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Title: The Art of Outdoor Photography: Techniques for the Advanced Amateur and Professional by Boyd Norton ISBN: 0896584593 Publisher: Voyageur Press Pub. Date: February, 2002 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $21.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.78
Rating: 5
Summary: A great book, even for beginners like me
Comment: I'm scared some novices will be daunted by the subtitle of this book: "Techniques for the Advanced Amateur and Professional". Perhaps advanced photographers are the target audience, but as a beginner, I still find it informative to read and inspiring to look through. I do recommend that you take the time to read some other basic books first so that you understand basic photography jargon (e.g. f/stop, depth of field, lens aperture, shutter speed, etc.). However, once you're confident in your ability to understand this esoteric vocabulary, you'll be fully armed to appreciate the significance of this book. In addition to covering information like lighting and composition (the two keys to quality photos), he also breaks down various outdoor photographing opportunities into separate sections (e.g. wildlife, travel, landscape, closeup, etc.) and explains in detail how to compose and take great shots in each.
Finally, as I've written in other reviews about photography books, the quality of the enclosed prints is a big factor in determining how much credence I give the author's ideas. This book does not disappoint. It not only prints all full-color photos on high quality paper, but it more importantly shows some spectacular outdoor shots, both skillful and creative in nature. It also fully explains how each shot was captured and with what equipment. Excellent.
I highly recommend this book, not only to advanced photographers but also to beginners like myself. I'm not sure if I have the ability to implement all his ideas(!), but even if it takes me time to learn, the information contained within is marvelous. Incidentally, if you're looking for a great beginner's guide that includes more detail about equipment and terminology, I strongly suggest you look into Lee Frost's "The Complete Guide to Night & Low-Light Photography". The enclosed 66-page section on equipment is wonderfully helpful when you're trying to get into your first 35mm SLR system. Good luck!
Rating: 5
Summary: Excellent for learning and reference
Comment: Boyd Norton does a great job of covering a broad range of topics in a relatively small amount of space. His clear and casual writing style makes the book fun to read and the concepts easy to understand.
Norton first discusses a range of general issues such as lighting, lens choice, composition, films, etc. A section on impressionistic rendering is quite interesting and gives a different perspective from what is normally taught. He then discusses specific cases in more detail: wildlife, travel, landscape, closeup and underwater photography. An additional section on photographing ones immediate surroundings once again provides a different twist.
Norton provides enough charts and technical material to make a useful reference text. The section on lens choice - with advice on the effective use of wide-angles and telephotos - helped me quite a bit.
I found his view of compositional rules to be the most interesting aspect of the book. Instead of rigid rules that would result in everyone taking the same pictures of the same things, he tries to provide some intuition into what makes for good composition. Even in one of his own examples there is some latitude. In the pair of shots of a racing sailboat, one picture has the boat heeled a bit more, giving the greater sense of motion he mentions. In the other shot the boat is surrounded by the sails of its competitors. This may only clutter the scene, or, worse yet, further the impression that the boat is parked. However, to someone familiar with the sport, it can evoke the flurry of activity that marks the start of a race.
Rating: 5
Summary: Absolutely Excellent Book
Comment: This is one of the best-written technique books I have read on outdoor photography! It is very complete covering technical aspects such as Lighting, Composition, Lenses (wide angle through telephoto), Capturing Motion with shutter speed, and films and filters. And, it covers creative technique for wildlife, landscape, and underwater photography. Both essential for fine photography.
While reading this book, I felt I was being taught, coached, encouraged, prodded, and admonished to become a better photographer.
The book contains some absolutely beautiful images that perfectly match the written subject. Nearly every photo includes an "how I took this picture" sidebar that got an "Ah Ha! So THAT'S how it's done!" reaction from me every time. There was not one element of this book that was not specifically designed to educate. I felt like I had enrolled in the premier photography class with the world's best photographer for an instructor.
This isn't a book. It's a learning experience and if you miss it, YOU HAVE MISSED IT!
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Title: The Complete Guide to Night and Low-Light Photography by Lee Frost ISBN: 0817450416 Publisher: Amphoto Pub. Date: 15 March, 2000 List Price(USD): $29.95 |
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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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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 Guide: Secrets to Making Great Pictures by Peter K. Burian, Robert Caputo, National Geographic Society (U.S.) ISBN: 0792274989 Publisher: National Geographic Pub. Date: September, 1999 List Price(USD): $25.95 |
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Title: John Shaw's Closeups in Nature by John Shaw ISBN: 0817440526 Publisher: Amphoto Pub. Date: October, 1987 List Price(USD): $22.50 |
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