Seeing Landscapes: The Creative Process Behind Great Photographs [Englisch] [Taschenbuch]

After about six pages of introductory text (double spaced), the rest of the book follows the format of showing a picture and some text about the picture, typically why it works (or doesn't), how it was done and how it could have been done better. I find the text exceptionally helpful and entertaining. Several nature photographers seem to have a somewhat arrogant tone (works demotivating) to their writing. Thankfully, you won't find that here.

Waite uses mostly 6x6cm, but there are also some 6x17cm and a few 35mm pictures. Expect great photography in square format. The pictures are of excellent quality and the difference between the few 35mm shots and the 6x6cm is obvious. The latter format is obviously superior in terms of image quality, making it great to print and present in book form. But you don't have to use medium format to find this book useful, although you might have a hard time matching his dedication; You'll find him referring to using a ladder (!) throughout the book, for example to avoid tilting a camera upwards when shooting a building (to keep the lines straight).

His photographs are mostly from Europe (France, Italy and England in particular, but also Greece and Spain) and a few shots from USA, Africa, India and China. As such, the scenery pictured is refreshingly different from what seems typical to find amongst American photographers. But it's not just because it's a different continent. It's also Waite's photographic style which I find quite unique. There is no postcard feel to any of Waite's photographs. You won't find cliched sunset (only one picture could perhaps be categorized as a "sunset" picture) or blurred waterfalls (only one waterfall) here. While many nature photographers go for the majestic and grand scenery, Waite takes a step pretty much in the complete opposite direction. His style is abstract. Simple and uncluttered landscapes. That makes his photographs calm, peaceful and harmonic.

At the end of the book, Waite tries something interestingly different; Introducing the unexpected into a scenery. He also goes for extreme abstraction which I don't think work all that well, but this is just at the very end of the book and is insignificant to the overall quality of the book.

The book is 160 pages long with 140 color photographs. Excellent print.

If you like this book, you can't go wrong with Waite's "The Making of Landscape Photographs". In fact, that one might be even better...

I find this a very personal book, it's as though it has been written especially for each individual reading it, to help them creatively advance in their own photographic journey.

Having said that, if you just want to marvel at great photographs taken all around the world by an artist so in love with his subject, then just sit back and enjoy from the comfort of your favourite chair.