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Title |
Landscapes, interiors and some nudes |
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Author |
Todd Hido |
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Editions |
Aperture |
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Year |
2014 |
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Format |
19 x 25 cm |
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|
Pages |
128 |
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Price |
25.90 EUR |
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Cover |
 Plastic colors |
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ISBN |
101597112976 |
This review is based on the Italian edition of the book, which is substantially just a translation of the content.
A book full of pictures, decidedly preponderant than the text, which is part of a necklace designed by Aperture Foundation whose purpose is to reproduce in a volume the main elements of workshops held by the big names of photography and focused on the creative aspect of the process photographer; the series is published in Italy by Postcart and worldwide in english language by Aperture and this volume is currently the third in the series.
In this book, Todd Hido, known to many for his “collaboration” with writer Raymon Carver, explores the three themes of the title object through instructional path made of numerous pictures interspersed its considerations on the creative process of the individual images and even and complete works series; the starting point is always his personal experience from which Hido extracts the recommendations and points that may be considered essential and universal for any photographer interested in improving awareness of own Visual path. The photographs are always relevant proposals and text explanatory (seems unnecessary to say this, but this is not always the case) and serve as a true medium for exploration and study revealing themselves as the real core of the book; in fact, this volume is also valid for deepening the production of Hido at least the part connected to the three themes: landscapes, interiors and nudes.
Points of great interest are those related to color management and its ability to vary the emotional perception of the image, a well illustrated tips from interior and exterior photographs (some also recognizes the type of film used) which is the lead player then in photographic practice; in the color photography field Todd Hido is a master and allows reader to understand the impact of exposure choices that can be applied, an impact that is equal or even superior to that of composition: this is a lesson that the book shows very well. Similarly, much attention is focused on the exploitation of available light, whether natural or artificial, in particular in the nude portrait photo to emphasize the composition and to establish with certainty the emotional message that photography will delay the observer.
The volume structure as a workshop is ultimately very well chosen because you can convey the message of the teacher effectively without ever tiring the reader-student with long written passages that would make everything too theoretical. From the graphic point of view, the volume is beautifully maintained and the paper used allows the photographs to make the best putting in evidence all shades (essential for the understanding of the text) without straining the eyes of those who maybe decide to devour the book in one session; this is not recommended as the way to get as much profit as possible from this book is to savour it slowly investigating over and over photos and comparing them with each other.
It is, in conclusion, a book definitely recommended to a wide audience with an eye for those who practice and wants to improve their color photograph (even and especially on film).