Rating: 
Summary: A moving book
Review: "God is at Eye Level" is a beautiful book--a moving book. Here Jan Phillips discusses the healing effect of photography on the personal and sociological levels. The design, photographs, quote-selections, and lucid writing are artfully woven together to produce an evocative read. Several sub-themes radiate, all reinforced with illuminating quotes from famous artists and thinkers. Among my favorite themes is the relevance of "the moment," or "the present." As Jan says, when embarking on an "excursion of seeing, the rest of one's life is temporarily on hold. There is nothing to reckon with but the moment at hand." When anchored in the present, one's regrets and fears tend to dissolve. You are treated with a "sweet joy" and the healing nature of a "now" orientation. Your photographs reflect who you are. As a result, you can discover as much about seeing inside yourself as the world outside. When you go out and shoot, Jan says, "honor your instincts, for the images that result are like clues to a treasure hunt," symbols which later tell you who you are, where you've been, and where you are going. Jan tries to develop a relationship with everyone she photographs. She strives to achieve empathy with all her subjects. For her, the relationship comes first. Her portraits grow out of this closeness and express the intimacy from which they emerge. As a result, a portrait reflects the authenticity of a person's spirit. Jan discusses the healing influence photography has upon society. She cites several photographers whose work evoked a national response and encouraged social reform. Among others, Jan includes the work of Dorothea Lange (migrant farmers) and Laura Gilpin (Navajos). And lastly, many photographers wait until they are inspired before they go shooting. Jan says that for her, inspiration comes while working, not before it. The key is to start working, then discover while underway. Once you do, you will experience the healing nature of photography.
Rating: 
Summary: Inspired but limiting...
Review: Although the photographs and quotes are inspiring, I found the directives to be less than constructive. One directive suggests that you "take a deep breath and then THROW AWAY all photographs you have taken that are out of focus or too light or too dark". What? I was so dissappointed in that conventional criticism. The impression I got was that there is a very specific "right vs. wrong" way to 'spiritual photography'. If the book is based loosely on methods of Art Therapy, or rather, Photographic Arts Therapy, it seems to have missed the mark. Photography in my opinion, should be more about the creative process and creating visual communication rather than making a technically-sound, conventional-looking photograph. Very disappointing.
Rating:
Summary: Inspired but limiting...
Review: Although the photographs and quotes are inspiring, I found the directives to be less than constructive. One directive suggests that you "take a deep breath and then THROW AWAY all photographs you have taken that are out of focus or too light or too dark". What? I was so dissappointed in that conventional criticism. The impression I got was that there is a very specific "right vs. wrong" way to 'spiritual photography'. If the book is based loosely on methods of Art Therapy, or rather, Photographic Arts Therapy, it seems to have missed the mark. Photography in my opinion, should be more about the creative process and creating visual communication rather than making a technically-sound, conventional-looking photograph. Very disappointing.
Rating: 
Summary: The Heart Strings Sing
Review: For me, the prose read like inspired writing. As I read her words, and viewed Jan Phillips photographs, I was influenced , and uplifted, by the spiritual depth, clarity, empathy, wisdom, and balance---all of which were genuinely offered within these artistically presented pages. This book is definitely a valuable and a loving gift to those of us who are aspiring photographers! Each of the participatory Reflections --insightful, enjoyable,down-to-earth FUN suggestions by Jan-- gives us clear ideas/ inspirations to Start where we are, right Now! The book encourages us to explore our creativity, our lives, and the world around us.I know this book is one I will continue to read and re-read. The courage, grace, and wisdom offered to every reader of God Is At Eye Level is ageless.
Rating:
Summary: God Is at Eye Level
Review: For me, the prose read like inspired writing. As I read her words, and viewed Jan Phillips photographs, I was influenced , and uplifted, by the spiritual depth, clarity, empathy, wisdom, and balance---all of which were genuinely offered within these artistically presented pages. This book is definitely a valuable and a loving gift to those of us who are aspiring photographers! Each of the participatory Reflections --insightful, enjoyable,down-to-earth FUN suggestions by Jan-- gives us clear ideas/ inspirations to Start where we are, right Now! The book encourages us to explore our creativity, our lives, and the world around us.I know this book is one I will continue to read and re-read. The courage, grace, and wisdom offered to every reader of God Is At Eye Level is ageless.
Rating: 
Summary: why this book is like cheesecake for the soul
Review: Hi there! If you're wondering whether this is the book for you, let me tell you who I wrote it for...I wrote it for people who love to look, who lose themselves in the process sometimes, so taken aback by the beauty of things; I wrote it for people who are hungry for images and words that are tender, touching, powerful, healing-for people who are fed up with images of celebrities and criminals and who want to nourish their eyes and heart and soul with things that REALLY matter. I wrote it for people who enjoy the sublime mystery of God and life and who love being the ones with all the questions. I wrote it for those who understand that it's ALL true, all connected, all one, all the time. I wrote it for myself so I wouldn't forget that everywhere I look, there God is, looking right back. I think of this book as cheesecake for the soul, as rich as it gets. It's loaded with goodies, incredible quotes, marvelous images, great stories. It's meant to feed that hunger that's almost too deep to name, to take us to that place where we breathe deeply and sigh out loud a sigh of peace, and joy, and comfort. At least, that is my hope. I think you will love it. I do. Jan
Rating:
Summary: why this book is like cheesecake for the soul
Review: Hi there! If you're wondering whether this is the book for you, let metell you who I wrote it for...I wrote it for people who love to look, who lose themselves in the process sometimes, so taken aback by the beauty of things; I wrote it for people who are hungry for images and words that are tender, touching, powerful, healing-for people who are fed up with images of celebrities and criminals and who want to nourish their eyes and heart and soul with things that REALLY matter. I wrote it for people who enjoy the sublime mystery of God and life and who love being the ones with all the questions. I wrote it for those who understand that it's ALL true, all connected, all one, all the time. I wrote it for myself so I wouldn't forget that everywhere I look, there God is, looking right back. I think of this book as cheesecake for the soul, as rich as it gets. It's loaded with goodies, incredible quotes, marvelous images, great stories. It's meant to feed that hunger that's almost too deep to name, to take us to that place where we breathe deeply and sigh out loud a sigh of peace, and joy, and comfort. At least, that is my hope. I think you will love it. I do. Jan
Rating:
Summary: Why this book is like cheesecake for the soul.
Review: Hi there! If you're wondering whether this is the book for you,let me tell you who I wrote it for...I wrote it for people who love tolook, who lose themselves in the process sometimes, so taken aback by the beauty of things; I wrote it for people who are hungry for images and words that are tender, touching, powerful, healing-for people who are fed up with images of celebrities and criminals and who want to nourish their eyes and heart and soul with things that REALLY matter. I wrote it for people who enjoy the sublime mystery of God and life and who love being the ones with all the questions. I wrote it for those who understand that it's ALL true, all connected, all one, all the time. I wrote it for myself so I wouldn't forget that everywhere I look, there God is, looking right back. I think of this book as cheesecake for the soul, as rich as it gets. It's loaded with goodies, incredible quotes, marvelous images, great stories. It's meant to feed that hunger that's almost too deep to name, to take us to that place where we breathe deeply and sigh out loud a sigh of peace, and joy, and comfort. At least, that is my hope. I think you will love it. I do. Jan
Rating:
Summary: Portrait Party is a success!
Review: I found Jan's latest book to be wonderful. I love the exersizes and recently did one called "Portrait Day". Only I changed it to "Portrait Party". I invited my good friends over, told them to wear something that expressed their essence and set up my kitchen as a make shift "studio". It even has a pocket door so our "sessions" could be done in private. Each woman came in and each "shoot" was wonderfully unique and different. Light refreshments were provided and everyone enjoyed themselves. At the end of the day we did several fun group photos. This week we're getting together for a "viewing" of all the photos so we can see what the others did. Everyone wants to do another one - It was a great experience for everyone involved. Thank you Jan!
Rating:
Summary: Learning to see God by "seeing"....
Review: I happened to notice this wonderful, soulful, book at a local bookstore and was moved by the deceptive simplicity of its title and peaceful image on the cover to pick it up and thumb through its pictures; I was floored by the sincere depth of its message.
The book is a sublime gem that anyone who is interested in what photography is all about, what life is all about, and what their *soul* is all about, owes it to themselves to keep by their side! It will deepen and nourish your relationship with the world.
Jan Philips is a rare creature who is equally well proficient, gifted even, in both effortlessly capturing the timeless beauty and spirit of nature in her photos and providing an eloquent written context for those images to help others find the sacred in the "ordinary." Leafing even through only a few pages will leave almost surely leave one with a sense of tranquility; reading over the entire book, a few times perhaps, depending on mood and temperament, cannot fail to leave even the most downtroden of souls feeling joyful at simply being alive and having the privelage at marveling at life's beauty. The book, in short, is all about how *everything that one looks at* -- and most of all the inner "I" that is always lurking somewhere in the mysterious depths of our souls looking outward through our "eyes" -- is nothing but God looking in.
This is a small treasure of a book that is now on the short list of books I will never part with. Highly recommended.
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