National Geographic Photography Field Guides: Landscapes [Paperback]

National Geographic Society (Author)

Book Description

Series: National Geographic Photography Field Guides | Publication Date: March 1, 2002

When's the right moment to snap a sunset? How do you "freeze" your child in action on the soccer field? What subjects photograph best in black and white? Let this information-packed guide supply the answers to these questions and more as you learn the secrets that have made National Geographic photography so well-known. Whether you're photographing the Australian Outback or your backyard garden, discover how to make the lay of the land the most artistically composed photograph possible. This guide is one of two launch titles in National Geographic's new photography instruction series (People & Portraits is the other) Each guide is filled with easy-to-understand advice on a different subject. Future volumes in this series will include Wildlife, Black and White, Digital, Adventure Photo-graphy, and more. All include details on what lenses to use, lighting, composition, you name it.

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: National Geographic (March 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0792264983
• ISBN-13: 978-0792264989
• Product Dimensions: 5.3 x 0.4 x 8.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #710,900 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

47 of 47 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Buy the original, October 7, 2002

By 

Christopher A. Smith (Houston, TX) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: National Geographic Photography Field Guides: Landscapes (Paperback)

National Geographic's original Field Guide was a big hit for a wide audience of photography aficionados. There was plenty for beginners, such as advice on equipment selection, basic subjects such as the relationship between shutter speed and aperture, and film selection. More advanced readers could benefit from the excellent essays contributed by Geographic's veteran staff photographers.

Unfortunately, Geographic appears to be trying to turn the formula into a franchise. In this most recent volume, Landscapes the focus is on, well, landscapes. The problem is that there is very little in this book that wasn't effectively covered in the first one. Yeah, use a tripod. Yeah, don't let snowy scenes fool your lightmeter. And no, the art of photography does not become clearer if you repeat the same points over and over for 150 pages.

If you don't have the original Field Guide then get it; I found it to be both informative and inspirational. If you already have it then don't buy Landscapes; it doesn't add any meaningful new material. Not recommended.

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Great Photos, but little information, August 23, 2002

By 

Jeffrey R. Elver "jeff82" (Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: National Geographic Photography Field Guides: Landscapes (Paperback)

I expected more from this book. It is basically a non-technical review of composition for the beginner. The photos are really great, but they don't list the usual information used to get them (lens type, settings, filters, etc.). I really didn't gain any insight from this book, and doubt that anyone other than a beginning photographer would either.

For landscape photography, and for photography in general, their basic photography guide is much better.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Great Photos, but little information, August 23, 2002

By 

Jeffrey R. Elver "jeff82" (Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: National Geographic Photography Field Guides: Landscapes (Paperback)

I expected more from this book. It is basically a non-technical review of composition for the beginner. The photos are really great, but they don't list the usual information used to get them (lens type, settings, filters, etc.). I really didn't gain any insight from this book, and doubt that anyone other than a beginning photographer would either.

For landscape photography, and for photography in general, their basic photography guide is much better.