Rating: 
Summary: Pratical results with your own equipment in your backyard.
Review: An exceptional book with lots of simple to understand pro hints.The chapter about "calibrating the meter" worth the cost of the book by it self. What else to say about "how to use your simple equipment with addition of few "low cost" rings adapters to get excellent results". You'll save lots of $$$ there too. From other author's books, we saw photos of exceptional places on earth (not available to you and me), but with Mr. Shaw's you will learn how to take those exceptionals photos right from your own backyards. I'm living in Canada and most of the photos found in is book could have be taken in my neighbourhood. Highly recommended to everyone who want to be impress by it's own photography achievement.
Rating: 
Summary: A good book that's showing its age now
Review: Any book by John Shaw is a must-buy. This is a book from the master of the craft. That said, it needs an overhaul now, as it's showing its age. The book by Harcourt-Davies is a strong contender.
Rating:
Summary: Buy It
Review: Anyone who would like to learn closeup photography should own this book. Very easy to understand and covers everything you need to know.
Rating:
Summary: Comprehensive, informative and readable
Review: I found this to a great book for the budding close-up photographer. First, it is very comprehensive, covering all areas of macro know-how in enough detail to get you going. It takes you through, step-by-step how to control your macrophotography to achieve various effects, with lots of sage and practical advice along the way. As other reviewers have noted, his writing is incredibly clear and easy-to-read. I found his explanations to be very intuitive, and several times whilst reading I thought "yeah, but what about...", and, boom, there was the answer in the next paragraph. Impressive. Some suggestion its getting out of date, but really (aside from some equipment examples, which are precisely that anyway) this stuff doesn't get out of date. Its written for film photography, but even if you're doing digital macro, the majority of this book (exposure,tripod use, flash, framing, background control, etc, etc) is still equally relevant. Gripes? Hard on the credit card - I know I need a decent tripod each time I refer to it (and a new lens, and a...)! And spending too much time reading it rather than taking the bloody photos! Its really good.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Technical Info
Review: I had done a fair bit of macro and I always thought I had good knowledge of the subject till I read this book. A lot of technical data and tables to help a newbie (and those who never bothered to see the technical side of macro, like me)to get up and running. One very uncommon (but excellent) area he dipped in is to teach the readers some basic techniques to build flash brackets, simple diffuser, reflector etc that actually works, not step-by-step but at least it gives the reader some idea. If you want a more light-hearted reading or leave it on the coffee table, then get Complete Guide to Close-Up & MacRo Photography by Paul Harcourt Davies. This book is more focused on fauna, hard cover, real beauty to look at and is also excellent in its own right.
Rating:
Summary: The best book on close-up photography. All practical methods
Review: I have attended workshops taught by John Shaw, sitting on the
side of a flower covered mountain, listening to John discuss
macro technique. This book caries all of the character and clarity of being there listening to him in person. John Shaw's work is undoubtedly some of the best nature closeup work around and this book gives you all his tricks. The photographs
in the book are excellent technically and provide wonderfull
examples for the techniques explained in the book. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a complete
overview of different macro techniques and/or detailed instruction on any of these techniques. He gives you all the
options for macro technique without spending major dollars on
unneeded equipment.
Rating:
Summary: The best book on close-up photography. All practical methods
Review: I have attended workshops taught by John Shaw, sitting on theside of a flower covered mountain, listening to John discussmacro technique. This book caries all of the character and clarity of being there listening to him in person. John Shaw's work is undoubtedly some of the best nature closeup work around and this book gives you all his tricks. The photographs in the book are excellent technically and provide wonderfull examples for the techniques explained in the book. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a complete overview of different macro techniques and/or detailed instruction on any of these techniques. He gives you all the options for macro technique without spending major dollars on unneeded equipment.
Rating:
Summary: A new world of photography
Review: I have been involved in various aspects of photography for more than 40 years--weddings, newspaper, school yearbook, and others, including 22 years of teaching it and have to say that I learned many new things about the world of closeup photography from John Shaw's book. He tells how to combine lenses, how to use closeup lenses with telephoto lenses and how to reverse lenses. All of this is explained in a straight forward manner that anyone can understand. And, he has actual photos to show the results of the various techniques. He lists his equipment, all of which is available at most camera stores. I plan to add this aspect of photography to my teaching curriculum and use some of John's methods in my syllabus, giving him credit. I recommend the book for anyone interested in a new field of photography. I looked at several other books on the same subject before choosing his and believe I made the best choice. I can't recall anything I did not like about the book.
Rating:
Summary: A Beginner book
Review: I have the book for years. I bought it as it has the highest rating from reader review. As review it today, I would say it just good for someone want to start close up. It provide a lot of practical information for a starter. For a advance macro photographer, the information will becoem little and not details enought.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent book
Review: I highly recommend this book. Great images and easy to understand techniques. Shaw is down to earth and obviously speaks from experience. The images alone justify the cost but you will learn from this book.
| 
