Within The Frame (David DuChemin)

David DuChemin is an international assignment photographer specialising in humanitarian projects and world photography. Based in Vancouver, his award winning work has taken him around the globe, shooting for both NGOs and commercial clients.

Within The Frame is David’s first book,  its aim is to help the reader in finding their own photographic vision and then discussing some of the tools and techniques to help express that vision. In this respect it is not so much a ‘how-to’ book as a ‘why-to’ book.

The book runs to 272 pages and contains a forward by Joe McNally (acclaimed international photographer and author of  ‘The Moment It Clicks‘ and ‘The Hot Shoe Diaries‘) which is a great endorsement for any photography book.

The book is split into eight chapters, each containing a number of David’s photographs to illustrate the concepts and techniques being discussed. Each photograph is accompanied by at least the shot information and most also have some of the story behind the image. The images are well chosen and do a good job of reinforcing the text of the book. The overall quality of the photography is very strong and is almost reason enough to buy the book based on this alone.

Each chapter covers a specific topic, starting off with discussions about photographic vision and how elements within a frame can be used to relate this. One chapter is dedicated to the conflict between the artist and the geek, the battle between having the photographic gear and using it effectively - as David so rightly puts it, “Gear is good, vision is better”.  The remaining chapters cover the topics of storytelling within your images, photographing people, photographing places and photographing culture, before the last chapter gives some final thoughts and an Afterword by photographer Vincent Visace. As a bonus, if you register the book on the publisher’s website you gain access to an extra, downloadable chapter (in PDF format) that goes into some detail about the logistics of travel photography.

David has an easy to read writing style, it’s almost like he is there discussing everyththing with you. The topics in the book are well explained and even though most of the examples and images are related to travel photography, the concepts and techniques are true for producing strong images in all genres of photography. The book doesn’t try to tell you what your photographic vision should be, that is for the reader alone to decide, but it does give you food for thought to help you on your way.

Overall, I found this to be an excellent book. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and it has made me think about my own photography in a different light. I would have no hesitation in recommending this book to others.

You can read some samples from the book on the publisher’s website here.

David has a website and a blog that are both worth checking out. The book has also spawned a flickr group and a regular podcast.