I picked up this book in a bookshop when browsing for something else. I love this book! It is more about the "art" and "feelings" of photography and less about the "box" you are using to shoot the pictures. Many photography books I have accumulated I give away when I am finished reading them--this one is a keeper.

I was expecting a well written book by a expert in his field. This book was well reccomended by Scott Kelby which was good enough for me. I was highly dissapointed. The entire book was based around how he used thousands of dollars worth of lighting to get ordinary pictures. I understand lighting is important but 240 pages of how he lit his pictures was to much. No real insite to how he composed or planned the pictures. Or even the camera set up he used. I am no expert but I do know when something is written to make a couple of dollars. The last 14 pages of the book is a glossary of the terms he used in the book (some made up). I read the entire book in a evening. Some comments were interesting but woke up the next morning trying to remember a single thing I liked about the book. Only thing I can remember is that he uses a lot of very expensive lighting for his shots.
Shame on Scott Kelby for reccomending this book.

I've been a fan of Joe McNally for years and have heard him lecture in person a few times. To say that I've been looking forward to a book from him would be an understatement.

However, when I first heard about this book I wasn't sure that I wanted it. Normally, I like two kinds of photo books. Those that show the photographer's work or those that are of the "how to" type. This is neither in that it combines both genres......kind of.

It's certainly not a collection of McNally's work in the conventional sense. It is, instead, a potpourri of his photos. It's also not a "how-to" book since it doesn't give more than a cursory explanation of how the photos were made. All that said, I've found it to be extremely enjoyable.

The photos are typical McNally. Technically and aesthetically superb. Nothing less than what one would expect.

In his how-to explanations (which I think of as "how to lite", no pun intended), Joe gives a brief overview of what was involved in getting each shot. That's fine with me, as I've never understood why some photographers feel that they need to give the aperture and shutter speed for every shot. While such information can be useful if one wants to duplicate a specific effect, they are meaningless for most shots as they only represent the light conditions present at that place and time.

What comes through loud and clear are McNally's insights and practical advice. He doesn't tell us how to duplicate each shot but, instead, tells us why he did what he did to get it. Let's face it, he knows, and so should we, that we are never going to own the equipment that he does or are we ever likely to develop the expertise to use it in the ways that he does.

If you're looking for a portfolio of Joe's work or a how-to guide to help you duplicate it, save your money as you won't find that here. If you want to get into McNally's head and perhaps become motivated to improve your own photography as a result, you won't be disappointed.

I'll keep this short and sweet.

1. NOT a cookbook or "how to" book.
2. NOT a beginners book.
3. IS a book for high intermediate level and advanced photographers (see#4).
4. This book does not give F stops or other technical information. That's why it's an advanced book.
5. 100% LOCATION photography and how to overcome the hardships of this type of shot.
6. Emphasis on hard core commercial photography, as in Donald Trump, CEO's, Sports figures, etc. But if you know your stuff, you can use the information to your advantage for any location shooting.

Summary: This book made a lot of sense to me, but only because I understand light and the problems of location photography. If you do not understand the problems of light on location, how to use strobes, reflectors, etc., then you will not "get" this book.

McNally is pretty extraordinary in his element, which is fast thinking in a fast paced location based commercial environment. He hit everything I've experienced stress wise trying to create a nice image using natural and strobe light on location.

If you have ever tried location photography w/o a flash gun on your camera--because you do not use an ON CAMERA flash when doing location photography (and bouncing an on camera flash counts as having the light off camera, and yes there are exceptions)--then you understand the horrible chills you get when learning this skill, and even after you learn the basics the stress and abject FEAR involved. McNally does a great job of imparting this fear and stress and explaining how he works though it, or not--he admits sometimes you just fail, get use to it.

In that sense, the book gets 5 stars. If you think you are the only one who goes through these levels of fear, stress, self hatred, and messing up, then read this book. It will allow you, if nothing else, to see that you are on the right track and that even super pros like McNally go through these same anxieties.

In conclusion, this book is for advanced photographers looking to hone their skills and to understand if they are actually on the right track. Even if you don't do hard core commercial, you can impart this information to your skill set because all of the stuff he talks about is relevant to ANY location type photography, including weddings. The book also uses what I believe are perfect examples of what Joe is trying to convey to other photographers.

Thanks Joe. Good book!

Fabulous book, hilarious but very useful comments, great pictures!
I'm sure Joe is a great teacher and person!

Someone here said Joe didn't reveal everything. That is not true. He gives you more details in the beginning and as you read further, it's more about particular atmosphere or thoughts he used to create the particular image - NOT an instant-recipe for perfect photo!
Doesn't matter if you are a pro or a rookie, his thoughts could provide you with something you accidentally overlooked!

This book makes you think and use your brain, rather than copy/paste or steal his ideas!

well, unfortunately i don't have all the neat equipment and access joe has. but joe has a great eye for "the moment" and gives us an idea of what it takes to get it. it was an interesting read to see how he decides to capture his images. various elements we may overlook are a big help to the overall effect of the picture. flipping through the book of a well-known international photographer alone gives you a feel for the professional look. i was disappointed that this book wasn't about camera settings to shoot with for different situations, but i gotta say joe does impart interesting professional knowledge. just to review his work alone is a fascinating learning experience for young photographers like myself. in sum, don't expect to learn about exposure and settings so much, but prepare to observe how to capture "the moment" through a professional eye. joe gives us access to the professional world of photography that we normally don't have access to.

The photography in itself is terrific, but what makes it all work is the author's unique ability to execute a concept.

If you like to look at great pictures, and learn the story behind them, this book is for you! I really enjoyed reading this, and I will probably flick through it from time to time.

However, I did not learn much that will make me a better photographer. The reason is that Joe is on a very different level, and on a very different budget, than I am, so as long as I don't have a lot of strobes and soft boxes, I really can not apply his tips. I did learn some principles, but to me, the strength of this book is the great pictures and the amusing stories.

If you already know a bit of lighting and photography basics, you'll love this book. If you don't have a clue but you'd like to learn, this book has a lot to teach, but not specifics, its more about the broader vision that's behind all those little things. Great and entertaining, full of stories, tips, etc.

I have a lot of books on (pro)photography, but this book and Michael Grecco's (Lighting and the Dramatic Portrait: The Art of Celebrity and Editorial Photography) are my favorites. They are hands on with great pictures and the story behind them (how to make them).

Very funny as well. I finished it within a day. The cons: well some pictures and stories were entertaining but not inspirational.

Joe McNally's book is a must read for the experienced photographer looking for practical tips and wisdom learned thru years of experience! I'm not sure the novice would understand many of the tips, but if you've been shooting for awhile and understand the concepts and principles of lighting, this book will provide you with some of that knowledge and wisdom that it takes years of experience to gain.

Beautifully illustrated photography book. Excellent "how to get the shot" tutorial. A must for photographers.

excellent book from one of the greatest photographers of our time. fantastic shots with superficial dissection of why and how. overall the technological level required to obtain this pictures is way out of my league and intent. Very nice book to expand your thinking and give you some insight on the complicated and fascinating world of pro photography...

for more down to earth matters that will improve your shooting quickly without having to buy 20 flashes, 5 softboxes and 2 umbrellas, I prefer " the photographer's eye"!

From its description, I expected a "how-to" book. It isn't. Rather, it is a book filled with truly excellent photographs with a bit of personal story for each, many of which are interesting, and just a couple of hints about capturing shots like those on the pages.

The truth is that most of us will never have the opportunity to get shots like these; at the top of a New York skyscraper, dangling from a helicopter 500 feet about the well-known Hollywood sign in Los Angeles, photographing prima ballerinas and telling them to take off their shoes.

One revealing tidbit of just how different Joe McNally is different from me (and probably you) is the contents of his camera bag. Well, actually bags: three of them. Three Nikon bodies, eleven Nikon lenses, five Nikon SB-800 speedlights - and a lot more. And, of course, a lot of the shots are lit with truly serious lighting, the kind of units that cost thousands of dollars or rent for hundreds of dollars a day. like Joe's Avenger 12 x 12 foot Butterfly Foldaway Frame.

So what do we have here?

A book of great photographs, some interesting stories on how they came to be and some hints and tips.

It is more than enough, frankly.

For example, Joe tells of an experience in Star City, the Russian space training facility. He gets on a zero-gravity training plane by bribing someone with $7,500, talks about retching 50 times as the plane dives to acheive zero Gs, gives a one sentence of how he made the shot on the facing page which, frankly, is breathtaking.

No, I will never be able to duplicate Joe's experience, but I am sure glad to that Joe McNally has shared some insights into his life with the rest of us.

All told, this is really more or less a coffee table photo book with a lot of personal stories. Great photography, great stories and more than a few useful tips.

Jerry

First of all. I am not Nikon shooter. And it really irritates to see Joe pushing this brand in the book so hard. I understand he is getting paid by them, but hey.. i paid for the book, not for the Nikon ad.

Other than that.. Its a good book, full of stories and decent imagery (well few shots are horrible to me taste, but its just me), and tips.

Again - its not a cookbook. But its feeding your brain enough to start properlling ;) I would read it again and again, i believe, and recommend it highly to me friends (specially Nikon users.. arf)

Finally a guy that realizes you can make a how to book on photography instructional and entertaining to read. A perfect combination of actual on teh job situations and description on how to get it done. Format was helpful to be able to look up a particular look or situation quickly, and the humor and stories are worth it alone...

I have seen him get standing ovations at photos shows. Check out this book and you'll know why - rick sammon

I have the feeling that once they assembled the photos, then the author or editors decided upon what the various chapters would be called. I say this because the reality is the chapters broken out into Shoot what you love, Keep your eye on the camera, The logic of light, There is always something to bounce light off of - to me don't really speak to the real power of the book. Its about photography right? So just flipping through the book is actually more a delight and worthwhile than following a seemingly bare thread of like associated topics.

The photos are a great collection. The text accompanying each photo gives a story about the shot which details something different each time - such as a story about using a bed sheet to cut hard sun for a Time life cover shot - a lesson, story and technique rolled into one. The book cleverly moves through this way, showing great photos by well known photographers over time. And photography is what it is about. The Shot. The quickness to capture what is there. One great line is that you have to make sure the picture speaks for itself - as you will not be in the room when people look at it. Basic
advice, but one like other basic and straight forward advice, is valuable and oft ignored.

Treat this book at a group of mentors imparting some advice to you. While not a book to use as a tool such as - hey I want to replicate that picture - but one that will guide you by a mixture of stories, technique, talent and just maybe a little luck.

Great for all types of photographers.

This book is filled with superb tips on photography lighting, setup and so much more! Each two-page spread on a unique photo-shoot is written so that it makes sense and sticks.

Novice to professionals will benefit from Joe McNally's experience as a photographer with Life, National Geographic, and Sports Illustrated. There are basic photographic tips for those that want to point and shoot with a little more flair. But more, there are very technical tips on how to use professional lighting systems to achieve very "unlit" natural results. This is by no means a dry step-by-step how-to book. It's written in a very conversational style: "oh, you want to know how I took that photo of Michelle (Pfeiffer), pull up a chair and let me tell you." It is an easy read, filled with humor and tales of a journeyman photographer. The first read took me just a couple days at a few pages a day. A few weeks has gone by and I realize that I want to commit many more of McNally's tips to memory, that will take me a couple more rereads. I'm looking forward to it. The book is 50% fantastic photos (of who's who in sports and pop culture) and 50% how to make these photos.

I'm in awe of people who can take great pictures with seemingly little effort. But in reality, those pictures are a combination of skill, knowledge, and not a small measure of luck. Joe McNally, a very well-known photographer who has shot for Time, National Geographic, and others, "converses" with the reader in The Moment It Clicks: Photography secrets from one of the world's top shooters. You'll find out how his mind works to control lighting and scene to make those famous images.

Contents:
Shoot What You Love; Keep Your Eye in the Camera; The Logic of Light; There's Always Something to Bounce Light Off Of; Joe's Lighting Tips; Joe's Camera Bag; Joe's Grip and Lighting Gear; The Barroom; Glossary; Index

This book was born from a workshop where McNally was presenting. He was sharing gems of experience, when it dawned on one of the attendees that capturing these nuggets of wisdom could be a perfect method for letting everyone get into the mind of a great photographer. The format of the book consists mostly of two page spreads. The right side shows the photo, and the left side is McNally sharing the story behind the image. Not only does he share what it took to get the picture, but he also gets into the technical aspects of how it was lit and shot. So much of what he does is based on lighting. Too much, too little, bouncing off items, focussed lighting, ambient, etc... When you get done, you'll never look at light in quite the same way again.

Will this book allow you to replicate the same types of shots that have made McNally famous? No. For one, he has hundreds of thousands of dollars of equipment, and often has a budget to do things like renting elephants and hanging people from helicopters. My guess is that you don't have that working for you. Also, he doesn't use a "do this, then this, then this" approach. He does talk about the equipment and settings, the lighting and circumstances, but it's more as if you were sitting in a pub talking to a best mate. If you're not experienced on camera technology and terminology, you'll also miss a fair amount of the value. But if you've done some work and become more than just a tourist with a camera, this can take you up another level or two.

Or you can just look at the pictures and marvel that it's possible to do those kinds of things with a camera...

I read a ton of photography books. This is one of the best in the last several decades. Great personal stories and filled with incredibly useful information that's boiled down to useful little nuggets rather than running on for page after page of dribble.

As a professional photographer I only expect a single "aha" from any book I read. This had dozens! I'm so impressed I may attend one of his workshops.

Inspiring!

Joe is one of my favorite photographers.In this book you are able to go into Joe's mindset when he shot the image. But not only that, but he shares with you what he learned as a photographer as well as a human being.

I love his philosophy on lighting and flash... he uses whatever light is available... be it flash or available light. Joe is very practical, down to earth and honest. Great Book!

It is formated into short two pages chapters, with charts, definition of terms, and the image itself. So it is an easy and enjoyable read,

I read it in a couple of days. It's really interesting to see how he managed to pull out those images in those situations.
I strongly suggest it to any one that is interested in photography, both in the human and in the technical side of it.
Well done

I loved this book! Couldn't put it down. Very inspirational. I thought about sharing it with a photographer friend of mine, but I'm afraid he might keep it. I want to go back to it regularly, so he'll have to get his own copy. I recommend this book to anyone interested in photography.

The Moment It Clicks is about how a great magazine photographer makes pictures, about light and lighting on location, and about what makes a picture great. It is also about the photographer's need to take better pictures, to show them, and to have people appreciate them.

Joe McNally writes about asking publishers for assignments, and then about being asked to take assignments for magazines including Sports Illustrate, National Geographic and Life. The outstanding pictures in the book are accompanied by the interesting story of how it happened and what made this image great.

This is supposed to be for intermediate photographers. I believe the more professional you are, the more you will get out of it, and at the same time a beginner will find it interesting and inspiring.

Scott Kelby urged Joe McNally to write this book after attending some of his classes. Each lesson contained one sentence, one thought, that the moment it clicked made the whole lesson worth whatever it cost, and suggested the title.

The Moment It Clicks is a coffee table book and a joy to read. Each story about a photograph contains that one sentence, The Moment It Clicks. Then there are other stories for you t enjoy about being a photographer.

This is an interesting book but most of the explanations involve more lighting equipment than I will ever have. I'd like to see Joe write a sequel explaining pictures that were taken with only equipment that an average person would carry without an assistant or a truck. That would be much more valuable to the amateur or advanced amateur photographer who doesn't have an unlimited budget or staff of assistants. I got more information that I could apply from Scott Kelby's recent how-to books.

This is not a common photography book, is about being a photographer and how a photographer does things. A must for every photographer

This is a near-perfect photography book. It shows you inspiring examples and gives you something of an idea of how they were captured. While I can never expect to equal Joe's work, at least I have the work to emulate and motivation to try. Highly recommended.

Well worth the price, even if you're not a pro. Invaluable gems salted throughout should you have any professional aspirations. Destined to become a modern classic in the canon of photography how-to books.

Interesting but of value only to a professional doing vetry high level work. Not much of use for the serious amature or nature photographer.
His personal reflections were thoughtful and worth reading.

I enjoyed the pictures, but what kept me reading was the story behind the pictures. I found the accompanying stories highly entertaining and interesting (Joe McNally has lived a very interesting life). I also enjoyed the description of the technical aspects of how Joe got the shot. For those looking for a complete technical guide to photography will be disappointed. However if you are interested in great photographs with often times hilarious commentary on what it took to "get the shot" from one who has lived the "photog" life for 30 years you will be well rewarded. I look forward to the sequel.

I got the book thinking of learning some from this great photographer.
One just can wonder how he got the pictures. The book is great as a coffee table but not good as a learning tool.
His session on equipment doesn't cover much. He just listed his great cameras, filters and more. No explanations or suggestions are offered. The pictures are great but no much cover on how they were taken.
BUT if you want to indulge your eye and have your guess have a topic a conversation you may want to buy it.

THE MOMENT IT CLICKS is a gift in so many ways. The images McNally has included are glorious and inspirational...a feast for the eyes. The text behind them is so easy to read and understand. The various sections of "lessons learned" are so pointed, clear and easy to remember. McNally has taken years of experience and translated it into invaluable guidance for all levels of photographer. He has an energy and enthusiam for his art and his craft that comes through loud and clear and is contageous to the reader/student. I highly recommed this as a very special important book for the serious photographer as well as any appreciator of photography.

Save your money!! This is definitely not a "one foot in the classroom" type of book. Quite honestly, I don't know what to make of it!!! I was looking forward to getting it from Amazon as I had read quite a few very positive reviews of the book. Anyway, I start to read it. Looked at some of the photos/snapshots. I started to laugh!! There is absolutely no rhyme or reason to this book. It completely blew my mind! Honestly, here are a few examples of those "photography secrets: "This is a shot with available light-late afternoon, using a 20mm wide angle lens" (p.120) Here's another "This shot was taken outdoors at dusk in Jaipu, India, during the Festival of Lights using available light. It was taken with a 180mm lens at f2.8. The soft glow through the veil was provided entirely by the candles" (p.88) Wow, thanks for those tips Joe. And most don't even mention that much technical information. Oh sure, there are some decent photos, and some good tips, but I was expecting a helluva lot more. "Photography secrets from one of the world's top shooters"????? Most of non-portrait/artificial lighting topics are common sense. The text consists of way too much dribble with little of the pertinent information which the book advertised. Most importantly, if you are not a portrait photographer and do not do a lot of work with artificial lighting, you could spend your money and time on something better. I was actually thinking of returning this book to Amazon, but have decided to give it to a friend for his birthday. He gave me a crappy gift for mine!!

This book is absolutely my favorite book on photography. It really gives the reader an insight on how to create a piece of art. He mostly talks about lighting, opportunity and has some tricks for more candid photos. I love it, couldn't put it down.

Joe McNally is definately one of those people whose character comes out from the pages. This book provides plenty of insight into various techniques/approaches he used throughout his career as well as some great stories from this world renowned photographer.

I should state that this book isn't a book for someone who is wanting to learn about photography. It doesn't show you the bare basics kind of stuff, but is still a valuable edition to any photographer's bookcase.

Very enjoyable....

This is a wonderful book full of great photos and lots of smart advice. The best part is that you don't have to read it in a linear fashion. Just pick a page, study the photo and start reading. I polished off the book that way in less than a week, but find myself going back again and again. As an added bonus, Joe McNally has a wonderful sense of humor.

Lighting really makes or breaks a photograph. And this is a fantastic book on lighting. He goes over so many professional lighting techniques. Many of the photographs were shot in film, so he is really good. No photoshop in this boook.
He also writes about having fun photographing, something many aspiring photogs forget over time, getting too caught up in technicalities.
Buy it!

This is a great book for people interested in the art of photography. If you're about creating truly impactful photos, if you can feel the energy of a pro shooter talking about his profession, his daily experience, his life and it gets your blood boiling and thinking of a career change - then read this book. It will turn the pages very fast.

On the other hand, if you're looking for a 101 on how to take photos with your new DSLR, or figure out how the latest strobist kit works, you will be disappointed. The author does describe the lighting techniques he used in each of his photos, but without reasonable background in the equipment and general lighting technique it won't be detailed enough to replicate it.

The book is structured into a few chapters, each of which is basically a two page nugget structured around a statement, a great example photo that shows why this matters, a discussion in more detail, and a few notes on how the picture was taken. All of this ties together some great insights the authors shares with those that have the patience and drive to dive deep into the art and science of taking emotionally engaging images that tell a story.

Keep in mind that the author made his career in shooting for magazines. Images that are story leads in a magazine need to capture the reader and make him dive into the story, and then they need to wrap around the whole story. Those are great, lasting images. That's also why many of the images in the book involve controlled lighting technique. But you won't find many other photo genres in this book, such as landscape. That's totally ok, because this book is about the energy a magazine shooter experiences and what gets him excited, or gets you excited if you can relate to it in some past or future form.

This book is a rare glimpse into the heart and mind of a fine artist. If you are looking for a recipe book, this isn't it. There are many fine photographic cookbooks out there that we have all learned from, but this book goes way beyond them. Enjoy the journey and you will gain insights far more valuable than "steps 1, 2, 3."
Many of Joe's images are famous or memorable and I found it fascinating to learn how he approached his assignments and subjects, while overcoming seemingly impossible obstacles. I now view those images with even greater admiration after learning how much preparation and creativity went into them.
Photography is all about light...and Joe is the Jedi Master of Light, seamlessly blending in what nature provides and humans create. Each complements the other without competing for space within his images.
Most professionals design their work around fairly narrow slices of the field....and they are great at it. Joe takes us on a journey that is stunning in the sheer range of demanding assignments. I found myself wanting to have been at Star City, fly with the Blue Angels, dive in that submarine, talk with Linus Pauling and bask in the beauty of Michelle Pfeiffer. This experiential book took me on a journey that I will never be able to live myself, which is the essence of all great books.
I have often purchased stunningly beautiful portrait books with only the subject's name as a footnote. I always wonder....What are they really like? How did you shoot it? What did the photographer learn from the experience? Joe provided all that in a humorous, humble and insightful manner.
Thanks, Joe, for the ride!
John C. Bruckman

As the reviews show, this is a book provoking different opinions. While the introduction note with promises of lots of inside tips and wow reactions don't hold true, there are a few critical and useful tips along the way. I was inspired to use more than one flash and to use an underexposed sky while using flash. Just examples but invaluable tips for everyone.

However, I find large parts of the book irrelevant. For photos were you think "ah - lightning for this one must have been really complex" turn out to be shot with available light only.

For photos where you think "ah - this one must have been easy - no strobes used at all" and it turns out that Joe has used 10 or 20 flash units plus a couple of octabanks and probably thrown in a couple of honeycombed strobes as well (oh, and about 20 different gels of varying color and intensity).

I don't know what the conclusion is - maybe all this complex lightning is not necessary after all and that to a certain degree it is used to impress clients - I mean who wouldn't be impressed with a couple of those huge octabanks - people start behaving even though they have huge Hollywood egos.

It was interesting to learn how a magazine shooter works and what it takes to be a good one.

So - some interesting stuff, but it really is more a 'nice to know' than need'to know. I like the book but would not have bought it had I known the contents. It sits between the needs of a pro who wishes to learn about advanced lightning and the pro.consumer/amatour who would only have a flash or two. It doesn't really serve any segment very well. Big shame for Joe IS great and has many things to tell - just check out his website our youtube.

I found the book to be very thought provoking. The pictures are great. The secrets informative. Humor very much present.

Although I will probably never photograph a movie star or an Olympic Athlete on top of the Empire State building, McNally's lighting how-to's have already helped me in my photography. The photos alone are worth the price of the book, but the stories that go along with each photo and the "How to get this type of shot" make the book a valuable learning tool for most photographers.

This book condenses 30 years of Joe McNally's distinguished photographic career into just over 200 short but pithy observations about photography. There are tips about lighting, posing, and a number of other important topics.

Joe McNally is probably the most unassuming guy I have ever seen, and yet he has done so much amazing stuff. If you are interested in the guy behind the lens, if you want to know how he created some amazing shots, if you want to pick up some amazingly handy tips, this is a great book. Just buy it and enjoy it! Unless you can sit down with Joe in person, you should read this book for insight into a really interesting life lived behind the camera.

I bought this book with Joe McNally's reputation in mind. I had read and heard from the NAPP team (National Association of Photoshop Professionals) that this should be your next book purchase.

I read the stories and looked at the pictures (basically that's the entire book) and found the stories amusing. If you don't have all the advanced equipment that Joe has or you don't have the luck to be in the right place at the right time with all that equipment (without an assistant) your shots won't be of the same caliber.

This book was amusing but disappointing. It is an autobiography on some of the photography experiences of Mr. McNally. This book is not one to be purchased if you are looking for ways to take your photography skills to a higher level.

Joe McNally is a gifted story teller, both with photographs and with words. The photos included in his book -- primarily formal and candid portraits -- are well worth studying for composition and technique. Regardless whether or not one has access to the kinds of equipment McNally describes, there's much to learn by studying his work. The accompanying text is informative and entertaining, filled with anecdotes that reveal a great deal about making photographs and about making it as a major professional photographer.

McNally's anecdotes are at the center of the book because they're effective teaching tools, through which he can talk about photography without becoming didactic. They also allow him to acknowledge photographers and editors who helped shape his career. McNally always plays a role in these anecdotes (it's his book, after all), but often enough lets others have the punch line or make the basic point. For example, Jim Richardson of "National Geographic" is quoted as delivering this straightforward, sound advice: "If you want to be a better photographer, stand in front of more interesting stuff."

This is precisely what McNally writes about: how photographers make what they're standing in front of more interesting, for themselves and their audience. How to use light and composition as powerfully as possible, without overpowering the subject. How to think about a photograph and the story it's intended to tell.

So, who should read this book? If you're a photographer interested in standing in front of more interesting stuff or making what you're standing in front of more interesting, then there's probably something you can learn here. That's also true if you're not a photographer, but want to know more about making photos. You'll have to do some work by studying McNally's photos and what he has to say about them, but it's worth the effort.

On the other hand, this is absolutely not a "how to" book. There's no discussion of software or the mechanics of operating a camera. The book is about photography as a creative process, so to get the most out of it, you probably need at least some basic background. There's nothing wrong with wanting help using a new camera or with taking better family and vacation snapshots, but you won't find it in this book. Look elsewhere.

I enjoy reading books as much as I enjoy a trip to the dentist. However I really enjoyed reading this book and it gave me lots of ideas that I'd like to try the next time I go to take pictures. I loved the way Joe McNally explains the thought process and circumstances behind each picture. If you love photography, you will enjoy this book.

McNally is a fantastic photographer, no doubt. His career has been an amazing one. But for average schmucks like you and me, this book will have little value. I echo the comments of others, in that how many of us are going to stand on the top of the antenna of the Empire State Building or shoot celebrities with all sorts of huge, expensive lighting equipment? 95% of the book explains how his shots were made by explaining the lighting. So basically this book is 95% about lighting. Very complicated, large lighting set-ups, mostly.

I just turned the last page today, and I'm putting it up for sale on eBay. Save your money - don't bother with this unless you're a fanatic off-camera lighting, stobist-type. Not that there's anything wrong with that ...