Identifying a beautiful image in nature is easy, but capturing it is often challenging. To truly seize the essence of a photograph shot out of the studio and in the world requires an artistic eye and impeccable set of photographic techniques. John and Barbara Gerlach have been teaching photographers how to master the craft of photographing nature and the outdoors through their workshops and best-selling books for more than twenty years. Now, equipped with brand new images to share and skills to teach, this celebrated photo team is sharing their latest lessons in the second edition of Digital Nature Photography.
Notable revisions in this new edition include introducing the concepts of focus stacking and HDR, as well as expanded discussions of multiple exposure, wireless flash, RGB histograms, live view, shutter priority with auto ISO, hand-held shooting techniques, and the author’s equipment selections. The inspiring imagery in this book covers a broader range of subjects than before including ghost towns, the night sky, animals, and sports, in addition to the classic nature photographs we expect from this very talented author team. This book is a comprehensive guide to one of the broadest subjects in photography, explained and dymystified by two respected masters.
Acknowledgments |
|
xiii | |
Introduction |
|
1 | (6) |
|
Our Formula for Successful Images |
|
|
2 | (1) |
|
|
2 | (5) |
|
Chapter 1 Camera and Accessories |
|
|
7 | (10) |
|
|
7 | (2) |
|
|
9 | (2) |
|
|
11 | (1) |
|
Camera Batteries and Chargers |
|
|
12 | (1) |
|
|
13 | (1) |
|
Avoiding Memory Card Problems |
|
|
13 | (1) |
|
|
13 | (2) |
|
Camera Strap, Cable Release, and Attached Lens Cap |
|
|
15 | (1) |
|
|
15 | (2) |
|
Chapter 2 Choosing and Using Lenses |
|
|
17 | (14) |
|
|
17 | (1) |
|
|
17 | (1) |
|
|
18 | (1) |
|
|
18 | (1) |
|
|
19 | (1) |
|
|
19 | (1) |
|
|
20 | (1) |
|
|
21 | (1) |
|
|
22 | (1) |
|
|
23 | (1) |
|
|
24 | (1) |
|
|
24 | (1) |
|
|
24 | (1) |
|
|
24 | (3) |
|
|
27 | (1) |
|
|
27 | (1) |
|
|
28 | (1) |
|
Consider Your Lens Needs Carefully |
|
|
29 | (2) |
|
Chapter 3 Mastering Exposure |
|
|
31 | (22) |
|
|
31 | (1) |
|
|
31 | (1) |
|
|
32 | (1) |
|
Exposure Strategy Summary |
|
|
32 | (1) |
|
|
32 | (4) |
|
|
36 | (1) |
|
|
37 | (1) |
|
Understanding the Camera's Exposure Meter |
|
|
38 | (11) |
|
|
49 | (1) |
|
You Can't Meter Everything! |
|
|
49 | (2) |
|
|
51 | (2) |
|
Chapter 4 Conquer Extreme Contrast with HDR |
|
|
53 | (12) |
|
A Little History on Solving High Contrast |
|
|
55 | (1) |
|
A Better Way to Overcome Contrast |
|
|
55 | (6) |
|
|
61 | (2) |
|
|
63 | (2) |
|
Chapter 5 Shoot Sharp Images |
|
|
65 | (24) |
|
|
66 | (1) |
|
Handheld Photography Techniques |
|
|
66 | (3) |
|
When You Do Not Need a Tripod |
|
|
69 | (1) |
|
|
69 | (4) |
|
|
73 | (1) |
|
Sharp Shooting Techniques |
|
|
74 | (5) |
|
|
79 | (10) |
|
Chapter 6 Focus Stack for More Depth of Field and Sharper Images |
|
|
89 | (14) |
|
|
90 | (3) |
|
Focus Stacking to the Rescue |
|
|
93 | (1) |
|
Focus Stacking Advantages and Disadvantages |
|
|
93 | (1) |
|
|
93 | (1) |
|
The Focus Stacking Process |
|
|
94 | (4) |
|
|
98 | (1) |
|
Processing the Stack of Images |
|
|
99 | (1) |
|
|
100 | (3) |
|
Chapter 7 The Magic of Light |
|
|
103 | (18) |
|
|
104 | (14) |
|
|
118 | (3) |
|
Chapter 8 Close-up and Macro |
|
|
121 | (18) |
|
|
121 | (1) |
|
|
122 | (6) |
|
|
128 | (2) |
|
|
130 | (6) |
|
|
136 | (3) |
|
Chapter 9 The Power of Flash |
|
|
139 | (18) |
|
|
139 | (1) |
|
|
140 | (2) |
|
Getting Started with Flash |
|
|
142 | (3) |
|
Selecting Your Off-Camera Flash System |
|
|
145 | (3) |
|
Getting in Sync with Flash Sync |
|
|
148 | (4) |
|
|
152 | (2) |
|
|
154 | (3) |
|
Chapter 10 Compose Pleasing Images |
|
|
157 | (22) |
|
|
157 | (1) |
|
|
158 | (18) |
|
|
176 | (3) |
|
|
179 | (20) |
|
|
179 | (5) |
|
|
184 | (1) |
|
|
185 | (4) |
|
|
189 | (3) |
|
Process the Stack of Star Images |
|
|
192 | (1) |
|
|
192 | (7) |
|
Chapter 12 Our Digital Office |
|
|
199 | (10) |
|
The Evolution of our Business |
|
|
199 | (3) |
|
Editing and Storing Images |
|
|
202 | (2) |
|
|
204 | (2) |
|
|
206 | (1) |
|
|
206 | (2) |
|
|
208 | (1) |
|
|
209 | (4) |
|
Custom Camera Equipment for Outdoor Photographers |
|
|
209 | (1) |
|
|
210 | (1) |
|
|
210 | (1) |
|
|
210 | (1) |
|
|
210 | (1) |
|
|
210 | (1) |
|
|
211 | (2) |
Index |
|
213 | |
John and Barbara Gerlach are founders of Gerlach Nature Photography. They are professional nature photographers. Their pictures have been published in National Wildlife, Sierra, Natural History, Petersens Photographic, Ranger Rick, Birders World, Michigan Natural Resources, Audubon, Outdoor Photographer, and Popular Photography, as well as in books published by National Geographic Society, Sierra Club, Kodak, and wrote Focals own Wildlife Photography, Digital Landscape Photography, and the upcoming Close Up Photography in Nature.