United States
£ GBP
In Mastering Bird Photography: The Art, Craft, and Technique of Photographing Birds and Their Behavior, acclaimed bird photographer and author Marie Read shares techniques and stories behind her compelling images, offering fresh insights into making successful bird photographs, whether you're out in the field or in the comfort of your own backyard.
In this richly illustrated book, you'll learn how to be in the right place at the right time and how to obtain tack sharp portraits. Marie then teaches you to take your skills to the next level in order to capture action shots, illustrate birds in their habitats, and portray birds in evocative and artistic ways.
Building on basic technical topics such as camera choice, lens choice, and camera settings, Marie reveals how fieldcraft, compositional decisions, and knowledge of bird behaviour contribute greatly to a successful bird photograph. Captions for the over 400 images contained in the book provide details on the equipment used, as well as camera settings. Throughout Mastering Bird Photography, bird behaviour insights provide bird photographers of all skill levels a wealth of essential insider information that will help you produce images that stand out from the crowd.
Foreword by Tim Gallagher
Chapter 1: Getting Started in Bird Photography
Chapter 2: Equipment Essentials
Chapter 3: Focusing and Image Sharpness
Chapter 4: Getting Close
Chapter 5: Seeing the Light
Chapter 6: Exposure
Chapter 7: Composition Basics
Chapter 8: Capturing Bird Behavior
Chapter 9: Beauty Close to Home
Chapter 10: On the Wing
Chapter 11: The Big Picture
Chapter 12: Weather, Water, and Mood
Chapter 13: Shooting Outside the Box
Chapter 14: Basic Image Editing
Chapter 15: Bird Photography Hotspots
Chapter 16: Whats Next?
" [...] I'd have no hesitation recommending this book to anyone heading out birding with camera in hand. It offers plenty of takeaways for the casual photographer, even if they don't find every chapter or suggestion applicable. But I think its real strength is having the comprehensive expert advice to give someone the tools to make the transition from being a birder with a camera to becoming a serious bird photographer (or to just progress anywhere along that continuum). Even experienced photographers will gain nuggets of wisdom and validation from a master of Marie Read's caliber, not to mention enjoying the inspiring selection of photos and easy-to-follow prose. The well-organized chapters and detailed table of contents will make this a useful reference to go back to repeatedly for tune-ups or to refresh one's memory on a topic as well – I envision my copy becoming dog-eared over the years. Thank you, Marie Read, for distilling your expertise and vision into such an accessible form in this terrific book."
– Bill Schmoker, American Birding Association
