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    Unavailable
    More Than a Rock: Essays on Art, Creativity, Photography, Nature, and Life
    Unavailable
    More Than a Rock: Essays on Art, Creativity, Photography, Nature, and Life
    Unavailable
    More Than a Rock: Essays on Art, Creativity, Photography, Nature, and Life
    Ebook340 pages6 hours

    More Than a Rock: Essays on Art, Creativity, Photography, Nature, and Life

    By Guy Tal

    4.5/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this ebook

    Ostensibly about landscape photography, More Than a Rock is a passionate and personal book about creativity and expression. In this series of essays, photographer and teacher Guy Tal shares his thoughts and experiences as an artist who seeks to express more in his images than the mere appearance of the subject portrayed.

    Tal makes an argument to consider creative landscape photography—expressing something of the photographer's conception through the use of natural aesthetics—as a form of visual art that is distinct from the mere representation of beautiful natural scenes.

    Tal covers topics such as the art of photography, approaches to landscape photography, and the experiences of a working photographic artist. His essays also include reflections on nature and man’s place in it, living a meaningful life, and living as an artist in today’s world.

    The book is decidedly non-technical and focuses on philosophy, nature, and visual expression. It was written for those photographers with a passion and interest in creative photography. Anyone who is pursuing their work as art, is in need of inspiration, or is interested in the writings of a full-time working photographic artist will benefit from reading this book. The book is visually punctuated with Tal’s inspiring and breathtaking photography.

    “Some images look like things, while others feel like things; some images are of things, while others are about things. …A creative image is not a record of a scene nor a substitute for a real experience. Rather, it is an experience in itself—an aesthetic experience—something new that the artist has given the world, rather than a contrived view of something that already existed independent of them.” ~Guy Tal

    ****
    Guy Tal’s photography is thoughtful, compassionate, and poetic; it’s no wonder then that his writings evoke similar feelings in me. If you want to be a better camera user, read your manual. If you want to be a stronger, deeper photographer, read Guy Tal. ~David duChemin
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherRocky Nook
    Release dateJul 22, 2015
    ISBN9781681980102
    Unavailable
    More Than a Rock: Essays on Art, Creativity, Photography, Nature, and Life
    Author

    Guy Tal

    Guy Tal spent the first 26 years of his life in Israel where he was born, served a mandatory military service, and studied and taught at the Tel Aviv University. As a youth, he loved to explore the natural areas around his home by the Mediterranean Sea, as well as the Negev Desert and the Golan Heights. It was during one of these outings that Guy first picked up a camera to document the things that fascinated him about the natural landscape and its wild inhabitants. This prompted a passion for and deep interest in photography that continues to grow and intensify to this day—three decades later. At odds with the political turmoil and rampant urbanization of his homeland, Guy immigrated to California where he embarked on a career in information technology. He also began an enduring love affair with the wild places of the American West. Guy found that he was unfulfilled by the urban, career-driven life, and decided to move closer to his beloved deserts and mountains of the Colorado Plateau. He ultimately settled in a tiny, remote town at the foot of Utah’s Aquarius Plateau, on the edge of Utah’s famous canyon country—a place that inspires him deeply and where he practices most of his work. A lifelong learner and explorer, Guy’s interest in art, science, and philosophy converged with his intense love of wild places, which he expresses through his photography and writing. He is a public speaker, educator, and frequent contributor to several photographic publications. Guy’s first book, More Than A Rock, was published by Rocky Nook in 2015.

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    Reviews for More Than a Rock

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    • 5/5
      This is an excellent book. It is a deep book, and I would recommend that anyone who picks up this book read just a few essays a day. Reading more, or trying to read the book quickly, will put the reader into a situation where he/she will miss the subtle lessons and subtle differences between each essay. Guy Tal writes very well, and writes forcefully. He clearly does not suffer fools lightly, and this comes through in his writing. He has a deep love for the wilderness, for photography and the spirit that connects both of them. The book is divided into neat sections, which give you a good idea of what theme he is about to explore. This is not a book about photography technique. It’s about the spirit of photography, and of living. If you imbibe the lessons well, they will help you become a better photographer. This is writing from the heart. It’s a book that is a keeper.