Mastering Nature Photography: Shooting and Selling in the Digital Age (Paperback)

by John Kieffer (Author) "When you use a 4 x 5 inch view camera, you tend to attract all sorts of curious people..." (more)
Key Phrases: Grand Canyon, Maroon Bells, Monument Valley (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
A one-stop resource to shooting and selling nature photography, this guide provides a comprehensive real-life account of the field's working conditions along with the artistic, business and technical skill needed to succeed in it. The information is presented in a practical field-guide format, for users of both traditional and digital equipment. Topics covered included basic techniques and practices in nature photography from the various types of environments, objects and equipment to questions of style, composition, and mood. This guide also covers organizational, business and career issues - from planning and organizing a one-time photo expedition for a magazine shoot to selling one's work to a nature stock agency.

CD-ROM includes 500 breathtaking full-color photos of nature shots.

About the Author
John Kieffer has been a professional outdoors photographer for more than fifteen years. He has traveled to hundreds of countries around the world. In 1997 he established Kieffer Nature Stock, one of the first photography businesses to use a fully integrated web site. The author of The Photographer's Assistant, he lives in Boulder, CO.

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Allworth Press (October 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1581153899
• ISBN-13: 978-1581153897
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #918,266 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Pathetic waste of time..., December 10, 2004

By	Photomad (Christchurch, New Zealand) - See all my reviews

I have always been on the lookout for good books on nature/ landscape photography with regards to helping give the edge in selling stock images as well as improving my general photography. This book had been delayed for two months past its expected arrival time and I persisted with waiting for it as it looked very promising. Well, it would have to be the worst book I have ever bought from Amazon! Very little information unless your an absoloute beginner! Topics are brushed over in a paragraph with no great thought put into it. There are no colour images throughout (only on the cd). Anyway, I am thoroughly disappointed.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Misunderstood Very Approachable Book, October 3, 2006

By	M. Moran "sunnyside44" (sunnyside, NY United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book is great and like an extended college lecture on the many aspects of nature photography from the perspective of a working pro. The pictures are on the enclosed cd and each photo has several important factors listed. This works well as you can upload the cd and have this information avialable while on the road etc.
The writing of the book is confident yet casual and is very knowing of the market and how business is done.
the book is not flashy but has some real though uninspired understanding of being someone who is working to pay the bills.
The creative part is your responsibility.
Having the most important info on the cd makes carrying or transporting the significan data so much easier.

4.0 out of 5 stars Well focused book on nature if a bit more on stock photography than expected, April 5, 2009

By	L. Peasley (California USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

While written by a stock photographer, there is little in here that doesn't apply to all of us, whether fine arts photographers, vacation photographers, easy going point-and-shoot style or those wanting to get into the stock photography business or understand it better.

The author does an outstanding job of covering nearly *everything* you need to know, from the gear you use, to how to shoot rainbows, to scouting and setting up for trips as well as including tips in each section on what stock photography sells for each topic covered.

Even for those who don't do stock photography (such as myself) I find it highly educational to know what 'style' sells and consider how I can integrate that into my own methods.

The author has been there and done that in many different types of situations over the years. His suggestions from the types of vehicles, or sticking around after sunset, to hiking around and staying ON the path (he has his own mishaps to share!) are all well worth the read.

This is a 'meaty' book and it will take time to read it in full. However, it is broken down into small sections that can be easily read and considered, perhaps taking some notes for your own future reference. Otherwise, it is also an EXCELLENT 'reference' book, checking out his topic on sand dunes before you hit up the desert or other areas (for example).

The book itself has only a few photos, but comes with an excellent CD that allows him to share more images than you can in a regular book -- and keeps the book in a very affordable price range. ($25 retail, less on Amazon).

This IS a 'modern' book and while he talks about some of his days with medium format cameras and 35mm film, he is fully into the digital age now, as the subtitle indicates. He covers types of files to publishing formats, finding calendar companies and working online. This isn't your antiquated book you might expect but is definitely a great primer (and likely includes information that most anyone didn't know) for anyone out shooting 'in the field'.