Large Format Nature Photography [Paperback]

Jack Dykinga (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2001

A manual on taking large-format nature photographs, written by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jack Dykinga. The author merges photojournalism techniques with large-format photography to create spectacular images of nature and remote locations. In order to capture the intricacies, patterns, textures, tonal range and colours that made Dykinga famous, he uses a 4x5 camera, film, lenses, light metres, filters, colours, composition, digital backs and tripods. Photographers will also learn how to work with the weather, keep images organized and maintain their personal vision, as expressed in more than 200 photographs of Dykinga's own work.

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Amphoto Books (October 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0817441573
• ISBN-13: 978-0817441579
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 9.6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #843,167 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

47 of 49 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A very personal view of the view camera, November 20, 2001

By 

Michael Johnson (Livonia, MI United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Large Format Nature Photography (Paperback)

Let me preface my review by letting you know that I do not own a large format camera. However, I am interested in the subject and have spent time looking at large format books, magazines, and internet resources. I was very eager to see this book since I am most interested in learning about using the view camera for nature photography. Jack Dykinga is a well respected nature photographer who has worked closely with the Friends of the Arizona Highway. (...) The book has many nice color examples of Dykinga's work to illustrate the book.

What the book does best is present Dykinga's own views about using the view camera in the field. For example, he has very particular preferences for lens sizes based on his expereience as a photojournalist. He details his procedure for focusing the camera in the field. In addition he shows how he has marked his equipment with reminders to help aid in the field. For instance, he has added markings to indicate exposure corrections for bellows extensions right along the rail. He has also marked his lens boards with the amount of rise and fall available with the coverage of the lens. He gives tips on working in bad weather. It is much like getting tips and tricks from an experienced user in a workshop. As a sidenote there is some material on his experience with digital.

What the book is not is a comprehensive guide to the large format camera. I would suggest those looking for that see books by Kodak, Simmons, Stone, and others. It will not give an especially technical presentation of the materials. The book did not meet *all* my hopes and dreams. I would have liked some more tips on composition and picking out a view camera. It does not cover black and white. Sometimes his presentation is so personal that it may not apply to how you like to work. However, there are so few books on this subject and most are more like textbooks. You can definitely read this book from cover to cover without being bored. It is a welcome addition to the subject and fills a gap in photography books.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Like being on a workshop, November 7, 2002

By 

Richard de Lhorbe (North Vancouver, Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Large Format Nature Photography (Paperback)

A solid read from one of the premier colour landscape photographers in North America today. The author provides good insight to the techniques used to create each photograph, and contrary to one of the other reviews here I find the detailed information provided on each shot reflects the professional attitude of the photographer. If you know Jack's other printed works, his mission is to help protect the ever diminishing wild spaces on the planet, and he is careful to document exactly what he has photographed, indicating his intense involvement with the subject. His tips on how to prepare your equipment to be ready for the fastest set-up for when the decisive moment of lighting suddenly appears (based I am sure on years of being out in the field and probably missing his fair share of shots in his early days) is worth the price of admission all by itself.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Exquisite pictures and discussion of technique, February 12, 2007

By 

David McAllister "Gort" (Charlotte, NC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Large Format Nature Photography (Paperback)

This is by far the most useful book of advice on taking LF pictures, showing how to handle many important aspects of the craft. The discussions are all very enlightening: on equipment (from cameras to tripods to filters), technique, problems and their solutions, advantages of the format, and the philosophy of LF photography. The important points are illustrated with wonderful pictures of the processes and with the resulting photos. The author uses pairs of similar pictures to demonstrate the effects of variations in settings and approach.

It is also a spellbinding book of nature photographs. Each one is a like little jewel.

I believe some of reviewers on this site who express disappointment must have been looking for a primer or handbook, which this is not. Anyone thinking of trying LF or already immersed in it, no matter how successfully, should own this book and study it closely. It's all pleasure.