Book Description

Reviews (23)

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

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

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

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

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

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

Amazon.com

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

Reviews (10)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Here are some of my other favorites:

Fiona Apple, Los Angeles, 1997

Bob Dylan, Los Angeles, 1998

Michael J. Fox, Burlington, Vermont, 1993

Merle Haggard, Lake Shasta, California, 1994

Billy Bob Thornton, Toronto, 1997

Bob Dylan, New York City, 1995

Pat Conroy, Charleston, South Carolina, 1995

Charlize Theron, New York City, 1997

Jerry Seinfeld, Los Angeles, 1998

Will Smith, Los Angeles, 1997

Winona Ryder, New York City, 1997

Jerry Seinfeld, Los Angeles, 1994

Drew Barrymore, Bell, California, 1994

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Book Description

Here is New York was founded in response to the events of September 11, and to the flood of images that resulted from it. The idea was simple: to present images of the event by as many different people and from as many different perspectives as possible. In the days following September 11, the organizers asked for pictures and were inundated with slides, negatives, prints, and digital files from photographers of every description, not only top photojournalists and other professionals, but rescue workers, firemen, police officers, school children, and amateurs of every kind. In order to underline that it was the images themselves that mattered, rather than their makers, the photographs were all digitally scanned, printed out in exactly the same format, and hung from wires without attribution or frames in a Soho storefront in downtown Manhattan.

The book Here is New York will be the most comprehensive and authentic document of what occurred.It will bear witness to what seemed unimaginable, memorialize the people who perished and the rescue workers who served so heroically. Most of all, the book will be a testimony of people speaking directly to each other about their fears, their emotions, and their desire for community.This desire is one of the strongest by-products of the horrible events of September 11. It is also what distinguishes Here is New York from any and all other books about the event.

Proceeds from the sale of the images and the book benefit The Children's Aid Society's WTC Relief Fund. To date, Here Is New York has donated over $600,000.00 to the Society. The democratic nature of the exhibiton has allowed it to expand to simultaneous exhibitions including shows at The Museum of Modern Art, New York; the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs, Chicago; and The Daytona Beach Community College’s Southeast Museum of Photography. To continue to express the magnitude of this event and expound upon the democratic message of this project, exhibitions will be mounted simultaneously throughout the world this summer and fall to memorialize September 11th. The exhibitions will open in London, Tokyo, Zurich, Arles, as well as several other American locations including Washington, D.C. The pictures communicate where words are insufficient, each tells one part of this tragic story.

The Here Is New York exhibition has been featured in all of the major New York newspapers and by many local and national television networks, including CBS, PBS, NBC, ABC, CNN, and National Geographic, Oprah Winfrey, Rosie O'Donnell, Dateline, and 60 Minutes . International press from the following countries have covered the exhibition: the United Kingdom, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Germany, The Netherlands, and Japan. The book Here is New York will receive extensive press coverage as well.

Slipcased hardcover with dust jacket, 864 pages, 12 x 8.25 inches, 720 color and 160 duotones ... Read more

Reviews (35)

Sobering Reminder
I understand that some people below were shocked at finding the photo of a severed leg in this collection. They all promptly seem to have demoted the book's worth to a single star. That doesn't seem an appropriate response to me. The book is almost 1000 pages long and there's a single photo showing what was unfortunately a very common site that day. I'm not suggesting that the publishers should have added more gory photos to the book. I'm saying that an honest portrayal of September 11th shouldn't shy away from accurately depicting the real horror of the event. What happened that day was horrendous, the acts, despicable, so let's not try to whitewash what happened by requesting a G-rated depiction.

This book is stunning in the literal not the sensationalistic sense of the word. I read it cover to cover the day I got it and was provoked to remember the day (as we sometimes need to) all over again. As others have pointed out, this is not a sensationalist tome at all. No captions accompany the photo, neither are the names of photographers provided with each photo. No, the focus is entirely on the subject matter.

If you don't want to remember, don't pick this book up. I'd argue, however, that for the sake of our children and our society, we all need to remember this event and remember it well.

No textbook will ever be as valuable in recounting 9/11.
I first heard about this book on CNN, a few months after 9/11. I would stop at the book in the bookstore, and flip through. I could never get through more than 10 pages because it was too emotional. I finally bought the book, over two years later, and after a personal tragedy of my own, made myself get through it. The book is composed of so many photographs that are only a split-second in time, I found myself wondering what happened of so many of the subjects -- the man who picked up and read a random piece of paper out of thousands that had been blown out of the building, the woman on page 281 who reminded me all too much of the little girl running away from her napalm-bombed village in Vietnam in the famous photograph. I was not in New York on September 11. I was bartending, in a bar in Atlanta, where every television was on the news, and the packed restaurant sat silent. Though I still can't imagine what it was like after viewing this book, I have realized that September 11 was so many different experiences to so many people. Snapshots of many of those, even one similar to mine, are portrayed, and reinforces the magnitude and impact the events had on so many.
To get on my soapbox for a while, the "severed leg" picture -- not only was this picture justified in being included, as well as the pictures of persons jumping from the buildings, it was absolutely necessary in conveying the events to future generations. When we think of the holocaust, 6 million people is a difficult concept to grasp. But when we see pictures of mass graves, people in the ghettos, etc., we realize the value of each individual person, and how each of them didn't deserve their fate. Similar is my sentiment toward the more gruesome photographs. Their inclusion was absolutely necessary to convey the death of each individual person -- the pain they left behind, the family that will miss them, and how each person didn't simply disappear into a 8x11 flyer with their smiling picture in it.
One of the most powerful things in the book is the quote from which the title "Here is New York" was taken -- a segment written 50 years ago by E.B. White, ironically the author of "Charlotte's Web," the story so many of us read as children. It expresses his fear of how New York, in all of its glory and modernization, was incredibly vulnerable. The passage is incredibly prophetic.
When I have children, and they ask about these events, as I did when I became curious as to where my parents were when JFK was assassinated, I will show them this book.
If you can handle the impact of this book, I highly reccommend it. It will make you appreciate your loved ones more, it will make you remember what so many went through.

The Next Best Thing to Visiting the Storefront
Exhausted after wandering through lower Manhattan looking for friends lost, I came upon the Here Is New York storefront. No sign announced this storefront -- only a line of dazed people drifting inside, many clutching photos to be pinned to the clotheslines strung overhead. Nothing relates the stunning horror of that time, except these candid and brutal snapshots taken by regular people on that most irregular day. These photos convey the horrors for which there are no words. I can't look at this book without smelling the smoke all over again.

Truly amazing
I just got this book and it is the most comprehensive book out there on September 11th of what happened that day. I went through it all in one day and after I was finished the thoughts and emotions that went through me on that day all came back.

There are some pretty disturbing photographs in there so I would not recommend it for children or even for family members who lost someone in the trade center. I am sure you have read already about the leg photo but there is another one that i was as disturbed by. It was the one of the north tower by the impact hole where the plane went in. There are actually people standing in the hole looking down not sure what to do. I had never seen that picture before and I started crying thinking what could be going through those people's desperate minds.

As the two year anniversary of this horrid day is quickly approaching, this book will be a testament to what we went through that day here in New York and should be in your library to always remember what we went through as a nation and overcame as a nation.

9/11 as it happened
What happened on 9/11 was horrific, stunning and chilling. This book shows you what the scene was on that day and the days afterwards. Many comments have been made about the 1 photo of the unbelievable horror that occured that day. Yes, there was no sticker to tell you it was coming, but do you really think a book about 9/11 wouldn't include some photos that make us all disgusted? I have found too many publications that whitewash the event so as not to offend, but we lose our desire not to let it happen again as it becomes a distant memory. Many in this country have already forgotten that day and what it felt like and how sickening it was and if this book, however small, makes us remember how we felt that day and how proud we were to be Americans, then it is worth it over 1 photo. ... Read more

Book Description

Blending powerful photographic imagery with eternal biblical truth, The Image of God considers man as he is portrayed in the Bible. Combining 160 full-color photographs with 70 Bible display verses, a rich story-driven text, and complete photographic and cultural notes, this exquisite coffee-table book presents a powerful witness to the abundant life that God intends for all mankind. ... Read more

Book Description

Steve McQueen is a handsome photographic art book featuring William Claxton's unique photographs-images that captured the young, controversial American actor in the beginning of his movie career during the 1960s. Claxton's photographs confirm that McQueen's all-American, off-beat good looks were every bit as stunning as his acting and his often-stormy off-screen personality. McQueen continues to be an icon for the youth of yesterday and today. Often labeled as a maverick, a rebel, a tough guy, a loner, and a daredevil, McQueen was, above all else, an American original. Claxton, a sometime buddy of McQueen's, has captured on film not only McQueen's talent and perfectionism, but also his less well-known sensitivity and sense of humor. Along with these photographs, most of which have never been published before, are Claxton's memories and recollections, including anecdotes creating a very personal vision of McQueen. Steve McQueen features action shots of McQueen with his motorcycle buddies, in his fast cars, with his leading ladies and fellow actors, including scenes from several of his early and best films. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

A Fitting Photo Tribute
According to his foreward to this book, the photographer William Claxton met Steve McQueen in 1962 when McQueen was starring with Natalie Woods in LOVE WITH THE PROPER STRANGER. The two men formed a friendship and apparently Mr. Claxton became Mr. McQueen's favorite and most requested photographer. This book of wonderful photographs, covering a couple of years in Mr. McQueen's life from 1962 to 1964, is a result of that brief friendship. Most of the pictures appear to be shot in available light and have a wonderful, informal spontaneity about them impossible to capture in formal portraiture. Both the photographer and subject are comnpletely without pretention.

Mr. Claxton caught Mr. McQueen smiling, clowning and pensive. There are photographs of McQueen in fast cars as well as on motorcycles. Many of the shots were done while Mr. McQueen was working on movies. There are also many pictures of him with family and friends. Most of the shots are in black and white with a few in color. Every time I look at them I find yet another photograph that I think is the best in the book. There is a haunting shot of McQueen with his young daughter where the child, sitting on the floor and resting on her arms, looks into Claxton's camera. We only see her father's legs and feet. (p. 79) Another great shot appears on page 73. McQueen is embracing the family cat. Finally, there's a shot of McQueen lying on a blanket in a large field. His profile is beautifully backlit. Both photographs selected for the front and back covers are fine, informal portraits as well.

This book made me remember how much I enjoyed Steve McQueen's movies and made me sad that he is no longer among us.

Leaves you begging for more
A wonderful work of art that captures what made Steve so charismatic and appealing. It leaves you wishing you could see more from other periods in his life. This is a book I will treasure all my life. Thank you Amazon, I would have paid ten times as much for this book. God Rest His Soul.

Leaves you begging for more
What an incredible set of images from a short time span in Steve's career. The only thing is, you really want more, from other parts of his life. Everything that Steve McQueen meant to his fans and his genre of movies in the 20th century is captured here, and then some. Do not miss this book. Amazon, I would have paid ten times as much for it. I will treasure it the rest of my life. God Rest His Soul.

Not the posed movie star photos we're used to seeing.
This book is jammed with high quality pictures of McQueen before he hit it big. He is a popular actor at this time in his life, not yet the full blown international star, and this book provides a window into his life. The best part of this book is that there's very little stereotypical posing (the cover is one of the posed shots) and it seems more of an old collection of pics that a friend pulled out a ratty shoebox--very intimate and loose. And it helps that the friend is talented. The weaker part of the book is the personal anecdotes--they're fine and insightful but brief. But you can buy a biography to fill in the blanks.

Another amazing William Claxton book!
This book chronicles the life of Steve McQueen as seen with the vision of one of America's greatest photographers. Profiled recently in Vanity Fair magazine, this book will become an instant classic. These very personal pictures show a private side of McQueen that most people never knew - graciously shared from the archive of a photographer that has lived (and photographed) incredible moments of American culture. ... Read more

Book Description

In this stunning pictorial journal, 100 talented professional and amateur photographers, many of them award winners, have captured the essence of our most profound relationship: family. Cutting across race and nationality, their photographs -- chosen from 40,000 entries worldwide -- bring to life the intimate moments and emotions shared by all families, whether in Australia, Rwanda, Colombia, or the United States.

Taken from the most ambitious photographic competition and exhibit ever staged, the M.I.L.K. Collection -- Moments of Intimacy, Laughter, and Kinship -- these photos depict the joy, heartbreak, and love that shaped and make up our lives. Here are the bonds that bring us together as parent and child, sister and brother, youth and elder. From a father's first look at his new baby to a weathered grandma's embrace, the laughter of octogenarian uncle and nephew to the promise of a mother's kiss, these powerful images tell the story of humanity and celebrate its deepest emotional connection.

The M.I.L.K. project was conceived to honor what it is to be part of a family. Look at the men, women, and children on these pages. In their faces you will recognize yourself and your loved ones, for you, too, are a member of the great kinship that is the human family. As James McBride writes, "without family, we are all a tribe of nomads, cut adrift, disconnected, wandering the earth with neither time nor place nor history to give our aching souls a home." Family is a universal homecoming, a commemoration of the human spirit itself. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Beautiful Series
I was in Auckland, New Zealand at the end of my Christmas vacation, and walked into the M.I.L.K. exhibit by the harbour. The exhibit moved me like I had never been moved before. It made me laugh, cry, and brought a great end to my trip. Best yet, the books contain more shots than the exhibit did. The only problem with the book compared to the exhibit is that the explanation of the photographs are at the end of the book and not on the pages so one must flip back and forth a lot (the stories behind all of the pictures are half of the experience). I highly recommend the entire series- very well worth the money.

Moving
This wonderful book with images of family moved me to tears and laughter page after page. If you are part of a family you will be moved and want to share it with members of your own family.

Disappointing Book
While this book had the potential to be a real stunner, sadly
it falls short. First of all, the book jacket and 5 large
pages of written comments are practically illegible because
they are printed in silver ink. Very difficult to read.Why even
bother? Secondly, there are several fold out pages which are irrelevant, more gimmicky except for one vellum page imprinted with the profile of a child, which presents a lovely soft-looking image and then the more intense image.
Third,the photographs at the start of the book are just blatantly there...upon investigation, again with tiny print in silver, one gathers they are there to introduce the various topics of m.i.l.k.But their placement there does nothing to whet one's appetite. It seems redundant to see the same photo,
later in the chapter in which it belongs.

Fourth, the print size of the photographer's name next to the
photo is too miniscule. Again, difficult to read. Fifth, while the poetry and quotes are okay, I think it would have been more appropriate near each picture to have the information about the photographer instead.
After all, the photographers responsible for the images come
from all over the world, and what better international group
to help express "family"? Also, it would help give a clue as to
where the photo was taken. Instead, the information about each
photographer is relegated to the back of the book, and again,
is small and very difficult to read.

Additionally, I think the "Milk Collection" standing for
moments, intimacy, laughter, and kinship is too confusing
because of the current Milk Advertising Campaign When I first
heard of this book, I thought it was affiliated with the milk
ads.

The opening photo of new infant born still umbilically attached
is frightful. This photo works much better showing the
context of the 2 surgically attired attendants.

Redeeming this book are perhaps about ten really powerful,
special photographs, but the overall design of the book does
not enhance the images, it sorrowfully detracts from the flow
and impact of those few very wonderful images.

What a stunner!!!
I thoroughly recommend this book for anyone who believes in families. The photo's are moving and breathtaking. The contributors are from all over the world making this a truely international book. If you buy one, I guarantee that you will want to buy another for someone you love.

Meaningful Moments of Family Connection in Great Photos!
This volume celebrates the family as humanity's fundamental unit. Think of the book as a family album for all of humanity, by capturing all of the wonderful and touching moments (including the sad ones) that make us all part of the human family. As such, the book reinforces love over prejudice related to surface differences, and a human focus over a political one. Some will be disturbed by the images of women nursing, and others will find the messages to be a little too political. All will enjoy the great photography.

The book's images include black-and-white and color photographs of pregnancy, birth, nursing, child care, smiles, twins, wonder, dads, carrying, hugging, hanging out, music, beaches, saying goodbye, kisses, marriage, dancing, festivals, conversations, love, grandparents, the aged, eating ice cream together, walking, and intergenerational connections. These themes are sometimes formally built up, and sometimes just carried on for two images or three.

Perhaps the most stunning two photographs are of Kim Phuc. She was the little girl in the famous 1972 photograph of napalm's horror. The other shot is of her holding her baby, Thomas, while revealing some of her napalm scars on her shoulder and back. She had never expected to marry and be a mother. Her happiness in motherhood is bound to bring tears to your eyes.

The book's captions are interesting. Before the frontispiece, they are just one word per image. In the rest of the book, you get one quote per image to help put the visual message in perspective. You can either read these or not. The book works well either way.

The opening essay will seem overly political to some. If it doesn't agree with your views, just skip it and go on to the photographs.

The essay has a number of key sentences that capture the book's overall feel. "These images speak to all of us with clarity, universality and . . . joy." "Family is the last and greatest discovery. It is our last miracle." You are encouraged to see this as a "family album." As you look at the images, you should "hear the sounds of hearts beating all across the world." "We have hope." "That kind of love, family love, makes us powerful beyond measure." "May your love, like these pictures, last forever."

The project itself (Moments of Intimacy, Laughter, and Kinship -- MILK for short) is worthy of comment. The organization ran a global competition to select these images. 17,000 photographers provided 40,000 images. From those, 100 photographers are represented here. I think this is a good model for how more photography and art books should be done. Obviously, you have to have a great screening committee and editor, but we should more often try to create the combined best of all people. Don't you agree?

As a result of the competition and fine editing, the works are truly wonderful in their emotional appeal, compositions, and diversity of themes and styles. No single photographer could ever have hoped to capture all of this.

If you like the book, I suggest that you give it as a wedding gift to those you know who would enjoy it. I can think of no better time to reintroduce the concept of family.

After you enjoy the book, may I suggest that take some time in the month ahead to experience the most meaningful images in the book that you have not done lately? When was the last time you held a newborn? . . . sat on a park bench eating ice cream with an aged relative? . . . carried a sick person?

Let the beauty of the experiences flow into you!

... Read more

Reviews (2)

Good Introduction to this Remarkable Artist
This short book can serve as a wonderful non-technical introduction to the work of Cindy Sherman. The book is filled with reproductions of her work from various periods in her stylistic evolution. Wisely, the author does not seek to didactically interpret Sherman's work for the reader-- instead she presents the material while raising a number of issues for the reader to contemplate.

For those unfamiliar with Sherman's work, one of the most striking aspects is her use of her own self as model in most of her works (especially those from earlier in her career). Her later works are a little more dangerous-- using dolls and other non-human subjects in often graphically subversive sexual contortions.

Cindy Sherman is a true contemporary genius in that her works speak to a very large audience on various levels of meaning. My only reservation about the book is that it seems a little too brief in its discussion of Sherman's biography (although the inclusion of her early work is certainly revealing). One wonders about the "real" Cindy Sherman-- and how she differs from the "Cindy Sherman" that appears in the Untitled Film Stills that solidified her position as a great American artist.

A great photographic work.
I was just surfing around and stumbled in here. I've read this title, Anyone unfamiliar with the model in question should get this and anyone familiar should read this as it is one of the greatest books on her. The only reason this does not get 5 stars is pieces of it I thought were wordy and a bit belaboring. Overall a great read however. ... Read more

Book Description

Musician Lenny Kravitz and photographer Mark Seliger, chief photographer for Rolling Stone, have been good friends for many years. With access only close friendship allows, Seliger here captures Kravitz on the road, with his family, performing, in posed settings, with friends, and in the outrageous fashions that have become his signature style. Because of his emotional proximity to his subject, Seliger is able to create a truly intimate portrait of the rock performer from multiple angles. By teasing out Kravitz's considerable charisma, prodigious energy, and undeniable sex appeal, Seliger produces dazzling pictures of this musician who enjoys immense popularity among fans of all ages. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Clash of the Egos
One of the worlds most mediocre photographers tackles one of the world most mediocre pop stars to arrive at one of the most mediocre photo books in the tradition of Anne Geddes and Celine Dion. Looking at this Soulless, vapid rubbish is a little like listening to Kravitz soulless, vapid music.

For 49 bucks go and buy a real photography book - Tony Ray Jones or Bruce davidsons 'subway' or if you simply have to look at celebrities then Richard Avedon, or Irving Penn.Don't settle for this publicist appeasing hack-work.

Must View!
Lenny is a... man and an absolute rock star.Mark Seligar captures Lenny in a way that makes him compelling and makes you feel like you know him just a little bit.The picture of him and his father and what he says is something that I'll always remember.However, if you are not a die hard Lenny fan you will still enjoy the pictures but you will probably not want to own the book.I loved it and then gave it to a good friend who loved it even more.

Nice Coffee Table Book
I bought this book for my wife for XMas partly because we're both big Lenny fans, but mostly because she has a crush on the guy.

Lenny Kravitz could be one of the few celebrities/artists with an ego big enough to publish a book of photographs of himself, but who cares?There are some touching photos of him with daughter and a really great series of Lenny making silly faces.I knew my wife would love it, but I didn't expect to hear her shriek as she thumbed through it and came across the almost full frontal nudity in one photograph.I should have looked at the book myself before buying it, but I doubt it would have changed my mind about getting it for her. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Not bad for BP fans
This book is a compilation of original Betty Page photos taken by Bunny Yeager. It's mostly pictures (all b&w), with some biographical sketches included. I have no idea if the text is accurate, but the pictures are pretty decent and certainly does justice to Betty Page's classicically sensual looks. Since these are just pictures of one photographer, you pretty much get only one particular style, and many of the pictures are beach shots. Given Betty Page's status in the American entertainment history, this is a good book to have.

Inaccurate in Details of Bettie's Life -- But Great Photos
This book has inaccuracies in its limited text. Bettie Page was not born in Kingsport Tennessee, but some 300 miles away in Nashville, Tennessee. Bettie's eyes were blue, not brown. Do not believe much of the text in this book as it is not endorsed by Bettie and contains much misinformation about her life.

However, if you want some great Bettie photos, this is the book to purchase! I much prefer her lighter fun photos to her Irving Klaw bondage photos.

SOME OF THE BEST BETTIE!
I fell in love or lust with Bettie when my hormones arrived about 1955. This book is well worth the price as Bunny's photos of Bettie are among the best. Bettie belonged outdoors! The Klaw photos are fine; it was hard to take a bad picture of Bettie, but she was,to me, the ultimate "beach brunette"! I recognize the problem with the book title, it leads you believe it's some kind of "Bettie expose'", but beyond that it's a great photo-record of some of Bettie's and Bunny's best work. If your a Bettie Page fan old or new, this one is a must!

A Picture Is Worth a Thousand Words...
The time-worn cliche "a picture is worth a thousand words" fittingly describes this book, because that is about all you get -- pictures. If you really want to know more about Bettie Page, you may be disappointed. It does offer many photos of this captivating pin-up vixen, but I was rather disappointed to find that all of them were black and white. It is a quick and easy read/look through. If you are looking for more detailed information about Bettie Page, or a picture book with nice glossy photos to set on your coffee table, this may not be the book for you. However, if you are a Bettie Page fan looking for a fun, entertaining no-brainer sort of book with lots of great photos, it is a worthwhile starting point.

Keep Turning the Page.
I was slightly disappointed to find that this book was 95% pictures, all be it very nice paperback prints of the pictures. It is a worth while buy if you don't have an extensive collection of Betty Page pictures. There are a few pages collecting the publication dates of magazines that featured Betty in someway and a few pages noting the filmshorts she did with Irvin Klaw etc.

I didn't spot any out of the ordinary pictures in the book, mostly the kind that turn up in the card collector sets with a couple of candid shots showing the filming crew. Not a bad book over all but not so much a read as a flick though picture book. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Great collection of Mondino's work
Although the images of this book were all taken in the 1990's and seem to be part of the "past", Mondino definitely had transcendent artistic visions. I'd describe his work as a cross between Mark Seliger and David LaChapelle with a heavy dose of contemporary European flair and humor. Aside from your usual models and pop musicians, Mondino has pointed his camera at many art-world icons, and lesser-knowns...and I also commend his abilities to include a wider range of ethnic faces/subjects, and even body-types. And as was prevalent in the 90's (and common among many fashion photographers), there is that dose of homoeroticism, for whatever it stands for.

I own the first-edition of this book published by Te Neues NY, the USA/Canada branch publisher of Schirmer-Mosel in Europe. For this edition, the majority of the images were very well-reproduced on semi-glossy paper and are sharp, bright, vivid, with nice contrast. It is especially the case in works which emphasize Mondino's lighting usage, with lots of color-casted shadows, highlights and backdrops which make the images striking eye-candy. There are also a couple of video-stills included.

All the images in the book are full-page, and I felt some images could've been scaled down on the pages to make them look sharper and eliminate the "graininess" (such as the photo of Bjork sticking her tongue out at a silver bubble). And many images are double-page spreads, which don't work as well visually, due to the binding. But it also would've been great if this were an oversized edition like many fashion books. The sequencing of the images could've been better (they seem scattered, rather than grouped with related images). There are no references to where the images were used in publications. Also, certain works of Mondino's that I have recalled seeing in the past were excluded from this book. And there is no extensive bio of Mondino's life etc.

I know I may sound too serious, but I'm a print-quality freak when it comes to art monographs. Another complaint I have is that a couple of the pages have tiny ink "spottage" and one of my copy's pages had slight discolored "streaking" (it's an eye-sore, esp. since they were bluish streaks on a B&W photo of a male model's face painted black). But this was obviously a flaw in the printing process. This came to a surprise to me, as Schirmer-Mosel releases some of the highest quality fashion monographs on the market with high regard to state-of-the-art printing techniques (I highly recommend getting their Nick Knight release "Nicknight").

But looking aside from my trivial complaints, this is one of the most visually stunning and "entertaining" monographs I own. I'm looking forward to getting the follow-up book "Mondino: Two Much, 2003" which has already been released in Europe. ....Enough said, just buy it, you know you want it.

Mondino - A look at a master of creative style and image.
Mondino could quite possibly be one of the greatest photographers our time. If you enjoy David LaChapelle and Stephane Sednaoui, whose works are similar, than you will enjoy Mondino. However Mondino seems to have an edge over his peers. I don't think that I would have bought the book if it didn't have any relation to Jean Paul Gaultier, a long time client of Mondino's. But in viewing the book I found that he worked with other designers and treated them all as individual as they are, without loosing his own edge. It seems to me that this book is a compilation of his favorite work, and it serves to communicate the artist's sensibilities on a personal level. His signature lies in that he can keep the photographs very simple yet thoroughly enjoyable, full of life, most of all he's capable of almost animating them, making them jump out to you - from paper to life!! There is an aspect of pleasure and "joie de vivre" in his work, despite the fact the fact that some of the photographs are dark and are made with a devilish sense of humor (at best)!! All in all I am very pleased with the book and Mondino's ideas on image and style.

great artist and creative photos
needless to mention, one of the best. color saturation and creativity is impressive. It worths the money. If you like fashion and studio photography, u should not miss out this one.

Truly unique,visionary,stunning fashion/celeb photography
I was only vaguely acquainted with Mondino's work,but I LOVE fashion photography so I took a chance on this book.The low expectations I had made this book all the more STAGGERING-it is a MAGNIFICENT book,filled with the most unique,visionary approach to fashion and celebrity photography I have ever seen!And unlike some other big-name photographers,Mondino can leap from one style to another,he doesn't limit himself to any one technique or style.ALWAYS,however,he is original and endlessly clever and witty.This book conveys a sense of humor and whimsy that is delightful.Yet many of the pictures are tremendously moving in their beauty and power.And he photographs such a WIDE range of subjects,yet they all have one thing in common:an offbeat,striking,unusual type of beauty or appearance.He makes EVERYONE he photographs look extraordinary,by adding his singular eccentric touch.This is an awesome book,I LOVE it,I can't get enough of it.Five stars doesn't suffice!

good, but not dope
the long awaited mondino book, deja vu, is a disappointment for mondino enthusiats like myself. jean-baptiste mondino is the best photographer in the world, hands down. so much so that his injection of an untramodern (read ultrasexy) fashion sensibility into music and popular culture images can be considered definitive by all accounts. in that respect, he is the direct descendent of the legendary jean-paul goude. but deja vu is unfortunately just that. a career retrospective which fails to offer any new images to the many fans (like myself) who have followed every step of mondino's career. i expected amazing new fashion imagery, and a delirious portfolio of the millennium's up-and-coming artists and musicians. instead i got a mickey rourke cover and endless variations on the vanessa paradis theme. very eighties. for newcomers, this book will be a revelation, for no one masters image manipulation - and its effects on our pop saturated psyches - better than mondino. yet the initiated will feel that, grand though this first book effort is, the key to the future-forward lies in mondino's french vogue pages. mondino has seen the future, maybe he should start leading us to its doors again. could it be that he is saving that trip for his next book? i certainly hope so. ... Read more

Book Description

"If I can make it there, I'll make it anywhere!" When Sinatra sang those immortal words from "New York, New York," he must have had Madison Square Garden in mind. After all, Ol' Blue Eyes played the Garden, as did Judy Garland, John Lennon, and, in the past four decades, every major rock band or rap artist from the Beastie Boys to U2. That lineup doesn't even begin to take into account the all-star roster of athletes-Muhammad Ali, Walt Frazier, Patrick Ewing, Carl Lewis, Mark Messier, Wayne Gretzky, and John McEnroe, to name a few-who have set records there. Since it first opened in 1879, the Garden has been a magnet for fans intent on expressing their passion in person for their favorite performers. Currently home to the New York Knicks, Rangers and Liberty, it is also the venue for everything from the Westminster Dog Show to the 2004 Republican National Convention-which is why it's called "The World's Most Famous Arena."

In Garden of Dreams more than 100 knockout images by longtime Garden photographer George Kalinsky capture all the glorious highlights in the arena's history. From Ali to Sinatra, Garland to Gretzky, Kalinsky has shot the greatest. Adding insight and context to the photos are essays by 25 luminaries who have witnessed or participated in some of these legendary Garden events. The list of contributors includes Billy Crystal, Bill Bradley, Woody Allen, Peggy Fleming, Spike Lee, John McEnroe, Mary Tyler Moore, and Christopher Reeve. Pete Hamill's introduction recounts the Garden's storied past, and reminds readers why MSG evokes such powerful emotions for New York residents and visitors alike. AUTHOR BIO: GEORGE KALINSKY's work has been exhibited at The Museum of Modern Art, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the International Center of Photography, all in New York, and Tokyo's Olympus Plaza Gallery; his work has also appeared in such national publications as Time, Newsweek, People, and Sports Illustrated. Kalinsky is the recipient of numerous awards, and he was honored by the photography industry (PMDA) as the International Photographer of the Year in 2001. He is the author of nine books, which together have sold more than two million copies. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (4)

Maybe I'm just too uptight??
I ordered this book (two of them) as Christmas gifts for family members. After looking through it, which is basically a collection of naked baby pictures, I realized I couldn't give this book to anyone and I didn't even want people to see it at my house, so I hope to return it. I hate to offend the author, knowing he will probably read this. Maybe he is from Europe or something, where pictures of naked children are more acceptable and not considered perverse. It wouldn't have been quite as bad, except that there is at least one picture of JUST the genital area - no face, no legs, just torso and genitals. Close up. The babies faces are adorable, and clothed babies are great (which there are none of in this book), but this book just seems like a legal dream come true for pedophiles. Why the picture of JUST the genitals? Many of the pictures are of the entire naked baby. At least then you can pretend you're looking at the baby's face. I don't see any point in having so many pictures of naked babies unless you want to come across as a weirdo. Yeah, I realize it's "art". Whatever. It's not the kind of art that's going to be in my house. If you are as embarrassed as me by this sort of thing, don't bother buying this book. I hope I didn't just convince a bunch of pedophiles to purchase this book. Even my husband agreed it was over the top and there was no reason why we couldn't just look at babies' faces or clothed babies. If you want a coffee-table book, get something with travel pictures in it. Or, I hear Al Gore has a new book with family pictures in it (wearing clothes.) Yeah, I'm uptight about this type of thing, but I think most people are just like me, so I wanted to warn you what is actually in there before you buy the book in case you would be as embarrassed as me by having a book like that in your home. I hope Amazon will take this back and issue me a credit.

Coffee Table Book
This book has many good examples of pictures of newborn babies but does not have any details on how to take pictures or what techniques to use other than the picture examples.If you are looking for a coffee table book this is the book for you.If you want a book to show you how to .. this is not for you.

Wonderful gift for new parents.
This book captures the unique qualities of a newborn baby. A fleeting moment that most new parents don't appreciate because they are too exhausted! It makes me want to have another baby just to experience thosefirst few days and have a chance to take some pictures of my own.

Fantastic and tastefully documented newborn infant photos
Fantastic black and white photography of newborn infants ranging from 1 to 22 days old. The photographs are tastefully done and show the beauty of a newborn.Rather than bore the reader with words, Schatz allows the story to be told in photos.I highly recommend it to anyone interested in newborns and to all expecting or new parents. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (1)

His usual style
Most of his books have better than average images for illustrations, albeit they are mostly too small.
My biggest dissatisfaction with most of his books is the content: they tend to be shallow and nothing very inspiring. Most of the stuffs he is printing in all of his books have been talked about elsewhere and hardly anything is new. ... Read more

Book Description

Bettina Rheims came to worldwide fame in the early 80s with sensational nudes and portraits.As a sequel to her legendary, mostly black-and-white publication Female Trouble, first published by Schirmer/Mosel in 1989, More Trouble presents new photographic visions of glamour, beauty, fashion, sex, and seduction, created from the 90s to the present day.They include portraits of Kylie Minogue, Madonna, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Ludivine Sagnier, Emmanuelle Beart, Brooke Shields, Liv Tyler, Isabella Rossellini, Salma Hayek, to name just a few.This time, however, her pictures are mostly in color.And they include men, such as Jackie Chan, Michael Douglas, James King, Tupac Shakur, Mickey Rourke, Marilyn Manson, and Emir Kusturica.Once again, Bettina Rheims proves her extraordinary originality, her empathy, her sense of style, and her feeling for pictorial eroticism. ... Read more

Book Description

Photographers learn from a master the impact and drama that can be created through the precise creation of low key portraits-portraits in which the tonal range is primarily dark. While the low key technique lends a classic, artistic, subdued mood to images that may seem relaxed and effortless, creating this style presents significant challenges for the photographer, all of which are addressed in this book. Guidelines for selecting the best lighting equipment and light modifiers for efficiently creating low key portraits are detailed, as are the most effective techniques for measuring the light in the scene for correct exposure. Photographers of all levels learn to consider the impact of creating images in a controlled key. ... Read more

Book Description

Photographers are guided through every aspect of posing-beginning with the consultation and continuing with specific tips for posing children, high school seniors, wedding parties, families, events, teams, groups, and pets-in this comprehensive manual. Maintaining that good posing is 80 percent mental and only 20 percent technical, this guide stresses the importance of communication between photographer and subject to creating a portrait that not only captures the subject's personality but also makes the subject comfortable, fostering repeat business. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Does its job
Wacker's guide successfully explains the basic geometry of posing people. He discusses orienting individual faces and body parts, positioning the body as a whole, and grouping individuals together. His writing is clear and well organized. However, the book is not very detailed, something I would expect from a book with "Master" in the title.

The guide strongly conveys its upper-midwest aesthetic. This is evident not just in the portraiture, but in his advice on dealing with subjects as well. If your goal is to run a suburban commercial portrait studio, then this book will be of some value to you. If not, I recommend looking elsewhere.

No Explaination about Lighting
The author explained very detail about posing basic. It's good book to learn about posing. This book is good to read for beginner in this business. It's also have posing in practise for Children, High School Senior, Men, Women, Weddings, Models, Couples, Families, Teams, Groups, and Pets. But there are no explanations about Lighting; you must read another book about it.

General topics covered. Simple
This is a beginners book. Giving very general ideas on what type of poses you might use but no specifics. Talk generally about the common mistakes for different situation. Not a bad book, just simple.

A Great Investment
If you've moved beyond the very basic of photography - the rules of thirds, getting on the floor to photograph the baby at eye level, then this book is for you. It explains how to see relationships of the body, i.e. shoulders as a base to head. How to slim down a heavy person by twisting the hip and moving arms away from body. The book covers detail to body parts such as hands, feet, legs, and how to posture them. Author is heavy on the 80% mental / 20 % technical, which is true. Heavy emphasis on communication with subjects - which makes for better posing / relationship with the camera and photographer. Useless are the books with picture after picture of excellent posing. They don't teach you how to look at the person first and then feel out the best poses for person to strike. I found it more effective use of my time to use knowledge gained from this book, rather than trying to copycat poses from other books. Drawback of the book? Doesn't elaborate on technical terms like Rules of Thirds, and at times does not draw diagram to illustrate: "...a line running through the pit of the neck and drawn perpendicular to the floor shows where the feet must be placed in order ..." However there are a lot of photographs that serve as examples - the bad paired with good to illustrate the book's advice / concept .

Not really what I expected
The irony struck me: as I thumbed through the opening words by the author I knew istantly I had not purchased what I intened...that is, a posing guide. While the author markets this book as such and while it does give a few pointers, this book was not a guide to posing at all.

Some of the photographs looked awkward and if Wacker doesn't pose his subjects as he suggests then what exactly is he trying to sell here? A book about allowing people to pose themselves and look gangly and uncomfortable? ... Read more

Reviews (34)

QUICK to read GREAT book
I'm a person who buys a lot of books but doesn't always get around to reading them. It is impossible NOT to read this book. The length and especially the format make it irresistable to read it straight through (in less than an hour). And I had a NEWBORN at the time! The ideas are simple but very helpful and the illustrations completely get the point across. Some of the photos are beautiful enough to justify buying the book and the