Rant: Photo books

[MarkD]

I recently bought a how to type book on wildlife photography. It's a very good book, but it's a little unreal in one way. The author, a pro, says that he started out using a Sigma 400mm f/5.6 lens which he said was fairly good, but to get the most out his his top of the line Canon he had to get the 500mm f/4 IS. I looked it up at B&H and it costs $6,140.

My rant, or rather my question, is why doesn't someone come out with a book on wildlife photography, for example, for those of us who either can't afford or choose not to spend $6,140 on a lens? I shoot at the zoo and aquarium (not much wildlife in NYC) with a Tamron 17-50 f/2.8, Sigma 50-150 f/2.8, and Nikon 70-300 VR. Not too shabby and relatively affordable. How about a book shot with lenses along those lines that are affordable to most people?

The closest I've seen to that is a book called, "How to Photograph Absolutely Everything", by Tom Ang. He used an EVR P&S. That book was maybe a little too basic for most of us, but at least it used gear that was afordable to most people.

Most of us are experienced enough to adapt the content of both books to our gear, but there are those you aren't and they would benefit from books that use the kind of gear that they can reasonably afford.

[Railphotog]

This same thing happens all the time on this and other forums, and in photo magazines. Not long ago there was a thread here (think I might have even started it) about an article in PopPhoto on how to be a wildlife photographer. It was mostly a shopping list of gear one needed, think the total was somewhere around $9500.00 - and that did not include the camera!

Throw enough money at anything and it can be done!

And most of the rest of the "how to" articles describe the gear paid professionals use, $5K bodies, f/2.8 superzooms, multiple remote controlled flash units, etc. Just what the average hobby photographer has on hand!

[peirceman]

Mark,

Sounds like a great idea for an article, or at least a thread on one of the other boards. What about, "How to overcome consumer level equipment limitations to create pro level work'"

Scott

[drh681]

Here's the problem, such articles are written by people that have been "sucessful" in a particular type of photography.

That success is due in large part to the sort of equipment they are using.
So "throwing money on the problem" is part of the solution to making similar images.

BUT, that leads inevitibly to a flood of similar images.

I dont even look at "eagles" anymore, a literal case of if you've seen a dozen good ones; you know what the rest are going to look like.

Buying similar equipment is easy if you are willing to spend the money.

Thinking up interesting new images is the hard part.

[MarkD]

Mark,

Sounds like a great idea for an article, or at least a thread on one of the other boards. What about, "How to overcome consumer level equipment limitations to create pro level work'"

Scott

I'd read that. We always say that it's the photographer not the gear that matters most so showing people how to get the most from gear that they can actually buy would be more useful than showing them how to use gear they can't afford.

[Sasquatch]

I'd read that. We always say that it's the photographer not the gear that matters most so showing people how to get the most from gear that they can actually buy would be more useful than showing them how to use gear they can't afford.

Bingo!

What a concept. If only there was a magazine around that could pick up on this.... :rolleyes:

[coppertop]

There was a time when Pop would pick up on ideas such as this and run with it.

While the 500mm f4 is a nice lens, as you've eluded to, it's not a requirement. There are plenty of options out there that won't set you back $6,100. We have those type discussions going on all the time in the forums but I don't think we've ever had a collective article on such.

Jack Howard may have written one ( I think he did one on baseball) but that seems a lifetime ago. Pop usually has an "essential gear for..." type article but the gear recommended is often driven by advertising dollars and is top dollar merchandise.

[graphics12]

Mark I am going to be bold and say that you need to go back and re-read the book and take your mind off of the gear and look for the tips, tricks and techniques he uses. To put it very bluntly what works for him and his $6,000 plus Canon lens WILL work for you and your Sigma 50-500. The only real difference will be in the quality of the images and there will be a few shots he will get that you cannot because of the max aperature difference at the 500mm zoom on your lens.

G12

[mrchile]

Here's the problem, such articles are written by people that have been "sucessful" in a particular type of photography.

That success is due in large part to the sort of equipment they are using.
So "throwing money on the problem" is part of the solution to making similar images.

BUT, that leads inevitibly to a flood of similar images.

I dont even look at "eagles" anymore, a literal case of if you've seen a dozen good ones; you know what the rest are going to look like.

Buying similar equipment is easy if you are willing to spend the money.

Thinking up interesting new images is the hard part.


I'll drink to that.

[MarkD]

Mark I am going to be bold and say that you need to go back and re-read the book and take your mind off of the gear and look for the tips, tricks and techniques he uses. To put it very bluntly what works for him and his $6,000 plus Canon lens WILL work for you and your Sigma 50-500. The only real difference will be in the quality of the images and there will be a few shots he will get that you cannot because of the max aperature difference at the 500mm zoom on your lens.

G12

I've been at this for 43 years so I know that. I'm more concerned with the newbies and intermediates who are constantly asking on the forum what lens should I buy. They would be helped by articles and books that show them how to shoot with gear they can afford rather than give them the impression that they need very expensive gear.

[freddieg]

When he was alive, Kep most often would describe how he shot many different types of images using very consumer-grade equipment, and I think that he was very instrumental in helping newbies and advanced amateurs on limited budgets realize that they didn't have to spend thousands of dollars on equipment to achieve excellent images. Pop really suffered a blow as did all of us with his passing. I bet he's even doing his shooting in heaven with consumer-grade equipment!!! :-)

[HalfastPhoto]

I am confused. I have read so many OP's here that swear it is the photographer not the equipment that produces great images. So why the enclosed comments?:confused:

"That success is due in large part to the sort of equipment they are using.
So "throwing money on the problem" is part of the solution to making similar images."

Bill H.

[Riepejer]

Mark,

This book may be targeting those serious wildlife photographers who can afford to purchase such lenses. If that is the targeted readership of this book I think the author would be falling short if he used or suggested consumer grade lenses with a maximum aperture of f5.6 or f6.3. You ask why doesn't someone write a book that is aimed at those of us who choose to not spend thousands of dollars on a lens. I don't have an answer to that but I'll be anxiously awaiting yours.:D

Jerry

[MarkD]

Jere, I don't have an answer either. I would think that the market for people without a $6000 lens is larger than the market for those with one.