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Title: National Geographic Photography Field Guide: Secrets to Making Great Pictures by Peter Burian, Bob Caputo ISBN: 0792274989 Publisher: National Geographic Pub. Date: September, 1999 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $25.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.68
Rating: 5
Summary: My favorite photography book
Comment: Of all the photography books I've purchased, this one is by far the one I've found most useful because it packs plenty of practical info into a quick, easy-to-read book with lots of beautiful, extraordinary illustrations. I do NOT recommend this as a "how to" guide for the basic techniques of photography; however, I loved it because it quickly taught me the principles of how to capture the extraordinary pictures that the photographers of National Geographic are famous for. In other words, it is a superior book for learning how to improve your composition.
The most fundamental elements I learned from the Field Guide are:
1. Even National Geographic photographers must be patient and wait and wait to get that perfect picture. Sometimes it takes weeks for all the factors to align themselves just so, such that the photographer can capture something truly incredible.
2. Whenver possible, show human INTERACTION in a photograph (not just faces or parts of people). It lends activity and interest to the picture.
3. For landscape shots, take the picture during the "golden hour" of early morning or late evening, or take it during a weather event, such as an impending rainstorm. Anybody can take a pretty landscape shot. Waiting for the right timing is what makes National Geographic shots more appealing.
These are just a few things I learned from the Field Guide that I was able to apply immediately to my own work. I have found it immensely helpful and highly recommend it to anyone interested in any type of photography.
Rating: 5
Summary: The Best!
Comment: If you don't know how to use your 35 mm SLR camera or you think that you can always take better pictures from any of those point and shoot cameras rather than your expensive heavy SLR, or you are pondering over to buy your first SLR camera to enter into the world of photography then this is what you need to read.
Having said that never conclude that this is a book for the beginners. This is just to emphasize the photography skill spectrum it covers in this one book.
This book is divided in two main parts. First part tells you all the technical knowledge you will ever need, in a very easy to understand language with tons of practical tips. This covers basic understanding of apparture, shutter speed, film speed, ways to control exposure, depth of field etc and then basic composition rules to make successfull photographs. All the concepts are explained with example photographs.
Second part covers some very valuable suggestions from some of the accomplished phtographers from National Geographic.
Afterall taking successful photographs is a thinking process and the more you learn from masters more equiped you are to satisfy your photographer self.
If you want to buy only one book to improve your photography skills then this would be the one.
Rating: 5
Summary: What beginners need, right now
Comment: The title of the book is "Secrets to making great pictures" and it delivers on exactly that. It cuts through a lot of the fluff of other photography books and gives the beginning photographer the tools to start taking solid pictures immediately.
It goes over the same old aperture/shutterspeed/filmspeed topics as other books early on and perhaps in slightly less detail than necessary to truly understand the concepts, but the meat of the book is devoted to understanding what to take pictures of.
The hardest skill involved in photography is the 'seeing'. It's the ability to see beyond the normal and into the extraordinary. This book will help you see. In fact, it will tell you where to look with specific examples and suggestions as to how to improve your photos. Unlike other books on general photography (a category that this book falls into) that spend very little time discussing how to make a picture better, this book devotes pages to describing how to go about getting better perspectives and better scenes. If you want to take portraits, try this, this, and this. If you want to take landscapes, try this, this, and this. The book is very specific as to what kind of techniques would be appropriate in various scenarios.
Perhaps a seasoned veteran photographer would not need to relearn these techniques, but for a budding photographer this kind of technique (as opposed to theory) approach to picture taking can jumpstart the hobby and get the photographer well along the road to actually 'seeing'.
The included photos are fantastic, but one gripe is that several photos are spread over two pages so much of the middle portion of the photos is hidden in the book spine.
I'm glad I bought this book. 5 stars.
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Title: National Geographic Photography Field Guide: People and Portraits by National Geographic Society ISBN: 0792264991 Publisher: National Geographic Pub. Date: 01 March, 2002 List Price(USD): $21.95 |
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Title: Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson ISBN: 0817437126 Publisher: Amphoto Pub. Date: November, 1990 List Price(USD): $22.50 |
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Title: National Geographic Photography Field Guides: Landscapes by Robert Caputo, Peter K. Burian ISBN: 0792264983 Publisher: National Geographic Pub. Date: 01 March, 2002 List Price(USD): $21.95 |
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Title: Kodak Guide to 35mm Photography: Techniques for Better Pictures by Eastman Kodak Company ISBN: 087985801X Publisher: Sterling Publishing Pub. Date: May, 2000 List Price(USD): $19.95 |
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Title: John Shaw's Nature Photography Field Guide by John Shaw ISBN: 0817440593 Publisher: Watson-Guptill Pubns Pub. Date: 31 October, 2000 List Price(USD): $24.95 |
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