Author & Photographer:Santino Zafarana

Publisher: GOFF BOOKS

ISBN: ‎ 978-1951541781

My first exposure to the world of photography occurred when I was a very young boy. My folks had given me as a birthday present, a Kodak Baby Brownie. I loved this little camera! According to Kodak, all you had to do was push the button, and voila, the camera did the rest. Photography certainly has come a long way since the Brownie with the advent of digital photography

Santino Zafarana, author of Think Before You Shoot: The Art of Taking Creative Pictures, likewise was introduced to this magnificent world when his uncle Salvatore Dolce presented him with his first Brownie. Later, he received a Rolleiflex for his fifteenth birthday. The difference between him and myself is that he became an accomplished photographer, while I still struggle to take a decent photo. I can probably attribute my failure to not thinking about the subject’s content beyond whether it appeals to me aesthetically.

Choosing a good book on photography instruction can be quite a challenge, particularly when there are so many to consider.


Think Before You Shoot: The Art of Taking Creative Pictures can assist you in opening your eyes and being aware of things that have always been present. It is not just a book but a fascinating learning experience. The fundamentals of photography have never been easier or more enjoyable than with this hands-on book, which will motivate you to pick up your camera and start shooting right away. Zafarana removes the fat from the bone and goes into a lot of interesting detail in a straightforward, non-technical manner.

When photographing, ask yourself two crucial questions: What type of feeling are you aiming to capture and provoke in your viewer?" writes Zafarana in the Preface. And what will assist you to hone your style so that you can keep your audience's attention?


Zafarana teaches you how to "think before you shoot" by remembering what you're looking at, why the image captivates you, what elements stay in the image, and how you may convey all you see to the viewer.


Zafarana demonstrates twenty-one different photography techniques. These provide you a new perspective and an overview of the main instruments that professional photographers use when shooting.


The breadth of topics addressed in this book stands out, as it delves into the ins and outs of procedures that will aid in the creation of visually attractive photos.

These include using the correct depth of field, foreground vs. background, basic proportions/rule of thirds, controlling motion, understanding framing, frame within a frame or looking through things, understanding good essential lighting, shadows, reflections, point of view, awareness of your background, the art of silhouettes, the best places to crop for portraits, texture, patterns, and repetition, still life, portraits using window and door light, low light or nigh lighting, texture, patterns, and repetition


Each method is demonstrated using large, crisp, and informative color images that add visual interest and inspiration. Many of them elicit emotions and may even trigger memories.


You'll have to agree with Zararana when he says, "This book is a visual feast, an offering both for people who adore fine art and those who realize the mind behind the creation," after poring over the excellent advice and lovely photographs.


Zafarana is not only a gifted photographer with years of experience, but he is also an excellent instructor, teaching and mentoring at the Creative Phography Workshops in Los Angeles, which he co-owns with his wife, Tracey Landworth. Much of the information in the book is based on his eighteen years of experience as a teacher and mentor.

FOLLOW HERE TO READ NORM'S INTERVIEW WITH SANTINO ZAFARANA