Imaginarium: The Process Behind the Pictures

Imaginarium: The Process Behind the Pictures is truly inspiring. This isn't only a book about photography or the creative process (although it will be very helpful for those two endeavors), but about awakening and honing your creative spirit which can be applied to any project or even the way you approach life. The chapters on Tapping into the Unconscious and Creative Psychology were my favorite and provided an interesting perspective on the connection between one's emotional state (including sadness and depression) and how it can spark the creative process. A quote in this chapter, "A certain darkness is needed to see the stars," stuck with me. The later chapters offer valuable, practical methods for executing a project from brainstorming, to moodboards, to shot lists, to creating a budget. This book is a true delight and I recommend it for anyone who is seeking to live a more creative and inspired life.

Claire Rosen’s Imaginarium The Process Behind the Pictures is inspiring. This thoughtful book recently published by Rocky Nook is about awakening one’s creative and foster and hone the creative process including guidelines to manage large and complicated photo projects. There is much discussion about overcoming the obstacles that can get in the way of a commercial success The chapters on Tapping into the Unconscious and Creative Psychology were my favorites. The later chapters offer valuable, practical methods for executing a project from brainstorming, to moodboards, to shot lists, to creating a budget. Her work’s signature style has dark mysterious tone. I recommend this book to one who is seeks to live a more creative life.

This is an artful, thoughtful and well crafted book. The photos are hauntingly beautiful, and the accompanying prose is a gift to anyone involved in any sort of artistic endeavor, either professionally or as an amateur. Highly recommended.

When Claire Rosen promised to talk about developing creativity and imagination for photography, I thought that this might be a very useful book. By the time I finished it, I wasn't so sure.The book starts out looking at the big questions, like, what is art? Things get a little fuzzier when it talks about "curation" of experiences and inspiration. From that, the book devolves into questions like time management and production schedules. The tone shifts from Esalen to Tony Robbins to management consultant.Even I occasionally speak of "releasing one's creative potential" so I'm no stranger to this approach, but mixing it with words like "curate" and "branding" puts me on my guard. This was particularly true since the author often spoke in platitudes and generalities without giving specific advice.I wondered about Rosen's credentials. She is an accomplished photographer. Although this book is not a portfolio, and many of the images presented were too small to illustrate her points, the larger pictures reveal moody, dark, Victorian-style pictures with lots of browns. There are also photographs from series she has created, like a bird against floral wallpaper. The first time I encountered a picture from a series I found it imaginative, if a little frou-frou. Subsequent pictures from the series just seemed repetitious.While I do not know Rosen's credentials as an inspirational speaker, she quotes extensively from others to support her points, and she provides recommended readings, which are useful.A great deal of time is spent describing the author's life and advice as a commercial photographer, sometimes with crews of a dozen or more. Recreational photographers will not benefit from this information.Critic Mark Schorer often discussed "technique as discovery". A corollary is that technique should explicate content. This is as true of typography as photography. How including different fonts, type sizes, italics, words all in capitals in mid sentence, irregular spacing and paragraphs in triangular or rhomboid form helps to convey the author's message was hard for me to guess.I acknowledge that I am a very conventional, and perhaps, curmudgeonly person and that the book may be inspirational to freer spirits. If you fall into the latter category, you might find this book useful, but you read at your own risk.Note: The publisher provided me with a review copy of this book at no charge.

Very interesting ways for creating. But not translate in french language so it takes time to understand all thinks. I recommand it

Beautiful inspiring book!

This is a very very different kind of photography book. It is really not about photography as a specific art form. There is no real discussion of the technical side of of using a camera or implementing any of the post processing software programs available. However some of the later chapters do have some real world tips and suggestions for actual photo shoots, like setting up the shot, getting and hiring help, budgets, insurance, etc. This is much more a book about why, not how, to make better images or other forms of art. The hints and suggestions would work for painting, music, drawing, sculpture or any artistic endeavor. Ms Rosen gives us an insight into her upbringing and thought processes and how they influence her.work today. The book is filled with quotes from and references to a wide variety of experts, doctors, psychologists, artists, philosophers,teachers,scientists, etc. All of this makes for interesting and thought provoking reading about a lifestyle. This is the kind of book best read a few pages at a time so as to digest what the author is trying to impart. As I said, this is not really a photography book. The pictures it has are not what I bet most of us would take. There are no real nature , wildlife or people shots. Most are heavily altered, of surreal scenes and a bit small and dark to closely examine. That said, this an interesting book to read. It just might change how and why you live your life and so what you do.Disclaimer---This book was sent to me by the publisher for the purpose of a review.