Rating: 
Summary: Excellent Book, Well Written, Awesome Photographs
Review: John Shaw's were the first books I read on photography, after the Canon camera manual, and his books are the absolute best you can find.
The photographs are brilliant, no doubt. But what makes this book special is that almost each photograph is explained. You not only get to see great photographs, but also get an insight into what went into the composition of the photograph itself. Small things like using a tripod, not relying too much on filters, and the use of macros rounds off this excellent book.
This book, John Shaw's Landscape Photography, and 'Nature Photographer's Complete Guide to Professional Field Techniques' make it a must-have for any budding as well as experienced photographer.
If you have read some of his other books (like the ones I mention above) you may find some concepts being repeated, but they are so essential to good photography that they are well worth being read and re-read.
Go ahead, beg, borrow, or buy this book. (No, do not steal :)
Rating:
Summary: All you need to know and more
Review: Like all of his books excellent text with clear, easy to understand concepts and instructions. This has definitely improved my close up work or at least removed several of the mistakes I use to make.
Rating:
Summary: Close up on Closeups in Nature
Review: One of the most readable books on closeup photography has to be Closeups in Nature. Each chapter, while dealing with the subject, goes into very understandable detail on how to go about taking photographs of the little things. Each chapter describes using different types of equipment, from the most simple and inexpensive products, to the very precise and obviously costly. Most of us, I'm sure, fall somewhere in between. He also covers not only types of film, but the differences in film brands. If you truly have a passion for this type of photography, Mr. Shaw's book is a "must read."
Rating:
Summary: Note Shaw's changes from this 1987 classic.
Review: Readers of this 1987 classic should note that in his more recent books, John Shaw says his favorite macro lens is now the Nikon 200mm, rather than the 105mm lens recommended in "Closeups in Nature". In his 2000 "Nature Photography Field Guide", his note beside a set of photos says "These photographs were taken with my favorite macro lens, the Nikon 200mm. The long focal length gave me lots of free working distance, plus control over background coverage". Shaw still uses a 105mm macro and other lenses in appropriate situations, but for those trying to decide between a 105mm macro lens and a 200mm macro lens, his current preference for the Nikon 200mm macro lens should be considered.
Rating:
Summary: Read immediately, please!
Review: The best understanding of macro work is in this wonderful book. Also the writer introduced a lot of equipments and explained how to use them in detail. You will be not disappointed about this book.
Rating: 
Summary: Out of date - too little advice on technique
Review: This book is from 1987, I briefly read the reviews saying that it wasn't in the digital era, OK I figured that's fine, how out of date could it be? However, I didn't expect that so much of the book would be dedicated to functionality that's now fully automatic, such as TTL Flash, and TTL exposure metering.
It's certainly a very interesting technical read, that provided me with an understanding of all the different macro options, lenses, filters, extensions, TC's, reversing rings, bellows, reverse mount adapters, lens stacking, etc. However, it wasn't for me.
I was after something that would show technique, or provide advice on how/where to find the shots he was taking, but the book doesn't cover that at all, to my dismay the book starts with the author writing "it always surprises me that folks find it hard to find subjects" but then provides no advice. After having bought a 60mm Micro lens I was hopeful this would provide direction, but other than "I probably should have bought the 105mm lens" I didn't get any direction from it.
Rating:
Summary: An Inspirational Book
Review: This book is worth the price for the breathtaking images alone. More importantly, John Shaw's ability to explain complex photographic issues and techniques with clarity makes this one of the best "how to" books I have ever read on any topic.Here are a few of the book's features that I especially appreciate with each re-reading: 1. Thorough technical details beside each shot; 2. Emphasis on appreciating nature, and enjoying nature photography; 3. Appreciation of good photo gear for its effectiveness and convenience, combined with suggestions for improvising to reduce expense (such as how to shoot arresting closeups without investing in a macro lens); 4. Lots of Nikon-specific equipment references, but mentions Canon equivalents; 5. Ethical, urging photographers not to harass creatures or damage plants in the wilderness; 6. Did I mention the breathtaking images? His newer "Nature Photography Field Guide" is also brilliant,and equally full of superb images, valuable tips, and further inspiration. There is little overlap between the two. "Closeups in Nature" opens up a new world of perception and expression for photographers. Treat yourself or a photographer friend to a copy.
Rating:
Summary: An Inspirational Book
Review: This book is worth the price for the breathtaking images alone. More importantly, John Shaw's ability to explain complex photographic issues and techniques with clarity makes this one of the best "how to" books I have ever read on any topic. Here are a few of the book's features that I especially appreciate with each re-reading: 1. Thorough technical details beside each shot; 2. Emphasis on appreciating nature, and enjoying nature photography; 3. Appreciation of good photo gear for its effectiveness and convenience, combined with suggestions for improvising to reduce expense (such as how to shoot arresting closeups without investing in a macro lens); 4. Lots of Nikon-specific equipment references, but mentions Canon equivalents; 5. Ethical, urging photographers not to harass creatures or damage plants in the wilderness; 6. Did I mention the breathtaking images? His newer "Nature Photography Field Guide" is also brilliant,and equally full of superb images, valuable tips, and further inspiration. There is little overlap between the two. "Closeups in Nature" opens up a new world of perception and expression for photographers. Treat yourself or a photographer friend to a copy.
Rating:
Summary: Worth the price just for the photos
Review: This is an awesome book. I still haven't praticed enough to master many of the techniques, but I am getting better all the time. This book covers from beginer to master and all points in between.
Rating:
Summary: Best of the best
Review: This is the best (non-darkroom) photography book available today, even by John Shaw's standard. John Shaw is like a master craftsman, a seasoned technician, a meticulous artist and a patient mentor, he tells you from fine-tuning a meter to reciprocal failure, from tripod to home-brewed flash bracket, not to mention every lens focal range and its application in macro photography. The book is well organized, most every chapter is dedicated to a specific type of equipment (flash, tripod or a focal range), yet this is not a book about equipment, it is a book about photography, or rather about the author's vision and philosophy in photography. It's a shame that the book's printing quality is bad, the book becomes disintegrated after a few readings. The pictures are not super sharp either. This might be the results of bad publishing, or it might be John Shaw's reluctance to user larger format (which has always been a mystery to me). Hard to imagine as meticulous as he is, he is not pursuing the ultimate quality of images.
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