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Unlock the Secrets of Nature Photography with Expert Guidance
This indispensable guide by award-winning photographers Ben Hall and Ross Hoddinott combines expertise and passion into a comprehensive course designed to elevate your photography skills to new heights. Whether you are passionate about capturing the fleeting beauty of birds, the majestic presence of mammals, or the intricate details of plant life and insects, this book is your gateway to mastering the art.
Key Features:
- Hands-On Learning: Structured like a workshop, this book allows readers to absorb profound lessons and technical know-how without the need to be on-site with the experts.
- Comprehensive Coverage: From the fundamentals of equipment, exposure, and composition to the nuances of lighting and post-processing, every aspect of nature photography is covered. Learn the art of close-up photography and delve into specific chapters dedicated to birds, mammals, and plant life.
- Insider Techniques: Ben and Ross share their approaches to locating, approaching, and photographing various subjects, offering insider tricks to capturing breath-taking images.
- Creative Assignments: Engage with creative reader assignments for practical learning and skill enhancement. These assignments challenge you to apply your newly acquired knowledge in real-world scenarios.
About the Authors:
Ross Hoddinott (www.rosshoddinott.co.uk) and Ben Hall (www.benhallphoto.com) are at the forefront of the UK's natural history photography scene. With an array of prestigious awards under their belts and memberships on the esteemed 2020VISION photo team, they bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to this book. Both authors have a proven track record in conducting workshops and contributing insightful articles to leading magazines. Ross is renowned for his books on photographic techniques, while together, they've crafted the must-read 52 Assignments: Nature Photography.
Embrace the opportunity to learn from the best in the field. Whether you're a budding photographer or looking to refine your skills, this guide is an invaluable resource for anyone eager to capture the splendour of the natural world. Join Ben and Ross on this enlightening journey and unlock your potential in nature photography.
"Ben Hall and Ross Hoddinott, two of the UK’s leading wildlife photographers, share their expert advice in this updated version of their 2013 book of the same title. A photography workshop in book form, it has all the pointers you need to take brilliant pictures of birds, mammals, plants, insects and more. Featuring a foreword by Chris Packham, it covers essential equipment and techniques – including exposure, composition, lighting and postprocessing – and there are in-depth chapters covering the specific skills needed for this challenging yet highly rewarding genre."—Outdoor Photography
"The original iteration of this book, by two of the UK’s most highly respected wildlife photographers, was published in 2013...In this version, there’s been a design refresh, with numerous new images and an expanded section on processing raw files, among several other updates. The tone of the book is approachable and the content thorough. Everything you would expect from a book with this title is covered and, of course, sumptuously illustrated with stunning photography. Best of all, by the end of it, you feel as if you might, with time and effort, produce something of a similar quality – and that’s what we should expect from a book such as this."—Amateur Photographer
Ross Hoddinott is one of the UK’s leading natural history and landscape photographers, best known for his intimate close-up images of nature and for evocative landscape photographs. He is a member of the 2020VISION photo team with Ben Hall and co-runs Dawn 2 Dusk Photography with Mark Bauer, specializing in landscape photography workshops. Ross has authored or co-authored a variety of books on photographic technique, including The Landscape Photography Workshop and Digital Macro Photography. Together, Ben and Ross wrote 52 Assignments: Nature Photography. He is based in the South West of England.
Ben Hall is one of the UK’s leading natural-history photographers. He is the co-author of 52 Assignments: Nature Photography and The Wildlife Photography Workshop with Ross Hoddinott. Between them, they have won multiple awards for their wildlife photography and both are on the esteemed 2020VISION photo team. He is based in the North West of England. www.benhallphoto.com
Introduction 6
Ethics 8
Chapter One: Equipment 10
Digital SLRs 12
Lenses 14
Lens Types for Nature Photography 16
Camera Supports 18
Useful Accessories 20
Storage 22
Chapter Two: Exposure 24
Exposure 26
Aperture 28
Shutter Speed 30
Histograms 32
White Balance 34
High-Key and Low-Key Photography 36
Chapter Three: Composition 38
The Rule of Thirds 40
The Rule of Odds 42
Negative Space 44
Motion 46
Perspective 48
Colour 50
Breaking the Rules 52
Chapter Four: Lighting 54
Direction of Light 56
Dawn and Dusk 68
Weather 60
Silhouettes 62
Seasons 64
Using a Reflector 66
Artificial Lighting 68
Chapter Five: Close-Up Photography 70
Technique 72
Focus Stacking 74
Butterflies 76
Dragonflies and Damselflies 78
Spiders 80
Amphibians 82
Reptiles 84
Chapter Six: Birds 86
Technique 88
Autofocus 90
Making and Using a Hide 92
Setting Up a Garden Feeding Station 96
Wetland and Coastal Birds 98
Birds of Prey 100
Flight Photography 102
Chapter Seven: Mammals 104
Technique 106
Research and Observe 108
Fieldcraft 110
Visualizing Black and White 112
Environmental Portraits 114
Deer Parks 116
The Decisive Moment 120
Chapter Eight: Plant Life 120
Technique 122
Maximizing Image Sharpness 124
Wildflowers 126
Plants Within the Landscape 128
Shape and Form 130
Fungi 132
Seasonal Changes 134
Chapter Nine: Post-Processing 136
File types 138
Processing a Raw file 140
Sharpening 144
Exposure Blending 146
Noise Reduction 148
Archiving 150
Chapter Ten: Creative Assignments 152
1: Break the Rules 154
2: Convey Motion 156
3: Build Your Own Feeding Station 158
4: Striking Silhouettes 160
5: The Decisive Moment 162
6: Study the Environment 164
7: Concentrate on One Species 166
8: Explore Urban Wildlife 168
Glossary 170
Useful Websites 172
About the Authors 173
Authors’ Acknowledgement/Index 174
Index 174