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.
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.L. 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.
About S.J. Brown:
Over the years, S. J. Brown has played with a number of artistic venues. Her love of the written word began in high school English class and continues on today, but it is not her only artistic endeavor. Prior to becoming an author, Brown has experimented with sketching, stained glass, and even ran ceramic business for several years.
Her love of wildlife photography began on a whim with an inexpensive 35mm camera, a few rolls of film, and a passion for nature. Quickly, her everyday life and wildlife photography became entwined. Somehow, even with a husband, a job, and household responsibilities, photographing found a place in the mix.
Thanks to Rebecca Graf of Celestial Book Promotions and the author of S.J. Brown, there is a international giveaway of Close Ups and Close Encounters. Please see details and enter using the Rafflecopter.
Copyright 2007-2010: All the posts within this blog were originally posted by Teddy Rose and should not be reproduced without express written permission.
I know (and live with animal lovers:O) So this I agree would be a wonderful gift! I look forward to having you visit my blog and I wish you well on your tour!:O)