5.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable read,

By  J. Gonce "Simply DJ" (Berkeley Co., WV)

This review is from: Close Ups and Close Encounters: A View From Behind The Lens (Paperback)

Really loved this book. The pictures were fabulous and the stories were well written and kept me glued to the pages. This book is for every age group and I am so glad I purchased it. Parents can even read this book to their children and the pictures that accompany them are beautiful. I would gladly recommend this book to anyone.

4.0 out of 5 stars 3.5* - A wildlife photographer's adventures in photography,

By Z Hayes (TX, USA) - See all my reviews
VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 50 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Close Ups and Close Encounters: A View From Behind The Lens (Paperback)

My eight-year-old daughter and I quite enjoyed S.J. Brown's book, "Close Ups and Close Encounters: A View From Behind the Lens". The book features some nice photographs of wildlife ranging from a squirrel, butterflies, birds, and larger animals like giraffes, elephants, and bears. The paper quality is quite good, it is neither glossy nor too flimsy so the images show up well.

I have to say though that the photographs almost take a backseat to the stories of how S.J. Brown captured these images. The stories are grounded and down-to-earth and provide personal insights into the photographer's journey as she photographed each subject. The stories are informative and peppered with occasional humor. My daughter and I wish there had been more photographs and it would have also helped if the author-photographer had provided locations for where the subjects were photographed. Other than that, this made an interesting and quick read.

5.0 out of 5 stars delightful,

By Victor J. Banis "Victor J. Banis" (West Virginia)
 This review is from: Close Ups and Close Encounters: A View From Behind The Lens (Paperback)

This is a wonderful book, one that can be enjoyed by almost any age group. The author is a wildlife photographer, with an artist's eye for the best angle and the telling moment; and she is a writer as well. Even the youngest children will enjoy the pictures - often cute but never cloying - And adults who still have a bit of the child within will enjoy them as well, and enjoy also the stories that accompany them. This would make a great gift book - for almost anyone.

4.0 out of 5 stars Useful, Entertaining Guide to Animal Photography for Novices,

By  David Kinchen -
   This review is from: Close Ups and Close Encounters: A View From Behind The Lens (Paperback)

I was attracted to S.J. Brown's "Close Ups & Close Encounters: A View from Behind the Lens" because I've been a photographer since my high school years in the early 1950s and photographing animals has been a particular passion.

I've found that there are many places to photograph animals in our rural Gulf Coastal Texas county, including in the town of Port Lavaca where I snapped a photo of an elderly Hispanic man and his horse in the historic downtown area. I'm still looking for more longhorn cattle after photographing several in the Six Mile area of FM 1090 north of town.

Like many photographers, Brown started out with an inexpensive camera, soon graduating to a 35 mm single-lens reflex with interchangeable lenses -- and shooting color film. Wildlife management areas, animal rescue ranches, zoos, the backwoods, islands, coastal areas in Florida and the Northeast are all suitable places for Brown and her husband and spotter Jay. Accompanying the photographs are essays explaining how the photographs were made -- and the close encounters experienced along the way.

Accompanied by Jay, S.J. , a New Jersey native now living in West Virginia, soon learns that some animals are agreeable to having their picture taken, and many are not easily accessible. Brown encounters delicate butterflies, bears, birds, deer, wild horses, and more. Along the way there are successes and failures, cooperative critters, curious subjects, and some close calls.

I would have liked more technical information on the photographs, including the lens used, exposure, etc., but with today's automatic cameras -- I'm assuming Brown's using something like the Canon EOS 650 that I use for film -- the exposure and focusing are taken care of, allowing the photographer to watch what's in the viewfinder. I use lenses up to and including my 500 mm mirror lens, on both my film and digital Canons.

By the way, if you shoot film, as S.J. does, be sure and get a CD of the negatives when you process the film. That way, with simple editing software like Kodak Easy-Share, you have the best of both worlds, film and digital.

If you don't have a camera, check the want ads, including Craigslist, for suitable units. You might also want to see what's on hand at big camera stores or sites like KEH.com in Atlanta or Collectible Cameras in the greater Phoenix area, or on eBay. I picked up my Canon EOS 650, which has automation galore, plus manual overrides, for about $50 for the body only. Almost any camera will do, providing it has adjustable shutter speeds and interchangeable lens capability. Brand names: Canon, Nikon, Pentax, Minolta, Fujica, Rolleiflex SL, Leica single-lens reflexes for those with big bucks. There's a wealth of high-quality film cameras on the market with the dominance of digital, so you have your pick of the best.

Get yourself a copy of S.J. Brown's delightful book and enjoy the beautiful critters she's captured on film. Her bobcat is a particular favorite, but then again, I love cats of all descriptions, like the Barbary lions from far northern Africa that I snapped at the Texas Zoo in Victoria, TX, or the Jaguars at the Belize Zoo in Belize

Lovely story and wonderful images,       By M. Brookes This review is from: Close Ups and Close Encounters: A View From Behind The Lens (Paperback) Close Ups and Close Encounters is the story a wildlife photographer. This isn't a tale of trekking in the savannah, instead it looks at wildlife closer to home (for US readers at any rate). As such it feels more immediate, less remote and the images are no less interesting for it. As with any wildlife picture collection you see a range of lovely images throughout the book. The photographer does capture some excellent moments. The photo of the angry bear is my particular favourite, it really shows the essence of a bear. Along with the photos there are the stories of how the pictures were taken. These provide fascinating glimpses into the process of wildlife photography as well as more personal insights into the author and photographer's life. My only slight complaint is that some of the photos described in the text weren't included in the book, with is a shame. That being said, there are many wonderful photos in the book to enjoy. If you like your wildlife then I highly recommend this book.

Spontanious Literaryu Awareness

http://spontaneousliteraryawareness.wordpress.com/

Close Ups and Close Encounters by S J Brown

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

As a photographer I love wildlife shots. I am always trying to capture that perfect moment. I adore squirrels and find them very entertaining to photograph.

These photos are really beautiful and the composition is superb. I especially enjoyed the tales behind each shot. Because some times the story behind the photo makes the photo even more special!!

The Cult of me

http://thecultofme.blogspot.co.uk/

Welcome to the 'Close Ups and Close Encounters' blog tour. For the tour I agreed to review the book, I don't usually review non-fiction, but I do love pretty pictures so I made an exception :-)

Close Ups and Close Encounters is the story a wildlife photographer. This isn't a tale of trekking in the savannah, instead it looks at wildlife closer to home (for US readers at any rate). As such it feels more immediate, less remote and the images are no less interesting for it.

As with any wildlife picture collection you see a range of lovely images throughout the book. The photographer does capture some excellent moments. The photo of the angry bear is my particular favourite, it really shows the essence of a bear.

Along with the photos there are the stories of how the pictures were taken. These provide fascinating glimpses into the process of wildlife photography as well as more personal insights into the author and photographer's life.

My only slight complaint is that some of the photos described in the text weren't included in the book, with is a shame. That being said, there are many wonderful photos in the book to enjoy.

If you like your wildlife then I highly recommend this book.

Book Lovers Library

On a whim, S. J. Brown decided to embark on a career in wildlife photography. Armed with an inexpensive 35mm camera and a love for the natural world, her adventure began. Accompanied by her spotter and husband, she ventured to a variety of locations.

The couple soon learned that there was more to this than just camera settings, lighting, and getting the right angle. Not all wildlife is agreeable to having their picture taken, and many are not easily accessible.

Camera in hand, S. J. Brown encountered delicate butterflies, bears, birds, deer, wild horses, and more. Along the way, there are successes and failures, cooperative critters, curious subjects, and some close calls.

As a wildlife photographer S. J. Brown took her cues from her subjects. Their body language let her know when to step in for a closer shot and when to back away. When she was out in the field, she strove to observe and record not to interfere. The exception to this rule is when people pose a threat to wildlife; then she will take time to relocate a road dwelling critter to its location. Brown has saved snapper turtles from soup and other creatures from the taunts and teases of unwise humans, but she will not interfere with Mother Nature's food chain unless it involves a domestic animal pursuing a wild creature. With this in mind, she has sent many a cat away from a bird feeder and saved many a squirrel from a curious canine.

S. J. Brown's book Close Ups & Close Encounters features over fifty of her wildlife photographs as well as the stories behind getting those images. S. J. Brown's photographs and written words are her way of sharing her experiences. Introducing others, such as her granddaughter, to the field is one of her primary goals and loves. She hopes her work will give others an appreciation for the natural world.  

Minding Spot

http://mindingspot.blogspot.com/2013/05/close-ups-and-close-encounters-by-s-j.html#more

60 FULL-COLOR WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHS! 

On a whim, S. J. Brown decides to embark on a career in wildlife photography. Armed with an inexpensive 35mm camera and a love for the natural world, her adventure begins. Accompanied by her spotter and husband, she ventures to a variety of locations. The couple soon learns there is more to this than just camera settings, lighting, and getting the right angle. Not all wildlife is agreeable to having their picture taken, and many are not easily accessible. Camera in hand, S. J. Brown encounters delicate butterflies, bears, birds, deer, wild horses, and more. Along the way, there are successes and failures, cooperative critters, curious subjects, and some close calls. Experience wildlife photography from her perspective—through the lens of a camera.

There are sixty vivid photographs in Close Ups and Close Encounters by S.J. Brown.  I found all of them interesting, some more than others.  With each photograph, Brown tells a bit about how the photograph was taken.

Some don't mind getting their photograph taken and some mind a whole lot - as you can see in some of the photographs.  They are taken in the United States and I thoroughly enjoyed Brown's light descriptions on how close she had to encounter some of these beautiful animals and insects to get her shot.  Thoroughly enjoyable!\

Teddy Rose

So many precious books, so little time

http://teddyrose.blogspot.com/

My Thoughts:

All of my regular readers know that I am a sucker for animals.  I love and can't resist them, to the point that I am vegan.  I can't imagine exploiting or eating any of my friends.  So, when my friend asked me if I would like to take part in the Close Up and Close Encounter Tour, I jumped. 

Now a days, I usually request an ebook rather than a print copy of books because my bookshelves are over flowing however, I wanted to get to see all the photos in print, so I opted for the print version.  I loved the photos however, I would have liked them even better on glossy paper.  They would have popped more.  Nonetheless, I still adored the photos.

S.J. included stories about why and how she captured the photos and really added that something special to this photo book.  One of my favorites was on how she got her start, taking photos in her back yard with the aid of her husband and the incorporative butterfly.  It had me laughing out loud.

I think this book would make a great gift for all animal lovers!  Highly recommended! 4.5/5

I received this book for my honest opinion.

Bella on line

Lisa Binon

http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art180467.asp

Close Ups & Close Encounters - a Review They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but it is up to the author to write those thousand words. (Richard Petracca) There was a time I loved taking pictures, especially of the kids that were part of my herd of goats. This book, full of pictures and the stories behind them, has given me a new appreciation of the wildlife – the deer, the turkeys, the birds – that now visits my yard. Ever since my goats have been gone on to greener pastures, my camera has grown dusty. Close Ups & Close Encounters: a View From Behind the Lens, written by S. J. Brown, has inspired me to wipe the dust off my camera and go outside to snap pictures of my wildlife visitors.    What is the life of a wildlife photographer like? Snapping shots of squirrels, butterflies, and bunnies poses no danger to the photographer, but what about capturing pictures of bears, bobcats, and alligators? How close can one get before one is too close and ready to be their lunch? From observations in people’s backyards to visiting zoos to a ride down the Potomac River to wandering through the woods in search of ever-elusive animals, S. J. Brown tells us about some of her many adventures. The first chapter opens with a beautiful picture of a beautiful butterfly. She asked this butterfly if it would like its picture taken. It is easy to see what would be the perfect shot, but it takes skill and determination to actually get it. The humorous story behind the perfect shapshot of the butterfly shows that wildlife won't just sit still and pose for the one taking the photo. My favorite sentence from this book also comes from the very first chapter - In some cultures, when you take a person’s picture, they believe you take a piece of the subject’s soul. I don’t know about you, but storylines began running through my head as soon as I read that one sentence. S. J. Brown doesn’t just take pictures of animals that pose no threat. She has photographed many different species of wildlife. And through the stories behind her pictures that she shares, I learned many things about the life of this wildlife photographer and her spotter as well as interesting things about the subjects photographed. For instance, what would a herd of wild ponies running towards you sound like? Say your character is a wildlife photographer. How would she find these animals to photograph? Sure, she could have birds and chipmunks come to her yard, but what about wolves? What about bears? How would she find them and persuade them to allow her to snap their pictures without being attacked? Would your character take special trips to photograph specific animals? Bald eagles, elephants, moose, and Atlantic puffins just aren’t found everywhere. There is a story to be found in every image. My favorite picture is on page 86. It is a picture of a lemur. Anthropomorphism is the art of giving your animal character human traits and forms of behavior. The lemur in this picture appears to me to have the capability of thinking and reasoning as a human would do. He (it could be a she) is sitting on a log and his elbow is resting on the wire of the fence of the rescue facility. His other hand hangs down between his knees. His red eyes are just staring ahead, and he seems to be in serious thought. I wonder, is he thinking of the danger he was in before he was rescued by the kind people who run this rescue facility? Does he understand why he is kept behind a fence? Is he making plans as to what he will do when he is better and finally released back into the wild? Could he be worried about his family or others he left behind? Or is he just relaxing after a big meal? S. J Brown has included over 50 of her spectacular pictures in this book that works as an informative reference for any writer who plans on creating a character who is a wildlife photographer. Or maybe you just want to use the pictures as writing prompts. Your creative mind should come up with several ideas as you gaze at each photograph. What was the inspiration for this book? Has she ever been injured by any of the animals she was attempting to photograph? How did she decide which pictures to include in this book? When did she first have a desire to capture pictures of the wildlife around her and write about it? Find out the answer to these questions and more in S. J. Brown - Inspiration and Pictures.

I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. If you would like to add Close Ups & Close Encounters: a View From Behind the Lens to your own library, I have provided an Amazon link below. readalot http://readalot-rhonda1111.blogspot.com/ My Review- 5 stars I was surprised at how much I enjoyed the stories behind the photographs. I need to enjoy nature more and learn about it. The photos were beautiful, playful and some were really close up. Some were scary. S.J. Brown talks about how she started filming in her backyard and learning about the cameras, speed & lens by experimenting and trying. She would get down on the ground, on top of her roof and on cars to try and get eye level with the animals and birds. She explored her area, local zoos than branching out to go to different areas and different habitats to get her photos. She tells how much her husband would spot the animals for her and watch her back while she had the camera up to her face. S.J. laughs at some of her mistakes and shares some mistakes she made. It makes the photos more of everything because you find out what she was doing or how she got the shot. I guess what I mean is more personal. I would love to hang some of her photos on my walls or get the book for the coffee table.(then I would have to get a coffee table. The pictures in the ebook are good but I think this is one book I would prefer hardback copy. You can always flip through and look at the different animals and birds better. Some of the photos are in so much find details and close. Like the butterfly I think its the second photo. I would like to look at the animals again and again. I was given this ebook to read as part of Close Ups and Close Encounters book tour. The opinions are all mine they just asked me to post the review on a date of the tour.

 

 If you are aware of a review that is not listed here please e mail S. J. Brown at sjbrown.pictures@hotmail.com with a link to the review.