Customer Reviews

National Geographic Photography Field Guides: Landscapes

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

Previous reviewers have been unfair with this book. You cannot knock a book for delivering exactly what it promises to deliver.

Following up on the great National Geographic Photography Field Guide and focusing specifically on landscapes, of course this book is going to be thinner. However, it shines at what it sets out to do.

Every chapter is packed with world-class photography tips as well as inspiring landscape images - from the world's best. Most of the excellent examples are by Caputo himself but outstanding photographers such as Sam Abell, Bruce Dale, and James Blair have also contributed many of the stunning photos throughout the book.

This small guidebook is clear, honest, and practical, full of techniques that work for landscape photographers shooting in the real world. What's more, it fits in your camera bag!

I, too, don't think that other reviewers gave this book much of a chance. It contains exactly what it says - a field guide for landscapes. I found it to be very informative and instructional. Even if you are an expert in composition and light, a little basic refresher can't hurt. And if you are just starting out, it gives you different ways to "see" a landscape and why you should look at it that way. I like how it shows you a perfectly good photograph, then shows how to make it better, actually having different photos of the different angles. Sometimes books can tell you what you need to do without actually showing comparisons or how they achieved their great photo. This book takes it back to basics in a wonderful way.

National Geographic's thoroughness shines through this book. But I think most of the items discussed in this book are for those who know nothing about photography. But somehow the description of the book makes it possible for people like me - I know something about photography - that this book will still teach you something. It will, but to those who know absolutely nothing. But I must give points for excellent layout and very concise information on the techniques used plus the great photographs in there.

Verdict: Semi pro photographers need not buy this one. They already know more than what it teaches.

What a find! This is a book filled with wonderful tips. If you're a novice photographer who wants to do more with your camera and start exploring the manual modes, this book is a must have for your collection. (That's unless you have the original though - I just read the preceding review and wondered if I loved this book so much because I don't have the original field guide.) Regardless, this book is easy to use, nicely laid out and contains wonderful insights from professionals.

I bought this as an addition to the "general" Nat Geo Field Guide that I already had. It really added very little. If you're just going to get one, get the general one as it covers the landscapes and a lot more.

If you own a digital camera -- and few don't these days, I would say this is a must have if you enjoy taking landscape photo's. It is well written and easy to follow and good for the novice as well as the pro.

This book is worth buying for the wonderful and inspirational photographs of National Geographic photographers alone. Beyond that, the book provides clearly written and sound guidance on composition, cameras and lenses, when to shoot, using weather, dawn, dusk and night, graphic elements and landscape subjects. There are also personal vignettes (which I loved) by NG photographers Jim Blair, Bruce Dale and Adriel Heisey. The book is a real pleasure and will easily fit in your camera bag.