Rating: 
Summary: Best Photography Book
Review: I am an amateur photographer who makes a lot of effort (couple of 'L' lenses, over 20 photography books, etc.). This is unreservedly the best photography book I have ever read. I only regret that I found out about the book so late (I have been a photography hobbyist for > 15 years).Most amateur photography books spend way too many pages on generic equipment recommendations, photography basics and other generalities without specific advice. They're usually a major waste of time (& money). Mr. Shaw's book goes into step-by-step detail and offers extremely practical advice on both equipment & a plethora of advanced photography techniques. Disregard the word "nature" in the title and read it regardless of whatever type of photographer you are. Sure, the book is geared towards nature photography and it mainly discusses high-end equipment usage. But any discerning reader should be able to tailor the advice to his specific needs. E.g., using slide film requires more effort & cost than I am willing to expend, f/4 telephoto lenses are a lighter/cheaper compromise than f/2.8 (I'm not a perfectionist and I don't use my equipment to build upper body strength while herding my family and the 2x26" Samsonites on vacations.) The book is not geared only toward professionals but an amateur should have a serious level of interest in the hobby to make the most of the book. I wish I could find a book as well written as this for travel & portrait photography (My main interests are vacation photography and pictures of my family). This book is hazardous to mediocre photography!
Rating:
Summary: 10 STARS
Review: I am enthusiastic about Shaw's books. I have them all. Almost all the photography books available out there deal with a lot of merely technical blabla. Shaw, on top of being technically rigorous, puts great emphasis on the artistic and creative aspects of nature photography. If you have time and will to learn, you'll find that each picture is a whole lesson. His way of writing is clean and straight, modest and never boring. I watch my own pictures before and after I went through his books: man, there is a difference!! I'd say that the vast majority of my slides are technically quite satisfactory but only a negligible minority is decent under the point of view of the composition. Shaw's books increased my capacity of critically evaluating a photograph. Sometimes I compare my pictures to those in some books or calendars and I'd say: mine are as good or even better than those. But sometimes I step into a book of some really good photographer (Shaw's ones are among them) and I sadly realize that I'll probably never get there. Nonetheless this stimulates me to improve. Buy it.
Rating:
Summary: Should be "Nature Photography 35mm SLR Field Guide"
Review: I claim the title should include "35mm SLR" because there is so much information specific to 35mm SLR equipment. That's a good thing. This book is EXTREMELY helpful in explaining the gear and techniques needed for nature photography.
Since Mr. Shaw seems to keep up, very pragmatically, with new equipment, I'll be very interested in a new edition that takes into account digital SLRs!
I also bought "Understanding Exposure" (forget the author) at the same time, and can say that "Nature Photography Field Guide" covers everything "Understanding Exposure" does, and more, and better.
Rating:
Summary: An easy to follow book on all the details
Review: I found this book to be great for me. I am new to photography but have been an avid amateur for about two years. Being a detail person, this book is the sixth one that I read but it is by far the best. John Shaw makes it all clear and doesn't use the buzz words that you will not understand. If he does use technical jargon, he explains it completely. If you like outdoor photography the book is a must. Otherwise it is a good (no great) book on the basics from exposure to lighting to equipment to common problems. Don't miss this one.
Rating:
Summary: John Shaw's Nature Photography: Plain Excellent
Review: I have been reading a ton of photography books lately. So far, this is by far the best. From equipment to composition, Mr. Shaw thouroughly covers his area, and then some. The sections on selecting and using cameras and equipment were as good as, or better than, other guides I have read. The sections on composition were also excellent. There are two bonuses in this book. One: Mr. Shaw can write clearly, even entertainingly. His explanations are understandable by both beginners and those who have grown up with cameras. It is a sad truth, but expertise with cameras rarely translates into english. It does here. The second bonus is the photography. Absolutely first rate. It illustrates the techniques and the creativity of the photographer. Each picture is accompanied with an adequate description of lens, camera and film. I recommend this book for anyone interested in photography, period.
Rating:
Summary: Inspiring book for the intermediate photographer
Review: I have to say this book is a must for any aspiring nature photographer, especially those using the Nikon system (although the author mentions the equivalent Canon lenses and accessories as well). John is an admitted gadget freak and at times a bit of a commercial for Nikon products. Having said that, the pictures speak for themselves. John describes exactly how he photographs each subject and inspires you to try his techniques for yourself. I can personally say that my pictures, especially nature close-up photographs have improved dramatically since I read this book. The entire book is great, but the close-up section is particularly strong. While there is an emphasis on equipment, for the most part John seems to be experimenting to find the best tool for the job at hand. His recommendations on equipment do tend to be at the high-end, but for those that can afford to follow them, you won't be disappointed. The pictures themselves are stunning and well reproduced. Highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: My First Photography Book
Review: I knew how to focus, point, and shoot, but I didn't know aperture, f-stop, shutter speed, exposure values, film speed or how these things could affect the pictures I take. Just after the first chapter, I understood more about my camera and the purpose of all of its options (and I'm using a Sony digital Mavica). John Shaw takes the time to explain what you need to know without getting too technical. And all of his many incredible photos throughout the book include descriptive captions of how he took the photo. Each photo emphasizes the point he is making. This book was excellent for me as a beginner and includes many techniques for outdoor photography. I enjoy the humourous tone, particularly when explaining technical points. The images are fantastic. Even if you don't read it, the book makes an excellent coffee table addition!
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Summary: The photographer's bible...
Review: I love this book! I can honestly say that I've learned almost everything I know about photography from John Shaw. He writes in an easy-to-understand style with occasional bits of humor thrown in to make that look of stern concentration on your face (from trying to soak in everything he has to teach) turn into an easy smile. Mr. Shaw covers everything - exposure, camera equipment, filters, film, composition, close-ups, TTL flash... I am constantly referencing this book. It definitely has paid off; I recently won three 1st place ribbons, two 2nd place and one 3rd place at the local fair. This is one of the only books you'll ever need for learning great photographic techniques.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Author
Review: I won't dwell on this topic, but I've consumed many photogrpahy books in recent years and John Shaw is an excellent writer that gets his point across. I wish I had read it earlier than I did because it is fantastic. He writes exceptionally well and drives his point home from multiple angles. He starts with the essentials like exposure and.... I just can't say enough about the way John is able to communicate photographic concepts and photography in general. The best I have ever read. Second to John's book is, Understanding Exposure: How to Shoot Great Photographs With a Film or Digital Camera by Bryan F. Peterson; Bryan is also excellent. If you buy two books, buy these.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent field guide, lovely images.
Review: I've always admired John Shaw, both for his wonderful images of nature and his elegant, precise and simple writing style. This is just one of his books I own. As always, this book is packed with sound, real world advice on nature photography. The section on close up photography is specially very insightful. As always, his images are very evocative and pleasing to the eye. To Shaw, nature seems more important than photography, and his images seem to reflect that sentiment. To this end, he has some valuable suggestions on how to photograph nature without disturbing or destroying it. I knew I had to buy this book the moment I went through it. Well worth the money.
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