Photography Led by the Spirit

A Review of Travel Photographer Bob Krist's Book "Spirit of Place"

Sep 27, 2009

Krist's guide is a delicious balance of his own artistic philosophies from a lifetime of photographing in various contexts and the more technical aspects of the trade.

A sumptuous guide to the world of travel photography, Bob Krist’s Spirit of Place: The Art of the Traveling Photographer will earn a prominent display on anyone’s coffee table, after being read from cover to cover.

From the first photo of a mother bearing her child through a chamber of the Amber Fort in Rajasthan, India, each page ushers the reader into the sacred presence of diverse people and places. Krist’s photography renders the ordinary extraordinary, not through fancy gimmicks, but a commitment to capturing the “spirit” of a place as truthfully as possible. Consequently, his work elicits a reverence and appreciation for life in general—something to which all art should aspire.

Travel Photography v. Egocentric Tourism

To this experienced photographer, the art of picture-taking is not about one’s personal vision as an artist. On the contrary, he feels that there is too much me in art today. Krist’s prefers to carry out visual pilgrimages, paying homage to the inherent beauty he finds everywhere he goes. His indictment of commercial travel photography is that much of it portrays “travel as fashion and interiors rather than as a cultural encounter” (Krist, 12).

That said, Bob Krist doesn’t spend much time preaching. He leads by example, getting out there and connecting with people and their environments, working to present evidence of those encounters in stunningly fresh ways. Being genuine and intimate with the people one photographs, while striving to have a positive affect on the cultures one visits, are vital, says the author.

Conducting oneself as a traveler—not an exploitative tourist—is the approach most conducive to positive cultural relations, and one that Americans in particular should keep in mind. As an American himself, Krist understands that Americans are not malicious, but sometimes inconsiderate when trotting the globe. With the United States currently at the forefront of worldwide globalization, it is imperative that we acknowledge the rest of the world and treat other cultures with utmost respect.

Beauty as Truth

Krist feels that today's travel photography is threatened by what he calls the “postmodern snapshot aesthetic,” that is, anything well done is automatically suspect. In a world where trick techniques, alterations and airbrushing of every kind toy with our perceptions, a beautifully photographed location may be viewed as a dishonest rendering of place. In Bob Krist’s mind, “a travel photographer is…a photojournalist who accentuates the positive...Is this romanticizing a destination? Yes, maybe. Is it a dishonest portrayal of place? I don’t think so”(156). As evidenced in his pictures, Krist carries this sense of excellence and integrity to all corners of the globe and back again.

Little Experience Required

Spirit of Place offers guidance and inspiration for any photographer, whatever their level of expertise. For the novice, there is explanation of composition, the various lenses available, how natural and artificial light behave and how to work with them. For the expert, there is advice on using filters, alternative developing processes, operating equipment in extreme climates and conditions, and aerial shooting. For the travel-minded, Krist includes a chapter on “Survival Techniques for Road Warriors.” As for those who never considered picking up their own 35mm auto-focus single-lens-reflex and catching a plane, this gorgeous guide may very well whet an appetite for travel.

Readable, informative, and captivating, how-to nonfiction doesn’t get much better than this.

The copyright of the article Photography Led by the Spirit in Photography Books is owned by Katelyn Aronson. Permission to republish Photography Led by the Spirit in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.