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 enlarge | Author: John Shaw
Publisher: Amphoto Books
Category: Book
List Price: $24.95
Buy New: $13.98
You Save: $10.97 (44%)
New (36) Used (21) from $10.99
Avg. Customer Rating:  80 reviews
Sales Rank: 9514
Media: Paperback
Edition: Rev Sub
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 160
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.4
Dimensions (in): 10.9 x 8.3 x 0.5
ISBN: 0817440593
Dewey Decimal Number: 778.93
EAN: 9780817440596
ASIN: 0817440593
Publication Date: October 31, 2000
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
 Anachronism March 14, 2008
10 out of 11 found this review helpful
This is listed as the "updated edition." That is true but it was updated almost a decade ago in 2000, which explains why the book is based on film photography. It is also a beginner's book almost entirely devoted to hardware and equipment as is stated by the author in the preface: This is a book about John Shaw's cameras, lenses, tripods, and film. It is not a book about capturing great nature photos. If you don't know about aperture, speed, ISO, or depth of field as applied to 35mm film cameras then this book is for you. If you are looking for guidance on the techniques used to capture great outdoor photography you are advised to look elsewhere.
 Great pictures, not-so-useful information February 15, 2008
3 out of 7 found this review helpful
I love John Shaw's pictures (they're very inspiring!). However, I didn't find the book useful. Subscribe to a decent forum on the web, and you'll find more relevant, up to date and detailed information than what's found in this book. Check out wikipedia, or g**gle any question you may have. Don't spend your money on this one or on Shaw's Lanscape Photography.
If you want to learn nature composition check out this one: The Art of Photographing Nature by Martha Hill (Author), Art Wolfe (Photographer). That one is a timeless book for budding photographers.
 Awesome book. My de facto reference now February 6, 2008
I did understand the basic concepts, but this book really got me started on photography. I now shoot most of my images in manual mode!
Really great book. Highly recommended.
One of the best photography books! January 9, 2008
This is one of the best books on photography. I have several books on photography, and this is one is probably my favorite. The information is abundant and very detailed. I learned so much. My favorite sections were on lenses, film, and my favorite part: John's simplified exposure system (based on the zone system). Also, I think the photos in this book are some of the best I've ever seen. Every photographer needs to own this book!
 Very helpful guide but leans toward gear-related issues as opposed to nature-related issues January 5, 2008
5 out of 6 found this review helpful
I've found this to be a very helpful guide to nature photography. Shaw is particularly good at getting you to think through what you're doing while on location setting up a shot. Though the author would probably disagree, the book emphasizes gear and technique - - it consists of lots of sections, each 2-6 pages long, discussing particular topics. The topics range from the big (the theory of exposure) to the minutiae (different types of ball heads on tripods). The book is illustrated with Shaw's photographs, which are a joy.
Though Shaw makes occasional references to digital cameras, the book is clearly written for the pre-digital era (or for those who continue to use non-digital cameras). If you want to learn how to get the most out of the specifically digital features of your camera, I'd look for another book. However, the basics of nature photography don't change, so for most of the book it doesn't matter that Shaw is shooting on slide film.
Shaw might not use digital film, but he does discuss all the other technology in your modern camera. Most important, he tells you how and why to ignore what the camera tells you when you leave it set on auto exposure, auto timing, and auto focus.
I would have liked him to spend more time on several topics. For example, I would have liked to see more shots that don't work. The section on orientation includes examples of the same scenes shot horizontally and vertically, and there are occasional examples of the same shot at different exposures. I would have liked to see a lot more of this - - why do some choices work better than others, and when do several choices all work for different purposes?
Similarly, I would have liked to see more attention to composition. Shaw discusses basic themes (breaking frame into thirds, limiting yourself to a single subject, and so forth). He also provides a number of good rules of thumb. However, these issues are listed more than discussed. Here especially a comparison of good and better shots would have been very helpful.
Finally, for a book on nature photography, there isn't all that much advice about nature. The final section consists of a calendar of good times to visit particular locations (Yellowstone in winter, New England in fall, and so forth). However, there's only a little advice on using blinds, and almost nothing about finding wildlife in a camera-friendly way. Shaw also doesn't discuss the challenges of photographing birds, and in fact, he has few pictures of birds in the book.
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