What the F Stop: The Photography Book Without Pictures

Learn Photography with a smile.

This is not your typical ＂click here, set this＂ how-to book. It’s a conversation. A theatrical, sometimes sideways, often laugh-out-loud and occasionally scratch-your-head stroll through the art of seeing.

Framed and seasoned by tales, reflections, and a colourful cast of references, you’ll discover what truly matters in photography: understanding and feeling. And yes, camera settings too. Mostly, however, telling stories and painting with light.

No photos, no graphs, just vivid images painted with words, humour, and insight. If you love to learn with a smile, and you’re ready to make the technical second nature rather than second-guessing, this is for you.

Guided by award-winning stage performer, photographer, and storyteller Stephan Bollinger, a man with a weakness for metaphors and iced caramel lattes.

This is not a manual.
It’s a novel with vision.

What does this all mean?

Rather than focusing solely on camera settings, this book helps you understand how photography truly works, from light and contrast to composition, colour, and emotion.

It’s a journey. Through chapters that range from theatrical tales to playful deep dives into aperture, shutter speed, and ISO, readers begin to see the world differently. No quizzes on histograms, but a renewed appreciation for shadow, space, and the language of light.

In a book without images, readers create more vivid pictures in their minds than any how-to guide ever could.

Readers will explore topics such as:

• Seeing the light (really seeing it)
• The history of photography. As a musical
• Composition, and why rules are meant to be broken
• Colour, emotion, and how to make people feel
• The Exposure Triangle (sung in harmony)
• The beauty of limitations and storytelling
• Editing, culling, delivering, and letting go

This is a book about learning, yes, and we certainly give all the fancy buttons on our cameras a flick, twist, and turn. Mostly, however, we focus on understanding ’why’ and ’when’ we would do so. Confidently. Intentionally. And with heart.

Whether you’re starting out, returning after a break, or seeking a fresh perspective, this book is your friendly, occasionally cheeky, utterly passionate companion.

And yes, it also makes a rather lovely gift - not just because of the easily misunderstood title.