Canadian Documentarian Steve Simon

Steve Simon, from America at the Edge

Our friend Eamon Hickey has just published a short interview of Canadian photojournalist and documentary photographer Steve Simon over at Rob Galbraith's DPI, mainly about Steve's new book, The Passionate Photographer: Ten Steps Toward Becoming Great—the first of Steve's books aimed at helping other photographers. The DPI feature showcases a good selection of Steve's work from several different projects.

"I'm just a big admirer of Steve's photography," Eamon writes. "To me, he's kind of an archetype of a creative person trying to figure out how to have a life without giving up on doing really good and worthwhile work."

Mike

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Original contents copyright 2012 by Michael C. Johnston and/or the bylined author. All Rights Reserved.

Comments

[Kenneth Tanaka]

Coincidentally, just this past week I bought the Kindle version of Simon's "The Passionate Photographer" book on a bit of a lark. I knew nothing of Simon, generally eschew "How to Become a Great _______ " books, and gag whenever I encounter the word "passionate". So buying this book in any form was by no means a foregone conclusion for me.

But so far I'm impressed by his thoughts and practical guidance. It's written from rather a journalistic point of view (i.e. "capturing the moment") which will probably be a productive angle for most readers. The iPad version of the Kindle reader makes this an excellent summer camera read.

[Ned]

Mike, do you still get your cut if we follow your link but order the Kindle version?

[Yes. —MJ. And, thanks!]

[Sneye]

Mike, I admire your habit to refrain from recommending literature you haven't actually read. Wish you stuck to it in this case. I have read Steve Simon's book and sadly it is one of the least useful, insightful or enjoyable books about photography I've ever seen. It is packed with cliches and rather superficial. Some of the author׳s photographs featured in 'The Passionate Photographer' are very good, though. This book is probably the most PR'ed photography-related text in the past decade (perhaps with the exception of Scott Kelby's series). Don't fall in this trap.

[John Krumm]

I have the book (The Passionate Photographer)and really like it. Simon has both great skill and very appealing compassion, humility and sense of humor. I hope he finishes his "America" book, which he started so many years ago.

[Rick Keir]

Steve gave a talk in Madison a few years ago. When the formal program ended, he took a ton of questions from the people who stayed, and posed for pictures with anyone who wanted (including Bucky Badger, who was appearing at a sports event down the hall!). He didn't leave until everyone had asked every question they wanted.

Really, he is just the epitome of "Canadian Nice".

[xfmj]

wow! definitely worth finding the click-through spot to see pages 2, 3, and 4 of that article where all his photographs sit. Some really great captures in the "America" and "Grandmother" series, and some novel ideas for depicting others' witnessing reside within the ground zero group.

Thanks for the heads-up.

[Nilesh]

Thanks for posting this. I do have Steve's book...great book and very engaging read. However I must warn potential buyers not to buy it on Kindle...the pictures are of (almost) thumbnail sizes....absolutely useless. I have seen Kindle doing this to many photography books in order to keep the file size small..a real shame.

[Ned]

Too late :-(

Thanks for posting this. I do have Steve's book...great book and very engaging read. However I must warn potential buyers not to buy it on Kindle...the pictures are of (almost) thumbnail sizes....absolutely useless. I have seen Kindle doing this to many photography books in order to keep the file size small..a real shame.

[Fer]

I bought Steve's book a few months ago, and can only recommend it to every amateur (or even relatively unexperienced pros) who are feeling stuck in their ways or lacking something in their photography. Steve manages to give good advice which is both practical and inspiring, no mean feat. As in this interview, he also comes across as a really nice guy.