The Master Guide for Wildlife Photographers [Paperback]

Bill Silliker Jr. (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 2003

Detailing the knowledge required to obtain professional-quality wildlife photographs, this book outlines techniques usually reserved for hunters to get close to animals to produce intimate portraits of wildlife. Photographers learn the keys to success, metering for perfect exposures, and how to compose the perfect picture. The basic elements of wildlife photography are covered, including photographic equipment and information on the various species and their habits. Many wildlife photographs are critiqued, providing budding wildlife photographers with suggestions for improving their own images.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Bill Silliker is a master photographer who has contributed images and articles to Nature Photographer, Outdoor Photographer, and Discovery. He is the author of Just Loons, Saving Maine: An Album of Conservation Success Stories, and Moose Watchers' Handbook. He lives in Saco, Maine.

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Amherst Media, Inc. (November 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1584281146
• ISBN-13: 978-1584281146
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 8.6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #565,594 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

33 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Good Introduction to Wildlife Photography, December 6, 2003

By 

Conrad J. Obregon (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Master Guide for Wildlife Photographers (Paperback)

The late Bill Silliker, who wrote this book, was famous for his pictures of moose and loons. In fact he loved to be called the Mooseman. The Mooseman?s last book is an introduction to wildlife photography, aimed primarily at the beginning and intermediate photographer, although there are a few discussions that may cause the advanced wildlife photographer to reconsider his techniques.

The book, written in simple, direct, clear style, describes the fundamentals to be applied to get good wildlife pictures. After the required discussion of equipment (Silliker prefers 35mm single-lens reflex cameras, long telephotos, autofocus and sturdy tripods), he spends a quarter of the book discussing metering and focussing techniques for wildlife in clear, comprehensive language. The length of this discussion surprised me, but it is all relevant. He then goes on to consider how to get close enough to animals to get pictures with impact, and composition. I was delighted by his no-nonsense approach. Stories about his own exploits are told only when essential to make a point. There is no excess verbiage here.

My only complaint about the book is that I wanted a little more. (Having read the author?s magazine columns, I know that he was a thoughtful photographer.) For example, he believes that the limited depth of field of telephoto lenses is something that a photographer has to live with and he suggests ways to compensate for the fact. I would have liked to hear some further discussion of the role that faster ISO media can play in getting greater depth of field, or the fact that for a particular image size and aperture depth of field will always be the same, regardless of lens length. But, of course, that would have been a different book.

Silliker also does not dwell upon the use of digital imagery, although he acknowledges it and suggests several other books for the reader who wants to pursue that direction.

If you are just getting into wildlife photography, you won?t find a better guide than this. The more advanced photographer may find his thinking stimulated by some of the discussions, but will probably want to explore other works to develop his skills. There are many such works aimed at more advanced photographers, but I would certainly recommend the work of Art Morris and Art Wolfe, both of whom have turned wildlife photography into an art (pun intended but very true.)

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Book on Wildlife Photogrpahy, January 24, 2007

By 

Thomas J. Bisko Jr. "Nittany Lion" (Macungie, PA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Master Guide for Wildlife Photographers (Paperback)

This book is an excellent book for amateur wildlife photographers. Compared to other wildlife photogrpahy books I felt this was ideal for beginners. It wasn't overly complex and I completed the book with a several clear, concise takeaways.

3 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Top Five, August 15, 2005

By 

Dave L. Mcculley (Down the Shore...Jersey) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Master Guide for Wildlife Photographers (Paperback)

I own about 30 Photography books,and this one by Bill Silliker is in the Top Five...Closer to one then five.