 pages
* Publisher: David & Charles; 3rd Revised edition edition (March 14, 2008)
* Language: English
* ISBN-10: 0715328190
* ISBN-13: 978-0715328194
* Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 9.4 x 0.5 inches
Customer Reviews
4.0 / 5 stars Great Pictures Need Book Design Help, April 17, 2008
By Conrad J. Obregon (New York, NY USA)
I'm mellowing. It used to be that any time I saw a photographer's portfolio disguised as an instruction manual to appeal to a larger audience, I would call foul. But lately, I've begun to believe that any opportunity for a good photographer to get his work in print deserves an appraisal of his work, regardless of the box that his publisher has forced the work into.
Actually this wasn't a hard position to take with "Waiting for the Light." The claims for instruction are minimal, and the photographs are so good that the book deserves examination strictly as a portfolio of Noton's work. The photographer's forte is the panoramic landscape image, shot with a 617 camera that creates the 6:17 ratio. The individual pictures are glorious with an extreme range of light that made me wonder if these pictures hadn't been processed with High Dynamic Range in Photoshop, but Noton claims that they are the result of waiting for just the right light for the scene he visualized, even if it might mean waiting for a week for just that light (although he does acknowledge some manipulation in Photoshop). There is nothing else in the text about how he got that look, other then to occasionally use a neutral density filter to stretch out the shutter speed to minutes, or sometimes add a split neutral density filter. Perhaps it is the changing light over an eight minute exposure that creates the glow. Certainly, it would be worth trying these long exposures to see if that would yield such striking images.
The book also includes a fair share of 35mm exposures of people, city streets and the like which are also quite striking, but in an age where we are regularly exposed to images from the most remote parts of the world, these do not have the impact of the light in the panoramas.
Unfortunately the pictures are presented on almost square pages of 24 by 26 centimeters. If ever a set of pictures called for a higher ratio shaped page, these demanded it. I wanted to see the pictures larger, without two on a page, or so much space above and below a panorama. And I was certainly disappointed to see a panorama stretched across a centerfold.
Good pictures do not necessarily make a good book, and here I objected to the rhetoric of the presentation, that is, the way that the order and juxtaposition of images adds to our understanding of what is being presented. Here the pictures were presented in an order that seemed to evolve / an organization based on instruction that added nothing to our understanding rather then a synergistic presentation. Perhaps it would be useful for the publisher's design staff to study the books of Jack Dykinga or Art Wolfe.
When it comes to instruction, one theme resounds throughout the book. Wait for the light! There are a lot of other tips sprinkled throughout the book, but not in any fashion that would allow photographers to organize them into a coherent approach to capturing images. Still, there probably is an instructional benefit from studying Noton's photographs carefully and analyzing what makes them so good. There is a final mandatory chapter on mechanics, but it mostly discusses Noton's transition from film to digital and that's a ship which has long since sailed. I almost cried when the author said that Levels and Curves are important to control light but were beyond the remit of this book.
Where does that leave one? Noton's pictures are eye-stoppers that you shouldn't miss. But you shouldn't expect too much of the presentation.
5.0 / 5 stars A really enjoyable book, May 29, 2009
By John Lloyd (Switzerland)
A really enjoyable book on a number of different levels and fully merits the high ratings others have given:
Images are great and the book would be a good one if there was nothing more than this: the pictures are nicely printed and of a reasonable size (not the case in many books), the glossy paper helps.
Very good insight into the thinking behind how David Noton creates his images without going into lots of technical detail. He has an easygoing accessible style and a sense of humor.
Gives you a good view of what life as a photographer might be like (involves a lot of dedication and hard work).
Can be read straight through or almost as a series of articles: It's a nice mix that includes photo essays and journals- Good value as it is only the price of a few magazines. I'm thinking about buying the DVD and landscapes are not my specialty!
5.0 / 5 | stars Best of Genre, May 27, 2009
By Bill Ward "btwphoto" (Sedona, AZ)
While research photography books, I found this masterpiece. It isn't an instructional, how to book. It is an incredibly inspirational book full of beauty and exquisite images. This is a book that seasoned professionals can appreciate, admire and hold up as bench mark especially for judging landscape photography. There is enough relative information to make the book more interesting, but there is no need for words when the pictures eloquently example the unspeakable beauty of nature.
source : amazon.com
Practical Photography Magazine - Spring 2008
If you are interested in nature and landscape photography, this is as good as it gets and then some. Prepare to be inspired and awe struck.
"David Noton is Practical Photography's longest running columnist and, in our humble opinion, one of the best landscapers in the world. Waiting for the Light is the final part of his celebratory trilogy - first came the DVD (see Stuff of the Month), then the exhibition, and now here's the book. If you're a fan of his columns, you'll absolutely love this collection of the Dorset-based photographer's best work from around the world. Noton's inimitably dry wit shines through is his photo essays, captions and diary entries, and whether you're a landscaper or a travel photographer at heart, David's work is never less than exemplary. Highly recommended. Rating 5 Star."
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A great deal has been said about this first book by the world renowned landscape photographer David Noton. All of it is complementary. All of it is accurate.
If you only beg, steal, borrow or buy one book on photography this year - make it this one. There are thousands of books which tell you what to do when faced with your chosen subject. David's book explains what most of the other books miss out - how to find the subject and then show it in it's best light. Read it, re-read it, then do so again - when you've done that, study his DVD "Chasing the Light".Landscape Photography Books
David - Please don't make this your last book.Lands
source : http://www.better-photographs.com
