1 comments about Ronson's Art Metal Works (Schiffer Military History).

1. This is one of a series of books by the same author covering "unique" manufactured items including cigarette lighters, ballpoint and fountain pens, and flashlights among others. It is also a collector's price guide. One should read the Introduction and History sections carefully because the rest of the book consists primarily of pictures and captions.
   My interest was piqued when the dust jacket blurb listed hood ornaments. L.V. Aronson started doing business as The Art Metal Works in the 1880's. They are said to have made the first hood ornaments manufactured for sale in the U.S. in about 1909. Since I am helping the San Diego (CA) Automotive Museum catalog its hood ornament collection, and we have one of these, I bought the book.
   Unfortunately only one hood ornament (of several they made) is covered. It is a 1915 Uncle Sam with "America First" emblazoned on it. While I think the author has confused "patriotism" with "isolationism" in his discussion of it, nonetheless it is an interesting piece. But even more interesting is the picture on page 100 of a 1909 Smiling Baby Buddha figurine which became the first U.S. hood ornament, "GOBBO". My source informs me they came in three sizes - large (trucks), medium (cars) and small (bicycles). He owns a complete set. The author informs us that it wasn't unusual for companies to "borrow" figures they (or others) made for one use and change it to another.
   About 1923, GOBBO's head became an incense burner (page 110) with "I am GOBBO - God of Good Luck" inscribed on the side with L.V. Aronson's mark on the bottom. This same inscription appears on the hood ornaments.
   When WWII ended, the various items the company was producing such as incesne burners, bookends, aquarium stands, figurines, etc., were discontinued and the company focused on making cigarette lighters and associated items which were the most profitable,

No comments about Contemporary Art in Texas.

1 comments about Mexican Folk Art: from Oaxacan Artist Families.

1. This is a great book, that shows over 40 families in Mexico who make Mexican folk arts. There is a short history of each family and pictures of what they craft with the price and address to order it. There are also tons of beautiful pictures :) This is a great book !

No comments about Wedgwood - The New Illustrated Dictionary.

1 comments about Miller's: 100 Years of the Decorative Art: Victoriana, Arts & Crafts, Art Nouveau & Art Deco (Miller's Antiques Checklist).

1. covers a wide range of different antiques and styles with a focus on the main artists of each style,descriptions,marks,and tips for what to look out for, but does not provide enough examples of the works of each artist or factory featured. good reading,well written,extensive and informative. the book contains a good number of selected designers and manufacturers as well as the different marks of many of them and that is very helpful. the author,Eric Knowles,is one of the leading experts in the field and you notice that as you read. it is a shame he does not put a value estimate by the photos.

5 comments about John Hedgecoe's New Introductory Photography Course.

1. It is funny world. It is world where clueless morons who should demonstrate reverence and compassion to great master who teach them great art can "critique" his work and his approach. Even more funny they do it with a stance, they judge the /excellence/ of John Hedgecoe's photography and even do not understand how preposterous and ridiculous they are. You should simply learn from the book. Take page after page and work it trough. This book is a gift by unbelievably knowledgeable and gifted artist who inspired generations of great photographers. When was a kid I was taught to avoid broad statements especially about subjects that I have very sketchy understanding.
   This book is a real TRAESURE for anyone who is open minded and photographically, artistically gifted. This book provides that level of information that only super duper expensive full blown course can provide. It teaches effective approach to composition, to elements of frame design, to mood creation, to developing of artistic vision. It offers to you a chance for a couple of $ step into world of really BIG photography. It is probably the best book that will teach you to fill in a frame. The photos presented are wonderfully illustrative for every subject they are bound to. This is not a book for quick scrolling on a toilet sitting. It is a book for careful contemplation and observation, for analysis. It brings to your attention subjects of many levels most of which are not that obvious for a novice photographer. This book teaches the relationship between elements of composition to exposure and to light.
   I do photography for 32 years and John Hedgecoe's books are most competent and most thoughtful photography guides one can find. As a great work this book is still relevant at digital age: when everybody speaks about megapixels and few about composition and design. In short, this book is an indicator: if you can't swallow it you always will be one of these who open first two pages of another book for beginners, close them and felt him/herself attached to great art. This book requires work, required completing of projects, examining and analyzing the results. It is book for a future PHOTOGRAPHER, looking for beauty, inspired and vigorous.



2. Currently taking a Intro to Photography class and my instructor insisted that we get this book. Though it is a bit old 1998, and does not refer to digital cameras a great read. To make up for no digital reference we are also reading a book by Scott Kelby, the Digital photographer. Buy the book used, I spent $3.10 and it looks as good as new.



3. I bought this book because it is used in a photography class I'm going to take. First the good things: a hard cover book, full color print, nice thick paper, a pleasing format and good pictures. What else to expect from a book about photography?
   
   First of all, most of the pictures are good, but not /excellent/, and quite frankly, that's what I would expect.
   
   Second of all, it contains a lot of pictures, neatly organized by theme or concept. But it doesn't judge any of the pictures. Granted, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but it would be nice if the author said "the reason picture x isn't working as well as picture y is abc". Now, the style is more like "different angles will give different result for pictures. This picture was taken from the front. This picture was taken from the side".
   
   It's not a bad book, and you can learn a lot from studying the pictures and discussing them (I guess that's why the photography class uses it), but it doesn't give 'recipes' on how to be a better photographer, and why to take pictures 'x' and not 'y'. The book is marvelous if you're not looking for those recipes.
   
   But with a title 'introductionary course' is do expect them.



4. Although I've never taken high school or college photography, I've been very interested in the heart. I bought this book to learn the "tricks of the trade" & additional information on lighting, angles, composition, balance, etc. The book stepped up & served me well. I've even managed to win photography awards since purchasing this book!



5. The title of this book may be misleading, and some people who is totally new to photography bought this book and don't find it very helpful. This is why it gets such low rating. But if you have basic understanding of exposure and composition, you will appreciate this book. It has a quite extensive list of possible subjects and topics of photography, and shows how to approach each of them with brief text introduction and several sample pictures. For example, when it explains how to take sports photos, it shows how to composite, what shutter speed to use, and what is the best time to press the shutter. It is not a step-by-step guide for beginners, but can be very valuable guidance for people with some experience and want to widen their photographic coverage.

No comments about Miller's Antiques Checklist: Art Deco (Miller's Antiques Checklists).

No comments about Modern Asian Art (Art & Asia Pacific Book).

1 comments about Sticks and Stones (Dover Books on Architecture).

1. Toward the end of the college course "Introduction to the Humanities", Louis Mumford's book "Sticks and Stones" appeared on the reading required list. It was our introduction to the world of modern architecture, to Frank Lloyd Wright and other glorious makers of modern architecture. Tonight on Public Television he appeared to comment on the Brooklyn Bridge. It has been 66 years since I heard his name, but his comments are timeless. The book "Sticks and Stones" is not only a tribute to modern architecture, but also a historical landmark in the development of architecture.

No comments about The Road to Byzantium: Luxury Arts of Antiquity.