BA312015.pdf


231

African Invertebrates Vol. 52 (1) Pages 231–232 Pietermaritzburg June, 2011

BOOK REVIEW

‘DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY FOR SCIENCE: CLOSE-UP PHOTOGRAPHY, 
MACROPHOTOGRAPHY AND PHOTOMACROGRAPHY.’ Enrico Savazzi. 
Raleigh, NC, USA: Lulu, 2011. 698 pp., 23×15 cm. Paperback, ISBN 978-0-557-
92537-7. Hardcover, ISBN 978-0-557-91133-2. Available from www.lulu.com.

tography has long been a topic of numerous publications, very few, if any, have dealt 

has done so with an all-encompassing manual that will prove invaluable for advanced 
amateurs as well as professionals.

quite technical and go into great detail about the functioning of digital camera systems, 
touching upon numerous topics including storage and battery options, camera types, 

and physics of camera optics are also covered and 
might prove quite challenging for those whose 
mathematics is a bit rusty. 

The section on specimen mounts is quite useful 
as it can save readers a lot of time with regard to 
subsequent image processing, especially in avoi-
ding having to photoshop out mounts and pins. 

One of the more interesting chapters is “Photo-
graphing the invisible and the barely visible”, 
which deals with numerous techniques and spe-
cial equipment for capturing that which the naked 
eye cannot see. The section on High Dynamic 
Range techniques is particularly insightful as it 

sible in terms of colour and detail. This chapter 
is especially useful for anyone wanting to take 
photos of specimens that cannot be achieved by 

also covered thoroughly in later chapters. 

plaining all the need-to-know basics from how the stacking software works in theory 
to the commercially and freely available software options. I found the section on auto-

cess works but also how to build your own stacking equipment, something that can be 
of great use to scientists who cannot afford a Leica or Nikon system.

http://www.africaninvertebrates.org.za



232

and how to set up a proper photography room. The chapter on preparing images for 
publication is especially valuable as nothing causes a bigger headache to a journal edi-
tor than incorrect images and the inability to follow instructions to authors.

The book is published via print-on-demand and as such it does have a paperback-
novel feel to it in terms of paper and print quality. It has numerous photographs to il-
lustrate techniques, instruments and photographic results, which are unfortunately all 
in black and white. However, all these photos have a note stating that the high quality 
colour versions are available online on the author’s website. While this is a creative 
way of saving on printing costs one cannot help but wonder if the URL will still be 

the back of the book, which would still have lowered printing costs while at the same 
time ensuring the availability of the images in the future. 

phy in their research output, and also to anyone who uses any form of computer ge-

library.

B. S. Muller