Books on Photography
This page includes books on nature and wildlife photography that we have found to be very useful. We often refer back to them for technical guidance when we will be doing photography in particular situations. In addition, these books have great photographs that we enjoy looking at and appreciating the quality of the work.
Click on the book title to order directly from our website.
The Art of Bird Photography Author: Arthur Morris
Bird photography is probably the most challenging due to subject size, bird behavior, and distance from the subject. We do not consider ourselves to be great bird photographers, but Arthur Morris' book on the Art of Bird Photography should not be considered just a reference on that subject. We continuously reread parts of this book as a great guide on field techniques particularly for evaluating lighting and metering. He has a great little diagram on light compensation (page 60) that we copied out of the book, laminated and took with us on several recent expeditions. Much of the information included will help anyone improve their photography of wildlife.
The Art of Photographing Nature Author: Martha Hill, Photos Art Wolfe
This book gives you the great photography and technique of Art Wolfe as well as the critical editor's eye of Martha Hill. This is a great book for improving your own editing ability and learning how to evaluate your own photos more carefully. The book is well written and provides a broad range of photographic information.
Beyond the Basics Author: George Lepp
No cover
photograph available.
Photograph copyright Niall McCarten. Courtesy Cheetah Films & Photography. Photo using a Nikonos V camera.
How to Photograph Underwater Author: Norbert Wu
This is a great little paperback loaded with examples. I think many photographers learn through specific example which is why many of us subscribe to the various outdoor and nature magazines in order to see more examples. I often take this book with me on diving expeditions. It has a very broad range of situations one encounters and is a greater reminder of techniques that are useful in each situation.
Serengeti: Natural Order on the African Plain Author: Mitsuaki Iwago
This book is not on photographic technique, but a coffee table book of some great photographs from the Serengeti of Tanzania. It is a book that inspires awe of the great diversity of life and challenges that the wildlife must endure. We recommend this book on the basis of its great photography. However, we are very disheartened by Mr. Iwago's interfering with the wildlife, which he describes in his introduction. Photographers, filmmakers, tourists, and most biologists are only observers of the events that take place in areas like the Serengeti. Despite the fact that Mr. Iwago may have felt he was helping a young animal, it is not our place to interfere. Had Serengeti National Park staff been aware of how Mr. Iwago conducted himself he would surely have been expelled from the park.