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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Getting Close to Insects,
By Conrad J. Obregon (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews (VINE VOICE) (TOP 500 REVIEWER) (REAL NAME)
This review is from: How to Photograph Insects & Spiders (How To Photograph Series) (Paperback)
One would think that with all of the changes that have occurred on the technical side of photography in the last 10 years, a book on macrophotography published 10 years ago would be out of date. Well this one isn't, and if one keeps a few concepts in mind, is almost as good as anything one can find on the subject of close-ups of insects.
After a brief introduction, the author promptly launches into a discussion of the equipment that one needs to take insect close-ups. Luckily, TTL flash, one of the boons of modern technology, was already on the scene, so the equipment discussion, whether of macro lenses, close-up diopters or tripods, is still applicable. The only thing that has changed is the availability of digital media. As long as one remembers that digital photographers have the ability to change the ISO speed of the media with each shot, and that exposure may be easily checked with histograms and "blinkies" there is no cause for concern here. Although the author's excellent pictures are used throughout the book, the second section is a portfolio of the author's insect and spider pictures, where he describes the circumstances surrounding the taking of each picture in detail. In the third part of the book the author discusses what he calls "Photographics", that is, the techniques to be applied for the use of the equipment which he previously discussed. He dwells on exposure and tonality and talks about the differing requirements for using three types of light: natural light, fill flash and total flash. Finally West talks about finding subjects, including the ethics involved in photographing insects. The author's words are simple, clear and concise and if you follow his instructions you should be able to take good pictures of insects. I have only a few quibbles. I believe that his discussion of total flash photography could have emphasized the importance of making sure that the flash was far stronger than any ambient light to prevent blurred images. Thus, even though all of the pictures in the book of the author taking photographs in the field show his flash on a mount that places the flash as far forward as the front of the camera lens, he did not make it clear that this was to help overcome the ambient light or tell you in the text that this position was desirable. Similarly he could have suggested that using a low ISO with flash also helps to reach this same objective. I was also disappointed that there was no significant discussion of taking pictures of flying insects, since this is far more difficult than taking pictures of stationary insects, and yields far more exciting pictures. John Shaw, in his "Nature Photography Field Guide" covers the same ground as this book, although with less emphasis on insects and more instruction on other aspects of outdoor photography. If you really want to see terrific insect macrophotography, see John Brackenbury's "Close Up". There's not much instruction there, but lots of inspiration. West's book is a fine guide for insect macrophotography, with excellent pictures to serve as an example.
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An exeptional for amateurs and professional photografers,
By A Customer
This review is from: How to Photograph Insects & Spiders (How To Photograph Series) (Paperback)
More than a great photografer, Larry West is also a great writer, directing its language to the ammateur public but not being superficial and boring to the professional readers. Almost all the informations are illustred with one or more of his great pictures. But the most exciting things is that all the pictures that he included as illustrations are followed by a good description of the the situation of the picture taking and with a hole description of the photo details, like the shutter speed, apperture, flash information, compensation and much more.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Advice from a Great Photographer,
By
This review is from: How to Photograph Insects & Spiders (How To Photograph Series) (Paperback)
One thing I love about this book is that West talks about techniques such as stacking supplementaries that John Shaw advises against. It just shows there is more than one way to achieve your desired magnification. West does a great job of outlining subjects such as exposure and equipment, both of which are vital in this type of photography. However, he also provides in depth coverage on his approach to finding and working with insects in the field-a topic of at least equal importance. He backs up his advice with superb examples of his work. A great book that pleasantly surprised me!
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