Book Description

Time-tested lighting strategies that will improve the quality of a portrait are detailed in this book for beginning photographers. Terminology used by industry pros is explained, the equipment needed to create professional results is outlined, and the unique role that each element of the lighting setup plays in the studio is explored. Photographers learn how color, direction, form, and contrast affect the final portrait. The concise text, photo examples, and lighting diagrams enable photographers to easily achieve traditional lighting styles that have been the basis of good portraiture since the advent of the art. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Learning from a master
Christopher Grey is a master of photographic lighting, and this expertise shines through in his latest book, appropriately titled, Master Lighting Guide for Portrait Photographers. Grey eases his readers into the topic with a discussion on the properties and quality of light and a review of modern lighting equipment, both store-bought and homemade. Then, after an informative chapter on lighting ratios (a frequently misused and misunderstood term) he embarks on an instructive and comprehensive journey that covers everything from classic lighting styles to the advanced lighting methods used by today's top studio photographers. Beautiful color photos and helpful diagrams complement each scenario.

Grey's writing is conversational and witty, which is a blessing when one is digesting material that, in duller texts, can quickly veer off into technical mumbo jumbo. In addition to his lighting information, he sprinkles every chapter with plenty of useful advice - things he's learned during his 30-year career - for saving money, choosing backdrops, building trust with subjects, capturing better expressions and much, much more. I'd recommend the book to anyone interested in portrait photography. The photographs alone are well worth the purchase price, but the lessons enabling readers to create similarly stunning photos make the book an extremely good value. ... Read more

Book Description

The photographs by Annie Leibovitz in Women, taken especially for the book, encompass a broad spectrum of subjects: a rap artist, an astronaut, two Supreme Court justices, farmers, coal miners, movie stars, showgirls, rodeo riders, socialites, reporters, dancers, a maid, a general, a surgeon, the First Lady of the United States, the secretary of state, a senator, rock stars, prostitutes, teachers, singers, athletes, poets, writers, painters, musicians, theater directors, political activists, performance artists, and businesswomen. "Each of these pictures must stand on its own," Susan Sontag writes in the essay that accompanies the portraits. "But the ensemble says, So this what women are now -- as different, as varied, as heroic, as forlorn, as conventional, as unconventional as this."

... Read more

Reviews (42)

I'm not Thomas, I'm his daughter, he used my computer to ord
er from Amazon and Now His Name is Stuck on My Account

So much for a title.

Annie Leibovitz's book requires no words. Sorry, Susan, I didn't read your text. The best way to enjoy Annie's photos is to set aside your search for a defining message about women. There isn't one. Women are varied creatures just like the rest of humanity and nature.

Don't you just love looking at them? Don't wish you could get a closer look? Don't you wish the interesting one's would stand in just the right light so you could get a better look? Didn't you always think Hillary C. was beautiful, but you didn't know why?

Thank you Annie Leibovitz for taking the interesting women and standing them in a beautiful light and binding them in a huge book so we can stand and stare as long as we want.

Enough said.

Image as Everywoman
Fiction is my preference when writing book reviews, because I love the complexity of words, stories, and the vagaries of human nature with its endless permutations. But when I received Leibovitz's astonishing compilation of photographs as a gift, I thought I might attempt an impression of page after page of females, as seen through the professional eye of one of the most important photographers of our generation.

Who has not gazed in awe at Leibovitz's unusual perspective, the beautiful made even more so? But I want real women with wrinkles and dirt under their fingernails, the kind of women overlooked in the rush to worship human perfection. I want to see if there is a balance, not just the too thin, too gorgeous, too self-indulgent. In that regard, I believe Women contains a preponderance of well-groomed elegance, albeit impressive, for instance a breathtaking portrait of Gwyneth Paltrow and her mother, Blythe Danner. This particular image contrasts a young woman in the blush of her feminine power with the graceful progression of years that adds to a woman's complex attraction. To be sure, there are folios of celebrities, socialites, all those who live in the rarified strata of entitlement.

While not as numerous, the presentation of real women like me, those who inhabit my world, are so powerful as to diminish the bland compositions of society's darlings. The studies of abused women jump off the pages, eyes glazed, the immediacy of domestic violence tattooing their faces, staring into a future devoid of hope; a remarkably insightful photograph of Ellen DeGeneris, virtually unrecognizable under a layer of cracked white greasepaint; two pre-adolescent girls in the back of a pickup truck, displaying a row of leggy blonde Barbie's, with Ken in a faux high school letter jacket, his plastic Prom Queen sporting a crown atop hair that cascades down the length of her body; three young Latino women glare accusingly at the lens, displaying gang colors with pride, ambiguously dangerous; the lines of age score lived-in faces, eyes shadowed by years of struggle, etched finally by the exhaustion of daily survival. For me, these pictures contain the essence of womanhood, untainted by ubiquitous vanities.

In all, Leibovitz "sees" these women, their strengths, frailties and vulnerabilities. This series of images is a walk through the multi-hued, textured world of women, esoteric, generous, often brutally honest and unflinching. Luan Gaines/2004.

A moving and exceptional book
This is definately my favorite book, and one I enjoy giving to special women friends. Annie Leibowitz has managed to capture the full spectrum of women, from the subdued and simple to the succesful and sophisticated. It is a moving book and a celebration to women's individuality and uniqueness. I warmly recommend it.

Just a name
Although the idea of this book is worthwhile, I am amazed to find so many of the images out of focus. She is supposed to be a fine photographer, but maybe it is this title that has allowed her to feel okay with displaying such poor examples of portraits. It seems she rushed through the work just to get the book published as I don't sense that she put too much heart into the work.

Very Enlightening
I loved the book "Women," this book not only gave information on what all these amazing women do for a living, but it showed the pictures of them at work. A lovely tribute to WOMEN all over the world! ... Read more

Book Description

During the golden age of American theater on Broadway, the names of stars such as Katharine Hepburn, Marlon Brando, and Ethel Merman were writ large on theater marquees. Playwrights such as Eugene O'Neill, Thornton Wilder, Tennessee Williams, and Arthur Miller offered a new play every season.

Photographer Eileen Darby came onto the theater scene in 1939 and eschewed the stiff portraits and fixed tableaux that were in vogue. Her style of photographing not only onstage but also backstage and during rehearsals allowed an intimate look at the creative process of theater.Darby photographed more than six hundred shows during her career, and her portfolio has become the definitive photographic record of theatrical history.STARS ON STAGE is the culmination of Darby’s career in the theater’s golden age and includes dozens of previously unseen pictures of stars such as Lucille Ball, Montgomery Clift, Marlene Dietrich, Bette Davis, and Gregory Peck.As well as the people who created the shows, including Rodgers and Hammerstein, George Abbott, irving Berlin, and Anita Loos.With an overview of the theatrical period by John Lahr and a biographical portrait of Darby and her work by Mary Henderson, STARS ON STAGE is one of the most dynamic books on this most fascinating period of American culture. ... Read more

Book Description

For over 50 years, Richard Avedon (b. 1923) has captured the creative genius of our time with dazzling insight and incomparable style. Spanning the artist's entire career, from the late 1940s through his most recent work, Richard Avedon Portraits offers a superb selection of his photographic portraits.

With uncompromising directness, Avedon portrayed his subjects against a white background, with no extraneous details to distract from the essential specificity of face, gaze, dress, and gesture. This challenging innovation, coupled with the artist's intense interest in his subjects and mastery of his craft, resulted in mesmerizing portraits-among them Truman Capote, Willem de Kooning, Samuel Beckett, Francis Bacon, and Marilyn Monroe, as well as the uncelebrated Americans of his project, "In the American West"-that rival the greatest works in the portrait tradition.

Richard Avedon Portraits is published to accompany a major exhibition at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. With its innovative accordion-style design and superb reproductions, the book is a virtual stand-alone mini-exhibition in its own right. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Marriage of Book and Exhibit
Richard Avedon wears several hats. As an artist creating innovative commercial images; He is behind the most dynamic magazine pages of the day,... He is witness of the greatest generation to social and political fact; He tells stories of icons and common men. He places them alike: actors, writers, poets, politicians and artists. The poet who recites through his lens.
Published to accompany a major Metropolitan Museum of Art exhibition, Richard Avedon Portraits celebrates His lifetime of achievements and almost does justice to the work.

The Book as Art
RICHARD AVEDON PORTRAITS is a stunning work, not only because of the usual expected glory of his photographs, but because of the genuinely artistic concept behind this catalogue for a Museum Exhibition. Slipcased, the book opens as an accordian with single and diptych/triptych photographs viewable by placing the unscrolled book on a tabletop or bookshelf. Not that there are any new moments here: this is a collection of some of Avedon's famous faces and bodies, curated for a specific purpose. But to view Andy Warhol together with his co-creators of his photos and films standing on one page clothed and on another nude intensifies the manner in which Avedon's manner of capturing the star's works so well. We are treated to a full face of Francis Bacon and in the next panel a partial view of his entire body. All manner of odd characters inhabit these deliciously synchronous pages. The back side of this tableaux discusses Avedon, his influences and appropriations from painting and other art forms, and does what it sets out to do - make the pieces of the tableaux relevant in the history of the time in which they were photographed. This is a clever and rewarding book and the book itself becomes art. ... Read more

Book Description

Providing a concise look at the foundations of posing, this guide illustrates the ways in which key posing strategies flatter the lines of the body, creating definition, dynamic lines, and a camera-friendly posture. Photographers learn how to analyze the facial features of their subjects to ensure the most flattering positioning, how to finesse fingers for delicate or strong hand positions, and how to adapt a pose for a man, woman, or child. Strategies for artfully posing couples, large groups, under- and overweight clients, the elderly, and everyone in between are detailed. With techniques and images from nearly 50 of the industry's most notable artists, this valuable sourcebook offers something for every film and digital photographer. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A great instructional book with stunning photographs
Upon opening The Portrait Photographer's Guide to Posing I was presented with a stunning photo of an exuberant bride and I realized immediately that I could learn much from this book. I was not disappointed as I learned many subtleties about positioning the face, placing the hands and fingers and identifying flaws and working around them, etc.

The book is illustrated with extraordinary photography from many masters of portrait photography. The work is so beautiful and the text so insightful that it pulled me along turning pages like it was a new Dean Koontz novel.

I didn't think that posing was a subject that warranted an entire book but I am proved wrong by the Guide to Posing and I look forward to applying what I learned in my work. ... Read more

Book Description

Countless black women would rather attend church naked than hatless. For these women, a church hat, flamboyant as it may be, is no mere fashion accessory;it's a cherished African American custom, one observed with boundless passion by black women of various religious denominations. A woman's hat speaks long before its wearer utters a word.It's what Deirdre Guion calls "hattitude...there's a little more strut in your carriage when you wear a nice hat. There's something special about you." If a hat says a lot about a person, it says even more about a people-the customs they observe, the symbols they prize, and the fashions they fancy.

Photographer Michael Cunningham beautifully captures the self-expressions of women of all ages-from young glamorous women to serene but stylish grandmothers. Award-winning journalist Craig Marberry provides an intimate look at the women and their lives. Together they've captured a captivating custom, this wearing of church hats, a peculiar convergence of faith and fashion that keeps the Sabbath both holy and glamorous.
... Read more

Reviews (26)

Symbols of Reverence
"Crowns: Portraits of Black Women in Church Hats" is a genuine treasure and a breathtaking illustration of fine art. Photographer Michael Cunningham and journalist Craig Marberry exemplify the meaning of a queen with their artistry. The first portrait invites you to begin a journey that will lead you page by page through history with the inspirational and candid stories of each woman bearing a Sunday worship service crown. Truly this book extends to all religions by exploring one simple, but ever important symbol of showing reverence to God.

Insight into why "We" wear hats!!! It's me all over!!!
I am called the "Hat Lady". I relate to the queens in the book. In fact, some of the ladies made comments that I found to be very profound, i.e, wearing a hat in a coffin. I wear hats and love them. Like the ladies, when I put on a hat I stand taller, walk with a strut, and feel I am invincible. It's something about a hat that seems to add to my stature. "Crowns" gives a lot of insight into why we look so good in hats. It's true it's all about attitude and self-esteem. I try to wear them at all times. "Crowns" is relative. I felt so good about myself after reading it. The queens really put hats in their proper perspective in relation to African-American women. I always get a compliment like, "Girl, you're wearing that hat" from one of my sisters and from strangers I hear, "That's a bad hat you got on." (Mostly males) Several times I saw myself in those. I smiled and shook my head at the comments. It is a story that needed to be told. I commend the author & photographer, for I found no fault with "Crowns". A good read.

Hooray for Hats !
The black and white photos are as expressive as the wonderful stories about how these charming ladies began their love affairs with hats. Each story is unique and also very much like the others. There is lots of unexpected humor. I have been inspired to continue wearing and buying more hats. Love the book. Thank you Mr. Cunningham and Mr. Marberry and all the ladies who shared their thoughts and their hats.

Gorgeous elegance
"Crowns: Portraits of Women in Church Hats" brought to memory many Sundays in church when I was a child. Women walked with regal grace when wearing their church hats. I saw some of these women during the week and many were plain and quite ordinary in appearance. But at 11:00 on Sunday morning, they were elegant and stately as they strutted, in their church hats, towards their seats in the sanctuary. The photgraphs are as beautiful as the women they portray. This is a "must have" book for any woman who loves gorgeous hats and the women who wear them.

A Must Have for Students of American History
This is THE book that friends will pick up FIRST from the top of your coffee table at home or at work.

Beautiful message, pictures and content. ... Read more

Book Description

Over the last two decades, photographer Greg Gorman has carved out a classically refined style that is uniquely his own. In his portraits of Streisand, DiCaprio, De Niro, and Travolta, his fine art work, and his major ad campaigns, Gorman’s images suggest a mastery of the medium that few have rivaled. Continuing his exploration of the male nude, Just Between Us is a highly charged work focused exclusively on one model. During a year of shooting, an unusually collaborative relationship evolved between artist and subject. What unfolds is a photographic narrative unfettered by convention — a bold compilation of images unmatched for its candor and sexuality. 250 photographs are featured. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Greg Gorman's "JUST BETWEEN US" - a special book.
Greg Gorman's "JUST BETWEEN US," recently released by the "boutique" publishing house, Arena Editions, is a collaboration between the very well known and admired photographer and his subject, Greg Knudson. The quality of the work is exceptional in several respects. Gorman, has long ago established himself as a master photographer and has nothing to prove further concerning his considerable skills. What Gorman has created here is a photographic essay featuring one gentleman, Greg Knudson. In certain respects it is not unlike the collaboration between Bruce Weber and Peter Johnson in Weber's now famous "The Chop Suey Club" which was also published by Arena Editions. However, Weber certainly took into consideration that his model (at least at the beginning of their effort) was quite young. Weber appears to have been very sensitive to this fact and produced a beautiful book that showed great respect for his model, Peter Johnson. In Gorman's collaboration with Mr. Knudson, a mature gentleman, both photographer and model could in good taste go much further than Weber did with Chop Suey. The book, with Greg Knudson as its striking focal point is certainly sexy and sexual. It is without a doubt a "no holds barred" work on the male nude, and goes well beyond what one might expect in a serious photographic essay on the male nude. For all who encounter the book, it will certainly be striking, while for some it may be shocking. However, no one will walk away from the book considering it ordinary. It is anything but that. As for the volume itself, it is beautiful and well-made. The paper used is of high quality heavy stock; the clothbound cover is beautiful and a great deal of attention has obviously gone into the production of the volume as a whole. How a volume of this quality ands size can be retailed at such a low cost is amazing. The first printing will probably sell out before I finish writing this piece - AND IT SHOULD!!

Just Between You, Me & Our Darkest Fantasies....
Greg Gorman, the sensation behind, " As I See It, " once again expresses with the lens why it is that he is THE name when it comes to male nude photography. Unlike that "other" photographer iin this genre, Gorman produces a photographic journal that leaves viewers weak and panting for more.
Using a single model may be deemed as shallow and superficial by some, but its an arousing journey into discovering the individual elements of a young man on the brink of manhood that combine to explosive results. Greg Knudson is an innocent angel on one page and a full fledged sex puppy on the next -- arousing a unique combination of sensations and emotions in the viewer. It feels like a voyeuristic peeping tom excursion, only having received previous approval from both Gregs as it were.
This book represents quality at its very best from the cloth binding to the textured sepia prints .. all 200 plus pages.... plenty enough to allow for even the most jaded skeptics to fall panting at Greg's ( in this case, the model ) feet. To be devoured time and time again.

Mr. Johnson this is for you
Boring, tasteless and unoriginal. Photographer has an obvious fixation...which has kept him from paying attention in many cases to contrast, tone, and line. One star for the big you know what, the real model here. I'm sure book has its merits, but they aren't artistic. Putting my copy up for sale!

A Picture is Worth How Many Words?
The dust jacket description of this book as "Shocking" is the gravest underestimation I've heard this week. I never imagined newsstand fleshmag material elevated to fine art, the model expressing the same delightful tone of tawdry sexuality and the photographer the same intent as those (not so cheap anymore) monthly thrills, pictured for posterity. Bruce Weber's "Chop Suey Club" (which I bought the same day as this one, triumphantly for only a couple hundred dollars) is sentimental, but I would say this collection is more valuable for its daring. Therefore, if you have any inclination towards this book BUY IT NOW!!!!!! I won't feel sorry for you when you have to bid at auction for this book for hundreds more, because you know how Arena Editions are, as our beloved "Chop Suey Club" is: rare, limited edition printings, instant collector's items, etc....It's almost a sin to devalue it and tear off the shrink wrap. And no, I'm not going to sell my copy, so that's one less on the future market.

More than just another pretty face
...I also think there's more going on in these images than Gorman's luscious black&white ganders at Knudson's anatomy. As an academic who thinks a lot about gender roles, and sexual orientation, I find this collaboration between a gay photographer and a straight model a provocative exploration of those very issues. The most interesting images are not those where Knudson is showing off his (admittedly fabulous) body parts, but those that seem to question men's relationships with their bodies and the roles society expects them to play... There's a sort of innocent charm in these photos, a heart warming candor, like a Norman Rockwell picture of a boy and his dog. (Okay, laugh if you will, but I mean it.)... Bravos to both Gregs in this project. ... Read more

Reviews (17)

This book is a classic - timeless and striking.
The Family of Man - first published in 1955 - is the pictorial record of one of the most riveting exhibitions of photography of all time. The book, which contains some text, is a poignant treasure of the human condition - from birth to death. It shows man's relation and connection to life, regardless of country or language and all that we share through love, pain, rituals and simply coping. The phrase " a picture is worth a thousand words" comes alive in The Family of Man.

A brilliant presentation of the human spirit on film
This book details the Family of Man photography exhibit composed of photos that Edward Steichen collected from photographers throughout the world. From the intro by Carl Sandburg (his brother in law), to the photographs of birth, life, death and the emotions and events in between, the book shows true humanity through the eyes of the camera. Featuring works by many famous, but yet unknown photographers, this book is a true treasure. When you glance at its pages you will discover new perspectives, or maybe something inside yourself. This is not a picture book, but a photo biography of the human race. If you are tired of coffee table books that sit unopened, pick up this book a few times and share it with your friends. You will read it again and again, discovering new secrets with every turn of a page.

Most wonderful wonderful and yet again wonderful
First time I saw the pictures collected by Edward Steichen was in the permanent museum of the exhibition, Clervaux in Luxembourg.

I was keeped almost in silence from entering to exiting and the message of the pictures was striking to me then - and 15 years later it still is.

This is a collection of pictures from all the world, picked between Thousands to be the best pictures to describe the family of man as we ALL are. No matter of colour, religion, origin or political believe we are all sons, fathers, lovers, hungry, thirsty, at times fearful and at times playful - WE ARE ALL ALIKE!

This message is as important now as it was in the 50` and looking at extreemist and the war of terror, you can only wonder how come we have learned nothing in 50 years.

The book brings me back to Clervaux and the thoughts about life, and each time I stop at a different picture or text, that captures the essence of where I am at that time of life. The book is universal not only to man but also to moods.

However happy I am to own the book it is nothing compared with the exhibition in Luxembourg. I can only say that I returned and will return again, and for the full experience of these pictures I will recommend it to all.

Note that all (but one) customer reviews are 5 stars!!!
This is simply the best collections of photographs that I have ever seen. The book dates from the 50's, but the subject matter... humans... are the same today. Buy this for yourself, of as a special gift for a special person, and you'll not regret it. (I only wish it were still published in hard cover)

Beautiful, Thoughtful
I have given this book as a gift many times over the years, and can't recommend it enough. The photographs are beautiful, giving the viewer a sense of what is common in the overall human experience. Simple, straight-forward in content, and very moving. An essential volume of photographs. ... Read more

Book Description

In November 2003, the musician and photographer Bryan Adams began photographing a cross section of influential American women dressed in new and vintage Calvin Klein. Shot mainly in New York and Los Angeles throughout 2004, American Women is a tribute to the beauty, strength, and character of American women. Hillary Rodham Clinton, Katie Couric, Jennifer Aniston, Gwyneth Paltrow, Scarlett Johansson, Hilary Swank, Serena Williams, Venus Williams, Lindsay Lohan, Christie Brinkley, Sarah Jessica Parker, Eartha Kitt, Aerin Lauder, Marlo Thomas, Nan Kempner, Paula Zahn, Cindy Crawford, Alice Sebold, Amber Valletta, Katie Holmes, Eve Ensler, and Lauren Hutton are just a few of the women Adams selected from among America’s most notable actors, journalists, musicians, artists, businesswomen, athletes, and philanthropists, all lovingly and glamorously captured by the camera of a rising star in the field. Produced in close collaboration with the Calvin Klein company, American Women is Adams’ third book of important women. His first, Made in Canada (Key Porter, 1999), benefited the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation and featured influential Canadian women such as Linda Evangelista, k.d. lang, Shania Twain, and Pamela Anderson. Based on its success, he published a second book, Haven (Trebruk, 2000), in the U.K. Benefiting the Haven Trust, a breast cancer support center in London, the book raised a considerable sum for the charity and received widespread press. For that book, Bryan photographed HRH Queen Elizabeth II, the Duchess of York, Vanessa Redgrave, Elizabeth Hurley, Kate Moss, Julie Christie, Joan Collins, and forty other influential British women. Proceeds from American Women will benefit the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in support of their ongoing breast cancer research programs. ... Read more

Book Description

"The nude has always been a source of inspiration and one of the main themes of photography." The introduction to this small brick-format book—the shape alone already makes it conspicuous—briefly and concisely describes the special quality of this title. Various perspectives of the naked body are presented to the observers’ eyes, representing the diverse interpretations of photographers from all over the world. The motifs Man, Woman, and Pair open up a world of the senses that has much more to offer than just a nude that one can touch. This artful feast for the eyes is a must for everyone. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Woody
This book gave me a bone. Unfortunately, some of the pages now stick together and the only pictures I can still get to are the gay ones. That sucks. Are any of these chicks in videos?

A great collection of nudes from photographys best.
I came across this little book during one of my frequent trips to the photo section of my local Borders and had to pick it up. Mainly due to is very small size.
I was soon trapped flipping through the hundreds and hundreds of pages of beautiful nude photographs, unable to put the book down.
The only text in this book is a bit at the beginning and end and then the name of each photographer before you see their work. Thats it. No rambling text, just great nude photos.
This collection feature many of the worlds best nude photographers and is broken down into three sections. Female nudes, Male nudes, and couple nudes. It really cant get much more simple that that.
The book is printed on good gloss heavyweight paper, as you would expect to find in photo monographs and has a sturdy hardback.
Although a great collection of photos and printed well, I am a bit disappointed in the book size. It only measures about 3inches by 3inches, and because of the large number of photos inside, the weight of the book tends to deteriorate the binding fast if viewed a lot. Also, I have found it hard to find a good place for this tiny book on my shelf. It just doesnt fit in very well. But becuase the book is so good and the downfalls are few, I only took one star.
I still feel that all nude photography fans should purchase this book for their collection at its very cheap price.

High quality paper, beautiful photographs.
The first 60% of this book consists of photographs of women. The next 20% is of males, and the final 20% are couples (gay, lesbian, and straight).

The vast majority of the photographs are black & white and consist of young and beautiful models. There is such a variety of different images, and the same model is rarely used twice. Sexual overtones are definitely apparent throughout the book, along with a few closeups of genetalia.

It is a short book (in terms of height) but it is also quite thick. The photographs take up each entire page and the only text is the artist name at the beginning of each new group of photographs.

Amazing little book
For such a small book -- it measures just over 5"X5" -- this holds a whole lot of great pictures. From the ordinary to the sensual, this book is worth looking at. It really made me want fruit (see pages 28 and 29)!
However, for being a book based solely on perusing, the small size is rather off-putting. It's not the detail that gets lost in translation, but the impact. However, the perfect price for this lets me wholeheartedly recommend this title for those that are interested in photos of nudes. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

A Pleasant Surprise.
I've been collecting David Hamilton books and prints for more years than I'd admit. In the course of those years, I have seen photographers attempt to copy Hamilton's style. Many poor quality books were made of those attempts in the 'seventies, and usually they were awful. That's why people know who Hamilton is but have no idea who those others are. Those are not true artists, and as a collector of Hamilton's work I'd finally believed that he would just never have an equal. Now that he's retired from publishing, I'd guessed that my collection was complete.

Then I found this book here. I'd never heard of this photographer, but I'd read on another site that his work was 'Hamiltonesque'. Sceptically, I bought it. When I received the book, I was pleasantly surprised. The criticisms above are void when we discuss Richard Murrian. While his pictures clearly bear Hamilton's influence, there is a dark and moody feel. There seems to be almost a melancholy recognition that the time of childhood is ending and the more complex world of adulthood, with all it's trifles of relationships, sexuality, and responsibility, is arriving for his models. In style, something of the classical masters is present in the way these pictures are illuminated. One particular picture (on page 119) looks like the Mona Lisa. In terms of composition he comes in tighter, with a majority of the pictures being 3/4 body and portrait shots. Also, his models appear a little older than Hamilton would choose. I'm guessing most of the girls in this book are around 15,16 years, and some of them look to be at least 18. A few might be a little bit younger (the book says he photographed the girl on the cover from age 14 to 18). These are blossoming young women, not Hamilton's "Lolitas". So while his pictures are clearly influenced, they are at once definitively unique. As for the photographer himself, while I don't know his age, there are two photos of him in the book and he is clearly a young man. This isn't another old "has-been" from the 'seventies, this is a vibrant new artist. That is what I find most interesting and exciting, because it makes me wonder what is to come from this guy?

Thank the stars, the world has a new 'Hamilton'. And considering the pace at which this world seems to be regressing into the failed moral constraints of yesteryear, he could not have come at a better time. Godspeed to you, Richard!

A beautiful work of art
This book is a masterpiece.

The female body is beautiful work of art on it's own and has long been the subject of artists of all media. Richard's technique of catching them in such beautiful light and settings, seemingly unaware of the camera, is to be applauded. I have always loved the Pre-Raphaelite soft focus style of photography, and this book is an excellent example of it. I own all of David Hamilton's and Robert Farber's books and Richards book certainly fits in right beside the masters.

I've keep up with Richard Murrian's work from the time he opened "PhotoDreams" until now. I find it amazing that he only started photography in '98 and then only to shoot his, then girlfriend, Nancy. He has proven to have a very gifted eye. I love this book and highly recommend it for anyone who likes the works of David Hamilton and Robert Farber. I look forward to your next book, Richard.

A Thrilling New Vision of BEAUTY !!!
This is the book that longtime fans of Richard Murrian's work have been waiting for. At last - it's here!!!

It's been a long and often frustrating road. Given the supposed "controversy" of Murrian working with young females as nude models, few publishers had the courage to even enter into discussions about publishing his work. But finally, the renown and immensely respected publishing house Edition Skylight took him under their wing and gave Richard the platform he deserved. The result is this book, Reanna's Diaries, and I doubt that anyone will be disappointed. Indeed, it is arguably the most daring and exquisite vision of the human form published in the last decade.

The main subject matter of the book is the young and beautiful Reanna, who first collaborated with Richard when she was just fourteen years old, but there are several other young models featured as well, each a slender, impeccably perfect beauty. Portrayed in Murrian's magical, delightfully romantic and ethereal style, his subjects transcend all traditional concepts of grace and beauty and take on a glorious, almost celestial quality. So, prepare to be spellbound. The production quality of the book itself is flawless (typical of Edition Skylight) and its dimensions of 10.5" x 8.5" is very satisfying. The preface and introductory text are in English, German, and French. It features 201 color plates set against a glossy white background. As an added and very intriguing bonus, each plate is accompanied by commentary (located at the back of the book) where Richard provides details of the picture such as its title, model information, his photographic technique, and various other elements that went into creating the image. A main strength of the book is that even though there are over 200 plates, they are culled from the enormous collection of work that Murrian has amassed over the last few years, and is something of a best-of-the-best collection. This is very cool ... but really puts the pressure on Murrian if he's wanting to produce a follow-up book that equals or surpasses this most amazing initial effort.

The controversy that hovers around Murrian's work is his vision that young girls, at the genesis of womanhood, are subjects worthy of artistic study. But only the most radically puritanical will find anything offensive in the work presented here. Murrian's work is so highly stylized, his sincerity so obvious - if anything this work is immensely and eternally uplifting. Murrian's portraits and nudes are intimate, breathtaking glimpses into the wondrous physical and spiritual qualities of these girls. It reminds us of all the hope and promise, and the splendid perfection of youth that is so precious and so fleeting. This makes Murrian not only one of the most daring artists of our time, it also makes him one of the most important. My only hope is that the world is enlightened enough to understand what he's trying to convey.

Great but not all Reanna
I thoroughly enjoyed the pictures in the book. I was a little disappointed, however, to find out that not all of the pictures were on Reanna. I did not see that anywhere in the description, so I assumed that they were all of her. Instead, there are eight models that are featured, and Reanna is only one of them. Still, though, I found it very enjoyable. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Animal portraits
Walter Schels fotos are stunning portraits of creatures great and small. They provoke a whole range of feelings on the viewers side, some are witty, some proud, some rather funny, clever, serious etc., but always admired beings in their own rights. The book is a statement of the authors underlying love for the animal kingdom.

Recommended for photography and animals enthusiasts!
Walter Schels' photography of animals provides oversized, black and white pages filled with close-up portraits of farm animals and others, displaying striking differences in features and expressions. Artists with a special passion for animals will find this packed with diverse images which, when seen under one cover, do a fine job of displaying animal characteristics and animal art. ... Read more

Book Description

Sante D'Orazio is one of the most important image-makers working in the area of fashion and editorial photography today. Manifested in the sexy and vibrant campaigns he has produced for clients such as Versace, Tommy Hilfiger, Victoria's Secret, Revlon, and L'Oreal, D'Orazio's signature style-a unique blend of art and commerce-has become a mainstay of the fashion industry. Since the 1980s, the photographer has also worked editorially for numerous magazines including American Vogue, Esquire, Town & Country, Detour, Max, Interview and Vanity Fair. In this follow-up to his enormously successful first book, A Private View (1998), D'Orazio again presents his most thrilling images of supermodels like Kate Moss, Christy Turlington, Cindy Crawford, and Helena Christenson, while sharing his best portraits of such entertainment personalities as Catherine Zeta-Jones, Angelina Jolie, Jennifer Lopez, Mariah Carey, Cameron Diaz, Johnny Depp, Sean Penn, and Antonio Banderas. Produced in a large format design, and exquisitely printed on fine Italian paper, Sante D'Orazio, Photographs is certain to delight anyone interested in the art of fashion and portrait photography. Containing loads of previously unpublished material as well as D'Orazio's classic editorial work, Sante D'Orazio: Photographs is a sexy tribute to one of today's most impressive photographers. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

private view redux
I hate to post something unenthusiastic about such an exciting photographer, but "Photographs" was somewhat dissapointing for me -- I'd read/viewed with great interested his previous book, "a private view" -- which was fantastic. "Photographs" brings back a lot of those same images in a larger format, on worse paper, without the exciting layout and at twice the price. (Had "private view" not been published or were it out of print, I would have rated this book higher.) I think D'Orazio is one of the most exciting fashion photographers working today and I was ultimately saddened that there's not a whole new books worth of photographs here. If you have the option, buy "a private view" instead.

Relaxed Female Nudes
If photography books were rated by how relaxed, natural, and open the models are, this book would be a five star book. Many of these images have not been published or shown before.

Before going further, be aware that this book contains many tasteful female nudes and one male nude. If this book were a motion picture, it would probably have an "R" rating.

The book has two serious flaws. First, many of the two-page spreads are devastated by the center crease of the binding. The images should be been skipped or reproduced differently. Second, many of the images are vapid. Whenever Mr. D'Orazio moves away from doing a female nude in motion or with a prop, there's often not much there.

The best of the book is outstanding, and if you overlook the spoiled and uninspiring images, you will be very pleased. Mr. D'Orazio at his best has good talent in composition and use of shadows that make his work much more interesting. When he models work with a prop, whether a cigarette or something more substantial like an easel or a skull, magical things usually happen. The book uses a very fine quality matte paper that reproduces the subtle shadings well.

His unadorned and propless female nudes are a tour de force in one sense. He shows you something you haven't seen before in these people (most of whom are celebrities). Few photographers can accomplish so much with so little, but the viewer (unless totally addicted to the celebrity) wants a bit more.

I found Mr. D'Orazio's portraits of men and humanless scenes much less rewarding. Julian Schnabel and Mike Tyson were the exceptions. He captured something there that was quite remarkable.

As Mr. Yau says in his brief essay, "His subjects seem to have stopped for a moment, relaxed and let down their guard." "Some have even transformed themselves into someone unexpected . . . ." For example, you will see a different side of Julia Roberts. "The men . . . project their image of masculinity . . . ." "All of this D'Orazio captures with a painter's eye . . . ." I disagree with that last comment. The images seem to me to be much more sculptural than painterly, and that is to the good.

Here are my favorites:

Kristen McMenamy, 1986, Shelter Island, New York

Eva Herzigova, 1996, Long Island, New York

Sofia Loren, 1999, Milano, Italy

Julia Roberts, 1996, Culver City, California

Frederique, 1996, St. Barth's

Suzanne Lanza, 1986, Peconic Lodge, Shelter Island, New York

Eva Amurri, 1999, New York City (this is quite remarkable and appears on the back of the book's dust jacket)

Mike Tyson (the second one), 1996, Las Vegas, Nevada

Sylvester Stallone, 1996, New York City

Claudia Schiffer, 2000, London

Eva Amurri and Susan Sarandon, 1999, New York City

Polly Mellen and Leilani, 1992, New York City

Kate Moss, 1995, Glen Cove, New York

Julian Schnabel, 1990, (paint splattered with canvas and easel), Montauk, New York

Courtney Love, 1999, Los Angeles, California

Stella Schnabel with Skull, 1999, New York City

Drew Barrymore, 1993, Hollywood, California

After you enjoy this book, I suggest that you think about what the book teaches about relaxation. When do you drop your "social mask" to be relaxed and experience yourself more fully? Those who are most relaxed here, look most alive. How can you achieve this more often and benefit from it?

Take off your cares and worries!

A stellar work!
Finally, a book of celebrity photographs which transcends the formula of merely exposing famous skin! Here is a book of rare and intimate sensuality which brings to the viewer's eye a private and lush sensuality which seems coaxed out of the sitters and never forced. D'Orazio is a genius and this book is one of the most amazing gifts I have received in years. I am buying it for several friends as it is a surefire, sophisticated winner. MORE!!

Class & Quality for Grown Ups
A classy arrangement of fashion and famous, in the flesh. Top quality paper and dense inks ensure faithful and luscious reproductions without MTV-in-your-face-image-overcrowding. I bought this book as a gift for my husband; I probably should have bought 2 -- one for pin-ups and one for the coffee table!

Impressive.
Sensual intriguing images showcase D'Orazio's artful style. An elegant and lush volume of work that will add spice to my personal collection. D'Orazio has a style all his own that is truly inspirational. I love this book. ... Read more

Reviews (60)

The Shakespeare of the Lens
As a young man utterly fascinated by women, I find THE AGE OF INNOCENCE, like many of Hamilton's other books, invaluable - at least as far as the visual content goes. Most of these dozens of girls appear to be in their mid-teens, but one notices not so much their sexuality as their personalities. Thus, one girl has a strong domineering streak, another a maternal aspect, yet another a carefree, fun-loving disposition, and still another an impish and sly character.

The content of THE AGE OF INNOCENCE is bound to elicit some negative reception, but consider that many of these photos show fully clothed models and few are really provocative. In fact, the more provocative photos, such as those from the series at the end showing young lovers roaming the beach and preparing for love, are my least favorite. Also, the introductory essay is embarrassing and many of the quotes liberally interspersed throughout this lengthy book - even those by writers many of us would normally accord respect - are jarring in their comparative lack of subtlety. There can hardly be any more proof of Hamilton's artistry and intentions than his making certain verbal poetic evocations of females and their nature clumsy and unnatural by comparison. So, my advice is get the book and avoid most of the text (Shakespeare is one of the few assets in the writing department here).

I rate this book five stars notwithstanding the reservations noted above. And, although many of these photos have appeared in previous Hamilton volumes, their quantity and variety compensate for this.

Pleasing to the eyes? Yes. Pornographic? Not one bit.
This is definitely the prettiest book I have ever seen. One of the best books to come out of Great Britain ever, and surely one of the world's finest photo-art books. This is not pornographic in any way; those who think it is do not know the true definition of the term. This book is a celebration of youth and beauty as experienced by these young girls. If you appreciate what is truly beautiful in our world, then you will purchase this book. If you don't, you will surely be missing out. The portrait on page eighty-one is worth the price of the book alone.The quotations accompanying the photographs are thought provoking, and, in this reviewer's case, educating---I am now reading Ulysses as a result of this book! So, you may even improve your literary skills as a result of this book. Any way you look at it, this book is a real treasure, and congratulations to David Hamilton on a job well done.

As complex as its subjects
This is possibly the most beautiful set of photo portraits I've ever seen. Like the subjects, though, the beauty has a scary side to it.

There's a lot more to say. The pictures are intense, and more intense as a collection. I'm sure everyone who sees it will have more to say, and everyone will say something different. For that matter, I could discuss this in three or four contradictory ways. This time, I prefer to let the pictures speak for themselves and to let the readers form opinions of their own.

Beautiful Subjects
Physical beauty is something that we have for only a brief period in our lives. It is a temporary stage during our lifespan. Unfortunately, we discourage young women from sharing their physical beauty with others who can appreciate it. It really is quite a shame that we try to enforce modesty. David Hamilton gave us this gift so that we may be able to share his admiration for the young, female physique. I am grateful to the young subjects, who were gracious enough to share their beauty with us.

This is a remarkable book. It is obvious that David Hamilton is very passionate about his subjects. He has taken his appreciation and admiration for young women and shared that enthusiasm with the world. I highly recommend this book.

Barely Misses the Mark
If I could have rated this book 4 1/2 or 4 3/4 stars I would have. It certainly is a beautiful artistic endeavor. However, it fails the mark of perfection because of a few (VERY FEW) photos that are too suggestive for girls of their age, and a few comments by the author that would seem to provoke dangerously misleading thoughts in the minds of young people who might get their hands on this book. As the step-dad of a teenage girl I have experienced first-hand the confusion of an easily inluenced child, who lacks the full capacity to reason and misperceives what she has seen and heard. Too many (pre-teen and teen) children think they are supposed to be sexually active, and there are certainly a few paragraphs, and several photos, in this book that would help contribute to that pattern of thought. Otherwise this is a finely crafted work. Many of the photos are soft, muted, elegant, and almost dream-like, while others are sharp and rich in color and contrast. There are full figure studies and a variety of portraits. Some of the girls look confused, content, generally happy, thrilled, curious, and some disgusted. Unlike similar works by other photographers, the majority of the models do not appear to be emotionless, melancholy, or tormented. There are no portrayals of violence or mishap. The quotes from classic poetry are at times provocative but still tasteful and refreshing, especially if you are one who enjoys traditional Western European poetry. The author/photographer makes several attempts at poetic verse but they do not work so well. I do realize that the entire theme of The Age of Innocence is the psychological tumult experienced by young girls who are approaching womanhood, so the sexual element does have to be "taken with a grain of salt." As an artist and photographer I do highly recommend this book and treasure my own copy, but I strongly suggest caution when selecting an audience to share it with; teenage boys are not a proper audience. Overall this is quite a clean representation of the human form and psychology of young women. ... Read more

Amazon.com

It looks like a gorgeous nostalgia trip to judge by the cover imagealone. The photo is of an old school record player that lies unplugged, awhite label test-pressing waiting on the turntable, while a band of paperwrapped around the cover announces the title in ye olde woodblock-lookingtype, American Music. A reading of the small type on the back coverreveals the image to be the very record and turntable left in ElvisPresley’s bedroom the day he died, and the mind reels, thinking aboutwhether the King listened to this record on that day or not, and who are theStamps, anyway? An excellent selection of musician portraits interspersed with crumblywooden jook joints and wide open fields in the South, American Musiccovers a wide gamut of jazz, blues, punk, country, hip-hop, rock and roll,folk and gospel musicians. And while most of the pictures were shot between1999 and 2002, some go back to the early 1970s, when Leibovitz first becameRolling Stone magazine's chief photographer. Some of the artists arevery well-known (Michael Stipe, Dolly Parton, Bob Dylan) and some of themare not (Jessie Mae Hemphill, Other Turner, Carlos Coy). Leibovitz reallyhas a way of relaxing her performers, and this is a great part of her gift.Even when the pictures are so posed as to be ridiculous (like, what'sMichael Stipe doing on that bedbug-ridden mattress—-the guy's abillionaire?), she catches her subjects at their most "real."They are lostin their music, or just doing some "real person" thing (look, there is Beckin his car—does Beck really drive his own car?). The presentation may be alittle hokey, but this book is sure to please most any music fan.--MikeMcGonigal ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Classical?
OK, think for a minute what it means deep down to chronical AMERICAN music.
That would be music that comes from the Delta and from Chicago and spread from there as essential Blues, Jazz, Rock and Roll and later forms of Pop. Classical came to us from Europe, what these artists represent are the outcome of truly American born music. I'm staggered that anyone would not make that connection..
And yes, we know that some may find Iggy Pop "ugly", but American Music isn't all about chicks that look like Britney Spears..

Don't know what these other folks are talking about.
Gee. I've never heard that poor aesthetic quality is an essential element of art. I'm not even sure what "poor aesthetic quality" means. But if it describes the heartbreaking, iconic portrait of Johnny Cash and June Carter, then I surely want more of it. These are beautiful, sometimes funny and often emotionally moving pictures in which the subjects collaborate with the artist to present a certain face to the world. Maybe not all the faces are completely honest ones, but they're interesting and beautifully photographed.

Popular Music Gets Really Ugly
A few of the pictures here are very good, but for the most part, this presents Pop Music in the same manner that "Sunset Boulevard" portrayed the movie business. Most of the photos are dull (scores to choose from), moronic (The White Stripes, Eartha Kitt), or just plain ugly (Iggy Pop, Joni Mitchell, Johnny Cash,at least another dozen).

While some peeople argue that poor aesthetic quality is an essential attribute of "art", there is no excuse for the lack of technical competency shown here. Most of the photos here look like the work of a person who has no camera skills. If the bad aesthetics are deliberate, then it seems clear that the photographer regards musicians with great contempt, judging by how she portrays them here.

Pass on this, and just get copies of your favorite rock music magazines if you want a collection of good pictures.

What is Missing, Speaks Volumes!
This is more of an observation rather than a review... There isn't a single classical musician shown in this book.. I find that very depressing yet not totally unexpected. The title of this complication should really be Popular American Music. So many great classical American musicians such as Leonard Bernstein, to use one example who covered the entire musical spectrum, surely deserved a place in this book... ... Read more

Book Description

Photographers learn how to gauge the needs of their clients before placing them into a stale, preconceived "women's," "men's," or "children's" pose that hardly fits the client's personality or preferences. Provided with a two-pronged approach to fail-safe posing, photographers learn first to determine what the mood of the portrait should be and how to use an appropriate posing genre-traditional, casual, glamour, or journalistic. Photographers are then shown how that genre can be used as a basis to produce a pose that best suits the client, allowing them to create dynamic yet natural-looking pose that the subject-and the intended recipient-will love. ... Read more

Book Description

Philip Jones Griffiths, for a record five years the President of Magnum Photos, created in Vietnam, Inc. a record of the war there of almost Biblical proportions. No one who has seen it will forget its haunting images. In Agent Orange he has added a postscript that is equally memorable.

In 1960 the United States war machine concluded that an efficient deterrent to the enemy troops and civilians would be the devastation of the crops and forestry that afforded them both succour and cover for their operations. Initial descriptions of the scheme included "Food Denial Program", later adapted to "depriving cover for enemy troops". They gave the idea the name "Operation Hades", but were advised that "Operation Ranch Hand" was a more suitable cognomen for PR purposes.

The US had developed herbicides for the task. The most infamous became known as Agent Orange after the coloured stripe on the canisters used to distribute it. The planes that carried the canisters had 'only we can prevent forests!' as a logo on their fuselages. They were right. It was very effective.

Unfortunately the herbicide also contained Dioxin, probably the world's deadliest poison. In Agent Orange Philip Jones Griffiths has photographed the children and grandchildren of the farmers whose faces were lifted to the gentle rain of the poison cloud.

Some maintain that the connection between the maimed subjects of Griffiths' photographs and the exposure to Agent Orange is not scientifically established. However, the compensation payments made by the herbicide manufactures to those Americans sprayed in Viet Nam refute this assertion.

Historians will find it sufficient to say that there will always be collateral damage, that useful PR phrase, in war and that Philip Jones Griffiths should understand the consequences of martial endeavours. He most certainly does. He has catalogued here a pitiless series of photographs, and there can be no doubt that they should and will be recognized. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

The Black Book of American Infamy
For those already committed to voting for the so-called 'antiwar' candidate, I recommend putting this book in front of Sen. John Kerry and demanding to know what he will do as president to address American responsibility and pay reparations for the genocidal assault on the people of Vietnam. Such action will constitute a litmus test for this candidate, his "band of brothers" and future warriors about how the USA intends to solve the problem of terrorism. Will they acknowledge international law and prosecute the guilty parties including politicians, bureaucrats, executive military officers and defense contractors? Will they honor, finally, the Paris Accords and repair the ecocide brutally wrought upon the Vietnamese by their chemical weapons? Or will they continue to cover up a deliberate, malefic genocide by honoring war criminals like Kissinger and McNamara who now cries cinematic tears while his Pentagon successors plan the mass destruction of any nation that dares to oppose American hegemony?

Philip Jones Griffiths's AGENT ORANGE, COLLATERAL DAMAGE IN VIETNAM is a complex, dense statement that can be viewed and read several ways. Foremost, it is unquestionably the greatest work of photojournalism ever published. I do not make this statement lightly or without professional judgement. For twenty-five years, I edited the work of distinguished photojournalists -- Capa, Richards, Salgado, Peress, and Nachtwey among many others. Comparable only to W. Eugene Smith's MINIMATA: LIFE -- SACRED AND PROFANE, a passionate chronicle of the devastating effects of post-WW II industrial pollution on a Japanese town, AGENT ORANGE surpasses all previous attempts to synthesize the medium of still photography with historical documentation. Griffiths's masterly images unselfconsciously insert readers into the scene of an historical crime and guide them through the evidence page by excruciating page as a means to elicit direct testimony from the perpetrators and their victims. With the possible exception of Erich Maria Remarque' s ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT, no other monograph so successfully confronts citizens with the folly of leaders who commit atrocities in their name. The stares of genetically deformed children struggling to articulate humanity across the threshold of pain and disability give absolute lie to the facile excuses of national security used by politicians to conduct high tech assault-and-battery on unwitting, innocent populations. Then it was Vietnam, today Iraq and Afghanistan.

Beginning with his eloquent book, VIETNAM INC. first published in 1971, Griffiths has pursued an unrelenting inquiry into the truth of violence and war. He reported from the Mekong Delta battlefront and also the brothels of Saigon. Returning years later, he earned the trust of farmers who had rebuilt their devastated villages with the detritus of war. Pushing his inquest further he located and photographed war orphans, now shunned as the miscegenated offspring of foreign invaders (DARK ODYSSEY, 1997). Infrequently supported by the mass media, Griffiths parlayed his skills as a commercial photographer to raise the cash necessary to return periodically to Southeast Asia, as if excavating its pitted landscape for some fragment of reason that might explain the macabre body counts and haunting trans-generational birth defects. Some photographers are celebrated for their commitments in documenting a family coming of age or the rise and fall of a nation. Journalism schools promote the virtues of in-depth or extended coverage (sometime a whole week!) while network and cable news personnel embrace the fame of sticking with a big story only to defer, in the final analysis, to the desire of corporate sponsors. By contrast Griffiths has the determination of a seasoned forensic scientist. Although no maverick, he has paid the price of banishment from the newspapers and magazines "of record" whose editors remain too frightened by management to commission or publish his work. Why would they want to remind subscribers of their own inaccuracies and slavish pandering to the official story?

In this respect, AGENT ORANGE can also be read for its scholarship because it presents new historical research about the manufacture and deployment of chemical weapons during the Vietnam era. It has been almost twenty years since American courts acknowledged the gravity of dioxin poisoning in rulings on lawsuits filed by military veterans. Yet companies who supplied the military with these chemical defoliants continue to falsify experimental data on their products' potential for birth defects. Our government stands mute on the issue of "peace with honor" and refuses to contribute any meaningful economic assistance, nonetheless stipulated in the treaty with Hanoi. The war's apologists and neoliberal ideologues continue to deride Vietnam as a failed socialist experiment. Griffith's photographs and words rip their lies to shreds and dissolve their chauvinism in the cold truth of twisted limbs, hare lips, and hydrocehpalic fetuses preserved in formaldehyde. AGENT ORANGE is the black book of American infamy, its author has given citizens a priceless instrument to test their politicians sincerity and commitment to peace. Buy a copy and ask Kerry for a clear statement of conscience!

The ticking "time bomb" uniting two cultures once at war.
In September, 1976, just back from eight years helping homeless streetchildren in Viet Nam, I wrote an Op/Ed piece for the New York Times (