Another Day Not Wasted: Meditations in Photography, Art, and Wildness

by Guy Tal, Colleen J. Miniuk (Foreword)

Another Day Not Wasted presents Guy Tal’s reflections on photography and life after leaving a lucrative but unsatisfying career to become a full-time creative photographer, writer, and wilderness explorer. Through his 36 thought-provoking essays across four subtopics—On Landscape, On Self-Expression in Photography, On Philosophical Thinking, and On Wild Experiences—he shares some of the profound events and lessons that marked his journey. Building on the success of his earlier book, More Than a Rock, Guy offers readers even deeper insights into his life as an independent artist, his thoughts about photography as a form of art and as a means to a richer and more rewarding life, and his intimate relationship with nature and with his beloved landscapes—the Colorado Plateau.

This book is not intended as a guide to photography or to any particular place. It is unequivocally non-technical and focuses instead on Guy’s contemplations, experiences, and the rewards of living a creative life. Photographers and other artists who seek a deeper engagement with natural places—and with their chosen medium—will find enlightenment and inspiration in Guy’s poetic prose and striking photography.

“Reading through Guy Tal’s new book, I made these Thoughtful. Meditative. Eloquent. Both in his photographs and with his words. Understated yet profound. Consistently illuminating. When I read Guy’s essays, I see the depth of his heart and the inquisitiveness of his mind, melded together in a rare combination that lifts my soul and engenders hope that others will be inspired to follow their own artist’s path.”
~William Neill, photographer and author of Light on the Landscape

“Few people write as clearly and insightfully as Guy Tal. He’s the photographer/writer who makes me think more than anyone else. Sometimes I agree; sometimes I disagree; in all cases, I’m forced to think it through.”
~Bruce Barnbaum, photographer and author of The Art of Photography

Genres: Photography

310 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 22, 2021

About the author

I am a professional writer and photographic artist living in Utah. I am the author of several books, a blogger, and an educator. In my photographs, I aim to express emotions and moods rather than to document or commemorate the appearances of places or events.

Reviews

[Don · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tal is one of my favorite photographers. His photographs transcend the scenes his is portraying and illustrate a something else. I took a workshop with him and know he also is an excellent teacher. He has written a column for the prestigious Lenswork magazine for a number of years. This book highlights his excellent writing skills. The concepts he writes about demonstrate he is a thoughtful person as well. The books also have a generous helping of his stunning photographs. One of his main themes is that for photographs to be art, they must come from the experience and be able to convey the experience to the viewer. Another theme is his disdain for a materialistic life style. Although he worked in the corporate technology industry he shares my belief that social media is anti-social. He knows the wild places he loves will be gone, but rather than lament their loss, he revels in being in them to experience the treasures they have to offer. Some of the essays are a little redundant and I can't say I agree with everything he has to say, but he made me think about them. Highly recommended.

[Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very difficult book to quantify. Very thought provoking in many respects with regard to photography. However when the direction veers off towards wandering in the wilderness, which is a large portion of the book, I struggled. At no point was this sold as a photography book and it is not. It is however a book to provoke thoughts on the practice of photography, past, present and future.

[Michael Griswold · Rating 4 out of 5]

Difficult but required reading

I share Guy’s introverted personality but can’t embrace his misanthropic leaning. That said, this resonated with me on a deep level. It changes a lot of how I will approach my photography and ventures into the wild.

[Chuq Von Rospach · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating exploration of the Utah high deserts and the philosophy of creating art in these wild spaces. Highly introspective set of essays with photos from guy tal.