I greatly enjoyed the review copy of Cyrill Harnischmacher's first book, Low Budget Shooting. This one I didn't find as compelling. There is quite a bit of good information here, and certainly you could learn a lot about how to start experimenting with photographing all manner of things close up. But where Low Budget Shooting was really innovative in addressing a need that many photographers don't even think of having, Closeup Shooting looks at a topic well covered and doesn't breath the same refreshing air as Harnischmacher's first book.
In some cases, the technical information is limited without, so far as I noticed, an explanation. To say that extreme closeup photography is only possible with an SLR or DSLR is flat out wrong. Medium format and large format cameras are capable of as much and even more. (Perhaps the book's title should have been Small Format Closeup Shooting.) One mention of infrared photography didn't mention the difficult - or even impossibility - of doing this with DSLRs. There are many examples of images, but relatively few show the set-up and lighting diagrams that help people understand how the techniques worked and to apply them in their own shooting.
Given the number of special considerations one could make, 121 pages simply aren't enough to offer comprehensive coverage - there are entire books written on nothing but close-up photography in nature. It certainly isn't a dud, and it contains a lot of useful information, but I don't think it would be my first stop to learn about tabletop or macro photography. Closeup Shooting: A Guide to Closeup, Tabletop and Macro Photography
I have been able to take my closeup photography to a new level with the help of this new book published by Rockynook. As a 'people photographer' I used to be interested in what some of my fellow students were shooting while attending Brooks Institute of Photography, however, never took the time and didn't take any of the nature classes where closeup photography was being taught.
I have recently been more interested in photography in the garden and would get some nice shoots when it was overcast, however, didn't really have the right equipment and didn't spend much time with technique.
This book has helped me with finding and using the right equipment (lenses) and helped more importantly with lighting techniques using various diffusers, reflectors and flash.
I am really pleased with the results I am consitently getting and am looking forward to getting back in the water (diving) to try some of the underwater closeup techniques that are covered in the book.
This book is great for someone just beginning photography and for the photography professional.
Tom Ligare
'Closeup Shooting: A Guide to Closeup, Tabletop and Macro Photography' is a wonderful book that will help you get the most of out your closeup shots that you want to look better and jump off the page at you! Shooting closeup is one of the hardest things a photographer can do. Just simply setting the camera to macro mode and pressing the 'shoot' button is rarely enough. Subjects like what is being shot, lighting, how fast the subject is moving, etc. etc. need to always be kept in mind and this book will tackle these issues and so much more! With over 100+ pages of material, this book is beautifully designed in a hardcover casing that yells out to the reader: LOOK AT ME!! If you are a serious or hobbyist photographer that is interested in taking closeup pictures or you simply want to get better at this facet of picture taking you owe it to yourself to pick up this book. I absolutely love this design and feel that this will make nearly any photographer become a BETTER photographer. Easy to recommend and a joy to peruse.
***** RECOMMENDED
Close-up Shooting
A guide to close-up, tabletop and macro photography
by Cyrill Harnischmacher
published by Rockynook 2007
ISBN 978-1-933952-09-3
rockynook.com
Reviewed by Carl Baggett (member of Eureka Photoshop Users Group)
Having just obtained a close-up lens I was eager to review this book. It turned out this book is perfect for someone just getting into close-up photography. There is a brief, basic discussion of the technical issues that is easy to absorb. The author does a good job comunicating that the many techniques of lighting is where the creativity of close-up photography starts.
Lots of photos are used to demonstrate what the author is discussing. In particular there are 2 pages with 9 photos of the same object. One page shows a comparison of different lens configurations and the other shows different lighting techniques. And you know what they say about a photo being worth a thousand words.
I haven't looked at any other books dealing with close-up photography to compare this one to, but I would tell any close-up beginner like myself that this book is a good one to get. - Digital Photography - Photography Book - Photography - Macro'
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