In this book Michael Clark has continued the tradition of photographers `passing it forward', giving others the benefit of their own experience by the bucket load. I am fairly sure that the value in this book is worth more than the price paid.
The opening photographs sum up what being an adventure photographer is and show why Michael Clark has the right to write such a book. The first photograph of the photographers sitting on the bus...you can almost smell the sharp clean air and hear the shutters firing.
The book is well laid out, covering general photographic equipment and then in each chapter about the different sports there is a summary of the `essentials' for each type of photography. The contents page is also well thought out and shows the book is very much a `how to' kind of guide without reverting to the blindingly obvious. There is no `why you ought to shoot raw' here - it is taken for granted that if you're reading this book there are some things you know already or are capable of finding out yourself.
The opening chapters set up the camera side, but also clothing, other equipment and lighting (in a good concise summary). He is honest about the fact that you're not going to get above average results without spending the money. Frames per second, fast reliable auto-focus and well built kit will cost but will also deliver the results to get ahead.
Not only is the book offering the methods and ideas behind shooting different techniques but the author also takes time to look at the business side with an overview of negotiation, a US-centric look at pricing (but easily convertible to the UK market), marketing - including blogs and email-shots, licensing, safety fro the photographer and his/her subjects and the honest admission that you might not be rich from doing this, but you will have a varied job.
Finally, the book is well written. Like Joe McNally's two books, the style of delivery is the `we are sitting in a field, you've asked and I am answering'. This makes the book an interesting read - so much so that I received it yesterday, opened it on the train and put it aside, `finished' last night. This is not to say that the book's interest is short-lived. Like his guide to Lightroom, the first reading will produce lots of thoughts and provide plenty of information, but afterwards the book will be a resource to be returned to when you think: how do I do? / could I do? / if I do this? / I need ideas...and the photographs are always worth a look.