The Soul of the Camera: The Photographer's Place in Picture-Making

David’s latest book is a manifesto. It is a return to craft, a call to wonder and a rallying cry to change ourselves and the world through our photography. The Soul of the Camera is duChemin at his best. He begs us to stop listening to the dopamine dealers who have built their empires on our backs by pushing techniques, plugins, golden rules and the latest shiny new thing. David urges us to look deeper and to ask the questions that truly matter. I won’t lie. It is painful. This book asks, cajoles and even pleads with us to explore our inner truth - to develop something worth saying and then to toil and burn in the creative fires for no other purpose than to touch ourselves and perhaps another with what we see or feel or fathom. It is inspiring. David urges us to confront what makes us tick - our vision, our intent, and to worry less about sharpness and settings and far more about manifesting who we are into the work we produce. This books is the single, clearest call to the path of craft and meaning that I have ever read. But craft as defined as self-awareness and even soul-making. It is beautiful. The photos in this book are whimsical, challenging, deeply human and introspective. David ponies up. He walks the talk. He shoots what he sees. He shares images that made me laugh, cry and contemplate my humanity. It is relentless. This book punches, dodges, rallies, supports, urges and shouts. David will nibble at the edges of our fears and insecurities even as he is readying a haymaker blow. I had the pleasure of traveling thousands of miles to walk with David on cobbled stones and to raise many a glass of prosecco with him. David never held back. He pushed me to dig deeper and to let go of my fanciful notions of “professional” and “photographer.” He wanted to know what I believed, what interested me and why. But his greatest gift was to believe in myself again - to be able and willing to yearn for personal meaning in my work. This book is your chance to hang with David and to find a mentor who yearns for you to find YOUR joy and to develop and expose your soul in your work. No matter what you may fear or believe, you are worth it. And this book will help you find your way.

I have seen and heard David speak about photography online, on and off for a few years. I am impressed by his calm and collected approach and attitude toward the subject of creating (photographic) art. He approaches the subject from many angles, never proclaiming one idea, method, position to be superior or right compared to others. This is the sign of a mature mind ( and I didn't mean that in the derogatory sense ). So, this is my first purchase of any of his items, and I will say, I am impressed. He writes with both knowledge and passion and there is a lot to read, and just enough to look at. Each chapter is thought provoking if you let it be. Now that I have spent a few years mastering the craft of photography, it is clear to me that what is missing most of the time is my soul. This is a passion that is not to be entered into without a willingness to devote some time to thinking about what you want to portray, and put some energy into the elements necessary to create story, an image with a soul. Finally, on the book itself. David speaks eloquently about the images with his words, but there are in fact two other senses that only a printed book can deliver upon, and the Soul of the Camera delivers on those other senses very nicely. No iPad, no Kindle, no Instagram, 500px or whatever can deliver the two other sensory inputs the way a printed book can. First is touch. The feel of the paper, the weight, the smoothness and the texture of the ink upon the paper. Next is smell. A new printed book smells of the ink and the toil of the lithographer. This book smells and feels just as good as it looks and provides equal parts sensory input and cerebral stimulation. If you care about photography and the art of delivering a work of art to your ______ ( client, friend, family, wife, daughter, son, ... ) then you owe it to them to read this book, and to yourself to touch and smell it!

I just finished reading David DuChemin's new book, The Soul of the Camera. Let me just simply say that this book is a "must read" for any photographer looking to add meaning to their photography. There are a ton of places to go to be inspired but there are few credible authors and books like this to add to your work's meaning. First of all, it's not a book to advance your technical skills around the operation of your camera. David's keen insight and resulting inspiration in this book is totally directed towards you, the photographer. David's book will put some perspective into the reasons why you're making an image as as you strive to communicate the heart and soul in your photographs. In some ways, David's book title is a bit of a misnomer. David's clear message is that the soul of our photography is not to be found by the type or brand of camera we shoot with. The camera is fundamental no matter how simple or technologically advanced it may be. Every camera delivers a measure of light through a lens to a sensor that then records and preserves the light's impact. Rather the soul of an image comes from what we give of ourselves in the process of making a picture. The camera itself is a tool, it has no soul, but in the right hands and with the right mindset through its user has the potential to deliver images that that hold the potential to truly stir the emotions of a viewer. As I read the book and walked with David through his brilliant insight around creativity, I couldn't help but acknowledge the logic he was building as he described his insights into being creative. Like many great teachers, David captures what we fundamentally think we know already into a framework that complements and ties together key concepts that can be carried with us as we go forward on our individual journeys to improve with our photography. There were many moments where I just nodded my head in agreement as I was reading his short, easy to follow chapter essays. I'm sure I even mumbled some acknowledgements as I was drawn into the book. As I read the book an inner voice within me consistently sought to know the magic answer to becoming more creative. In truth, nobody can prescribe how to be creative. There are considerations but as David rightfully asserts, creativity comes from your soul. Throughout the book, at the end of each essay, David shares a few of his images. I looked at those amazing black and white pictures at the end of each chapter from his travels around the world as the dessert after a satisfying meal. The photographs exemplify his message delivered through the principles he so generously shares throughout his book. They added inspiration to put his thoughts to work in my own photography. I highly recommend this book to any photographer seeking to find the meaning in their work.

Very well written and insightful. Although he states that he is not a great photographer I think he is too humble. The photos in the book are beautiful! I could have gone without the few times he swore or quoted with a swear word. I don't think that is professional but otherwise it it is well worth the read and I intend to read it again! I gave him four stars only because of the swearing.

David's books and videos have been liberating me ever since I returned to photography ala the digital age, 5 years ago, from a distant past period with 35mm film. I wish he had been around for me back then!! This book invites us into the deeper waters of being or becoming an artist, of exploring from a number of vantage points the most important part of the photographic experience, our souls. Be prepared for a very different experience from the number of books, videos etc. that talk about gear and techniques...this for me was a luxurious oasis where I sat with his book and simply soaked in my own soul. I may add to this review when I read the book for the second time, this time a little more slowly and reflectively...but I would absolutely recommend this book to any photographer or artist out there who is interested in a thought provoking, challenging and yet gently liberating perspective on the part of us that so longs to express what is inside. Thank you David for doing the work of writing this but more the inner work of your soul!

A huge thank you to David for writing “Soul of the Camera”! After reading his book I was inspired, comforted, challenged and left wanting more for my photography journey. Every chapter opened my eyes to something I hadn’t considered or gave me a new perspective. A few of my favorite take-aways are: -studying other photographers (I’ve been procrastinating doing this, not sure why) -having an open mind, letting go of my expectations -patience, a big one for me (just ask my family!!) -storytelling; I’ve never considered all of these aspects together and enjoyed his explanations and examples -impose constraints; again something I’ve never considered but look forward to trying -stop editing my ideas -using sketch images While I loved the entire book, one of my favorite paragraphs is on page 269 where he talks about telling the visual story and connecting to others. “Pictures that quicken hearts, spark imaginations, recall memories, fuel wonder, change minds, or cause us to act. Pictures that resonate the way a stone echoes when thrown down a well. Because your images have depth. Because they have soul.” I’ve got a copy of these words on my office wall to remind me that this is what I want for my photography. Again, thank you for providing the perfect book for me to read at this point in my photography journey.

I never went to any photo school, so I was trying to learn about how to take photos better from the books and courses. I read many books hoping to find answers to my questions. I was looking for a book that would explain to me how to grow and get better and how to combine art, vision and photography together. Many books were about this or that aspect and not many were able to capture my attention as this one. I needed to hear that photography is hard, that I have permission to make mistakes and that I can learn from them a lot. I wanted to hear about creative struggles and inner fight that comes along the learning process. I have many pages of notes from the book which will accompany me on my photographic journey. I’m glad that now there is a book out there that speaks to those who in photography see more than just a past time activity. To those in search of a way to use the eye, heart and the soul in order to create something unique, meaningful, something that speaks and feeds the souls of others. I truly wish there will be more books that go deep and provide answers to the hungry photographic souls.

The Soul of the Camera has to be David DuChemin's Magnus Opus. Most photography books are about telling you how to do things but while acknowledging the importance of mastering the craft, The Soulf of the Photographer is about the why we create images. It is about how we infuse our humanity, our uniqueness into our work. The Soul of the Camera is an honest look at a subject not many people write about. It feels like I am siting around a dining table in a small village in Italy, enjoying some wine and prosciutto and just contemplating what it means to be a photographer. The type of conversation that makes for a richer and deeper life. The Soul of a Camera, far from telling you how to do things, it is a honest conversation that makes you look deep inside for the reason we press that shutter. This is a must read book for any photographer who wants their images to mean something, to go deeper.

There are many 5* reviews on Amazon.com which reflect the great qualities this book possesses - and explain them in considerable depth - so my review will be brief. The monochrome images are quite terrific - as good as travel/documentary images get. Wonderful mastery of light, 'the moment' and composition. I've been fortunate to photograph in many of the locations featured and, for me, the book is worth having for the images alone. I do hope that in time David DuChemin will produce a volume primarily dedicated to a collection of his images. Nevertheless, it has to be said that the vast majority of amateur photographers will not readily identify with these rarified contexts and his associated, humanitarian story-telling ethos and at least some connection/commentary between the text and images would perhaps have been valuable. The text works for those of us with a philosophical leaning and enough relevant experience to look back and reflect - the book asks big and deep questions and reflects on them - it's full of wisdom, idealism, passion and is elegantly written. It's true that he has returned to his main themes in all of his books - in fairness from different angles and with different emphasis - but I've very much enjoyed his musings - and style - not least because they have expressed so well ideas and values I strongly associate with. Regrettably, the vast majority of enthusiastic amateur photographers I know would simply not 'get it' - would simply not recognise the relevance of the questions - and this is perhaps primarily because most of these enthusiasts are operating in a much more limiting context - time, opportunity, horizons, local photographic (often single-image competion) culture, from which it is difficult to escape. I greatly admire the authors values, views and reflections. His work is not for mass-consumption but no-body does what he does, so well.

David du Chemin hat schon einige Bücher zum Thema Fotografie veröffentlicht, aber ich halte dieses hier für mit Abstand das beste. Er stellt den Fotografen in den Mittelpunkt und schafft es auf eine so direkte aber gleichzeitig angenehm leichte Weise mit ihm zum Kern des kreativen Prozesses zu kommen, wie ich es woanders noch nicht erlebt habe. Er bleibt dabei immer auf Augenhöhe, menschlich, verständlich, humorvoll, aber auch sehr klar, ohne Schnörkel. Ein sehr lesenswertes Buch für all diejenigen, denen es bei Fotografie um mehr geht als die Bedienung ihrer Kamera und die in David einen Lotsen finden, der weiß wovon er redet, der dabei nie überheblich wird und bei dem man merkt, dass er gerne sein Wissen weitergibt.

This book inspires the courage to find one's voice and to share the essence of oneself in making photographic art. This book is my first introduction to David duChemin as an author and photographer - I will be looking to read more of his work as I quite enjoy his philosophical approach.

The same old platitudes and time-worn advice, peppered with truly mediocre photography. Nothing new here, don’t waste your time, just go out and find your own way.

I am usually inspired and motivated by David duChemin's books, and this book is of the expected high standard.