Look Back to Get Ahead: Life Lessons from History's Heroes

Customer Reviews:

Once great primer needs an update.......2007-04-03

John Shaw is a master photographer also adept at conveying his knowledge into a clear and concise writing style. This makes his books highly valued by his many fans. When this volume was first released it was a must-read for those interested in starting a career in nature photography.

Mr. Shaw is quite thorough as he covers the subject. He begins with basic equipment that you would need. This includes both photographic equipment and office equipment. He discusses approaches to finding clients, organizing your photos, and everything else right through to making a sale and calculating your overall profits.

The problem is that while his basic approach is very sound, a lot of the specifics are out of date now that 11 years have passed since initial publication. The entire book is based on the idea that you will be shooting slides and that publishers will want material in that format. As the digital age continues to strangle film, this is increasingly untrue. Happily, a good deal of his advice can still be salvaged. For example, he talks about methods to label and categorize your slides. Using photo management software, you could use an essentially identical method to organize your digital photos so this is still useful information.

Most of the ingredients for a great book are still here. The author's common sense approach to things and years of experience still serve him well. The book is also filled with beautiful photos, as you would expect from such an accomplished photographer. But the focus needs to shift away from film and over to digital where the vast majority of the market now uses. The bottom-line it that the book is still somewhat useful but badly needs an update.

Great, if a little out of date, book.......2005-09-18

While this book is a bit out of date, it provides a wealth of information. I would recomend this book just for it's insight

Know what you are buying.......2004-07-13

BEFORE YOU BUY THIS BOOK. Understand that this book is nearly 10 years old and focuses on a business model that is near extinct.

When this book was first printed in 1996 it would have been considered a basic "seminar in a book" about selling and establishing income from nature photography. While the book does have some timeless information on common sense, it for the most part is archaic in content.

There are many fans of John Shaw out there but when it comes to buying a book and expecting content that I can use, my own expectations are to get the product as advertised.

If you want a John Shaw book on nature photography, stick to his other publications. This one belongs next to DOS 4 and my Windows 3.1 manuals.

An Oldie but Goodie.......2004-05-04

This book was a top-notch guide in its time that has unfortunately been overtaken by events.

Shaw tells you just about everything that one needed to know to become a successful nature photographer a decade ago, based upon his own experience. There is nothing in this book about photography techniques (although Shaw has written plenty of excellent books that do just that.) This book is crammed with practical business advice, from broad guidance like what subjects to shot for the most sales, to nitty-gritty advice like how to package your photos for mailing. He answers questions that other photography marketing books don?t begin to address: why is nature photography different from other commercial photography (nature sales are mostly from an existing stock of shots); what is the minimum-sized library needed to go into the business (at least 1000 first-class bread and butter photos of a variety of subjects); and similar questions.

Shaw's writing is direct and simple. Some of what he says I certainly know to be true from my own very brief experience in a commercial photography market and other things he says, of which I have no experience, have the true ring of advice of which I would never have thought on my own.

Shaw includes many of his own beautiful nature photographs in the book. And he at least makes some attempt to tie the pictures to what he is talking about. I?m not too concerned that the connections are sometimes tenuous. After all, how do you illustrate the advice to consider having your contract with a stock agency include the obligation to provide you with tearsheets?

So what's wrong with this book? Well, it's eight years too late. This book was published in 1996. Since that time the development of electronics has changed the photography field. Shaw's description of filing systems was written before some of today?s excellent computer-based storage and tracking systems were available. Most importantly, digital imaging was just a blip on the radar that only merited mention in a three-page appendix. When published, editors would only consider color slides for use. Today, more and more of the people who buy (or really, lease, as Shaw makes clear) photography are willing to consider digital images. And I suspect that the presentation of those images to prospective purchasers and the preparation of those images by the photographer for use have greatly changed the procedures suggested by Shaw.

It is a shame because this book is so clearly and usefully written. No other book on the business of nature photography has been so helpful in the past. Even more of a shame is that I have heard Shaw say he has no present plans to update this book.

So, if you are a nature photographer who wants to learn how to go into business, get this book. But buy yourself of subscription to the magazine Digital Photo Pro. And stay tuned for further updates.

Great read.......2003-03-07

This book is full of info. Great for someone just starting out. Well written! I usually struggle through books, but could not put this one down.

Selling Nature Photographs (How to Photograph Series)

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Selling Nature Photographs (How to Photograph Series)
Norbert Wu
Manufacturer: Stackpole Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Collections, Catalogues & Exhibitions | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

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While ecology as a whole continues to receive considerable attention, postharvest food handling, until recently, had not been examined from a green perspective. This has changed as health-conscious consumers look to improve both their diets and their environment. Environmentally Friendly Technologies for Agricultural Produce Quality is the first book to take a focused look from an ecological point of view at the way produce is preserved, packaged, and shipped. The book's editor, Shimshon Ben-Yehoshua, a leader in the international scientific community, presents a framework he refers to as the triple bottom line, which takes into consideration economic and societal issues and an environmental perspective. Experts and eminent researchers discuss recent developments, such as the use of genetic engineering, modified atmosphere packaging, pest control for durable and perishable produce, all designed to reduce spoilage without compromising quality or negatively impacting the environment. Keeping faith with the triple bottom line, the book explores related topics such as innovations in transportation and the value of produce to human health. This book makes an excellent handbook for postharvest professionals and others handlers of produce as well as a textbook for students preparing to meet the needs of a health and ecology conscious society.

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This book provides a concise yet comprehensive account of animal cell cultures: how they are used in cell growth assays, how to interpret results, and how to avoid potential problem areas when using these commonly employed research tools. Cell Growth and Division furnishes laboratory
protocols for using a wide range of animal cell lines. The book gives readers full coverage on measuring parameters of growth, mouse embryo cells, C3H 10T1/2 and NIHT3T cell lines, human leukemia cells, and normal human epidermal keratinocytes and mesothelial cells. This complete guide also offers
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Cell Growth and Division: A Practical Approach (The Practical Approach Series)

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Cell Growth and Division: A Practical Approach (The Practical Approach Series)
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Book Description

This is the third volume of a three-volume work.

This volume covers the problems pertaining to the study of oscillations and waves.

Book Description

From France, this series will present the best poems of various authors put to comics by a bevy of talented cartoonists. The full poem in its original form is first presented and then its visualized counterpart.

Customer Reviews:

Interesting Attempt at Comics Poetry.......2007-10-03

I'm a big fan of Hugo, poetry, and comics, so I was very much looking forward to this adaptation. There are several artists and poems/stories represented. Some are excellent and some not so much. Many of the pieces seem uninspired and lackluster in quality and vision. In other words, many lack heart. This of course, is a shame with the rich gems that could have been unearthed in this collection. What a fantastic amount of potential in this little book. It could have been groundbreakingly beautiful in its marriage of poetry to comic book style art, but it never quite seems to get off the ground. Still, I think it's definitely worth taking a look at. There's a few memorable pieces that are genuinely moving. But it's too expensive for what you get.

Gavroche:The Gamin of Paris: From "Les Miserables" of Victor Hugo

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Gavroche:The Gamin of Paris: From "Les Miserables" of Victor Hugo
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Great Illustrated Classics. The Hunchback of Notre Dame

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The hunchback of Notre Dame: A quasi-musical, feely adapted from the novel by Victor Hugo

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Illustrated Classic Editions: Thrillers - The Hunchback of Notre Dame

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Illustrated Classic Editions: Thrillers - The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Victor Hugo adapted By Malvina G. Vogel
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Les Miserables
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Les Miserables
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