The Sierra Club Guide to Close-Up Photography in Nature [Paperback]

Tom Fitzharris (Author, Photographer)

Book Description

Series: Sierra Club Books | Publication Date: June 16, 1998

This comprehensive guide to the latest techniques in close-up nature photography makes compelling, one-of-a-kind photographs possible for thousands of ambitious amateur photographers. The author of sixteen books of photographs and photographic techniques, Tim Fitzharris provides the most up-to-date information on how to photograph plants and animals using existing light in the beauty of the natural environment.
Illustrated with 100 color images, the book's chapters - "Terms and Tools," "Field Techniques," "Artful Approaches," and "Subjects in the Wild" - provide complete coverage of their subjects, with technical specifications, insightful tips, and detailed explanations of how each of the featured photographs was taken.
Techniques for achieving maximum sharpness, brilliant color, and greater than life-size magnification are explained alongside detailed information on lenses, camera supports, electronic flashes, reflectors, automatic exposure procedures, and optimum shutter speeds. A "Sources" section includes information on digital imaging and where to buy equipment, as well as a bibliography of photographic books, periodicals, and newsletters.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

YA-An outstanding introduction to this specialized aspect of photography. Fitzharris provides a concise, well-organized handbook, moving through terms, equipment, settings, artistic approaches, and subjects in the wild. Written in the first person, the book speaks directly to readers, thus promoting interest in circumstances of the photography shoot. New digital techniques are included in the final chapter. Outstanding full-color photographs on high-quality paper fill nearly every page. Each one is accompanied by an annotation that explains how it was taken and which film, camera, lens, etc., were used. While this resource is beyond the skills of novice photographers, it will whet their appetites to produce amazing pictures. Advanced students will understand the methods more quickly and will be motivated to seek higher skills.
Claudia Moore, W. T. Woodson High School, Fairfax, VA
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From the Inside Flap

This book is filled with dozens of vibrant color photos of animals, plant life, and myriad other canvasses of nature in all its most sensational elements. From shooting a broad-tailed hummingbird in mid-flight, to a sunflower set against an azure sky, the Sierra Club Guide to Close-Up Photography in Nature shows you the most stunning shots of nature and goes through step by step the equipment, settings, angles, and techniques required to get them.

Table of Contents

Part One: Terms and Tools
What is Close-Up Photography?
Magnification and Reproduction Ratio
A Camera System for Close-Ups
Lenses and Accessories
Camera Supports
Electronic Flash
Reflectors

Part Two: Field Techniques
Recording Maximum Sharpness
Attaining Brilliant Color
Close-Up Focusing Technique
Aperture/Shutter Speed Compromises
Creating a Set
Automatic Exposure Procedures
Close-Up Accessory Combinations
Using Telephoto Lenses
Using Wide-Angle Lenses
Using Tilt-Shift Lenses
Greater Than Life-Size Magnification
Working the Electronic Flash

Part Three: Artful Approaches
Designs of the Subject
Nothing But Color
Natural Light: Found Art
Wet Dreams
Working a Theme
Off-Center Centers of Interest
Artistic Ethics
Recomposing on the Computer
Inspiring Subjects

Part Four: Subjects in the Wild
Spiders and Insects
Frogs and Toads
Snakes
Turtles
Hummingbirds

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 112 pages
• Publisher: Sierra Club Books (June 16, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0871569132
• ISBN-13: 978-0871569134
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 8.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 2.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #895,288 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Tim Fitzharris is well known for his regular column in Popular Photography and Imaging magazine. He is the author and photographer of more than 30 books, including National Audubon Society Guide to Landscape Photography; Rocky Mountains; and Big Sky. He lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Nature photography or digital manipulation?, February 25, 1999

By 

John Downey ([e-mail]) (Tucson, AZ) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Sierra Club Guide to Close-Up Photography in Nature (Paperback)

This is a decent book if you are new to the world of macro photography. It certainly doesn't cover in-depth aspects of shooting macro and even devotes a large portion of digitally manipulating images on Adobe Photoshop. For example, the cover is composed of two separate images, the flower and the frog. There's a place for digital manipulation, but I felt disappointed after finding out that some otherwise beautiful images (that would have been spectacular to capture in the wild) were faked. I had higher expectations coming from the Sierra Club.