Book Description

Where will you go when the trouble starts? For countless people around the world, the answer is that bomb shelter down in the basement. In fact, people from around the work have been building shelters to protect themselves from catastrophe -- natural disaster, war, nuclear events -- for centuries. Waiting for the End of the World is photographer Richard Ross's journey into this quirky, somewhat paranoid, and occasionally beautiful underground world. Ross has documented not only the bomb shelters of the United States, but also examples from Vietnam, Russia, England, Turkey, and even Switzerland, where citizens are required by law to have a bomb shelter.Ross's subjects include the Greenbrier Hotel in West Virginia, where a shelter was built to house the entire U.S. Congress, shelters in Beijing, where the Chinese built a complete city underground, and Hittite shelters in Eastern Turkey built some 4,000 years ago. His ethereal images show spaces that at once provide only the barest necessities for survival but maintain a level of idiosyncratic personality that testify to the endurance -- and wackiness -- of the human spirit.Waiting for the End of the World features an interview by author and social commentator Sarah Vowell. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A quiet little gem
I had the pleasure of discovering Richard Ross' latest photographic endeavor at Book Expo last week in Chicago, where it was prominently displayed in the Princeton Architectural Press' booth. The photographs are splendid; quirky, heartfelt, enigmatic, a combo Ross effortlessly seems to get into a lot of his work.

How Ross also got into all these places is another amazing component of this project: he has to be one of the most intrepid, hard-working photo-artists presently at work.

The book is at once a thoughtful reminder of a former era of nuclear peril, and yet the images have a contemporary resonance, faced as we are (once again) with the threat of a world gone nuclear. Congratulations to the author on this tour-de-force effort. ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description

The American diner was traditionally a miniature restaurant, originally a mobile one, providing solid, inexpensive food for the working man at virtually all hours of the day and night. From its humble origins in 1872, the diner reached its peak in the 1920s and 1930s and was particularly popular during the sad years of the Depression. In recent years, modest diners have been dying out, victims of the pervasive fast-food chains. Gerd Kittel, the distinguished German photographer, has scoured the American city and countryside for outstanding relics, and shows us not only a selection of architectural surprises and delights but also the interiors of these nostalgic eateries and the individuals who have become their faithful denizens. For this updated edition, Kittel returns to America and the diner, adding a selection of new photos to the collection. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A Different Perspective
I've owned Mr. Kittel's book for quite some time. I bought it not for the subject matter, but for his photography. As an amateur for 30 years I know how hard it is to produce some of the photography shown in this book.

I notice the prior reviewer criticizes the book for not providing more history, etc. on diners. If the book were misleading in its description or presentation I would agree. However, it makes no such pretenses. This is a photographic book, plain and simple. Actually, those interested in diner history should look into the work of Richard Gutman on diners, which is comprehensive and an excellent companion to this volume.

It has been with this book that I've felt more closeness to the atmosphere of diners, because his photos provide not only a sense of spontaneity in the people, but also his use of lighting. I particularly enjoy those photos where he has made no correction for fluoroscent lighting with his daylight film. This lends a greenish cast to those photos, again enhancing the feel of spontaneity.

As stated above, this is an excellent photographic study of the American diner phenomenon. Those looking for historical narrative can find that easily elsewhere.

a decent book about diners
the photos in this book were very good, although i would have preferred a bit more history. i recommend it though, to someone who is casually interested in diners and the people who love them. ... Read more

Book Description

For centuries, foreign visitors have been drawn to Italy--the Roman ruins of the capital, the hill towns of Tuscany and Umbria, the scenic villages of Lake Como, the canals and palazzi of Venice. The overwhelming charm of Italy’s enchanting combination of history, art, landscape still bewitches travelers. And today, as Las Vegas reinvents itself yet again as an urban theme park dedicated to the pursuit of adult fun and pleasure, the inspiration for some of its most elegant casino resorts comes directly from the great cultural monuments of the Italian past.

In Las Vegas and the Virtual Grand Tour, Giovanna Franci compares three Las Vegas Italian-themed resorts--Caesars Palace, Bellagio, and The Venetian--to their Italian counterparts: the ancient Forum of the Caesars, the breathtaking Lake Como resort town of Bellagio, and eternal Venice, jewel of the Adriatic. Franci not only examines architectural format and decorative details but considers how the mystique of these Italian sites has been transplanted to the Nevada desert. In the process, she addresses the compelling phenomena of modern mass tourism and postmodern travelers to whom the distinction between the "real" and the "fake" is often far less important than the appeal of a destination that allows a visitor to make a "virtual Grand Tour" within the confines of a single city.

Franci’s perceptive commentary offers unique insight into the trends and intentions behind recent development in Las Vegas. She shows how the builders of these three casinos use architectural language to unite the themes and functions of American consumer culture with the romantic mythology of some of the world’s most fantastic oases of pleasure. In this context, Las Vegas emerges as far more than a popular tourist icon. It is rather the first urban spectacle of the postmodern world, a chameleon-like city continuously reinventing itself to offer visitors an unflagging array of experiences, sensations, and hedonistic delights. Federico Zignani’s dazzling photographs bring to life the physical details and idyllic ambiance of both the lavish Las Vegas resorts and their Italian inspirations. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Simply superb
The craftsmanship of the photography is a true complement to Wright's vision. Simply - just a superb volume. ... Read more

Book Description

Signs and Relics is an exploration of the world from a photographer’s point of view--in this case, noted Village Voice photographer Sylvia Plachy. Her engaging images--some light and humorous, some somber--show particular people and places at precise moments of synchronicity. Plachy draws telling metaphors from the photographs, which are grouped in 19 thematic sections. "Sit," for example, shows images ranging from a wood chair in a Parisian window to a woman perched in a tree to Barbie atop a pair of high-heeled legs.

Fragments of dreams and memories coexist with images from the streets of the world and photographs of people, from Plachy’s family to viewers at an art exhibition. The text suggests the ties that draw the views together and simultaneously offers insights into the photographer’s personal philosophy. The various sections form a mosaic in which the pieces refer to each other and to the notion that the present is rooted in the past and that any view of the world--photographic or theoretical--is part of an unseen ensemble. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Good title
Photography books are expensive enough as it is, and the hardback makes 'Signs & Relics' an over-priced waste of money. It is grossly misleading for amazon, as well as the official Wenders website, to advertise this book as a Plachy and Wenders production. Wenders' only contribution is the foreword which consists about 200 words, a foreword in which he even admits that he only bought the book because he liked the title.

The Poetry of Photography
A friend sent me this book as soon as it was published, so impressed was she by the honesty of its photographic vocabulary. She was right. I am now buying more copies as gifts to spread the word. As a writer and photographer interested in the philosophy of photography, I have been aware of Planchy's work for some time but nothing of hers I had seen before quite prepared me for this. There is really nothing to compare it with. It is what everyone interested in photography needs to know. Gone is any traditional hankering after "good" photography. I have often thought that photography has more in common with theatre than painting and Planchy shows it. In place of the artistic image is a celebration of people and things. She loves her subjects and she loves photography and this comes through in every image. She teaches us, in a joyous voice tinged with sadness and relieved by humour, that there are different ways of perceiving things. After this, a road will never seem the same again, nor something as simple as a chair. In sharing her vision Planchy takes us unwittingly back to the ancients and their first tentative attempts to answer questions about being and knowing. Photography has a pertinent role here which Planchy's work illustrates and, in doing so, provides proof that photography - drawing or dancing with light? - indeed has a place in the fast-forward future. ... Read more

Book Description

This vibrantly designed volume celebrates every facet of the skyscraper as an architectural icon.

Few buildings rivet our attention like skyscrapers. As the race to build higher and higher continues, these symbols of success and economic power dominate and reshape urban skylines across the globe. Opening with Chicago’s Reliance Building, built in 1894, and closing with plans for the Freedom Tower, which will be built on the site of the World Trade Center, eye-catching two to four page spreads in this up-to-date and comprehensive volume capture fifty of the world’s most important skyscrapers. Each building is breathtakingly photographed, and an accompanying text offers intriguing historical details, notes on construction, and engineering feats. Tracing the evolution of these magnificent structures, Skyscrapers illustrates their significance not only in architectural history, but also as a reflection of humankind’s most competitive and optimistic urges. ... Read more

Book Description

There is no place in America like New Orleans's famed French Quarter.

With photographs and history, The French Quarter of New Orleans explores the unique evolution of this district. The author and photographer team to reveal how war, fire, floods, politics, cultural conflict, and architectural innovation shaped the Quarter.

In West Freeman's 160 color photographs the present-day romance of the Vieux Carré is here to savor. But The French Quarter of New Orleans moves beyond the Old World façades and into the heart and history of the many peoples---Spanish, French, Creole, Native American, African American, and Italians---who have lived here.

From humble, wooden French cottages to stately, brick Spanish Colonial mansions, from Madame John's Legacy to the St. Louis Cathedral, the Quarter's architecture enthralls, and Jim Fraiser's text creates an anecdotal walking tour of memorable and storied sites.

Studying buildings, Fraiser points out the struggle between native Creoles and newcomers in the replacement of Creole townhouses and cottages with "shotgun houses" and American Greek Revival homes. Freeman's photographs and Fraiser's text detail the historical significance and architectural styles of over one hundred structures.

The history of the Quarter teems with vagabonds and saints, warriors and playwrights, musicians, and politicians. Fraiser animates the fascinating story with such evocative figures as the pirate Jean Lafitte, the conquering general Andrew Jackson, and the voodoo queen Marie Laveau. Riverboat gamblers, ladies of the night, duelists, opera aficionados, plague victims, jazz musicians, charlatans, and Mardi Gras revelers populate the streets and edifices Fraiser describes.

For those who have visited the Quarter, this book will be a treasured memento of the district's unparalleled romance and flavor. ... Read more

Book Description

California's 21 missions are moving historical reminders of the first non-Native American forays onto the American Pacific Coast. From 1769 to 1823, Jesuit and Franciscan missionaries founded missions from San Diego to Sonoma, all of which can still be visited today. From the story of Father Junipero Serra's tortuous journey to establish the first mission in San Diego to the well-known legend of the swallows of San Juan Capistrano, here are the unique histories of the jewels of El Camino Real. This beautiful photographic celebration of Spain's religious contribution to the Golden State features both historic and modern photographs with interior and exterior images of the gardens, grounds, and various mission complex buildings. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Beautiful to look at!
This is such a beautiful book and as I am especially taken with Doors, I knew it was and is a must have. I highly recommend it for its sheer beauty.

The Mystery of Closed Doors
This is one of my favorite books to look through when I'm in a contemplative mood. No, it may not be an inspiration for those looking to redecorate. However, for those of us who are fascinated with the possibilities of the unknown, this book offers an amazing collection of photographs of interesting and unusual doors, leading one in a mental journey, weaving your own fantasy of what the doors teach us about those on the other side. I was intrigued by this book from my first viewing, and I continue to find new possibilities each time I revisit. It is a great book to stimulate the imagination.

Colorful Doors
What you see on the cover is basically what you get throughout the book. Colorful, rustic, old doors. Seems like most of the doors are of certain taste or region. Mostly southwestern or old latin american villages. Personally I was looking for a book to give me ideas for interesting, welcoming doors and entryways for more traditional homes in the northeast. This book is not for me.

Fab photography
Great colorful pictures, but wish there was a little more information with them. ... Read more

Book Description

This magnificent, lavishly illustrated book presents each of Ohio's 88 existing courthouses through a sumptuous layout of color and black-and-white images. In addition, Susan Thrane provides a brief history of each county with relevant details about the design of the courthouse and highlights of the events which occurred there. Along with discussion of the earliest buliding, the book presents the existing buildings in chronological order from oldest (Highland County, 1832) to youngest (Franklin County, 1969). A book to be treasured by all Ohioans. ... Read more

Book Description

As early as the fourteenth century, stories glorifying the exotic palaces of Indian rulers began to circulate in the West, stories which closer acquaintance only confirmed. Even today, they are magical places--small towns rather than single buildings, in which the Hindu and Muslim rulers of the subcontinent dispensed their laws and enjoyed their wealth. The beauty and atmosphere of these palaces are displayed here in Antonio Martinelli's exceptional color photographs. George Michell, a recognized authority on Indian architecture and art, tells the story of the palaces. He evokes life within the complexes and describes their many elements: defenses, spacious audience halls and courtyards, temples and mosques, private apartments and service quarters. These fascinating edifices are receiving increasing numbers of visitors each year, yet there has been no in-depth survey of them since 1925. Here is a superb record of the palaces, living witnesses to a regal aspiration to recreate heaven on earth. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

An authoritative survey
Written by a recognized authority on Indian architecture and art, this book emphasizes architecture of Indian palaces and citadels. But what are palaces and its architecture without some interesting history. The description and historical background accompanying the fine-detail-high-gloss mostly-color pictures breathes life into the palaces and stokes the imagination of the reader. This book is an authoritative survey of surviving proofs of lavishness enjoyed by erstwhile Indian royalty. Highly recommended for tourists with enthusiasm for architecture as well as professional architects (This review has been taken from Recipedelights.com).

Fabulous!
A very informative, thick and large book. Has TONS of info for anyone that is interested in architecture, history, or in India in particular. Also includes many of the floor plans and multiple photos of some of the same Palaces. If you are intersted in this subject, well worth your while.
Enjoy

For the student of Indian architecture, history or royalty..
For the student of Indian architecture, history or royalty, "The Royal Palaces of India" will be a treasure. With more than 250 illustrations (206 are in color), this book brings one's imagination alive and lets your mind wander through the gates of these gorgeous palaces and forts.

Authors Michell and Martinelli explain in a somewhat academic way how kings, both Hindu and Muslim, held their courts.

The power, perks and privileges that accompanied the royalty are dimly reflected in the opulent architecture that shaped both the places and the royal life. It is hard to imagine, even with the excellent help this book provides, what the glory and splendor of these kingdoms must have been like.

The monarchs were "not merely enhanced by divinities, they were ritually empowered by gods and goddesses" and these palaces reflect, as do the cathedrals of Europe, a journey past the mundane existence of morality. Many who have visited India have seen the celebrated Taj Mahal, but it is a tomb to the wife of the great mongol ruler Shah Jahan. Now, if this is was his wife's tomb, what do you think his palace looked like? This is an engaging and enlightening book. Recommended.

THE BEST BOOK ON INDIAN ROYALTY
This is certainly the best book ever written on the subject of the royal palaces and lifestyles as practiced in India. It explains clearly the divine power of the monarch, defence, reception, worship etc. The effort made by this author is about the equivalent of what it would have taken to make a motion film on the subject matter. All photographs are large and gives he best finest details on good gloss paper. Apart from the royal buildings and royal practices are the other artifacts that still remain such as royal thrones and weapons. As much as possible, where information is available, the author has includedd illustrations of floor plans with measurement dimensions. This is a great book for artists, cultural lovers, architects and everyone else who want to probe the life of the Maha-rajas (great kings).

A Sumptuous Feast
A gorgeous collection of pictures of castles, palaces and fortresses from all over India. What I liked best about this book is the vast range, geographically and also in period and religious styles. Most people who still have only the vision of Mother Theresa's India, will be amazed at the beautiful sights. For a country that is so full of historical splendor, much of which (beyond the Taj Mahal) is so rarely heard of, this is great tourism handbook. Even the written descriptions and historical backgrounds that accompany the chapters are interesting. Though, perhaps because of the humongous scope, there are some, in my opinion, over generalizations and clumping together of kings and what they did. However, I don't suppose anything else would be possible if the authors were to keep the book light enough to be picked up. All in all. A great book! ... Read more

Book Description

Imagine yourself cruising over to Zsa Zsa's to borrow a cup of gems or dropping by Steve McQueen's for a dip in the pool--or maybe you fancy a sauna with Charlton Heston? In 1969, Life photographer Eliot Elisofon gained an insider's access to the dream homes and private lives of Hollywood's most intriguing legends, from Mary Pickford to Natalie Wood, George Cukor to Tony Curtis. Some of his photographs were published in 1969 in his book Hollywood Style--they have since become the ultimate map of stars' homes, one that takes an intimate tour through private Hollywood in its glory days. As Hollywood Life reveals, the styles of a stars' homes are as diverse as the personalities who dwell in them. Whether Mediterranean, Tudor, or designed by such uber-chic Hollywood decorators as Billy Haines and Tony Duquette, together these houses create the hodgepodge that is Hollywood style.

A fascinating compendium of bad taste with charm all it's own. If you look at the pictures in Architectural Digest, or magazines of that kind, they look like homes where nobody lives. (Elisofon) had a way of capturing the personality of a person without them being in the room. It was like nothing I've ever seen.Arthur Knight

Conversations with John Chase and Brooke Hayward.~Foreword by Gavin Lambert.

Clothbound, 9 x 12 in./192 pgs / 79 color and 29 duotones. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

WOW!
What a beautiful book! I am not big on the "celebrities as gods" mentality - however the sad truth is, they got the cash in this very mixed-up society - so they get the glam homes! This book is magnificant! The photos are beautiful and I would LOVE to sit down with the folks that wrote/commented in this book over a cup of coffee. The stories would be priceless! If you couldn't be there then...be there now! Through this treasure! :-)
I am open for invitations to tea! ... Read more

Book Description

The lush, seductive, Old World elegance of New Orleans is gloriously revealed in this photographic tribute to the "Venice of North America." Richard Sexton's photographs capture balcony-lined streets, French-style parks, Caribbean-inspired gardens, and ornate public buildings, and take us inside some of the city's most intriguing private homes. This new edition marks the tenth anniversary with a new cover and binding, and a fully revised afterword. "Rarely," wrote The New Orleans Times-Picayune, "has the city been loved both so wisely and so well." A tribute to a lifestyle of insouciance and exuberance, touched by both spirituality and worldliness, New Orleans: Elegance and Decadence illuminates both the public face and the private soul of a perennially fascinating city. More than 200 full-color photographs and an insightful text capture the stories and characters of yore. ... Read more

Reviews (19)

Hidden Treasures
Having just come back from my first trip to New Orleans, I promised myself to get a copy of this book! Not only has this book inspired to go back to New Orleans, but it's given the insight into the exotic and untamed world that still exists in New Orleans. It's a must book for people who enjoy great photographs and in-depth writing on the Cresent City.

An Elegant New Orleans Edition...just as the title suggests!
I first came across this book in the french market area near the river while I was visiting New Orleans for the second time. Slightly overpriced for the tourists, I decided to wait until I arrived home to find it cheaper at a local bookstore. It's a beautiful hardbound book with a cloth-covered spine that now sits in an easel at the top of my bookshelf. I have enjoyed it tremendously. Tons of history, and even more fabulous pictures. For any lover of "the big easy." Treat yourself to this book, and don't forget to take a look at part 1, Vestiges of Grandeur. The two make excellent coffee table books for anyone, and all of your guests will certainly spend hours thumbing through them.

More for those who want a great historical perspective
I have been to New Orleans millions of times and this is the best all around book. The author has really, really researched and pulled up ALL kinds of interesting tidbits.
I think that Compass guides in general are the extra travel books one buys. I wanted more than Fodor's has because I already know all the best places to go. I think that she had good choices and you could use it as your only travel guide.
I think some readers were disappointed because maybe they were taken back by the exorbitant prices hotels charge. Hotel-wise , you don't get much for your money unless you go in summer or during Christmas.

Lush and Inspiring
One of my all-time favorite books. The stuff of dreams and nightmares too.

This is an utterly luscious picture book. Chock full of photos of real interiors. Real homes of artists and the creative. Homes of people who love peeling wallpaper and cracked plaster; and especially those who love living in the midst of art works, or deeply personal collections.

The homes of people who love the humid haze, moist earth-scented New Orleans.

Southern style at it's best
This book has great interior pictures of some glorious New Orleans homes. Unfortunately when I've been there, I didn't have the opportunity to go inside to see the many interior styles. This book gives me the opportunity to see the beauty inside, that I've only been able to view from outside. Great book for those of us who love and appreciate the city! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A very telling and honest account of the deep south.
The photographer does an excellent job of using his subject to tell his thoughts. By keeping some photographs on a long exposure, he also shows the fleeting nature of these somewhat depressed settings. Also a strong use of color to illustrate the cultural setting and importance despite the deprived economic environment. Of high importance for anyone interested in the deep south and the heritage of the mississippi delta. ... Read more

Book Description

Mary Colter may well be the best-known unknown architect in the world: her buildings at the Grand Canyon National Park-which include Lookout Tower, Hopi House, Bright Angel Lodge, and many others-are admired by almost five million visitors a year.

This extraordinary book about an extraordinary woman weaves together three stories-the remarkable career of a woman in a man's profession during the late 19th century; the creation of a building and interior style drawn from regional history and landscape; and the exploitation, largely at the hands of the railroads, of the American Southwest for leisure travel. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Detailed, sympathetic book!
Mary Colter was a woman ahead of her time --- an architect and interior designer when few women attempted it. She interwove rustic techniques, local materials and American Indian themes into buildings and designs well before that was accepted by others in her professions. Her rustic buildings at Grand Canyon National Park still survive to the delight of many visitors. Colter was at times a prefectionist, hard to get along with, a workaholic and extremely demanding of herself and her co-workers. Yet the author shows us her life and work with sympathy as well as depth. This book is well illustrated with color and black and white photos. Well researched. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It answered all my questions! ... Read more

Book Description

Using a digital camera and digital imaging technology, photographer Nick Wood has developed a new way to photograph landscapes and cityscapes, placing the viewer in the center of dramatic 360 panoramas. Exploring New York and London with this equipment, he documents his favorite places. The resulting books are perfect souvenirs of great cities and intriguing photographic adventures.

Each book visits famous landmarks as well as hip and popular spots off the beaten path in spectacular 360º photographs. Numerous visual details give a sense of closer involvement with a scene. The long, landscape format is suited to the style of the photographic images, and each volume has one amazing gatefold. Included with each book is a Mac- and PC-compatible CD-ROM with QuickTime movies of all the sites.

360º London similarly offers a combination of the familiar and the offbeat, from Buckingham Palace to Madame Tussaud's, and including the Tate Modern, Carnaby Street, Greenwich Observatory, Tower Bridge, a Rolls-Royce showroom, Portobello Market, and other memorable locations. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Breathtaking
As an anglophile and collector of British coffee table books, I'd like to say that this book is just terrific. The format is unusual with the short spine and wide pages and shows off the 360 degree photos to good advantage. While not all the photos are of the 360 degree variety, all of them are at the very least interesting and at best absolutely breathtaking. All the historical sites are accounted for as well as some more obscure places like Brixton Market and the Horniman Museum. If you like unusual color photos of this historically fascinating and architecturally beautiful city, this book is for you. It is atypical and wondrous to look upon.

From a London lover
From the little bakery of Brick Lane, to St James's Park, this is a very good present to make to people who know and love London. The shots are pretty original and the fact that the photographer actually lives in London gives it more of a personnal touch.

Also check the one about New York. ... Read more