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Title: National Audubon Society Guide to Landscape Photography
ISBN: 155407195X
Author:
Publicate Date: 2007-03-16
Publish: 2007-03-16
List Price: $24.95
Average Customer Rating: 5.0
Format: Paperback
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Amazon Lowest New Price: $15.65
Amazon Lowest Used Price: $14.55
Amazon Merchant Price: $16.47
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| Customer Review: |
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1: Useful
I'm an advanced amateur photographer, i've found this book quite useful, it gives strongs helps to improve photograph.
By the way, in most of its parts its based on 6X4 system, that is really different in performance and "thinking" from the digitalreflex we use. The "big" concepts for composition and "theming" our works are obviusly the same, but in application it's different, also the example works ( beautiful ) are quite all in 6X4.
In any case a really good book!
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2: Excellent for two reasons
First reason: exceptional images.
Second reason: advice on obtaining these kind of images.
How many books get 5 stars for 16 out of 17 reviews? This is one. The images are excellent and the advice is sage. Fitzharris used both film and digital for these images, and his advice challenged my prosumer level. He really is an accomplished professional, and he has shared many of his ideas and techniques. Other professional landscape photographers would be interested in this book. But much of the information is accessible to amateur photographers as well. His description of depth of field, hyperfocus, wide angle, rule of thirds, exposure, composition, etc. are clear and straightforward.
Even if this book had just the clear, large, interesting images, it would be worth it. Other books of his did not get such great reviews. I can't say how much I liked this book.
For $16, just click the "Buy it now," button.
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3: Inspiring and Spectacular
I have been an amateur photographer for about 35 years, and I have enjoyed the instruction of several masters in the days I used to lug around a large view camera (mostly B/W imaging). Tim Fitzharris's book about (color)landscape photography is my most valued book on the subject in my entire library. He is an excellent writer and communicator of key thoughts. His writing is dense; he doesn't prattle. As he states in his introduction, "The emphasis of the book ... is on the photographer's actual interaction with the subject" {being photographed}. This book is for the intermediate to heavily experienced photographer (amateur or professional alike). As much as possible, he doesn't dabble in the usual tech stuff. He includes myriad photographs to illustrate all of his concepts and principles.
The part of the book most rewarding to me is Part 3, "Creating an Image." In these 28 pages, he articulates the key elements of visualization and image control. He thoroughly analyzes each element of good composition and the rationale for each. After reading the book, I went back to the pictures in this book and others in my library to validate these elements. As I did, I related more and more to the principles. They were clearly authenticated. They are clearly valid for all landscape-photo venues; color landscape photography is clearly the emphasis of the book, however. His photography alone is worth the price of the book.
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4: Landscape photography at its best
Outstanding pictures, informative, a must for any landscape photographer at any level. I highly recommend this Tim Fitzharris book.
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5: Finally! Someone Gets It Right!
Yeah, you need to get this book. This is the photography book I've been looking for. Tim Fitzharris doesn't just take stunning photographs, he disects photos and goes through the thought process so that the reader can understand what it was about the scene that caused him to frame it the way he did. He doesn't just say "follow your heart" or "discover what the scene is trying to tell you" or other artsy-fartsy stuff like that. He's a technician. He tells you how to assemble the photo piece by piece. No other book I've read goes into so much detail on how to actually frame a shot. Since digital cameras take away much of the worry about exposure, composition is the main worry, at least for me. Mr. Fitzharris does an excellent job of explaining vantage points, focal planes, proper camera placement and everything else associated with getting it all right in the camera.
Two tiny nits to pick, but certainly nothing worth deducting points for: 1) Fitzharris explains everything assuming you'll be using a 35mm or digital SLR camera, which is fine. But he uses a medium-format film or digital camera, and the pictures reflect this. Unless you're willing to spend the price of a new car on camera equipment, you shouldn't expect to be able to replicate the pictoral quality of his work. 2) Fitzharris points out that the best places to photograph water are actually from in the water, and he says that you should be "prepared to get wet". He also points out that this might cost you a camera or two, as any digital equipment dumped in the drink will be "a complete right-off". Whoa, there! Maybe a pro can right-off a few thousand dollars worth of equipment, but I saved for a year to buy my digital SLR. Taking it into the soup is just not an option.
One good thing that Fitzharris also covers is the amount of work necessary to get breathtaking shots. Up before dawn, hiking in the dark, coming back day after day if the light isn't right. He conveys the proper message that getting great shots on a consistent basis is real work. If you were under the impression that you could obtain shots like this while on vacation with your family, reading this book will quickly put that fantasy to rest. Fitzharris points out that it takes patience, dedication and time to get the good stuff.
This is by far the most informative book you can get on landscape photography. Fitzharris takes jaw-dropping, OMG-I-can't-believe-it photographs, yet it never seems that he's just showing off his work. I've read so many books where the author writes "this picture succeeds because..." and then goes on to explain why the shot he took is so great. In my view, if you have to explain to your readers why the picture succeeds, maybe it doesn't. Fitzharris never does this. He lets the shots speak for themselves, and simply describes the elements he looked for in composing the picture. And, wow. His pictures sure have a vocabulary!
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