John Shaw's Focus on Nature: The Creative Process Behind Making Great Photographs in the Field

This book has everything you expect in a John Shaw book and more. While there are beautiful shots and a detailed descriptions of the equipment, location and the time of that the photos where taken. The book is really more about the thought process that goes into the shot, the hardware involved, lighting, lens focusing, filters types, framing and composition. The book also details the environment weather it's a desert conditions or lush landscape, time of day and time of season and how to handle lighting, exposure and what types of filters to use based on this. He reminds us that sometimes there will be a good shot but patience will turn it into a great shot if you a willing to wait for light conditions to change. Look at your framing and composition and deciding what elements to emphasize and what to leave out or minimize. Practicing good stewardship of the environment and making sure to leave things as you found them. The photography in Focus on nature is breath taking as always. While the book pre-dates digital media it does not detract in any from the book because with the exception of the discussion of film everything else is applicable to the digital and film photographer. The book cover to cover is hi-gloss paper and all photos are in color and oh-so vibrant. I own several of Johns books and I would have to say that alll are outstanding and this is no exception. 5 stars and then some.

This is one those truly "good" books. I was looking for help in "seeing", or recognition of a great photo, rather than for help in photography technique. John Shaw communicates precisely this in a very lucid and concise manner. It predates digital cameras so some of the photography equipment mentioned is now obsolete. But the real point of the book is about "seeing" and capturing a great photo and that is much easier to do with digital equipment. I almost made the mistake of buying a more inferior treatment of the subject by a different author because I had skimmed a copy and it looked helpful. I am glad I took time to read the reviews before making my purchase. When I read the reviews on that book I found positive mention of John Shaw's Focus on Nature. When I checked the reviews of his book I realized that this was probably a better choice. It is! I am delighted with this book!

Truly inspirational and provides valuable thoughts and insigths on the merging of art with the craft of photography. Invaluable tool and on a simple level great for staring. Could even be treated as a coffee table book !!!

If you are interested at all in nature photography, you will enjoy and benefit from any of John Shaw's works. Shaw is a clear, concise writer as well as a great photographer. Focus On Nature is a wonderful in-depth look at a meaningful approach to nature photography. In his usual friendly style, Shaw teaches how to capture the environment as well as its wildlife and how to go beyond merely identifying, "headshots" of animals. He makes a good point, along with many others, that since any photographer (who can afford it) can use a long lens, the true challenge is to capture something much more meaningful.

What separates this book from many others is that it concentrates entirely on the aesthetics of photography, rather than the equipment. Most photography enthusiasts (including myself) are equipment fanatics, and are convinced that photographic nirvana is just another L series lens ahead! This book reduces the essence of the visualization into its basic elements, teaches you (with fabulous examples) to see nature in terms of light, form, texture, pattern, and color. It will change the way you see the world.