Close-up Photography [Paperback]

Alan Constant (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 2000

Close-up photography is used in a variety of areas such as nature, medical and forensic, instruction and training, archiving, and the arts. The first part of the book is dedicated to the technical side of closeup work, including the equipment required, how to meter in close-up work, special problems, magnification and methods of achieving it, lighting, and electronic flash. The second part is the practical side of close-up work with an introduction to elementary composition, photographing mechanical subjects, crystals under polarized light, and nature photography. Heavily illustrated with diagrams, tables and color throughout, Close-up Photography also includes mathematical formulas that have been simplified and explained with examples.

Many photography books have some information about close-up work, but usually the subject is not treated in-depth and the variety of problems likely to come up when the photographer begins magnifying are not addressed. Most often, other books seem to deal with the use of a macro lens and ignore or gloss over other methods. This book weeds out the misinformation and the over-complication of technique to give the reader a real understanding of the field.

Practical 'how to' advice covering the many different areas of close-up photography
Beautiful color photographs throughout the book
A reference guide for anyone interested in learning the tricks and tips of close-up photography

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Many photography books have some information about close-up work, but usually the subject is not treated in-depth and the variety of problems likely to come up when the photographer begins magnifying are not addressed. Most often, other books seem to deal with the use of a macro lens and ignore or gloss over other methods. This book weeds out the misinformation and the over-complication of technique to give the reader a real understanding of the field.

About the Author

Alan Constant has been involved in photography for over thirty years, specifically close-up and nature photography for more than 10 years, and has taught workshops and courses on the subject.

Product Details

• Paperback: 152 pages
• Publisher: Focal Press; 1 edition (February 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0240803809
• ISBN-13: 978-0240803807
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.5 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,973,273 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

68 of 71 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Close-Up Photography by Alan R. Constant, April 16, 2000

By 

Arlen B. LeRoy - See all my reviews

This review is from: Close-up Photography (Paperback)

Close-Up Photography by Alan R.Constant

Every few years, someone authors a work involving the photography of (mostly) small things: insects, wristwatch gears, flower pistols and stamens, etc.

In 1999, Mr. Alan R. Constant took his turn at bat with the above titled effort. And a good turn it was, resulting in what can only be described as a home run for the lovers of macro-photography.

In any such subject, it is necessary, indeed mandatory, to delve just a little bit into the geometry of optics, such that various points may be understood as to just WHY something must be done in certain ways so as to result in a useable photograph. Mr. Constant accomplishes this both adroitly and painlessly.

The occasional formula is laid out at the appropriate time and place, and with the naturalness of a skilled photographic professional. The art of explaining without glazing the readers eyes, or occasioning a mathphobic reaction, is just one of the many virtues of the relaxed and homey style of Mr. Constant.

Beyond that, the text progresses in a smooth and natural rhythm from subject to subject, each layer building upon the previous examples and explanations. And indeed, one of the major strengths of this work, is that NOTHING is left to the reader's guesswork or imagination. Whenever a point is made or a procedure explained, Mr. Constant always goes on to show exactly WHY such-and-such is necessary, or why compensating approaches often result in what is desired, simply because a direct approach would fail and why so.

Finally, this book pretty much travels the entire gamut of macro-photography, from just getting a pretty flower to remain looking pretty when on film, to more esoteric (but always common sense) items such as his "Bug Box". All in all, the book is worth more than just the purchase price. It is a good piece of work, well done, and far more enlightening than many of the preceding volumes over the last several decades.

46 of 48 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thin book but much ideas, April 8, 2001

By 

rene novak (Prague, Czech Republic) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Close-up Photography (Paperback)

I photograph almost 45 years and now is photography as my job and I am as a member of The Royal Photographic Society in England. I had bought the photographic books as new one and in the secondhand bookstore. I have at this time maybe 2 meters long a queue of these photographic books in english, german and czech language. I know, what is important information for photographer and what is the value the information in the proper time. Okey. The book "Close-up Photography" has two parts: 1) Technical and 2) Making the Technical Practical. In total has 18 chapters. Every chapter open very interesting view at the various problem of this branch of photography. I can list e.g. chapter 3: Focusing Screens, Focusing Rail and Cable Release. Very important but very ignored theme in other books. Very interesting paragraph in this famous book is theme Lens Faults, Diffraction and Lens Flare. You can read in chapter 6 (Exposure) which is exposure compensation when you snap on film area a Dandelion Yellow or Cedark bark. The paragraph "Exposure Correction for Extension" very precisely explains exposure correction with mathematical formula. An instruction how use the second lens with special adapter for macro-photo explains the chapter 8 too. The paragraph "Exposure with Flash" in chapter 10 explains two flashes with different GN by using in shorter distance. You can see more different setups for photographing coins, plastic models of airplanes, what prepare for polarized light photography (chapter 14). Very nice chapter is chapter 18 "Nature Subjects" with 26 unique photographs. I summarize the impression from this book: I can very hard recommend this book not only for beginner but so for advanced photographer with very strong interest ybout close-up photography.

2.0 out of 5 stars Elementary & Shallow, December 30, 2011

By 

Timothy Townsend "Tim" (Seaside, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Close-up Photography (Paperback)

I must have a dozen books on macro-photography and I'm sorry I purchased it. Unless you don't know what a grey card or aperture or depth of field or lens hoods, types of cameras, etc., etc. you are wasting your money. If you like flowers, try Tony Sweets books or Harold Davis's books, or for a very comprehensive view "MacroPhotography" by G. Martin.