Chapter One

Introduction: Inventiveness of the nature photographer. Problems of getting close to creatures in the wild. Equipment and gadgets Qualities required in a nature photographer.

Chapter Two

Cameras, Lenses and Accessories: Choice of equipment - cameras (35 mm and medium format), exposure modes, lenses, teleconverters, lens hoods and filters, reflectors and diffusers. Camera supports, flash equipment, release systems.

Chapter Three

Composition: Definitions. Selecting the subject. Picture shape and boundaries. Eye lines and image balance. Colour. Patterns and symmetry. Lighting, depth and perspective.

Chapter Four

The World in Close-up: Equipment requirement lenses, extension tubes, bellows. Combating vibration. Sources of illumination, flash light colour temperature, exposure determination, depth of field. Photomicrography.

Chapter Five

Cliffs and Seashore: Basic geology of the coastline. Types of seashore. Seaweeds of the rocky shore; sea urchins and starfish; lobster; water louse; barnacles feeding. Birds of the sea cliffs and rocky islands; Kittiwake, Arctic Tern, Puffins, Gannet in flight.

Chapter Six

Woodlands: Origins of broad-leaf and conifer woodlands. Bluebell wood; larch flowers; mountain pine dispersing pollen; fly agaric fungus; puff ball dispersing spores; sycamore fruit dispersal; sweet chestnuts; autumn leaves.

Chapter Seven

Mammals: Advantages of being warm-blooded. Red squirrel, deer, badger.

Chapter Eight

Rivers, streams and ponds: Origins of streams and rivers. Water over a weir; Aysgarth Falls; grey heron; reflections in water. Pond life: common frog, damsel fly.

Chapter Nine

Gardens: Advantages to the nature photographer. Tulips in the rain; hoar-frost and ice; spider in web; garden birds in winter; grey squirrel; hedgehog; urban fox.

Chapter Ten

Studio Workshop: Advantages of working indoors; frogs, newts, snails, water boatmen, microscopic plants and animals. Christmas cactus; honesty in autumn; red campion and creeping thistle seed dispersal; leaping tree frog; bumblebee; peacock butterfly wing; field mouse.

Chapter Eleven

Patterns and Abstracts: Patterns - vaguely sensed, transient. Patterns involving repetition. Patterns relying solely on line and colour. Orchid; pine log; autumn leavs; woodland; leaf skeletons; tortoiseshell wing scales; spectral phenomenon.

Appendix Equipment & Cameras Useful Organisations

Acknowledgements

Index