5 comments about Take Ivy.

1. I enjoyed the pictures but many Ivies were underrepresented. Most of the photos were of Dartmouth, Brown, Princeton, and Yale. Needless to say, I went to one of the other four.
   
   I'm returning the book.



2. I run the menswear blog Off the Cuff ([...]) and have been following this reprinting of Take Ivy since it was first announced.
   
   I notice that a couple of the reviews here commented negatively on the quality of the book's images, so let me clarify a very important point. powerHouse Books didn't simply reprint Take Ivy, they recreated Take Ivy. As they explained to me, apart from the English translation, it a replica of the 1965 edition right down to the paper, binding, flip jacket, and image quality.
   
   The images are not as crisp and clear as we would expect today because they are from the 1965 book - the exact images that you would see in a vintage copy. Would I like to have seen shots from the original negatives, if they are even available? I suppose so; but the goal if this book was to bring fans the original Take Ivy in every way possible.
   
   So, in a nutshell, what you are getting with this book is the most exacting reproduction possible, translated into English, of one of the most famous time capsules of American East Coast preppy.
   
   To me, it's perfect.



3. Such a great book! exactly like the original with English text...
   Love it love it love it



4. It's cheap and you're not going to find an original copy anywhere, but man these are some lousy photo reproductions. When the whole purpose of a book is to show the clothes, and you can't really see the clothes, it kind of defeats the purpose.



5. Everything I was looking forward to, except the image quality is extremely poor. I have not seen the original publication, however, so perhaps this is in fact an accurate reproduction.

5 comments about The Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 3 Book for Digital Photographers (Voices That Matter).

1. Although most books by Scott Kelby are well written and extremely informative, I wish he would leave out all the jokes and sick humor found in every book he writes. At a minimum he would cut down on paper use which would be more beneficial to all including the planet we live on.



2. "The Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 3 Book by Scott Kelby is a very good book for those of us using Lightroom who would like to take better advantage of this product. The step-by-step tutorials are very good and the illustrations are helpful. I would recommend this book to anyone who uses Lightroom. Of course, I also recommend Lightroom as a photo editor and management solution.



3. Step by step guide to using Lightroom 3. Even I could follow. Kelby does it again. Need to take your time and note important processes. Great for reference.



4. I haven't finished reading it yet and am about 2/3 through. I had Lightroom 2, but this book helped a lot in describing the new features. It has been very helpful.



5. As part of my upgrade from Lightroom 2 to Lightroom 3, I considered Scott's new book a must. It is better than the first one. Easy to ready, clear, concise, and includes great examples. The only criticism I would make is that it is much easier to use this book if you have a wire spiral binding on it. That is easily accomplished by taking it to Kinkos and having them cut off the binding and put the spriral on. With that change, the book is perfect. It is too bad that the publisher chose not to bind the book in this way to begin with. There are lots of useful hints and tricks found in the book, and the writing style is easy to follow and enjoyable to read. This book is a must for any serious user of Lightroom.

5 comments about The Adobe Photoshop CS5 Book for Digital Photographers (Voices That Matter).

1. Scott Kelby has produced his usual high standard publication, updated for CS5. Simple staightforward directions. I don't mind his jokes. Only query is whether his resolution recommendation for Epson printers is optimal.



2. My first book by Scott Kelby was his CS3 version of this book. I have enjoyed using it over the last two years and thought it might be worth looking at his CS5 version. It is written in the same easy to follow, no nonsense, format I enjoyed so much in the previous book. I have been using Photoshop since Photoshop 3, but it is always nice to have an easily read reference available for the things you don't do all the time. It is definitely worth a look.



3. I am fairly new to photography and Photoshop. I know the basics of photography, but have virtually no experience with Photoshop.
   
   In an attempt to grasp the intricacies of Photoshop, I picked up this book and am not regretting it in the slightest! I have been diligently working my way through the book in order and am currently in Chapter 5. Luckily this not a requirement to understand the book, but I just wanted to get an overall feel of all of the tools that are now at my disposal.
   
   Occasionally you are asked to select a tool without being told/shown how to get it (this happens rarely, but you can quickly find the tool on your own).
   
   The ONLY reason that I give this book 3 stars is that some of the images that you download from the website so that you can work along with the book already have been processed! (so there is nothing left for the reader to do) If they remedy this terrible oversight, I will gladly revise my review to 5 stars.



4. I have purchased all of Scott Kelby's books. I keep them all. This one is no exception.
   
   Does your photography need a "kick in the pants?" Buy Adobe Photoshop CS5 and then get this book.
   
   Try his recommendations on black and white photography, Content-Aware Fill editing, and High Dynamic Range (HDR) photography.
   
   Then press the "restart" button on your photography. Your passion is back.
   
   End of story.
   
   Simply the best.



5. I'm a big fan of Scott's books--so clear, practical, and fun to look at. I loved his previous version for CS4. However, this book is virtually identical, with the exception of some material on CS5's excellent new features, such Content Aware Fill. But these are easy to learn from Adobe's online video tutorials. If you already have this book for CS4, there's no reason to get this version. But if you don't have the last edition, you're in for a treat. I heartily recommend it!

4 comments about Understanding Exposure, 3rd Edition: How to Shoot Great Photographs with Any Camera.

1. I have several of his books and they are all top notch. However, this one helped me understand how to take pictures in the Manual mode with good results and I am now in charge. There is much, much more valuable information in it. As with all his books, you will refer to it regularly until you get the hang of what you are learning to do. I recommend it highly.



2. This book was awesome...I believe the author took the criticism of his other books and updated the book based on them...When researching to buy this book I looked at the reviews of the other editions and some of the comments were "I wish he would put what type of lens he uses or exposure he used in the photos." Well, he does that in this edition. Another person said that they wished he would put photos to show what he means and he puts two photos (sometimes 3) of first the auto or what beginning photographers would do and then show an example of the same picture with the exposure changed based on what he is trying to teach you (did that make any sense?!?). How about a before and after type of photos (maybe that makes more sense). His style of writing is not textbook style. I think he tries to make it fun and entertaining and that sometimes makes people think he is condescending to the reader, but I don't think that is his intention and I enjoy that sense I'm definitely not trying to read textbook style reading (I did enough of that in college).
   I say this is for beginning photographers and not for intermediate or professional because I believe he is very brief and dumbs down what he is trying to teach to relate to those of us who know absolutely nothing about cameras or the intricate of how cameras work. He will use things like "The Sky Brothers" or "Mr. Green Jeans," which will feel like kid stuff for a pro or semi-pro person, but for me the beginner a welcomed help. After reading this book I feel like I can go out and take photos on manual and not be intimidated about getting the wrong exposure.
   
   I included the link to his previous edition because that has more reviews than this edition (as of this review) and I believe the author revised a lot of the gripe the "One Star people" are talking about. Understanding Exposure: How to Shoot Great Photographs with a Film or Digital Camera (Updated Edition)



3. Understanding exposure third edition. Although it could be called understanding your camera
   
   This is a fairly complete overhaul of the second edition. It covers all of the things covered in the second edition and additionally Author Bryan Peterson covers HDR (High Dynamic Range) photography.
   
   One of the sections I enjoyed the most is Peterson's photographic triangle. aperture, shutter speed and iso. All three are of equal importance in the photo tough I sometimes forget about the effects of different iso's so this section brought that to life for me. Some of the other subjects that were interesting to me was his explanation of white balance and how it's over rated "It's my opinion that, next to the histogram, the white balance is one of the most overrated controls on the digital camera". Another section I liked was one entitled "The sky brothers" Here Peterson talks about difficult light and contracts situations that meters have difficulty with. Peterson moves the light meeter to one area or another to get a reading that's not so effected by bad light or contrast including the always difficult photos of snow.
   
   Peterson also covers in detail all of the camera settings and discussed the advantages of one setting over another, aperture priority versus shutter priority etc. One of the things he covers in detail is the usage of automatic settings and how they can hinder photographic creativity. Including Exposure Peterson covers all aspects of photography, lighting, DOF, sports settings, portrait settings, landscape, night and low light photography. Paterson does a great job of describing who each of the settings work together and effect each other.
   
   Peterson really encourages the reader to think outside of the box (or view finder) to understand and use all of the creative features of the camera and your imagination.
   
   The book is a good mix of photos and descriptive writing that gives the reader the camera setting information but the thought process in deciding what settings to use.
   
   Peterson's writing style while describing the subject matter and the settings used on the camera really bring the reader into the idea behind the photo.
   
   
   The appeal of this book is really for the novice to intermediate photographer. I can't think of any one subject about photography that Peterson doesn't present and explanation about.
   
   Beautiful photography, nice writing style, detailed but concise explanations makes this one a keeper. If you like the second edition you'll find the third edition invaluable.



4. Awhile back, while reading all the positive reviews of earlier versions of this book, I saw that a new version was soon to be released, and I decided to wait for it. The book was received from Amazon yesterday on the release date!
   
   After quickly leafing through and looking at all the great photos, I decided to start reading. A short while into the book, it occurred to me that "this is one of my favorite books"! And I was only on page 16!
   
   I became something of a photo hobbyist many years ago with a film slr and got back into it a few months ago by buying a decent digital slr. A glance at the table of contents shows that the book covers the basics of exposure: aperture, shutter speed, iso, white balance, lighting, filters. So I'm reviewing the basics, but I think Mr. Peterson's insights would also be valuable to more advanced photographers.
   
   I enjoy looking at the photos and trying to guess what the camera settings were. Mr. Peterson chose some gorgeous photos--by themselves they would be more than worth the price of the book--as examples of exposure principles.
   
   I'm now on page 20, reading some great insights on ISO. Understanding Exposure, 3rd edition is a six-star book! If, when I finish reading it, I decide to subtract stars, I'll let you know. But I'd be very surprised! I'm looking forward to the read and to improving my creative skills.

5 comments about Adobe Photoshop CS5 for Photographers: a professional image editor's guide to the creative use of Photoshop for the Macintosh and PC.

1. Photoshop is not so much a computer program as a way of life. It is an amazingly diverse set of tools for manipulating photos and creating astonishing effects. But it is a complex application; becoming fully expert in its capabilities can take years. As a result a whole industry has grown up to teach Photoshop, including books, online tutorials, videos, seminars, courses, and magazines. For the professional photographer or graphic editor, there is no choice; one must learn Photoshop. But my perspective is the advanced amateur or hobbyist who has to decide how much time I can devote. The big investment is not the dollars to buy the software, but the hundreds of hours required to become fluent. What I need is an efficient resource to learn quickly, and this book, the semi-official PS manual, is proving extremely useful. Martin Evening is a British fashion photographer, and this is the 8th edition of his manual.
   
   When I first received this book my first impression was: wow, heavy! Weighs several pounds and 768 pages. And not just a book but a DVD packed full of examples. Although it does cover basics, this is not for the beginner; rather an encyclopedic resource covering every technique a professional might need. Included are sophisticated techniques such as High Dynamic Range and workflow issues such as the choice of a companion file management program. PS has evolved over the past 15 years, adding more and more features while rarely dropping any, so there is some redundancy. What this means is that Photoshop may offer more than one way to produce a given effect - an easy way versus a cumbersome way, or a crude versus a sophisticated way, or a messy versus a precise way. So it becomes important to learn good habits and style. The DVD is very helpful because one can watch over the shoulder of a master, step by step. (There is also a companion volume "Workshop" coming out with another 496 pages of tips and examples. The two books plus DVD comprise an encyclopedia of Photoshop.)
   
   I have only a few complaints. First, part of the reason this book is so gigantic is that Evening seems to never say in five words what is possible to say in ten or fifteen. He spends half a page explaining that his office has been painted a neutral grey to minimize color distortion. And his sentences often read like Immanuel Kant's Critique of Pure Reason. The publisher should have provided a good editor who would have cut the page count in half. Second, although the volume is well printed and produced, paper media simply cannot capture the subtleties one sees on a computer display. So, some of the side-by-side illustrations will leave you scratching your head to spot the difference. Third, although both the PC and Mac versions are discussed, the author is an Adobe man and barely mentions non-Adobe products such as Aperture.
   
   Bottom line; serious PS jocks will want this on the bookshelf. Just don't let it fall on your head!



2. Halfway through this book and I can't say enough great things about it. I am a photographer and illustrator. I've skipped some CS versions but finally hunkered down and purchased CS5 for the Illustrator's upgrades. I carefully looked over all the books as it starts adding up $$$ buying both the PS and Illustrator books. If you are a serious photographer this is the book to get. Kelby's are fun for quick and easy references but to understand the changes and upgrades of CS5 PS and CS5 Camera Raw this is the bible.
   
   Pros for me: Evening must have a graphic design background as the book is beautifully laid out, chapters are color-coded, Mac/PC shortcuts are color-coded as well and easy to follow, plenty of space for tips in the margins, wonderful white space for notes, and beautiful sample images.
   Although Evening is a British photographer, lucky for me, a large percent of the Camera RAW chapter images are pictures of the US Southwest. As a native, many of my images are similar and have the same complex image problems; tons of color saturation, difficult fore and background highlight/shadows and contrast issues. I also do studio portrait work and he addresses both issues throughout the book. Cons. Non yet.
   
   There is enough technology/science background for the photo-nerd, but clearly written for the non-tech photographer. No meandering stories (Margulis), no "ha-ha" stupid funny (Kelby), just straightforward information about Photoshop CS5 and Camera Raw for the Photographer and with these many Adobe upgrades, pace of life and busy photo and illustration work...that's all I want anymore.



3. This book is very good, it really add up to my knowledge on Photoshop.
   
   It is not for beginners, though, it assumes you already have some knowledge in Photoshop, if you are upgrading from another version, its a very good book.
   
   I already had the version for CS4, which was also very good, but this book is a good investment if you upgraded to CS5, it is helping me a lot to explore better all the amazing potential of Photoshop CS5 for my photography.
   
   I highly recommend it.



4. This is a book with more than 740 pages, very small letters. This means that for those who want to quickly but efficiently operate CS5, even coming from prior versions, reading will become extremely tiring after a while. More yet, there is no doubt that Photoshop has enormous amount of options, ways of doing things, but the reality is that unless you spend hours every day working with this software, what you really need is some "killing tips" literature, presented in a mild environment. This is a heavy book to read, to store in mind, although very professional. As far as I can see, to date, no books released based on desirable profile submitted above. Jennifer Smith, Scott Kelby (with less sense of humor) and even the standard "Adobe Class Room" should be more advisable for those who want to benefit the max, with a compatible time & effort.



5. I've been using Adobe Photoshop for many years and this book opens areas that I did not know existed as well as explaining in detail those that I thought I knew. I recommend this book to anyone wanting a serious understanding of CS5.

5 comments about A Short Course in Digital Photography.

1. I used this book for my intro to Digital Photography class and love it. You learn basic techniques using a DSLR, the way that a camera works and finish the book knowing which settings to choose and WHY. The text also gives an mini-lesson on how to mat and frame.



2. I have been working on teaching myself how to better utilize my DSLR camera and this book has come in very handy. Lots of comparative pictures and clear writing.



3. I bought this book because it was recommended for a class I am taking. I don't know why a book like this was recommended to experienced photographers. If you're new to DSLR and have a need to learn the basics including aperture, shutter speed, exposure than this book is for you but for any photographer with at least a basic knowledge of DSLR photography this book is a waste of time.



4. The London-Stone book A Short Course in Digital Photography is an excellent example of a seriously refined book for the beginning photographer. In an age when so many photography books attempt to avoid obvious and critical links to analog photography precedents, the authors safely navigate the student from the crucial examples of the past into contemporary practice. The references to traditional photography, or whatever one may wish to call film, are valuable for students of any age and any background. Also, by introducing Lightroom and Aperture, but not trying the impossible task to cover them completely, the authors encourage further research into more advanced program guides. Indeed, this is an excellent all-around short course book.



5. I first came upon this book at my local library. Having perused the insides, I decided to get my own copy. Clear and concise, tons of visuals and clarification for some of us no-brainers who relate to graphics and diagrams over pages of mind-boggling dry text. This is basically a text book I guess, the reason for the high price. Anything to improve my art, hence, well worth the expense, and I do love my photography. I have a half dozen digital photography books on my shelf, but this will be my go-to book. Overall, an excellent first guide for digital photographers.

5 comments about The Digital Photography Book.

1. This is a more professional digital "step-by-step" photography compared to the Dummy series. I was looking for a straight forward approach to successfully using my digital camera and not an academic point of reference. This book tells you directly what to do and how to avoid mistakes. If you want to "understand" the why and why not than a college course would be a good alternative.



2. To be honest, I've had this book in my collection for quite some time and hadn't read it yet. After reading the reviews about Mr Kelby's 'poor attempt' at humor, I thought I should read it. I will be honest....I LOVED IT! Not only is there so much great info on photography, but the humor was a relief from alot of the 'stuffy' photography books out there. This was the first photography book that had me laughing and gave me straight forward tips and tricks on making better photos. I have already ordered the rest of the series and am looking forward to any future books. Mr. Kelby, if you read this, keep your sense of humor in the books!!!



3. Pros: Good read (very entertaining); you will take better pictures; easy to understand (not too technical)
   Cons: I wish it had exif data for all the pictures instead of just the last 10 or so; geared toward Canon/Nikon users but still works for all DSLRs.



4. An excellent introduction to those looking to learn how to use their camera and is applicable for those with a SLR or a point and click. The books do become a bit redundant if you buy the series, however while he tends to repeat himself on occasion from book to book, it is likely for those that only buy one of his series. So for you out there only looking to buy one of his books your in luck however I would highly recommend the series.



5. As a long-time "prosumer" experienced with film, point and shoot, and dSLR photography, I highly recommend this series. I noticed that the reviewers who do not like the book still think the advice is worthwhile. Kelby's books are full of brief, easy-to-understand tips that will help you capture phenomenal photos. What I really like is that you get quick information on the settings required for a specific type of shoot (i.e. sports, fireworks, landscape, etc.). If you are new to digital photography and need to learn the basics, start with the "Digital Photography for Dummies" and then get this book.

5 comments about The Photographer's Eye: Composition and Design for Better Digital Photos.

1. A main theme of the reviews, both positive and negative, seemed to point out that Freeman is a difficult read. But if you are really interested in composition from the photographer's perspective and push onward, you will begin to pay more attention to the content and less to the author's tone.
   Some of the sections are very technical, like the "Golden Section" and "Fibonacci Series". But photography is a visual art and most of the book is about general artistic principles and design with exampled photos. I think people will get the most from the book by reading a few sections, then going out and taking a LOT of pictures to put the newly learned principle into practice. Just read and shoot....read and shoot.



2. But terrible writer. Treat this book as a photo book and ignore the writing. Some of these pictures are genuinely amazing but the same can't be said for his writing.



3. I found it difficult to keep in this book. There is a sentence or two with very useful information if you can find those gems within the vast sea of art history and famous quotes. One random example from the book (p86) "Under what circumstances is it useful to try to impose a triangular structure? It is important to see implied triangles as one of a few devices for bringing order to an image, or of arranging the things being photographed. The occasions when such organization is needed are usually those when there is a need for clarity. This is a common in still life photography and in various forms of reportage when the most important thing is to make a clear representation of something, often in a visually untidy setting. As this is a common condition in professional photography, the idea of structuring an image in a simple graphic arrangement is principally professional." ....the preceding represents one of easier paragraphs to read in the book. I found myself skipping many paragraphs due to the abstract thoughts that didn't seem to pertain, quotes or the history lesson on the particular topic at hand.
   
   Given that, there is still good information if you can stick with it long enough to glean some of the knowledge. This is my second book (purchased simultaneously) by Mr. Freeman and I might be hard pressed to purchase another- simply due to his presentation of the material.



4. KINDLE REVIEW: The writing style is somewhat drawn-out, but OK once you get use to his style. However the graphic elements are dreadful on a Kindle 2. I was ready to see if I could return it, until I viewed in on Kindle for PC. It turns out the graphics are in COLOR and of reasonable quality. Much is lost with the Kindle grayscale conversion.
   I'll keep the e-book, but only view it on a PC. The Kindle DX may display better.



5. Anyone who's into photography knows how important it is to be able to see a good quality of the image that is being discussed. The Kindle edition of this book robbed me from that particular side of the learning process: most of the pictures are such poor quality, I have hard time making sence of them.
   
   Someone might tell me, "That's what samples are for". Yes, I did get the sample first but thought, "Well, it's a sample; the real thing will have proper picture quality". Wrong!
   
   Great disappointment, Kindle team.

5 comments about Awkward Family Photos.

1. 'Fess up... you have those "family photos" that you hide from others, hoping nobody every finds them. At the time the images made sense or sounded like a good idea. But now? Just hope your kids don't get hold of them and send them off trying to get you included in the book Awkward Family Photos by Mike Bender and Doug Chernack. If that happens, you might as well join the Witness Protection Program, because you'll start to think that wherever you go, someone will recognize you... and laugh (and we will!)
   
   Bender and Chernack started a web site posting a few funny family photos. You know the ones... where all the members in the family are wearing the same outfit... you're posed in front of some "cool" backdrop... the person next to you just wet their pants. They thought that was about the extent of their fun, until a local radio station started playing up the site. It then got picked up by a few more, then a few more, and suddenly they were getting new submissions and emails from others who were *thrilled* they weren't the only ones with awkward family photos. The website took off, and led to this book.
   
   They cover all the bases when it comes to topics: The Family Portrait, Mom and Dad, The Kids, Siblings, Grandma and Grandpa, The Relatives, Pets, Vacation, Birthdays, Graduation, Weddings, Holidays, and Strange - Not Awkward. If you're like me, you'll be smiling/laughing/cringing from the first page. Why did Dad think it was OK to pose in a Speedo? Why did you dress up your pot-bellied pig for a "family portrait"? And there's always the "this family looks like they're a little *too* close" pictures...
   
   If you've followed the Awkward Family Photos website, you will have seen some of the pictures included here. Others you can only see in the book. But even if you run into the same pictures in the book, you'll probably get a bit more context or background as to what was going on with the picture at the time.
   
   Awkward Family Photos is not some great or deep literary masterpiece. It's just a quick, fun ride looking at a slice of life that we've all experienced (and hope that no one else ever gets to see)...
   
   Disclosure:
   Obtained From: Library
   Payment: Borrowed



2. The cover of this book was enough to make me want to buy it. I was not disappointed! I love all the anecdotes and captions that go with the photos. Buy the way, one reviewer said the book was in black and white- NOT TRUE. It's in full color except the photos that were originally in black and white. I laughed so hard I cried. Perfect gift. I especially liked the horrid school photos- who doesn't relate to that?



3. my only regret is that i didn't know about the web search for photos to go in this book! i could've entered one or two myself...



4. Some photos are just interesting in a train-wreck kinda way, but others are so funny you'll actually LOL and if you are reading it in bed, your bed partner will become annoyed, especially if you are like me and keep trying to show him the funny pictures.
   
   This book would be a great ice-breaker at the next extended family gathering. What a relief to pick this up on Thanksgiving afternoon to thumb through while your mother-in-law is grilling your kids about their grades, and the uncles are drinking beer and arguing about politics, and the kids are all texting and trying to ignore the adults!



5. Awkward family Photos is a book that seems to find a connection with every family in the country. It causes all who read it to breathe a sigh of relief that their family isn't the only one with weird relatives and awkward moments. I loved the little stories of nightmare family moments and moments of understanding and thinking "Been there, done that!" I keep this book in my office when I need a break because it doesn't matter where you start in it. You can just randomly open this book and it will put a smile of hilarity or a smile of familiarity on your face in less than two minutes.
   
   There really isn't a need for a lengthy review and analysis. This book is exactly what the title says it is although it could also be entitled, "Awkward Family Moments." There is no plot or story line to break down, just a comment on the funniest show on earth, the American family being itself!

5 comments about A Photographic Atlas for the Anatomy & Physiology Laboratory.

1. If your studying Anatomy and Physiology as I am you will find this very helpful. With High Quality photos and info, it's a keeper.



2. Shipping was prompt book arrived earlier than expected delivery date, book was in great shape and perfect description. :)



3. I received this item on time and in new condition as expected. However, I did not realize I needed to buy a binder for the product until after I purchased it.



4. This Atlas was very helpful. I used it a lot in class and would recommend it to anyone who is taking A&P!!



5. Ordered and did not carefully read what I had ordered so I did not realize that the atlas would be loose leaf. Although it was not hard to find a binder to fit the pages. Unfortunately, I looked elsewhere after I received the order and could not find one that was in book bound form. I have no other disappointments with this atlas. Great material and photos for study!
   
   Recommend to others!