Amazon.com

Bringing an entirely new slant to the concept of the coffee-table book, SUMO is a suitably enormous homage to 79-year-old Helmut Newton, the master of subversive and erotic photography. "I wanted to build a monument to the most important photographer of the 20th century," comments Benedikt Taschen, the publisher behind SUMO. He delivers. Weighing over 65 pounds, measuring more than two feet long, and breaking any previous size record in book publishing, SUMO contains 480 pages of every aspect of Newton's outstanding career in photography. Each copy of the book is bound by hand and numbered and signed by the artist. In order to showcase this colossus, the book is packaged with its own stand designed by Philippe Starck.

This outsized volume contains the body of Newton's controversial yet iconographic work, documenting fashion, fetishism, and above all an overriding obsession with voyeurism that can make the viewer feel complicit or uneasy by turns. Newton himself describes SUMO as "terrifying and outrageous. I don't even look at it as a book.... I look at it as an object." --Catherine Taylor, Amazon.co.uk ... Read more

Reviews (12)

a Monolith
Well, as everyone else says, there's no other book like it. I had a look at a copy in an art photography store and thought it was ok, but would I pay two grand for it? Nah, I don't think so. Admittedly, the cover shot from the series 'Big Nudes' is impressive when you first see it, but these pictures were never meant to be printed at this size. Newton shoots fast and produces grainy photographs; at this size the pictures start losing clarity because of the extreme grainyness. There are also slight scratches and imperfections on some of the negatives, which at a normal size are miniscule, but here the tiniest scratch is blown up into a great white worm crawling over the page.

Don't get me wrong, Newton is one of the great lensmen of recent decades. The work displayed here is of itself, brilliant. Even so, you could save yourself a packet and buy a quality 'normal' book of his work, where the pictures can be appreciated more easily. This book's merit lies in it being an art object in it's own right. If you actually want to savour and enjoy Newton's work, give it a miss.

Don't Let the Critics Wrestle Sumo
This book is not meant to collect dust on a coffee table but to lay open atop its stand the way Starck designed it. It's an interactive art piece that can be changed daily, weekly, etc depending on your mood (or the company you expect). How can these arresting and haunting images ever get boring? Would a Helmut Newton hung on a wall slowly become mundane? I can tell you from experience that the answer is a resounding NO.

A work of art.....
This book is by far a conversation piece....I have had company that spends hours turning the pages. Even after having the book for several months, I flip through it and see photos I don't recall seeing the first time. I absolutely love this book and would highly recommend it to everyone. According to the folks at the Taschen bookstore in Beverly Hills, CA, there are fewer than 100 books left out of the 10,000 printed.

A MUST HAVE!
ANY Helmut or June fan must have this anthology!!

Record sized & worth every $, more than a book...
coffee table book with it's own coffee table / stand,
emormous, the biggest book I ever seen,
big & heavy, record size, over 65 pounds,
expensive, high dollar item,
nothing for prude people, but - it's one of a kind,
even if you don't like nude photographie, THIS is the BOOK,
you got to have it...,
just great !!! ... Read more

Book Description

If you're ready for an Elements 3 book that breaks all the rules, this is it, because it does something for digital photographers that's never been done before--it cuts through the bull and shows you exactly "how to do it." It tells you, flat-out, which settings to use, when to use them, and why.

This book is not a bunch of theory; it doesn't challenge you to come up with your own settings or figure things out on your own. It gives you the same settings used by some of the top digital pros, settings you can use today to get professional results you've always dreamed of.

Plus, since this book is designed for photographers, it doesn't waste your time talking about how to frame a shot, setting your exposure, etc. and there's no talk which camera or printer to buy. It's all Elements, step-by-step, cover-to-cover in the only book of its kind, and you're gonna love it!

Besides learning the inside tips and the tricks of the trade for correcting, editing, sharpening, retouching, and presenting your photos like a pro. You'll learn how to unlock the power of all the new Elements 3 features, including how to manage your photos using the new Organizer, how to use the new "pro tools" like the Healing Brush and the Shadow/Highlight controls, and how to master the new "Creation" section to take your photos to an entirely new level. Plus, you'll see it all step-by-step, in plain English, and you'll be absolutely amazed at how easy and effective these techniques are, once you know the secrets.

You'll learn:

• The secrets of how the pros retouch portraits
• How to incorporate the amazing new features of Elements 3 into your work today!
• How to color correct any photo without breaking a sweat (you'll be amazed at how they do it!)
• How to repair and restore damaged photos
• The sharpening techniques the pros really use (there's an entire chapter just on this!)
• Dealing with common digital camera image problems, including removing noise and avoiding halos
• When to use Quick Fix, and when to do to it yourself (using our step-by-step methods).
• The most-requested photographic special effects
• and much more!

But besides all that, this book has a "secret weapon" that makes it the most important, most useful Elements book yet. The reason is this--although Elements 3 offers some digital photography features Photoshop CS doesn't offer, there are plenty of features that Photoshop CS has, that Elements 3 still doesn't have (things like Layer Masking, Channel Mixer, etc.). But in this book, you'll learn some slick workarounds, cheats, and some fairly ingenious ways to replicate many of those Photoshop features from right within Elements.

There's never been a book like it, and if you're a digital photographer using Photoshop Elements 3, this is the book you've been waiting for.

... Read more

Book Description

Photoshop is an essential, powerful, and sometimes a befuddling tool. Adobe Photoshop CS One-on-One clears the fog, taking you from graphics newbie to Photoshop warrior, under the watchful, easygoing guidance of Photoshop master Deke McClelland. This full-color book, accompanied by nearly two hours of video tutorials on CD, is an up close and personal training experience. Deke's classroom approach takes you step by step through real-world projects that help you gain Photoshop proficiency. Along the way, you'll get a good dose of graphics theory, best practices, and tips for avoiding Photoshop disasters.This one-of-a-kind approach fills a gap in the available literature and delivers a unique learning experience. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

O'Reiley Grand Slam!
I've been entertaining Photoshop "how-to" books since the big old "Classroom In a Book" version 3 and can only say that now I'm just as excited about Photoshop as when I got that first tutorial book. I've been through a lot of them since then, and nothing has ever done as much justice to this awesome program as Adobe Photoshop CS One-on-One! Some of the things covered I knew, but the way those famliar things are unveiled are once again motivational. Not to mention the things I didn't know about. Software upgrades happen quite frequently, and at times we need upgrading as well. You owe it to yourself, if you are the least bit serious about this app, to work with it and reap the rewards for doing so.
O'Reiley - (hint-hint) the one-on one series could be a good thing for numerous titles and series, I think. By series, I mean - - (for example) CSS One-on-One (beginner to intermediate), CSS One-on-One (intermediate to advanced), etc. Same thing with Dreamweaver, Illustrator, Flash etc. BUT ONLY IF - they are done with the same care, authority, and visually supportive print work, organization and attention to detail as Adobe Photoshop CS One-on-One!
Anyway, that's my review, way to go Deke! I'm in love with Photoshop once again!!

Excellent...
I'm not sure if I can add much to the positive reviews so far. This is an excellent text - do yourself a favor and read all the reviews.

For me, I really appreciated the sidebars and "Pearls of Wisdom" scattered throughout the text. In these, the author gives quick insights like; why one tool works better than another or a keystroke reminder or a technical definition.

This book does much more than just tell you how to do something, it also explains why your image changes when using the various tools. In other words, it goes beyond just getting you from A to B. There are a million different ways to get from A to B in Photoshop, so it's nice to learn a few new ones to add to my current Photoshop knowledge.

I use Photoshop basically for two things. Fixing up photos I've taken with my digital camera or scanned in from the family archives and creating images for my personal web site. I found the chapters about highlights, midtones, and shadows and color correction invaluable, especially when trying to fix up some old color pictures of the family from '70s. =)

Excellent book, visually pleasing, highly recommend.

Probably the best guide to Photoshop on the market
O'Reilly has a knack of publishing really excellent computer books, and this knack is continued with Adobe Photoshop CS one-on-one. The book is published with colour examples throughout, and the author, Deke McCelland, also presents an included CD of video tutorials. These complement the book superbly.

The author covers the major features in Photoshop, but usefully also explains when you should you a specific feature rather than another one. For example, he usefully suggests that the 'Brightness/Contrast...' option can result in pretty awful results, and explains how to change brightness and contrast in a more satisfactory way. The result is that anyone with this book will quickly move from being an amateur user of Photoshop who just gets by, to being an expert who knows how to get the very best results.

The book is very practical, and not a dry run-through of the toolbox. McClelland uses examples - like removing scratches from a scanned image or improving the focus of a photograph - that may well make the reader load up their own pictures half way through a chapter to experiment. The text is very readable, and broken up well with headings.

This is quite possibily the best guide to Photoshop on the market. Highly recommended.

Stunningly beautiful and useful book...
To say I am "graphically challenged" would be an understatement. For whatever reason, I just have a hard time envisioning what I can do with images and colors. To help solve that issue, I got a copy of Adobe Photoshop CS one-on-one by Deke McClelland. In short, this book is packed.

The book is organized into the following 12 lessons: Open and Organize; Highlights, Midtones, and Shadows; Correcting Color Balance; Making Selections; Crop, Straighten, and Size; Paint, Edit, and Heal; Creating and Applying Masks; Adjusting Focus; Building Layered Compositions; Text and Shapes; Layer Styles and Adjustments; and Printing and Output.

Each lesson starts out with an "About This Lesson" page, which gives you an idea of what you're going to cover. It ends with a "What Did You Learn?" exercise where you match the concept with the description. And in between is the excellent material on how to do what it is that's being covered. Interspersed throughout the text are "Pearls Of Wisdom" which are short 5 to 10 line sidebars that explain a concept or a slant on the material that you may not have realized. And McClelland doesn't just explain how to do things, either. He goes into the concepts behind how graphics and color work, such as how to read a histogram or the difference between 8 vs. 16 bits per channel. So when you get done with the book, you should have a greater understanding and appreciation for the art of graphical manipulation.

But you're not done yet. The book comes with a CD that includes video lessons that follow along with the book, as well as the files you'll need to do the exercises. Unlike most CDs that are included in a book, this is one that actually enhances the value of the material instead of just allowing the publisher or author to charge more for stuff you may never look at.

On the aesthetic side of things, the book is really stunning. High-quality paper and beautiful colors on the examples. The only flaw I can mention is that my copy must have gotten a bad batch of paper at the printers. A small number of pages are flawed (ingrained folds) and a couple of the graphic screen shots are blurred to the point of not being able to read the text. Even with that, there is nothing that takes away from the usefulness and quality of this effort.

If you use Photoshop and want to learn how to utilize it to the fullest, you owe it to yourself to check out this book.

Basic photoshop use from end to end
This book is organized as lesson plans, which is great if you like that sort of thing. I don't, so while I will try to be fair I am a little biased.

Lesson plans aside I would say the book is a cut above the average. It gives ample space to the philosophy and doesn't just concentrate on technique. There is value in understanding why something works and not just the key combinations.

There are lots of helpful hits. The examples images are great. Though some turn out a little cheezy after too much digital work. The chapters are pretty consistent throughout, no one topic stands out as either getting too much attention or too little.

If you want a book on basic Photoshop use from end-to-end you should seriously consider this one. There are lots of books on Photoshop out there, but this one has O'Reilly's attention to detail, fine writing and editing. ... Read more

Book Description

This is the first book that provides a balanced treatment of image processing basics and software principles used in the practical application of image processing. Working in the MATLAB computing environment, it provides a stable, well-supported set of software tools capable of addressing a broad spectrum of applications in digital image processing.The major areas covered include intensity transformations, linear and nonlinear spatial filtering, filtering in the frequency domain, image restoration and registration, color image processing, wavelets, image data compression, morpohological image processing, image segmentation, regions and boundary representation and description, and object recognition.For software developers working with image processing. ... Read more

Book Description

Setting up a successful color management workflow is difficult, and attaining predictable results can be frustrating. "Color Confidence: The Digital Photographer's Guide to Color Management" is the only practical, results-oriented book that teaches you how to manage color effectively across devices (cameras & scanners, computers & monitors, and printers & other output devices) so that you can produce accurate, desirable color, every time. Highly respected digital imaging expert Tim Grey designed this accessible, striking book for busy photographers who want to get results quickly. He focuses on the essential concepts and practical information you need to make the best color decisions. Bottom line: this is a book no photographer should be without! ... Read more

Reviews (6)

The Title Tells It All
Some people shoot pictures with digital cameras, download them, print them up and are happy with whatever they get. Others complain if there is the least deviation in color between what they remember seeing and what gets printed up. It is at this latter group that "Color Confidence" is aimed.

Tim Grey, the author, is a respected teacher of Photoshop techniques and is known to many for the Digital Darkroom Questions mailing list, which many digital photographers read on a daily basis.

This book is aimed at a single issue in digital photography: how to make the output of the digital photography process, be it individual print, world-wide web, or printing press, match the color that the photographer visualized when he took a picture. Several years ago, when photographers were less sophisticated and happy with the ease of getting digital output, this was scarcely a question, but as digital photographers became more experienced (and as affordable techniques became available) more and more photographers began to ask why the output of their printers didn't look like their monitors. The field of color management was born.

With a minimum of technical jargon, the author explains the nature of color. He then tells you how to establish color profiles for input devices, like cameras and scanners, processing devices like computers, and output devices like ink-jet printers, so that all of the devices in the digital darkroom pass on information about the digital photograph that will insure consistency. For computer software, Grey assumes the use of the industry standard, Photoshop. If you use some other image processing software, you will have to interpolate from Photoshop, or find some other source of color management information.

If you read every word in this book, Grey might appear pedantic, because when he discusses using several different devices for a particular purpose, he will repeat many of the same instructions, word for word. But if you later pick up the book, while you are sitting at your computer, you know that what you are reading will be the whole story for the operation and tool that you are using, and that some important hint is not hidden elsewhere.

I?ve long considered myself to be relatively savvy when it comes to color management. However, I picked up a few tips about along the way that clearly made the book worthwhile for me. For example, I understood the function of "soft-proofing" but never really developed a regular work process dealing with this technique. Then I read Grey's discussion and a light bulb went on.

This is not exciting reading, but the author is clear and direct and moves the subject along quickly. If you need to learn about color management for digital photography, this is the book for you.

Yes, one can print photos to be proud of.
How many times have you been disappointed with your photos as displayed on the computer screen? Oftentimes they may look good on the screen but not so well once printed. Tim Grey, author of Sybex's latest book dedicated to digital enthusiasts, helps readers manipulate their digital images more efficiently so the desired output is achieved with minimal waste to your pocketbook and time. Readers are led step by step beginning with capturing color appropriately with digital cameras or properly adjusting scanners and their software to capture the best image. Outputting images, especially to your own printer, but also to professional print houses and to the web and E-mail is thoroughly reviewed. Significant discussion of techniques using advanced image manipulation software such as Photoshop is provided to help readers tweak color balance, brightness, contrast, and many other aspects to achieve the best possible image. Grey closes his book with a summary of the essential steps to achieve the best possible image. Though a CD or DVD is not included, numerous examples throughout the text well complement Grey's points.

One text paragraph illustrates Grey's purpose in writing Color Confidence: "It is often tempting to adjust the image in Photoshop when the printed image doesn't match what you see on the monitor. For example, if the print comes out too magenta, you may be tempted to adjust the color balance in the image toward green to offset the magenta. The problem with this approach is that you are making the image itself intentionally inaccurate in an effort to produce accurate results for a single output condition. What happens when you print that same image with a different printer, ink, and paper combination? You'll have to find new ways to manipulate the image in an effort to produce an accurate print. In effect, you're chasing the print, trying to find just the right way to adjust the image to make it look wrong in just the right way so the print will look the way you want it to look. This is not a good way to work with your images."

Though the publisher advertises Color Confidence as an intermediate text, I recommend to users of Photoshop Elements as well as Photoshop who want to improve the quality of their images, whether they plan output to the web or paper, to take a look at this book. This book is not for those content with the editing capabilities of iPhoto. However, after reading Color Confidence, iPhoto users might get the urge to use Photoshop Elements for image manipulation. Though I will never be a graphic artist, I look forward to reading the book again (too much information to absorb from one reading) to further advance my abilities to produce photographs for which I am proud to share.

Great book, if you don't know what you're doing
I know a lot of people who are totally lost when it comes to producing prints they like. A watercolor artist friend struggles with her Minolta 7i and Epson 2200, jumping through hoops and tweaking images in Photoshop and/or the printer driver. This book (along with monitor calibration) would solve her problems. The advice is comprehensible and comprehensive.
I have been there and done that; owned two Epson 1200s using profiles and inks from a well-known source but never achieved success. If you have felt that pain, read this book.
I subscribe to the author's free mailing list, and find that the accuracy of information in this book is actually better than that he provides online. Tim Grey knows his stuff, though (OT) he seems to be confused about imager size and depth of field.
If you already calibrate your monitor, use accurate profiles for your paper/printer/ink, and such, the incremental knowledge you'll gain from this book will be modest. The workflow I use with my Epson 7600, Bill Atkinson profiles and Eye One Display are very similar to the author's recommendations. If you have gotten that far, you don't need Color Confidence.
If what I just wrote is Greek to you, Color Confidence has the info to get you on the right track. Just be forewarned that you're going to have to fork over for monitor calibration tools or the books's suggestions won't do you much good. That will set you back 3-5 times the cost of the book. You may also have to invest in printer profiling, for $50-1,500 depending on how you approach it.
I also own Real World Digital Photography, Second Edition, which was co-authored by Grey. I'd say that both of these are quite informative if you are a novice, but less so if you are reasonably advanced in digital imaging.

Color Confidence
Most photographers agree entering the digital world can be very challenging. There is a vast amount of information to filter through. Tim Grey is an expert in that area and is up there with all the top guys in the digital world. I have personally attended one of his seminars and know for a fact that he is extremely knowledgable and most importantly a very good teacher. He has the ability to take a huge amount of information and put it into simple terms that can be understood. The topics he has covered in this book are all the critical steps that you need to know whether you start out with film or a digital capture. This book will clear up a lot of questions about working with digital images.

The best yet for digital photographers
I write reviews of books on Photoshop as part of my work, so I read a lot of them. This has to be the best I have come upon for the aspiring digital photographer. It is not for someone who just wants to take photos of their family at Disneyland, or at a wedding, but for photographers who want to get the best from their digital camera; this is a "must read." Mr. Grey describes what to do, why and what to expect, he carefully explains alternatives and warns about the pitfalls. The good illustrations reflect the attention to detail of the writing. It is clear, not too technical and very informative. You will need Photoshop to get the most from this book. If you care about your images, read this book. ... Read more

Book Description

This best-selling introductory photography text teaches students how to use the medium confidently and effectively by emphasizing both technique and visual awareness.Comprehensive in scope, this book features superb instructional illustrations and examples in its clear presentation of both black and white and color photography. London offers extensive coverage of digital imaging and the latest technological developments, such as Web page design and formatting photos on CD-ROMs. ... Read more

Reviews (33)

The 3rd edition was nicer
After reading the third edition of Photography by the Uptons, Idecided to buy the sixth edition. There are new things in this editionnot found in the third but I was quite unimpressed with the mediocre graphics. Some of the illustrations look like they were done by a high school student learning how to do airbrushing. In this the third edition is far superior. I liked the profiles on living photographers in the third that is not found in the sixth. However, the section on problems with developing black and white film is exceptional. If you have any technical struggles this section can pinpoint immediately what the problem is. Also the book always has one entire theme or idea on the two full pages in front of you. It is an easy book to find your way around in and it really is one of the very finest books on photography available. It would be good of them to update some of the older photographs. I am tired of seeing models from the 70's in an almost year 2000 book. The book also is pricey. It should be available in hardcover for those who use it as a teaching manual or textbook. It would certainly last longer. I do recommend every student who enters college and majoring in photography to add this one to their library. This edition is also 28 pages shorter than the third edition. Why? It shoud have been longer!

Excellent reference guide & teacher, but expensive
This is a fantastic book that has something for beginners and advanced amateurs alike. I bought this book for my photography class at Temple University, and it will happily be on my bookshelf and referenced for a long time (or perhaps until the 8th or 9th edition)?

The book contains many useful lessons for beginners, if that is your level, for basic photography. I would have liked for there to be more about digital photography though, but I'm sure that will come in later editions as that medium evolves. There is also plenty to offer a budding photographer about lessons in the darkroom, and that was very useful and continues to be.

This is the ultimate photography book that will more than get a beginner started, or be a big help as a refresher to an amateur. However, the price is a tremendous drawback - it's a lot of bang, but for the bucks you pay, I'd try getting a used copy - there are many great dealers on Amazon that can help. This book is well worth owning though. It misses the 5-star mark because of cost.

Rating the seller
This book was said to have some highlighting!As is does, I purchased it used and just received it in the mail. Shipping was fast,BUT the seller NEVER mentioned the book also has water damage to the corners causing the book to lift and be stiff. I am NOT happy with this seller and would not trust their description on anything they sell used.

The book I would rate as a good beginners book and has lots of information for the beginner. Would also be a good book to keep around for reference. We can all use a reminder now and then.

MUST be on your bookshelf.
For those impatient enough: if you are to buy one book that would teach you photography - this should be the one. This book has survived seven editions and it has enough information to make your head hurt. Needless to say, this book does not offer a silver bullet that would make you Ansel Adams, but it has enough information to build a solid technical foundation upon which you could leverage your creativity.

Make no mistake: this book is first and foremost about film photography. While there is a somewhat obligatory chapter on digital photography, it is hardly more than a very brief introduction. The rest of the book implies film photography (needless to say, that information on exposure and lens is generally applicable to both film and digital photography techniques).

Furthermore, the book is seriously geared toward black and white photography. There is plenty of information about the color process but it feels complementary to the narration.

On the negative side, there are only a couple things to note:
- Having so many precise instructions, this book ought to have an appendix containing all data in one place (from reciprocity failure correction numbers, to N+2 development time increase, to film processing checklists). It is a shame, the book doesn't have such a reference chapter.
- The price of the latest edition is way too steep. While I am far from suggesting sacrificing quality for lower price (as unfortunately so many other books do), I still think that the price has risen way too high compared to older editions.

All in all, it is an excellent basic reference. It is unlikely to be the only book on your shelf, but it will definitely be an extremely useful one while you are mastering advanced photography. Bottom line: buy this book now.

Complete Photography, but change the size of the book.
The book is just "ok" when it comes to topics. I prefer not to have sections on developing but more on actual equipment and technique. I thought the digital section was well written but more should have been said since it's eventually be the main part of photography for the future.

I prefer to have a reference book written in a traditional school text book format. I don't care for the "chopped up" sections for every page. To me it's chaotic and not well organized. The first chapter is rather elusive and vague. I would have prefered a general introduction.

I did not like the physical size of the book. It's hard to hold and I would have prefered for a book of this cost a hard bound edition. If any of you old timers out there remember an excellent book, "The Amateur Photographer's Handbook", by Aaron Sussman, I would have liked "Photography- 7th Edition" to be similar in physical size and content. I have been using, "The Amateur Photographer's Handbook" for so many years and it's just too old for todays photography, that is why I purchased this one. ... Read more

Book Description

Our Missing Manual is hands-down the bestselling book on iPhoto. And now, updated to cover Apple's newest release, iPhoto 5: The Missing Manual comes fully loaded--and in full color--so you can exercise all the power, flexibility, and creativity of the stunning new iPhoto 5.

Some of iPhoto 5's fifty new features are tiny nips and tucks, such as menu rewordings, quiet refinements, and secret keystrokes that take most people days to stumble through. Others are big-ticket overhauls aimed at both power users (RAW-file import and editing, color correction sliders, real-time histogram) and everyday shutterbugs (nested file folders, individual-photo control in slideshows, and a completely rewritten book-layout kit). Additional improvements include a robust search feature (similar to that of iTunes) and the addition of "objects" for slideshow and book projects (using objects, you can manipulate images without affecting pictures in your master library).

iPhoto 5: The Missing Manual covers them all with the scrupulous objectivity, clever wit, and technical wisdom you count on from David Pogue along with the Mac and digital photography expertise of Derrick Story.

Their authoritative guide starts out with a crash course on digital photography, complete with tutorials on buying a digital camera, composing brilliant photos in various situations (including sports photography, portraits, nighttime photography--even kid photography!) and making digital movies. iPhoto 5: The Missing Manual then launches into every detail of iPhoto, from camera-meets-Mac basics to storing, searching, and editing; from sharing your digital photography with the world (via customized slideshows--complete with iTunes soundtrack, if you like--prints, photo books, email, the Web, and even your network) to exporting to QuickTime and iDVD. And don't forget iPhoto "stunts," such as building custom screen savers and desktop backdrops; exporting pictures; making the most of plug-ins, add-ons, and beef-ups; using AppleScript; and managing files with backups, CDs, and photo libraries.

iPhoto 5: The Missing Manual gives you everything you need to become the digital photographer extraordinaire you want to be. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Solid iPhoto walkthrough
This is a solid book on iPhoto that walks through all of the basics, and throws in a few advanced tips. What I particularly like are the sections that cover how to take better photos in the first place and the sections that cover basic digital photography. That's important because the photography is an end-to-end process where iPhoto is just a piece.

Excellent use of images and screenshots. Solid writing a good production value. Highly recommended for people looking to make iPhoto a central part of their digital photography workflow.

iPhoto 5 The Missing manual
The book is a voluminous compendium which is at the same time concise in its handling of individual topics. I'm sure it will answer every question you could possibly have about iPhoto. The included Applescript Tricks are a super bonus - especially the one to Do Photoshop Action. At this price it's a no brainer.
Will Bosch

Very handy for the amateur photographer
Well, if you aren't a professional photographer, then you're an amateur one (or possibly, as my wife likes to remind me, an immature one).I'm assuming if you're thinking of picking up this book it is because you've already got iPhoto 5 and are a little mystified by some of the features.I've been using iPhoto from the beginning and it only gets better - as well as more complicated - with each release.

If you don't already have a book on iPhoto - this is the one to get.I have the iPhoto 4 Missing Manual (and love it) as well - if you're still using iPhoto 4, you can still get this book as 90% of the information is still relevant.This book takes all the great stuff from the previous edition, adds color (that's reason enough to get this book, in my opinion) and goes into detail on the new features of iPhoto 5.

The book goes beyond just a "how to" on iPhoto.It spends a few chapters going over digital cameras and the basics of taking good pictures.The information on iPhoto covers details that will satisfy both the beginner and advanced user.From simply importing and arranging your pictures to using AppleScript, iPhoto 5: The Missing Manual is hard to beat.

broader scope than Photoshop
Catching the wave! As digital cameras and cameraphones have become common, so too has the need to handle an ever increasing inventory of photos. Which is why Apple offers iPhoto 5. The book shows how Apple has refined iPhoto into a coherent and easily used package.

There are tips on taking these digital photos and for editing a photo with various enhancements. But of the book's 14 chapters, only one is on actual editing. These capabilities of iPhoto are adequate, but clearly inferior to Photoshop. iPhoto's emphasis is different. It focuses more on handling or managing large numbers of photos. Especially in making your own website of these. Plus doing the printing of photos.

You have to admire Apple for what they've done here. Adobe's Photoshop dominates digital image editing. But rather than trying to fruitlessly match Photoshop, feature for feature, Apple broadened the scope of digital image usages to include the above tasks, and then went after a new customer base. Where Photoshop had no dominance. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Scottish artist Andy Goldsworthy uses a seemingly infinite array of purely natural materials, from snow and ice to leaves, stone, and twigs in the creation of his one-of-a-kind sculptures. Unlike such artists as Christo and Michael Hiezer, whose works leave definite marks on the landscape, Goldsworthy's approach is to interrupt, shape, or in some other way temporarily alter or work with nature to produce his fragile, mutable pieces. To create "Broken Icicle," for example, Goldsworthy was only able to work on the sculpture in the early morning, when temperatures were below freezing. As with most of his works, ultimately, the materials used to create this piece returned to their natural state, leaving no trace of the artwork's existence save for the stunning photos in this book. ... Read more

Reviews (27)

man+nature=art
This is well worth the price of a big coffee table art book. Most of the people who see this book ask "how did he do that?" Indeed, it is amazing how Goldsworthy is able to play with nature to reflect his artistic visions, while still showing a reverence for his medium. He creates art where he finds inspiration, without any tools other than what he finds on site. These photographs are beautiful mementos of his ephemeral artwork.

A MUST HAVE / A GREAT GIFT
Whether you are an art enthusiast or not, this book is a must have for those that appreciate not only art, but beauty in life, nature, and the spirit. Andy Goldsworthy cleverly manipulates the legos of nature and creates a myriad of dynamic and simplistic designs that show his spirit. You will be "wow'd" by this book. It would make a great gift for any occasion or age.

WOW!
This book is truely inspirational. It is one you will go back to time and again. It is soothing when you feel stressed. I would not part with it. It makes a great gift for anyone who appreciates nature or art.

Mind Blowing!
If you've come this far, get this book- you are lucky to have discovered Andy Goldsworthy. And sit down before lifting the cover. The book is a testament to Goldsworthy's unique vision of his environment and skill as an artist and challenges you to believe that the seemingly impossible is possible. Not only are the sculptures genius, but the photographs are beautifully composed and the collection is mind blowing.
You can do a google search on Goldsworthy and see the same pictures but it in no way compares to having the collection in an oversized book on your lap and being able to show your friends as you say, "you will not believe this!"

Incredible photos!
Wow- some of the most beautiful photos of Goldsworthy's work. This collection has quite a variety of subject and spans many years. Truly exquisite environmentally friendly nature art. This is a great coffee table book that gets fought over by our artistic and non-artistic friends alike. ... Read more

Book Description

To live in a pristine land ... to roam the wilderness ... to choose a site, cut trees, and build a home ... Thousands have had such dreams, but Richard Proenneke lived them. Here is a tribute to a man in tune with his surroundings who carved his masterpiece out of the beyond. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

One of the great journals of wilderness living
This is a powerful book and has quite a following. I was given the book by one of my best friends, which I consider a wonderful gift. This book has it all, beautiful photos, Richard's journal notes are amazing in their insight to his thinking and how this adventure unfolded. It is a simply wonderful book, and has people traveling to Alaska just to see the setting for such a balanced book. This book lays claim to new territory, and the claim is valid. No wonder it sells well, it is captivating reading and makes you look hard and close at your own life.

One Man's Wilderness
This has to be one of my very favorite books. I have read it front to back at least 7 times! It is written with the true adventurer in mind. Every detail of his experience makes the reader wish it were he/she that was there with him. If you have ever wished you could just go off into the woods, build a cabin and be self-sufficiant, This is the book for you.

A wonderful "Alaskana" read
Sure the writing style isn't polished and there is little action, but I think that is what helps makes this such an enjoyable book. The observations and opinions presented in the closing pages (chapter 9) will cause most any reader to consider their place in their world. There is enough good here for me to add this to my extensive Alaskana library for long term keeping.

One Man's Carpentry
The book is entirely journal entries that for the most part describe how the author builds his wilderness cabin and goes about other day-to-day tasks. This is not the book for those seeking accounts of extraordinary Alaskan adventures but it is an impressive account of craftmanship. It is a story of impressive feats of carpentry and resourcefulness. You do get a few descriptions of encounters with wildlife but I didn't find that to be a strength of the book. Great pictures, too.

Interesting details, but slow for me
I like books that contain the kind of real details that this book contains. Properly presented, fact can be more interesting than fiction. The book reads somewhat like a journal. For me, however, it deserves 3 stars because of writing quality, and because it failed to keep me reading past midnight. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Muscle men, midgets, socialites, circus performers and asyluminmates: in the 1950s and '60s, photographer Diane Arbus (1923-1971) cast herstrong eye on them all, capturing them as no one else could. Herdocumentary-style photos of society's margin-walkers were objective andreverential, while she often portrayed so-called normal people looking farmore freakish than the freaks. Her powerful work was well-received in itsday. Arbus received Guggenheim Fellowships in 1963 and 1966 and wasincluded in a major show at MOMA in 1967. But her work entered the realm ofnear-myth after her 1971 suicide.

Reviews (6)

Warning! For hard-core Arbus fans only
I enjoy Diane Arbus' photos, but this book is too much for me. Her photos are only a small part of the book -- the majority of the book is a catalogue of her life. The contact sheets are quite interesting, as they reveal a lot about how she approached a subject. The rest will likely appeal only to hardcore Arbus fans.

The Monograph as Art Form
DIANE ARBUS: REVELATIONS is one of the most beautiful monographs of an artist I have ever seen or read. This over-sized, beautifully bound, highest quality paper, extraordinarily fine reproductions of photogravure, and sensitively designed and written catalogue for the touring museum exhibition of Diane Arbus Photographs is simply magnificent and well worth the rather steep price. But a state-of-the-art monograph would be of little consequence were it not about one of the most controversial and phenomenally gifted photographers of the last century. Arbus had an affinity for capturing people she encountered because they produced a source of wonder in her. Her eyes were attracted to the edges of normal appearance and anatomy where she captured luminously tender photographs of developmentally challenged fellow human beings. There are countless images of children and adults who have survived a life of 'non-normalcy' and she framed them in her camera's eye with no sense of the voyeur, but instead with a great sense of humanism. Here are portraits of giants with their parents, patients from mental institutions, carnival folk, transvestites, anatomic wonders, as well as simple twins, people she found fascinating, populated places that struck her imagination. The photogrpahs of Diane Arbus have become icons and the contributors to this volume help to propel her already praiseworthy status to that of a genius: Sandra Phillips' essay 'The Question of Belief', photographer Neil Selkirk's intimate 'In the Darkroom' (Selkirk is the only person allowed to develop prints of Arbus' output), and the beautifully conceptualized and constructed Chronology by Doon Arbus and Elisabeth Sussman bringing to us rarely seen portions of Arbus' output and thoughts - all of these are rendered in the best of taste and finest of scholarship. Finally, here is a volume that fleshes out the magnificence of the art of Diane Arbus. This bibliophile's dream of a book deserves awards and most important, deserves your attention. Highly recommended as a true collector's item.

Revealing, revalatory
I own two Arbus monographs and have lived with them for over 20 years. Many of those works are reproduced in this volume. There is a lot of talk about "the human condition" and I suppose all artists in one way or another wrestle with the notion. Arbus has always meant to me someone who seemed to reveal who we are beneath the fashion, the roles, the sex, the culture. I used one of her images as a means to illuminate a poster for a Sam Shepard play called Icarus' Mother - it was of a very young New York boy holding a toy hand grenade in a threatening way during play in Central Park - once seen never forgotten.
Nor will I forget her self portrait, naked pregnant, in this latest volume. So much. So much. This is the volume Arbus lovers have been waiting for. Printed in Germany, beautifully bound, positively packed with images, diary entries, extracts from letters, comment. A bargain.

Arbus according to Arbus
This is the catalog for a show that opened this week at SFMOMA. It is also a document of considerable authority and very little of the cult shrine that is part of the show. There is no doubt that this is a thorough assessment of Arbus' place in the history of her medium. The first chapter of of the written material is scholarly and completely devoid of the overstatement usually plastered on Diane Arbus. Instead, the author relates her work to that of her various teachers and influences, Lisette Model, Gary Winogrand, Lee Friedlander, August Sander, and many others. There are numerous references to and from her notebooks as well as the notes of others but the writing is neither superfluous nor voyeuristic. It is art history at its best.

The selection of her photographs is comprehensive and well organized as you would expect from her estate which owns them all. No doubt the Fraenkel Gallery near SFMOMA had a lot to do with the quality of the show and book. Read it before you attend the show and you will learn a lot even if you've never heard of her.

Coupled with the detailed chronology of her life, the images give a clear picture of a character which has been obscured by mythology and rumor for 30 years. I am not a fan of Diane Arbus (and certainly not a detractor) but I gained a lot of respect for her as an artist as I read her notes and quotes about her own work.
If you are looking for a biography of a brave young woman artist in the mid-twentieth century, this one is good. It is thorough and not editorialized with adjulation. The only gratuitious facts that I would have left out are the cold details of her death in the coroner's reports at the end of the book. Yet I get the impression this is the way she would have wanted it. This is the book she would have written. Absent some equal scholarship to the contrary, this is the truth about Diane Arbus.

A Powerful Book
Thank you Doon Arbus for publishing it. ... Read more

Book Description

Digital photography has arrived once and for all. No longer do photographers have to be defensive because they prefer digital. Thanks to new technologies, digital cameras at all ends of the price spectrum can rival their film counterparts. If you have shifted from traditional to digital photography, and need to know what's different about shooting digital, this is the book for you. Now in its third edition, this bestseller has been fine-tuned and updated to provide you with the most current information on today's cameras that you'll find anywhere. Whether you're new to photography, or new to digital photography, you'll learn how to take the best possible shots. Even though your camera may pack an image sensor instead of film, taking good pictures still involves understanding apertures, shutter speeds, and metering techniques, as well as a few other issues that film shooters don't face. Fortunately, digital cameras also provide some unique tools to help you get the shot right the first time.

Covering everything from the inner workings of your camera to the subtle intricacies of your image editing software, the book is divided into four sections. The first section provides a basic technical foundation that will prepare you for the rest of the book. It details the basics of how digital cameras work and gives you a quick photography primer. The second part explores everything you need to know to make an informed decision about which camera, computer, and software is right for you. In section three, you'll progress to the nitty gritty of shooting, including metering, choosing the right exposure, using histograms, flash photography, and much more. In the final section, you'll learn about digital editing and correction techniques, along with the various methods for outputting your images (print and electronic). If you're new to photography, you'll learn the basic theory that photographers have studied for decades, as well as the latest tools and techniques made possible by the shift to digital. If you're an experienced film photographer, you'll see how to translate the knowledge you already have into the digital realm.

Features:
* Includes completely revised and updated coverage
* Provides new, detailed coverage of camera evaluation, including the latest technologies and affordable SLR cameras
* Includes completely re-written explanations and examples of metering and exposure, including hands-on tutorials
* Covers Photoshop CS and of Photoshop Elements 2.0
* Includes many new tutorials on improved methods for correcting and enhancing photos, and addresses the most common types of corrections users want to make
* Provides new and expanded coverage of the basic questions camera purchasers have, including how many pixels are needed, how to reduce red eye, shooting inside versus outside, etc.

ON THE CD-ROM
• Tutorials: All of the files needed to use the book’s tutorials as well as additional QuickTime tutorial movies and PDF tutorial articles
• Software Demos: Adobe Photoshop CS, IView MediaPro, and PhotoRescue
• Images: Color versions of most of the images in the book to examine on-screen or to print

SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
To work through the tutorials in the book, you will need Photoshop CS (a demo is included on the CD). WINDOWS: Intel® Pentium® II or better; Microsoft® Windows® 2000 with Service Pack 3, or Windows XP; 192MB of RAM (256MB recommended); 300MB of available drive space; Color monitor with 16- bit color card or better; CD-ROM drive. MACINTOSH: PowerPC® G3 or better; Mac OS X v. 10.2.4 or better; 192MB of RAM (256MB recommended); 350MB of available drive space; color monitor with 16- bit color support, or better; CD-ROM drive. Please check the individual demos for specifics ... Read more

Reviews (24)

Complete Digital Photography IS Complete
As an instructor of Photography and Digital Imagaging, I have found it difficult to recommend texbooks that incorporate ALL the most important points of capturing, transmitting, printing, storing, archiving, and retrieving digital images. I generally need to list several titles to cover these various topics. Ben Long not only does the job with the Complete Digital Photgraphy, but he does it in a very concise, logical and easy to comprehend manner. This book is timely, informative, accurate and thorough. I highly recommend it for anyone wanting to jump into to the art of digital photography. I especially praise its use for instructional value. I am replacing next year's text with this one.

Very STRONG book
I'm a professional photographer, and when I decided to go digital, I bought about a dozen books on the subject. This one leaves the others in the dust.

One of its greatest strengths is that the author explains digital by referencing film photography. This allows quick understanding of the new by comparing it to the familiar.

But if you're new to photography, this book is still for you. The author has a real gift for explaining complicated processes in a way that makes them easy to understand and utilize. And he covers what you need to know, without putting the pro to sleep.

I read omniverously, but I'm rarely impressed enough to write a review. If I could only keep one book on photography -- digital or film -- this would be it.

And thank you to the author for insisting that digital photography is created with a digital camera, NOT a scanner. I am SO tired of books that are supposedly about digital photography which are really about digital manipulation of film photography.

Do yourself a big favor: if you're interested in this subject, buy this book. You won't be disappointed.

2nd Edition issued December 2002
I plowed through the book in just one week of evening sessions. The author tried to keep the discussion of camera features in the first part of the book to to a generalized level that is fairly current (as of 1/03), It does a decent job helping both digital imaging novices and non-pro film photography converts grasp the fundamentals. I fall in both of these catagories so I felt it was well written for my level of pre-existing knowledge. In the second part of the book where he delved into photo manipulation software I was frustrated by the fact that the Photoshop Elements 2.0 tryout software included on the second edition CD did not have some of the tools that he uses in text and the tutorials, such as Curves and Channels. He kept mentioning that any brand imaging software should have all the tools he used so one does not have to get the full version of Photoshop. Not True. I now realize that the PS Elements 2.0 demo (30 days use) included must have been a last minute addition. I did find his beloved Curves tool on the limited version of Photoshop 5.0 that came with my camera but otherwise this version of PS was lacking in the layering features that the author uses in all his tutorials and was inadequate to follow his examples. The Video segments (about 30 minutes) on the CD provided a nice "over the shoulder" demo of several of the editing features as used by the author. His on the screen cursor disappeared at times while he was pointing out details which made it harder to follow his verbal explanations. This book is definately just an introductory guide to image manipulation software so I have ordered two more books and PS Elements 2.0.

Great book (1st edition)
Although I have the first edition, it is really excellent and explains the technical aspects of digital photography with great clarity. I am anxious to see the newer edition's updates on How To Choose A Digital Camera since so much has changed in the past 3 years, but otherwise the 1st edition is sufficient for my needs.

Great book!
I liked this book very much. It had just about everything I needed to know. I recommend it highly. ... Read more

Book Description

This update is so important, because if there was ever a version of Photoshop that was aimed at digital photographers, Photoshop CS is it, and "The Photoshop CS Book for Digital Photographers" by Scott Kelby (Editor of Photoshop User magazine) once again breaks new ground by doing something for digital photographers that's never been done before¿it cuts through the bull and shows you exactly "how to do it." It's not a bunch of theory; it doesn't challenge you to come up with your own settings or figure it out on your own. Instead, it shows you step by step the exact techniques used by today's cutting-edge digital photographers and retouchers, and it does something that virtually no other Photoshop book has ever done -- it tells you, flat-out, which settings to use, when to use them, and why.

If you're looking for one of those "tell-me-everything-about-the-Unsharp-Mask-filter" books, this isn't it. You can grab any other Photoshop book on the shelf, because they all do that. Instead, this book gives you the inside tips and tricks of the trade that today's leading pros use to correct, edit, sharpen, retouch, and present their photos to some of the most demanding clients on the planet. You¿ll be absolutely amazed at how easy and effective they are¿once you know the secrets.

LEARN HOW THE PROS DO IT Each year Scott trains thousands of professional photographers how to use Photoshop, and almost without exception they have the same questions and the same problems -- that's exactly what Scott covers in this book. You'll learn:

• The secrets of how the pros retouch portraits
• How to color correct any photo without breaking a sweat (you¿ll be amazed at how they do it!)
• How to unlock the power of Photoshop CS' new features for digital photo pros
• Amazing digital body-sculpting techniques
• How the pros use CS' File Browser (it's much more powerful than you think)
• Tricks that can send your productivity through the roof
• The sharpening techniques the pros really use (there's an entire chapter just on this!)
• How to deal with common digital camera image problems
• Removing noise, avoiding halos, and protecting your images
• How to use Match Color, The Color Replacement Tool, and other amazing CS tools.
• Masking techniques for photographers
• The most-requested photographic special effects
• and much more!

Reviews (31)

50 Stars
5 stars doesn't cover it!

I've seen Scott teach live and he is absolutely the most knowledgable Photoshop trainer on the planet. This book is the next best thing to seeing him live. In fact, it may be better because the explanations are just as clear as a live class but you get to keep them right by the computer where you need 'em.

From the comprehensive explanations of how to perform certain editing functions and new functions in CS, to the first class printing (these pages are as bright and crisp as my studio display LCD) this is easily the best computer book I've ever seen.

I have several of Scott's book and the reason they're great is because the approach is NOT like a manual. If you're after a "classroom in a book" you'll be surprised when you get this book. The illustrations are awesome and explanations are concise and step-by-step. There are no assumed steps like lots of books have and the examples cover a wide variety of things digital photographers and retouchers need to know.

This book is for beginners and experts alike because the lessons are structured like a recipie book. The steps are easy enough for the novice to understand and advanced enough so even experts applying the techniques look their best and accomplish their retouching even faster.

If you're the kind of person who prefers to read a book that gives you a comprehensive variety usable examples and clear detailed explanations and supporting illustrations, this is your book. If you want a manual to tell you all about each feature in a dry, clinical manner, find another Photoshop book.

Superb ....
This is my fifth Photoshop book, and I wish it had been my first. What were the problems in the earlier book? First of all, some had minimal use of color. Seems funny but I'm sure the publishers saved a ton of money by not using color, or using only a few insert pages for color content. For Photoshop this is silly. This book, like all the New Riders books apparently, uses full color.

Second, a number of books use dreadful images as examples. Now the authors of these books are certainly photoshop experts, but apparently only use 'left-over' images from a previous family vacation in their books. Photoshop experts, but not expert photographers. Scott uses excellent images, most of which were contributed by friends who are excellent, professional photographers! Just browse...

Third, the earlier books were often hard to read; small fonts, a ton of material, lousy layout. Sure they were comprehensive in coverage, but I think too much for a photgrapher. (I now have a good working knowledge of what features were added to every version of PS that ever was, and all about every digital camera the author ever owned. Didn't really need all that.)

Scott's book is really fun to read. He uses humor well, has great images (downloadable from his site) as examples, and covers material needed to turn good photographs into great photographs. You won't find any information on shutter speeds, f-stops, selecting cameras, printers, etc, just Photoshop. Kinda respectful of the reader...

If you're a photographer and you're going digital, you'll have some very specific needs; get Harald Johnson's book on printers and printing, and this book on Photoshop CS.

A Good Book for Beginers
Recently I read four of the books currently available for Photoshop CS . This book was one of them and it was the weakest in terms of both the style of writing and content.\\

The author points out that he wrote the book "because not one other book he reviewed covered digital noise". I do have to give him some credit here because digital noise is not addressed in most of the other books. The problem is this is the only issue that I found to be unique to this book.

Overall, I guess in an attempt to lighten up the subject you are subjected to endless silly little joking followed by very simplistic techniques for handling various digital imaging problems.

This book my actually be fine for a beginner or someone that does not want to really understand the subject. For me it was a dissapointment.

Useful and excellent
I found this to be well-written & easy to follow. I bought it for the techniques, & being a new Photoshop user I wanted to start doing things rather than wade through a bible. Well worth the investment.

Worth Every Penny and Then Some!!!
I had been playing around a little in Photoshop Elements for a few months and then took advantage of a GREAT upgrade price to Photoshop CS. I had read where others used CS and LOVED the curves feature and actions... all these things and while I was trying to figure out what made them great, I was not getting the professional results I wanted.

I opened this book and immediately did some incredible stuff in Photoshop CS and I am basically new to the program. He has a great writing style...does not bore you with the stuff that bogs you down in other books to the point you feel like you aren't getting anywhere. He gives you initial settings so you can see fast results then teaches you how to customize if you want to go there.

Just a great book!!! ... Read more

Book Description

Adobe Photoshop is arguably the most comprehensive and popular photo editor around. Here are a couple of reasons why: When you work in Photoshop, you're not drawing from scratch; you're editing photos. Secondly, the program keeps you interested with a depth of capabilities that few pieces of software can match. Unlike other computer programs that have caught on like wildfire over the years, Photoshop is both powerful and absorbing.

Just because Photoshop is a pleasure to use doesn't mean that it's easy to master. Directed toward making you comfortable and productive with the program, Photoshop 7 For Dummies points out the features you need to know and shows you exactly how to use them ­– no pain; all gain. You'll discover ways to

• Work with the program window
• Switch between Photoshop and other programs
• Change the number of pixels in an image
• Define colors using the Color Palette
• Get ride of red eye
• Blur the edges of a selected area
• Apply filter effects

Photoshop guru and author Deke McClelland reveals his own techniques for quick and creative image editing, along with specific tips that Photoshop veterans can use to take advantage of the software's new features. Plan to get the hang of

• Producing high quality scans
• Adding background textures, bevels, and text effects
• Harnessing Photoshop's layering features and professional pre-press capabilities
• Applying different types of gradients
• Making a Web Photo Gallery
• Placing your image into PageMaker of InDesign
• Creating your own custom brush

Graphics abound in Photoshop 7 For Dummies, with 16 pages of glossy pictures to show off special issues related to color. You'll find commands for both PCs and Macs and lots of step-by-step instructions to guide your image-editing efforts for print or the Web – in no time! ... Read more

Reviews (23)

Photoshop 6 for Dummies Disappoints
I found this Dummies book disappointing. It just rehashes the older Dummies book for Photoshop 5 with additional writing by Barbara Obermeier and now includes only Windoze screen shots. I used to use this book in the PS 5 incarnation for my PS classes. I really liked its sense of humor and how it was targeted in a no nonsense way for beginners. I will be switching to Peachpit Press's Classroom in A Book, not as much fun but certainly not a retread such as this book. Deke, where are you?

Huh?
According to the authors the RAW file format is mainly for use in transferring graphics between Apple and PC computers and loses a great deal of detail. In other words they wrote a book about Photoshop CS but they know little if anything about the subject.

Assumes too much
In some parts they assume to much, it misses steps or suddenly introduces new words out of nowhere as if you knew the program. The other thing that its not visual at all, a ton of things could have been explained much easier and faster using visuals.

I mean I did find it useful but probably because I read it all, however it was kind of annoying how they tend to forget who their audience is.

Great revision to this classic book
Whether you be new Photoshop user or experienced, you'll find great information in this good book.

Photoshop 6 for Dummies
Although this book can be quite useful for basics, it is too laden down with useless titbits. Also, a lot of important stuff is hidden between these, so it can be very easy to become frustrated. The book is presented well, slightly too much light humour but it does at least presume that you (like I did) have no experience. Practice will make you a much better photoshop user than reading this book, but combining this with thousands of F1 searches will set you well on your way. ... Read more

Amazon.com

By a recent count, the continent of Africa comprises some 1,300 cultures. Some of them number millions of people, some only a few families; some are thriving, while others are in danger of disappearing, the victims of acculturation or, in extreme cases, of genocide. This diversity--and the dangers to it--is little known outside Africa. PhotographersCarol Beckwith andAngela Fisher highlight both matters in African Ceremonies, an extraordinary two-volume collection of some 850 full-color images. The two artists have traveled to almost all the continent's 53 countries in the last three decades, documenting traditional tribal life in earlier books and articles for National Geographic, among other publications. Here they focus on the religious customs of several dozen peoples, combining stunning images with well-written essays to illustrate the enduring power of traditional beliefs.

Among the book's finest moments are a record of the Fulani cattle crossing, when for 10 days young males drive their herds across the wide Niger River to receive gifts from their grateful compatriots; a sequence showing a healing ceremony of the Himba people of Namibia and Angola, whose "wild women," possessed by lion spirits, are riveting actors on the page; and a remarkable series of photographs of Wodaabe courtship dancers, who compete to attract wives by charming them with exaggerated smiles and the skilled use of cosmetics. The authors note that, as women, they entered places men never could--and as foreigners, they were also often welcomed as "honorary males" and allowed to witness male-only ceremonies. Many of these rites are in danger of extinction as old ways are forgotten and in some cases suppressed. Beckwith and Fisher have captured them before it's too late. Beautifully designed and manufactured, African Ceremonies makes a fine companion toHenry Louis Gates Jr.'s Wonders of the African World, and invites leisurely reading--and constant revisiting. --Gregory McNamee ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Finally!A Nonethnocentric Perspective on African Traditions!
The New York Times Sunday Book Review section today had a wonderful review of this book (2 volumes in a slipcase). The documentation of ritual and people performing rituals as the seasons change in Nature and life cycles turn for People is a sacred task. The photographers appear to have embraced their subjects with care and respect - perhaps others will follow in this way in the future. What strikes me most about the book and the reviews is the genuine approach of the authors to the dignity, honor and respect of the African People they have photographed and documented. This alone makes the book a winner for me.

Regarding the book, I am particularly impressed by their treatment of sacredness without judgment and jaded lens. Indeed the art and form of ritual itself creates tradition. The music of these images is at once visual and alive celebrating the sacred as timeless expressions of culture and community.

BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE
HOW CAN ANYONE SAY THAT THESE CULTURES DON'T EXIST ANYMORE, OR THIS IS AN AFRICA THAT NO LONGER EXISTS. THEY TOOK THESE PICTURES WITHIN THE LAST 10 YEARS.. DIDN'T THEY ? DUH ? EVERYONE KNOWS THERE IS A COMMON EVERYDAY AFRICA.. GOING TO WORK GENERAL LIVING ( JUST LIKE US HERE IN AMERICA FOLKS) BUT STILL THERE IS AFRICAN TRIBAL SPLENDOR. JUST LIKE IN AMERICA INDIAN'S GET TOGETHER FOR TRIBAL POW WOWS. THEY STILL EXIST TOO. THE PICTURES IN THIS BOOK ARE SHOCKINGLY GORGEOUS...AFRICAN PEOPLE STUNNINGLY BEAUTIFUL. PLEASE! THE MEN ARE HANDSOME, THE WOMEN WONDEROUS. IT JUST MAKES ME WONDER WHY THE EUROPEAN STANDARD, HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE "STANDARD" OF BEAUTY. THIS REVUE MAY SOUND SHALLOW, BUT IF YOUR INTO THE HUMAN HAS ART FORM ...BUY THIS BOOK!!

See it before it disappears
A beautiful look at cultural conventions that may soon be relegated to the quaint and unusual.

An Africa that *does* exist, but that is vanishing
The "concise edition" of AFRICAN CEREMONIES opens with a preface by Dr. Malidoma Some, president of "Echoes of the Ancestors" and author of his autobiography OF WATER AND THE SPIRIT and THE HEALING WISDOM OF AFRICA. Malidoma is from the Dagara tribe of Burkina Faso. His name means "make friends with the stranger/enemy," and that is why he now lives in the West.

I have met Malidoma on a few occasions (participating in some of his rituals) and I corresponded with him for a time. He has been incredibly helpful and supportive in my own spiritual journey (he is an initiated shaman of his tribe and has recently become the youngest initiated elder), and therefore I trust what he says. Malidoma's preface makes it clear that, sadly, AFRICAN CEREMONIES documents a world that - unlike the claims of some - is not entirely gone, but that is quickly vanishing. Malidoma comments that these photographs are very important because they show the last time that some of these ceremonies will be performed in such elaborate nature, and perhaps they will never be performed again at all.

AFRICAN CEREMONIES continues the tradition of these well respected photographers by providing a beautiful volume of beautiful peoples.

Buy it for what it is
Buyers should understand what this is - a beautiful coffee table book. Beckwith and Fisher present their usual quality of brilliant, sensitive photography. But understand that this is, for the most part, capturing a memory, a fantasy. This Africa no longer exists. Don't buy the book to learn African culture. Buy it if you like photography. As a historical record, it's lacking. One can capture a visual from the outside, but one cannot capture a cultural understanding as readily. ... Read more

Book Description

Illustrated with over 300 photos, Art in the Elementary School, Fifth Edition, provides prospective elementary school teachers and art teachers with a thorough knowledge of art curriculum, production, and appreciation. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Getting "Real" With Art and Kids
For those working in the schools and who value the joyful impact of art with children, this book has it all!It is a power-packed manual for professional teachers, aides and anyone needing more guidance to open the creative doors for themsleves and children. You will find the source's guides in the back of the book worth the price alone.The clarity in the text is especially to be appreciated; no "gobbeldy-gook and no nonsense" here! The presentation of ways to incorporate art into total curriculum is one to open our eyes and to value its potential for carrying any other subject matter.Full of ideas for projects with morsels of philosophy about the arts tucked in, it allows teachers to open their own minds and rid themselves of their own "art blocks." I would say no teacher should be without this book. Good for you Marlene Gharbo Linderman! At last a book for us all who love and cherish art in schools. ... Read more

Book Description

Gardens are unique creations, reflecting not only the landscape, flora, and climate of their environments but also the heritage-the history, architectural styles, and influences-of the cultures that made them. From the fountain gardens of the Iranian desert to the whimsical "Garden of Cosmic Speculation" in Scotland, from the Zen gardens of Buddhist temples to the Impressionist gardens in Giverny, the huge variety of gardens around the globe is a testament to our age-old desire to tame and refashion nature.

In The Most Beautiful Gardens in the World photographer Alain Le Toquin celebrates the diversity of these manmade landscapes, capturing 31 of the greatest public and private gardens on five continents, including Majorelle in Morocco, the Versailles gardens outside Paris, the Keukenhof flower show park in The Netherlands, and the Huntington Gardens in California. With more than 150 images and 12 gatefolds featuring spectacular panoramic photographs, this gorgeous book will captivate travelers and garden admirers alike, and will inspire gardeners themselves with fresh ideas for design, horticulture, and use. AUTHOR BIO: Alain Le Toquin, a former specialist in ornithology and animal ecology at the Natural History Museum in Paris, has been a photographer specializing in both culture and nature for more than 20 years. Jacques Bosser, a writer and translator for design and photography books, was a contributor to Abrams' The Most Beautiful Libraries in the World. Michel Baridon leads a history and research group for the French National Council of Parks and Gardens. He has published several books on gardens. ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description

San Francisco,

For more than a century, writers and poets have tried desperately to grasp the elusive Camelot. It is, perhaps, more a quest for a photographer. Surely its God-given beauty has never been more thoroughly captured than in these exquisite photographs by Robert Cameron. From his helicopter soaring over this idyllic setting, Bob Cameron has looked down with a God-like eye and recorded with his camera what God sees. He has recorded it for you, gentle reader, and for generations yet to come. Here in these pages is proof that, yes, once there was a Camelot.

With introduction and text by Art Hoppe. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Great Photos
This is a great photo book of the San Fransico bay area. It includes just about every area around, including San Jose, Oakland, Stanford, etc. It has photos of the city, Silicon Valley and most of the major Computer companies and chip makers such as Intel and AMD. Living in this area, I really like this book as I can see what my area looks like and there are a lot of photos, including every major bay bridge.
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Very nice, but really "Bay Area from Above"
Very nice. Title should be "Bay Area from Above." It covers Silicon Valley, San Mateo, Marin, and many other parts of Bay Area -- with SF. My only complaint is the 25 overhead views of wineries out of 200 pages -- they all look pretty much the same... Overall, a very good book.

This book is totally awesome
I love the before and after pictures contrasting the same street now vs. 100 years ago. Susan likes it too! ... Read more