Customer Rating: 
Summary: Inspiring and practical.
Comment: I purchased Ross Hoddinott's book as an absolute novice, in the hope it would help me with a few of the basic techniques of photography; it did so much more.
This book takes you through the basic techniques of macrophotography and moves through the intracacies of lighting and post-camera processing with an ease of expression that even an absolute beginner can understand, whilst having enough detail to enable the more experienced photographer.
The images included are breath-taking, and get you looking at even the most mundane of objects as potential subject matter. Further to this the text is well written and informed, with the added bonus of jargon busting and pro tips that are easily browsed through.
If you want a book that inspires, informs and is accessable no matter what level of understanding you have, this book is the book for you. It will get you itching to pick up your camera.
Customer Rating: 
Summary: Concise and inspirational
Comment: I found this a really valuable book. Some of the content in the opening chapter on digital camera technology will inevitably 'age' quite quickly, but the book would have been lacking without an introduction to appropriate camera and lens hardware.
Throughout, Hoddinott repeatedly emphasises how fundamental techniques such as depth of field, composition and lighting can be managed for creative effect, and he illustrates these with an abundance of inspirational examples.
The middle section of the book is devoted to techniques for the macro photography of different subjects including still-life, natural-history, and quite a long piece on textures and patterns. Although personally I could have happily absorbed more material on wildlife photography, there must come a point where the book would become a nature field guide.
The book concludes with useful sections on the key editing processes in Photoshop, printing, and cataloguing and storage. All of these are necessarily brief. A glossary is provided although it is probably slightly superfluous. A list of Useful Websites will also date fairly quickly, and finally there is a comprehensive index.
Hoddinott covers all the topics in the book efficiently and concisely. It is hard to see that he could say very much more about macro photography without turning a very specific guide into an all-encompassing tome on digital photography.
My only criticism is that Hoddinott has an irritating habit (well, I find it irritating) of referring to photographers as "snappers" - not only in this book but in other printed work as well. It may amuse someone with a string of awards to his name, but for those of us who still aspire to having our work recognised it feels like a very pejorative expression!
That said, this is a book I will be picking up and referring to for a long time to come.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Stunning and inspiring!
Comment: An excellent book. Clear, informative and free from technical jargon. The photgraphs are stunning and inspiring, and the text an enjoyable read. Beginners and advanced photographers would all gain something from this book. Highly recommend it.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Digital Macro Photography Ross Hoddinott
Comment: Excellent book it lends it self to Middle - Advanced photographers.
Well some part are instuctive and helpful....as a Beginner I would'nt recommend it if your just starting in Macro.
But nevertheless excellent reading you cant not help but improve your own photography with this book anyway.
Some brilliant photography and well constructed format Nice book worth the money.You can read over and over with the same pleasure.
Mike The Netherlands
Customer Rating:
Summary: Vibrant, creative and inspiring
Comment: Usually I find photography books leaving me rather deflated about my own ability... However not this book. Ross's first book is a real hit. It has many excellent ideas, points of encouragement and is inspirational. The layout is clear, precise and rich in content with text that is informative and not self indulging. Simply put - get this book as it will improve your photography technique, inspire you to go out (even in the cold months!) and looks great on the coffee table too! JC
|
