Product Description

The problems facing the photographer in the great outdoors are special. Even highly-skilled photographers are often baffled by them. In this revised and updated version of his 1984 book, "The Nature Photographer's Complete Guide to Professional Field Techniques", noted wildlife and scenic photographer John Shaw draws on his own many years in the field to demonstrate how to overcome these problems and get not just good but great nature pictures. Covering every problem you might encounter in the field, Shaw offers his own approach to the challenges of on-the-spot nature photography. Using his own colour images as examples, he discusses each type of subject and situation you may encounter, while offering specific advice and techniques on how to successfully photograph it. A wide range of topics are covered, including equipment, lenses, composition, close-ups, and professional tips.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #201837 in Books
• Published on: 2000-12-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 160 pages

Customer Reviews

I was disappointed
I purchased this book after hearing nothing but good things about it and its author. However on reading I was sadly disappointed. Its not that it's a bad book, its not, it's just that it only deals with what equipment is good for what situations.

John Shaw is a gear head and admits at the end of the book and what he writes about lenses, bodies, tripods etc is all well and useful. Apart from two things that are plane wrong: That you don't need to keep a filter on your lens at all time to protect it ("Sorry John I can't afford to get my lenses scratched"), and that the quality of zoom lens is comparable to primes when the images are blown up (there not).

He constantly recommends purchasing items that are very expensive and give details of lots of specific products. With the pace that technology moves this book will be out of date within a few years.

After reading though pages of information about what lens, etc to purchase he has a very light-weight section on technique and personally philosophy. This is where the book falls down.

The book is well laid out with some lovely images. Well written, shame about the content.

Impressive reading
This is until now my favorite book on photography. I was really impressed on the way he explains and introduces his exposure chart, for a creative correct exposure. The way he talks about the different techniques and gear to achieve the results "you want" is howsome. The book is a bit outdated in terms of gear for the digital shooters, like me, but the knowledge is there! About the complaints that his advices in terms of gear are too baised for the expensive stuff... I don't support that opinion, since, for example, he recommends a aluminium tripod instead of the hyped carbon one because of stability issues (Al are heavier). He also states that he is a gear junkie... aren't we all to some extent (at least if you take photography seriously). The advices about landscape photography and close-up are a must (who these days still envisages to buy extension tubes or close-up lens instead of fancy macro lens (just for a few time to time shoots)? after reading the book I'm a believer!). This book totally changed (and I mean it) my perspective about photography. A must for the serious photographer!

Excellent reworking of the earlier "Field Techniques"
All the positive comments in the reviews of Shaw's earlier tour de force also apply here. In a significant updating all the photos are new (and better!) as is most of the text. Also since the earlier book Shaw has switched to autofocus and overcome his suspicion of zoom lenses. This is the one to buy. Thoroughly recommended.