Book Description

This photographer's guide to creating successful model portfolios encourages a dynamic, diversified artistic approach and shares essential knowledge about the modeling industry, portfolio basics, and agency requirements. Photographers learn how to work with models for the best possible results, create and refine a standout portfolio, and sell that product to agents in the United States, England, and Asia. Three actual portfolios are included to help photographers conceptualize, sculpt, and refine their own portfolios to maximize their client's reach in the industry. Photographers learn why particular images were chosen for opening and closing shots, how to arrange the interior images, and what constitutes an appealing design. Featuring information on working with women, men, and children, this book will help new and experienced models and photographers alike in getting the results they desire. ... Read more

Book Description

Flexible toes, high arches, full thighs and the seamless sheer pantyhose that adorn them; the girls in Dave Naz's world have legs that just won't quit. Unlike other compilations devoted to praising a particular body part, this collection showcases the entire woman, inviting us to see the whole person and not just the fetish object. Each model displays her own personality, her pleasure in being seen, the eternal dance between exhibitionist and voyeur, and Dave has done all the footwork. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (6)

Worthwhile
This book really helped me figure out how to use this camera. If I hadn't bought this book it would have been a much greater challenge.

Very Helpful
I recently sold my Rebel 2000 camera and bought the Digital Rebel. Since the Magic Lantern for the 2000 was so helpful, I ordered this book and I am glad I did! This book was even better than the book on my old camera. It helped me figure out things about using a digital camera that I just didn't understand at all, like resolution, file types, what is best for what use, etc. The camera's instruction book did not explain these things in ways that I could get a grasp of and this book did a great job. I would highly recommend this to anyone from both the perspective of understanding the digital side to learning all about camera controls. It is well worth the money because it will add to your enjoyment of the camera

Great Guide for a Digital Rebel Owner
I just bought my first digital SLR, the Digital Rebel, and I am an enthusiastic amateur. I found this book seemed to be written for me, the photographer, and not the long-time digital pro. It gave me far more than the manual did, with a lot of really helpful photography tips beyond the camera basics. The author seems to really know the camera as he does more than simply report on the features but also comments on them to make them easier for people like me to use them.

Info the Manual Does Not Have
I don't understand why people can be so arrogant about books they don't like. I thought this was a tremendous help for me. It illustrates so much that the manual covers in such a basic way. There is stuff in here that evidently Canon doesn't even know because it is not in the manual, such as how to make the review image stay on screen regardless of the time set for review. This book saved me a lot of time in getting to know this camera and is well worth its low price. Plus it gives a lot of great how-to advice that I can't imagine any manual including.

Magic Lantern Guide: Canon EOS Digital Rebel
Don't buy this book. It has absolutely nothing to offer unless you don't have the manuals that came with the camera. There is nothing interactive and no hands-on lessons to help you to better understand the camera. Stick with what you already have and practice rather than buy this worthless book. ... Read more

Book Description

The Camera, together with The Negative and The Print, comprise The Ansel Adams Photography Series, a legendary triad of books about photographic technique that has become the most influential "how-to" series on photography ever written. The first edition of this series was completed in the 1950s. Adams completely revised and updated it just a few years before his death, making it his last word on the technical mastery of his medium. Three generations of photographers have learned how to approach the artistic possibilities of their art form through this seminal series. Now available in paperback, it remains as vital today as when it was first published.

The Camera covers 35 mm, medium format, and large-format view cameras and offers detailed advice on camera components such as lenses, shutters, and light meters. Adams' concepts of "visualization" and "image management" are the philosophical cornerstones of the book. Extensively illustrated with photographs by Adams as well as instructive line drawings, this classic manual belongs on every serious photographer's bookshelf. ... Read more

Reviews (15)

Wanna learn to take pictures, start here.
Einstein wrote a book for lay people to explain the theory of relativity. I've read it twice, and I stilldon't know what Albert's talking about. Ansel Adams wrotethree books on photography, The Camera, The Negative, and The Print, for lay people to explain how to takegood photographs. I've read 'em all, and at least I know what Ansel's talking about, even if I can't take photographs like his yet (gimme fifty years of practice). Whether you like Adams' style or not, in technique, he is to photography what Einstein is to physics: a single authoritative master who's work can be relied upon.Of the three books, _The Negative_ is the most important;but if you are just getting started, the Camera iswhere to begin.

A brilliant introduction to the camera
Ansel Adams is indeed one of the most highly regarded photographers ever, and in this first of three instructional books, he reveals much of the foundational wisdom that he gathered over a lifetime taking pictures. The focus of this book is the camera and deals with all types and formats of film cameras and techniques for using them to take wonderful photos.

This book is one of the most common and cherished textbooks used in beginning photography but is indispensable for any interested in better understanding camera arts.

Truly a masterpiece
Just like his photos, this book is a classic. It explains the fundamentals quite clearly, with intuitive diagram and real pictures. Its coverage on view camera is extremely valuable. Although not many people use view camera these days, that chapter is an eye-openner for appreciating some of the best pictures ever taken by Ansel and other classic photographers. Its coverage on the basic principles are very thourough too. A must read for every serious photographer.

Classic
A must have for all those wanting to expand their understanding of cameras in the process of making beautiful fine prints

Great series
This whole series (The Camera, The Negative, & The Print) are highly recommended for anyone seriously interested in learning more about photography and improving their skills. If you're not interested in that, then the books are probably still worth adding to your collection just to see all of Adams's stunning images. ... Read more

Book Description

The human physique has always been a central theme of the fine arts. Every body possesses its own singular beauty, and a photographer must recognize this unique style in order to express it. The simple bending of a knee or the tilt of a chin brings out new forms and character traits. Arising from the interaction between artful technique as well as a trusting relationship between photographer and model are veritable masterpieces of nude photography. Top contemporary photographers from Europe and America present their excellent art: from elegant to boldly erotic to provocative. ... Read more

Reviews (18)

From amateur to Ansel Adams in a weekend
Quick! What f-stop should you use when you've got 400 film, 1/250 sec. shutter speed and it's a cloudy day? Stumped? Maybe you don't know the difference between an f-stop and a stop sign? Or maybe you just got a new camera and can't figure out why there are so many knobs and buttons. If any of the above apply to you, then this book must be in your collection. Horenstein's book is helpful for the beginning photographer or for those who want to experiment with black and white photography, a lost art making a comeback. It teaches you about photographic composition, film speed, aperture settings, and shutter speeds. You'll even learn how to develop your own film, if you're so inclined. Even if you just want great pictures that will last a lifetime (did you know that color photos are more likely to fade over time than black and white?), you'll enjoy experimenting with the techniques offered in this helpful manual.

An Excellent Introduction to Black and White Techniques
Even though the photography world seems to be going completely digital, film will probably not die out any time too soon, and the last to die will more than likely be black and white film. There will still be hard core enthusiasts who will enjoy the medium of black and white film and know that nothing compares with the excitement of developing one's own photographs. For those who wish to learn this art form, Henry Horenstein's BLACK AND WHITE PHOTOGRAPHY; A BASIC MANUAL is an excellent resource. This book is sued by many instructors as a textbook. It contains excellent information about the basics of photography including camera, lens, shutter and exposure and the developing process. Throughout the book there are many compositional techniques as well as the use of filters to enhance photographs. Though this is a manual for black and white photographers, those interested in color photography will find the boo helpful since understanding eth techniques involved in black and white photography help detect important nuances in color photography that can truly enhance a photograph.

Perfect Starting Point
If you are new to black and white film photography and you intend to work in the darkroom, there is no better place to start than with this book. It has for a long time been the definitive college level introductory text, and for good reason.

Photography 101 in Book Form
Photography 101 for me was an actual class which I took in 1983. This book is a must-have in my opinion, because it really is Photography 101 in book form, lab not included. The book contains excellent quality black & white drawings and photographs, and the style of writing is in straightforward, plain English. For me it's as useful now as it was then. I'll never get rid of this book.

Vastly underrated, excellent book
A few years ago I did a 1:1 study with a retired fashion photographer who recommended this book. Even though I have been working in b/w for over 30 years I find the book useful. Nice to have all the basic info in one place and this book does that!! As to a lack of "artistic suggestions" in the book...well I have a huge library of texts that were purchased to help me learn the "art" of photogaphy. My retired friend taught me a valuable lesson, learn the technical from a book then shoot, shoot, shoot!! That's about the only way you will learn the "art" of it. I've been asked to teach an intro to b/w photography this summer and this will be the textbook for it. ... Read more

Book Description

This book teaches the beginning 35mm/Digital photographer (9th grade level) the simple and practical methods of correctly exposing a subject. It covers in detail the applications of a camera's meter, an off-camera spotmeter, an off-camera incident meter, and easy-to-remember techniques for exposing sunlit to moonlit subjects without a meter. The book uses Farzad's simplified 5-stop technique using 100 ISO color slide film as its base, but the same techniques can be applied to digital, black and white, as well as color negative photography. Since all the thinking is done before the photographer takes the picture, the book is ideal for the new millennium's photographers using one-hour processing labs or Photo Editing software such as Photoshop on their Computers. The highest level of math required from the reader, to follow the technique, is to be able to multiply and divide a number by two. This book is also the world’s first Zone System book that addresses the application of the Zone System of exposure with manual digital cameras. This 3rd edition (November 2003) also includes manual exposure/spotmetering cheat sheets for the following cameras: Canon EOS 3, Canon EOS 10D (D-Slr), Canon EOS A2 / A2e, Canon EOS Elan 7 E, Canon EOS Rebel 2000, Canon EOS Rebel Ti (300V), Canon PowerShot G3 (Digital), Canon PowerShot G5 (Digital), Minolta Maxxum 5, Minolta Maxxum 7, Minolta Maxxum 9, Minolta Maxxum STsi, Nikon CoolPix 990 (Digital), Nikon CoolPix 995 (Digital), Nikon CoolPix 4500 (Digital), Nikon CoolPix 5000 (Digital), Nikon CoolPix 5700 (Digital), Nikon F4, Nikon F5, Nikon F100, Nikon N55, Nikon N60, Nikon N65, Nikon N70, Nikon N75, Nikon N80, Nikon N90/N90S, Nikon N6006, Nikon N8008s, Pentax 645N (Medium Format), Pentax ist (*ist), Pentax MZ-S, Pentax PZ1p, Pentax ZX-5N, and Sony DSC-F717 (Digital). ... Read more

Reviews (21)

Hats Off to the Author
As someone who has taught the zone system at the college level for many years, I find this book to be both helpful to any photographer - and faithful to the fundmentals of the zone system. Clear graphics and text combine to take much of the mystery out of exposure control. No camera, no matter how expensive, can guarantee the right exposure - that's always a creative decision. This book will help you understand that process. The "cheat sheets" at the end of the book can help anyone to take creative control back from the high tech camera and put it in their hands and heart - where it belongs.

An SLR Beginner's Book
I bought myself my first SLR just recently. I have never heard about the zone system before but had the opportunity to use manual SLRs (Canon AE1 Program) several years back so I had some idea about the features available to an SLR; but it was just "point and shoot and hope the picture turns out well" kind of stuff.

Anyway, the book is quite simple to understand. It really gave me a good idea on how the camera metering works and how to go about using the SLR in manual mode. I now enjoy using the manual mode of my camera instead of the auto features. However, the discussion sometimes becomes too simple (specially the analogies) that I get lost at times. Better stick to the actual context on the camera subject than the analogies. The illustration pages could've been printed in color for the readers to appreciate how the author exposed the pictures.

Finally, on my last few notes, the index section is a bit messed up. The last topic on the last page was not completed. But it's not that significant and I belive you would not lose that much info.

Perfect for digital photography!
This guy isn't just trying to sell books or prove how talented he is. You can tell that the author is a teacher and has lots of experience helping people learn about exposure.

If you're a somewhat experienced photographer, you might find your eyes crossing for the first couple of chapters because of how boring and repetitious they are. The author doesn't want to leave anyone behind, so it's kind of a slow paced book. However, if you can make it through those chapters and read the whole book you will find yourself completely understanding photographic exposure. I've been taking pictures for years with some nice cameras and this is the first time I've ever felt comfortable and confident about the pictures I was taking.

Another thing that's awesome about this book is that it is perfect for digital camera users. Let me say this:

I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK IF YOU USE A DIGITAL CAMERA. OTHER BOOKS LIKE "THE NEGATIVE" WHILE INFORMATIVE WILL JUST LEAVE YOU CONFUSED WHEN IT COMES TO SHOOTING DIGITAL.

As far as I know this is the only book on photographic exposure that's very well suited for digital photography.

Another thing that I really like about this book is that the author is a teacher and has a lot of experience teaching the subject matter to his students. He probably knows from teaching what people find confusing and how to best explain it to them. You'll be reading along and something may seem a little confusing. Well, before you have a chance to rack your brain about it, the author addresses it and puts it into laymen's terms. Sometimes he explains the same concept two or three different ways.

One last comment on the book. I also appreciated the fact that he threw in lots of extra stuff that wasn't really necessary like different ways to figure out exposure under different circumstances without an exposure meter or a spot meter. He covers lighting, moonlight, and even fireworks. He even helped me understand why the Ansel Adams approach to the Zone System didn't really work with my digital camera. I've used my camera like ten times as much since reading this book.

I noticed a couple of poor reviews right before I started writing this one. It seems that some people find it to be a little too simple. Remember, this is not an advanced book. The words "simplified" and "confused" in the title might have tipped you off! If you already understand the zone system, how to use your cameras spot meter, and how to use a light meter to get good exposures, then this book is definitely not for you. However, if you're afraid to put your camera on manual mode and aren't quite sure how to get a good exposure with your camera, then this is the book for you.

Simple Concepts For Simple People
the book obviously seeks to ensure that it doesn't confuse. To do so it assumes it is addressing 10 year olds. Whilst this means it eventually gets its concepts across, it could of saved my time. Other books on exposure get the same ideas across, but in a more expedient manner (at least for adults).

In the end the Zone system and exposure is a matter of judgement (as to the level of contrast, where the tone of the main subject lies etc) and no amount of simplification can get passed that.

If you haven't been able to understand exposure concepts...
then this is the book for you. Most people will find the book quite repetitious and rather basic in parts, but if you read it cover to cover, you will understand how to correctly expose an image, no matter how much difficulty you may have had in the past grasping the concepts of exposure.

One key thing to note -- the book is written for photographers who shoot slide film. The author has added a few "digital footnotes," but it is still a book about correctly exposing slide film. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (7)

Superb
It is incumbent upon the reader of this book to have read Dante's DIVINE COMEDY at least once. If there is no familiarity with that masterpiece before-hand, little will be gained by browsing thru these wonderful pages.

For those who are intimate with Dante, this present book is a can't miss. As an illustrated guide thru hell, purgatory and heaven, the plates will recall to the mind of the reader the sundry circles, punishments, torments and rewards depicted in the poem.

For all who love the COMEDY, this is your chance to allow Dore to help you visualize your journey thru the cosmic afterlife with the likes of our friends, Dante the Pilgrim and Virgil the poet. As an added bonus, there are tercets depicting the scenes drawn by Dore on every page.

After getting this edition, I'm now interested in getting his illustrations of Milton's PARADISE LOST as well. For those who browse thru these pages, I would HIGHLY recommend listening to Loreena McKennitt's song DANTE's PRAYER while you do so. It is off of her album THE BOOK OF SECRETS (ASIN: B000002NHN), also available @ Amazon.com.

Gustave Dore's superb engravings for Dante's classic work
I have a horrible confession to make: I much prefer to look at Gustave Dore's fantastic and grotesque scenes depicting Dante's "Divine Comedy" with just appropriate lines from the Longfellow translation then have to deal with all those tercets. Even worse, I think these 135 illustrations from the 1861 edition comprise Dore's best body of work, even better than his famous Bible illustrations completed five years later, mainly because I think Dore's style is better suited to the depths of Hell and the realms of Purgatory, rather than the stories of the Bible. Clearly Dore found his kindred soul mate in Dante and even though he did classic engravings to illustrate everything from "Don Quixote" to "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner," this is his monumental achievement. Many admirers like the plates depicting the souls writhing in the fiery torments of Hell, but my favorite has to do with the lower level of hell where Dante and Virgil encounter the souls frozen in ice (Canto XXXII). This Dover edition is relatively inexpensive, which means the paper quality is geared towards economy rather than reproduction, but I think that it a satisfactory tradeoff, all things considered.

wow!
Excellent artwork that comes to life very well. I really felt Dante in Dore's works.

Great illustrations!
If you are interested in Dore's work or Dante's Divine Comedy, get this! A great supplement to the book.

The Truth
And they talk about heaven on earth.

This is The Inferno Baby. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Very nice illustrations
This book shows the way the lighting is set up on a 3d format, and also shows the end result. I was happy with this book and plan to use the lighting for more than just nudes.

Fantastic Book
This is an excellent buy. In addition to the gorgeous pictures by well-known and highly talented artists, the diagrams and equiptment information really allows you to crawl inside the artists' head. Check out Carson Zullinger's work on pp. 36 and 104. He captures glorious color and weightlessness in a way I haven't seen before. Very original and amazingly talented.

informative and beautiful
This book shows some of the best photographers and how they go about creating their images. A must read for professionals and amateurs. If you have ever thought of trying this genre, this is a must have publication. ... Read more

Book Description

Your personal photographs have a worth that can’t be measured in dollars and cents. They’re likely the one thing you would grab on the way out of a burning house – an irreplaceable record of the life you lead, of friends and family, and of the occasions with which you mark passing years.

The funny thing is, most people aren’t entirely happy with their photographs. And that's where Photography For Dummies comes in. You don't need a fancy camera with multiple, removable lenses to get good pictures. The problem is, nearly every book on photography assumes that you're using one. But this book assumes that you're using a point-and-shoot camera for all your pictures. In fact, this may be the most complete guide available for taking pictures with a modern point-and-shoot camera.

This revised edition of Photography For Dummies helps you choose film (much simpler than you’d think), load film into the camera (no big sweat), and understand how to hold the camera (yes, there are right and wrong ways). You'll also discover tips about dealing with your photofinisher – a far more important factor in getting good results than most people realize, especially in the digital age. What's more, you'll gain insight into

• Working with your camera, and how different settings make your camera do different things
• Understanding the importance of light in a photograph, and applying design strategies that make your subjects stand out
• Getting shots that both flatter people and capture their personalities
• Shooting landscapes, and the special considerations of travel photography
• Taking pictures filmlessly, and the pleasures and pitfalls of digital photography
• Troubleshooting your camera, and discovering what do try if it won't shoot

Today’s point-and-shoot cameras are remarkably reliable devices. So why aren’t your pictures better? The main secret to better photographs is knowing what to shoot, when to shoot it, and how to shoot it. You need Photography For Dummies, because it lets you in on this secret. ... Read more

Reviews (24)

Let me share a story.
May 25th. 1998 I walk into a local photography store and start chatting with the manager about cameras, having no clue about them. 25 minutes later I find I am the newest employee of the Nations largest photo retail chains (later to become thier digital imaging expert).

So what did I do? The only thing a rational person would do, buy a "how-to-book". Now I've had some experience with "For Dummies" books, and for some of them, I found them very insulting, however, for a total newbie to the photography field this was my saviour.

I read the book from cover to back. It taught me in laymens terms, how to use a point and shoot camera to shoot like the pros. Explained photographic techniques, tips and tricks, even down to how to choose a good mini-lab to process your pictues.

Well, within a month I was spouting the glories of this book to my co-workers and friends, as well as my customers, many of whom later thanked me for recomending this book. My sales were through the roof and customers would love to come in to get ME, ME, the novice, to critique thier photos based on the concepts I learned from this book.

I must say Russell did a bang up job, and is probablly in large part responsible for the success of my career with that chain, not to mention my current pasion for photography.

The text is easy to understand, well indexed, acts as a tremendous reference to readers who wish to come back to it, and the examples are visually stunning. The only issue I had with the book is that they pushed Kodak products, these being the ties of corporate sponsorship I suppose.

The one thing Russell did leave out was information on how to select a film and paper combination. He did cover how to select the proper film speed, but any photographer worth thier salt will tell you that shooting on Kodak film and printing on Fuji paper vs printing on Kodak paper will give you diffrent results. Other then that, very comprehensive, very smart, and very easy to use.

I love how the book destroys the myths and fears of the novice user and takes the power from the pro and puts it into the average users hands. No longer do you feel incapable of producing awe inspiring works, and feel guilty for trying to learn. I like how Russell pushes the learning aspect of photography, encourageing users to burn through a few rolls to learn thier camera, to learn how light works, learn how colours and flash and focus become tools to enhance as opposed to destroy photographic art. It's a very inspiring and empowering book, very well done.

As for the information on how to choose the right paper/film combination, I'd be more then willing to assist anyone that e-mailed me. Other than that I would stake my reputation as a "photography expert" and photographer on the quality and invaluable advice contained within this book,

Good job Russell!

Lucid, practical advice seamlessly combined with aesthetics.
If you want a really first-rate Christmas gift for your favorite camera buff, I'd highly recommend Russell Hart's Photography For Dummies. Hart's lucid, jargon-free explanations of both the basics and refinements of taking good photographs and the new technologies are seamlessly combined with discussions of the aesthetics of the art. Don't be put off by the title. Read the two pages of commentary by the experts just inside the noisy Dummies cover. This book is affordable too. Everyone with a camera should read and have this work as a reference.

A word from the author about the Second Edition...
I'm chiming in just to say that this is an all-new edition of Photography For Dummies, fully updated with the latest details on digital point-and-shoot photography. But as with the first edition, I've made it my business to simplify the often intimidating processes involved in taking and printing pictures without film. That said, the book contains all you need to know to shoot with film, as the majority of amateur photographers still do. I've tried to weave together the digital and "analog" approaches so that whichever type of camera you're using, Photography For Dummies can serve as a complete guide to easy picture-taking. The book also contains an entirely new section of color illustrations, many if not most of them shot with digital cameras. But its basic premise is that whether you're shooting digitally or with film, many of the same simple tips and techniques can dramatically improve your photography. Thanks!

Moms, dads, kids and grads - this one's for you!
Hey, you don't have to be a dummy to get a lot out of this easy-to-read and fun book! It's written for all those who want to turn their snapshots into great shots. My wife and ...son found some great tips! And, I was reminded of some of the basic stuff I had forgotten. If you want to have more fun with your camera, I recommend this book.

Bad book. Too long and too few pictures.
Forget it folks... keep looking for another book.

While this book is written for the novice/amateur photographer, there are MUCH better ones. In a nutshell, this book is filled with VERY logn chapters that never seem to end, not enough photos (there are about 8 pages in the center of the book that have some color pics - but that is it!!), and some explanations that are too confusing.

Two books that Amazon carries that I recommend highly are: 1) 101 Essential Tips : Photography (a great little compendium of helpful facts and tips) and 2) KOdak: How to Take Good Pictures (a superb book!).

Again, skip this one. (I bought it and shortly thereafter returned it to Amazon.) ... Read more

Amazon.com

America 24/7 reunites the team that started the popular A Day in the Life series of photography books, Rick Smolan and David Elliot Cohen. Those books sought to profile a single day in a country or city through pictures. Here, the concept is similar but far more epic in scope: photojournalistic, people-driven snapshots of young and old at work and play throughout the entire United States over a given time period (in this case, one week). Another twist this time is that more than 25,000 amateur and professional photographers snapped all of the pictures with digital cameras. From the million-plus photos submitted, 25,000 were chosen for a total of 53 volumes, one on America, one for each state, and one each for D.C. and New York City. The result is an amazing array of subjects, but all shot with a consistency of tone. Composition, lighting, and camera effects aren't as important as the content. the gener! al sentiment one gets from the images: Muslim high school girls jumping rope in traditional headcovers, Roller Bladers on the Brooklyn Bridge, electrical lineman students learning to climb telephone poles, Eve Fletcher, a 76-year-old California surfer, or Tonto, the "seeing-eye" miniature horse. There are babies, children, rites of passage, monuments, forests, circus performers, movie stars, and cattlemen. The images might be a tad sentimental, but not overly so. In addition, readers can order a custom book jacket at www.america24-7.com/customcover, using their own digital photo as the cover. --Eric Reyes ... Read more

Reviews (36)

wonderful book and custom cover!
The book has beautiful photographs and wonderful captions full of miniature stories. I ordered a cover, and when I had trouble with uploading (I'm not very computer literate) their customer service team got back to me in a day and they helped me through it -- even resizing my picture for me. My custom cover order came in three weeks. I have to say it was really worth the effort seeing the final cover in my hands. I'm surprised they don't charge us more for the whole thing. I've ordered many more as gifts. Their new site is easier to use and I was even able to track my order using the USPS tracking number they gave me. I would expect any company trying out a whole new idea to take a few months to get such a large operation together, but now its June and the site seems so be working great! I would give it another chance if you had problems in the past. I'm a satisfied customer and I hope they get more positive reviews because I know they're really trying their best.

Love It
I am shocked about the prior review in regard to not recommending this book or custom cover. We bought one for ourselves and two for gifts. The books arrived right at two weeks and I had to contact (by e-mail) the company and they promptly responded. The cover of our chidren turned out fabulous and the pictures in the book are fantastic. Everyone one that has seen our book is in awe. I highly recommend this book.

Best Photography book ever! Love the Custom Cover!
I LOVED THIS BOOK! It was the perfect one of a kind gift for my dad, who has everything. The book itself was a perfect visualization of America and the Custom Cover was a wonderful bonus offer. Where else can you get the chance to put your own image on a New York Times best seller?! I've read some reviews complaining about Custom Covers and I have to say that in my case and with most of my friends who have ordered, everything went smoothly -- their site was easy to use, customer service was prompt and helpful, shipment was on time and the cover print was excellent. I'd give them another try...I know I'll be ordering more Custom Covers.

DO NOT BUY THIS BOOK IF YOU WANT A CUSTOM COVER!!!
I purchased this book in January with the intention of getting a custom cover for my husband made while he was in Iraq. He wasn't coming home until April so I figured I had plenty of time. I went to their website and it said check back in a week they were updating their website. After two weeks (the "check back" message was still there) I tried to email the company and received no response but an auto-reply. Their message changed two days later to "check back again in another week they were still updating." This happened FIVE times. Then they finally said keep to checking back they didn't have a date when they would have it together. After two more months (it is now May) their website has now vanished!!!!!!!!!!! Again, don't purchase this book if your intention is a custom cover. I wouldn't really recommend spending $50.00 on this book without it either. It is just okay.

Missing Cover Follow-Up
In my previous review I received 1 of 4 covers, looking for contact info. I did receive the additional 3 a week later- how about a note or sticker "1 of 2" when shipping? For anyone else that has a problem; DK publisher 800.788.6262 live voice, no wait, extremely polite and helpful. America 24-7 Custom Cover 415.331.6300 ext. 7#, voice mail box with a greeting that states "we will not return your call". America 24-7 email customcover@america24-7.com did respond to my request in 3 days with something like "gee-wiz I really didn't know we could only ship 3 covers at a time so the last one is on the way" whatever.. The book is great, custom cover is a great idea and personalizes the book. I really think the publisher should have asked if these folks can actually deliver on what they advertise. BTW I just found this book at the store and thought it was nice- never watched Oprah in my life. Also, I would have paid more $$ for the custom cover if they could deliver without a glitch. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Great - Fantastic HOW TO Book
The title of this book is somewhat misleading... but only in a minor way. EVERY photo in this book is about people... not the more generic "Studio and Commercial" photography... I'd have paid good money to see a couple still lifes of an apple and an orange by the time I reached the end. In fairness, Jack "What's his name" has obviously fantastic work (Like he needs MY endorsement), and all that he has to offer are words of wisdom... I just wish it was as easy in reality as he makes it look in literature!!!

Reznicki walks you through all of the steps of creating an image, from receiving the phone call on Friday afternoon, to getting your crew lined up, building the sets, models, and client management!! Great info if you want to make a buck with your images! Good diagrams on how he gets his images too!!

Studio & Commercial Photography
A top notch resource for the working pro and amateurs alike. I picked up some tips that have made my job so much easier. The book is very relaxed and open in its presentation with a no nonsense delivery of information.

Become Inspired In Just 176 Pages
As a writer (newspapers, corporate publications, magazines), I'm very critical of writing technique. There's not much to criticize here, though, because Jack writes like he probably talks: conversationally, but clearly. That's a big deal because usually photographers can get by with writing cutline info...few are trained in written storytelling. A voracious reader could whiz through the book in an evening, but believe me, you'll reread it again and again.

As a photographer who's just opened a portrait studio, the book has helped me in many ways. For instance, Jack tells readers how to coax reactions from those hardest of subjects -- children. That's going to be very helpful in my studio. Additionally, he offers much technical advice that every shooter is bound to find useful. Finally, he covers the business aspect of photography that gets glossed over in other books. Jack's advice in this area is real world...he's worked for large clients most of us have heard of, so I'm willing to trust his words implicitly.

In short, a fine book that's bound to be helpful, too. What more do you want?

Time well spent with great Pro
This book is like spending time in Jack's Studio when he's very busy solving problems and creating great images. The only difference is that in the book, he has time to talk with you and tell you why and how of everything he does. I got lots of solid information from this book. I applied some great stuff that I learned the first week I read it. Jack's an easy guy to learn from. (His writing is easy and not like many photographers who are good with images but poor with words.) For anybody thinking of starting or improving their commercial studio business, this book is one of the best! ... Read more

Book Description

Turn your enthusiasm into striking photographs! From composing the shot to applying special techniques and developing the film, this information-packed manual covers everything readers need to become successful black-and-white and/or color photographers. Ideal for first-year students, as well as anyone who wishes to explore the ins and outs of contemporary photography processes and state-of-the-art techniques, Photography: The Concise Guide is a fast-paced, all-around introduction to the technical aspects of making photographs. Lavishly illustrated, this full-color manual outlines essential information on film exposure and development, printing black-and-white photographs, plus methods for troubleshooting contrast, printing, sharpness, and other common problems. Clear, easy-to-follow instructions to help aspiring photographers see and compose better shots, and make creative use of light meters, shutter speeds, filters, and other special darkroom and digital photography processes. Assistance in choosing a camera, lenses, and accessories is also offered. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Perfect Balance
Easy to understand. Thorough. Artistic examples drawn from the canon of great photographers both historic and contemporary. Short enough to be affordable for beginning students; deep enough for advanced students. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Great reference book!
Why reinvent the wheel when Schaub and Sklute have set the groundwork for you? Reviewed are what brides want to see in purchasing their wedding shots. Handy reference tool to freshen up on what works and what doesn't.

PROFESSIONAL TECHNIQUES FOR THE WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER
This is a horrible book. The writing is bad and the photography is even worse.
It is not even worth the shipping charge.

Gives basic techniques and focuses on business
The title of the book is a bit misleading. I thought it would be entirely technique, poses and lighting. It's more of a "how to get started in a wedding photography business." But to its credit, the wedding photographer isn't trying to make a career giving pictures away for nothing, but that's where many make mistakes right off the bat.

The book delves into facets that others don't. It has a sample contract which is very thorough. The verbage in the book about clients is very strong, almost bullyish. I wouldn't simply make a copy and show it to a client. The section that gives a list of expected photographs is very useful. Many of the poses and techniques kindle imagination and are very helpful as a quick refresher course.

The book seems geared toward an experienced photographer interested in handling weddings. The equipment checklist in the back of the book sounds more like an everything plus the kitchen sink list, and many beginning photographers will not have anywhere near that much equipment.

All in all, I'd recommend this book in a heartbeat. Its drawbacks are insignificant in comparison to the benefits.

Very helpful for the beginning wedding photographer!
I am about to photograph my first wedding and this book has helped me prepare for it. The book goes through the basics of setting up your business (booking, pricing, etc.) and then takes a detailed look at what is expected of today's wedding photographer. There are lots of interesting photos in the book and most of them have an explanation on how you can create the same look. There are also checklists of photos you should always take and equipment that you will want to take to the wedding. Overall, I found this book very helpful in starting my photography business and would recommend it to any beginning wedding photographer. ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description

For more than 100 years the name National Geographic has been synonymous with excellence in photography. Some of the finest photographers in the world have traveled the globe capturing memorable images for the pages of the Society's magazines and publications. Now you can learn how National Geographic photographers make those outstanding pictures in this remarkable guidebook.

National Geographic Contributing Photographer Robert Caputo shares his secrets to making great travel photographs in this engaging and informative guide.

• Hoe to capture a sense of place

• Tips for getting the most out of short or long trips

• What equipment to use to get best results

• How to turn your snapshots into professional-looking travel photographs

• Photography Web sites

Amazon.com

For those who've enjoyed the original, the good news is that the newedition of The Story of Painting has grown by more than 300 pages ofphotographs--magnified close-ups of details from nearly half the 450 paintingsin the book. Fauvist paint strokes become mighty slabs; sparkling light on aDutch still life is revealed as a series of tiny dots; the cheeks of a young manin an Italian Renaissance portrait betray a touch of five o'clock shadow. Thiskind of close looking is seductive, and it's an important part of Sister Wendy'sdirect, unpretentious approach to art.

As a history of painting, Sister Wendy's book has its strong points (works withreligious or spiritual themes and those that lend themselves to psychologicalinterpretation) as well as its lapses (a very skimpy discussion of Cubism andinadequate treatment of works from the late 20th century). Even the title is abit of a misnomer. The painting in question is purely Western; there is nothinghere about Indian or Persian miniatures, or the great tradition of Chineselandscapes.

But what Sister Wendy alone offers are vivid, personal interpretations that comefrom a deep well of emotional sympathy with works of art. Who else would noticethe way the bagpiper in The Wedding Feast by Pieter Breughel "stares atthe porridge with the longing of the truly hungry"? Who else would point out howVenus--the "older woman" pleading with "virile" Adonis not to go off to war inTitian's "Venus and Adonis"--shows us "her superb back and buttocks, beguilinglyrounded, full of promise." Rather than portraying Western art as the dutifulproduction of "masterpieces," she revels in the physicality of paint and thevariety of human experience these works represent. --Cathy Curtis ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Wonderful!
This book has brought life to painting and the history of art for my 10 year old daughter. She has looked at other art books before, but has never paid too much attention to the explanations written in the text. This book has held her attention, it is different from others because Sister Wendy gives such vivid descriptions of the artists and especially of their paintings. I am thoroughly enjoying reading this book with my daughter. There are some nude pictures in it, as another reviewer mentioned; nevertheless, they are in good taste and beautiful. Sister Wendy gets 5 stars from our family!

This book is a must for all interested in european painting.
I first read this book when I was enrolled in an art history class in college. The text book we had for the class was informative, but many of the works we studied in detail were not pictured in the text. Sister Wendy covered each of those major works with great care. Her photos and close-ups were, almost work for work, the exact paintings and close-ups we had discussed in the class. I ended up reading more from Sister Wendy than from the text, because she gave wonderful synopses of key points, and included more photos. I would highly recommend this book for anyone who is curious about painting. It will improve your future museum visits just by flipping through the pages

Should be Story of Jesus Painting
More than two thirds of the book is dedicated to paintings related with Christianity. And the real arts are either completely ignored or dealt carelessly. For example, The whole Van Gogh's paintings are described in mere four pages, while each of so may Christian related paintings by some obscure painters, is shown using four split pages. If your religion is Christianity and your objective is to investigate Christian paintings, this book should be fine. But for the rest of us who are not Christians, this book is not worth reading or looking at. There are so many other good art books out there without religious bias. This book is not about painting as described. It is about the Christianity religion disguised with "Painting".

Nun of that, now...
How bizarre...

...and yet, how wonderful. Who would have ever thought that a nun going through the museum would have (a) been interesting, (b) been publishable, (c) been television-worthy, or (d) been within the realm of credible imaginings? And yet, here is the proof, on my coffee table. Sister Wendy's smiling face, next to a scowling Vincent, greets me each day with my morning cocoa.

This is a book to be savoured. It cannot, like the morning cocoa, be rushed and enjoyed. This must take time. Not because the text is dense or confusing--indeed, it is not. It is lively, witty, historical, accessible, all that one could want in a book on art.

But, mostly, it is exquisitely visual in layout. Everything is photographed and reproduced in stunning colour and low-gloss format to make the pages vibrant and durable yet easily seen. Care has gone into the production of this volume. None of the art is reduced to black and white, but rather presented in glorious colour. With over 800 images in under 400 pages, this is a feast for the eyes. Each page is dominated by art, not text. That makes for slow moving, like reading a museum..

Sister Wendy Beckett takes us on an historical tour of painting (in the European theatre of history), beginning with prehistoric cave-art and drawings, leading up to modern and post-modern artists.

She takes representative pieces, such as the Bosch painting of Death and the Miser to illustrate points of colour, detail, composition, and story. Some paintings have complex stories (such as this one), others have simple composition (such as the 'innocently disadvantaged' Mona Lisa) which give endless speculation as to the meaning.

Sister Wendy explores each era of artistic history, listed below in broad categories (there are several subcategories of each), giving history and philosophy as well as major and representative minor works, explaining in detail at least one or two works for each, concentrating on painting, but also bringing in as relevant sculpture, stained glass, architecture, and other artistic media.

+ Art of the Ancient World
+ Gothic Painting
+ Italian Renaissance
+ Northern Renaissance
+ Baroque and Rococo
+ Neoclassicism and Romanticism
+ The Age of Impressionism
+ Post-Impressionism
+ The Twentieth Century

Sister Wendy does an admirable job at not concentrating exclusively on religious and Christian art (for being a nun), however, given the history of art in Europe, this is a major theme in its own right.

The Epilogue, says Sister Wendy, 'is both an afterword and a foreword: hundreds and thousands of artists come after the disappearance of the 'story line' into the maze of contemporary artistic experience and these same artists may of course, be the forerunners of a new story.' In concluding her volume, she highlights the paintings of Robert Natkin, Joan Mitchell and Albert Herbert, the art of each she hopes will endure.

Sister Wendy's signature style + Lush artwork = Great Book
The expanded version of "The Story of Painting" features an exponentially larger selection of artwork and commentary from Sister Wendy; both being a plus that benefits the reader.

This is not a dry, scholarly work, and I suspect the author would not desire it to be viewed that way anyway. What "The Story of Painting" brings to the reader is a very approachable style of writing and some of the most lush artwork you will see in any book on this subject. I was particularly surprised to see many works that I had never seen in any other book of this kind. Some were a revelation (like Tintorretto's "The Last Supper"), while others allowed - via the detailed closeups featured in the book - a closer inspection of brushstrokes and technique not normally covered in other historical painting overviews.

"The Story of Painting" begins with short section covering works before the medieval era, mostly Greek, Roman, and Etruscan, then kicks into high gear before ending with the 20th Century. This concluding section is one of the weaker parts of the book, but I think it can be argued that the latter half of that time period has not produced many of the glorious works featured in other parts of the book. Too much time deconstructing art and not enough making soul-stirring paintings, I suppose.

As with any Sister Wendy art book, you get the sage, grandmotherly insights into the works from a woman who deeply enjoys art. Other books impart a barrier between the works, the critical evaluation of them by the author, and the reader. Sister Wendy smashes that piece of artifice and seeks to draw people into the works themselves, not to critique them and simply move on to the next, but to give life to each work. She does this admirably, in my opinion. From time to time she does take more time to dissect a piece and look at it elements apart from the work as a whole, and in each evaluation she lends her knowledge of iconography and symbolism to help the reader fully understand the painter's intent. Very helpful. When compared with other art books, it becomes even more rare as it also might be one of the few books of its kind that would work well as a primer for parents sitting down with children to examine the works together.

Lastly, the book itself is classic Dorling Kindersley: bright, white, glossy paper; easy to read, well-spaced typesetting; beautiful and large illustrations; helpful sidebars; and just an overall feel of quality. It's quite hard to find fault with the book. And as an expanded version of the original, it works faultlessly. This hefty tome practically defines the phrase "coffee table book". At 736 pages in length, its sheer heft would make it a fine weapon against your least favorite sneering, art critic!

Highly recommended. ... Read more

Book Description

Portrait and wedding photographers will find scores of proven-effective strategies for starting a new studio or improving an existing one in this thoroughly updated edition of an industry classic! Filled with real-life insights only a professional studio photographer would know, The Business of Studio Photography provides practical advice and surefire strategies for every aspect of operating a photography studio: from choosing a location, financing, and equipping the business to pricing jobs, negotiating with photo labs, and selling to the public. There are scores of no-nonsense guidelines for devising short- and long-term business plans, handling paperwork effectively, conducting public relations and self-promotion programs, and more. This updated and expanded edition includes an all-new section on the use of digital photography by the studio photographer, as well as completely updated lists of websites, equipment, books, and other photography resources. The book also features dozens of sample equipment checklists and forms, all ready to copy and use immediately. This is the definitive one-stop reference of professional tips and techniques for every studio photographer! ... Read more

Reviews (6)

must have book
If you are just getting started in a photography business, you have to have this book! It is step by step on starting up,getting going, then running your buisness. This man Knows what he is doing and he tells you like it is. I use it every day, my business will be open soon and i give this book a lot of credit! I highly recomend it.

Read, and then re-read this book periodically!
This is a MUST READ for anyone thinking about entering the studio photography business. But it's much more than that... you can re-read this book (or at least select chapters) and keep learning more. There are so many tips, ideas, strategies, and just plain solid advice, that one reading cannot absorb it all. Even after years in the business, I make a point of browsing this book every 4-5 months.

An excellent blend of business savvy and specifics tuned
Any interested in studio photography as a business will find Edward Lilley's Business Of Studio Photography to be an important guide to building a studio photography venture from the ground up. From choosing a location and equipping it to pricing work and catering to the wedding, portrait or commercial markets, Business Of Studio Photography provides an excellent blend of business savvy and specifics tuned to the studio photography world.

The Best I Have Seen So Far....
This is the best book on how to run the "business" aspect of a photography studio that I have seen. It's obvious that the author is very experienced in the profession and the book is loaded with tips and personal experiences that will save you time, stress, and money. I thought I could just open up a photography business and be successful, but after reading this book I found out that there was a lot I didn't know. I'm still going to pursue a career in photography, only now I'll be much smarter about it. READ THIS BOOK if you are thinking about making a living in photography!

Very Informative Book!
This book is full of helpful info. Covers all aspects of starting a photography business. It was my #1 guide in getting my photography studio up-and-running. I'm afraid it is becoming alittle dated, however. That is my only reason for giving it 4 stars instad of 5. I would be wonderful if Lilley would write an updated - into-the-21st Century-Version!! ... Read more

Book Description

The Film Developing Cookbook is an up-to-date manual for modern film development techniques.While the original Darkroom Cookbook focused entirely on photographic chemicals and formulae, this book concentrates on films, their characteristics, and the developers each requires for maximum control of the resulting image.

The Film Developing Cookbook specifically addresses the difficult subject of T-grain film development. It includes rarely found information on film development and the nature of film developers. The authors take bold and controversial stances on many widely accepted film developing dogmas. They tackle many of the widely accepted "myths" of film development. They reject the trend toward `scientific evaluation' of films and developers in favor of the photographer developing a personal aesthetic without relying exclusively on densitometry or H&D curves.

Steve Anchell is a contributing editor to Outdoor Photographer and PhotoWork magazines.He has written columns, feature articles, and interviews for Camera & Darkroom, View Camera, PIC, Shutterbug, Photo Shopper, and PhotoPro magazines.His previous two books with Focal Press, The Darkroom Cookbook and The Variable Contrast Printing Manual are photography best-sellers.

Steve's photographs have been exhibited in galleries and are shown in private collections.He photographs and prints both color and black-and-white with 35mm, 2¬ and large-format ccameras.He has conducted over 80 photographic and darkroom workshops since 1979.Steve is currently the program director for the Photographer's Formulary Workshops in Condon, Montana.In early 1998, the first collection of his personal work, entitled The Nude at Big Sur, will be published by Whitefish Editions.

Bill Troop is a highly respected independent photochemist.

ú Contains the most current material available on film developing

ú Filled with relevant, hard to find information

ú A companionvolume to the bestselling The Darkroom Cookbook ...