Behind the Camera: Creative Techniques of 100 Great Photographers

by Paul Lowe

Both a how-to book and an overview of photography’s great practitioners, this fascinating and informative profile of the world’s best photographers reveals the techniques, strategies, and creative visions that are embodied in their oeuvre and inform the work of photographers everywhere. This book takes a penetrating look at the artistry of 100 master photographers to see exactly how they create impactful, timeless images. Divided into 10 thematic sections such as "Places," "Faces," "Stories," "Ideas," and "Moments," each chapter focuses on several photographers who excelled in these areas. These photographers are presented in beautifully designed spreads that combine their most celebrated images with a biographical sketch, excerpts from interviews, in-depth analysis of the chosen image, and detailed notes about their specific techniques. The selection of photographers includes Julia Margaret Cameron, Joel Meyerowitz, Walker Evans, Cindy Sherman, Nan Goldin, Weegee, Man Ray, and Robert Capa, among others. Each of these towering figures brought their own unique vision to their oeuvre and often employed unique techniques to create their works. While professional photographers will appreciate the greats, amateurs will find this book an educational resource and technical guide to creating their own distinctive body of work.

288 pages, Paperback

Published October 25, 2016

About the author

Paul Lowe was a British photographer, educator, writer and critic. He was awarded the Royal Photographic Society's Vic Odden Award in 1999.

Reviews

[Rhonda Hankins]

Fun book with brief background info on 100 "great" photographers, mention of some of the ideas in their work, and suggestions on how to incorporate their techniques into your own photography. Great way to get introduced to a wide variety of photography.

[Tabasa Ozawa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inspiring book but wish it was more diverse