After reading this book I am left with very mixed thoughts about it.

To start off, the book is very well made, printed and has some excellent examples of the author's method and photography. Unfortunately that may be its biggest fault. The author, George Barr - who based the book on his essays on the website Luminous Landscape - does indeed provide a path to developing your eye, creativity and perspective, but with a pinpoint focus on abstract industrial and landscape images to the exclusion of any other photographic dicipline.

There is not a single standout example image or diagram in this book that includes a human or other living creature. For those who are interested industrial and lanscape fine art though, the content of the book is dense and well organized. Each chapter includes a set of guidelines and specifics to help develop your phogographic eye, getting over ruts, dealing with failure and personal disappointment while developing your skills. Regarding composition a helpful device is introduced to help you sketch and visualize the elements of your composition and how take advantage of placement to stregthen the image.

This book, while deep, is a sinkhole rather than a lake. It has very little bredth. If an author is going to claim to help you "Take your photography to the next level" there should be evidence that he himself has enough bredth and depth to take you there. If he's going to claim to help you go from "Inspiration to Image" he should show a little more inspiration.

For those interested in industrial and landscape fine art photography this book will be valued. But for those who care about any other styles or subjects you're likely to be left cold.