Customer Reviews

National Geographic Photography Field Guide: Birds

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As if teaching children with challenging behaviors isn't enough, I spend much of my time off birding with my camera. Some might argue the two activities are one and the same, and anyone who has tried to capture a great blue heron lifting off the wetlands, only to turn tail and fly behind rushes would agree...speaking from experience. Whenever I set off to capture the feathered members of our planet, I get a few shots, but always think I could do better. If only I'd not moved so fast, if only I could afford a 600mm lens, if only...

Mr. Simmons's book has helped me to look at bird photography a bit differently, and given me permission to be happy with the good shots I do get. Although he covers many of the basic tenets of bird photography, such as knowing your subject, having the right equipment, and shooting techniques, the true gift of this guide is his concept of showing the birds in their environmental setting. Most of his photos are those wonderful bird portraits in larger than life detail we would all love to take, but he makes a good case for showing birds in their habitat, providing enough detail to identify the bird. Most of my photos are of this type, because although I am fairly good at stalking and being patient, my longest lens is still only 420mm with a tele-extender.

He gives information on how to shoot various aspects of bird behavior, such as courtship, nesting and flight, and this information is all helpful. He also gives ideas for various categories of birds, such as shorebirds. The book is guidebook sized, so it can travel into the field with you. If you wish to become more serious in your efforts to take photos of birds, whether in the field or at your backyard feeder, this is a great resource.

National Geographic's field guide to bird photography is a short, basic handbook for photographing birds in the wild and in your back yard. The advice by Rulon Simmons is simple and straightforward. Tips are provided by Bates Littlehales, who took most of the approximately 100 color photographs that illustrate the book. The techniques discussed range from simple to advanced, but most are not described in great detail. The guide is best suited to photographers with at least intermediate-level experience, since it requires a 35mm or digital SLR with interchangeable lenses and doesn't provide photographic instruction on metering, exposure, or how to operate equipment.

The Field Guide starts off by explaining what equipment you will need, with emphasis on long lenses, although the advice on film is deficient. There is advice for luring and photographing various species of birds at bird feeders, approaching birds in the wild, photographing birds at their nests with and without a blind, photographing birds in flight, and the challenges and opportunities presented by diverse weather conditions. The final chapter lists the author's favorite places to photograph birds in the U.S., 34 locations in 15 states, with a brief description of each birding spot. There is a sort of appendix of "Useful Information" in the back of the book, which includes recommended methods of getting close to birds, listed alphabetically by species, recommended feed and type of feeder by species, lists of essential and optional equipment, web sites, magazines, and books about birds and photography, and an index.

This book is wonderful. It gives great ideas for photographing birds. I was impressed how Rulon Simmons goes about getting the pictures in natural settings. I even found a website for his work at http://rulonsimmons.tripod.com .

This is a good easy to read book that has good information about getting closer to birds. Really good techniques for building a blind and outstanding web site and information in the back of the book. There are some very neat "tricks" that he tell about how to get that great shot. However, I was just left going... hmmm I would like a bit more.

But for the price, shesh, it is worth it. Used for just over $1, yeah buy the book. Great for a reference book if anything.

The pictures are beautiful, and the commentary is very useful for new ideas and information on photographing birds.