The Way of Image-Making

A Complete Guide to Photography and Videography, from Phones to Professional Shoots

This is an imaging guide written for everyone who wants to take better photos. Whether you're an ordinary person capturing everyday life on a phone, a creator exploring art with a mirrorless camera, or a professional handling business, meetings, and documentary work, you'll find a complete path here, from pressing the shutter to moving people's hearts.

Drawing on more than thirty years of hands-on photography experience, the author combines knowledge from optics, psychology, design, and other fields to dispel the myth that equipment is everything. Starting with an understanding of the essence of light and shadow, you'll gradually master the fundamentals of composition, color, and subject matter. Then you'll dive into specialized settings such as portraits, architecture, and the night sky, turning theory into practical techniques you can reproduce. Finally, you'll connect the entire process, from shooting and post-processing to commercial delivery, so every photo you take becomes a visual language with warmth, a story, and a soul.

This is not a manual of camera settings, but an introduction to visual thinking. It teaches you to analyze equipment with an engineer's rigor, capture fleeting moments with an artist's sensitivity, and make your work seen with a communicator's wisdom. Whether you're new to photography or an enthusiast looking to break through a plateau, this book will be a key step on your journey from taking clear photos to taking moving ones.