National Geographic Photography Field Guide: Secrets to Making Great Pictures (Hardcover)

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Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Written by two National Geographic writer/photographers, this fairly comprehensive introduction to taking photographs details basic equipment (cameras, lenses, and other gear), film, light, composition, exposure metering, electronic flash, subjects for 35mm photography, special situations (underwater and aerial photography), and computer imaging. But perhaps the most interesting and informative sections of the book are the profiles of Sam Abell, William Albert Allard, Annie Griffiths Belt, David Alan Harvey, James L. Stanfield, Michael Yamashita, and other notable photographers. The book concludes with helpful information on travel, photography publications, websites, and other resources. As one would expect, it is amply illustrated with exquisite, high-impact, color images made on location. This substantial book aimed at photographers looking for practical advice from the pros is highly recommended for public and academic libraries.
-Raymond Bial, Parkland Coll. Lib., Champaign, IL
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Description

Burian and Caputo share the secrets to making great photographs in this engaging and informative guide.

* Making photographs of people, landscapes, and wildlife
* How-to tips from ten of National Geographic's top photographers
* Charts for selecting the right film, filter, and exposure
* Cameras, lenses, and maintenance
* Using existing light and flash
* Tips on effective composition
* Computers and photography
* Travel tips and gear
* Photography Web sites

Product Details

• Hardcover: 352 pages
• Publisher: National Geographic; illustrated edition edition (September 15, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0792274989
• ISBN-13: 978-0792274988
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (97 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #84,462 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

61 of 61 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent resource and worthy investment!, March 26, 2001

By	Cal Johnson (Calgary) - See all my reviews

I am new to photography and after browsing through several "how to books", I decided to buy this one. Though smaller than some other "complete" guides out there, this book offers very clear, easy to understand explainations of the inner workings of photography. It packs a lot of information within its pages, and tells you what you want to know, what is involved in taking great pictures. It covers both indoor and outdoor photography, has excellent diagrams, and uses photographs to illustrate techniques. Rather than offer the reader an endless stream of irrelevant data, this book explains the fundamentals of photography and how they can be used to create great photographs. The authors are careful to cover many different camera types, but keep the information relevant for all readers. It should be noted that this book is presented in full colour, unlike a different "complete" guide, which was 90% black and white(you have to be joking!). I highly reccomend this book for anyone looking to learn about photography, or improve on their technique. First class offering, typical of National Geographic caliber.

74 of 76 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Dazzling and informative, an Excellent Guide, September 6, 2000

By	Luis Gallo "Luis Eduardo Gallo" (Valencia, Estado Carabobo Venezuela) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

It is always a delight to read- and see- a National Geographic book. They are always well written and packed with superb photographs, so a Photography Field Guide could not be the exception. In this masterpiece, Peter Burian and National Geographic star photographer Robert Caputo will reveal to you the secrets to making great pictures. From the Essential Basics, that is cameras, lenses, light, flashes, film and composition to practical topics on how to photograph a "world of subjects" ranging from people to animals, from sports to architecture and from landscapes to close-ups, this book is a real help to anyone who wants to take a picture. Like other National Geographic books, this one is also well designed, user friendly and packed with beautiful photos. It is also updated with a section on Computers and Photography and contains a useful glossary and a directory of web sites and photography magazines and books. As I wrote in the title of the review, this book is dazzling and informative. I think that everyperson interested in photography, should have this Field Guide, it is outstanding, a book worth a million pictures and a million words.

58 of 59 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Informative and entertaining, June 5, 2000

By	Bukkene Bruse (Iowa) - See all my reviews

The National Geographic Photography Field Guide is an excellent guide for beginners and a good reference for the more experienced. The information is clearly presented and features such as tips in the margins make the book easy to read as well as to use for later reference. Both the technical aspects of photography and photograph composition were discussed succinctly.

Moreover, the book itself was entertaining reading and I enjoyed the sections where various photographers' styles were showcased. Not only were these sections useful in learning how to go about taking pictures, they were interesting in their own right as glimpses into how different artists work.