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Photo Therapy Motivation and Wisdom: Discovering the Power of Pictures
Unlike Rick Sammon's 39 other best-selling and photo-rich books, Photo Therapy Motivation and Wisdom - Discovering the Power of Pictures, has no photographs between the covers. Yet, Rick feels as though it is his most important work. He trusts this book will make you think - hard - about your photography, and about how using your brain, the best photo "accessory," will help you become a better photographer. Or as stated by famed black-and-white landscape photographer Ansel Adams, "The single most important component of a camera is the twelve inches behind it."
It's not that Rick is tired of having to "lug around a camera," as Lewis Hine said, it's just that he thinks the motivational and inspirational message of this book is better expressed without showing his own pictures. Rather, in reading the 35,000-word text, he'd like you to imagine your own pictures - and potential pictures - while he is describing a situation, process, technique, feeling or emotion.
Chapters include: Emotional Intelligence for Photographers, Seeing vs. Looking, Creating Your Own Reality, It's Never Too Late to Be What You Might Have Been, Light and Color Therapy, Learning is Health, and What Does Your Photography Mean to You?
The book also includes more than 20 "missions" that you can accept in your quest to expand your photographic horizons.
This very personal book is filled with Rick's photo and life wisdom - wisdom he has gained by spending almost an entire lifetime - starting in the late 1950's with developing pictures in his parents' basement - involved in photography in many forms and fashions.
You will find many inspirational quotes in this book. One of Rick's favorites: "When you are through changing, you are through." - Bruce Barton
It's not that Rick is tired of having to "lug around a camera," as Lewis Hine said, it's just that he thinks the motivational and inspirational message of this book is better expressed without showing his own pictures. Rather, in reading the 35,000-word text, he'd like you to imagine your own pictures - and potential pictures - while he is describing a situation, process, technique, feeling or emotion.
Chapters include: Emotional Intelligence for Photographers, Seeing vs. Looking, Creating Your Own Reality, It's Never Too Late to Be What You Might Have Been, Light and Color Therapy, Learning is Health, and What Does Your Photography Mean to You?
The book also includes more than 20 "missions" that you can accept in your quest to expand your photographic horizons.
This very personal book is filled with Rick's photo and life wisdom - wisdom he has gained by spending almost an entire lifetime - starting in the late 1950's with developing pictures in his parents' basement - involved in photography in many forms and fashions.
You will find many inspirational quotes in this book. One of Rick's favorites: "When you are through changing, you are through." - Bruce Barton
- GenresPhotographyNonfiction
168 pages, Paperback
Published September 6, 2019
136 people are currently reading
56 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
November 27, 2019
Health, Photography, Emotional Work
Thank you Mr. Sammon for your adventures in the world of the counselors and therapists. This gives any hardworking client in therapy some great techniques for working through tough issues using photography. A growing interest in the field of psychology is use of photography and having clients work with pictures to tell their stories. Enjoyed this book from a counselor’s perspective, client’s perspective and photog’s perspective. Thank you. Jean Manthei, Author
Thank you Mr. Sammon for your adventures in the world of the counselors and therapists. This gives any hardworking client in therapy some great techniques for working through tough issues using photography. A growing interest in the field of psychology is use of photography and having clients work with pictures to tell their stories. Enjoyed this book from a counselor’s perspective, client’s perspective and photog’s perspective. Thank you. Jean Manthei, Author
January 9, 2022
This is a nice book to pick up and put back down, a chapter here and a chapter there. While there is nothing earth-shattering here, there are some good points that I enjoyed.
some notes:
Get outside, stay healthy, walk as much as possible. Be your own biggest fan- this is a good reminder that I don't need to shoot for any reason other than the joy of it or for anyone other than myself. I think too often we as photographers get too hung up on what other people think of us. As a hobbyist photographer, that isn't what should be important to me. Goals are good, but more importantly, enjoy the process and don't be too focused on a set goal. I liked his idea that the painter adds to his or her painting, whereas the photographer focuses (ha) on taking away what he or she doesn't wish to include in the photo. Find and shoot with photography friends, embrace the community-I'm definitely trying to focus more on this this year with my (hopefully)365 project in a small, familiar group. Getting lost in shooting and image processing can be a meditative process. "The process of making photos can transform us, even if it's only for a few minutes or hours, into a creative artist-the person we might have been. Someone who we feel is special, even if the world does not recognize our talents and creativity". And a quote from Jodi Picoult is included: " This is what I like about photographs. They're proof that once, even if just for a heartbeat, everything was perfect".
I related to his last photo taken of his dad, as I have one like that too, of my dad.
Some good reminders in this gentle book.
{library, paperback}
some notes:
Get outside, stay healthy, walk as much as possible. Be your own biggest fan- this is a good reminder that I don't need to shoot for any reason other than the joy of it or for anyone other than myself. I think too often we as photographers get too hung up on what other people think of us. As a hobbyist photographer, that isn't what should be important to me. Goals are good, but more importantly, enjoy the process and don't be too focused on a set goal. I liked his idea that the painter adds to his or her painting, whereas the photographer focuses (ha) on taking away what he or she doesn't wish to include in the photo. Find and shoot with photography friends, embrace the community-I'm definitely trying to focus more on this this year with my (hopefully)365 project in a small, familiar group. Getting lost in shooting and image processing can be a meditative process. "The process of making photos can transform us, even if it's only for a few minutes or hours, into a creative artist-the person we might have been. Someone who we feel is special, even if the world does not recognize our talents and creativity". And a quote from Jodi Picoult is included: " This is what I like about photographs. They're proof that once, even if just for a heartbeat, everything was perfect".
I related to his last photo taken of his dad, as I have one like that too, of my dad.
Some good reminders in this gentle book.
{library, paperback}
December 22, 2020
Spent less time talking about photography than expected. Filled with many irrelevant and lengthy anecdotes, pages of quotes and advice on how to live your life, including saving money, investing, eating properly and keeping fit. One whole chapter given over to his friend's musings which read as adverts for their sites, another to his 40 pieces of advice and all the quotes that he had previously put into the book earlier.
Felt like he had a concept of a book he was trying to fill and a word count he had to hit.
Felt like he had a concept of a book he was trying to fill and a word count he had to hit.
June 8, 2021
Highly recommended!
No pictures! but a ton of insight and very useful information. This isn't a how-to- book. This book delves into the why we photograph. How the art connects to the spirit, and how photography can; and often is, therapy to those who practice it.
Rick's down-to-earth writing style makes this book a fun, enjoyable read.
This is the first Rick Sammon book I've read, but it won't be the last.
No pictures! but a ton of insight and very useful information. This isn't a how-to- book. This book delves into the why we photograph. How the art connects to the spirit, and how photography can; and often is, therapy to those who practice it.
Rick's down-to-earth writing style makes this book a fun, enjoyable read.
This is the first Rick Sammon book I've read, but it won't be the last.
April 14, 2023
This is not what I expected. There are several useless chapters before getting into the book itself. Prolongs, prefaces, acknowledgments , introductions. A complete waste of money filled with platitudes on how to live the good life. Lots of long, useless anecdotes, rave reviews from participants of one of his workshops about the close friendships they made and quotes from his photographer friends.
January 10, 2025
Rick has a great way of making you look at photography from a mental perspective rather than just a physical reproduction of what you see. I thoroughly enjoyed the book of helpful hints and tips. His correlation to music really kept me interested as music is one of my favorite subjects, too! I highly recommend this book for anyone that does photography. It's especially helpful if you find yourself in a rut or struggling to give yourself direction.
January 13, 2025
A Must Read for Any Artist
Rick Samson does an amazing job of creating photographs in the readers mind, as you travel through this book. He literally has no photos in the book, by design, yet you can see images through the words he and others are using. This book has some simple applicable advice you can use in your photos and life.
Rick Samson does an amazing job of creating photographs in the readers mind, as you travel through this book. He literally has no photos in the book, by design, yet you can see images through the words he and others are using. This book has some simple applicable advice you can use in your photos and life.
September 24, 2020
Great read and tons of great advice.
You not only get to hear the perspective of one successful photographer but you get to hear from many of them throughout the entire read. This book will help to motivate you and really reflect on great photography and art.
You not only get to hear the perspective of one successful photographer but you get to hear from many of them throughout the entire read. This book will help to motivate you and really reflect on great photography and art.
October 11, 2020
It's OK
I don't get the hype in the other reviews. There is really nothing unique or earth shattering in this book. If you've ever read a book or an article on photography, then you won't find much new info here.
I don't get the hype in the other reviews. There is really nothing unique or earth shattering in this book. If you've ever read a book or an article on photography, then you won't find much new info here.
January 1, 2021
Nice. Like the Zen approach
Other than that the book is light. With motivation, practical ideas and his friends writing the book for him. As photographer learning the arty aspects I wanted this book. But....
Other than that the book is light. With motivation, practical ideas and his friends writing the book for him. As photographer learning the arty aspects I wanted this book. But....
February 19, 2021
Rick has a great photography book without pictures! Lots of insights and questions to ponder. It will be a book I return to time and time again to stretch my mind and see anew this hobby that I love.
February 2, 2023
This is just the book I needed to recharge my photography passion. There are lots of practical tips that can be applied immediately. In addition to his tips, Rick uses quotes, interviews and other resources to help the reader uncover and reflect on the power of pictures.
February 23, 2020
Excellent little book for fast inspiration and I liked the inspiration quotes and lists. Rick is a master photographer and teacher.
September 28, 2019
Life's knowledge from the Gobfather
I have been following Rick for years and this is a great compilation of his photographic knowledge that i do plan on implanting in my photographic career.
I have been following Rick for years and this is a great compilation of his photographic knowledge that i do plan on implanting in my photographic career.
October 26, 2019
Excellent read
Very inspiring work on the benefits of expressing art through photography. Well worth the time and cost of the book.
Very inspiring work on the benefits of expressing art through photography. Well worth the time and cost of the book.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews