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Focus On Close-Up and Macro Photography (Focus On series): Focus on the Fundamentals
Want to get the best out of your digital camera? Not quite sure how to capture up-close shots? Want easy to follow, expert advice on the best ways to creatively capture macro shots you can be proud of?
This is your ticket to go beyond a snapshot to create a fine art print that you'll be so proud of. Macro and close-up photography involves a unique skill set in terms of exposure, lighting, and of course, composition in particular. You can take a quick photo of a sunflower in your back yard that will look mundane and typical OR you could learn how to take a picture of just a part of it-up close-and create a work of art. Let this book be your guide!
This is your ticket to go beyond a snapshot to create a fine art print that you'll be so proud of. Macro and close-up photography involves a unique skill set in terms of exposure, lighting, and of course, composition in particular. You can take a quick photo of a sunflower in your back yard that will look mundane and typical OR you could learn how to take a picture of just a part of it-up close-and create a work of art. Let this book be your guide!
200 pages, Paperback
First published September 28, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
June 27, 2013
You cannot fail to have been amazed by macro photography, even if you don't know it, and yet it need not be as complex as you possibly fear it to be nor does it necessarily need a ton of expensive equipment.
Of course, you can spend a small fortune on a good macro photography setup, yet an eye for a great photograph, some good subject material and a bit of knowledge is key. This book can help with the latter and guide you as you possibly develop a bit of a taste for the subject and eventually expand your camera arsenal. Your bank manager might not like you though… The book is written for the relative newbie but many old hands might still find some nuggets of information (or possibly can correct any misunderstandings and assumptions learned over time) - if nothing else there's a LOT of great, inspiring photographs to look at. Starting with looking at the differences between close-up and macro photography the reader is patiently taken through what can be a complex, confusing subject with the patient ease of a grandfather teaching a grandchild to ride a bicycle.
One nice thing about this book is that the average reader is considered. The pros can afford macro lenses and fancy flash units that can easily run into the hundreds if not thousands of pounds. Relatively inexpensive "starter options" are considered and their benefits compared to the more expensive offerings, allowing you to perhaps dip a toe into an interesting photography area and see if it really going to be something you want to invest in. Photography can be an expensive hobby, even in the digital age when there are no processing costs! Every possible little saving can help.
As you would expect, the quality of example photographs is excellent. It is a big niggle that there is no "how this picture was taken" info box by each of them as that would have been a great help and possibly even a greater reinforcement that the average photographer can, with the right knowledge, possibly do the same. Or perhaps the author doesn't want to admit that things are so easy as many macro photographers can spend hours or longer on getting one picture just right… with a TON of expensive equipment at their side. Building up unreasonable expectations has no place in a book of this type.
After a very good introduction and overview it is time for a lengthy look at composition matters, making you think about what you take and how it will be used. Much of this practical knowledge is then put to the test in a dedicated chapter about flower photography. Even if this is something you don't think you'd want to do yourself, you should read through it carefully and maybe even try it and polish your performance as many of the skills learned can be applied to other macro subjects. It would have been nice to have had even more "dedicated subject"-chapters but maybe one is just being greedy.
Lighting is an important, if not critical, part of macro photography and here you will not be left wanting. Obviously brevity is an unfortunate necessity but the author has managed to provide a sufficient level of introductory information for a beginner. If and when you get the macro photography bug there is a plethora of other books all looking at specific elements, whether it be flash lighting, photographing insects or esoteric matters such as focus stacking. As it is this is a voluminous, detailed, workable general introduction resource. A good index at the end lets you dig back into the book when you are suddenly trying to refresh your knowledge about a thing.
There's not a lot more to say. This book is by no means unique and nor does it pretend to be. Books of this kind can be highly personal items that the reader either gels with or will hate forever. This feels a great book for the beginner as well as the self-taught-with-many-bad-habits-and-poor-background "pro" alike. The downside? You might suddenly feel that all of your attempts-to-date are rather inferior when you see what can be done…
The book can and does feel disjointed, as if it needs a bit of polish. It is not a walk-through book where you just follow each stage and press the shutter button. It is not a universal guide and it tends to focus on studio matters rather than being in the field - possibly a deliberate decision where you have the opportunity to control things. It could have been better but equally it could have been a lot worse.
Focus On Close-Up and Macro Photography, written by Clive Branson and published by Taylor & Francis Group/Focal Press. ISBN 9780240823980, 186 pages. Typical price: USD19.95. YYYY.
http://syndicate.darreningram.com/foc...
Of course, you can spend a small fortune on a good macro photography setup, yet an eye for a great photograph, some good subject material and a bit of knowledge is key. This book can help with the latter and guide you as you possibly develop a bit of a taste for the subject and eventually expand your camera arsenal. Your bank manager might not like you though… The book is written for the relative newbie but many old hands might still find some nuggets of information (or possibly can correct any misunderstandings and assumptions learned over time) - if nothing else there's a LOT of great, inspiring photographs to look at. Starting with looking at the differences between close-up and macro photography the reader is patiently taken through what can be a complex, confusing subject with the patient ease of a grandfather teaching a grandchild to ride a bicycle.
One nice thing about this book is that the average reader is considered. The pros can afford macro lenses and fancy flash units that can easily run into the hundreds if not thousands of pounds. Relatively inexpensive "starter options" are considered and their benefits compared to the more expensive offerings, allowing you to perhaps dip a toe into an interesting photography area and see if it really going to be something you want to invest in. Photography can be an expensive hobby, even in the digital age when there are no processing costs! Every possible little saving can help.
As you would expect, the quality of example photographs is excellent. It is a big niggle that there is no "how this picture was taken" info box by each of them as that would have been a great help and possibly even a greater reinforcement that the average photographer can, with the right knowledge, possibly do the same. Or perhaps the author doesn't want to admit that things are so easy as many macro photographers can spend hours or longer on getting one picture just right… with a TON of expensive equipment at their side. Building up unreasonable expectations has no place in a book of this type.
After a very good introduction and overview it is time for a lengthy look at composition matters, making you think about what you take and how it will be used. Much of this practical knowledge is then put to the test in a dedicated chapter about flower photography. Even if this is something you don't think you'd want to do yourself, you should read through it carefully and maybe even try it and polish your performance as many of the skills learned can be applied to other macro subjects. It would have been nice to have had even more "dedicated subject"-chapters but maybe one is just being greedy.
Lighting is an important, if not critical, part of macro photography and here you will not be left wanting. Obviously brevity is an unfortunate necessity but the author has managed to provide a sufficient level of introductory information for a beginner. If and when you get the macro photography bug there is a plethora of other books all looking at specific elements, whether it be flash lighting, photographing insects or esoteric matters such as focus stacking. As it is this is a voluminous, detailed, workable general introduction resource. A good index at the end lets you dig back into the book when you are suddenly trying to refresh your knowledge about a thing.
There's not a lot more to say. This book is by no means unique and nor does it pretend to be. Books of this kind can be highly personal items that the reader either gels with or will hate forever. This feels a great book for the beginner as well as the self-taught-with-many-bad-habits-and-poor-background "pro" alike. The downside? You might suddenly feel that all of your attempts-to-date are rather inferior when you see what can be done…
The book can and does feel disjointed, as if it needs a bit of polish. It is not a walk-through book where you just follow each stage and press the shutter button. It is not a universal guide and it tends to focus on studio matters rather than being in the field - possibly a deliberate decision where you have the opportunity to control things. It could have been better but equally it could have been a lot worse.
Focus On Close-Up and Macro Photography, written by Clive Branson and published by Taylor & Francis Group/Focal Press. ISBN 9780240823980, 186 pages. Typical price: USD19.95. YYYY.
http://syndicate.darreningram.com/foc...
December 2, 2013
This photography book is very readable and filled with beautiful pictures and hints about how to produce your own. The book is divided into six chapters – What is Macro Photography?, Composition, Flower Photography, Lighting, Subjects to Photograph, and What to do with Your Images.
Clive Branson begins by defining macro photography and talking about the strengths and weaknesses of various kinds of cameras and lenses. Beyond the equipment, he talks about the need to be able to see differently to photograph images that are unusual and attractive. He talks about composition and the rule of thirds next making the important statement that sometimes good composition involves breaking the rules. He deals with the importance of background here in his discussion of negative space, but also in the section on flower photography. It was the flower photography that was my favourite section as it is a hobby of mine. The use of reflectors to add and control light and to manage backgrounds is very important and it isn’t necessary to spend a lot of money to get good results.
The section on lighting is also a great read as he discusses the merits of different angles of lighting as well as different sources. In the subjects chapter he takes several common subjects, the frozen water droplet, smoke and refraction and gives short how to summaries to start a beginning photographer on experimenting with these kinds of photographs. The main ingredient for each is patience and a willingness to take a lot of pictures to learn the best way for you to accomplish the photo. The final chapter talks briefly about how to sell your photographs, which while interesting will require a great deal more practice and the equipment to produce the highest technical quality shots.
I enjoyed reading the book and plan to try out his suggestions for the subjects to shoot. It is always good to find a book that is clear, easy to read and challenging.
Clive Branson begins by defining macro photography and talking about the strengths and weaknesses of various kinds of cameras and lenses. Beyond the equipment, he talks about the need to be able to see differently to photograph images that are unusual and attractive. He talks about composition and the rule of thirds next making the important statement that sometimes good composition involves breaking the rules. He deals with the importance of background here in his discussion of negative space, but also in the section on flower photography. It was the flower photography that was my favourite section as it is a hobby of mine. The use of reflectors to add and control light and to manage backgrounds is very important and it isn’t necessary to spend a lot of money to get good results.
The section on lighting is also a great read as he discusses the merits of different angles of lighting as well as different sources. In the subjects chapter he takes several common subjects, the frozen water droplet, smoke and refraction and gives short how to summaries to start a beginning photographer on experimenting with these kinds of photographs. The main ingredient for each is patience and a willingness to take a lot of pictures to learn the best way for you to accomplish the photo. The final chapter talks briefly about how to sell your photographs, which while interesting will require a great deal more practice and the equipment to produce the highest technical quality shots.
I enjoyed reading the book and plan to try out his suggestions for the subjects to shoot. It is always good to find a book that is clear, easy to read and challenging.
March 13, 2015
Focus on Close-Up and Macro Photography is an interesting read with many good tips for both the novice and the more advanced photographer. Some areas overlapped things I have read elsewhere in more general photography manuals. Perhaps I would have preferred less of that general information and more detailed information on macro photography, but it was still a good refresher in any case.
As you'd expect, this book offered plenty of beautiful example shots that really show off the expertise of the photographer. I would recommend this book for mid-level photographers who are looking to improve their close-up work.
I received this book as a free e-book ARC via NetGalley.
As you'd expect, this book offered plenty of beautiful example shots that really show off the expertise of the photographer. I would recommend this book for mid-level photographers who are looking to improve their close-up work.
I received this book as a free e-book ARC via NetGalley.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews