Basics Creative Photography 03: Behind the Image

Reviews / Votes

Caruana and Fox have written an important and timely book. Broad in scope, with focused examples, this is an effective and engaging introduction to the convergences of practice and theory; spontaneity and systematic enquiry; critical engagement and creative exploration that research in photography involves. * Fergus Heron, Artist and Senior Lecturer in Photography, University of Brighton, UK * The book is an excellent way to teach students about the process of research in the creative field. * Elisabeth Strunk Effron, The Art Institute of Raleigh Durham, US * [Behind the Image] explains both the importance and how-to aspect of research - read this before you start your next project! * Arts Thread blog, March 2012 * Very useful for BA level students who need to learn how to develop a practice-based research in art and photography. * Paula Roush, London South Bank University, UK * At the end of each chapter is an activity page where the reader is given an assignment. Good fun and a great exercise for students, and perhaps even professional practitioners to help them sharpen their skills! Following the steps outlined will help many visual artists nurture the seed of an idea because the theme is to encourage research to frame, inform and focus the final images. This is definitely a work book for educators, students and all those practitioners involved in creating a body of work. A breath of fresh air is how I describe the intent and scope of this work book ... Knowledge is empowering; which is why a planned and methodical research into the medium and your subject material can be so powerful. If you are looking for guidance in establishing a research process for your next photographic project, then this book is for you. * Clive Waring, Silvershotz Magazine, 2012 * Discover ways to approach photographic theories and apply these practically. This title looks to help creative photographers understand, record and acknowledge research processes for more compelling imagery. It achieves this with advice more than strict instruction, offered over six chapters and managed through sub-headed sections. Real-world projects underline the value of this guidance, which includes a host of topics such as interactive forms of research, benefits of blogging, working with your own studio space, digital postproduction and so on. However, at 160 pages and considering how some details are explored concisely, this book becomes more a suitable companion for students and aspiring professionals, than a comprehensive resource for pros. The book provides condensed coverage of a variety of tools both new and old, ensuring readers of all abilities are catered for. Verdict: 7/10. Some sections are skimmed over, but most provide invaluable motivational sound bites that budding creatives will benefit from. * Advanced Photoshop magazine, March 2012 * The book follows a logical progression and while thorough is an enjoyable and accessible read. The chapters are bite sized and this allows you also to dip in and out of the book when you have a moment. It is not necessary to follow the book in a linear fashion as you can also dip into chapters as necessary. To summarise - this is a very useful and engaging book and one I wish I had had at undergraduate level. It can be followed in a linear fashion or you can dip into clearly identified sections as needs be. Great - I like it! -- Daniel Lee, New College Stamford, UK A wonderful resource for students that captures the essential components in researching photography. * Claire Sambrook, University of Portsmouth, UK * A useful book which will help students think through the process of creative practice as a form of ongoing research and reflection, with engaging examples that can be discussed in the classroom. * Tracy Piper-Wright, University of Chester, UK *