Closeup photography is in my opinion one of the coolest sub-specialties of photography that one can get in to. Seeing ordinary objects closeup, seeing plants and bugs and the like at extreme closeup is just a whole new world all by itself. I am always amazed at the textures and colors and the beauty that is there if you get close enough to see it. Even insects that we normally don't think as beautiful are quite stunning when you get down to their level.

However like other specialty photographic areas there are rules and even special equipment one needs to get the most from the specialty and to do it right. You need the proper camera, lens, lighting, and other equipment that depending on what your goals are you might include things like extension tubes, bellows, closeup filters, and more.

You can find most of the information about all of this on the Internet if you want to spend a few hours looking for it. However, I don't know about you but I want to take pictures not spend hours trying to find the information so that I can shoot pictures. So I turn to single subject books and if you are interested in closeup photography then one of the best books on this subject is Closeup Shooting Front Cover Back Cover from RockyNook written by Cyrill Harnischmacher.

This is a full color hard back book that is not only loaded with incredibly inspiring closeup photos but covers everything you need to know to shoot your own inspiring closeup photos. It covers the how-to's as far as shutter speed, aperture, depth-of-field and more. It also covers lighting both artificial and natural, shooting indoors and outdoors as well as all of the specialty equipment you may want.

Chapters:

The Basics

Choosing the Right Camera

Standard Lenses

Closeup Lenses

Extension Tubes and Teleconverters

Reversed Lenses

Bellows

Closeup Lenses

Specialized Equipment

Zoerk Multi Focus System

Closeup Equipment

Tripods, Flash Tilts, and Ball Heads

The Most Important Filters

Daylight

Artificial Light

Flash Lighting

Controlling Flash

Flash Lighting Used Creatively

Closeup Paradise in the Meadow

Strategies for Sharp Pictures

During All Seasons

Travel Closeup Photography

Underwater Closeup Photography

Tabletop Photography

Products Shots

Comparison in Lighting

Imaging Techniques

Building Your Own Equipment

This very thorough book it is easy to read with all of the fancy terms laid out in plain English, there are ample charts that I find myself turning to over and over again and more. This is an excellent single subject book and one I highly recommend for anyone thinking about getting in to or just starting out with closeup photography. With the information in this book your skills will grow faster and your photos will flow with inspiration not only for yourself but for others as well.