Wide-Angle Lens Photography (Amherst Media's Photo-Imaging Series)

Rating:
Summary: EXCELLENT TEXT & GREAT WIDE-ANGLE PHOTOGRAPHY
Review: Like many people ..., I had to purchase this book sight unseen. I don't necessarily regret doing so, but if I had the option to peruse a bookstore first, I probably would have leafed through it, read it a bit and then returned it to the shelf. As a novice photographer, I am in no position to critique photographs. However, fairly or unfairly, I am influenced by the impression the accompanying example photos make on me. A photography book that contains jaw-dropping photos influences me more and lends credibility (IMHO) to what the author is touting. In this book, most of the photos are difficult to appreciate because they are b&w reprints on standard paper. This really hurts the image quality of the photos. Even still, I was not that impressed by the color photos included either. Perhaps a wide-angle camera has less ability/versatility than I first imagined it would, or perhaps the shortcoming is in the particular photographer's ability to utilize a wide-angle lens most effectively. Quite frankly, the photos I found in the book didn't looking any more impressive than photos I've shot with my simple point and shoot. This bothered me.

I hate to sound so critical because it is a decent introduction to wide-angle photography. I think the greatest attribute the book offers is its extensive glossary of basic photography terms (e.g. flare, macro, f/stop, depth of field, focal length, rectilinear lens, etc.). If you do not have a firm grasp on all these terms, you might find this book useful for this reason if no other. If you are already familiar with these terms, however, I doubt you'll find much usefulness from this book. ...

Rating:
Summary: A decent introduction to wide-angle photography
Review: Like many people ..., I had to purchase this book sight unseen. I don't necessarily regret doing so, but if I had the option to peruse a bookstore first, I probably would have leafed through it, read it a bit and then returned it to the shelf. As a novice photographer, I am in no position to critique photographs. However, fairly or unfairly, I am influenced by the impression the accompanying example photos make on me. A photography book that contains jaw-dropping photos influences me more and lends credibility (IMHO) to what the author is touting. In this book, most of the photos are difficult to appreciate because they are b&w reprints on standard paper. This really hurts the image quality of the photos. Even still, I was not that impressed by the color photos included either. Perhaps a wide-angle camera has less ability/versatility than I first imagined it would, or perhaps the shortcoming is in the particular photographer's ability to utilize a wide-angle lens most effectively. Quite frankly, the photos I found in the book didn't looking any more impressive than photos I've shot with my simple point and shoot. This bothered me.

I hate to sound so critical because it is a decent introduction to wide-angle photography. I think the greatest attribute the book offers is its extensive glossary of basic photography terms (e.g. flare, macro, f/stop, depth of field, focal length, rectilinear lens, etc.). If you do not have a firm grasp on all these terms, you might find this book useful for this reason if no other. If you are already familiar with these terms, however, I doubt you'll find much usefulness from this book. ...

Rating:
Summary: Amateurish but enthusiastic
Review: Mostly mediocre photos and some marginal advice. Spend two minutes looking at the pictures then move on. An example of some circular logic from chapter 3 you can do without:

"Because wide-angle lenses record more of an area when shooting large groups of people, they allow you to move in close and still get everyone in the shot, ensuring that people in the shot will not diminish in size. If you used a lens with a longer focal length, you would have to move back to get everyone in the shot and they would appear smaller in size."

If you're after solid advice on technique you would be better served by a book such as The Ansel Adams Guide : Book 1 : Basic Techniques of Photography.

Rating:
Summary: Genuinely bad
Review: There is some good advice in this book... which can also be found in any general photography text. Unfortunately there is also advice that is plain wrong. The pictures are unimaginative. A large proportion are fisheye pictures of the worst kind... "look, the building is curved!". The really bizarre part is Appendix B: "Nikon Wide angle lenses", which is a list of... Nikon wide angle lenses. What anyone is supposed to do with this, I don't know. Don't buy this book. Any good general photography book will teach you more about the use of wide angle lenses.

Rating:
Summary: EXCELLENT TEXT & GREAT WIDE-ANGLE PHOTOGRAPHY
Review: This book expertly guides the reader through all that is needed to shoot various wide-angle lenses effectively.Very thorough, with exhaustive research by the author. The techniques for producing great wide-angle shots are explained clearly and the illustrative photos are spectacular. The author makes you realize how limiting "normal" lenses are, when you see his wonderful extensive images shot with fisheye, wide and ultra wide lenses. A must have book for anyone serious about wide-angle photography. The best!

Rating:
Summary: THE BEST OF THE BEST WIDE-ANGLE LENS PHOTO BOOK
Review: This is one great book for anyone interested in wide-angle shooting! Tons of creative images illustrating fish-eye, wide and ultra wide lens photography. Easy to follow instruction and illustrative shots for every kind of wide lens imaginable. Highly recommended from an author and phototgrapher who really knows his stuff. A must read for anyone who wants to learn how to shoot distinctive images.