Customer Reviews

National Geographic Ultimate Field Guide to Travel Photography (National Geographic Photography Field Guides)

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The decision to review the recently published National Geographic Ultimate Field Guide to Travel Photography (National Geographic Photography Field Guides) in The Well-read Naturalist was not one made lightly. After all, WRN is explicitly dedicated to books pertaining directly to the study of natural history in all its myriad forms. Would a book providing advice and instruction in how to be a better photographer, particularly as understood from the perspective of a traveler, or a photojournalist assigned to document the sights to be seen and experiences to be had in a specific geographic place, be of use or interest to naturalists? However after having read it and discovering that the information, advice, and inspiration it provided began almost immediately to influence my own field photographic work on natural history subjects for the better, I could not but help to record my impressions of the book here for the benefit of all.

Written by National Geographic Traveler's senior editor Scott S. Stuckey and with considerable contributions from fifteen of that publication's finest photographers, the National Geographic Ultimate Field Guide to Travel Photography begins with something all too many books on photographic subjects for a widely diverse audience neglect - a brief but effective overview of the important concepts and skills needed to understand and employ the techniques that will be presented later in the book. Such a beginning may seem redundant to some; however to the beginner still working to master many of the elementary concept of good photographic practice such an overview is both helpful as well as instructive, and to the more experienced photographer, who may have worked him or herself into a personal technique rut, it is a reminder not to neglect a different way of capturing an image that might be outside of an established comfort zone. To this reviewer, it spoke clearly of the author's commitment to the idea that the book's primary purpose was as a vehicle for instruction; that he genuinely wanted to help all who read it to improve their respective photography skills.

As might be expected from an institution that has become world famous for its ability to convey unforgettable stories using both words and pictures, immediately following the overview of the "core concepts," Mr. Stuckey and his collaborators address the importance of narrative in any collection of photographs. This perhaps may be the single most overlooked idea among amateur photographers who think most commonly in terms of the individual subject in each individual photograph but fail to connect the subject to its background (and vice versa) or to develop a connection between a group of photographs. While the emphasis is placed squarely on, and the examples given drawn from, travel photography, its applicability of the information presented to most every aspect of nature or landscape photography is astonishing.

Following these two topics, the book advances into more specific areas, beginning with the importance of, quest for, and discovery of authentic photographic subjects, to how to photograph in the challenging lighting conditions of cities (the parallels of which to natural environments, especially canyons and forests, are easily drawn and wholly appropriate), rural and countryside photographic subjects, and concluding the section with a chapter exclusively dedicated to nature-oriented subjects. Each of these chapters is not only a didactic presentation, but is also liberally interwoven with the advice and experiences of the fifteen photographers whose expertise Mr. Stuckey drew upon for the creation of the book.

Ultimately concluding in a similar vein to that in which it began, with advice on (this time) more advanced technical and work-flow topics such as image management and a two page series of notes titled "Useful Information" (and indeed it is), the National Geographic Ultimate Field Guide to Travel Photography well proves itself to be far more than well worth the time spent reading it. The information and advice it contains is so well presented and immediately applicable to most everyone who uses a camera out-of-doors or on "on the road" that it should be considered as a "must read" for all concerned. Furthermore, the inspiration it is capable of providing goes well beyond the objective sum of the techniques its author presents in its pages. The encouragement to see every photograph as a puzzle to be solved, to view everyday scenes in their potential to be organized into a image that conveys not only momentary visual pleasure but an entire story, is a significant element of the mind of a great photographer. For this more than perhaps all else, the reader of this book will profoundly thank Mr. Stuckey, National Geographic, and all who contributed to it with each improvement they notice in their own future photographic work.

(This review was originally published in "The Well-read Naturalist" on 1 February, 2010.)

My wife bought this book for me because we like to travel and I like to take photos, and I would call myself an advanced amateur photographer. But I learned nothing from this book. The title gives you the impression that you will learn about travel photography, but it's really all about how professional photographers work. The basic theme of the book can be summed up as "to get good travel photographers you need to be a pro with a big expense account, and amateurs just don't have a chance". What kind of advice do you get in this book? It's all related to spending that expense account. Here are a few typical examples: (1) travel light, take no more than three speedlights, (2) hire a "fixer", someone who can do all the legwork for you ahead of time (a lot of the book's examples required the use of a fixer), (3) hire or otherwise entice people to be props to add color or human interest to your picture (your fixer can line them up ahead of time), (3) if you need to get a high elevation picture, but you can't find a roof, have the local fire department put up a ladder for you or have your fixer find a real estate agent who can get you into a high-rise condo, (4) don't shoot any of the tourist sites, there just too trite, (5) if you just can't seem to get the right location for that landscape shot, hire an airplane for an aerial photo, (6) If you're on a guided tour, forget it. You'll only be visiting the photo cliches, and besides you won't be there during the period right before dawn or right after sunset, the only good time to shoot photos. Actually, the book doesn't cover the guided tour scenario because professionals just don't do that. They make a shooting list ahead of time, and shoot only those things on the list (ignoring all the other photo ops), often based on the manuscripts of the articles that they are getting pictures for.

The whole book is one such "tip" after another. Basically, the concept of the book is to present descriptions of how professional photographers at National Geographic Traveler magazine shot various photos. Usually there is only a description without the corresponding photo, so use your imagination. To be fair, some of the photos described in the text are also shown in the book, as are photos that are not talked about at all except in the photo captions. Most of the descriptions are little more than "one-liner" tips by the pros, but some descriptions go on for several paragraphs.

The important point is that pros shoot travel photos totally differently than amateurs, and so their how-to advice is irrelevant and useless to amateurs. You can tell that this book is a dog because there are lots of "Like New" copies for sale on Amazon for five bucks.

I think there are more thoughtful and interesting books on travel photography for amateurs. One such book is "Travel+Photography: Off the Charts" by Lou Jones. He too is a professional, and the book does suffer a bit from describing techniques that are really available only to pros with an expense account, but he does give lots of useful tips for amateurs, and the photos are a lot more interesting too.

Travel writing tells the story of a journey in words. Travel photography tells a story, too, but in images. I am comfortable with words; not so much with images. Scott Stuckey's "Ultimate Field Guide to Travel Photography" eases those concerns by offering not only tips for better travel photography but by providing a stronger outlook on the whole endeavor. It's not a how-to for beginners; rather, it is a next-step for those who understand that a narrative can be achieved through photography. I liked the idea of getting advice from more than a dozen professional travel photographers. That information (all very practical) is presented in easily understood prose. The images used to illustrate points are strong on their own merits. This would be a good guide for anyone, young student to seasoned traveler, who is planning a trip and wants to have a great online slide show or Facebook page. I recommend this guide as a way to begin a conversation about travel photography and as a spur to reach for better stories through images.

If you travel and take pictures, this is a great book. Simple as that. Read it first, travel later.

It takes you "behind the scenes" with several National Geographic TRAVELER magazine photographers and explains not just what they saw, but what they thought. This book explores the how and why of travel photography better than any other book I have read on the subject.

It is a must have book for anyone interested in becoming a travel photographer or anyone that just wants to shoot like one. It will make you think more like a travel photographer so that you can better see like a travel photographer.

Buy it. Read it. Use it.

As a writer who also takes photographs while on assignment, I found this to be an excellent guide for both imparting new ideas and information, as well as offering timely and useful reminders of basics that even seasoned pros sometimes forget. Organized in a straight-forward, easy-to-follow presentation, the Ultimate Field Guide to Travel Photography is a must-have for aspiring photographers as well as experienced amateurs seeking to take their work to the next level. What makes this guide all the more valuable are the tips from the veterans of National Geographic, some of whom I've had the privilege to work with, who discuss how they approach their assignments and the preparations that go into nailing the perfect shot. One thing the book hints at, though never explicitly states, is that the pursuit of photography very much involves a way of being in the world and engaging with it, encouraging readers to shed their bashfulness, to avoid furtiveness ("don't be a spy"), and to flat-out interact with the subjects they wish to photograph.

It would be fair to mention that I work for the Geographic magazines, including Traveler. But I would use this book even if I did not. Tips that aspirants will find especially useful include how to move your body, crouching or getting up on chairs, not always shooting everything at eye-level; planning a shoot in advance so you know where the sun will be at a particular time of day ("On which side of the Grand Canyon do you want to be at sunset?"); how to use a graduated neutral-density filter to keep a bright sky from blowing out your image. I especially like the tips from the pros, whom National Geographic Travel Managing Editor Scott Stuckey has skillfully coaxed into revealing their secrets in succinct, entirely to-the-point comments. This slim, beautifully illustrated edition makes for light but essential packing, easy to slip inside a camera bag. It promises to richly reward all budding photographers who have the wisdom to bring it along.

Aside from useful ideas and how to shoot better on travel trips, Scott provides some simple useful tips that will help me become a better photographer on the trips I take. Not technical...just practical ways to make your travel more productive. I recommend this book for beginners and intermediate photographers like me.

The author has created an easily readable, practical, instructional text. It gives wise insights from some of the world's best photographers. Numerous examples of cleverly artistic shots are included throughout the book. The many practical tips are applicable for those who travel near or far.

excellent pictures, gives some good ideas to think about when travelling. Gives you some insight into the dedication of the photographers for Nat Geo.

All amateur photogs would benefit from any of the Nat'l Geo Field Guides! I bought most of them, all lived up to expectations from National Geographic's high standards,