Customer Reviews

Wildlife Photography: On Safari with your DSLR: Equipment, Techniques, Workflow

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Uwe's Book changed two things for me:
First, I woke up from pixel peeping, gear-focused discussions and so on. We tend to do that, don't we? Photography is about taking pictures, and Uwe shows what's possible if you use your camera as a tool with the right settings at the right location to the right time. He showed me how lazy I got when it comes to getting up early, scouting locations and visiting them at the right time. Plus, his explanations to the usage of the RAW format are a must read. Overall, Uwe's passion for photography is on every page on this book. He writes in an easy to read manner, plus he's quite funny. It's not a quite technical read - if you expect that, buy another book.

Second, I feel the urgent need to visit South Africa and especially the Serengeti. I plan to go there in 2012. Not bad for a book about Wildlife Photography, eh? This book's not about "settings for your DSLR that always work while shooting lions" or "fancy pictures taken with a DSLR" (there are impressive pictures inside!) - it's about "photography" and that's still an act you have to do for yourself and you have to be prepared for - mentally and technically. This book aids on both aspects.

I loved this book. Uwe has as always a fantastic eye for the image, both from initial shutter click through the processing stage. The book is full of beautiful images for the wildlife and natural beauty of the African wilderness, and pleases the eye at every stage. There is also a wealth of useful information and practical guidance for the photographer and visitor to the area. Good book, good imagery, good info. Enjoy!

Très intéressant dès le début du livre tant au niveau culturel que technique. On voit que c'est un photographe passionné qui l'a écrit et qui porte un grand respect pour l'environnement et de la faune. Bravo Monsieur Uwe !!!
Dommage que le livre n'ait pas été sorti en français, mais bon, ce n'est pas un anglais bien compliqué, alors allez y, n'hésitez pas, ce livre est pour vous...

Very interesting book, cultural and technical. We can see that the book has been written by a passionated photographer which has a big respect of environment and animals. Congratulations Mister Uwe !!!
It's just a shame that the book has not been translated in French, but anyway, the English spoken in this book is not very complicated. So you can go, french and other people, this book is for you...
Sorry for my English translation !!!

I am an avid wildlife photgrapher and over the years have developed many techniques similar to those in Uwe Skrzypczal's book. On my own safari's to South Africa and Botswana I have emplyed similar equipmant and followed similar techniques described in this book. However, I have never seen or read a more concise nor accurate description of those techniques.

I have used similar techniques shooting other wildlife outside of east Africa.

Lighting is the key to any good photography and it's use and exposure techniques are really well explained in this book.

The book is extemely well published and the imagery is striking and sharp, but what really makes this a worthwhile book is the text and the love of the art of photography that is expressed by Uwe.

This book is very difficult not to recommend to anyone interested in wildlife photography. Following the techniques in this book will have to improve your images.

Since our trip was already planned and I am an intermediate photographer, I could have done without the chapters on choosing equipment, planning your trip and basic shooting techniques. However, even within those chapters I found some useful information. There are chapters on photographing in different areas: Ngorongoro, Serengeti and Masai Mara. Even if you skip over his suggestions on where and when to go to these places, there is still plenty of great information on technique. I appreciated all the gorgeous photos complete with exif information. He even adds metering suggestions by each photo. Even if you aren't going to the same areas listed, most of the information can be applied to the setting you will encounter (unless you are in the jungle).

Note, this is not a general wildlife book. If you are going to Africa you will certainly find it useful. If you are shooting elk and deer this is not the book for you.

The author approaches the subject as if the reader is new to wildlife photography as a profession. In spite of that, the serious amateur can glean quite a bit of useful information from this book. Yes, the equipment recommended is expensive, but so is getting to Africa and to recommend less than optimal equipment and lead the reader to believe they will get optimal results would be doing a disservice. The book is focused on primarily mammals of the East African plains, not just predators as another reviewer has said. The information on knowing animal behavior as it relates to getting good photographs is quite valuable, as are the repeated tips about photographer safety.
For much of the technical information, you need to read the captions under the beautiful photographs. My only real complaint about this book is that the EXIF data is printed in light grey font, making it difficult to read. Looking at the photos, the effect he gets, and the info about how he shot the photo is quite informative and I would like it to be easier to see.
Even though the book has several chapters on specific geographic areas, much of the information in those chapters is applicable to similar areas.
I recommend this book to anyone wanting to capture quality images of East African wildlife, at least for the inspiration if for no other reason. But if you are willing to read, including the captions, you will get much more than just inspiration.

Professional photographer and environmentalist Uwe Skrzypczak presents Wildlife Photography On Safari with Your DSLR: Equipment, Techniques, Workflow, a solid guide to the art of capturing vividly clear, unforgettable photographic images of natural wildlife. Wildlife Photography expressly focuses upon taking pictures of the wildlife of the Serengeti National Park of East Africa, yet the recommendations for adapting to the environment, learning about the habits of one's subjects, and adjusting one's preparations accordingly are vital to undertaking wildlife photography in any environment. Skrzypczak has specifically avoided drowning the reader in a sea of detailed information specific to every possible natural environment to instead concentrate on solid general principles and practices. "River crossings are difficult to photograph in bright sunlight... The combined factors of dust, haze, and the extremely high contrast produced by the foaming water make it impossible to rely on normal or automatic exposure metering. The best way to produce well-exposed images is to take test shots or to shoot bracketing sequences, secure in the knowledge that you can correct many exposure errors later at the post-processing stage." Highly recommended, especially for anyone serious about pursuing wildlife photography as either a hobby or a profession.

The title and synopsis of this book are misleading - this is definately not a "general Wildlife Photography" book, as advertised. It should have been called "Predator Photography in East Africa", And even then, it is more about the geographic area than the photgraphy itself. The opening line of Chapter 4, "Planning your Trip" says it all: "This is the most important topic in this book". From there on, everything switches to travel advice and animal background. Uwe is an accomplished photographer, and has some lovely images. But, the most spectacular photo of all - the composite of a running cheetah - is casually dismissed with the comment "[This] was put together using Photoshop and several shots taken with a motor drive sequence", which is of no help to the photographer at all. As other reviewers have correctly said, if your interest is photography, and you want a book on the wildlife specialisation aspect of photography, do not buy this book. But, if you are foreign to Africa, and will be vistiting East Africa for the first time to photograph animals, you will find this book helpful.

What a wonderful book for the seasoned or budding wildlife photographers. Uwe's photographs of East Africa are breathtaking and his text brings the appropriate photographic techniques alive. A must read for anyone planning an African safari or even for the enthusiast wildlife photographer. I have read several books on the subject, but this is by far the best in terms of straightforward, easy to understand commentary and detailed descriptions of photography in the Serengeti, Masai Mara and Ngorongoro. I particularly liked the chapter on the light in East Africa. Enthusiastically recommended.

Having returned from a 21 day trip to Southern Africa last August 2010 (Zambia, Botswana and South Africa) I wish I had had the opportunity of reading this book prior to departure. It is very relevant, up to date, and clearly written. I have been in the image capture industry for some 40 years now, as a shooter and consultant. Uwe really hits the most important topics with utter accuracy for anyone serious about top level image capture in Africa. My only reccomendation to fellow readers and future safari participants- Please take the time to read this well in advance of your trip, practice the techniqies that Uwe illustrates BEFORE you depart, so you will feel comfortable and ready on site in the bush. I only hope somehow I get to communicate or meet the author someday. He is truly a gifted craftsman and artist.