John Shaw's Guide to Digital Nature Photography

“This book isn’t about point-and-shoot cameras or smartphone cameras. It’s about digital single-lens-reflex (DSLR) photography.”

I was naïve to not realize this, and so was a little bummed out. Since my camera has so many built-in features, I hoped I could apply some of the ideas in this book, but without a DSLR camera, there is not much left to work with. If I gain access to such equipment, though, this book will see me well prepared.

This is a very technical guide. The first chapter is on gear, jumping right into the heavy. The reason why most “extremely competent” people that feel they don’t know how to operate a camera is probably because the terms and numbers are like another language – if you don’t know what anything is, how can you make effective use of it? So, a glossary would be nice, or parenthetical notes each time a new abbreviation is introduced. However, if you do already know the jargon, this book tells you what you can do to take control of the technology. And, if you stick with it, the terms become clearer in meaning, as in any craft. This really is geared towards more professional photographers, or at least people who can afford expensive photography equipment, and can go to destinations. Not that there isn’t an abundance of photo-worthy subjects without having to travel, but that’s another discussion. The chapter on composition is most relevant to the general user, and for any non-photographer, the photos in this book are very nice to look at.

Note: I received a free copy of this title through BloggingForBooks in exchange for an honest review.

Black Moon

“Black Moon” follows three main character groups through a crisis that leaves the people of their world incapable of sleeping. Matt Biggs and his wife Carolyn, who have not yet succeeded in having a child, are introduced first. Biggs is leaving his career in advertisement, which he can’t stand. Carolyn makes stop-motion films, and is totally into her work. Before this all started, Carolyn had had trouble sleeping, normal insomnia. Next are Chase, who has ED and makes a painful attempt to overcompensate, and his friend Jordan, who has a bad eye. We learn of Chase’s ex-girlfriend Felicia, who comes to more prominence midway through the book. Last, there is Lila, a teenager whose parents, like almost everyone else, failed against insomnia. Her father is paranoid about what is causing this whole situation; paranoia also appearing to be a symptom of the epidemic.

H is for Hawk

Part of why “H is for Hawk” is so good is because it is so different. Others have had a hard time finding a category for this work; so do I. The word “passion” may be over used, but Helen MacDonald has a true dedication to falconry. Her father, a world-class photographer, passed away, and Helen turned to this sport, if “sport” is even the right word. In particular, she chose to fly a goshawk, who she named Mabel. More on why a goshawk in a moment. You will see why, perhaps, but I won’t tell you why she chose that name for the bird.

Sketch!

Sketch! is one of those books that celebrates the process of making art, when things might not need to be said, if only to motivate the reader to get to work (is that why there’s an exclamation point in the title?). The author relates why drawing is still relevant, and this is indeed a friendly jump-starter for non-artists. Links to relevant websites are provided throughout, for further ideas.

The Slanted Door

What is it like to read a book of recipes as any other kind of book? In this case, it’s fun to try! I deviated from this approach, however, reading the first few essays, then the ingredients, then the other essays, and only skimming the numbered instructions. The succinct descriptions at the top of each page provide very helpful tips, and give a good sense of the amount of effort required. The author tells bits of Vietnamese and San Franciscan histories that reveal some of the personal and culinary heritage in both places. The book tracks the development of the restaurant as a whole, through its three locations since 1995.

Prayers for the Stolen

I don’t like to use direct quotes in my reviews, but it will be hard to resist in this case. (By the way, no quotations marks are used to set apart the dialogue.) As I was reading, I highlighted so many phrases that express so much about a country, a culture, a people, in a single thought. Maybe one that best sums up the mountains near Acapulco is: “In this land one can go out for a walk and find a huge iguana, a papaya tree covered with dozens of large fruits, an enormous anthill, marijuana plants, poppies, or a corpse.” The voice of Ladydi (you have to read to learn why she has that name) is direct and somehow simple – the tone of a child who has grown up seeing things a child shouldn’t see. Her perspective after all is of a very young (sixteen-year-old) person, not knowing what will happen in the future.

Butterflies in November

I’ll admit, part of me was just curious to read something by an Icelandic author (I want to diversify my reading). I have no idea of the grammatical structure of Icelandic, my only guesses stemmed from a few clauses and gender assignments or usages. Anyway: I loved this book! It is a touching, sweet, and funny work that reminded me a little of the “About a Boy” story. The narrator – what is her name? – seems both motherly and not motherly, and these pages are full of real empathy.

Fun images

From my instagram page, a picture of the physical books I have received:

Scientific Autobiography

Sorry, Max, this just wasn’t that interesting to me. The title is fitting, though, as this is not really a personal history, more the history of some scientific advances and different peoples’ disputing theories. These pieces might sound better at a seminar – indeed, they originally were lectures. The reading might be better in print, too, which made me wonder what Max Planck would have thought of ebooks.

November post

This being the last day of the month, and I haven't posted any reviews, I will just give an update on what I've been reading. I read the other "Yosemite Meditations" book; my first Stephen King book (borrowed from a friend), "Under the Dome"; and a book on a topic I've always found interesting, biomimicry, called "The Shark's Paintbrush".