Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
There's more than one way to shoot a frog, as Shaw demonstrates in this splendid book, a thorough
course in practical field techniques for closeup photography using a 35mm single-lens reflex
camera. Although hobbyists who want to capture the flowers in their garden can glean ideas for
composition or the best time of day to photograph, this detailed work is intended primarily for
the serious amateur or professional. Success in closeup photography, Shaw maintains, depends on
control, and he advocates meticulous experimenting and testing of equipment and supplies before
one attempts to photograph in the quickly changing, unpredictable conditions of the field. Shaw
(The Nature Photographer's Complete Guide to Professional Field Techniques) is an excellent
teacher, establishing a common vocabulary with the reader, presenting lavishly illustrated new
material that builds on previous knowledge, repeating important concepts and techniques for
emphasis. He believes that technical competence frees the photographer to concentrate on
esthetics, and his inspiring pictures are beautiful artworkfields of flowers that evoke
impressionist paintings, delicate dogwood blossoms reminiscent of Oriental designs, rare glimpses
of snowflakes or raindrops on a yew needle. Photography Book Club main selection.