Cover Image: Find Your Frame

Find Your Frame

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

Compact, concise, practical. Gives you enough information and inspiration to make you want to grab your camera and head out, instead of hitting you over the head with an excess of stuff. You learn photography by taking photos, so anything that sparks your creativity in an active way instead of letting you spend your life just reading (and dreaming) about it is great advice in my book.

Was this review helpful?

Decent...

Find Your Frame gives credit to street photography and the author's personal sort of how to guide to a specific craft he has honed over 20 years. Thank you to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing for the gifted copy.

Craig Whitehead has combined in short lessons his approach to street photography, including things he's learned in the field, tips, his creative approach, his sources of inspiration, and a host of trade secrets. He's included sample images and advice to anyone who's interested in becoming a street photographer or learning what he believes to be the tricks of the trade.

This is another resource I believe would make good addition for a coffee table read. While informative, I feel that the content and information shared is highly a masterclass but more of a how to guide to shooting street photography from his point of view.

3.5/5 ⭐️s

Was this review helpful?

In "Find Your Frame", Whitehead takes readers through some of the things he looks for when working as a street photographer. You can get a sense just from the cover what sorts of images he's attracted to—bold, tightly framed, making use of angles and built-in borders.

It's a very non-technical book, better suited to lay readers or beginning photographers than to (for lack of a better term) working street photographers. Whitehead's emphasis begins on, and circles back to again and again, finding the shot—not on focus or lighting or color correction or aperture or...I'm not a professional and I've run out of technical terms, so I suppose I'll leave it there, but in any case, if the book wants you to work on anything, it's training your eye to think how you might frame a particular shot, and then having the patience to wait for all the necessary elements in the photo to line up. Less about *taking* the shots and more about *finding* them, I suppose.

Whitehead talks quite a bit about shots that *don't* become the final version of the picture—e.g., when you shoot twenty frames of the same thing, but only one of them ends up being published—and I wish that more of those images had been included in the book; seeing the rejected or second-best shots, or perhaps more of the surrounding area that was cropped out, feels like a lesson in and of itself.

It all sort of begs the question of how much photographic "eye" can/should be trained and how much is more innate—I'd love to send a few beginner photographers out into the world with this book as their inspiration and see whether they gravitate to similar or very different shots—and I can't answer that, but if you enjoy Whitehead's photographic style this makes for an eye-catching coffee-table book.

Thanks to the author and publisher for providing a review copy through NetGalley.

Was this review helpful?

What a wonderful photography resource! Find Your Frame is such an excellent and well put-together how-to guide for street photography. I really appreciated how Craig went beyond just technique here (though that in an of itself was very helpful and easy to follow). He shared how and where he finds inspiration and goes into overcoming fears and really tapping into your creativity. His passion for the genre shines through on the pages.

With Craig’s stunning and unique photography filling the pages alongside his knowledgeable insight, I was truly left inspired and wanting to practice street photography, something I’ve only just dabbled in previously. Whether you are familiar with the genre of photography or it’s something new to you, I’m confident there is value in this equally easy to read and in-depth photography book for you.

Many thanks to Quarto Publishing Group and NetGalley for the gifted e-copy!

Was this review helpful?

A very well done guide to street photography. Practical and well written. This would be a great book to begin with, and I found it useful even though I have been in the field for a while.

Was this review helpful?

This is a well presented book on street/candid photography. The author himself started with the more traditional 'in your face' style of capture people up close - and eventually transitioned into more abstract and arty work for which he became known. The images are of the artistic nature: the person/people aren't the subject so much as the final detail of a composition. It makes for interesting reading since he discusses various photographs he's taken, what inspired him, how he set them up.

Along with the inspiring images, the author gives suggestions on how to go about finding your own style of street photography. He helps with composition, color, light, and how to work with people. There are so no set rules - he wants you to find what inspires and motivates you and create your style/what you love from it.

His work is very much of the painterly variety: out of focus images, objects in front of faces, faces missing, bold colors, simple lines. I think most come to street photography to capture life and moments as they happen in a candid format. The author instead shows that street photography can have more of an abstract approach as well: similar to paintings you would see at a museum of modern or contemporary art. Images to make you think and try to figure out what you are seeing.

In all, an easy read from a photographer who is friendly, encouraging, and informative. Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher.

Was this review helpful?

Craig Whitehead has done an exceptional job of delving into the world of street photography in his book, "Find Your Frame." This comprehensive guide serves as an insightful how-to manual for those who want to embark on their street photography journey. Notably, it's brimming with captivating examples of Whitehead's own work, offering a tangible glimpse into the art of capturing life on the streets.

Whitehead's exploration of street photography is not limited to technique; he also shares his inspirations, ranging from fellow photographers to impactful documentaries. His passion for this art form shines through in every page of "Find Your Frame."

Street Photography

The history of street photography is a tapestry woven with diverse origins, from the pioneering work of Eugene Atget in the 1890s to Charles Nègre's contributions in 1954, among others. A deep dive into this history reveals numerous other pivotal moments and influential photographers.

The book cover of "Find Your Frame: A Street Photography Masterclass" immediately drew me in, and then came the awareness of the title. Choosing to read "Find Your Frame" was instinctual as someone who loves and admires street photographers and their work. It's a natural choice for anyone who holds a deep appreciation for the craft of street photography.

Find Your Frame

Whitehead's book is a treasure trove of insights and practical advice, combining a guidebook and a personal portfolio seamlessly. His genuine enthusiasm for street photography is evident as he lays down a blueprint for beginners. The book doesn't stop at camera recommendations; it encourages creativity by recounting an anecdote about using a simple toy camera. It underscores the notion that it's not the price of equipment but the photographer's eye that makes a difference.

What sets "Find Your Frame" apart is its honesty. Whitehead shares personal experiences and offers location ideas to explore. This book is not just about technicalities; it's a journey into the power of observation and unique perspectives. It delves into post-production techniques to make your images stand out while igniting the fire of curiosity to start your own street photography adventure. In essence, it's a 20-lesson masterclass that will benefit both beginners and seasoned street photographers alike.

Was this review helpful?

I was in the mood to read a photography book and found this one available on NetGalley.

The concept of Street Photography has always intimidated me. I've often worried that taking pictures of people on the street might make them angry or suspicious. Surprisingly, the author dedicates an entire chapter to addressing these fears. One valuable piece of advice he offered was, "If you act as if you're doing something wrong, people will respond to you as if that's the case."

When I initially opened this book, my goal was to broaden my horizons, as I had never delved into street photography before. However, after reading it and examining the images, I realized that much of what I do with candid photos at events, capturing people in and around the event location, could be considered a form of street photography. Thus, the advice in the book proved to be more valuable to me than I initially anticipated.

This book provides excellent guidance on composition and offers valuable insights into overcoming any fears or nervousness that may hinder your creative expression.

Was this review helpful?

Find Your Frame is a very thorough and insightful book about street photography which includes all photographers whether they are using a phone or a specialist camera.
I found the tips and ideas very inspiring with lots of reference points to look up movies and artists in the field.
This will be a great book for the library and I am sure it will be very popular.

Was this review helpful?

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is a fairly short book with advice on street photography. There's a lot of photograph examples and inspirational tips on how to find your own voice and take street photos. The book is somewhat technical, but the focus is on getting to know your own camera and how to look at things to get your photo than actually setting up your camera. I could see this being a nice coffee table book or gift to new photographer who wants to learn more.

Was this review helpful?

Great short read! Loved the chapters, personal stories and advice as well as the photos! I will definitely reference this in my yearbook class.

Was this review helpful?

I got some tips and picked up some inspiration, but this is more of a coffee table book for me than "street photography masterclass," as it's 144 pages, and most of them are photos. On the non-photo pages, the text is heavily indented and features prominent quotes in text. There is very little in the way of technical instruction, the tips here are much more general.

Was this review helpful?

I was lucky enough to take part in a street photography workshop with Craig and another photographer in 2019. This book feels like a brilliant extension of that class when we took to the streets of London one evening. There are lots of great tips in this book and if you are interested in street photography or looking to improve your work, this book contains some great advice on light, composition, kit and more. My main take-away is to be more persistent. If a place feels like it has the potential for a picture, return to that area, consider the light and trust your gut instinct to do and try something different. Plenty of food for thought in this beautifully presented book.

Was this review helpful?

For international photogrpahy day, I read this book. Love the author/photographer's thoughts and advice for being a good street photographer. Great points about staking in a place and noticing and even being proactive about what might happen, getting rare photographs, how might it look, balloon heads trope and variations of it.
Wish all of the pictures rendered correctly.

Was this review helpful?

The title of this book encapsulates Craig Whitehead's advice: composition is key. Get to know your neighbourhood and look for 'frames' formed by architecture, street furniture, signboards etc, where you can wait for the right moment when, say, a figure passes and you take the shot. Divide up the composition in an interesting way and be sensitive to colour, shadow and changing light. These are just some of the valuable tips in Whitehead's account of how he works as a 'candid photographer' (not only looking at streets, but any environment). His style is painterly and tends towards the abstract, rather than photographing human incidents. But you should explore all possibilities, as he says: “Create your own way of working and that will contribute to a style that is uniquely yours.”

Any aspiring photographer will find this well-illustrated book invaluable. It will inspire you to “Think about when
and where to go – but whatever you do, just go!”

Was this review helpful?