National Geographic Photography Field Guide: Birds

Anyone has a brief review on this book?

TIA.


Griffin.
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http://www.pbase.com/griffin/

NG FG to Birds of NA was last years Christmas present and this year we have got the Sibley guide to Western North America.

This is the 5x7 inch printed version and is easily carried with you for hotel room confirmation of species. (A little big for pack sac) The books details and images are larger than Sibleys, accurate in colour and description. The maps are pretty well identical to Sibleys.

The biggest difference between the two is that the NG is for all of NA where Sibleys can be bought for regions.

Over all a good addition to any birders library....and good reading for cold winter Sunday mornings.

Doug, the question concerned The National Geographic Photography Field Guide, Birds, not NG's fine Field Guide to North American Birds. I have the photography field guide here in the office, along with most other bird photography guides now in print. While you can find good info in all of them, I would put this one near the bottom, in part because of the many poorly focused, poorly lit, indeed amateurish images (along with some excellent ones). A few of these are shots I would put immediately in the trash if they were mine (no, they are not included as examples of what not do).

Ironically, under useful information at the back of the book, the authors list five other bird photography books by four authors (Fitzharris, Gallagher, Morris, West/Ridl). Any of those would be better choices.

(By the way, I didn't buy the NG book. It was sent by a magazine for possible review; my reaction was such that we decided not to review it.)

Griffin,

Altough this is a fine book, if you are interested in a bird field guide I would recommend the Petersons Field guide to birds of Eastern or Western North America.

This field guide is superior in many respects in my opinion. It is easier to carry, seems thougher and Petersons identification system and written descriptions are superb.

Good luck!

-J

Thanks for all your recommendations. But I don't live in NA region so the ID guides would not be very helpful fttb. I am looking for more tips on bird photography.


Griffin.
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http://www.pbase.com/griffin/

Sorry, my mistake. I should have read the message more carefully. In that case I agree with Cliff's assesment.

And I would recommend Art Morris book "The Art of Bird Photography: The Complete Guide to Professional Field Techniques" as the best bird photo guide. A lot of the techniques he writes about can also be used with most wildlife photo situtaions.

-J

Griffin wrote:..... I am looking for more tips on bird photography.


Griffin.
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http://www.pbase.com/griffin/

Arthur Morris's book is far and above the best book on the subject. Nothing even comes remotely close. If you are interested in bird photography THIS is the book to buy!

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/ ... scapesn-20

At less than $18 on Amazon (see above link), it's also a steal!

Greg Downing wrote:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/ ... scapesn-20

At less than $18 on Amazon (see above link), it's also a steal!

I would recommend you go to Art's website and get it directly from him.

http://www.birdsasart.com/books.html

Plus you can get your copy autographed by Art!

2 Items:

1) NG Field Guide to NA Birds is printed as a fairly water-resistant book. I found this out on a trip to the Everglades where inclement weather was the norm. This guide was also the guidebook of choice by "the birder crowd,' perhaps because of its weather-resistant quality? Sibley guides have come out since then.

2) Art Morris has another book/booklet out which is smaller and hence more packable and suitable for field work. It is an older book, but BIRD PHOTOGRAPHY PURE AND SIMPLE is an integral part of my field kit and is quite useful. Much of the information therein is in his bigger book (which I also have and recommend), but its portability is the key feature and difference.

Thanks again.

As a rentleless ameature and learner, I got both Morris's book and his exposure guide over a year ago. I think I should get his older book and another autographed copy later.


Griffin.
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http://www.pbase.com/griffin/