Every once in a while, a book comes along that doesn’t try to teach you anything, and somehow ends up teaching you everything.
In 2025, that book for me was The Power of Photography by Peter Fetterman.
I didn’t pick it up looking for inspiration.
I certainly wasn’t looking for instruction.
But somewhere between the pages, I found myself slowing down… then stopping… then simply sitting with the photographs in a way I hadn’t in quite some time.
This is not a technical book.
There are no diagrams, no lighting setups, no discussions about gear.
Instead, it’s a collection of photographs, each paired with a short reflection. Simple on the surface, but quietly powerful in a way that sneaks up on you.
And what makes it different is this:
The photographs aren’t there to impress you… they’re there because they meant something to someone.
That changes everything.
As photographers, especially those of us who have been at this for a long time, it’s easy to drift toward process, precision, and refinement. We think about lenses, sensors, film stocks, lighting ratios, all the things we should think about.
But this book gently pulls you back to something more fundamental.
It reminds you that a photograph doesn’t have to be perfect to matter.
It just has to be felt.
This book now sits in my reading spot, a recliner with a small tower of books to its right. Truth be told, I’ve had to start cutting back on purchasing books, but I had to own this one.
Years ago, I had a contractor turn my dining room into a library with built-in shelves, and even that wasn’t enough for long.
If Your Book Budget is Slim …
These days, before I consider buying a book, I borrow it from my local library. If they don’t have it, they’ll often bring it in through their interlibrary loan system, which is a wonderful resource more people should take advantage of.
I always encourage library memberships, not just as a way to save money, but as a way to explore freely without pressure. It’s one of the simplest ways to discover what truly resonates with you.
And if you come across this one while browsing your library system, I would gently suggest giving it some time.
You may find, as I did, that it stays with you.
And maybe…
somewhere in these pages
a photograph waits quietly
for someone to feel
All photographs and text from The Power of Photography book are copyrighted by their respective owners and are shown here under fair use for educational and commentary purposes only.
