Location Photographers Handbook: The Complete Guide for the Out of Studio Shoot

Rating:
Summary: Don't Leave Home Without it!
Review: I have two copies of Ken's great book, one for the road kit, one backup for the office. It is simply indispensable. When that call comes asking if you can be in Timbuktu to Taiwan in two days, Ken's book tells you what you'll need in terms of electrical converters, local customs, weather for this time of year, and how to find out if the State Department thinks this is a safe location.

This wonderful volume is the closest thing to a professional tranquilizer for the anxious road warrior photographer heading out to the hinterlands. (I think it's a great volume for any traveler.)

You may not need two copies, but one is required reading for location shooters.

Gary Gladstone
Author, Corporate & Location Photography (Kodak Pro Workshop Series)

Rating:
Summary: A Good Concept But Out-of-Date
Review: The first part of the book has a good description of practical hints about shooting effectively on location. This part is very good. However, the larger part of the book is an out-of-date country by country description. For example, the book still refers to West Germany and East Germany as separate countries. For this to work, the book would need to be updated frequently, especially after September 11th (e.g., Afghanistan and Pakistan).

Rating:
Summary: very helpful
Review: This is a wonderful book. It covers aspects of preparation for location work that I never would have imagined (like the proper way to give a bribe or the business dress code for South Yemen). Some topics include: Expense estimates, cross-cultural understanding, customs regulations, choosing and maintaining equipment, safety, packing gear and clothing, and emergencies. There are short sections about various countries with information about geography, transportation, climate, visas, electricity, tourism offices, and more. Also included are the addresses and telephone numbers for Kodak-approved European labs. Perhaps most useful are the model releases in 8 languages--Arabic, Japanese, Russian, Chinese, Italian, Spanish, German, French, and English. The book is full of survival skills rather than photography instruction. The only thing that could make this book better would be to make it longer. Unique and useful!