Lately I’ve been reading The Path Between the Seas: The Creation of the Panama Canal, 1870-1914
1. The French Government attempted to construct the canal first (in fact, it was a commercial enterprise and the government never got directly involved).
2. The French were defeated by diseases (while deadly tropical diseases were a contributing factor, this was not one of the main reasons for their defeat).
In any case, this 600 page book is a fascinating account of the story that was only possible after years of research through the archives in France, America, Colombia and Panama. It is a tale of egos, greed, power, politics, science, culture clashes and the unforgiving jungle of Panama. It is well worth a read if you have an interest in Panama, or simply like history!
I read this photography book recently and was impressed enough that I thought I should write a short review. The book is The Photographer’s Eye: Composition and Design for Better Digital Photos, by Michael Freeman. This book is a very complete yet well written and approachable treatise on the theory and art of photographic design and composition. I think this book is ideally suited to intermediate photographers who want to hone their skills, but it would be just as useful to the beginner who wants to learn quickly, or even to the pro who wants a quick refresher course. The introduction nicely sets the stage for the rest of the book:
“…there have been very few attempts in publishing to deal comprehensively with composition in photography, as opposed to technical issues. This is a rich and demanding subject, too often trivialized even when not ignored outright. Most people using a camera for the first time try to master the controls but ignore the ideas. They photograph intuitively, liking or disliking what they see without stopping to think why, and framing the view in the same way. Anyone who does it well is a natural photographer. But knowing in advance why some compositions or certain combinations of colors seem to work better than others, better equips any photographer.”
…
“In shooting, you can rely on natural ability or on a good knowledge of the principles of design. In other graphic arts, design is taught as a matter of course. In photography it has received less attention than it deserves, and here I set out to redress some of this lack.”
The book is a joy to read (I could hardly put it down) and it is beautifully illustrated. The text is clear and easy to understand without being over-simplified or condescending. The accompanying images are excellent at illustrating the concepts being described and giving you inspiration for your own images. I found this book to be very enjoyable, informative and inspiring. Highly recommended.
