Best Features:
This is a very Interesting and colourful book with more than 160 colour photographs of dogs including some doing agility. It describes ways of taking different types of photographic shots and explaining the reasons for them.

There is also a brief explanation on the different types of cameras and their suitability. The author offers advice on types of lenses and depths of field for different types of photo shoots, He also advises on techniques on photographing black or white dogs. 

In addition there is also a reasonable amount of information on using digitalised photographs including editing, enhancing and manipulating the photos for different effects on computers.

The author has obviously tried very hard to put all the information in an easy to understand format for beginners and novice photographers who would like to improve their techniques on creating more interesting and getting better photographic presentation results.

Could be better:: 
As someone who has been doing photography for many years as a hobby, I did not learn a lot of new things from the book, but Nick  does explain a few things that I thought that would help me improve my technique.

Presentation, design & format:
I thought the book was well laid out with many pictures showing the results of different types of shoot. (Hardback, 156 pages)

Overall Rating:
I try to decline from rating the book as people who are already doing a lot of photography might not give it a very high rating and absolute beginners would probably give it a rating of 10/10. My overall opinion, however, is that it certainly is an interesting and informative book which covers a wide range of photographic aspects for the amateur photographer.

Price: £19.95

Value for Money:
It is an excellent and interesting book for hobbyists who really want to learn more techniques to get different results. I think It Is well worth a place in your photographic book library.

How to Photograph Dogs can be ordered from all good book shops.
Just quote the ISBN Number below.

ISBN 1-86108-332-7

About the Author
Nick Ridley's busy working life combines his passion for animals and photography as he works full-time as an inspector for a well-respected national animal welfare charity and, in his spare time, as a professional photographer.

About the reviewer
Alan Score started agility about 11 years ago with his Weimaraner. Then he ran a deaf Weimaraner for a while, followed a WSD  and an Aussie. Like many others, he became addicted to the sport.

Alan really likes the friendly atmosphere of the agility. His latest addition is another Weimaraner called Kaos with whom he hopes enjoys Agility as much as he does.

Another view from Jim Webster...
Have not finished it yet but quality of the piccies and publication are brilliant but the action piccies are terrific, the water shots great, the flying dogs smashing and the index of all the pics at the back of the book is a good idea.

Just a little technical for me as my camera does not have all the fancy things that he has e.g. I only have 2 x zoom and usually have camera on auto mode. There are lots of good tips, but I can't see myself rustling a crisp packet to get dogs attention when they are doing agility.

I have already been looking at the local camera shop for a digital SLR so maybe in the future the book will be of more use to me on the more technical side.

Think I will have to win the premium bonds to achieve a digital SLR though. Looking forward to getting his other book should be in the post tomorrow I hope.

P.S. I bought it from Amazon for under £17.00 including the postage  (24/05/04)