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And that's the point of this book. This book won't make you a professional, world-class photographer. McNally shows an outstanding shot, and then explains what he was thinking, what he was going through, how he managed to get it.You'll probably never hang from the Empire State Building or get a private audience with James Brown, but you might go on vacation and stand on a ledge or be the only person with a camera at a friend's birthday. Let's just say that up front. Watching the NBA won't make you LeBron either, but that doesn't mean you can't learn moves to use at the gym. The principles turn out to be the same: get your angle, shoot a lot of different ways, look for interesting lighting.No surprise, the images in this book are OUTSTANDING. If you collect photographs, buy it just for those.
I highly recommend to the intermediate level photographer, once you got already command on your gear. The author has successfully combined real experience and technical advice in a simple and pleasant way. No deep-tech discussion, just practice. Good coverage on available light examples. Very inspiring book, elegant lay-out and design.
As a photo prof I purchased this book for students to page through for inspiration. The biggest flaw is that most of these shots are not feasible to your average student or artist. (My institution is not an "art school" or a pure technical program, it's more academic and interdisciplinary). However, whether my students find it frustrating or not, I think it's a great reference tool for DIY techniques and playing in photoshop in attempts to achieve similar effects.
After having borrowed this book from the library now I'm going to purchase it. And also a bunch of lightning equipment, starting with Bron and certainly some light boxes.Joe, if you read this: Bravo for your book. It just gives me the envy to start learning and learning again what I know on photography.
Unlike one of the reviewers who said that this book doesn't explain how Joe took his pictures I think that he gave much of what is needed to go along his path. I have also ordered his new book. It's one of the best and most helping book that I ever read on photography.
Basically Joe's giving just the information that I need to start the journey toward better pictures. I'm not specifically found of National Geographic pictures or the other magazines for which Joe works. But when I see and when I read what Joe does I'm truly amazed.
And I plan to buy a remote control for my camera. and Thank you.
This is my second Joe McNally book (the first book was "The Hot Shoe Diaries") and I have experienced a workshop with him as well. His humor in the books and at the workshops is very funny. The lessons I have learned from this book have just added that much more to my portfolio as a photographer. Thanks Joe.
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