Freeman Patterson
Photography and the Art of Seeing
Photography of Natural Things

Patterson is one of my favorite writers, probably because his education and work are much like mine. In Photography and the Art of Seeing, Patterson deals with photography as a spiritual and communicative art. For anyone who is interested in thinking about their underlying philosophy of photography, his books are useful beyond the area of nature photography. They expand on Ansel Adams's idea of visualization, extending it to thinking visually about subjects, environment, and effect. It seems to this writer that far too many photographs don't communicate anything. Even if you're just trying to record a scene in time — or perhaps especially if you're trying to record a scene in time — it is important that your photographs convey a message to others. In order to accomplish this, you need to understand the nature of shared sub-conscious ideas that we call "mythology," which enable your work to awake ideas in other viewers. Patterson will help you with this process.

By the same author, Photography of Natural Things also deals with one's approach, but it becomes more of a "how-to" manual about nature, with specifics on such topics as natural cycles (large and small), how to capture motion in water, why plants grow where they do, the behavior of animals, why he uses some of the equipment he does, and guidelines for your own choices.

Both books are, of course, handsomely illustrated. Some of the photos are great examples, others are "only" great instructional material. Patterson is especially good at showing what you can do without mounting a major expedition. You will find yourself thinking in new ways about your back yard after reading these books.

Revised 29 March 2010, original 4 December 2008