Understanding Close-Up Photography: Creative Close Encounters with Or Without a Macro Lens

Peterson's books on Shutterspeed and Aperature are among the best I've ever encountered so when I saw this book in the soon to be released section I ordered it immediately. After waiting three months, it finally arrived and although I would not put it into the same category as the Aperture and Shutterspeed books, it is certainly a worthy addition. First, I'm not a pro but enjoy close-up and macro probably more than any other type of photography. This book strikes a solid balance between buying advice and explanations sufficient for newbies wanted to get started in close-up or macro and a few creative ideas or style for others with more experience. The emphasis is certainly on close-up above macro but with sufficient appeal to keep both happy. Ample explanations, nice use of comparative photo's and Petersons exceptional style of casual communication that provides insight into the shot itself. Also, he includes wide angle, fish-eye and other less common lens types outside of just the macro itself...for that he gets an extra star as it is a topic rarely included in most close-up discussions. Not every photo is of stellar quality - although there are some beautiful examples. Briefly, topics include equipment, depth of field and aperature, general tips, home studio, framing, magnification ratios, depth of field preview, and other essential information. To sum it up...a worthy addition but not of the same quality or caliber as exposure and shutterspeed. Newbies will benefit the most while more experienced users may pick up a few worthy ideas.

I think the comment on the front of the book pretty much covers it, (Creative close encounters with or without a MACRO lens). I started watching Bryan Peterson's YouTube videos about a year ago, which got me to take a look at this book. I would highly recommend taking a look at some of his YouTube videos also. If you want to be inspired and if you are looking for ideas that lead to other creative ideas, Bryan's books and videos are excellent! He also has many useful tips on using macro lenses, extension tubes and even wide angle lenses in close-up work. His focus is not on trying to document every single detail of how he created each image in the book. I think he is more interested in giving useful guidelines and creative ideas that can be applied to a variety of photography equipment. I will definitely take a look at Bryan's other books and I'm sure I will be referring to this book as needed. I have been dabbling in photography for many years, but I have gotten into it more seriously in the last two years. My current focus is on macro or close-up photography and this book and Bryan's videos have helped me to start getting the kind of photos I was looking for.

Once in a while we find a publication that thoroughly talks to a subject, and really shows you how to do the tasks that are associated with the subject. This book does just that. By a carefully laid out sequence of photographs the author builds on experiences and shows just what to do to accomplish amazing photographs. The 'how to' is expertly and carefully shown with each photo so a student can easily follow up and accomplish a similar task. This author not only supports each photo example with a details 'how-to' but also adds the extra bits of information that make the task both interesting and successful. The audience for this book can be a novice all the way up to an expert, for it covers the entire scope of taking close-up photos. Although this used book it was in excellent condition, a previous 'student' also enjoyed it. So will you if you find another one.

This is one of two books I have read on this topic recently. Looking past the odd sense of humor and toung-in-cheek writing, it mostly revolves around the artistic and compositional aspects of close-up photography. Not that I mind being spared yet another dissertation on the exposure triangle, but it talks little about equipment and technique. The section on equipment has only two pictures of a camera, but many fine examples of what can be done with such equipment. The book has many examples showing variations of the same subject illustrating the principles involved. If you want a more nuts and bolts discussion on equipment and technique, take a look at John Shaw's 'closeups in nature'. These two books together provide complimentary coverage of the topic.

I got this book from Amazon with the intent to learn about macro photography. During this past year, I have been getting back into photography after a 20 year layoff. Never having done any "Macro" photography, other than getting as close as my lens would allow me to do and still stay in focus, I had lots to learn. Wow, did Bryan open my eyes to the beauty of "close up/macro" photography. But MOST important, he really taught me about the Nikon equipment that he uses in his own work. So if you are a Nikon shooter, you will especially appreciate this book. While the concepts apply to all brands of cameras, his examples all include working with Nikon equipment. Except, for the apparently amazing Canon 500D closeup filter. That is a lowcost item that really enhances your macro capabilities without lots of cost. Yes, I just ordered the Canon closeup filter; about $169 via amazon. Have I told you about the beautiful photos in this book? Well, they are spectactular and just rev up your own enthusiasm to jump into the world of closeup/macro photography. Check out that pix of the dragon fly! This is one book that really delivers technically and esthetically.

I almost never leave reviews but am making an exception for this book. I've got a decent collection of photography books but this is one I could hardly put down. Bryan Peterson takes the reader through close up photography step by step in clear, easy to read language with loads of pictures to illustrate the written text. He shows the differences between settings and discusses how he achieved the best result. The book was so clear, so inspiring, I found myself itching to go out and try shooting using his techniques immediately! If you like close up and macro photography, this is a great book to add to your collection! Highly Recommended! Amazon's shipping, as always, was prompt and well packaged.

Like many people buying books on macro photography, I'm a somewhat experienced amateur who recently bought a dedicated macro lens and feeling underwhelmed with the initial results. After looking for decent free content on the Web, and not finding much, I started looking at books and settled on this one after reading all the good reviews. I'm sure the author is a fine photographer. That's easy to see from looking at the photographs but I have to say this is arguably a better coffee table book than it is an instructional on how to take better macro photos. Like so many photography books, there just isn't enough information on how the photos were taken to allow the reader to go out and try to do the same...One mistake (and I don't know why editors let this go) is listing incomplete information the body, lens, and settings used for each of the photos. In some, he gives you the focal length used but since he doesn't specify whether he's using a full-frame vs. cropped sensor body you don't know specifics, and they can in some cases be important. There are two chapters about the "Canon 500D" but they're so hard to follow I ended up looking online to see what he was talking about. He starts by calling it a "lens" and later a "filter"...Starting out explaining what it is and then showing a picture of it in use would be a much better way to start off. I'm still not sure whether he's recommending using it on a macro lens or just other lenses. There is a lot of great information in the book, I just would have edited it completely differently. Show some great "classic" macro pictures, show the set up you used (ie a photo of the camera, tripod, lighting, etc.), give the exact settings, explain options, and move on to the next one. Flowers, feathers, surfaces, all kinds of interesting stuff is mentioned and his pro results shown, but having finished the book I haven't really added much at all to my knowledge of how to make my photos pop.

Peterson is in fine form here with his trademark style of plain-spoken, practical teaching. He has a way of putting abstract concepts into easily understood, everyday language that leads the reader to truly OWN the idea. And at the same time he nudges along the more experienced photographer to reach beyond the familiar techniques and styles it's so easy to rely on in the myriad artistic selections one makes with every shot. The photos Peterson selected to illustrate his points communicate perfectly everything from the arcane to the simple, and they are consistently beautiful as a bonus! Understanding Close-up is better edited than his prior books but retains the charming, "note to a friend" voice that typifies Bryan Peterson. As someone who has taken his on-line classes, heard him speak at conferences, and read most of his books, I am clearly a fan, but I'm also a reader and I appreciate the fact that his latest book is fun to read, beautifully made and still causes the little light bulbs to go off above my head!