Review: The Camera. My Third Eye

Saturday 17 March 2018, 14:41 by Michelle Peeters | 6,166 views | 1 comment

This article was translated from Dutch with the help of AI. Read the original.

My Third Eye is a book by Rob Slooten about turning an assignment into an original and personal image.

It is actually a course book, but it also shows that photographing within a defined subject can produce wondrous and mysterious images.

The book came about as a result of a large number of photography courses that Rob Slooten taught over the past ten years after his time at the Rietveld Academy.

The participants took photographs based on unusual assignments. In this book, Rob has brought together 22 of those assignments, covering various photographic subjects.

Each assignment is followed by three photographs by the participants, showing completely different interpretations. Rob comments on each photograph, explaining why he finds it special, each time from a different and new point of view.

It turns out that photographing within a defined subject can produce wondrous and mysterious images, and that it can lead to a different way of looking at the world around us. The book's subtitle is not without reason: an invitation to look.

As a reader, you are invited to carry out the assignments yourself. You could get started straight away, possibly with a small group of friends.

What did I think of it?

I found the book rather long-winded in structure. Perhaps this is enjoyable and illustrative for a beginner photographer, but I prefer things short, concise and 'to the point'. The introduction spends four pages discussing 'what is special about photography'.

Then 22 assignments that were once given to course participants are discussed. Their 'best' photographs are shown for each assignment in the book. Again, with a huge introduction.

The assignments are mainly about 'learning to look', learning to see the unusual in everyday things or events. This in itself could encourage you to have a go at it yourself.

However, I did not find the photographs included in the book to illustrate each assignment, or the descriptions that go with them, particularly inspiring. Though that may be down to me, of course. Rob knows how to turn an unremarkable photograph into something wonderful, and he finds everything interesting to photograph too.

To find the descriptions for each photograph, you often have to search because not everything can be found together on a single spread. I personally like an overview and clarity. I soon grew tired of having to keep turning the pages back and forth.

Rob does have a thorough knowledge of the subject. At the back of the book, you will find extensive Practical tips for photography and very detailed descriptions of the photographic terms used in the book.

I therefore think this book is very suitable for beginner photographers who still need to find their way and who need plenty of practice to build up their knowledge and experience. This book can definitely help you get started!

Price and where to buy it

The book costs 33.50 euros and is available from, among others, H. De Vries Boeken

You might also like

• 

  Review: Practical Nature Photography Book NXTLVL

  by Michelle Peeters

• 

  Review: Blurb photo books via Lightroom Classic

  by Nando Harmsen

• 

  Review: The Photoshop Layers Book - Johan Elzenga

  by Michelle Peeters

• 

  Review: Photo book 'Voor altijd Rotterdam'

  by Erik van Rosmalen

• 

  Review: Book Sport Photography

  by Michelle Peeters

• 

  Review: The Great Landscape Photography Book by Scott Kelby

  by Michelle Peeters

1 comment

Have your say

Please note: Articles older than a week can only be commented on by signed-in visitors.
Would you still like to comment? sign in or create a free account.