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I'm still on cloud nine after last week's winter workshop in Yellowstone. I admire your patience and tact in dealing with people with such varied abilities and desires. You couldn't have done a better job satisfying our needs and helping us take better pictures. I've sent in my registration for the seminar in Richmond. I am enjoying DIGITAL LANDSCAPE PHOTOGRAPHY. I've found that it either emphasizes things that I know or introduces new ideas. It's a great book, as is the DVD on photographing the Eastern Sierra. Thanks again for a wonderful week.
See you in Richmond!
Larry
(Feb 2011)
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I want to thank John and Barbara Gerlach for their outstanding Digital
Landscape Photography book. I bought it recently and just finished
reading it cover to cover. As an intermediate amateur photographer, I
found some of it a useful review and some of it newly educational. I so
appreciate its comprehensiveness, the clarity of the writing and
instructions, and its combination of aesthetic and technical information.
It was very very helpful to me. THANKS!!!!!
I'm now planning to attend one of your classes soon...possibly the
northern Michigan fall color field workshop.
Susan H.
Danville, California
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I have learned more about photography from your 2 books and seminar, than all of my other books combined!
Craig E.
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John and Barbara Gerlach have done it again! Digital Landscape Photography
follows after and builds upon the simple approach they adopted in their
first book, Digital Nature Photography: the Art and the Science: simple but
thoughtful text and eye-popping, gorgeous photography. Anyone who has
attended their popular workshops and seminars will be immediately at home
with this familiar technique. Their "folksy" style is deliberately employed
by these talented teachers who tirelessly assist their students with
cheerfulness and humor. While reading this book, one can virtually hear in their voices and the chuckle after tongue-in-cheek remarks which make their lessons unforgettable. The splendid photography corroborates the expounded method for refining your photographic technique.
Aesthetically the Gerlachs' new book is very attractive. The design / layout is, in my opinion, a potential award winner. I also enjoy the landscape 8x11.5 format of the volume, which matches its predecessor as a set. The mesmerizing images themselves, from prints which Barbara personally produced, are perhaps rightfully the central joy of holding this book, and are entirely digital. (Some books, even recent ones, by notable photographers are still using scanned slides.) Such pictures are bound to get you reaching for your camera and running out the door. If you're more disciplined than that, you'll be hungrily reading the text to discover the techniques used to open a window on such beauty. I have passed the book around to friends only casually interested in photography. They'll politely open the book in the middle, stop and stare, grunt a little, then turn to the front of the book and systematically page through it from beginning to end. Sometimes they've started again. Indeed, it makes you want to repeatedly peruse and to reread.
A wealth of topics are covered in 10 chapters: Landscapes are Everywhere;
Cameras and Accessories; Choosing and Using Lenses; Mastering Exposure;
Techniques for Sharp Images; Light on the Landscape; Composing Pleasing
Images; Special Subjects; High Dynamic Range Images; Panoramas. Emphasis is placed on carefully selecting and correctly using photography equipment suitable to your budget and imaging intent.
It will be noticed that little space is given to post-processing. "So many
books already cover that topic", they write. Their purpose, then, is to
stress "shooting the highest quality images possible in the field". But
they don't want you to wait until you get "in the field" to prepare for fine
pictures: they also underline the crucial importance of learning to use your
equipment: reading and continually consulting user guides and manuals,
getting a thorough feel for the controls and menus of your camera, lenses
and other gear. These are central tenets of the Gerlach doctrine, repeatedly stressed in the classroom, in nature, and in their books.
Relevant aspects of post-processing aren't ignored, either. Two digital
techniques that have increasingly fired the enthusiasm of photographers,
including the authors, are the panorama (digitally stitching files together
to make one wide - or tall - seamless image) are treated here: the technical
aspects of the equipment to shoot the images, the photographic approach to
actually capturing the pictures, and the software used to produce the
finished result. To be sure, I have found the tutorial on using Photomatix
Pro to produce HDR images succinctly and more practical than other "how-to" books dedicated specifically to this purpose. Of course, gorgeous photos
are presented to delight and inspire.
No basic digital landscape photographic technique is left unmentioned, and
much of the advice for high quality pictures is also applicable to other
types of image-making, such as macro and close-up photography.
While the book is deliberately simple, hard-core perfectionists will be
delighted in advanced topics, such as how to simply find the lens' nodal
point (which needs to be above the turning axis of your tripod) in order to
shoot panorama without troublesome distortions.
John's and Barbara's fans and friends, nature lovers and photographers at
large are eagerly awaiting their next volume... t.b.a.!
Of course, attending a Gerlachs' educational and economic day-long seminar
shortly before greatly helped improve my personal technique. I am a true
believer. This book promised to do great things for your own images. Nothing would make John and Barb happier.
D. Pater
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Thanks for putting me on your mailing list for your Email newsletter. Good stuff! I have been studying your book I purchased when you were in Knoxville. The flash section is the best I've seen anywhere. Owner's manuals for flash are about worthless past the basics. Digital at least lets us learn by trial and error quicker than film. Your section on the flash and natural light compensation dials really helped guide my trials to fewer errors. Finally makes sense, thanks to your clear explanations and examples.
M. Triplett
TN
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This is a book that you just don't want to stop reading!!
Digital Nature Photography by John and Barbara Gerlach provides us with an array of gorgeous nature images, how-to's for capturing these images, and secrets and techniques learned by the authors over many years. The authors build on the concept that the ability to master "technique, subject and situation" will lead to creating excellent images.
Importantly I found the book fun to read, easy to understand, and worth my time and money.You will enjoy this book for the images alone. Living subjects range from bobcats to baboons; an assortment of birds, owls, and ducks; insects to elephants and almost everything in-between!! The landscapes are breath-taking and include: abstracts, waterfalls, sunrises, sunsets, fog, etc. Oh I almost forgot to mention that there are beautiful flower shots, too.
Also, the book is a great technical refresher for experienced nature photographers as well as a solid guide for beginners. I especially liked the expert tips the authors provided for camera settings, flash, and macro. Tips and how-to's are accompanied by images illustrating the technique.
If you are interested in or currently photograph nature, I strongly recommend that you purchase this book!!
Marc S.
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I purchased the new book while attending the seminar in Tucson. I received a few days/weeks ago (at my age I lose track of time) and have really enjoyed it. It made a great extension of the seminar. Thanks to John and Barbara for making such a helpful book as well as sharing many beautiful photographs. I enjoyed the inscription.
I have tried many of the tips offered in the seminar and am looking forward to try extra ideas from the book.
Thanks again,
JP
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Hi, John and Barb!
I just finished my first pass through Digital Nature Photography. Yes, as a fellow participant in Shaw's and West's seventies workshops, I too can still faintly hear their admonitions on polarizers, cable releases, lens hoods,and what makes a good tripod, but you've learned well and have done a fine job of presenting a modernistic guidance framed in exquisite examples.
So much so, it just might be that after nearly 25 years, our venerable bible, The Nature Photographer's Complete Guide to Professional Field Techniques has finally met its match!
Congratulations to each of you.
Now, about that picture on page 182 . . . .
Al H.
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Michele,
I received John's book yesterday and have spent the morning enjoying it! Please pass on to John that I am enjoying the book and believe it is the best I have ever read on photography! I would like to order 2 more for photography friends.
Jean DeKraker
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I just wanted to let you know that I purchased a copy of Digitial Landscape Photography and found it very informative. I learned some things about landscape photography that I had never been taught or seen in print before. I am very impressed with the book!
Harry
North Carolina
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I've really been getting a lot of good information to enhance my skills
from the Gerlachs' book, Digital Landscape Photography. It has been the
most helpful of any that I have seen to date!
Frank L.
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The Gerlach's Yellowstone DVD.....
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Dear John & Barbara,
This past year I planned my 2nd trip to photograph Yellowstone. However, prior to our June/July departure, I purchased a DVD on Yellowstone by the Gerlachs. I must have watched the DVD a half dozen times, and even had my travel companion watch it a couple times, too. We left for Yellowstone on June 25th. I planned it so we would get to our cabin by noon on Monday, so we could rest up, get conditioned to the altitude, and yes, watch the DVD one more time.
We started each day by being on the road by 4:30 in the morning. We did a lot of hiking. We packed cameras, food, and water and we didn't miss much. We normally did not get back to the cabin until 11pm. We got all the shots presented by the Gerlachs and then some. This was the most fantastic photography trip that I have taken so far. I can't thank John and Barbara enough for making the video. It played a major part in our accomplishments and our results. You can view my images at www.jmgilbertphoto.com. The Yellowstone pictures can be found under the Landscape tab in the 2010 Yellowstone album. Hope to sign up for one of their Yellowstone winter photo workshops by snowmobile in 2012. Best regards and again thanks!
John Gilbert
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Dear John & Barbara,
I can't thank you enough for making the DVD on photographing Yellowstone. You did a terrific job. I've watched it at least 4 times now and have skimmed through the locations marking them on a little map that I have. I'll view it again, making notes of camera settings, time-of-day, etc. I can't imagine how much time you've saved me considering I'm only allowed 14 days of camping there. I made my reservations today and am very excited. You should add the DVD to your ad in Nature Photographer.
- Rose
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I just wanted to express my appreciation to both of you for your wonderful work. I read your book and watched your DVD last week and must say that both are not only expertly done, but also clearly show your love for what you do. I can't wait for future books and DVDs! Some day I hope to attend one of your workshops (your hummingbird workshop looks particularly awesome!). Until then, keep up the wonderful work you're doing!
Edgar C.
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Dear John & Barbara,
In preparation for a May trip to Yellowstone National Park, I bought several books and 2 DVDs. Your DVD was the most helpful of all the material I bought. It was helpful on two different levels.
First, it did a great job of showing us the different areas within YNP.
Second, the whole DVD was a photo lesson. I have watched it, and taken notes while watching it, at least a half dozen times. I see new lessons every time. Thanks for making the video.
C. Clark
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