Book Description

A photographic journey through the history of one of America's most distinctive towns, Las Vegas. Part of the highly successful "Then and Now" series, each spread shows an image of Las Vegas as it was, and how it is currently. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Great Pictorial History
A friend of mine bought this book and it was much admired by all who saw it. If you or somebody you know enjoy Las Vegas History this book will be apprecieated. Many pictures of Vegas from the sixties till now. ... Read more

Book Description

The monumental two-volume original edition of African Ceremonies has sold a remarkable 30,000 copies in the United States alone at a retail price of $150. Now Abrams is proud to publish a newly designed, very affordable one-volume edition of this definitive work on the traditional rituals of Africa, containing more than half the magnificent photographs that were in the original edition plus new images that will focus fresh attention on specific ceremonies. Many of these rituals are vanishing; never have they been portrayed with the intimacy and skill that Carol Beckwith and Angela Fisher bring to this glorious book. The book is accompanied by an audio CD of African ceremonies. ... Read more

Reviews (13)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Book Description

In a single, 24-hour day, 50 of the world's finest photojournalists captured extraordinary images of everyday events which yielded the 200 remarkable photographs of this stunning portrayal of Israel's history, culture, and geography. ... Read more

Book Description

All-color guide for people who enjoy photography. Packed with over 400 color pictures that YOU can take. Includes photo tips and 70 color maps. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Terrific guide to photographing San Francisco
This is a great book but you must understand that it is neither an instruction manual on photography nor a real tour guidebook for San Francisco. It is written to help give you a chance to get great shots of northern California landmarks. It not only points out the best locations from which to take pictures but also provides other info such as which time of day proviides the best lighting.

On a recent trip to SF I got some amazing shots of the Golden Gate Bridge from places I would never have known even existed without this book. It shows you perspectives from several different locations for each landmark so you can choose your favorite. This allows you to head straight for the spot you've picked out and know what time of day you need to be there to get them. This kind of plan of attack will greatly increase your chances of getting great pictures.

Great Guidebook.
My travel companion and I took a recent trip to California. We started in the Napa Valley and drove down the coast to San Francisco, Monterey, and Hearst Castle. This the first time either of us had been to this area. We both enjoy photography and when I read about this book I knew I had to get it for the trip. I brought two other guide books-the AAA book and "The Eyewitness Guide to California (The Eyewitness Guides are a worldwide series of guide books which I highly recommend for the info they provide and the photographs). "PhotoSecrets" was the book of choice. It gave great suggestions of where to go and what to photograph. I can't say that we got the exact photos as suggested but I got hundreds of great shots based on suggestions from the book. My favorite shots were taken at the Monterey Bay Aquarium all using the suggestions in this book. The book gives suggestions about the best times to take photos and I used this as a guide to planning each days itinerary. My biggest regret is not having enough time to visit all the great places suggested. This book has a unique prospective and I hope that someday there will be a whole series of "PhotoSecret" books.

Interesting Book
True, a percentage of the photos either weren't that good or that interesting, but the point of the book was to inspire people to shoot their own photos of the same places. I really enjoy the book even after a year of reading it. I bought it right before I moved up to S.F. I still go back and look at the photos and read the text for inspiration. I can name a number of things I discovered from teh book. I learned Sutter Fort is in Sacramento, discovered teh Sonoma Coast, Wine Country, etc.

Serves the purpose - great investment!
I LOVE SAN FRANCISCO. And I love photographing San Francisco. It is a beautiful city. However, if you don't actually live there and know the city like the back of your hand, you probably miss out on a lot of popular places where you can get great shots. This book tells you where to go, at what time of the day or night (to get the best shots), whether dawn/morning/noon/late afternoon or sunset time is best from a particular location, where to stand, what kinda lenses/exposures to use, et al.

Great book for budding photographers and tourists. Worth every cent! BTW, the pictures are not all award-winning shots, but something you can go and take with your camera after reading the book.

Maximize your trip to Northern California
I went to a conference in San Jose but wanted to go on some day trips to do the most scenic nature photography possible in a short amount of time. This book took me to fabulous spots everytime I took off. Yosemite NP is too big and sprawling to sort out in a few hours unless you use the photosecrets of this book. Also, I never would have found Muir Beach (not Muir Woods), the lighthouse at Monteray, and the elephant seals on the beach at Ano Nuevo State Reserve - 20 feet away from the 3 ton bulls and 5 day old pups! The book gives you the time of day for the best photography at each site and this helped immensely figure out when to go where and how to maximize my short amount of time at each location. The list of photosecrets in the back and the several tips on various pages are great little tips. The only thing you will need in addition is a detailed map to be sure you find your way on the small maps in the book itself. ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description

One of Photography's Greatest Classics Now Published In English for the First Time

Aperture is delighted to release a unique classic featuring its first ever-English translation. In La France de Profil, Paul Strand's photographs and commentary by the celebrated French author, poet Claude Roy, combine to capture the essence of rural life in post-war France. Like Strand's renowned books Time in New England and Un Paese, La France de Profil is a profound meditation on place. Strand's portraits of the young and old evoke a sense of history and character. Images of narrow alleys, old tabaco shops, sidewalk cafes and fields convey the textures and rhythms of the French countryside. Claude Roy complements Strand's photographs by adding collages made from small town newspapers and his own wry handwritten musings on French mentality and mores.

Today, La France de Profil is not only a tribute to a way of life that still exists in the French countryside, but a monument to the evocative power of skillfully synthesized pictures and text.
... Read more

Reviews (1)

Enhanced with an informative commentary
Photographer Paul Strand (1890-1976) created an impressive, ground breaking visual portrait of rural life in post-war France in La France De Profil. Enhanced with an informative commentary by French author, essayist and poet Claude Roy (1915-1997), this truly classic (and even legendary) work has been brought back into print after an absence of almost fifty years and will admirably serve to introduce a whole new generation of photographers and students of the history of photography to a memorable and enduring tribute to combined use of photographic images and writing to explore and showcase a "yesteryear" time, place and people. ... Read more

Amazon.com

When the Buddha was dying, he instructed his followers to cremate hisbody and enclose his remains inside four separate monuments or "stupa-mounds."These manmade "axial mountains" became the prototype for the monuments that areso beautifully presented in Joe Cummings's Buddhist Stupas in Asia. Eachspread features full-color illustrations or photographs, depicting the varyingshapes, designs, and scale of this holy architecture. "People in all thedifferent cultures that have discovered Buddhism seem to have gone crazy withjoy, building stupas by the millions," writes Cummings, whose other LonelyPlanet titles cover Thailand and Bangkok. "[They are] more than funeralreliquaries. They are memorials, rather, to the immanent possibility of freedomfrom suffering for all beings." Ten pages of transparent architectural overlaysexplain how the sacred meets function. This is entertaining learning at itsbest--a book that's loaded with knowledge, yet packaged with visual appeal. - -Gail Hudson ... Read more

Reviews (3)

A Neat and Concise Work
Buddhist Stupas in Asia: The Shape of Perfection by Bill Wassman (Photographer), et al, offers a sweeping and broad overview of the epitome of Asian Buddhist architecture. The photographs are good and the succinct commentary is informative enough. This is not a book for hardcore history buffs though, as the very short accompanying analysis would not suffice; nevertheless, in most cases the photographs more than compensate by offering quality glimpses of a divine form of architecture. One drawback: some of the photographs are too small for the subject to be really appreciated (some are as small as approx. 3cm x 3cm!). All in all: an enjoyable mind-trip through the very essence of Buddhist architecture.

Joe Cummings and Great Photography
This book covers Buddhist architecture across its known history, from its origins in Northern India through Southeast Asia to Indonesia, to Nepal and Tibet, into China, Korea, Japan and Vietnam. The emphasis is clearly on architecture, but it covers the relevant backgrounds in Buddhist art and philosophy as well. If you want a book about Buddhist cultures or thought, this is not it. But if you want a book about Buddhist architecture, this is a great beginning. It is well-written, well-designed, and the photography is excellent. I wish it were much longer and went into much greater depth... but then it would be much more expensive!

I received this book as a surprise gift, and I think it makes a great gift: it's the kind of thing someone would want and enjoy, but would not buy for themselves.

The author, Joe Cummings, also writes the Lonely Planet guidebooks for Laos, Thailand and Myanmar (Burma), and they are excellent. I've been to all three places, and so I've seen many of the stupas covered in this book, and his guides have helped me more than most do.

a must for Asian art lovers
When I opened this book in the bookstore, I was knocked out by the photos, which cover stupas all the way from Taxila, Pakistan, to Tokyo, Japan. The stupa photography is particularly strong in the chapters on India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Nepal and Tibet. An entire chapter is devoted to Borobudur and satellite stupas in central Java.

Dipping into the text at home, I was pleasantly surprised by how authoritative and complete the coverage of this complex topic was. Not only does the author do an excellent job of explaining the symbolism of stupas in various Buddhist cultures, he also links it to the history of Buddhism throughout Asia, no small task. Although I'm a longtime amateur student of Buddhism and Asian art history myself, I found much new material to ponder.

I was most impressed by the way Mr Cummings has carried out original research as well as reporting on the research of other scholars who came before him. This is something I didn't expect from a hardcover pictorial such as this. Kudos to Lonely Planet for publishing a seriously good book. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Just saw his show in Duluth
Greetings. Just returned from Duluth and saw an exhibit of his photos: very large and some are pretty incredible. The book is worth it. While a few of the images are sugar-sweet,"awe-inspiring" typical pretty but omni-present sunset orangy-pinky shots, others are really pretty exceptional. Pictures of just the water surface; picture of sky-water, vertical, darker greened-bronze colors - a real collectors item, fab. shot. If you can buy any of his original work, do it now. Get to Duluth.

Superior Images of Lake Superior
How many superlatives can I heap on this "coffee table" size compilation of Craig Blacklock's stunning photographs? Let me count the plates: there are 154 - taken at various times of the year, while journeying by kayak around Lake Superior. Each "chapter" is a segment in the journey and each plate is attributed to a point on the map. My favorites: plate 77, "Small island east of Rossport, December, 1985; and plate 94, "Devil's Chair (center island) Lake Superior Provincial Park,(Canada,) July 1991.

There's a message in these beautiful photos and essays. We must preserve natural balance. As Linda Benedict-Jones says in the Introduction: "...One of the specific wishes of Blacklock... is that the remaining undeveloped lake shoreline be kept for open access. When he silently glides for months on end around the periphery of the lake, he does it with the hope that his pictures will convince others to appreciate the lake as he does. Lake Superior is simply too profound as a spiritual resource to be guarded by a privileged few. Should these last open stretches be developed, they will forever be out of reach by the general public. We have learned precious little from the examples set for us by the Navajo (Dineh), the Dakota and the Anishinabe. We all know that Native Americans lived in harmony with the earth and believed that land could be neither bought nor sold since it belonged to all. Perhaps it is not too late to apply their wisdom to relatively small, yet hugely important, areas of land bordering the Great Lakes. Perhaps these Blacklock photographs will help preserve public access to Lake Superior's shores, as certain photographic efforts of his 19th Century predecessors helped to convince (the U.S.) Congress to establish national parklands of the Yosemite, Yellowstone, the Grand Tetons and others." Pass it on!

Unmatched natural splendor portrayed by peerless technique

In a roughly 8 year period, the author made several kayak trips along various parts of the Superior shoreline, hauling photographic equipment along and immersing himself in those wild, unspoiled scenes so spectacularly portrayed in the 154 plates that appear in this book. The results are well worth every penny of the 40-odd bucks this book costs, and then some. As a fellow photographer of nature, I can attest to the way one can use ground glass and film to convey his deep appreciation -- yes, even a spiritual bond -- with the outdoors as God made it. Blacklock's collection of 4x5 format images (with one 35 mm slide thrown in) of the Big Lake is not only visually vivid, but spiritually moving in a way few other published photo collections can perform.

Nowhere have I seen water, rock, ice, forest, fog and sun so splendidly blended and starkly contrasted at the same time, across an entire plate set. [Plate 33 is the most stunning portrayal of ice and sky together which I have ever seen -- National Geographic's Arctic photos included -- and easily in my top 5 favorite photographs of all time.] Most admirably, nowhere in any of the photos appears a man-made object that I could see. The author takes his efforts a step further by fully revealing his techniques -- right down to the camera, film and tripod brands, and his CMYK post-processing in Photoshop (not to alter, but instead to clean up, the imagery).

Having been all around Lake Superior, its rugged vastness revealed to my eyes but only feebly captured on film by comparison, I am in awe of the job Blacklock has done. The sky, rocks and waves there have such a rich story to tell; and this book masterfully allows that story to begin. It makes me determined to return someday, camera again in hand and Blacklock's methods in mind, to get far removed from the tracks of people, and to experience Superior at its raw, unrestrained best.

Some of the finest landscape images ever captured
From a photographer's view, this book contains many beautiful images found in Northern Michigan and Canada. The colors are impressive, the composition is both thoughtful and precise. I wish I had just a small portion of the authors talent and technique.

Beautiful images of the Lake Superior area
I grew up in the Thunder Bay, Ontario at the Northern tip of Lake Superior. The photos in this book really capture the ever changing beauty of Lake Superior and it's shore. Not very often can a book transcend image and evoke the wonder of nature, this one does. ... Read more

Book Description

Celebrating this beloved city, London Then and Now offers a unique combination of historic interest and contemporary beauty. This book features dozens of fascinating archival photographs contrasted with specially commissioned, full-color images of the same scene today. Each work is a visual lesson in the historic changes of one of our greatest urban landscapes. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Rather disappointing: strange choice of subjects
This book contains some beautiful illustrations of London, together with much interesting information. The "then" photos seem to date mostly from 80-150 years ago. I learned several things from the commentaries, even though I lived in or near London for many years, and made every effort to learn about the city! However, the choice of subject for many of the comparisons seems less than ideal. Surely, in a "Then and Now" book, we want to see how much things have changed over the years, don't we? Hence, we don't really need to see locations where the comparative photos prove that very little has changed! For example, do we really need to see "then and now" pictures of Westminster Abbey, just to confirm that it really has NOT changed perceptibly during the past hundred years or so? I don't think so. In a world-class city where so much has changed, via either redevelopment or wanton destruction, there are many fascinating locations that should have been afforded priority in such a book, but which are omitted altogether. Examples: the South Kensington Imperial Institute/Imperial College site (actually mentioned in the book's Introduction), Holland Park House, etc. I can only imagine that the author was forced to draw on a limited stock of "then" photographic material. ... Read more

Book Description

Copper Canyon 2002-2003

This much in demand edition has a major feature on the newly discovered Crystal Cave of the Giants, the largest crystals on earth. This guidebook is for those wishing to experience the heart and soul of Copper Canyon and the Sierra Tarahumara. This is the first guidebook to deal exclusively with Copper Canyon, featuring all new photographs of the famous railroad trip through the Sierra Madre. Traditional Tarahumara festivals documented here have never been seen in any previous publication.

Did you ever wonder about the mysterious Anasazi? Where did they come from, what made them so special and where did they go? This new book rewrites Anasazi theory from top to bottom. What does a traditional Tarahumara think about everyday that the Anasazi also thought about daily? This book presents a completely new, original and unique analysis of the Anasazi puzzle from a Tarahumara ethnographic, historical, archaeological and scientific basis. This book may be a "shock to the system" for pre-1990s Paquime/Anasazi theory and might be considered a masterpiece of original research and mystical art in both design and photography.

This outstanding guidebook also includes the unique and extensive coverage given to the Copper Canyon train trip, the Tarahumara championship runners, plus new materials on the Mystical Barrancas. 8 1/2 x 11", 140 pages, full color, perfect bound. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

The Best of Mexico's Copper Canyon
Fabulous book--great color pictures! A must for every travel library. I am ordering a second book, so I can lend it out to friends!

This books captures the people of the Copper Canyon.
Whether you plan to take a trip to Mexico's Copper Canyon or not, this book is a wonderful journey into that region. It provides both a fascinating look at the Tarahumara Indians as well as travel tips for the adventurous traveler.

Padre Luis Verplancken, S.J., the co-author of the books, has lived in the Copper Canyon region for more than 20 years. He provides an intimate portrait of the Tarahumara, both in words and pictures. Through Padre Verplancken, we learn about the Tarahumara people, religion, and social structures.

Mr. Fisher has compiled additional information on some of the other interesting places in the region. No trip to the Copper Canyon is complete, for example, without a visit to Batopilas. Or take a trip on the the Chihuahua El Pacifico railroad.

So whether you are an armchair traveller or a hearty hiker, this book is a must. ... Read more

Amazon.com

A stunning architectural tour of 28 abandoned estates that loom as mysterious ruins along the Hudson River between New York City and Albany. Many of the now-faded mansions were designed by Stanford White, the premier architect of New York's gilded age, and were owned by such illustrious families as the Vanderbilts, Astors, and Whitneys. The author's evocative, sepia-tinted photos capture the architectural splendor of these once luxurious homes, as well as the ravages of time, from the houses' crumbling turrets and spires, porticos, columns, gargoyles, and weed-choked courtyards and gazebos, to their interior vaulted ceilings, spacious ballrooms, and huge, empty libraries. Paired with ghost stories and legends about the estates, this book is a haunting reminder of a bygone era and lifestyle. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Welcome book on a rarely treated topic
This volume is dedicated to a subject that, to this day, continues to be underserved by photographers and writers. The reasons for that aren't close to clear. The compelling images and folklore are there. Anyway, I accept this book -a cynic might say charitably- in a spirit that factors in the scarcity of material on the topic.

I was not convinced by some of the staged-looking "ghost" photos. I didn't think the subject required any such reaching. Without this spook show punching-up, the books images of stately homes, long abandoned and encroached upon by the elements, one completely engulfed, with the waters of the Hudson right up to its foundation, is legitimately the stuff of dreams -or nightmares. But a gaffe or two doesn't come close to destroying the experience. If you want to like the book, I think you will have no trouble doing so.

If you have heard of these ruins, but never seen anything more than perhaps an extended magazine article on them, I feel sure you'll enjoy this book. In my opinion, the photography isn't nearly as bad as another reviewer suggests.

Good Info - Poor Art
I'm thankful to Ms Randall for providing a well written comprehensive guiebook. Regretfully, her photographic attempts do not match the subject - they are amateurish in the worst sense of the definition. Her technique and taste require a lot of development.

Mysterious and Melancholy
Randall's book is a fantastic feast for the eyes with her sepia tone photographs and her well-written, can't-put-it-down narrative. Her clever way of blending the history of the houses with any supernatural happenings kept me turning the pages. In fact, I have read the book once and am re-reading it again with fresh eyes. With each chapter, however, I felt an extreme sadness at the thought of all those magnificent houses gradually disappearing. A must read for a quiet evening. ... Read more

Book Description

Faces of Africa is for everyone who loved African Ceremonies, but longs for more of Beckwith and Fisher's unique eye on Africa and the faces of its beautiful inhabitants.Structured by theme, the book looks at portraits of people who are painted, beaded, draped in beautiful cloth, veiled, and most impressively, ready for marriage. Drawn from every part of the massive African continent, the portraits bridge the distance between very remote tribes to nomads to Islamic Africans.Whether decorated with colored beads or lavish gold, the beauty of Africans shines through in these intimate and rare portraits. ... Read more

Book Description

"I was given the rare opportunity to lift the veil of privacy for a privileged look inside the Vatican," writes photographer James L. Stanfield in his foreword to this book.

For nearly a year, seven days a week, Stanfield photographed virtually every corner of the 108.7-acre enclave that is both the world's smallest nation and the center of the world's largest religious body, the Roman Catholic Church. Pope John Paul II, the Roman Curia, the color and pomp of centuries-old ceremonies, the wondrous art and architecture, the daily lives of ordinary citizens -- all are part of Stanfield's unprecedented coverage.

Author Bart McDowell guides you through this extraordinary place. He begins with a historical perspective, going back to ancient times when the area, known as the Vaticanus, was a marshland infamous for snakes and malaria. In the fourth century, Emperor Constantine built a great basilica there, the first St. Peter's; around it grew a settlement that would become home to the popes and territorial base of the church for most of its succeeding history.

In subsequent chapters, McDowell explains the workings of the Holy See, the church's labyrinthine government. He introduces many of the people who make their living in the Vatican. And he takes you into one of the world's great collections of paintings, sculpture, manuscripts, and other treasures. In a final chapter he presents the modern popes, particularly the charismatic John Paul II.

Through beautiful and exclusive photographs and revealing text, Inside the Vatican celebrates a small, dynamic community unique in the world. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Skimpy on the ART
If you can get this book used for under $10 dollars

AND...

You are interested in the whole workings of the Vatican National Geographic sytle, buy it it, is a great book from that perspective.

It is not an over $20 dollar art book because a large number of pages which could have been used for images are wasted on oversize text. Five pages of the books text could have fit on one page.

The photographs are great, but they are of everything including wasted full page close ups of guards. If you want a general book on the vatican this book delivers......but if you thought that "Inside the Vatican" meant a lot of art you might not see otherwise this is not the right book for the price.
It is not an Art book like one thinks of with Konemann books, there are some good photos and enough for a general book like this but it does not have enough art to warrant the price, then again I guess no one really said it was supposed to be art book.
I have written this review just as a warning for some people who might think that there is a lot of art here.....it is not an art book. This fact is kind of a shame because after 65% of the book is finished and it finally does get to the "Treasures section" the photographs are decent, however it makes you wonder why did we need a whole page close up of a guards face and only a quarter page on some of the art.
The Wonderful frescoes of the Vatican are very few and most are the usual 4 token shots of the Sistine chapel.
The wonderful Hall of Constantine isnt covered at all. I agree with all the other reviewers, if you are a National Geographic format fan, this is one of their best efforts.

But....The wrong pictures are too big, the right pictures are too small, the really wonderful pictures never made it into the book, and way, way, too much space is dedicated to oversize text.

I bought it used, do the same, it is not a new full price book,
there is enough for under $10 even if your main interest is art but you will not get as "Inside the Vatican" as you might with other books about the Vatican Art.

Good Pope pictures, Pope-Mobile pictures, and that sort of thing
and good "Quick read history".

Wonderful--Makes me Proud
I was proud to be a Catholic anyway, but gee the wonderful stories, history and people behind this book makes it a must own for Catholics!

Buy it!
Jim Stanfield is one of the most accomplished photographers to work for National Geographic. I met Jim several years ago, and he's a fine gentleman as well as an outstanding photographer. He won one of the top photojournalism awards in the world, in 1986, based partly on this body of work as well as an essay on Isreal. Bob Gilka, who was Jim's boss at National Geographic, told me he thought Jim was the most technically accomplished photographer working for the magazine. When there was an especially difficult job to do, it was given to him. And Jim's technical expertise shows through, but there's more here than technically superior images. These are stunningly gorgeous photographs in their own right. But they are more than that, they give you an insight into life at the Vatican that will never be repeated. Buy it. I can't wait for more books by Jim Stanfield to hit the shelves.

worth every penny
This book has stunning and well-done photos of the Vatican. The author had priviledged access to many areas that other photographers have not had. This book really shows you the history and beauty of the church's founding place. Well worth a read.

Beautiful Book
Because this book is a National Geographic book, it has beautiful pictures which capture the various aspects of the Vatican life. In addition to the wonderful photographs, the author gives valuable information about the Vatican. The only thing that I could have wished for this book is to have more detailed history of the Vatican. This book gives the reader a great foundation for the intriguing place called the Vatican State. ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description

Presented in an identical format to Phaidon’s previous Fruits, published in 2001, Fruits Too is a collection of Tokyo teenage street fashion portraits selected from Japan’s premier street fanzine of the same title. Published every month by Shoichi Aoki, who is also the sole photographer for the magazine, Fruits was established in 1994 as a project to document the growing explosion in street fashion within the suburbs of Tokyo. Over the last decade the magazine has grown to cult status and is now avidly followed by thousands of Japanese teenagers who also use the magazine as an opportunity to check out the latest styles and trends. The average age of those kids featured in the magazine is between 12 and 18 years old. Most of the clothes that they wear are a combination of high fashion – Vivienne Westwood is a keen favourite – and homemade ensembles which when combined together create a novel if not hysterical combination. This latest publication of the best of Fruits will follow the original Phaidon publication by including translations of the various Japanese captions that were originally attached to the photographs that list the name, age and clothing of each person photographed. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Photography so personal, you'll want to leave a tip...
Williams' book plunges you head-first into an era when people truly did make money "the old-fashioned way" ( they earned it with their sweat and tears). We sit as interlopers as we watch the toil of daily lives unfurl across the beautifully photographed pages. We sit at the counter while the waitress who has been at this particular diner way past her prime, exchanges small talk with the patrons. We can almost feel the cold rain against our faces as we view the water-drenched images of The Cheyenne (NYC) and The Highland Park(NY). We sense the simultaneous joy and frustration on the faces of diner owners who can't be sure what the future holds for their life's work. William's has taken us into a doorway that we rarely have a chance to enter; he has given us a license to the past. Through this book we have the opportunity to rekindle the memories of our childhood, teenage years and young adulthood...all at the same time. We remember what it felt like to sit at the counter with our Dads. We remember the hard formica tables against our ribs as we shared a ketchup-drenched kiss across the table. We remember introducing our "little ones" to the wall boxes of music that sit on the tables and watch in wonderment as they try to figure out "where the music comes from".

A Wonderful and Revealing Look at Hometown Diners
Robert Willaims captures the essence of our hometown diners in a beautiful and touching way. The photographs are beautiful and a perfect example of excellent photography. I would highly recommend this book to all readers, especially those who remember the nostaglia of going to your hometown diner. Don't miss this one! ... Read more

Book Description

International Travel and Tourismpresents a new perspective on international travel by covering all the aspects of international travel, as well as cultural awareness. Some of the various features covered in this book are: obtaining a passport and visa, familiarization of global time, traveling through the new Europe and Russia, and ecotourism. Learning is reinforced with open-ended questions to encourage critical thinking. ALSO AVAILABLEINSTRUCTOR SUPPLEMENTS CALL CUSTOMER SUPPORT TO ORDER Instructor's Guide, ISBN: 0-8273-7449-6 ... Read more

Book Description

Wonderful aerial photographs, historical and present day of Los Angeles. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Eye Of The Beholder
Robert Cameron presents a place and its' character in this "above" book (as well as in the other ones). Some people fly over the Los Angeles area, gagging and shaking their heads. Mammoth highways, concrete, smog, track housing, and monster burbs. These qualities do exist. But Cameron's photos also allow you to see the different personalities and idiosyncrasies of the many communities that make up what we call Los Angeles, from the Southbay beaches to the hills. (Where LA begins and ends we're not always sure). The area of Los Angeles (like other places) is different from other major metropolitan American areas for a variety of reasons. For one, most of the topography is flat, and it's a coastal desert paved with transplants with ambition and liking for the sun. These pictures allow the City of Angels to be more intriguing and have more of its' personality exude itself, as the reader gets a closer look at it through these pictures.

Mental pictures.

Yes, there are those who state Los Angeles County is an area with few landmarks. First you've got have a good disposition to this place, and second you've got to get close. Cameron's shots provide plenty of pockets of beauty and character, and plenty of quintessential "LA" landmarks. One must close enough to observe and experience them. "Above Los Angeles" lets us. Photos that highlight the interesting and beautiful icons of this city's architecture and natural character.

Another book for LA-philes and those interested in its' history and growth is: "LA Lost & Found: An Architectural History of Los Angeles (California Architecture and Architects, No 21)." by Sam Hall Kaplan, and Julius Shulman (Photographer).

5 stars........what else would you expect?
Los Angeles is a wonderful city so full of interesting things. This book has it all. All the areas are greatly photographed and look clear. LA's smog problem seems to be subsiding as the photos show clear days (most of them) and LA is only getting better. Every part of the city is showned. If you like photos from the air, you'll like this book. Also, the Library tower is shown (this is the first building to get blown up in the movie "Independence Day") in several photos. The older printings of this book didn't have them in it. I highly recommend this book.

Good but flawed
Good book, with great photos, as is to be expected. Generally does a good job of depicting LA's expanse, and its widely varying areas, with one exception; oddly, there is absolutely nothing about the beach towns: Manhattan Beach and Hermosa Beach. The book skips from Venice and LAX to Palos Verdes, omitting what arguably is the section of LA most representative of Soithern California. Very good nonetheless.

WORLD CLASS CITY: Los Angeles
There are about 25 WORLD CLASS CITIES on Earth (out of the millions) and Los Angeles just so happens to be one of them! It is such a privilege to live in this beautiful city with SOO much to offer. I purchased this book because I love this city so much. "Above Los Angeles" (although A LITTLE outdated...but not by much--just one building in downtown that was not fully completed) captures the sheer power and size and incredible beauty of "The City Of Angels." I, myself, have seen Los Angeles many times from the window of an airplane, and every single time I am in awe as I stare out looking at one of man's greatest accomplishments! Day or night, this city "sparkles" with beauty. This is a great souvenir for anyone who has visited L.A. or even someone who just loves L.A. period. Good journey.

Fantastic!
I grew up in a suburb of Los Angeles and this brings back so many good memories. This is the best book on Los Angeles that I have seen in years! The aerial photography is excellent. This is a fantastic picture book. I highly recommend this book. What makes this even more interesting is that photos of the past are compared to current photos. This is a must buy book! ... Read more