Books that I like

John Shaw: Closeups in Nature; Amphoto, 1987.

This is a field guide by one of the masters of macro and closeup photography. It is written in a plain language so basic concepts are easily understood; however, the technical level is outstanding. The only drawback is it's getting a bit outdated, not on the techniques, but rather on equipment. Nonetheless it's a reference book as worth its price as all the other books from John Shaw, all of them published by Amphoto: Focus on Nature, Landscape Photography, Business of Nature Photography, and The Nature Photographer's complete guide to Professional Field Techniques.

Paul Harcourt Davies: The Complete Guide to Close-Up and Macro Photography; David & Charles Eds., 1998

This is a very recent book. Not only is it written on a very good technical level but it contains also excellent pictures. As complete as the previous, it has the advantage of the equipment discussed being contemporary. On the other hand, I feel that the structure of the chapters is somewhat confusing as some topics are somewhat scattered within different chapters.

Claude Nuridsany & Marie Pérennou: Microcosmos, The Invisible World of Insects; Stewart, Tabori & Chang Eds., 1997

Nothing new can be said about the movie Microcosmos, an extraordinary film that has won several awards. Now a companion book can be bought that contains more than 90 incredible pictures, plus an entire chapter devoted to the making of the film.

Ricardo Vila: Rural - Naturaleza en el recuerdo; Ricardo Vila Ed., 1999

This is a charming work from a perfectionist author who uses to publish his books by himself. Following a seasonal distribution, breathtaking pictures of mammals, birds and insects are displayed, either flying and static. The thread of the entire book is the rural life on small villages so it also shows beautiful landscape and people photographs.

Collective: Wildlife photographer of the Year; Fountain Press Eds.

A portfolio per year is published with the winner and commended photographs from the BBC/BG/NHM contest at London. As this event is one of the most important, the best images can be seen there - so all portfolios are worth buying....

Yann Arthus-Bertrand: La Terra des del Cel; Lunwerg Eds., 2000

I have the Catalan edition, but this work of Arthus-Bertrand is published internationally. Already legendary, his pictures from the Earth's surface were obtained within years of flight - they display a portrait (often magnificent, seldom worrying) of our planet.