Susan McCartney
1 very few advices...
This book was a disappointment... Yes of course McCartney is talking about travel photography and gives a few -good- advices but the book is a real pain to read. She keeps talking about herself and how great she is and how many countries she traveled and another couples of very useless stories. Also some points are very discutable.... p23 "You don't have to be handsome or beautiful to be a successful photographer, but you should strive to be as physically attractive and well-groomed as you can be."
To conclude, there are very few photographies, B/W, outdated and some of them not very interesting at all.
2 Excellent and very thorough, some color photos would be nice
If you want to dive into the world of travel photography or brush up this is an excellent book. It is full of information, not only on the technical side with lighting tips with the use of flash and film, the difference in what to expect between color and black and white, but also includes tidbits on where to travel, suggestions on what to carry to minimise loss of luggage. In addition the self assignments are instructive and very useful. One minor quirk the lack of color photos, i guess this was done to keep the price of the book down given its size but a few color photos would have added emphasis espicially when discussing general color filter use!
3 Is there a more enjoyable photography author? No!
Susan McCartney obviously loves her work and it shows in everything she writes. She willingly shares her vast experience and knowledge in a straightforward and enthusiastic style that makes all of her books a pleasure to read. In fact, her love of photography and willingness to share her knowledge infuses her writing to the extent that even topics as well traversed as travel photography (and check out her book on Flash Photography which is also excellent) become fresh and exciting to read about again and again.
Only complaint is they should have included color plates to really show the results the author accomplishes in her own work rather than the dreary black and white printing throughout the book. I certainly would have paid the extra few bucks for that.
4 Fantastic Travel Companion
Have made my way through several books on travel photography lately, undoubtedly the best I have read!! There are many other books available which are useless when it comes to being practical. This book is not a picture book, just very informative. Recently I went away for another trip overseas and actually lugged this book along for the ride. Susan lets you in on good places to start for every major country in the world and also places to avoid...incredibally usefull. More handy then a 'lonely planet' for photographers.
5 Travel Photography by Susan McCartney
This book not only reveals the nuts and bolts of travel photography and is a "must read" for those interested or planning to become travel photographers; it is a complete course in photography. I consider this book one of the most informative that I have read on the subject. Susan McCartney reveals not only how to photograph, what equipment she uses, but the fine details which most photographers keep to themselves. Ths book not only should be read, but reread until the material is recorded in one's mind like the tradecraft of any profession. A five star rating for this books is what I think it deserves.
6 Travel Photography by Susan McCartney
This book not only reveals the nuts and bolts of travel photography and is a "must read" for those interested or planning to become travel photographers; it is a complete course in photography. I consider this book one of the most informative that I have read on the subject. Susan McCartney reveals not only how to photograph, what equipment she uses, but the fine details which most photographers keep to themselves. Ths book not only should be read, but reread until the material is recorded in one's mind like the tradecraft of any profession. A five star rating for this books is what I think it deserves.
7 Travel Photography by Susan McCartney
This book not only reveals the nuts and bolts of travel photography and is a "must read" for those interested or planning to become travel photographers; it is a complete course in photography. I consider this book one of the most informative that I have read on the subject. Susan McCartney reveals not only how to photograph, what equipment she uses, but the fine details which most photographers keep to themselves. Ths book not only should be read, but reread until the material is recorded in one's mind like the tradecraft of any profession. A five star rating for this books is what I think it deserves.
8 Travel Photography by Susan McCartney
This book not only reveals the nuts and bolts of travel photography and is a "must read" for those interested or planning to become travel photographers; it is a complete course in photography. I consider this book one of the most informative that I have read on the subject. Susan McCartney reveals not only how to photograph, what equipment she uses, but the fine details which most photographers keep to themselves. Ths book not only should be read, but reread until the material is recorded in one's mind like the tradecraft of any profession. A five star rating for this books is what I think it deserves.
9 Tips for aspiring pros
For anyone who has any dreams of selling their work either part time or becoming a full-time travel pro this book is a definite must. But even for those who just want to take their travel photography to a new level this book will provide the information needed to get there. As a full-time travel photographer/writer myself this book was a big inspiration for me and, of all the travel photography books I've read, definitely the most comprehensive and useful. I continually read over it and use it as a resource tool. You won't be disappointed.
10 When you want to go past the basics...
This book is for all those who are very serious about photography and definitely past the basics. If you own the typical travel photography titles already and still lust for more than this is THE title. You learn about logistics, insider tips, on-location work, how to deal with typical problems and much more...
I own about a good dozen books about travel photography, but this is clearly THE "creme de la creme" and a must-have! Do not expect nice pictures like in a coffe-table book, this one is for photo-addicts and (wanna-be) professionals.
11 Not very useful
If you're interested in tips on how to approach buyers and sell photographs, then this book will have some interesting insights for you. However, if you're simply interested in taking better pictures then you will find very little of interest. The book is sparsely illustrated (no color photographs at all and very few b&w), and there is very little useful technical information.
Certainly Ms. McCartney has had many varied experiences, but there is not enough material here to create an interesting book; she discusses the many places that she has visited (an impressive list), but fails to discuss any particular area in any meaningful depth.
If you want advice on selling stock photos to XYZ company then this might be the book for you. If you want to improve your photography skills or are looking for artistic inspiration/guidance then you'll be disappointed. Much more highly recommended in National Geographic Photography Field Guide, which contains everything that this book lacks.
12 Where are the colored pictures?
The book really covers a lot of areas. Very informative. However, there are no colored pictures to serve as examples to the techniques being presented.
I am a very visual person (I guess most photographers are) and I just can't relate to the book at all.
If you want to READ about travel photography buy this book, but if you want to see marvelous travel photographs, find it somewhere else.
13 Good Book - Great Ideas
First off, I want to say that I enjoyed this book. I had the pleasure of reading it on the airplane, on my way to Greece. Just as the title implies this book is for TRAVEL PHOTOGRAPHY - NOT PHOTOJOURNALISM - a point stressed throughout the text.
Like most books, the author begins by reviewing different equipment (cameras,lenses,tripods,etc.) and even shares with the reader what equipment she carries on photo assignments. There are chapters on lighting, framing, etc. Again this is all similar to most photography books out there, with the one exception being that everything written in this book is tied to travel.
Where the book really takes off is when the author discusses what makes good travel photographs, for both personal and professional use. There are also assignments at the end of certain chapters relating back to the covered material. Another key area to this book is a section where the author details each continent, country and city she has visited and makes recommendations on where to stay and where to shoot.
While I bought this book in hope of improving my photography skills in a vacation/travel type environment, there are those who are interested in travel photography as a career. The author does not disappoint and discusses at length such topics as stock photographs, using an agency, freelancing, pay/expenses, etc.
Overall, I would say this is a good book. It has a wealth of information and is well written. My major complaints are that the book is done entirely in black & white and the only pictures presented are those at the beginning of each chapter. For someone who is more of a visual or kinetic learner (like myself) it was a bit of a disappointment.
14 An outstanding tool!
This is an outstanding book. I've purchased copies of it for my advanced photo friends and open it constantly. It is not just about travel photogrpahy but photography in general. Although I really enjoyed the sections on preferred epuipment and lighting, I paarticularly liked a secion of the book that included 10 self assignments to enhance your photo skills. These are assignments much like those that you might receive as a travel photographer or even photojournalist -- all intended to achieve the ultimate goal of creating an incredible portfolio of work. There are great reference guides, sidebars and tools throughout the book that I am sure you will use too.
15 Skip photography school. Read this book. Travel. Shoot!
Susan McCartney's latest edition of Travel Photography is a gem of a book for any serious travel photographer. Her simple explanations and honost advice about the ins and outs of location photography can save anyone years of mistakes and frustrations. Each chapter reads independently and there is a chapter for every major conceivable topic in modern travel photography including digital technologies. There are also a couple of chapters dealing with how to best photograph various places around the globe. This book should motivate everyone to travel responsibly to the wonderful locales she writes about. Filled with facts and great ideas about shooting anything anywhere - I can honostly say that I wish I had read this book before enrolling in photography school.
16 Simply the Best Book on Travel Photography I Have Read!
This book is chock-full of practical advice on every aspect of travel photography: from tips on what equipment to use and how to modify it for hard-core travel to a goldmine of photographic techniques and the best guide going on how the business works. It's a "must buy" for anybody who wants to crack into the travel photography business.
