18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Best hands-on book on panoramic photography around, October 27, 2005
This review is from: Lee Frost’s Panoramic Photography (Paperback)
In recent years, the very portable Hasselblad X-Pan camera has done a lot to (re-)popularise the panoramic format. In addition, digital cameras allow for easy stitching of separate exposures into elaborate panorama images.
In the wake of these developments, a flurry of books discussing or showcasing panoramic photography have appeared. Lee Frost's book brings us the best of both worlds. On the one hand it is a very thorough and practical discussion of the nuts and bolts of making panorama pictures. But given the profusion of eye catching and alluring images on its pages, it can serve as an excellent coffee table book too.
As there are only a few pages on creating "digital joiners", the book is primarily intended for those photographers wanting to make panoramic pictures with a dedicated (analogue) panorama camera. The book's material is conventionally and usefully organised in chapters discussing equipment, composition, exposure and creative techniques.
The book opens with a very complete survey of flatback, swing-lens and rotational cameras on the market today (including even recent additions - such as the Chinese Widepan and Fotoman cameras). Frost discusses pros, cons and quirks of the many cameras he has used himself. Even an experienced panorama photographer will pick up useful things here. Less conventional solutions - such as using a panoramic adaptor on standard medium format cameras or a panoramic back on a view camera - are included in the discussion too.
The chapters focusing on the practice of taking panorama pictures are all eminently practical and complete. The discussion is hands-on and doesn't avoid specifics: exactly what is needed to carry over the learning to one's own practice in the field. In fact, these sections are recommended reading for any photographer, not just those interested in panorama pictures.
Very interesting also are the closing chapters on presenting and selling panoramics, where Frost gives us a peek behind the curtains on how he runs his business as a professional photographer.
The tone of the book is pleasingly personal (although not quite as personal as Barry Thornton used to be). Despite the wealth of practical tips and hints, Frost manages to convey the excitement of practicing this kind of photography in a narrative that makes frequent reference to specific moments or experiences in his development as professional photographer. That results in a text that is approachable and pleasant to read, though never banal. The personal tone is reinforced by the extensive captions to the photos, in which Frost narrates the specific conditions in which the picture was taken. Very helpful also is that all photos in the book are annotated with camera, lens, filters and film used.
A final appreciative note, perhaps, for the pleasing layout of the book and its careful production.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Practical Guidance; Inspiring Images, July 5, 2005
This review is from: Lee Frost’s Panoramic Photography (Paperback)
Better written than most photo books and illustrated by Frost's magnificent images, this book would be useful to any level of photographer -- from someone who has never taken a panoramic image to someone already familiar with the format.
Here's the rub: to get his magnificant images, Frost himself has invested in two specialized cameras systems (Hasselblad Xpan and Fuji GX617) with an arsenal of filters, lenses, tripods, light meters, etc. At B&H in NYC the Hasselblad Xpan with a basic lens sells new for $2650 and a Fuji GX617 set-up is $6000 (although both are readily available on eBay for less). Ouch!
For those readers not ready to make that kind of investment, Frost does have very informative instructions on making panorama by "stitching" digital images with Photoshop or other programs, and on creating panorama-like effects with with non-panoramic cameras without any digital manipulation.
As an owner of a Hasselblad Xpan panoramic camera I found Frost's book both informative and inspiring. I'm headed on vacation in a few days and I'm now going to stock up on film for the camera and put Frost's recommendations to immediate use.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Beautiful to look at - and instructive, July 27, 2005
This review is from: Lee Frost’s Panoramic Photography (Paperback)
I was disappointed in Corinna Jacobs "Interactive Panoramas," barely more than a compilation of help files with few photographs. That work is a helpful contrast to Lee Frost's Panoramic Photography which is both instructive and beautiful.
The Frost volume is richly illustrated with Frost's own panoramas which are simply beautiful. Many are panoramas from within a few miles of his home, leaving me envious. Others are from treks to Morocco, Turkey and other Asian and African locales. The photographs alone are enough to leave you satisfied.
But Frost provides a marvelous tutorial on every aspect of panorama photography. Primarily film-oriented, Frost does slights neither the digital camera owner or the rank amateur. He provides a number of clever techniques to create pseudo-panoramas.
Overall, rhis book is a very worthwhile addition to the library of any photographer.
Jerry
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
