Gardeners and nature lovers delight in taking pictures-especially close-ups of flowers, butterflies, and insects. And though advances in digital camera technology have made taking, storing, and sharing photos easier than ever, taking top-quality pictures requires familiarity with both digital technology and the general principles of photography. Macro Photography for Gardeners and Nature Lovers provides exactly the information that aspiring photographers no matter their level of skill need to take their photos to the next level. Clear and concise chapters cover the basics of macro (close-up) photography, explain the features of current digital single-lens reflex cameras, show the many ways images can be composed, and share tips on digital effects, storage, and manipulation of imagery. Throughout the text, helpful tips, definitions, exercises, and case studies serve to demystify digital photography. Each lesson is supported by examples of the author's stunning photography. Whether taking photos of flowers and insects, compiling a photographic record of your garden, or simply sharing beautiful images with friends and family, everyone can become accomplished photographers of the world's small-scale wonders.

Special techniques for creating unique, artistic, close-up images

Macro, or close-up, photography is gaining popularity, and this book covers all of the challenges associated with taking great close-ups: depth of field, focus, and exposure. Copublished with Photoworkshop.com, a leading online educational resource for both beginning and professional photographers, this task-oriented reference allows readers to learn by doing and offers outstanding examples and instructions.

In this exhaustive guide to macro photography, respected author and photographer Adrian Davies takes a comprehensive approach to the subject, covering every aspect of the multi-faceted and often complicated world of close-up photography.

Everything about Adrian's approach is both practical and diverse, with optimal output always in mind. His coverage of equipment, for example, goes beyond cameras to cover the application of flatbed and film scanners for close-up shots (2D, 3D, reflective and translucent subjects).

Seperate sections cover cameras and equipment, lenses, lighting, workflow and image processing. Additionally, a seperate section on 'special subjects' covers techniques for shooting both common macro subjects (including insects, fossils and coins), as well as a range of technical elements such as shiny surfaces, texture, and polarised light. The appendix includes a technical discussion on depth of field, including detailed tables, and a range of optical formulae.

Clear, concise and comprehensive, and packed with stunning images, this is a must-have purchase for all photographers looking for professional quality macro results.

* One-stop guide to all things macro by respected author/photographer Adrian Davies
* Takes a comprehensive approach to a macro workflow, covering every aspect from pre-capture (including selecting equipment from compacts to film scaners) through to post-capture and image processing
* Packed with stunning macro photographs to inspire the reader and put the information in a practical context

Explore the hidden world of pattern, texture and detail, and create stunning images with this comprehensive guide. The emphasis throughout is on techniques that work every time without breaking the bank using larger lenses, teleconverters and connecting rings to take the photographer into the realms of true macro photography. Current advances in camera electronics and digital imaging are also explored.

Get ready to view your photographs as more than simply the images they have captured as you learn how to digitally transform them. Rather than a traditional step-by-step guide to photography, "Digital Abstract & Macro Photography" is meant to inspire with its images. It offers digital photographers a glimpse into the world of possibilities that exist for transforming traditional photographs into unique, abstract works of art. Each featured photograph is accompanied by a series of images, reflecting the major stages of the creation process. Take your vision to the next level as you discover the eye-catching techniques that can be applied to your photographs.

Macro and close-up photography allow photographers to explore a world that few people ever experience: the delicate stamens of flowers, crystals, the texture of a butterfly's wing, stamps, or minute details on a piece of jewelry. With careful attention to the techniques taught in this book, photographers will learn how to capture these highly detailed, small-scale subjects on film, creating fascinating images of features too small to be adequately observed by the unaided human eye. With the advice in this book on selecting the latest 35mm equipment, and field versus studio considerations like focusing, lighting, film, and filters, consistent results will come easily to both the novice and professional photographer.

Nature reveals her unseen beauty in an up-close-and-personal fashion in the photographs of Paul Harcourt Davies and Peter Parks. Zooming in on the "faces" of dragonflies and hornets, unearthing the intricate patterns of fungi and mosses, and even capturing the active beauty of plankton, Nature Photography Close Up presents a "think small" approach to natural subjects. Containing dozens of full-color photographs, each accompanied by a succinct and insightful essay, this gorgeous book doubles as a showcase and an instructional guide. Any photographers with an interest in macro nature photography will enjoy this new way of looking at the unseen wonders around them.