The Canon PowerShot G12 jumps into that middle area between compacts and DSLRs. Shoot everything in fully automatic mode if you want, and when you're ready to move up to more complexity, advanced features are all there. I've put together a short Q&A to help you get a better understanding of just what you can expect from this book.
Composition
Photography Guide Book: Wildlife Photography: On Safari with your DSLR: Equipment, Techniques, Workflow
Many successful wildlife photographers have said similar things in the past, and it is only really the location that varies. Wildlife photography reminds me of an old paradox from my religious instruction classes in school:
"Praying while you are working is OK, but working while you are praying is forbidden."
This paradox perfectly embodies the dilemma faced by every wildlife photographer: You can't observe wildlife carefully and photograph the animals you observe successfully, but you can combine successful wildlife photography with the scientific observation of animals. Focused, precise observation is, in fact, an absolute must if you want to photograph wild animals.