Book: Bugs Up Close

No macro enthusiast is unfamiliar with John Hallmén. If you aren’t, let’s fix that right away.

We should really provide a list. I recommend following them all. When we say macro photographers worldwide, many names come to mind: John Hallmén, Thomas Shahan, Cristian Arghius, André De Kesel, Nikola Rahmé, Jesper Lassen, Siegfried Tremel, Maxwel Rocha, and so on. Since these folks usually add and follow one another, once you start with one it’s not hard to reach the rest. If you search these names on Flickr, you’ll find stunning photos that will broaden your horizons.

But among them John Hallmén holds a special place for me. Whether from his own blog or his Flickr profile, with his generous and instructive style he has contributed a great deal to a wide audience. In fact, he’s the person I’ve learned the most from. Likewise, he’s the kind of person who makes you think, “If Hallmen is starting a blog to talk about macro, then I should, too.”

His blog is http://makrofokus.se/blogg/. Although it’s in Swedish, Google Translate converts it into any language beautifully. You can follow along that way.

His Flickr profile is https://www.flickr.com/photos/johnhallmen/ There you’ll also find instructive notes beneath each photo. For your information.

When I first saw his book Kryp, published in Swedish in his home country, I wished it were in English. And the moment I heard that the book had finally been released in English under the title Bugs Up Close, I placed an order. That way I’d have the chance to enjoy those gorgeous photos together in print. Let me note in advance: perhaps all of the photos in the book are also published on Flickr, so you can already see them on your computer. But the book also includes nice touches such as species information written by biologist Lars-Åke Janzon and the insect’s scaled real size.

It’s a large, hardbound book measuring 24.8 × 28.6 cm and weighing 1.5 kg. The photos are printed as large as can be, and the print quality is quite good. You have no trouble seeing the details. When the name Hallmen comes up, there’s certainly no shortage of detail. One truly feels inspired.

As for the cost, compared with others I managed to get the book for a somewhat steep €35. €12 of that went to postage. Normally the shipping isn’t this high.

The photos showing the book aren’t as good as it deserves. This was the best I could do this time. And kids love the book, too. My daughter, a Hallmen fan like me, opened the package before I did and grabbed the book. She immediately started studying it and making drawings. If you buy it, you won’t regret it—recommended.

Defne loved the book at least as much as I did :)