4 comments about Labor of Love: An Autobiography.

1. Geddes' book, A Labor Of Love, is truly inspirational. There's a softness to her tone that is warm and inviting; like having a cup of java with a friend. She talks a little bit about her life, but mostly this is a journey about her rise to fame as a renowned baby photographer. She talks a little about her struggles, a little about how she achieved certain looks, and why she chose the path she chose. The photos, of course, are phenomenal!



2. I truly enjoyed the Labor of Love: An Autobiography by Anne Geddes. I have always been fascinated with the pictures of the babies in the yearly calendars. It is so great to read the stories about the babies and to see how some of them have grown over the years. This booklet is a treasure to have and it sits on my coffee table in my living room to be easily accessible to my family and friends. I purchased the book as a Christmas gift to myself and it was truly worth it!!



3. ...you will love this book as you recall your first experiences with the craft. You will appreciate her openness, lack of pomposity, and willingness to share her doubts, passions, and how-tos.



4. Anne proves she's not only fantastic with a camera, but now with the written word. Throughout the book she offers insights into how she's been able to accomplish the incredible photos; while even sharing photos from her own childhood.

2 comments about The Complete Guide to Petoskey Stones.

1. What a great book for adults and children. It is so nice to learn the history of the Petoskey stone. Gives you ideas of where to go and find them. I highly recommended this book to anyone who visits Lake Michigan and Lake Huron( I'v found many of these fossils in Lake Huron as well) and enjoys to look at the rocks and pick up a few along your travels on the shore.Reading this makes me wish I was a geologist myself!



2. rock collector, both novice and experienced. Detailed information on all aspects of the Petoskey stone are presented in a enjoyable and straightforward manner. The origin, history, location, finishing techniques [shaping, polishing] and craft uses of Michigan's state stone are all covered. To say Bruce Mueller & William Wilde's book will increase your knowledge and enjoyment of this beautiful stone is a understatement. This book provides readers with the precise location of sites in which one is likely to find Petoskey stones. On my first visit to a location described in "The Complete Guide to Petoskey Stones", I found more & larger Petoskey stones [around 30] in 2 hours than I'd found in the past four years.
   
   In August, I had the privilege of meeting author Bruce Mueller at his rock shop, C & M Rock Shop, which is just outside of Honor, Michigan. Mr Mueller was warm, friendly and willing to answer questions concerning the Petoskey Stone. Bruce Mueller was also kind enough to sign my copy of "Complete Guide to Petoskey Stones" and "Lake Michigan Rock Pickers Guide". Both of Bruce Mueller's wonderful books have been invaluable in enhancing my understanding of, ability to locate and uses for the treasures lying along Lake Michigan's beaches.

5 comments about The Photographer's Guide to Marketing and Self-Promotion.

1. This book sounds like a sales person yelling in your ear. The author is NOT an experienced photographer, nor does the author offer any resonable, useful tips. Very outdated material also, from 1995-1999! Its not helpful for the serious digital or medium format photographer or even for an amateur. Its simply a waste of money. Amazon has better books for serious photographers for sure.



2. I really like this book a lot, and would recommend it to ANYone who is interested in learning more about photography marketing; more specifically, the different types of marketing.
   
   It's written by a marketing specialist who works with photographers on marketing their own businesses. As a result, the book doesn't have many pictures, or a very interesting layout, but then again, it is a marketing book. I liked the testimonials given by professional photographers. They were very pertinent to the information provided, and gave the book more depth and application to real-life situations.
   
   I would like this book a bit better if I were more interested in marketing, or if it made marketing sound a little more fun. It also wouldn't have hurt to add more photographs and color to the book. I'm a visual learner, and I think that may have helped me.



3. Even a novice with only a little bit of understanding of how the marketing and business aspects of life work, will find this book easy to understand. Its stragit forward approach with real life examples and situations makes me understand it and look back on the information for later.
   
   The price of the book with the photographers market 2005 book makes it a deal!



4. This book has some good information, but I was expecting a lot more. I would recommend "The Business of Studio Photography" by Lilley instead.



5. This book offers sound practical advice that will help you take your business to the next level. Sure... you may be a great photographer, but effective marketing will get your work in front of the right people.
   
   This book will help you achieve this goal. I occasionally re-read it and it's invaluable.

3 comments about 500 Lighting Hints, Tips, and Techniques.

1. 
   
   At the middle of last year I opened a photo studio. So, I can say, I'm still beginner int this topic. So, this book was very helpful for me to gt advance knowledge about art of making great photos.



2. The book does not contain much of light setups but it shows
   almost every lighting gadget and explains them. Useful for
   begginers who wants to see which tool is used for which purpose.



3. This book was a BIG disappointment. The first Chapter: The Basics consists of 86 so called tips about the camera. It is more of a dictionary of photographic terms sometimes with illustrations. The following Chapters: Characteristics of Light, Working with Daylight, Artifical Lighting, Lighting Setups and Postproduction Lighting are not much better, what is presented is very elementary. If you have no ideal what aperture is or what a ring flash looks like this book is for you. But otherwise skip it.

5 comments about Dreads.

1. It was wonderful to meet each person photographed in this book through their stories. Whether they allowed their locks to tangle and grow for religious beliefs, rebellious causes, or simply as a fashion statement, each person shines through the beautiful photographs. I applaud the photographer and writer for presenting a remarkable array of individuals and telling their stories for the world.



2. My husband bought this book for me for Christmas due to my resolution to begin locs in January 2008. The stories are so beautiful and I love the commentary about people always wanting to touch your hair...it's so true. I just wish people could understand the true meaning and history of this lifestyle. Peace!



3. Inspiration, undestanding, honesty, beautiful, diversity, different, roots, culture...
   
   That and more is what this book can show you. Beautiful photographs, amazing information... U will never see people with dreadlocks in the same way...



4. I loved the beautiful pictures in this book.. a must-have for any lover of locks!



5. I always saw this book at the natural hair stylist that I visited. Now that I and my daughter are lock wearers i decided to purchase it. The photography is outstanding and book contains both cultivated and organic locks. Great to have in your home library and leave out as a conversation piece. Excellent.. Must buy it.
   I also recommend:
   Kinki Kreations: A Parent's Guide to Natural Black Hair Care for Kids

No comments about Jackie Handbook.

5 comments about A Short Course in Nikon D300 Photography book/ebook.

1. I found that this course book was excellent for helping me learn not only about how to use my Nikon D300 but also good at covering basic photography information as well. This is not just another course on what the D300 features are but also how and when to use those features. I felt that the writing style was very clear (not too technical) and did specially well at explaining more complicated subjects like exposure, histograms, lighting (white balance) and flash.
   
   The illustrations were well done and clear to show parts of the camera and complicated topics as well.
   
   Having the book in PDF format with hyperlinks was also a hugh plus. I was able to read the course on a plane during long flights without having to carry the bound version with me on the plane (I had to carry my laptop on with me anyway).



2. The book was damaged when it arrived, reured the book and was refunded my money.



3. complicated. The Cd does not work. Quality is so poor that it peels off within your computer creating problems to retreive the debrie



4. This useful course is designed to assist relatively new users of Nikon DSLRS of this calibre (pro level).
   It almost succeeeds. On the positive side it sets out each section clearly and concisely and is backed up by the Ebook disc with animated practical exercises.
   The negatives? - The book tends to gloss over some operational areas with the D300 or offers only scant reference to them.
   It is not a high quality production for the price charged (not much better than a photocopied edition) and could have been so much better with the addition of colour. (you can produce a colour edition yourself by printing from the disc provided).
   Overall though, the book works quite well and certainly demystifies some of the confusing data written in Nikon's D300 users manual



5. This is a "cookie cutter" copy of the book I purchased for my Nikon D80. All the author did was update the information from one camera to the other. Very dissapointing, not to mention overpriced. The features of the D300 were not covered very throughly and a lot were left out completely. A much, much better book is David Busch's "Nikon D300 Guide to Digital SLR Photography" and is also less expensive.

2 comments about Cindy Sherman.

1. I bought this book several months ago after reading about Cindy Sherman and her boyfriend's adventures in various European cities where her retrospective was being exhibited in art galleries. Her boyfriend, by the way, has one of the most kicka*s online journals (he doesn't like you to call it a 'blog') on the planet.
   
   It's taken me several months to digest her works. This is heavy stuff, folks, make no mistake about it. What I struggled most with was trying to find a theme among the successive phases represented in Sherman's art.
   
   In the end, I think I figured it out. Her art is really about the exploration of identity. In the process, she comments about feminism, overt and hidden sexuality, pornography, advertising, contemporary and classic art, but in the end, how all this onslaught of imagery affects many people's self image.
   
   Sherman is probably best known for her "Film Stills" series from the 70s, in which she pioneered the technique of being a photographer and subject at the same time. She could have stopped there, and probably been a successful artist. In that series, she made up sets that looked like 50s and 60s movie stills. Of course, none of these movies existed.
   
   In the 80s, her photographs became more macabre, exploring death, the despair of lost innocence, and the ominous aspects of sex and the subconscious.
   
   Shortly after this timeframe, she did the "Fashion" series, which really mocks fashion, showing how fashion can be debasing to women, much like pornography; probably even exploring the relationship between fashion and pornography. Many people are accepting and slaves of fashion, yet abhor porn, yet Sherman shows how the two are inextricably related.
   
   In her next phase, Sherman explores the symbolism that old master paintings exerts on modern art, news photography, and advertising, often apparently unintentionally, which raises the point that we're all connected to the collective consciousness as Jung pointed out.
   
   By the mid 90s, Sherman's photography had included grotesque, ripped apart dolls, humans mixed with dolls, gaping pornographic dolls, composite dolls put together from different dolls, mannequins. This phase segued into surrealism, Daliesque imagery made from contorted body parts and more mannequins. This was followed by the "masks" phase, which in turn morphed into the "Hollywood Hamptons" series. Here, one can probably see best what Cindy Sherman is trying to say. While each of the characters she embodies in this series looks bizarre, we've all seen people like this every day. They remind me of Tammy Fay Baker....grotesque and exaggerated makeup. Who are you Tammy Fay? Who are you Cindy Sherman?
   
   Sherman's most recent series is the clowns, which, in hindsight, even though drastically different from each previous phase, makes perfect sense. After all, nobody knows who's really under the clown mask. Many times, not even the clown herself.
   
   Not to be missed if you're into art that explores the nature of consciousness.



2. everything was ok with the servise. the shipping was on time and the prodact came out just fine....

2 comments about Lineage: What If The Universe Gave You A Gift?.

1. lineage is a great read."nan-see"transport you straight into a reality await to come forth.
   anyone asking and wanting to know if there is any more to life,than get lineage.
   lineage will point you in the right direction,just a little faith is needed.
   nancy burson book is an instant metaphysical classic.johan D.seeker



2. I read this book with great interest and believe it's an important book. Burson makes the unbelievable believable. It makes sense to be calling these beings "Extra Celestials" as they are like angels, here to help us and change the world for the better. I look forward to connecting with them myself.

3 comments about Private Newport: At Home and In the Garden.

1. .
   This is an exquisite look at Newport Rhode Island by Betty Barden Pardee, a contributing editor to Bon Appetit, who, with her husband is a year-around resident of Newport. Ms. Pardee takes the reader inside the mansions for a private look at the interiors and gardens of this community from a bygone era.
   
   Photographer Mick Hales, whose work has appeared in House and Garden, Vanity Fair, Architectural Digest, and Town and Country does an extraordinary job capturing the light, mood and character of Newport.
   
   Designers, decorative artists, and landscape designers will especially enjoy these pages.



2. I used to live in Newport and I recognize many of the houses in this book. You will not see these private interiors and gardens any other way. The photography and writing are excellent.



3. Private Newport features page after page of gorgeous homes--those that only we mere mortals can only dream about! The photography is spectacular and I love the way the exterior of the homes and their grounds are included, as well as the amazing interiors. This is a great gift for anyone who has visited Newport or who desires to. You won't see these homes on the mansion tour as they are privately owned and not open to the public.