Book Description

The images of early west photographer William Henry Jackson capture a Colorado landscape both pristine and already dramatically affected by the onslaught on western civilization. Standing exactly where Jackson stood, and pointing his own camera in precisely the same direction, John Fielder has rephotographed Jackson's Colorado images to capture the often startling change that has occurred over the last century. The result is both breathtaking and stark, hopeful and disquieting. Jackson's and Fielder's photography is accompanied by thoughtful and provocative essays by respected experts in the environmental field: Roderick Nash, America's foremost wilderness historian and author of Wilderness and the American Mind; Ed Marston, journalist and publisher of High Country News; and Eric Paddock, Curator of Photography at the Colorado Historical Society. John Fielder describes the profound experience of traveling the state and seeing the landscape from Jackson's perspective, and reflects upon changes of the last 130 years.

The contrast between Jackson's and Fielder's photographs not only illuminates Colorado's past but will help us determine the course of land management as we move into the next century. Accompanied by an educational program that includes lectures, a traveling exhibit, newspaper serialization, and television series, this book is aimed at encouraging people to appreciate and reflect on nature, history, and photography as we move into the next century. Colorado: 1870-2000 stands not only as an important document of westward exploration, expansion, and urbanization, but helps define our past and future environmental values. ... Read more

Reviews (23)

A Tale of Two Books
John Fielder is one of America's greatest living photographers, and he brings his love of the Colorado wilderness to this book. His re-shoots of Jacksons 19th century photographs are both beautiful and thought-provoking.... the photographs make it worthwhile.

On the other hand, the text is a different story. Reading a text-only version of this book, one might conclude that the title is a misprint, and that the book should really be called "Colorado 1970 - 2000." Fielder roamed across Colorado capturing the changes in places like Kremmling, Denver, and Ouray, but the text never tells us anything about these places, or why they changed, or why we should care. Instead we get chapters about oil shale and the Forest Service.

Ahem. If I wanted to read about the relationship between Forest Service bureaucrats and small Western towns, I would have bought a book called "The Relationship Between the Forest Service and Small Western Towns." My book is called "Colorado 1870 - 2000." That is what I want to read about.

It's true that oil shale schemes, government agencies, and others have played a role in shaping Colorado in the past 30 years. But before that there were events like the Silver Crash of 1893, the City Beautiful movement, the Depression, World War II, and Urban Renewal. You won't read about those in this book.

The pictures are beautiful, and the text is well-written (if misplaced and unwanted). Just don't expect to learn much about the places you are looking at- except that they are very pretty.

This is a wonderful book
John Fielder has recreated photographs of Colorado that were taken 100 years ago by William Henry Jackson. It's fun to see the changes that have taken place over time. Some change is good, some bad. Fielder even went to the trouble of making sure that the same or similar items, such as trains, automobiles, even people, were in the images that he captured. It's an expensive book, but it's worth the money in my opinion.

Binding Fell Apart
I noticed the review that said this book was worthy of "permanent display on your coffee table." Well, I don't think that will be possible with my book, as the binding fell apart after 6 months. The book has gotten a fair amount of use, but nothing out of the ordinary. I've since seen a similar problem with a couple of the display copies at bookstores (which is why they've been demoted to display copies). So I don't think this is an isolated problem. It seems like the book is so big that they didn't make a strong enough binding for it. So just a warning for this thinking of buying this book. The good news is that, on the advice of one of the reviews, I bought Colorado: Yesterday & Today to replace my copy of Colorado: 1870-2000. I agree that it is the better book and now it will be on permanent display on my coffe-table.

Worthy of permanent display on a coffee table
This book is excellent in look, feel, and quality. It is intriguing to see how much landscape has changed in 130 years. Many times for the better and many times for the worse. In every case it is very interesting to see two pictures side by side and compare 1870 with 2000. The photographer was very meticulous to capture every shot as closely as possible to the original perspective and frame, which really enhances the "then and now" feel of the book.

Clearing Up the Confusion and Getting the Photo Details
There appears to be some confusion as all of the reviews of the original "Colorado 1870-2000" big book are credited to this, the paperback "Colorado 1870-2000 Revisited: The History Behind the Images". This book is a companion book to the original. It takes each photo set from the big book and goes into detail about the location, changes, and how Fielder acquired each photo. These are the things that, being left out of the original, made several people give the big book negative reviews. While it would have been nice (and certainly less expensive) to have everything in one volume, we now have the information for which those disappointed with the big book were looking. While the big book is a piece of coffee table art, the Revisited book fits neatly on your bookshelf, ready to be taken down to answer those questions posed by your friends perusing the big book. I take a bit of offense at having to have paid for two different books, but they belong together and I feel were money well spent; the big book for the beautiful photos and the revisited book for its entertaining and educational material. ... Read more

Book Description

Several dozen Asian women -- well-educated, independent, liberated, experimentally-minded, and familiar with the stereotype of the submissive Asian female -- volunteered to participate in this highly- stylized fine art.In these photographic images by a non-Asian male, they appear elegantly nude and often intricately bound, often not just participating consensually but actually controlling the scenario, and thus the imagery, while ostensibly surrendering all power to another. These images are* a collaborative form of body art * exemplify the traditional values of classic creative studio photography -- formal exploration, spatial drama, nuanced lighting, concern with chiaroscuro, attention to textural detailThese unusual partnerships succeed, the photos a microcosm in which they move through and past stereotypes into a zone of unexpected freedom and mutual empowerment. With an introduction by A.D. Coleman. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

ARTISTIC, INNOVATIVE & LOVED AROUND THE WORLD
"ASIA BONDAGE" is a highly erotic journey for the senses. When I discovered the photographic qualities of Steven Speliotis I was immediately struck by the excellent way he does the lighting and the rope-work. Not using the traditional Japanese Bondage (Shibari) but it is more a part of his layout, his vision. The ropes make the photocomposition and make the picture/art even more intriguing and fascinating. In this excellent, and I am not exaggerating, book you will find some of the best bondage photography I have seen these last years.

i enjoy Asia Bondage very much
I enjoy looking at the images of Asia Bondage, and I highly recommend people who're interested in bondage art to own this book. If you like the cover of Asia Bondage, you may like to see more images from this book on Speliotis website. You'll be amazed by the stunning images he created.

Hands Down a definate must have!
As usual, Goliath has put out another stunning coffee table book for (not quite) the masses. This one is full of Asian (as the title anounces) Beauties bound in beautiful Shibari rope work. I do not think that there is one bad photo in this book.

A new fashinating world
Steven Speliotis is a master introducing students to a new fashinating world. The white rope he is using is a seductive path drown on the skin of fashinating models. Where the path leads to is up to the reader.

Elegant photography
I loved Steven Speliotis' Asia Bondage. The photography is beautiful, sexy and dramatic. The way he defies stereotypes is playful and exciting. A great photo book. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (23)

Disturbing and Transcendental Art
All of the photographs in this collection were taken with an 8x10 view camera, even those that have the appearance of candid, random snapshots. Many of the images are carefully manipulated in the darkroom to give one of the subjects an eerie, almost angelic luminescence in scenes dominated by hardship, tragedy, and crushing rural poverty. Sally Mann is a major artist, supported by Guggenheim, NEH and NEA grants, and this is some of her very best work. Readers should be warned that some will consider this work to border on child pornography. While this is absolutely not the case (and I vigorously support prosecution of those who exploit children in any fashion), in some localities this could almost be a "dangerous" book to own. Sally Mann's disturbing and transcendent vision will outlast our current hysteria and misunderstanding and will endure as photographic literature.

CHECK OUT these photos! Sally Mann is... um... the Mann.
POSSIBLY MY FAVORITE BOOK! I carry this book with me everywhere I go. I bring it with me on two-day trips. It's ridiculous. Sally Mann is an incredible photographer and in this book, contrary to previous criticism, she photographs her children in DECENT and human, natural poses (nudity reigns, but tastefully so). She is by far my favorite photographer and, as a photo major in college, constantly cures me of those dreaded uninspired days of my life. Every time I flip through this book, I'm crazed with new ideas and inspiration. Not to mention awe.

Rich and honest images
The summers of one's youth in the Blue Ridge are unmistakable. The heat comes up by ten. You head to the ponds and rivers for relief. By the blazing arc of midday you play jacks or Uno under an oak. Evening comes; hotdogs are grilled for miles, and an immense cool falls like a hush between the pines. Mann captures this reverie with utmost grace in her unalloyed images of her children. In Mann we discover a eye keen to the wonderful contrasts of black and white. Some images offer striking, ambiguous detail; others approach portraiture.
If her children's nudity draws criticism from those of a certain political stripe, I can only surmise it comes from that small, unlucky handful of Virginians who did not have the opportunity to march outside on an August dog day with nothing on. Frankly, it's all you want to wear in August whether you are eight or fifty eight.
These images tug strongly at the heartstrings of, not just those of us lucky enough to have spent our youths in rural Virginia, but anyone who has deep set memories of childhood and place. A rich and lasting collection.

Absolutely beautiful.....
I've read some of the other reviews for this book, and most of the negative ones seem to mostly criticize the expressions on the faces of these children, and how they must reflect a miserable childhood. However, I know that when I was a child, I did not go around constantly with a huge grin on my face, even though my childhood was overall pretty happy. I think that if these photos showed these children all at happy moments and always smiling, then they would be boring, and I wouldn't consider them to be art. I think that these gorgeous photos honestly reflect their childhoods, and the ordeals they went through growing up. Just because the child's faces are blank does not mean that they were unwilling participants in these photos. Also, just because they were raised in an environment where nudity was accepted and not an issue isn't a cause for critism here either, in my opinion. Some people are just raised differently and in different environments, and I think it is fascinating to see how open this family was. I don't find it dirty [...] in any way at all. It's just honest, real photography.

Help Needed in making this book
I am so sore that I bought this book. I wonder why it is even printed at all. The photos are unartistic snapshots of a couple of hillbillies families and a few are out of focus and taken with shaky hands. I wish Sally would learn how to shoot.

The subject of most photos are uninteresting. Look toward Jock Sturges or David Hamilton's books instead ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Nice Reproductions
Ansel Adams: Classic Images

This book provides high quality representations of Ansel Adams' photography in examples of 75 of his best images. The text, written by James Alinder along with a preface by John Szarkowski, portrays the story of Adams' life and his philosophy regarding art and existence. The text starts the reader off at his birth and takes you through Adams' childhood and the decisions he makes as he searches for an outlet for his creativity and a strong career path. Having also been a professional pianist, Adams' later discovers his passion for photography and nature, and spends the rest of his life a successful artist and activist.
This book takes you through major events in his life and references prints in the book to give visual examples of his ever-evolving photographic style. I would definitely recommend this book, if not as a successful biography, but as a stage for some beautiful, high quality reproductions of Adams' work.

A fantastic Collection
This collection can be seen at the Center for Creative Photography in Tucson, Arizona, through July 7, 2002. This book is the catalogue of the exibition! If you like the book you should see the originals! They will blow you away.

An exquisite collection!
This is a wonderful book filled with breathtaking photographs taken by the late and well-respected Ansel Adams. Each of the photographs contained is a unique masterpiece with a life of its own. Looking at these splendid photographs, one feels drawn right in to the specific location and year. Some of my favorites include, "The Golden Gate Before the Bridge" (1932), "Barn, Cape Cod, Massachusetts" (ca. 1937), "Clearing Storm, Sonoma County Hills, California" (1951) and "Canyon de Chelly National Monument, Arizona" (1942). This book will definitely hold your attention and keep you captivated if not mesmerized. With so many minute and beautiful details in these photographs, it's easy to see why Ansel Adams was one of the most respected and popular photographers of our time. He didn't just take a picture; he ceased moments in time and captured the beauty of the subjects being photographed. This is an excellent book that will make a fine addition to any library. This book would make a great gift for photographers and art connoisseurs alike!

Great Images Reproduced in Tiny Sizes Spoil The Effects
Ansel Adams was very concerned that his work always be reproduced in a high quality way. I fear that he gave too much attention to fidelity of reproduction, and not enough to size of image in the reproduction. This otherwise valuable book is seriously marred by the designer having chosen page and print sizes much too small for Adams' work. I suggest you avoid this book.

I would like to compliment James Alinder on an outstanding biographical essay concerning Adams' life and photographic techniques. This essay will add useful knowledge to anyone who wants to better understand Adams' work and life, and their effects on us all. I would also like to compliment the selection of the images. These are clearly among Adams' best work.

Adams' technique used the very stark light of dawn and dusk to create vivid detail that echoed across the image from figure to figure. The result was to help the eye capture the connectedness of nature, the oneness of creation. So when the details become too small, it is like rubbing out whole chapters in a book. I was very disappointed in the publishing decision for this book's page size. In fact, only one of my favorite images still held most of its power for me in these large postcard sizes, Moon with Half Dome, Yosemite, 1960.

Without Mr. Alinder's essay, I would have graded this book as a two star effort.

Some of the lesser works which have less fine detail still show well. Here were my favorites of this small-sized collection:

Self-Portrait, Monument Valley, Utah, 1958

Monlith, The Face of Half Dome, Yosemite, 1927

Winnowing Grain, Taos Pueblo, New Mexico, 1928

Rock and Grass, Moraine Lake, Sequoia National Park, 1982

Georgia O'Keefe and Orville Cox, Canyon de Chelly National Monument, 1937

Mormon Temple, Manti, Utah, 1948

Moonrise, Hernandez, New Mexico 1941

White House Ruin, Canyon de Chelly National Monument, 1942

Monument Valley, 1958

Cypress and Fog, Pebble Beach, California, 1967

Sand Dunes, Oceano, California, 1950

If you are like me and love Ansel Adams' work, I suggest you look into Ansel Adams, The American Wilderness, which does feature large enough reproductions.

Sometimes we learn more from mistakes than from successes. Where are your efforts being undertaken on too small a scale to be fully effective? What can you do to change that?

Enjoy the beauty of nature in its full scale brilliance (outdoors and in larger-sized photographic books)!

Ansel Adams: Classic Images
You could not ask for more. His most wonderful collection. A must see for any Ansel Adams fan. You will wish for all to hang in your own home. Only you can share with all your friends and family too. ... Read more

Book Description

The Negative is the second volume in the acclaimed and highly influential The Ansel Adams Photography Series. This second volume is anchored by a detailed discussion of Adams' Zone System and his seminal concept of visualization. It presents detailed discussion of artificial and natural light, film and exposure, and darkroom equipment and techniques. Numerous examples of Adams' work clarify the principles discussed. Handsomely illustrated with photographs by Adams as well as instructive line drawings, this classic manual can dramatically improve your photography. ... Read more

Reviews (22)

Excellent Book for any Serious B&W Photographer
Ansel Adams reviews the characteristics and limitations of the B&W negative. It is very comprehensive and describes both exposure and processing techniques. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is serious about B&W photography.

The complex negative
I was really interested in getting to the bottom of how Adams has developed his Zone system for exposure control. My photography instructor had alluded to it's complexities. The book explains a huge range of technical details and the thinking behind them really clearly.

For those of us shooting in 35mm some of the lessons cannot be put into practice directly because pushing or pulling is limited to whole rolls of film rather than individual frames. However the insights are really valuable.

I recommend it.

Great
After read this book,my B&W photograph expose have imporve dramatically,before that,I just using average meter to optain exposure.good book

Lessons from the Master in Technique
Simply put: The best out there.

Make sure of a few things:
a)you are an advanced amateur
b)you love B&W
and it woundn't hurt if
c)you can do your own B&W work.

Wonderfully written, if you have the talent this book could make the difference

The Negative is all Positive
This is the book I turn to for the heavy duty technical data on the most important aspects of photography, but guess what? This is probably one of the most readable and easy to digest technical books on photography you are ever likely to read or need. Adams has a way of making mysterious worlds within Photography accessable. I will admit though that this book is not for the absolute beginner, though having said that those who want to stretch a little could find much that is of use without having too much knowledge off the mark.

When I looked at the three books of this series, The Camera, The Negative and the Print, I waded into each wanting to choose only the best one from the series. I quickly realised that neither of the other two had what The Negative had and I have subsequently realised that this was by far the best choice for me. The negative deals with Visualization and image values, Light and Film, Exposure, The Zone System, Filters and Pre-Exposure, Natural Light, Artifical Light, Darkroom processes, Dark Room equiptment and procedures and value control in processing.

This book is an absolute must for intermediate photographers who have mastered the basics and want to take a step up into the world of greater control over their imaging with an eye to developing and processing their own film and prints. Everything you need to know about getting your images right before you even hit the shutter is in this book, all you need to do now is accentuate the positive by going and buying The NEGATIVE! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Our contact with great architecture tends to be indirect, through representations. Few of us have seen the Taj Mahal, yet we all know exactly what it looks like. The useful act of photographing buildings can be an art, particularly when the photographer's presence seems to recede, and a great architectural shot suggests that you're seeing things as they are rather than through someone else's prism.

Julius Shulman has documented buildings in that seemingly transparent way for more than six decades. This meticulous and prolific craftsman was in the right place, California, at the right time, the golden age of West Coast modern residential architecture that spanned the 1930s to the 1960s. Richard Neutra helped him get his start, and he recorded early modernists such as Wright, Schindler, Soriano, Harris, Frey, Ain, Stone, Gropius, Kahn, and Neutra, as well as younger ones such as Goff, Lautner, Ellwood, Koenig, Drake, Killingsworth, Eames, Greene, Legoretta, and even early Frank Gehry. His view camera captured the glamour of hillside steel-and-glass houses cantilevered above the city lights, the serenity of desert vacation homes at dusk, and the clean-lined ingenuity of young architects working on modest budgets.

Shulman's text is a knotty quasi biography, but some good stories lurk there. This is a physically impressive book: its 300 large-format pages contain 500 superbly reproduced color and black-and-white photos that are worth more than the proverbial thousand words each. --John Pastier ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Buy this book
If one is ever to purchase a book concerning mid-century modernism, purchase this book. The photography is amazing, and inspiring. The text is informative without being verbose. This is definitely one of the top ten favourites in my collection.
Mr. Shulman is absolutely brilliant.

Shulman - A great Photographer of Architecture
A terrific insight into the professional career of Julius Shulman. His work, his thoughts on Architects and their work and a cross section of some of the most beautifully crafted Photographs of Architecture from his files.

precise and remarkable; shape and form is astounding
an amazing book; the photography is superb in capturing the essence of architecture

Stunning design, beautiful photography, entertaining memoir
An extraordinary and rare book. Master architectural photographer Julius Shulman showcases the stunning modern designs of Neutra, Koenig, Eames, and others with extraordinary talent and craft. The photographs literally glow. Many of them bowl you over with their beauty. Others have the camp value of '50s advertising: housewives in modern kitchens, families lounging at poolside, couples entertaining in open living spaces. Shulman adds considerable depth by recalling his relationships with the architects, his encounters with the homeowners, his notes on making the photographs. If you admire modern design, appreciate fine photography, and like a good story, this is a book you will cherish.

Excellent graphic material and a sensitive life story .
By pure chance my son browsed this book in Madrid and found it extremely interesting, so I decided to buy it through Amazon. To my surprise, I found that somehow it belongs to my own life story, because in 1966, in L.A. I met Julius and organized the trip to Uruguay mentioned in pages 211 th 217. In this highly valuable volume, the roots of the modern California architecture and its subsequent development are brightly displayed and wittingly evoked by a man who saw it happen and really played an important role in the process. Shulman's comments on people and places are acute, humorous and, I must say from my own experience, tell the real thing. About the photography. Every architect has a penchant to it, mainly regarding his works, so I strongly advice my colleages through the world to read this book and think how Shulman does it. This simple exercise will undoubtedly help them a lot. In brief, a book to occupy a privileged place in my library, to consult as a permanent reference whenever a new work is finished and needs to be documented. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Carefully conceived, with respectful, sophisticated essays and excellent color photographs, plus an extensive list of folk-art sites, Self-Made Worlds may prove indispensable to aficionados of outsider art, and will be educational for those who are new to it. The sites--minutely decorated, handmade, often monumental temples, grottoes, castles, and towers--range from the famous, graceful Palais Idéal in France, to a Depression-era shack in Louisiana painted with words. Portable outsider art fetches high prices, but as curator Roger Manley writes, all of these obsessive environments, whether about beauty, rage, or sadness, "stem from a deeply felt need for experience that feels honest, authentic, and highly personal." ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Not thorough, but entertaining
I'm a fan of what the author calls 'self-made worlds' and take pictures of them wherever I find them. This book treats its subjects with respect, but could include more photos of each place, and perhaps a general map to its location. I find myself wanting more from each section. Also, there are some particularly famous spots that are missing from the book, most notably Gilgal Gardens in Salt Lake City. There is a very handy index to self-made worlds in the back.
Maybe a Self-Made Worlds Volume II is in order?

Just getting started!
As a collector that is just getting started in this field, I found this book both highly interesting and amazing. Anyone who is interested in this field will find this book enjoyable. I would have given it five stars, but it is the first one I have read and did not have a reference point.

fourth copy i've bought
I just keep buying this for gifts -- it's a coffee-table book that not only stays on the coffee table, it gets read and passed around. amazing background on how America's visionary roadside shrines are imagined as well as built -- i love the insights into the hearts, minds, and spirits of these folk art contrarians. by giving copies of this book as gifts, i feel i'm doing my own small bit to help people appreciate this art form -- and maybe even create something startlingly original of their own someday! the perfect present for every outer yuppie/inner wildchild on your list, or for anyone who's stuck in a rut or going through a life change. this book reminds us all to cherish eccentricity -- keep America weird -- and nourish our own (and everyone else's) inner visionary.

Inspiration equates to talent in the artistic spirit.
Having met with Mr. Leonard Knight of Niland, CA (Cover Picture), and visiting his "Salvation Mountain" it amazes you to think of what can be accomplished with inspiration and hard work. You don't have to be a person of faith to come away impressed with his artwork. It doesn't matter where your personal inspiration comes from as long as you have a clear cut goal and are willing to do whatever it takes to develop the skills and resources. I listened to Leonard describe the setbacks and saw the faith he had that he would obtain the tbings he needed. Nothing could have been more impressive or beautiful than being shown around the mountain and listening to him talk. Another remarkable thing is that he NEVER asks for money or donations and absolutely does not allow endorsements or affiliation with any group or denomination. Pure faith and determination sustain him and his mountain. It's up to the individual to decide where the personal faith and inspiration come from. A very nice man and a remarkable achievement.

Inspiration uates to talent in the artistic spirit.
Having met with Mr. Leonard Knight of Niland, CA (Cover Picture), and visiting his "Salvation Mountain" it amazes you to think of what can be accomplished with inspiration and hard work. You don't have to be a person of faith to come away impressed with his artwork. It doesn't matter where your personal inspiration comes from as long as you have a clear cut goal and are willing to do whatever it takes to develop the skills and resources. I listened to Leonard describe the setbacks and saw the faith he had that he would obtain the tbings he needed. Nothing could have been more impressive or beautiful than being shown around the mountain and listening to him talk. Another remarkable thing is that he NEVER asks for money or donations and absolutely does not allow endorsements or affiliation with any group or denomination. Pure faith and determination sustain him and his mountain. It's up to the individual to decide where the personal faith and inspiration come from. A very nice man and a remarkable achievement. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Mark Seliger's book is filled with a riveting cast of characters culled from the celebrity subjects he shoots as the chief photographer for both Rolling Stone and US magazines. A particularly stirring image is a 1987 Rolling Stone shot of Perry Farrell watering a sunflower garden. It is a powerful photograph, made all the more so by the fact that it is the image that essentially launched Seliger's career as one of today's leading music photographers. In the book's introduction, Eric Bogosian discusses the public's infatuation with celebrity, and how it is the photographer's job to capture that fleeting moment, that millisecond that encompasses the subject's spirit. And the artists that Seliger has caught in these moments are wildly diverse. His portraits of musicians range from seldom-photographed country stars like Loretta Lynn and Kitty Wells to Marilyn Manson, Tom Petty, Curtis Mayfield, and Courtney Love. His portraits of Drew Barrymore are among the best of her to date: the playfulness of Barrymore's personality shines through his depictions of her as Alice in Wonderland, a sumo wrestler, a boxer, and the only female boy scout at the mercy of her troop. Seliger displays a keen sense of color, and these photos jump off the page shouting for attention. His black-and-white portraits seem to try for a greater intimacy, and even though they still convey Seliger's sense of play, they are less theatrical than his flamboyant color work. There are, though, beautiful black-and-white portraits here of Sean Penn, Kurt Cobain, Joni Mitchell, and John Lee Hooker, to name a few. Seliger writes: "One of the challenges and benefits of working for Rolling Stone and US is having the opportunity to capture artists just as they're breaking through." This collection includes some very early photos of celebrities readers have come to know well over the years--and it is a fascinating to see how much of their personality he's captured on film. --Amra Brooks ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Playful Essences and Facing Page Brilliance
Physiognomy is "discovering temperment and character from outward appearance." Mark Seliger in the epilogue talks about how he sees his role as a photographer as to "deliver the essence." These portraits of celebrities magnificently fulfill that mission.

Before going further, let me note that this book contains much discrete male and female nudity, some violent images, and one impolite gesture. If this book were a movie, it would probably receive an "R" rating.

Mark Seliger is one of the very best of the current celebrity phtographers, a talent that has won him the role of chief photographer for both Rolling Stone and Us. You will enjoy both Mr. Seliger's epilogue, where he describes the development of his career, and Eric Bogosian's introductory commentary on the book's contents. Both explore the notion of finding the reality of the person's character.

Mr. Seliger has a particularly playful side that is wonderfully displayed in the book. For example, his portrait of Keith Richard makes him look like a jealous wife flirting with the image of a brooding Mick Jagger. In another case, the energy of Ringo Starr's drumming is captured by displaying him with four arms, hands, and drum sticks! One of the most humorous is an opening sequence of a bare Ben Stiller, first as an ape-man, then as a human.

The facing pages are brilliant. In most situations, they mirror each other by either portraying the same image, but with a different style, or having the two images interact as though they were one image.

One of Mr. Seliger's strengths is that he has a wide range of talent. His color photographs are powerfully effective in ways that most photographers can only accomplish in black-and-white. He can also do simple face shots, or complex compositions. I can think of no other currently popular photographer with nearly this range of effective style. One of my favorite examples of this range is that he has a beautiful shot of Jennifer Aniston in the buff, discretely displayed. At first you are inclined to think of it as a "beauty" shot, and then suddenly you realize that it's really a play on all of those photographs that parents take of their young children lying bare on a rug.

Mr. Seliger is equally adept at the dark side. Sean Penn's volatile personality is nicely captured in a brooding photograph of him pulling on a cigarette. Dr. Dre and Snoop Doggy Dogg show up looking like they are relaxing during a rumble looking for trouble. "Don't mess with me" is written all over their faces and bodies.

Here are some of my other favorites:

Fiona Apple, Los Angeles, 1997

Bob Dylan, Los Angeles, 1998

Michael J. Fox, Burlington, Vermont, 1993

Merle Haggard, Lake Shasta, California, 1994

Billy Bob Thornton, Toronto, 1997

Bob Dylan, New York City, 1995

Pat Conroy, Charleston, South Carolina, 1995

Charlize Theron, New York City, 1997

Jerry Seinfeld, Los Angeles, 1998

Will Smith, Los Angeles, 1997

Winona Ryder, New York City, 1997

Jerry Seinfeld, Los Angeles, 1994

Drew Barrymore, Bell, California, 1994

There is another way to think about Physiognomy. People who have studied Neuro-Linguistic Programming argue the opposite way, that physiology becomes psychology. Repeated psychology becomes a habit, and the build-up of habits becomes a character. Spend some time thinking about how you hold your body. Test out how those positions and facial expressions affect you mentally, and how that influences your behavior.

Pose for best advantage . . . to others and to the development of your own character!

Absolutely Wonderful!
This is the only book I know of that will give me goose bumps every single time I look thru it. Mark Seliger captures something brillant in every photograph in this book. What an amazing gift he has. If you or anyone you knows is a fan of photography or of music this book is a M-U-S-T!!!! You just CAN NOT go wrong with this book.

This is the book you buy!
You may be like me and wondering which of the Seliger books to buy? He has this one, a couple of US MAGAZINE books with Drew Barrymore on the covers, but let me tell you now - THIS IS THE BOOK YOU BUY! It has the US MAGAZINE pictures and more.

It''s huge in dimensions and page count! The quality is great, but if you know who Mark Seliger is then you know that already. The paper is mid-weight and the colour reproduction is excellent.

My only gripe is that after a year I've torn the dust cover because the book is so huge it's easy for the cover to slip off a bit and get caught on something. So if you want the cover in good condition forever maybe you should take it off when looking at the book.

Want a look at some of the photos in the book? Go to www.markseliger.com

Gorgeous photographs.
This book is goregeous to look at: the photographs are amazing (and printed HUGE so you can get a good look at the detail), and Seliger's ideas are phenomenal -- who would've thought to dress the cast of Seinfeld up as the characters from Wizard of Oz? Genius!

Whenever I have friends over to my home, people inevitably end up flipping through this book and being fascinated by the photography inside. Every time I look at it, I notice something new, or another photograph catches my eye, no matter how many times I've seen it before. This is a book you will look through many times, and whether you're a fan of the musicians and actors (and other famous folks) that Seliger photographed or you're a shutterbug yourself, you'll find something to take away from these amazing pieces of art.

My only complaint is that the book is a little odd-sized and probably won't fit on a standard size bookshelf (luckily, Amazon gives you the dimensions here, so that's a help).

what an incredible book of photographs
this book is incredible. if you are a subscriber to rolling stone magazine, and have ever noticed a photograph that is simply amazing, it is probably the work of mark seliger. if you buy this book, you will be able to see hundreds of pages of these intriguing photographs, some involving vivid use of color, and others utilizing the intimacy of black and white photography.

when you first get this book, you will set it down, read it from cover to cover, be solidly amazed, and then promptly read it again from cover to cover.

i know nothing about photography, but you don't need to in order to appreciate seliger's appealing, beautiful pictures. i would suggest that anyone buy this book. ... Read more

Book Description

Volume 3 of three-volume set includes studies of horses, domestic and wild animals, and birds in remarkable stopped-action photographs by pioneering master photographer. Also includes the original prospectus and a catalogue of plates for the entire work. Essential for artists, animators, photographers, cinematographers, anyone interested in the mechanics of people in motion.
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Reviews (9)

A Great Book!
The late O. Winston Link was truly an innovative photographer. He did much night photography because he was able to control the lighting. In addition, he loved the old steam locomotive. In the late 1950's he made several forays from his New York City office to the Norfolk and Western Railroad to photograph the last of these steam giants in operation.

The result of these sojourns is this book, and what a book it is! An ancient adage has it that a picture is worth a thousand words. These pictures may be worth a few more! They portray an era that is unfortunately long gone. The steam locomotives are placed in the context of those times. The world is richer for Link's work.

Of particular interest to the student of the technical aspect of photography are photographs and explanation of what Link had to do in order to obtain these photographs. There is a lot to learn from this master of the art.

This book is destined to become a classic in the annals of photography if indeed it is not already one. A copy of it belongs in the library of anyone with an interest in either railroads or photography. What's more, at a price of $[money], this book is a steal. If you do not yet own a copy of this book,you should purchase one as soon as possible.

Beautiful
Fantastic photography of steam locomotives. Link makes these machines appear to be massive beasts running through the nightime streets of small-town America.

Perfect and rasor sharp pictures
What can I tell more about this famous book from the well known photographer? If you like perfect sharp B&W pictures taken at night with steam locomotives, but also from people working with trains or at stations, this is the book you should have.

Xtreme Railroad Photography
This is a must-have volume of a portion of O. Winston Link's photographic legacy of the steam-powered Norfolk & Western. The photographs are inexpressibly magnificent. I don't think anyone will ever capture the power of the iron horse better than Link. I subtracted one star from my rating for a silly reason which nevertheless really peeves me. The text in this book is in a large bold ugly typeface which is an extreme distraction from viewing the pictures.... But: don't let that stop you from owning this collection of exceptional photographs.

Atmospheric black and white photography
A superb collection of black and white photographs from the 1950s, this chronicles America's last totally steam railroad, the Norfolk and Western in Virginia. The pictures are wonderfully atmospheric night shots, including the well known drive-in theater shot which has appeared on calendars. They were extremely complicated to set up, with multiple flash units, but all look extremely natural. One of the best collections of railway photographs I have seen. ... Read more

Book Description

Renowned for her candid portrayal of family life (Immediate Family), her revealing study of girlhood (At Twelve), and landscapes from the American South (Mother Land and Deep South), internationally acclaimed photographer Sally Mann has produced a powerful new body of work on the one subject that affects us all. In WHAT REMAINS, a five-part meditation on mortality, Mann focuses her lens on the ineffable divide between body and soul, the means by which life takes leave of this earth, and the manner in which it rejoins it. Mann's new photographs are by turns shocking and sublime. An armed fugitive is hunted down by police. She photographs the scars left on her property after the incident. A series of brooding, otherworldly landscapes made at the Civil War battlefield of Antietam is followed by a group of close-up portraits of Mann's own children, floating in the inky black atmosphere of the nineteenth-century ambrotype; another series taken at a forensics study site offers an unflinching look at the process of decomposition, as do images of a beloved pet greyhound--long since departed. Made with the collodion process, using glass plates, the resulting images are at once painterly, sculptural, and photographic. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

it was the kids
i always wondered if mann was a truly gifted artist or if her subjects and locations were just so compelling that anyone could have captured incredible images if they happened to be present.

this book confirms the latter.

these photographs are flat, uninteresting, not compelling for me in any way.

Maybe she needs to find some new prepubescent girls and go back to the child-erotica.

The controversial nature of her images were what vaulted her to fame.

it surely was not talent.

Disappointing ...
I was very disappointed in this book. If I want to see death photos, I can find them almost anywhere these days. I miss Sally's earlier work, which was focused more on people and children. Her landscapes and these death photos are made to look as if they were photographed 100 years ago and I find this too "gimmicky" for my taste. I think that her new subject matter, death, is on the level on the current supermarket tabloid mentality. A very disappointing book that I was looking forward to ... really wish she would return to her earlier topics, and printing techniques.

Thank you to Sally Mann.........
Thank you to Sally Mann for her frank discussion & photographs on death. I have long felt that American's are spending millions of dollars in the vain, dillusional and fear-driven attempt to ELIMINATE aging and death. It is frustrating & depressing to see so much money wasted this way. It also seems to have created an obsession with safety at any cost. I appreciate Sally Mann's beautifully done work on this "taboo" subject.

Shocking
The first time I viewed this book, standing over it for nearly an hour, I was left socked, so shaken that I had to go to my room and turn off all the lights, and just lie in my bed and rest myself.

What Mann has created is not definable, and doubtless each viewing experience will be different for each individual. She does not seem to be creating an agenda book as much as an human experience. As I moved through I kept on thinking about, or rather questioning myself. What is it to look at a dead body? Is it a sign of disrespect for the dead? Or is it a sign of reverence? After all, it is the easy thing to turn away from the rotting flesh of our family, but that does not mean that it is the respectful thing, right?

One would think that Mann, already an artist at the top of her profession, might be tempted to rest on her laurels. However, this new work proves that she has no intention of doing so. She bravely continues to take risks, as well as dive further into her subject matter, and what remains is one of the world's greatest artists functioning at the peak of her creative powers.

Outstanding!
Death has long been a subject for artists. Mann's depth and vision elevate even the photos of decomposing bodies several levels above the merely grotesque. Yes, the photos are "difficult". The techniques employed produce dark or washed out and unevenly exposed images. But this adds to the overall mood of the book. And the subject matter is not "pretty". The final section of tightly cropped family photographs sums up "what remains". This is an outstanding project from one of the finest practitioners today of the photographer's art. ... Read more

Book Description

Back In The Days documents the emerging hip-hop scene from 1980-1989 - before it became what is today's multi-million-dollar multinational industry. Back in the days, gangs would battle not with guns, but by breakdancing.Back in the days, the streets - not corporate planning - set the standards for style.Back in the days, Jamel Shabazz was on the scene, photographing everyday people hangin' in Harlem, kickin' it in Queens, and cold chillin' in Brooklyn.Street styling with an attitude not seen in fashion for another twenty years to come, Shabazz's subjects strike poses that put supermodels to shame - showing off Kangol caps and Gazelle glasses, shell-top Adidas and suede Pumas with fat laces, shearling coats and leather jackets, gold rope chains, door-knocker earrings, name belts, boom boxes, and other designer finery.For anyone who wants to know what "keepin' it real" means, Back In the Days is the book of your dreams. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

...when brothers had waves, Cazal shades and corn braids...
Just when you thought you escaped Bell-Kangols, Sheepskins and the Koch administration, along comes "Back In The Days". Photograhper Jamel Shabazz's vibrant tome is fresher than two-tone British Walkers with the LEE suit to match! More like your man's childhood photo album, B.T.D. is a melting pot of style, attitude and a throw-back to the glory days of 80's Hip Hop fashion. Looking at these pages brought back fond memories of Kurtis Blow and B-boys, Jordache n' Jettas, subway graffiti and shopping on Delancey. Jamel does a great job of capturing the youth of New York in one of the most stylish and important decades in Hip Hop history. It would've been dope though to include actual info (i.e., date, location and names of subjects and/or crews) on each page, but the omissions only help to arouse curiosity. Funny enough, the irony in the era(s) being covered in this book is: no matter what the socioeconomic conditions of the times were, (i.e., drugs, poverty, crime, Reganomics etc.) kids in NY always found a way to look good! Back In The Days is a great book and an excellent reference to a period in Hip Hop history when the word "fresh" wasn't just a catchphrase, but a way of life. --James "Koe" Rodriguez

MUST HAVE if you are an 80's child!
I got this book as soon as it came out, and it is better than I had expected. I always wished I had more photos of the outfits and growing up in the 80's and this book does justice to how we looked. Everything is nicely represented in this book although I wish more West Coast. But still, It's Fantastic and It's Nicely bound very artsy cool!

Only in NYC
Growing up in Brownsville, Brooklyn this book depicts the look and feel of NYC during this era. Brothers was rocking the shearlings tough, punks was getting their Lee patches taken and the flygirls was rocking the bamboo earings. Before the MTV era (although we did have Video Music Box) was setting the trend for how we looked and spoke, we looked within ourselves and let the streets define whether we were fresh or corney. Jamal represented in this book for real before the word was exploited. One

It's FRESH!!!
If you used to sit in front of the TV, after school, watching "YO MTV Raps" and "Rap City", then this book is for you. Just like how Moms and Dads can reminisce about the 60's & 70's, we can finally look back and remember the days when the only debt we had was a pager bill. Bamboo earings, asymmetric hair cuts, converse shoes and "TIGHT" jeans were in style. I usually don't spend over [price] on one book (I'm not that much of a reader) but I HAD to get this one. Definitely, a must have for those rainy days, or when you just want to sit back and "chill".

cool cover - weak inside
The cover looked so promising, but once i opened this boook up and took a good look inside I was very dissappointed.
It really looked like it was going to be the coolest B-boy hip hop style from back in the days book ever, but fell short in a big way in my opinion. That's too bad. ... Read more

Book Description

Following the international success of The Sea-Abrams' deluxe, oversize volume of photographs by Philip Plisson-The Sea/Day by Day offers a new compilation of the acclaimed marine photographer's work in an affordable, compact format. These spectacular images-including almost 200 new photographs-are the result of Plisson's 25-year obsession with the planet's waters, capturing the sea in all its power, drama, and changeability.

We see crashing waves, placid waters, jagged rocks rising from foamy mists, and the overwhelming force of the currents, as well as sailboat regattas and races on the high seas. From solitary lighthouses to seaside communities, Plisson's photographs also explore our desire to live close to the ocean and the need to adapt to its rhythms. A book for photography lovers and open-sea adventurers alike, this breathtaking volume celebrates-in 365 of Plisson's most evocative images-our never-ending fascination with the sea. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Magnificent Photographs Of Stunning Seascapes!
"The Sea" is a magnificent book of photographs. Anyone who loves the the world's great bodies of water will be awed by Philip Plisson's stunning seascapes. He has captured the oceans in all moods, in all their glory - gentle, tempestuous, mysterious, terrifying, powerful. There is the beautiful tranquility of the Caribbean, and the stormy violence of the North Atlantic. And Plisson also captures the elusive quality of light, and the way it falls on water. His successful efforts to capture the right light, at the best moment, to enhance the particular quality of the sea he wants to exhibit, is worth the price of the book alone.

Many of his remarkable images feature lighthouses, ancient tall ships, and modern sail boats, regattas, and sailors alone with the elements. The vast sea, however, is the dominant presence in all the photographs.

There is very little text here. The monumental photographs speak for themselves. Yann Queffelec's Introduction does provide a perfect setting, and Elaine Georges' text is well written.

I bought this huge, (11.5" X 14.5"), coffee-table book for a sailing mate's birthday, and he absolutely loves it. There are a total of 400 photographs, and four fold-out panoramas. I have looked through my gift so many times that I decided to purchase one of my own. I highly recommend this beautiful book! ... Read more

Book Description

This stunning book—published in the artist’s centenary—chronicles the extraordinary life and work of Frederick Sommer (1905–1999). One of the great masters and key innovators in the history of art photography, Sommer was a complex and highly creative individual. His work in photography is unconventional and fascinating for its wide range of methodologies and techniques. He also explored making images with other media, creating masterful drawings, collages, and musical scores.

Arriving in Arizona in 1931, Sommer abandoned his original profession, landscape architecture, and began painting and drawing. After meeting Alfred Stieglitz in 1935 and Edward Weston in 1936, Sommer embraced and quickly mastered photography. Other artists who later proved inspirational to Sommer included Precisionist painter and photographer Charles Sheeler, Surrealist artist Max Ernst, and photographer Aaron Siskind.

With an essay by photo historian Keith F. Davis, exquisite reproductions of Sommer’s diverse works, and a detailed chronology of his life by April Watson, The Art of Frederick Sommer describes and documents the full extent of the artist’s achievement as a twentieth-century visionary. The book is a revelation for scholars, artists, students, and everyone who admires and appreciates creative genius.
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Book Description

The Beatles are always in the news and in our hearts. February 2004 marks the 40th anniversary of the Beatles' first trip to America, an historic event that was captured by the young photojournalist Harry Benson.

Benson was commissioned to accompany the Beatles to Paris in January 1964, where he took his famous photograph of the pillow fight the night they learned that "I Want to Hold Your Hand" had climbed to number one on the U.S. pop charts. He was with them on February 7, when they stepped out of their plane in New York and into the pandemonium of Beatlemania, American-style. In Miami, he introduced the Beatles to Muhammad Ali, and later that year he covered the filming of A Hard Day's Night. He was with them in Chicago in 1966, when John Lennon was quoted as saying that the Beatles were more famous than Jesus Christ, and covered their last tour as a band. He documented the eye of the hurricane: four guys in their twenties at the center of the known universe. This handsome, large-format book is a record of those amazing times. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

PHOTOGRAPHS
This is a delightful book replete with exceptional photographs of the Beatles during their early years performing. The majority of the photographs are taken in 1964, the year the Beatles came to America.

What makes this book such a treat is that there are some cute anecdotes about some of the photographs and I like the way an index print (or contact sheet) is included in a photo series of the Beatles, in February 1964 horsing around in their hotel room. They were like big children, natural and full of fun and the photographs do a good job of capturing that.

I love this book. Although there is very little in the way of new information, if any, it is still guaranteed to bring smiles to the faces of all who read it. I give it a hearty recommendation and a resounding, "YEAH, YEAH, YEAH!"

The Beatles forever
It grieves me to give any Beatles photograph book only four stars, but I have to say these photos have almost all been published previously. If you're new to the Fabs or don't have many photograph compilations of them, then this will be a magnificent book. But if you've collected on them for years and own Benson's previous book, then many of the pictures will be recycled ones to you.

Ultimately, it doesn't matter, any book featuring the boys is always a treat, even if the information has been read a thousand times before. The quality of the book is good, the photos are reproduced beautifully, what's not to like? Incidentally, the cover photo of John, Paul and Ringo is one of the more evocative photos in the book, they usually crop poor Ringo out of this one. Enjoy!

Fab Shots
This is a wonderful coffee table book. Unfortunately, I had to give this book four stars, and it's The Beatles! However, I was quite disappointed with the pictures that were displayed. I own a previous photo book that Harry Benson had published several years back that was smaller in size, and it was quite better than this one. I guess, I've been fabbed out with the pictures that have been released of The Beatles, and there wasn't a shot I had not seen as taken from a different angle or hasn't been shown either in film or video form. I guess it just didn't fulfill my expectations.

But nevertheless, I recommend this book for those who have not yet experienced the remarkable photography of Harry Benson, and photogenics of the topper most popper most band that ever existed. For all you black and white officinados, you'll love the blow ups.

If Only There Were a Way to Describe How Great this Book Is!
Once there was a way to get back home--a haunting and beautiful lyric if there ever was one. But now there is another beautiful way to get back to the early days of the Beatles and beyond and to see in black and white what it must have been like to be with them during some of their most intimate moments!This large, arresting photographic journey back to the Beatles is a coffee table sized book that would make a perfect Christmas gift for any Beatles aficianado! Benson was there when it all began, and his stories and the photos of the Beatles at their best take us all on a long and winding road back to when the world was younger, and we were too--a time when there was a way, and the way seemed clear and lovely. ... Read more

Book Description

The fabulously feisty and photogenic basset hound known as Maggie went from having one fan"owner/photographer Bill Stanton"to thousands after the publication of their first book, Maggie"s Way: Observations from Below Your Knees.Maggie returns with more dog"s-eye-view wit and wisdom in The Tao of Maggie: The Sound of One Hound Barking. This keepsake book is filled with delightful color and black-and-white photographs capturing Maggie in action. Each photo is accompanied by sage wisdom from ancient philosophers, accomplished writers, and, of course, Maggie herself who handily dispenses Eastern-influenced advice. Who says basset hounds can"t be zen masters'The photos within reveal the many sides of Maggie, from the inspiring"snatching dog biscuits in mid-air"to the slightly less-than-inspiring"captured on film with her head in the toilet. With its creative blend of humor, meditative contemplation, and stunning photography, The Tao of Maggie makes a great gift and is sure to keep lovers of all dogs smiling.

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Reviews (3)

Each page is a poster worth a thousand words and tears
I lost my "Maggie" this year. I was so sad but Bill Stanton captures the essence of this wonderful species and let me grieve and laugh at the same time. What a wonderful book. You don't have to love Bassett Hounds to read this. But if you lose your Bassett be sure to get this book. Bill Stanton needs to get posters on the market for us. Each photo is a gem.

This is a Gem
I'm a 30-year Basset lover and this book is one of the best. It's charming, funny and so very, very true. Bill Stanton is a master of getting just the right words to describe his hilarious (and superb) photos of Maggie, his now-11-year old Basset (check out the bagel pic and the one about "patience".). ALL Basset lovers should own this book (and his first one, "Maggie's Way"). I've given many as gifts and they are always a hit (also they're reasonably priced).

Wonderfully Funny
I would recommend this to book to any dog lover. I picked up this book on the way out of the store, and couldn't put it down. I had to go back and buy it. This is a a gem of a book, and I'm sure you'll treasure the sage wisdom of this floppy eared philosopher. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

homage to JK
JK is a street photographer who transcends the boundaries. Eye of the artist and soul of the novelist. This book represents the closest thing to recent work. Unfortunately he has withdrawn his photographs from circulation. He is concentrating on photographing and not doing any printing.
The large format is perfect for these panoramic images. A statue of Lenin on a barge is my favorite pic. Worth the price of the book. However, there are many others to fall in love with.

somewhat abstract yet powerful landsape photography
This book drives me up the wall, the pictures of wartorn lanscpaes, dispaced lonely images, almost completely void of people. The isolation one feels is intense, like walking into an old subway entrance when nobody is around. The photos document the natural erosion of landscapes and the 'personalities' that prevail as a result of neglect, beautifully framed by cold hard angles giving shape to the image at hand. And anogst all the torn metal and concrete then there is a picture of a lone tree in the middle of a baren snow-covered landscape, cold and alone and wonderful, just how you will feel when you read this. Not really a coffe table book, unless of course you never have have any guests.

-
absolutly stuning, wonderful study of texture. and i bought it for... right after looking at it. if i don't see it every now and then i miss it. i want to say something more, something globaly political, but the images are so romantic it seems josef koudelka doesn't realize where he is. (that's a complement)

Rich images
I consider Koudelka to be one of the finest photographers to come out of Prague. This book is handsome. The images are beautifully reproduced and the camera format seductive. If you appreciate textures and rich blacks, this edition will please you. The graphic art direction is smart and intelligent - a photo art book for the fine art collector.

Different . . . heart-stopping
I like Koudelka's work very much. I saw this new bo