Rating: 
Summary: NGS Photography Field Guide Rocks
Review: I agree with some of the reviewers who say this book is not for the professional or knowledgeable amateurs, but it taught me a few things. I must disagree with the reviewer from Indiana who said there was nothing in the book about shooting with the zone system or exposure charts. The chapter "Exposure and Exposure Metering" carries a chart and touches on the zone system. The book is well worth the money, for the advice and tips alone. Read it last month and have seen a marked improvement in my photography.
Rating: 
Summary: Not for Advanced Photographers
Review: This is a great book for beginners, but I would not recommend it for advanced photographers. Published by National Geographic, I expected this book to be advanced, but it turned out otherwise. The book's content tends to be repetitious and basic. Basic photography issues like the difference between slow and fast film, basic compositions, how exposure works are included, but the book does not discuss these issues "deeply." Very important issues like exposure charts are not there (the kind that shows you which f stop and shutter speed to use in many shooting conditions like shooting the city light, sunset, lightning, etc.) I also expected the zone system to be discussed, which is also not there. Since this book is a field guide, those issues are very important and should have been included in the book.
Rating: 
Summary: A nice place to start...
Review: If you don't have a lot of photgraphic experience, this is a great book to start out with. It intorduces many important subjects but I was disappointed with its lack of depth.
Rating:
Summary: Comprehensive guide in a very attractive format
Review: For much of my youth, I entertained the notion that I would one day become a photographer for National Geographic, traveling to exotic locations and making beautiful visual statements to be seen by many. Most of my visual statements have been confined to family scrapbooks, although I have been known to win a photo competition or two! This guide surpasses all the other guidebooks I have used in my pursuit of photographic excellence. In a format that is easy to follow, and travels nicely, the authors cover many aspects of photography, from equipment choices to lighting, to composing your shots. What I find unique about this book, however, are the features scattered throughout, highlighting a particular Geographic photographer and their techniques. Each offers a glimpse into their philosophy and approach to their assignment. While the book provides excellent advice on the technical aspects, this look into the soul of photography makes this a guide set apart from all others.
Rating:
Summary: Dazzling and informative, an Excellent Guide
Review: It is always a delight to read- and see- a National Geographic book. They are always well written and packed with superb photographs, so a Photography Field Guide could not be the exception. In this masterpiece, Peter Burian and National Geographic star photographer Robert Caputo will reveal to you the secrets to making great pictures. From the Essential Basics, that is cameras, lenses, light, flashes, film and composition to practical topics on how to photograph a "world of subjects" ranging from people to animals, from sports to architecture and from landscapes to close-ups, this book is a real help to anyone who wants to take a picture. Like other National Geographic books, this one is also well designed, user friendly and packed with beautiful photos. It is also updated with a section on Computers and Photography and contains a useful glossary and a directory of web sites and photography magazines and books. As I wrote in the title of the review, this book is dazzling and informative. I think that everyperson interested in photography, should have this Field Guide, it is outstanding, a book worth a million pictures and a million words.
Rating:
Summary: Very good book for beginning photographers....
Review: If you're just starting in photography as a hobby this is an excellent choice to pick up and learn from. It's got serveral interviews with well established photographers who give opinions on everything from lighting to equipment care etc. The beginning of the book focuses on basics such as film speed, shutter speed, aperture settings and the like and everything is covered very carefully and explained fully. Being a book from National Geographic you would expect some amazing pictures to be included and there are. There's a few hundred pictures throughout the book, many of which are extremely beautiful. Everything from wildlife to portaits, landscapes to sports, etc.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent book for beginners and amateurs
Review: I bought this book for a reference but I read it all the time because of the useful information that it contains. The thing that I like the most is the tips from the NGS photographers.
Rating:
Summary: If you feel lost - here you have the best guide
Review: I have read plenty of those reference books. If you are a beginner or a serious amateur that feel lost with all the options in lenses, films and pushy stores, this book is THE choice. Besides its excellent quality in printing, it gives all kinds of simple tips (and some not so simple) to get going comfortably in photography. I consider this one a MUST.
Rating:
Summary: Best I've read for beginners
Review: Of all of the books I've read about the basics of Photography, This one has helped me the most as well as being rather entertaining, I find myself picking it up and reading it again instead of tossing it into the stacks of books I have in the closet (I don't like to read books) Derek
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Reference - Must Have!
Review: I purchased this book based solely on the reviews posted on Amazon. I am happy to say it was a wise investment. The book is very detailed with sections about the camera, lenses, filters, exposure, taking photographs of people, landscapes, animals, etc. In each section there is usually at least one table listing different elements related to the topic and what can be done to generate specific events. For example, under taking pictures of animals, several different types of animals are listed and recommendations are made regarding lens, filter, film speed, etc. to achieve a certain result. While practice is definitely needed in order to achieve desired results, the author does a great job of getting you started. For more advanced photographers this book may be used as reference material, although I would still recommend it as a refresher based on its tables and examples.
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