Feininger, Andreas. The Creative Photographer by Andreas Feininger.

Prentice Halll, 1955. Fourth printing, 1965.  4th printing, hardcover with protected very good dust jacket. 329 pages.  Major sections: An Approach to Photography, The Subject, The Photographer, The Picture, and The Picture Story.  Many of the best illustrations are by Feininger himself, a veteran LIFE magazine photographer.  Includes female nudes.  Photographers include Andreas Feininger; Alfred Eisenstaedt; W. Eugene Smith; Fritz Henle; Erwin Blumenfeld; Gjon Mili; George Silk; Robert Samberg; Dick Walters; Angus McBean; Rolf Tietgens;  et al.  Note: not to be confused with later editions in the 1970s that have an ISBN number.  This 4th printing is now uncommonly found. Summary:

First published in 1955, with various revised editions, The Creative Photographer is a cornerstone text by Andreas Feininger, the architect-turned-photojournalist for LIFE magazine. The book serves as a manifesto for "purposeful" photography, shifting the focus from the camera as a mechanical tool to the photographer as a creative engineer.

Core Philosophy: The Mind vs. The Machine

Feininger’s primary argument is that a camera is a mindless recording device; creativity only begins when the photographer understands how to translate a three-dimensional, moving world into a two-dimensional, static image.

• Visualization: Like Ansel Adams, Feininger stresses the importance of seeing the final print before pressing the shutter.

• Selection and Rejection: He posits that the artist’s greatest power is the ability to exclude distracting elements and simplify a scene to its graphic essence.

The Four Elements of a Photograph

The book is largely structured around what Feininger considers the essential building blocks of the creative process:

1. The Subject: Choosing subjects with inherent meaning or striking form.

2. The Composition: Organizing lines, shapes, and textures to guide the viewer’s eye.

3. The Light: Using illumination not just for exposure, but to define mood, volume, and space.

4. The Technique: Mastering tools (lenses, filters, darkroom work) solely to serve the first three elements.

Key Technical Concepts

• Perspective Control: Drawing on his architectural background, Feininger provides deep insights into how different lenses (telephoto vs. wide-angle) distort or compress space to create specific psychological effects.

• The "Graphic" Quality: He champions high contrast, sharp focus, and bold textures—style markers that became his signature at LIFE.

• Honesty in Imagery: While he encourages creative manipulation, he warns against "gimmickry," arguing that every technical effect must have a narrative justification.

Structural Approach

The book is divided into logical phases of creation:

• Part I: The Functions of Photography (Why we take pictures).

• Part II: The Subject (Finding the extraordinary in the ordinary).

• Part III: The Picture-taking Process (The mechanical execution).

• Part IV: The Final Result (Evaluation and editing).

Significance

The Creative Photographer remains a classic because it avoids the "cookbook" approach of many technical manuals. Instead, it teaches a way of thinking. Feininger’s rigorous, analytical style encourages photographers to be disciplined, intentional, and above all, critical of their own work.

"A photograph is not 'taken,' but created; and the more control the photographer has over his medium, the more creative his work will be." — Andreas Feininger