Ted Forbes’ *The Art of Photography* is like a masterclass in book form, guiding you through not just the mechanics of photography but its artistry and heart. Forbes doesn’t just teach you *how* to take a picture; he dives deep into the *why*, helping photographers of all levels think about their work in meaningful ways.

The 21 chapters cover everything you’d expect—lighting, composition, exposure, and gear—but also delve into big-picture topics like what it means to be an artist, building a legacy, and navigating the ever-evolving social media world. Forbes blends technical know-how with a passion for creativity, making it both educational and inspiring.

If you’re a fan of his popular YouTube channel, this book is a natural extension of his thoughtful approach to photography. Whether you're aiming to up your Instagram game or aspiring to build a career behind the lens, Forbes’ expertise and encouragement are like having a mentor by your side. It’s a must-read for anyone looking to tell stories through images and leave a lasting impact.

This book talks about photography in an artistic perspective that is helpful for photographers of all levels to better understand the medium and themselves as artists. It also provides great insight into the understanding of how photography works next to other art mediums.

As a film educator and writer, I have read my fair share of visual storytelling and language books, and this is one of the most detailed and useful ones that I have come across.
Emphasis is on both the craft and the art.
Amazing.

I loved this book. I'm unfamiliar with Forbes' YouTube channel, but I am so glad I got to read this incredible book. I inhaled it in it's entirety in one sitting. I am an artist by hobby photography, though I have had the good fortune of seeing my work in art galleries.

What I enjoyed about the book is it's informality and way of making photography so accessible. The author noted (rightly so), that the field is full of books and manuals that are excessively focused on technicality and gear. It's not a bad thing, but for someone seeking or clarifying a photographic and artistic voice, this is a beautiful volume.

Forbes sees photography as a way of speaking visual language and gives the reader a masterclass in fluency. Ways of seeing become ways of taking photos that speak to the photographer, rather than exactitude of technique. He shows readers what it is about black and white photography for example, that is so profound a way of seeing and refining composition techniques. He also works with the idea of syntax, metaphor, in addition to some more basic technical skills including: lines, shadows, rule of thirds, framing (and subframing), as well as making use of the positive and negative space in an image.

The book speaks to all skill levels and is filled with the kind of language that had me excited to take photos again. In this sense, the book also manages a fait accompli: conveying Forbes' enthusiasm for the craft in a way that gets the reader just as excited. I cannot wait to talk up this book with library customers and hope that it becomes a go-to Readers' Advisory pick for many!