RSPB Guide to Digital Wildlife Photography, 2nd Edition

Description

This helpful and practical RSPB guide to all aspects of digital wildlife photography is an updated version of our first edition. It is accessibly written by and beautifully illustrated with the work of one of Britain's best known wildlife photographers. The book's elegant design makes the most of the author's incredible photos and informative text. The book discusses all aspects of digital wildlife photography, from equipment, fieldcraft, locations and composition, post-processing and computer manipulation of images, through to getting your photos published. This is the ultimate reference book for all aspiring and established natural history photographers, and will equip its readers with everything they need to know to help them take better digital wildlife photographs. Praise for the first edition: 'A helpful and practical RSPB guide to all aspects of digital wildlife photography, accessibly written and beautifully illustrated with the work of one of Britain's best-known wildlife photographers.' Publishing News 'For anyone new to digital photography, or wanting to judge their existing work against a professional standard, the technical content alone makes this book a square meal.' BBC Wildlife 'A comprehensive and brilliantly illustrated guide to the pleasures and mysteries of digital photography, from choosing equipment to taking pictures, working on them at the computer and selling your work. If you are serious about your hobby, this is for you.' RSPB Birds Cover......Page 1 Half-title......Page 2 Title......Page 3 Contents......Page 5 Introduction......Page 7 Digital capture......Page 9 What type of camera do I need?......Page 11 Batteries......Page 14 Lens choice......Page 15 Macro photography......Page 18 Case study: Macro photography......Page 21 Tripods and heads......Page 23 Digiscoping......Page 27 Mobile phones......Page 28 Digital film......Page 31 Computers......Page 32 Taking care of your equipment......Page 33 Image formats – JPEG, RAW, TIFF......Page 37 RAW versus JPEG......Page 39 The pros and cons of each format......Page 40 White balance......Page 41 Colour temperature......Page 42 Sharpening......Page 43 Noise reduction......Page 44 The lens aperture......Page 45 Sensor sensitivity......Page 47 Getting the correct exposure......Page 49 Using your camera’s different light metering modes......Page 51 Using flash effectively......Page 53 Case study: Otters, Shetland, Scotland......Page 55 Getting to know your subject......Page 57 Approaching on foot......Page 59 Wait and see......Page 62 Case study: Photographing hares......Page 63 Feeding sites......Page 67 Case study: A bird feeding station......Page 69 Being invisible......Page 72 Case study: A roadside puddle......Page 73 Setting up hides (blinds)......Page 76 Using the hide......Page 77 Photographing captive wildlife......Page 79 Spontaneity......Page 82 Composition......Page 83 Backgrounds......Page 86 Case study: Barn Owls, Norfolk......Page 89 Lighting......Page 91 Composing......Page 97 Case study: Taking an abstract approach......Page 101 Creative choices with f-stops and shutter speeds......Page 104 Depth of field......Page 106 Case study: Shutter speed equals creative choice......Page 107 5 The digital darkroom......Page 109 Colour management......Page 111 Downloading and editing......Page 114 Converting from RAW......Page 117 Adobe Lightroom and Aperture......Page 124 Cropping......Page 125 Cleaning......Page 127 Exposure adjustments......Page 129 Image processor......Page 136 Case study: Photographing Nightjars at night......Page 139 Interpolation......Page 141 Sharpening the image......Page 142 Image enhancement on a budget......Page 144 Filing images......Page 145 Choosing a printer......Page 151 Inks and paper......Page 153 Scanning......Page 154 Case study: Shooting for reproduction in black and white......Page 155 Case study: Displaying your images......Page 157 Keeping a steady camera......Page 159 Editing your movies......Page 160 Case study: Brown Bears, Katmai, Alaska......Page 161 Case study: Dolphins, Roatan, Honduras......Page 167 Case study: Telling a story in just one image......Page 169 12 The business of wildlife photography......Page 171 Marketing your own work......Page 175 Acknowledgements......Page 176 Index......Page 177