#my best whooper photo to date i think

[ornithological]

whooper swan (cygnus cygnus), ireland

[mado-science]

5.0 out of 5 stars More than just a coffee table book

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Bird Images Maybe it's all the snow in the photographs. Or maybe it's the species that I never see here in North America. Or maybe it's that the three Finnish authors and photographers of this book are the most patient, intrepid and artistic of photographers. As far as I'm concerned this is one of the best books of bird photographs I've ever seen.Varesvuo, Peltomaki and Mate, two Finns and a Rumanian, first published this book in Finland, but the images were captured all over the world from Iceland to Brazil, and, in the United States, Bosque del Apache, New Mexico. Each of the sections of the book is written by a different author and they cover topics as diverse as the importance of perseverance and the art of building a blind. There are also sections describing some of the far-flung locales where the images were taken, including tips on where and what to photograph.The number of award-winning pictures of both large and small birds in flight, or catching a meal, or preening is staggering. Opening the book at random, I see a photograph of a Little Bittern clutching a stout vertical reed with both feet, leaning way out over water to take a stab at a fish, and the escaping fish, flying through the air in a burst of water droplets. All of this is reflected in the water. The bird and the fish bear a halo of backlight but every detail of the shadow portions of the bird and fish are clear. One can't say this is a typical image, because few pictures in the book are typical.The artists use a variety of equipment. There is a photograph of Whooper Swans taken with a lens set at 19mm, an angle so wide that most bird photographers would never assay an image with such a lens. But here are three swans large in the frame and ranks of other swans stretching back toward distant mountains.Read more › Go to Amazon

4.0 out of 5 stars The Handbook of Bird Photography "The Handbook of Bird Photography" by Finnish photographers Varesvuo, Peltomaki and Mate is a great guide for both aspiring and experienced bird photographers. Seemingly every aspect of bird photography is covered: the importance of understanding bird behavior, equipment, what makes a good bird photo, building blinds, attracting birds, etc. The exquisite photography in this handbook proves that the effort and knowledge that they've used in the pursuit of unique bird photos pays off.The wealth of information, although sometimes awkwardly presented (perhaps the translation), and the fantastic bird photos are the plus of this book. The predominance of European bird photos will distract some North American birders but may inspire others to broaden their horizons. Bottom line, if you are a bird photographer, the information and photography are rock solid. Go to Amazon

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must-Have Book for Bird Photographers Three authors collaborated on this stunning volume: Markus Varesvuo, Jari Peltomäki, and Bence Máté. As you might guess from the names, they are all Scandinavian. As the Introduction explains, each of these incredible photographers has a different background, perspective, and working style. Markus and Jari use Canon cameras; Bence prefers Nikon. Bence works with flash while Markus shoots under natural light.The text is easy to follow, and the illustrations are both breath-taking and informative. As I read, I kept thinking, "I could do that!" They cover the basics--equipment, aperture, speed, focus, ISO, and more--but they don't stop there. I learned about my camera's advanced settings (I'm a Nikon fan), and which ones to use under which circumstances.There are numerous chapters on composition, all inspiring. Living so far north, they are used to working under varying seasonal conditions, and provide some extremely useful pointers for dealing with snow and cold. They even have sections on how to find birds, choosing locations, how to work from a blind (and how to build your own), and remote photography. I particularly appreciated the up-to-date chapter on "Promoting and Selling your Images."True, most of the examples cited pertain to Norway or Finland, but the principles are universal. In addition, they have traveled extensively, and include entire chapters of their work from trips to Japan, Greece, Hungary, Costa Rica, Brazil, and Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge in New Mexico.This is by far the best book on bird photography I've seen (and I've looked at a lot of books). I'm impressed with the hundreds of large color photos and concise yet comprehensive advice. I'd classify this book as a "must have" for anyone serious about improving their bird photo skills. Go to Amazon