A Photography Book That Belongs on Your Bookshelf

by Skip Cohen

It's time for everyone to get to know Tom Alvarez. Tom's a good buddy who has a passion for the craft that's pretty spectacular. He's an artist, photographer, educator, writer, great Dad, husband, and a good friend. We first met a few months before Covid hit. At the time, Tom was teaching photography at the Imagine School in Northport, Florida, and we had started talking online. 

He was passionate about exposing his students to as much as he could in the world of imaging, even though most of them had never held a real camera and were shooting with their phones. Thanks to a few industry friends, I was able to secure a dozen discontinued point-and-shoot cameras. Well, the pandemic hit, and I was never able to fulfill my offer to speak to his kids about a future in imaging. 

The best part of this industry isn't about imaging but the friendships that come from everyone's love for the craft. Even though he was no longer teaching, the friendship continued, and we'd get together for lunch a few times a year. He called me one day a year or so ago and asked my opinion about a book about backgrounds.

Being an author is not a new role for Tom. His diversity as an artist covers a long list of skills, including his first book, How to Create Action, Fantasy, and Adventure Comics, almost 30 years ago. While so many people want to write their own book, it takes not only understanding the topic but also discipline and, no pun intended, FOCUS.
 
We're all familiar with the concept of "behind the scenes" (BTS). The BTS of any image is literally the background, and less obvious is the original vision of the artist.  The image might start with the subject, but the power of an artist's concept depends on the background. The impact of the final image is often entirely dependent on the background, including what kind of backdrop, lighting, composition, and depth of field have been chosen.  Your background is the foundation of your BTS. It's the not-so-secret ingredient that sets the mood in any image.
 
If a picture really is worth a thousand words, then your choice of background sets the mood for at least the first few "chapters." A simple change in the background completely changes everything about the subject and what we feel when we view an image.

Last month, Tom's dream of a book about backgrounds became a reality. It's now available on Amazon.  Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned pro and need a few refresher reminders, it's a book with wide appeal. Just click on the cover shot to the right. Tom's statement in his conclusion says it all:

With over thirty years of photography and teaching under my belt, I have always aspired to help others improve their art, and that has led me to the creation of this book. If any of my readers simply move thier angle just a small amount to get a better "shot," well, then I have done my job as a photography instructor.

Meet my buddy, Tom Alvarez!

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