{"id":1376,"date":"2009-09-12T04:44:48","date_gmt":"2009-09-12T08:44:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.johnpaulcaponigro.com\/blog\/?p=1376"},"modified":"2009-09-12T04:44:48","modified_gmt":"2009-09-12T08:44:48","slug":"chris-orwig-on-visual-poetry","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.johnpaulcaponigro.com\/blog\/1376\/chris-orwig-on-visual-poetry\/","title":{"rendered":"Chris Orwig on Visual Poetry"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"
\nFresh with the release of his new book Visual Poetry<\/em><\/a>, Chris Orwig<\/a> provides this insightful guest blog post.
\nGet a sense of who Chris is before reading this, view\/listen to his short video introduction to his new book.<\/a>
\n\"\"
\nHello<\/strong>
\nIt is a privilege to have the honor to provide a guest post for this blog! John Paul is someone I admire deeply not only for his artistry but for the way he thinks, listens, challenges and empowers. Who he is, what he does and how he lives – inspires.
\nSo who am I? My name is Chris and I am an artist, photographer and teacher.\u00a0 As an artist I strive to live life fully and with passion, creativity, ingenuity and authenticity. As a photographer I subscribe to Marc Riboud\u2019s perspective that, \u201cPhotography is savoring life at 1\/100th<\/sup> of a second.\u201d Somehow, with camera in hand I get more out of life and I enjoy sharing that with others. That\u2019s where the teaching comes in.\u00a0 I think William Yeats said it best: \u201cEducation is not about filing a pail, it is about lighting a fire.\u201d And that\u2019s what this post is all about \u2013 Ignition.
\nOver the years, I\u2019ve watched hundreds and hundreds of students pass through the courses, conferences, workshops or photography school where I teach. Almost all of the students start off with more than enough passion that acts as kindling to get the fire going. Many of those students go on to achieve unbelievable success. Yet, sadly many of the students don\u2019t make it, they whither and fade.
\nAs a teacher, it\u2019s part of my innate drive to counter this as much as I can. I want the people I know and interact with to succeed. There is nothing more thrilling than seeing others soar to new heights. With this in mind, I\u2019ve completed one of my most recent projects which is a book titled, Visual Poetry \u2013 A Creative Guide for Making Engaging Photographs<\/a><\/em>. The aim of this book is to awaken, enliven, ignite and further one\u2019s passion for life and for making compelling, engaging and enlivening photographs. The book is a mixture of photography and creativity. If that sounds interesting \u2013 read on.
\n\"\"<\/strong>
\nThe Janitor\u2019s Closet<\/strong>
\nLet\u2019s start with a quick story from Chapter 10… The stars in Steve\u2019s eyes twinkled like Hollywood lights. Like many teenagers, he was a dreamer and he wouldn\u2019t let go of his desire to make movies. After high school he applied to a top film school in Los Angeles but was rejected. Unwilling to give up, he would find a way. He applied again, and the second denial hurt worse. Defeated, he was resigned to studying an unrelated topic at a second-rate state school. Unsuccessful, after a few years of college, he dropped out. Steve still wanted to make movies\u2014old dreams die hard.
\nWithout an education, marketable skills, or a job he didn\u2019t have much to do. One day he decided to take a tour of Universal Studios. The open-air tour bus drove Steve and the other tourists around the back lot. Steve hopped off the back of the bus half way through the tour, slipped past security, and began to walk around. He wanted to be here. Later that day he left and walked out the main gate with a newly hatched plan. Not even old enough to buy a beer, Steve bought his first suit and a tie. The next day, he was ready to play the part. Dressed like the rest, he walked up to the entrance of Universal Studios, waved to the security guard, and walked right in. And he did this day after day.
\nSoon he found an old janitor\u2019s closet he thought would work well. With a few pieces of discarded furniture, the closet was transformed into an office. And that is where it all began. Within a handful of years, it was too good to be true. Steve was bursting onto the scene with his second feature-length film. The movie was a historic success and he has since become known as the father of all blockbusters.
\nSteve, who we know as Steven Spielberg, found his own way. He never gave up, and neither should you. And that\u2019s what this book is all about. It\u2019s about discovering who we are, dreaming big, thinking in a new way and ultimately accomplishing a new task. And if our task is to create compelling photographs, how can it be done?
\nWhile the answer is multifaceted, there are a few critical parts. One part: how to create better photographs. Another part: how to become more creative people. The \u201cwhat\u201d and the \u201cwho\u201d are intertwined. And thus, this book isn\u2019t an ordinary photo book. It is a book about becoming. Becoming authentic, alive, vibrant, unfettered and renewed. It is written for those interested in becoming what it means to grow and change. Whether you are an amateur or a pro, photographer or physician, architect or acupuncturist, filmmaker or financial consultant, this book is written for you.
\n\"\"
\nThe Premise<\/strong>
\nThe title \u201cVisual Poetry\u201d comes from the thread that runs throughout the book. It is the idea that photographers have pursued for decades \u2013 how to say more with less. In other words, it is like this: what the novelist says in 20,000 words the poet says in 20. And after reading a poem we don\u2019t just have more information, we have more experience. A good poem isn\u2019t about reductionism. It\u2019s about reducing, simplifying, and deepening. A poem always gives more. And poems are spare. With so little space, they require a distillation which concentrates and intensifies their meaning and effect.
\nPoetry and good photographs have the potential to rekindle and ignite your imagination. And here\u2019s why. They both ask you to use your mind to fill in the gaps. They are not overly obvious and then don\u2019t say too much. Rather you have to read and look carefully and the more your read, or the more you look, the better it becomes. This book is all about getting you to make more poetic photographs.
\n\"\"
\nThe Structure<\/strong> <\/strong>
\nAt its core, the book is a mixture of anecdotes, ideas and photographs. It is divided into three sections:
\nI. Getting Started<\/span>\u2014understanding photography and poetry, learning to see, and camera creativity. These initial chapters are more conceptual and full of inspiring ideas.
\nII. Let the Adventure Begin<\/span>\u2014specific types of photography, including portraits, families and kids, weddings, travel, action and outdoors, and found objects and subjects. This is the section that makes up the bulk of the book. Each chapter includes inspiration, practical tips for shooting, gear suggestions, and workshop assignments to jump-start the progress of your own work.
\nIII. What\u2019s Next<\/span>\u2014a practical conversation about photography gear, and how to make the transition from amateur to pro and get paid to do what you love.
\n\"\"
\nGuest Speakers<\/strong>
\nThe more I learn about photography the more I learn that photography is more broad and deep that I could imagine. Thus learning photography requires that we listen to more than one voice. Therefore, I\u2019m honored to have some of the world\u2019s leading photographers as featured \u201cguest speakers\u201d in each chapter that provide their voice and photographs which broadens and deepens the conversation in an interesting way.\u00a0 Here are some of the photographers included in the mix: Steve McCurry, Pete Turner, Douglas Kirkland, John Sexton, Keith Carter, Rodney Smith, Chris Rainer, Joyce Tenneson, Chase Jarvis, Elizabeth Messina, Marc Riboud and John Paul Caponigro! Their contributions bring wisdom, insight, and inspiration.\u00a0The value of their words and photographs are immense and I am deeply grateful for their contributions.
\nFree Chapter<\/strong>!
\nIf the book sounds interesting and you\u2019d like to dig deeper, I have a great solution. After a bit of begging and pleading, my publisher granted me permission to provide my newsletter subscribers (click here to subscribe<\/a>) with a free PDF chapter\u2026 and they have now allowed me to extend that to readers of this blog! Click here view and download Visual Poetry \/ Chapter 2 – Creativity and Photography<\/span><\/a>.
\nMore Information<\/strong>
\nIf you\u2019re interested in learning even more about the book visit: visual-poet.com<\/a>. On this site you will find more information, testimonials, short videos, audio excerpts, resource links and bonus content \u2013 for example, click here to listen to a thoughtful and inspiring interview with Joyce Tenneson<\/a>. Or if you\u2019d like to pick up the book, visit your local bookstore or click here to view it on amazon.com<\/a>.
\nFinally, it is a deep honor to share some of my passions with you \u2013 thanks!
\nLearn more about Chris at chrisorwig.com<\/a>.
\nFind his blog at chrisorwig.com\/flipside<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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