Reviews (2)

...then I'll move in
This book was great I thought! I just love the use of Black and White and color photography within the same space...I think Frank has done this with much beauty.

I am actually doing a project at the moment on photography and painting and the two concepts combined. If anyone out there can suggest more books and artists - please e-mail me!

an excellent review of the best photo essayists life work
if you do or dont know robert frank, you should still pick up this book. if you own a copy, buy another for a friend, its that good. not only does it show us all the goodies, it shows a lot of the baddies, too. the stuff from the end of the mans life doesnt strike my fancy, but it shows how he evolved.

i guess this reads like a biography if your not into page turning and picture glimpsing. but thats allright.

things to recommend for fans of this book: pull my daisy the movie by frank mention numerous times the lines of my hands published beforehand but includes plenty more goodies not included in this package

for fans of the above listed, check out this veritable omnibus, you wont be disappointed.

ryan maclean, 99 ... Read more

Book Description

Over 1,000 images teach shooting and Photoshop techniques in easy lessons for anyone wanting expert advice on digital photography.

In 2003, digital camera sales will explode following a 35 percent increase in 2002. Rick Sammon, one of North America's most widely read photocolumnists, covers all the steps in the digital photographic process.

Sammon begins with basic advice for those new to photography. Experienced film shooters will enjoy Sammon's ample coverage of Photoshop and digital image techniques. And in a bonus section, Sammon offers advanced tips such as taking glamour shots, producing e-books, and setting up a home studio.

Sammon answers questions such as "How do I select a digital camera? How do I store my images? What are the first things I should do when using Photoshop?"

Sammon's approach of "learning to see and seeing to learn" uses pairs of images, software screen shots, and the best photographs from his own vast library. The 107 lessons take the reader through each topic in friendly, concise steps. Includes a CD-ROM with "The Camera Looks Both Ways," a mini-course in photography. 1008 color illustrations. ... Read more

Reviews (19)

A great pick for those who prefer the practical approach
I am (or after reading this book should I say "was") a novice to photography and the digital darkroom. This book is a great starter and covers ever major aspect that comes with digital photography deeply and comprehensively.
Generally this book has two part: How to make/take a picture (yes, Rick also teaches you how to "make" a picture) and how to work it. It is obvious that Rick is a great pro Photograhper and he shares all his awesome photographic techniques with you. Still, his writing style is easy and even understandabel for the beginner. After reading this book your pictures will improve whether you are a beginner or advanced -Guaranteed!!!
His digital darkroom techniques require some basic knowledge about Photoshop. This is no tutorial how to use the different options and tools of photoshop. But a great book teaching you how to use them effectively. His approach is totally outcome oriented - the production of digitally enhanced pictures. Coherently he covers standard situations how to improve a picture and being creative, like redeye, overexposure, black and white, color management, creating more impact on the picture, preparing for print, etc. His procedures are easy to understand yet overwhelmingly efficient. The great illustrations let you retrace what has happened and how the effect will look like.
To get to that basic knowledge about Photoshop you either have to struggle through the borring help programm of the software itself. Or you get yourself a separate book. Another very convienent, yet more spendy way to probe the potential of Photoshop, is partially included on the CD which comes with this book - a virtual software tutorial. The one on the CD is great but is only on small section out of the whole tutorial, which you can buy seperatly. The whole series from Julieanne Kost runs about 200 $ but there a also cheaper tutorials out there for slightly over 20 - check with ebay. These are not so good in sound and maybe not as nicely stuctured but still a very convenient alternative to a book.
Finally, the printing quality, the binding and the illustrations reflect the thoroughness and love for the detail with wich this book was writen.
This book you will find fun to work and read through.

A must have if you are getting into digital photography.
If you are interested in digital photography, this is the best book available out there for this price, Period! I have read several books about digital photography and this books has it all. It is not so basic, yet it is not so advanced that you wouldn't understand what the write is saying. I was very impressed by Mr. Sammon's way of illustrating his points with sample pictures he has personally taken over the years. If you are an absolute beginner (if you have never used a 35mm SLR or a digital camera and a photo editing software before) I do not recommend this book for you. This book appeals to anyone who has a basic understand of digital photography and are interested in learning more about photo shooting techniques and digital darkroom (editing) software. Let me tell you-- you will not be disappointed by this book.

pretty pedestirian stuff
I am a photographer of ten years, and I was looking for a good liasion to the digital format from film. This book tries too hard to be everything to all levels, and it ends up getting in its own way most of the times. What pretends to be a good overview for beginners and pros, stadles the two and inevitably caters to the lowest common denominator.
If you have any photography experience, understand how to expose a negative, etc. avoid this book. The pictures he uses are not that good or just plain cheesy. It makes me wonder how he got to this point.

Enjoyable to read, inspiring with excellent examples
I have just made the switch from film to digital and I found this book very helpful in propelling me along the way. I have bought 3 books and this is the one I keep coming back to. It is written in a friendly, conversational style and the pictures are excellent. The short lessons help me to put the book down and try things or to think about what has been said. Sammon's commentary is helpful without being overbearing. ("I like this alternative. What do you think?") The heavy paper does justice to the photos and the spine has not broken yet!

While I give the book highest marks for "presentation", I think there might be improvement in the organization. The content choice appears arbitrary. Nonetheless, it is fun to read. I love looking at the examples. For this middling amateur, the "lessons" have been interesting, inspiring and informative. This is the book I will take with me this summer. I highly recommend it to others who, like me, are responding to the new challenges and possibilities presented by the digital age in photography.

OK BUT THERE ARE BETTER CHOICES
This book is well written full of interesting facts and nice pictures. It is geared toward the Apple Computer user and Photoshop photoediting. If those are your system give this book a fourth star. But there are better choices for less money if you are using a PC for editing and any photo-editing software including Photoshop, MS Digital Photo, Camedia etc etc.

My personal favorite is K.I.S.S. Guide to Digital Photography which is ten bucks cheaper, better written, more informative for the beginner and all around better instruction for the beginner to digital photography. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (2)

On specialization and hero worship
Lance Armstrong: Images of a Champion is squarely aimed at the growing market niche made up of die-hard Lance Armstrong fans, and if you count yourself in that crowd it's hard to imagine you won't be thrilled by what this well-made volume has to offer.

But if you are more of a general cycling fan -- as I am -- then chances are you'll decide that this collaboration between Mr. Armstrong and Graham Watson, cycling's photographer of record, is a bit too much of a good thing, a level of hero worship that borders on awkwardness.

That said, Mr. Watson's photography is as always excellent and even if the level of detail in the text doesn't rival that of Mr. Armstrong's two autobiographies (It's Not About the Bike and Every Second Counts) it is really more of a commentary than a narrative, and that saves it from being redundant to the other efforts.

The book has an undercurrent about specialization as a factor of Mr. Armstrong's success -- the same level of specialization that resulted in the book itself.

While Mr. Armstrong's legacy as one of cycling's greatest champions is secure, history may also remember him as the man who proved once and for all the value of focusing on one big race each year rather than simply trying to achieve a good level of fitness and then racing as often as possible, as most previous champions did.

This book is just as specialized: it's not about it's not about a sport, or an event, or a team, or a race. It's not even about a man and all the dimensions that implies. It's about a great cyclist. Now, is that good or bad? The way you answer that question will determine whether or not you should buy this book.

All Lance, All The Time
The following is a well written review that appeared in cyclingnews dot com:

Lance Armstrong: Images of a champion
by Graham Watson & Lance Armstrong
Reviewed by John Stevenson

Essential reading for Lanceaholics
Lance Armstrong: Images of a champion combines over 250 of Graham Watson's images of the five-time Tour winner with commentary by the Boss himself on the progress of his long and varied career.

For readers of English-language cycling magazines, Graham Watson is their eyes at the world's biggest bike races. Ever since he took his first major race photos, of Eddy Merckx riding his final Tour in 1977, Watson has brought his clarity of composition and ability to capture the moment to every major race on the calendar.

Not surprisingly, then, he has a rather massive collection of images of Lance Armstrong - and not just of the lean, post-cancer stage race specialist Lance Armstrong, but also of the earlier, brash young rider who won the world championships at just 21 and had, it's fair to say, a rep as being, in his own word, a bit "impetuous".

Lance Armstrong: Images of a champion is laid out in chronological order so it starts with images of that almost-forgotten incarnation of Armstrong. Armstrong's commentary on his early days with Motorola covers his victory at the world's and his burning desire to win the one-day Classics, and interestingly a name keeps cropping up: Viatcheslav Ekimov. Writing about his second place in the Zurich world cup in 1992, Armstrong says, "I'd gone into the Swiss race believing the course wasn't as hard as people said, that the entire opposition was no better than me, and that therefore I had a chance to win. As it turned out, a great Russian cyclist was more clever than me - Viatcheslav Ekimov." After his early-career tussles with Ekimov, it's no surprise that the Russian is now a valued lieutenant on US Postal.

As well as Armstrong's commentary and captions on Watson's fine pictures, there are tributes from Miguel Indurain, Johan Bruyneel, and Eddy Merckx among others. As in Armstrong's own commentary what comes across in these comments is the man's total determination to win, self-belief and utter disappointment when he loses. As losing is what usually happens to bike racers, even ones as talented as Armstrong, Watson has captured plenty of the less-great moments in Armstrong's career as well as the triumphs.

Of course the bulk of the book comes from the period 1999-2003, chronicling Armstrong's five Tour victories, the preparation that went into them, and the incidents along the route from left-field surprise winner in 1999 to marked man battling just about everything a bike race can throw at you in 2003. Armstrong admits the huge difference between his dominant performance in 2002 and struggles in 2003, and Watson's images show a marked contrast between the confident, smiling Armstrong of 2002 and the worried man of the following year.

Of the difference between those races, Armstrong writes, "2002 was a Tour with little or no mishap at all, 2003 was like a battlefield each and every day - and I was the main target. In hindsight it is hard to know whether I was lucky to make Paris at all or unlucky to have so much get in my way." Watson's images perfectly capture everything that got in Armstrong's way, including his astonishing crash and recovery on the Col du Tourmalet.

Watson says he and Armstrong had to choose from over 1000 pictures, initially selecting 400, then whittling it down to 300 and letting the book's designer choose the final 250 or so that comprise the book. Was it worth it? It's hard to imagine a Lance fan who won't want a copy of this book on his or her coffee table, and even if you're not a died-in-the-wool Lanceaholic, this is a rare and fascinating look at the way a top rider develops both mentally and physically. ... Read more

Book Description

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

Reviews (3)

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

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

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

Amazon.com

This revised and updated portfolio includes nearly 200 images by the master portrait photographer. The best known faces of our time have been memorably "Karshed"--a glowering Churchill (his trademark cigar having been just snatched out of his mouth), a beaming Khruschev peeking out from a massive fur coat, a serene Helen Keller reading a book of Braille with quiet delight, a pensive Tennessee Williams at his typewriter, an impish Margaret O'Brien yanking at her pigtails. Karsh's portraits of fellow artists--especially sculptors and architects--are among his most sensitive and intuitive. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

An insightful and sensetive look at famous 20th cent. people
A wonderful retrospective view of Karsh's most famous photographs.Most portraits are in black and white and capture rare insights of the most influential people in the arts, politics, academics and entertainment. All photographs are brilliantly reproduced, most in full page format. The comments by Karsh reveal personal insights adding a dimension of accessibility to the most revered in our century. There are also numerous excellently reproduced color portraits, which along with the black and white portraits, are reproduced in a wonderful satin finish. There are many portraits from the 40's and 50's including his most famous portrait of Winston Churchill and powerful portraits such as the back of Pablo Casals playing the cello in an austerely but masterfully lit setting.

This book is a genuinely beautiful work of art. It will bring joy to the young and old at heart and will prove to be one of those treasures which one is proud to cherish for generations.

Exceptional photographic studies of familiar faces.
This is a must have book for the portrait photographer. Or for anyone who just enjoys famous faces.Years of wonderful portrait studies of people we all know and admire. These portraits make us feel as if we are really getting to know these people up close. Such emotions are rare to be captured as still images. A SUCCESS in portraiture!!! ... Read more

Book Description

Spectacular in scope yet intimate in detail, The Way We Live transcends the archetypal style book to reveal global connections and patterns in home decoration. This unique body of detailed design inspiration encompasses the full range of options, from climate, location, and size to surfaces, arrangements, and colors. Whether you’re decorating a beach house in Chile or a loft space in Paris, you’re sure to be inspired by hundreds of images from around the world—a Moroccan house that coolly mixes the modern and traditional in elegant interiors; a dramatic arrangement of shells decorating a tabletop in Mauritius; flowers strewn across bare floorboards for a Christmas feast in Sweden. The enormous range of places here highlight connections and parallels of very different habitats in a way both striking and reassuring. The same attention to detail can clearly inform the layout of a dining room in a modest Mexican home as it does an exclusive club in Buenos Aires. This encyclopedic tome, a sublime visual record of how we construct and adorn our living spaces, celebrates our communal experience of the home.

From coastal hamlet to urban center, design expert Stafford Cliff compares architectural styles and decorating details from every corner of the world, whether it is a modest adobe dwelling whose contours complement those of the earth or a skyscraper of glass and steel that contrasts the natural terrain. The ingenuity of each culture shines through in the instinctive use of colors and materials, and in the way the spaces are inhabited.

The world tour of interior design elements and accents is lavishly presented in more than 1,000 glorious color photographs by famed lifestyle photographer Gilles de Chabaneix. Humble yet interesting structures, objects, and settings are all viewed with the same eye as the grandest homes, the rarest antiques, or the most exclusive addresses. From an unadorned Vietnamese sitting room to a bustling Neapolitan street market; a modern London flat to a baroque drawing room in Versailles; an Indian palace to a Chilean café, here is a world where old and new, organic and synthetic, happily coexist. And within these interiors, a myriad of choices and inspirations are seen in the contrasts between stark simplicity and sumptuous embellishment, minimal modernism and rococo splendor, the self-consciously urbane and the authentically rustic, the uniform and the eclectic. Fabrics, textures, and ornamental details reflect the complexity of different spaces and lifestyles, spurring countless ideas for personal self-expression. It seems that the way we live is not always defined by where we live.

Commentary on communal open space, which connects us to one another, and a meticulous guide to sources and materials round out this ultimate treasury. Both beautiful and practical, The Way We Live is much more than a decorating guide—it is a design for living. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

simply the best
I have bought countless books on design, style and interiors.

If vision sees more than just design, if space creates more than just line, if living feels more than just fine;then this is your book and inspiration for creating dreams. ... Read more

Book Description

Revered as a father of modern photography, August Sander (1876– 1964) so refined the art of portraiture that his moving images of his fellow countrymenhave been heralded both as an important sociological document and a photographicmasterpiece. But those images make up only a portion of this deluxe seven-volume set,which will stand as the definitive collection of Sander's considerable achievement.

The books include some 150 never-before-seen images and essays by leadingexperts on the German photographer's work. Praising Sander's "vision . . . hisknowledge, and his immense photographic talent," the writer Alfred Döblin said: "Thosewho know how to look will learn from his clear and powerful photographs, and willdiscover more about themselves and more about others." ... Read more

Amazon.com

A digital camera is functionally identical to a traditional film camera in all respects except image storage, right? Not at all, and Mikkel Aaland shows exactly why in his excellent Shooting Digital. He shows why digital cameras--the point-and-shoot variety as well as fancier models meant for professional photographers--are overall neither better nor worse than cameras of older design, and goes on to show you how to take advantage of their special traits. He shows how to compensate for their shortcomings, too, notably shutter lag (for which he documents a useful testing procedure) and color fringing. Though there's some coverage of creating animated GIFs, this book generally sticks to shooting time and leaves editing to other volumes.

Aaland never forgets that digital cameras should be more cameras than digital, and his book serves as an excellent photography text for hobbyists and aspiring professionals. The author's advice in this area is both technical (how to light a still life and how to best a strobe to eliminate shadows) and artistic (why kids should be encouraged to photograph other kids, and how you can use perspective to create weird effects). He's an accomplished photographer who obviously loves his work, and his enthusiasm for making art with a camera--and, for that matter, just playing with one--come through brilliantly. --David Wall

Topics covered: Photography--of objects, people, places, action, nature, and other subjects--as accomplished with a modern digital camera. Emphasis falls on the relationship between camera and subject, as defined by focus, lighting, composition, and motion. Further attention goes to image manipulation accomplished via camera settings (like white balance and exposure, and, a little bit, to post-shoot processing with image software. There's also nice coverage of the differences among various image file formats. ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Terrific guide
Who doesn't have a digital camera these days? But how well do we understand our technologic wonders? Regardless if you are using a basic or prosumer camera, after reading Mikkel Aaland's Shooting Digital, you will be an expert ready for most any situation. Aaland, a well-published author, photographer and leading authority on Photoshop and Photoshop Elements, offers easy-to-understand tips from 34 professional photographers. Though packed with useful information for all users, reading is enjoyable and not laborious. Aaland properly introduces readers to their cameras as well as the technology behind digital photography. In depth discussion is offered for portraits, children, pets, social events, action, minimovies, traveling with your camera, interiors & exteriors, landscapes, panoramas, organizing and sharing your photos and much more. Numerous sidebars of text focusing on special tips and techniques are spread throughout the book. The book's companion website is disappointing since many pages are still under development. It is difficult to find anything to criticize about the book. Digital photographers of most all levels of skill will find Aaland's book of value and will likely refer to it often.

Advice to the new digital convert
Digital media are not film. For any camera more complex than a point and shoot, a photographer will have to learn about a host of technical differences that effect the ultimate photograph, like white balance, histograms and file formats. Yet these same challenges also offer opportunities for new and creative uses that film doesn't provide.

Aaland aims his book at new converts to digital by explaining how digital differs from film. After a brief introduction to the subject, and the differences between the media, he offers individual chapters on shooting situations that explain how to shot pictures digitally. Chapters deal with portraiture, action and landscapes, among other genres. He uses case studies of particular photographs to show how the photographers adjusted their shooting technique to fit the requirements of digital cameras. I found these examples to be particularly helpful for understanding how I would have to change my shooting habits for digital. There is necessarily some overlap with the general techniques of photography, as when the author discusses lighting techniques for digital portraits. It's comforting to know that there is not much difference in this area between film and digital. On the other hand some of the advice is remarkably banal, as when he describes the "rule of thirds" and then tells you that you should develop composition skills on your own.

There are a few chapters in this book that are so peripheral to the theme of the book, but written about with such detail, that they seemed to me to be added as filler. For example, Aaland includes ten pages on object movies that seemed of little use to the average photographer. (Object movies are a series of digital photographs of an object, stitched together so that they can be presented on a computer as if one was circling the object. Their primary use is in advertising.)

Yet despite these failings, this book certainly eased the transition from film to digital for me. I wish that the author had spent more time using more genres as examples of the shifts required for the change but the book did the job I expected it to do,

Regrettably, this one falls short
The idea of this book is good: include a variety of voices in a methodical coverage of basic photography topics and techniques. The result did not live up to the expectation, however. While the list of topics was good, the treatment was often shallow. (The "tips" and sidebars were distracting and seldom helpful.) Worse, several of the photographs were not well executed, in my view! Overall, I did not feel that my technique was improved having read this book.

Having said that, I did like the idea of including advice from a variety of practitioners. Aaland (and others) also provided sketches of their setups, which I found interesting.

My advice: wait for the second edition when hopefully a good idea will be improved. Meanwhile, wanna buy mine?

Wonderful Book!
This is a terrific book for getting the most out of whatever type of digital camera you have. All too often, books focus on particular brands of camera or software titles. This is a book for every digital camera. Granted, the book starts out with basics which may seem much too elementary for some, but it rapidly gets up to speed. In this way, all audiences, from beginner to accomplished photographer will find something of use in this wonderful book. I have read many, many digital photography books and this is the first one I feel that I can wholeheartedly recommend.

For Experienced and Novice Photographers Alike
When I first scanned this book I thought it might be too simplistic. But upon reading through it I found that it offerred both standard advice for the new photographer as well as solid advice for the experienced photographer who was reasonably new to the digital world. Although I have worked in Photshop for several years now with scanned negatives, I found the straight-ahead practical advice this book offers helpful. Don't know the difference between JPEG, TIFF and RAW file formats? This book will tell you. Want to know how to use a flash so your candid portrait doesn't look like a mug shot? It will tell you that and many other practical tips as well. After going through the basics about digital photography, the book is broken down into chapters based upon the type of photography you might be interested in and how to get the most out of your digital camera.

Like any book of this type, it attempts to have something for everyone, and it succeeds pretty well at that. Occassionally though, it could have offered a little more detail in its quick tutorials. That quibble aside, I think the book would be a fine addition to any photographers bookshelf. While it focuses on digital issues, it also contains a wealth of practical advice applicable to any type of photograpy. Unless you consider yourself a "pro," I think you will get your money's worth out of this book. ... Read more

Book Description

Australia is a vigorous young nation astride an ancient continent. This vast, parched land - the flattest and driest continent - is revealed here in 200 splendid color photographs, including panoramic gatefolds by some of the most distinguished photographers working in the country today. State by state, the images here capture the Great Barrier Reef, the biggest coral reef on the planet; the massive glowing monoliths of the Red Centre in the Northern Territory; the snowcapped peaks and frozen lakes in the rain-soaked wilderness of Tasmania; the lush green plains of the Great Divide; and the scorched stone, sandy deserts, and crystalline white salt lakes of the interior. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Can't wait to travel down under...
Very complete overview of Australia, which is not realy a country, but an entire continent, with various climates and landscapes. Phillip Mathews has done a great job describing the history, the people and nature of this country, and the accompanying photos are excellent. Some of the fold-out panoramas are nearly three feet wide, and vividly sharp. The book also includes a large number of areal shots, which give an unusual view of some of the remote areas, which are still impenetrable for the regular visitor.

Going through the book, you're realy tempted to jump on a plane to this great country down under... ... Read more

Reviews (4)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Book Description

“[New York City subway riders] are members of every race and nation of the earth.
They are of all ages, of all temperaments, of all classes, of almost every imaginable occupation.
. . . Each, also, is an individual existence, as matchless as a thumbprint or a snowflake.”
—James Agee, from the introduction

Between 1936 and 1941 Walker Evans and James Agee collaborated on one of the most provocative books in American literature, Let Us Now Praise Famous Men (1941). While at work on this book, the two also conceived another less well-known but equally important book project entitled Many Are Called. This three-year photographic study of subway passengers made with a hidden camera was first published in 1966, with an introduction written by Agee in 1940. Long out of print, Many Are Called is now being reissued with a new foreword and afterword and with exquisitely reproduced images from newly prepared digital scans.

Many Are Called came to fruition at a slow pace. In 1938, Walker Evans began surreptitiously photographing people on the New York City subway. With his camera hidden in his coat—the lens peeking through a buttonhole—he captured the faces of riders hurtling through the dark tunnels, wrapped in their own private thoughts. By 1940-41, Evans had made over six hundred photographs and had begun to edit the series. The book remained unpublished until 1966 when The Museum of Modern Art mounted an exhibition of Evans’s subway portraits.

This beautiful new edition—published in the centenary year of the NYC subway—is an essential book for all admirers of Evans’s unparalleled photographs, Agee’s elegant prose, and the great City of New York.

Luc Sante, author of Low Life, Evidence, and The Factory of Facts, is Visiting Professor of Writing and the History of Photography at Bard College; Jeff L. Rosenheim, Associate Curator, Department of Photographs, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, is the editor of Unclassified: A Walker Evans Anthology and Walker Evans: Polaroids and was the main contributor to the Metropolitan’s exhibition catalogue Walker Evans (2000).
... Read more

Book Description

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

Reviews (1)

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

Reviews (6)

Simply a stunning book!!
I found Tom Mangelsen's gallery in Jackson a few months ago, and while I was there, I had a chance to see many of his just downright stunning images.

As an aspiring wildlife photographer, I truly appreciate the superb work of Tom Mangelsen. Also, while in his gallery, I had the chance to talk to as well as meet Mr. Mangelsen himself.

This book is just simply stunning. I cannot think of any other description. The many different images of the polar bear in its natural environment has to be seen to be appreciated.

What I like the most about this book over so many other "nature" books is that we get to see the many facets of the polar bears life, from the tender side with a mother and her babies, to the savage nature of these beautiful animals...not just some glossy expose that says nothing.

I would encourage anyone who loves nature photography, whether you are a "couch" photographer/explorer or are planning on a career in wildlife photography.

Heartily recommended!!!!

The best book of the best nature photographer
I discovered the work of Thomas Mangelson about ten years ago in Jackson, Wyoming, when I stumbled across a gallery devoted to his work. The most famous image there, the one of two grown polar bears "dancing," is on the cover of this book.

The book encapsulates all the artistry of this outstanding photographer. As difficult as it is to capture wildlife images, it's doubly so when you are photographing white animals against snow! Mangelson spends some four months a year in the Arctic, enlarging his huge repertoire of images. I can't begin to imagine the patience and meticulous attention to detail that is required to gather these pictures, but I'm glad Mangelson can!

I love the fact that this book shows the chronological sequence in the life of a bear family, and also that it doesn't have captions on each page. That allows you to follow the sequence of images undisturbed by human intrusion - you become a part of the life cycle, so to speak. Mangelson's work enables the viewer to see the bears as a complex family unit in addition to their usual portrayal as hardy predators. It cannot fail to move the viewer; this is a book to savor again and again.

I'm a huge fan of just about every image this photographer has ever published, and this book is, to me, the culmination of his work. I recommend it to everyone, bear fan or not!

Essential, wonderful personal story, captivating photos
This is an essential book for polar bear and nature photography lovers alike. There are over 250 photos of polar bears, and arctic wildlife captured in the beautiful frozen world they live in.

I found the photography truly captivating. The adorable bears are shown splashing in the water, dancing, taking afternoon naps & wandering through the snow. There is even one of the mother making friends with a sled dog.

I was deeply touched by the many images of the cubs snuggling close to their mother. I found the other wildlife photos featuring many foxes and birds equally impressive. The captions for all the images are in the back of the book.

Along with the pictures, there is a wonderful story of a year in the life of a mother polar bear & her 2 cubs. The author switches pleasingly between factual accounts of the arctic world, folklore, & the personal story of the bear family.

breathtaking, impressive photography of the arctic
Mangelsen has created an outstanding work of art that can be appreciated by polar bear lovers and nature lovers alike. The intentional ommission of captions until the end of the book allows the reader to view each photo as a work of art, absorbing the beauty and magic of each piece. It is an essential coffee table book for those intrigued and mystified by the polar bear, and strongly recommended for anyone who enjoys nature photography. A definite bargin in the world of nature photography books.

An absolutely stunning wildlife book
Polar Dance is in my opinion the most mind-blowing book on bears I have ever seen. I am an artist who works with faux fur, specializing in the creation of all species of bears. Polar Dance is the most treasured of all my wildlife books. The photographs of the ice bear taken so sensitively evokes my deepest emotions each time I turn the pages. I can almost feel the cold and snow out there on the Arctic. I reach for this book often for inspiration and even comfort. I never cease to be amazed at how beautifully Thomas Mangelsen has portrayed the "Tiger of the North". Certainly he has done justice to perhaps the most magnificent of God's creatures. Polar Dance is more than a book. It is a work of art. ... Read more

Book Description

Herb Ritts is one of the most notorious and successful photographers working today. The Los Angeles-based imagemaker has created portfolios for Vogue, Vanity Fair, and other magazines, done movie ads and music videos, and worked with fashion-world clients such as Calvin Klein and Giorgio Armani. This sumptuous catalogue, published to accompany an exhibition at the Fondation Cartier pour l'art contemporain in Paris, includes an interview with Herb Ritts. One hundred photographs, some previously unpublished, exemplify the rigorous, disconcerting work of one of the most remarkable photographers of the contemporary art, fashion, and entertainment worlds. Herb Ritts's subjects include Antonio Banderas, Sandra Bernhard, Louise Bourgeois,Charles Bukowski, William S. Burroughs, Francesco Clemente, Joseph Fiennes, Dizzy Gillespie, Mel Gibson, Keith Haring, Stephen Hawking, Michael Jordan, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, B. B. King, Roy Lichtenstein, Ewan MacGregor, Nelson Mandela, Edward Norton, Robert Rauschenberg, Christopher Reeve, and Tina Turner. 94 duotone photographs. ... Read more

Reviews (14)

Beautiful book. Great to own in memory of Herb Ritts.
Herb Ritts passed away on Dec 26 at the age of 50 from complications of pneumonia.

This book is a fabulous collection of his work (at a reasonable price). This book is a collection of black and white photographs by the fabulous fashion photographer.

The photographs are well printed and luscious. Herb Ritts' photographs will be sadly missed.

Beautiful coffee table book & conversation piece
I received this book as a gift. I can't tell you how many times at a party or get-together at our home someone has picked this up, and then it has become the topic of conversation. The book gets passed around the entire night because everyone wants to look at it, and once someone starts flipping through the pages they simply can't put it down because they want to look at every image. Several of the photos are of celebrities, but they are somewhat disguised. Example: Cindy Crawford made up as a man. It is fun to do a "double take" as you try to guess who some of the subjects are. As always, Herb Ritts' images are masterpieces. This was a wonderful gift.

A Mixed Bag of Photographs
This catalogue of the retrospective of Ritts' work in the mid 90's at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston by its very nature has a lot of photographs that are included in previous volumes: many of the nudes, the African photos, the series called Duo and "celebrity portraits." Unlike many celebrity photographers, Ritts was able to create photographs that rarely if ever are duplicates of either his or other artists' work. You get a good sense of that from looking at all of the small copies of all the photos published at the end of this volume. That is no small accomplishment. Many of the nudes and/or erotic photographs have been around for so long and reproduced so often that they have almost become cliches. For example, the series of "Fred With Tires." These show up in calendars, refrigerator magnets, posters ad nauseam. The nine photographs of Bill T. Jones, one of which graces the cover of this hefty volume, should be called "Eunuch, I-IX." The poor man has been castrated by the stroke of an airbrush. I assume we are politically rather than anatomically correct here. This show was clearly no repetition of the Mapplethorpe Exhibit in Cincinnati!

Celebrity photographs are often just that. They are interesting only if you know the model. A fine portrait photographer can shoot someone we do not know and make that person interesting to us. Many though certainly not all of Ritts' photos rise to that level. For that reason, he will always be revered as an artist. I would put the photos of Whoopi Goldberg, William Burroughs and Mike Ovitz in that category, to name three. Even if we did not know who these people are, Ritts makes us want to know them. Proof of this, at least for me, is that I was mesmerized by the photo of Ovitz and didn't have the slightest idea initially of who he was. These photographs are intriguing and draw the viewer in. Finally, for my money, the three incomparable shots of Eunice Kennedy Shriver are simply the best portraits in the book. The first time I leafed through this volume, these fantastic shots jumped out at me.

I treasure my signed copy of another of Ritts' books. I'm sorry that he will never take another photograph.

Amazing
Although, sadly, Herb Ritts has passed away I'm sure he'll be remembered as one of the greatest celebrity photographers ever. With that being said, I'll admit that I am NOT a Hollywood-glam-celebrity fanatic, and I hate public obsession with celebrities. However, I will admit my admiration of Herb Ritts' introverted and sophisticated images of Hollywood identities. I keep my copy of "Herb Ritts: Work" next to the wild and outgoing "Lachapelle Land" by David Lachapelle, which together show an interesting contrast in approach to celebrity photography.

The first third of the book is comprised of Herb Ritts' nudes and "unearthly" abstract nudes, most of them photographed in the 1980's. The remaining are photographs in Africa and his famous artist and celebrity portraits. One of my favorite photos is of photographer/sculptor Joel-Peter Witkin with his son, a rather down-to-earth and affectionate portrayal of such a "macabre-oriented" artist.

I was always intimidated by the price of this book, but I knew I had to have it. Luckly, I got a new 1st ed. copy for about thirty-bucks with online auction (I'm sure the seller was hitting himself on the head with it). However, I would've WELL paid $135+ on this as it is one of the most well-bound luxurious photography books I've seen. The book itself is finely printed, and I would definately recommend adding this "essential" to any monograph book collection.

Herb Ritts: Work
I was mesmorized by this book! Herb Ritts has the ability to not ownly create a beautiful portrait, but to capture I personality of his models. Each photograph tells a fabulous story of fantasy, glamour, and often just everyday life. I would highly recommend this collection. Among my favorite celebrity photos: Johnny Depp on the set of Edward Scissorhands, Jim Carrey dressed as a Mermaid, Tom Cruise on the set of Mission Impossible 2, the tattooed arm of Axle Rose, and a mysterious grin by Roy Lichtenstein. These photos are also large enough (most are at least 8x10) to remove and frame. ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description

There are many practitioner books on different branches and styles of photography (e.g. landscape, studio, American, etc). Some of these even cover digital photography, as it exists today. However, there are very few research books on the meaning and practice of domestic photography, and almost none on the potential impact of digital technology on this important and widespread behaviour.

Audiophotography combines a detailed "user studies" approach to photography, with consumers' own critiques of new media content they have generated themselves. It is therefore a new book about domestic photography and its possible transformation with digital technology. Although it focuses on the role of sound in photography, it does so in relation to a new theory of photography which is tested and refined by empirical research.

Such work is timely because of current interest in new media forms and the wide variety of new photography and video products and services emerging in the consumer market. It defines a new media type, audiophotos, and how it works, and should help readers to understand the possible benefits of other innovations in the digital photography industry. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Medical Photography ? techniques and equipment
Sections on patient photo-techniques, type of camera and flash equipment are very well detailed, are excellent and very well illustrated. However, chapter on digital photography was poor and not consistent with the quality of the information found in the rest of the book. In summary, this is a very good resource for interns/residents/fellows, medical photo technicians and physicians in practice. ... Read more

Book Description

* Shows film and video makers new to Final Cut Pro how to get down to work with this complicated, professional-level video editing software
* The Macintosh platform, which includes Final Cut Pro, owns 58 percent of the video editing software market
* Topics covered include working with new program features, organizing media, using advanced editing tools, harnessing audio and video filters, applying transitions, creating motion effects, compositing, rendering, and outputting to tape, CD, DVD, or the Web ... Read more

Book Description

" A breathtaking collection of flowers by celebrated photographer Harold Feinstein, One Hundred Flowers features over a hundred luscious portraits of dahlias, roses, anemones, poppies, pansies, orchids, tulips, azaleas, peonies, and other varieties in exquisite detail. The enormous scale of these flowers allows us to examine and explore their intricacies as never before possible in a book. These botanicals are dazzling in form and appear to, be living, breathing--in all their fragility.In hear delightful introduction to One Hundred Flowers, popular gardening author Sydney Eddison enlightens us on the elaborate structure of flowers and explains the role it plays in their reproduction. Of Feinstein's sumptuous yet quietly contemplative photographs, she writes: "While they obviously are flowers,--they have another kind of life, mystical and imperishable." Horticultural commentaries by expert Greg Piotrowski precede each floral grouping, as well as brief descriptions of the individual species, numbered to correspond to the pictures. These notes include hints about cultivation, cultural and historical facts, and colorful literary references--making the book as useful and informative as it is beautiful. Finally, a passionate essay by acclaimed critic A.D. Coleman offers insight into Harold Feinstein's work and details about his life as a master photographer and teacher. One Hundred Flowers is the perfect gift for gardeners, photographers, and anyone who delights in the beauty of flowers." ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Absolutely beautiful.
The number of photographs in _One Hundred Flowers_ is astounding. The colors contrast beautifully against the black background. It's as breathtaking as the publisher claims, and more. Sydney Eddison's introduction, "A Bee's Eye View," leads readers into the photographs and in the essay, "Engendered is the Flower," A. D. Coleman talks symmetry, comparing Feinstein and Chaucer in the timing of their work.

With each section there is a 3- to 6-page piece about the flowers in the photographs (White Flowers, Roses, Pansies, Poppies, Orchids, Irises, Sunflowers and Dandelions, Cosmos and Daisies, Floral Diversity, A Name for Every Flower). Some of the photos remind me of drawings in pastel oils, such as the doubled-flowered evergreen azalea on page 105, the bouquet of pink evergreen azaleas on page 107, and the large picture of a modern rose on 32-33. I can only imagine the modern rose photo hanging on my office wall. Absolutely beautiful.

This book is huge. Place it on your coffee table and company will naturally gravitate to it. Any cultivator or artist will appreciate its ability to bring the conversation around to nature and art. My first thought was my daughter and her drawing class. This book can inspire many ways of sharing it. Be sure to look up all Feinstein's floral books. They are well worth the effort.

One Hundred Flowers
I have spent years practicing meditation and exploring the Christian and Buddhist concept of living in the moment and appreciating the beauty of the world around you. When I saw Harold's book I understood! Each image is breath taking and you see the extraordinary in the very flowers that go unappreciated and we pass by each day. He captures the meaning of "being in the moment" with each image...perfect in thier imperfection, beauty beyond belief and exquisite treasures...a meditiation and reminder to slow down, and "smell the roses"...and lilacs, and peonies, and dandelions, and iris, and lilies.... I can't wait for his new book on...FOLIAGE!

beautiful book
This is a beatiful book with extreme close-ups of many different types of flowers. The large size also is a plus so that each image looks grand and brilliant.

Vivid colors, perfect pictures.
I use this book in an artistic setting... The art room in my school has this book, and though I have not taken one class, I felt compelled to try and draw some of these magnificient flowers. They've come out pretty good, but it's not about that. This book is spectacular. The colors are so bright and vibrant. I've flipped through it countless times, and am never bored. I feel like I'm walking in a garden, every time I turn the page.

a feast for the eyes, a boost to one's well-being
This book will add to your quality of life - it is just phenomenally beautiful. ... Read more