Hi! My husband, Steve, just published his first book and it was released last month by Quarry Books! But with all the goings-on of Summer Art Camp and Wes heading off to college, we decided to celebrate the publication this month instead.
We’re giving away two copies each day (one from this blog, and one from my facebook page). Leave comments in both places each day for a chance to win a signed copy of “Creative Photography Lab: 52 Fun Exercises for Developing Self Expression with Your Camera.“
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Hi and thanks to Carla for sharing her blog space with me. I was sitting on a plane last week reading an article about Stern Magazine, a German weekly that features consistently wonderful photography. The art director, Johannes Erler, said in the interview: “I always prefer the emotional picture instead of the perfect picture.”
That quote struck me as the summation of everything I feel about photography. Without really knowing why, I am always attracted by, and attempting to create, an emotional image. And by emotional, I don’t necessarily mean something that has people in it who are demonstrating a strong feeling. Stern Magazine is mostly about lifestyle and fashion and I think the art director was talking mostly about that kind of photography. But for me, some images — magically, mysteriously — are packed with feeling.
And unlike the “perfect” picture, you can’t really construct an emotional shot from the ground up. There are no rules of composition, lighting schemes, or Photoshop filters that can guarantee a truly moving photo.
I believe that the only way to make emotional photographs is to be present and connected to your subject in an emotional way. Photographs should be like poems: An honest and well crafted response to what you are feeling at the time.
My hope is that our book might be a small help in that direction. You start by setting aside your preconceptions about the “perfect” picture and just start shooting from the heart. Of course understanding your camera is an important part of crafting images and we try to introduce some technical understanding into each lesson.
Thanks for your comments!
Steve
Twitter @sonheimphoto
Instagram: ssonheim
Leave a comment for the chance to win a book. Winner will be selected randomly on Saturday, September 14. (And come back each day this week for more chances to win a copy of the book!)
Winner picked #33:
Tania Bain: “Oh Wow, I would love to win one of Steve’s books. I would go from stuck in a rut to being a pixel poet :”)
carlasonheim.wordpress.com 
me! pick me!
That book speaks to….me!
I am so excited to use my new camera! I need the little nudge!
Picture perfect! I can picture it on my bookshelf already.
OMG, how I would love to win this book! It is on my Amazon wish list. I’ll wait to see if I win!!
Steve and Carla,
I just love the b&w photo of the couple in the café. Wow. Talk about an emotional pic.
thanks for sharing,
Kelly
oh, yes, shooting from the / my heart that’s what i always wanted to reach. i totally can folow your desciption. and for the ‘technical understanding’.. I’m sure your book will push me forward. so: pick meeee!!! 😉
I LOVE YOU CARLA!!! Your work has inspired me more than I think you could possibly understand!
I’d love to win this book for both hubby (a photographer) and I (an artist).
It’s sounds like a wonderful way to take photos. My son would live a copy of this book. Thanks for giving everyone the chance to win one.
Blessings,
edith
This is a perfect companion for the long winter nights in the Pacific nw! By spring, I could be a reborn photographer as well. Thanks for the chance.
Loved what you said about an honest and emotional response. Also loved your class a couple of years ago–can’t wait to see your book.
I love getting your blog entries and enjoy the creativity in your books and online tutorials. You two both seem to have fun, funny, creative and inspirational spirits that keep me returning to your blog. I’ve been wanting to do the online photo class and now to have it all in one book! BRAVO. Pick my name out of the hat! I’ll even take some sidewalk crack pictures for you!
Elizabeth
Just signed on to your blog , Carla! You are one of my favorite discoveries! My husband does photography and we make a good creative pair like you and Steve! Hope you pick me for a book!!!
I just got a new camera and this book would really help me take better photos.
I hope my name is chosen.
I have creative ideas in mind when I photograph them, but I don’t know how to execute them so having more knowledge would definitely help. I would love to be able to capture my feelings on film.
Steve this sounds like a wonderful book! I love looking at things from different angles, both in art and photography, and new ideas are always welcome!
Nice job, Carla & Steve. Congratulations!
Serena
Oh my! I would love a copy. Photo Silly was so much fun, I can’t imagine having a whole book of his prompts and exercises. Congrats on the book release.
This sounds like a wonderful book!
What a wonderful way to take photographs! I would love the opportunity to learn some new ways to capture our lives.
I would love a copy please..will be able to share it with my grandson!
looks like a great book!
Congratulations on your new book!
Hi Steve
All Best wishes for your new book
the thing about emotional connectedness between photographer and subject is that therein lies a real story., one that makes you go “ooohhh”
Cool, I would love to win his book. It looks like a lot of fun.
I was thinking of buying this book, so winning it will be great, bye Carla
Looks like a terrific book ….. the kind I need to get the creative juices going!
I’ve so enjoyed the classes I’ve taken from you!! I’ve used the techniques again and again. I would be so thrilled to win the book! But never fear: I’m buying it if I don’t…
Oooh. . I would love a copy of this book!
Looks incredible! C x
I would love to win your book !
Looks great – I´d like to give it to my son, who likes to take foots!
Oh Wow, I would love to win one of Steve’s books. I would go from stuck in a rut to being a pixel poet :”)
Wow, what an awesome comp prize! Would love the chance to win this book. Thanks so much
Congratulations Steve, what a great concept for a book! If you ship to Sweden, I hope I win! 🙂
Hello Steve, thank you for the opportunitiy to get one of your book. I hope you’ll ship to Germany if I am the lucky one 🙂
I’d love to win it for my husband… he loves photography!
Hello Steve and Carla,
I like your work very much, So I think the (your) book will be very good! 1+1=3!
Herma
Congratulations on your first book Steve! I’ve looked at ‘teaser’ parts online and it looks wonderful!
Congrats to Steve. Would love to improve my photography skills
Your comment about “shooting from the heart” really resonates with me as I feel that is how I have always taken pictures. I’m not very knowledgeable about the technical aspects. Your book sounds like it would be the perfect way to merge the two.
I’d love to win a copy. My son who is 5 likes to shoot pics too!
The photo that brings an emotional response — that means it is true art!!! This book looks fantastic.
I’d love to win the book. Thanks for the giveaway
Would love to win the photography book!!!
I would love to win this book; taking photos is in my blood and I would like to expand my skills to make my photos more expressive/meaningful. Thanks.
I teach middle school kids in an after school program and Steve’s book looks like it would be a great resource for us!
Love the concept Steve – Photographs like poems… I also think a great photograph (or any artwork for that matter) has a story to tell. Looking forward to your debut book!
Would be delighted — deeee-lighted — to have this book in my library. Thanks for the opportunity to win it.
I think this would be a helpful book!
I actually have a copy of this book and am loving it! If I win it will be a gift to a photo friend.
This is the ” perfect ” gift I have in mind to give my son, who want to learn more about photography.
I have always considered myself a decent photographer, but lately I feel like I have been stuck in a rut of extremely boring “normal” photo. So, yes, I NEED this book!
I would love to win this book and learn how to take some great pictures!
This sounds like a fantastic book!
I just got your Creative Drawing Lab book from the library, and if this one is at all similar, I can’t wait to read it too! Would *love* to win a copy!
I loved Steve’s class and I know I will love his beautiful book. I posted a link to the giveaway on my Facebook page.
Steve, congratulations on your book, what an accomplishment for you! I have your book on my wish list but would be thrilled to win a signed copy :). Have a happy day – Heidi
Steve, I´m glad to hear, that an emotional photo does not need to be a perfect photo. I don´t know much about photography, but the photos that I made and i liked most, aren´t perfect but for me full of emotion. Perhaps these photos are only emotional for me but there are worth it.
Thanks for your post
Florentine
Awesome! Thanks for the chance.
I sure would love to win this book
I would LOVE to win a book your husband wrote.. I have your books and share them with my 4 kids… we have learned ALOT with them 🙂 It has even sparked the inner artist in my 12 year old !
I’d love to win this book! I’ll be getting a copy one way or another, so winning would be excellent!
OMG! My husband would love this book! Thanks for the chance to win it!
I would love to win a copy of this book to give away on my blog, I already have a copy and it is beautiful. Thank you Carla and Steve.
I’d love to win this book too… Thanks
would love, love, love to learn how to get the most out of my camera–
thanks for the opportunity–
I would love to win this book. I am starting to integrate photography in with my art process.
I really liked Steve’s “essay” about emotion in photos. My husband and I just got iphones in August. Now it’s easy to capture moments using the camera app. I’m thinking Steve’s book would be great to get me going on photography. I’m excited to get the book.
I would love to win a copy of this book and improve my photo taking!
I have been looking for this in my local bookstore, after getting your Drawing Lab book. It would be great to win. Thanks for the chance,
This book looks yummy! Congrats to your husband! Thanks for the giveaway too.
I would love this for a friend who is a photographer who is going thru a very hard time. I think it would crack her open again. Thanks.
Congratulations! Hard work pays off! Two creative people in one house!
I love using my camera and would enjoy some help on interesting photography.
Congrats on your new book. I sure would like to add this book to my library
Wow, this would be a book for both, my husband and me. Congratulations!
Jorin
Congratulations on his creative success!
Congratulations. Would love to receive it in Mexico City. “Espero tener suerte” Hope I´m lucky.
Love it have it, can shelve it right beside your book.
I would love to win your book! I am working on my BFA and in photography class
Congratulations on the new book! How cool is that that you’re both authors 🙂 I would love to add it to my library next to your book.
I’ve developed a soft spot for anything Sonheim over the past few years. This book would complete my collection thus far and expand my play zone !
I love nice pictures. So I hope to win the book, to make nicer ones 🙂
Thanks for the chance to win the new book. It looks fantastic!
so excited for yous!! and who wouldn’t want to try for a free copy! 🙂 xoxoxo
I would love to win this for my son who has just become interested in photography especially street photography.
Wonderful! Well done. What generosity ❤
Congratulations Steve!!! You and Carla are an amazing pair. Looking forward to your book!
Congratulations on your new book, I would love a copy for my daughter who has always loved photography. She is a young Mother of four beautiful Children and takes heartfelt photos of them. I want to encourage her to keep learning and growing this creative longing she has.
Congratulations! (I love the cover, by the way. Good design…ah!)
Hope I win!
Carla, I was very lucky to meet you through my sister Serena last month. Thank you for sharing you joy of art with all of us. My daughter takes photographs (she was very good)but has put that aside for the realities of life. Maybe the gift of this book would recharge her and get her playing again.
The book looks very inspiring – I’d love to win a copy!
Sounds like a book I need!
Congratulations Steve!
I love a copy of your book. 😉
I loved the Photo Silly courses very much and I am really curious about the book!
Our whole fam would enjoy this book..have had it marked in my Amazon wish list since Carla first announced it..
Me, me, me, please! For hubby and I to share 🙂
Awesome for your husband! Would love a chance to read and use his book. Peace Ronda
I love the idea of photography as poetry. Can’t wait to see the book.
I’m certainly not a photographer so maybe your book would help me learn something!
It looks like a great book. It would be great for people like me that need to think outside the box (or frame) and have some fun with the camera.
Congratulations on your new book!
Steven, Steven, he’s our guy. A copy of Steve’s new photography book is way better than a tripod in the eye. Go STEVEN!
Thanks for the giveaway!
My husband would love this book. He’s always wanted to learn more about photography.
Yahoo, how exciting, congratulations! and thanks for the opportunity to win a copy! I shared on facebook to help get the word out.
This book looks amazing. Just what I need right now. Thanks for a chance to win!
HI Carla & Stephen,
I would love to gift this book to a dear elderly man I know, who loves photography, he uses old vintage photos, and spends hours reworking them into wonderful new images. He would be so thrilled and inspired by your amazing work Stephen!
I am in Melbourne, Australia.
Regards
Julia Dean
I would love to discover this book, thanks for the chance to win a copy !
Congrats Steve on this first one.
The book looks very interesting!
I would really love to win this book…it looks awesome
I would love to win this book! Thankyou for the opportunity.
where can I got this book from Taiwan?
Thanks for the chance to win it! This would be a wonderful way to kickstart my photography muse again!
Cool beans!!
What a beautiful looking book!
This sounds like such a great book..I have a new camera but I think I’m afraid of it. Would love to win this book! Thanks
This is the kind of work that help us to explore other frontiers!
Does this book have my name on it? I hope so. It looks like it is a beautiful book; I’d really love to have it. Thanks for making this offering to us.
I totally understand the attempt to take pictures that speak emotionally. Congratulations on your first, of hopefully many more, books!
What a neat book! I could learn so much from this!
Loved getting a peek into what your husband does. Also…very timely. I just started getting back into playing with my SLR!
Thanks guys! I am not beyond Begging! I have a question …I am seriously working at product photography… Jewelry of course..The more I learn the less I know… Always looking for a new approach.. or a creative one that still conveys that simple marketing need.. I do think product photography can have content… not just an image… well I am an artist tooo….Will your book help me??
and when i have the book i only need a new camera 🙂
“Shoot from the Heart” LOVE that line! You write about photography the way I teach Intuitive Art – capturing the feeling. Congratulations on what I imagine will be the first of many from the other half of the Sonheim team!
Good luck!
great picture!
I agree.. “an emotional image” is better than a “perfect picture”!
Best of luck!
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HARD WORK goes into making a book. Congratulations to STEVE !. in the 70’s, i had a canon…..until i wore it out =}. HOPE*HOPE to win. needing some ‘new & improved” techy know how…need to know about the cameras of ‘today’.. Blessings to you both for your generosity !
Congrats Steve! This looks like a fun book!
Looks like a wonderful book. Saw it first on Karine’s blog.
Pick me, pick me. 😉
I have an expensive, fancy camera….and this book just might help me feel competent enough to actually use it. It was a gift and I feel so guilty! Thanks for the chance to get rolling with your book.
I appreciate the approach that you have to your photography of being connected to the art work and not looking for perfection. I strive to be that same kind of artist. How exciting to have published a book…good luck.
I would love to win a copy of this book!
Wow! Looks like a great book to help the novice photographer like me! Very cool! I am sure it will be a great hit with people!
I reall want wo win! (giggling wildly here)
I would love to win a copy of Steve’s book! I need to expand my repertoire!
“Present and connected to your subject in an emotional way”…”shooting from the heart”…poetry…you had me at hello!
Thanks for the chance to spend a year with you 🙂
I am among the masses who would love the chance to win Steve’s book!
Would love to win this photography book! So much to learn. What a fun contest to put on your blog.
Congrats on your book, Steve! I so enjoyed your class Riding Bareback, and would love to have your book to continue working with and learning more about my camera.
Ah, I’ve been waiting for this book! I finally got myself a digital SLR camera last month and I’d love to get busy with it by the assignments in this book!!!
THANK*YOU for this opportunity …would be FABULOUS to win – to keep on keepin on LEARNING. blessings.
Would love to win, It’s time I dusted off the old camera.
If I am not a winner, where can I get one.