No comments about Andreas Gursky: Architecture.

5 comments about Assembling Panoramic Photos: A Designer's Notebook (Designers Notebook).

1. I got this book hoping it would be a step by step guide to assist me in developing my work flow and technique on up skilling my panoramic knowledge. But it was not.. it made very simple things overly complicated and some of the most popular great tools available were not highlighted or used.



2. I found this book to be a great book on artistically making PANORMIC Photos, and More...
   
   It is an excellent book in showing different techniques as well as the art of "Assembling" Panoramic pictures. But it is also a work of art in helping you get an idea of the artistic and somewhat abstract way of doing this.
   
   I followed the techniques, for example taking multiple shot of the same subject and then assembling that together, as another example I used the planning that is pointed out in this book, and multiple shots from the same view to make it super high resolution.
   
   I used PhtotoShop for the "Stitching" and I got the same outstanding results.
   
   This is a Great book for photographers.
   
   Bruce Razban
   Silicon Valley, CA, USA



3. This book is small but really comprehensive. Through specific examples people that knows the secret of panoramic photography, gives tips & tricks for a good panoramic photo using normal cameras and lenses.
   In the beginning i read it very quick but then i discover more more than even in the smallest paragraph there is a nice tip.
   The only "bad" is that most of the writers use realviz stitcher as main stitching program. Why this is "bad"? Because the program costs more than 400 euro. There is also a express release around 100 euro but with limited use.
   But the tips and tricks are still there. I personally use PTGui with Pano2cube software and i can use most of this books advices. it is highly recommended for the photographer he wants to involved in panoramic photography.



4. I came to Moab Utah to take photos of the great national parks and the state park (Dead Horse SP). After two weeks I bought the Really Right Stuff equipment for making horizontal and vertical panoramas. The photoshop CS2 books and the internet suggested that joining them would be easy to do. Hoever, this great book, shows that much more skill is needed in taking the photographs and using the software. The book gives an outline of the steps needed to compose the 8 digital panoramas but does not give exact details because considerable experiment is needed. In the first chapter where 3 images are joined to form an ice fall in an ice cave the photographer took 200 images. In the panoramic beach scene the waves were coninuously moving during the shooting so that an incredible amount of editing was needed to form a great image. This book shows what can be done if skill is used at every step Now I realise how much incredible work Max Lyons had to do to compose his terabyte image of Bryce Canyon. "The Photoshop CS2book for Digital Photographers" has a small chapter on panorams.
   For some reason "Assembling Panoramic Photos" is well hidden in the Amazon search terms.
   Howard McPherson, Cleveland, Ohio (Moab, Utah)



5. Few books on photograph go into much detail or depth on handling panorama format photos, which makes the advice of Assembling Panoramic Photos: A Designer's Notebook important. Another feature which lends unique value: leading French photographers and artists present their techniques, translated by William Rodarmor for English readers, with step-by-step examples of technique beginning with initial shots and progressing to specific panoramic techniques. The end result is an essential reference which should be a part of any solid photography book collection.

3 comments about Classic Queen.

1. This was a beautiful book,with pictures that took my breath away,many times. Well worth the hardback price. The tidbits of information were icing on this cake. A coffee table book I will enjoy over and over again.



2. The book is a great on the photo's are amzing. Also it's got some good reading in there too. all in all a very good book.



3. I Bought the original book a few years ago..Leather bound,signed by Mick Rock/Brian and roger and now the people who could not afford that get this..the compact version, still full of rare pictures of Queen in the early years, great insiders view of the Band before Bo Rhap, a Great read and well worth the price..BUY!!

5 comments about The Stray Shopping Carts of Eastern North America: A Guide to Field Identification.

1. I designed shopping carts for 5 years. After I left that company, I saw this book. I bought it as a gift for my former boss who was the owner of the company that made shopping carts. I thought that he would get a kick out of it. Before I gave it to him, I decided to glance at a few pages and ended up reading through the whole book before I gave it to him. I sort of felt bad since the book is now officially used. He loved it anyway. It was interesting and it has inspired me to do something similar.



2. As a certified straycartologist I applaud the effort to publicize this issue. I only hope we can convince those crumb bums in Washington that expanding our coverage to the rest of North America can only be achieved with copious federal spending.
   
   Like the question burning in the loins of Lewis and Clark before us, what will the West reveal? My crotch is afire with this question: what will the West reveal about...ourselves? [For full effect, deliver that last word in a fervent whisper]



3. When I first heard mention of this book (in The Believer magazine), I laughed out loud at the concept...
   
   I laughed out loud when it showed up on my doorstep, too. The effort and thought put into the development of this silly book is tremendous. The result is an excellent play on the concept of field identification guides.
   
   Whenever people see this book on my coffee table, it becomes a conversation piece. Funny, funny stuff.



4. This book is easily one of the top four reference guides for shopping carts available on the market today. It does an excellent job of covering the following topics:
   
   * Shopping carts
   
   Overall, I heartily endorse this product.



5. Received the book last week- funny read and the pictures are amusing for a while...then the "field guide" aspect of the book may be a bit too complicated for a "fun read". It's quite a complicated work-up that the author had contrived, and while impressive- I was using too much brain power while reading something that should be entertaining. I don't think I have enough room left in my brain to store field guide info on shopping carts- even just to make it til the end of this book! But maybe YOU do! :)

3 comments about Punk 365 (365 Series).

1. An excellent selection of photos with great text. This book was edited perfectly and it kept my attention throughout.



2. I bought this book for someone who was probably bouncing up and down at many of the shows depicted in this fine collection (which hardly does it justice) of performance and candid photographs of the seminal figures of Punk. Even though they are the epitome of a music snob and punk aficionado, they were delighted with the book. Now I'll have to go back and get one for myself.



3. Despite being yet another book titled PUNK this-or-that (how boring) accompanied by yet another picture of the overexposed Pistols, what we have here is a rare and fine contribution to the small flock of top rate punk documentation. For the lost-in-space stalwarts of the "punk died in '77" variety, you will find ample obscure photos and tentalizing quotes/factoids about your beloved NY scenesters (Patti Smith, Richard Hell, Ramones; the usual suspects) and your typical UK actors (Pistols, Clash, Buzzcocks, et al). But what is truly exceptional about this book is the wide territory it covers for the true punk listener. Not only does it include proto-punk legends (13th Floor Elevators, Stooges, MC5) but it ackowledges the crucially influential yet overlooked groups from both the US & UK such as the Avengers, Dils, Weirdos, Stiff Little Fingers, Angelic Upstarts, Dead Boys, Undertones, Black Flag, Germs, and on and on. As a bonus it includes the salt and pepper of much loved hangers-on who used punk to become rich and famous while not ever really being punk (Elvis Costello...you get the idea). This book is great and can be looked through over and over again without boredom. Highly recommended for every punk or jaded old rocker who has ever picked up a photobook on punk only to be bored to tears with 50 pages on Patti Smith/Talking Heads and another 50 pages of Sex Pistols/Clash and little else. And its cheap!

5 comments about Century, Mini Edition: One Hundred Years of Human Progress, Regression, Suffering and Hope.

1. If you are at all interested in the history of the photographed image, you MUST have this book. The first time I sat down with it, I thumbed through it for two hours. Moving, impressive, uplifting and inspiring!



2. A picture speaks a thousand words. Century is an attempt at bringing history on your table through vivid collection of photographs of events that have shaped the future of world in the last century. Starting from 1900, it covers each year and its main happenings through a picture that more or less sums up the major historic event that occured at that point of time. What you get therefore are priceless photographs - some which are absolutely breathtaking, some which are rare and some which are not so great, but are priceless nevertheless. Though a bias is there towards Europe and America, but that is not intentional as firstly, Europe is where much of political action took place in the last century - leading to two World Wars which shaped the future of the world - and secondly the availability of camera and mastering the art of photography was scarce in Asia and Africa. On the whole, the book manages to evoke a respect, even amongst the new generation, about how the world was in the years gone by. The palm-sized mini edition is handier than the full edition, which weighs quite a few pounds and is a collectors item. Go for the book if you love history or want to make aware of the human progress to your generation next - for only if they know what we were, can they understand where we are headed for.



3. i cried when faced with the horror of these images. they burned into my memory like a traumatic event. it took weeks for the haunting to cease. EVERYONE should have this book,everyone should be aware of it.high school seniors should have this as history class instead of the usual boring and stifling stuff normally taught...this is the brutal,honest truth.



4. Over a thousand (!) pictures that paint the 20th century history. Each telling more than a thousand words. So that's a million imaginary words... Every world changing picture is there, and many more. The ultimate book of modern history. Must have!



5. For anyone interested in historical photography, the 20th Century, modern world history, or just making the best use of time spent browsing in a book, this is THE book to have. Do it.

5 comments about Garden Structures (Smith & Hawken).

1. I also own their Tools book. Both were good purchases that I have enjoyed year round. All their products say "quality."



2. This is a "coffee-book" table, nice to look through for some wonderful
   relaxing "down" time but is also great for unique ideas to try in your
   own yard or garden.



3. `Garden Structures' by Linda Joan Smith under the Smith & Hawken imprimatur (actually published by Workman Publishing) is primarily a book of inspiration, at which it is very good, but very weak as a `how-to' book. The book covers ten (10) different varieties of garden structures, grouped in four general categories. The Categories and Varieties are:
   
   The Garden's Boundaries
   Gateways and Doorways
   Fences
   Walls
   Edgings
   The Garden Above
   Trellises
   Arbors, Pergolas, and Arches
   The Garden Underfoot
   Paths and Walkways
   Patios, Decks, and Terraces
   The Living Garden
   Hedges and Espalier
   Potting Sheds and Greenhouses
   
   As broad as this list is, it does not include any section or instruction on water features, in spite of the fact that there are numerous water feature structures, such as walkways and bridges, pictured in the book. And, compared to other subjects, the section on sheds and greenhouses is relatively small for the complexity of the subject.
   
   The best situation in which this book will be helpful is if you have a large empty space in which a garden and structures could be placed, with not a clue to what you may want to place in that space, and you want to take on the role of `general contractor and architect' yourself. In fact, many of the elements would realistically require a VERY LARGE space to make them work as well as they do in these pictures.
   
   I am virtually certain that almost all the photographs in the book were taken not from projects done by the author or by Smith & Hawken, but of elements from well-designed large gardens from around the country and around the world. Aside from requiring a lot of space, almost all of these elements also require a lot of money to realize, unless you, dear reader are especially handy with either carpentry, masonry, metalworking or large plant horticulture. And, you will need a fair amount of time and at least one relatively muscular assistant to carry off most of these projects by yourself.
   
   While there are literally hundreds of different pictures, with every one being of a different structure in a different garden, there are very, very few short sidebars of instruction on how to accomplish the construction of these structures. And, the instructional sidebars are not connected to any of the pictured examples, they are instructions on general and very basic techniques.
   
   One example stands out for me. I often fantasized about having a brick wall along one side of my garden with a perfectly round door opening onto the pavement, simulating the perfectly round (painted green, of course) door to Bilbo Baggins' home at Bag End (from'The Hobbit' and `Lord of the Rings'). Lo and behold, our book has a beautiful pic of a round brick Chinese doorway AND several examples of round French style `clairvoyees', windows in garden walls whose main function is to focus attention on a garden vista. Does our author give us any guidance on building these round brick openings. No siree! Not a hint. What may be even worse is that the book contains no bibliography for books on how to do the many techniques needed to realize the structures in this book. I should also point out that the book also contains no general techniques on planning or figuring what kinds of structures would go well with various climates or terrain.
   
   I get a fairly strong sense, as a long time customer at a local Smith & Hawken store, which the primary object of the book's sponsor is to sell Smith & Hawken wares. While this merchant doesn't carry bricks and mortars and lumber, they do stock a wide variety of garden borders, trellises, pergolas, and pyramids, some of which I seem to recognize in these pictures.
   
   In spite of all these considerations, this is still a great idea book, since the author has done an excellent job of collecting evocative photographs of many different examples. And, while the value to someone with a small, well-established garden may simply not have the room for most of these ideas, there will still be some things that will strike a chord. One thing, for example, which I found illuminating, was the set of notions on building large trellis against the wall of a house.
   
   The most useful aspect of the book is simply its wide range of materials and designs. I simply would not have thought of how to use flexible branches, rope, or daub and waddle techniques for garden design elements. And, the text, if you ever get past the gorgeous pictures, gives a lot of righteous advice on a lot of general issues that will contribute to your planning and design.



4. Autumn is the time when gardens prepare for the hibernating sleep of Winter, a season of quiet and replenishment preparing for the magic of Spring. Even in the climes where snow fails to camouflage the less bountiful gifts, as in West Coast gardens where winter colors abound, winter is the time for the gardener to note and plan. Clipped trees, mulched perennials, skeletal structures of deciduous trees after the fall of colored leaves all open the view of the internal structure of the garden, allowing the viewer to inspect, evaluate, sketch and dream about the beauty of the supporting structures of the garden.
   
   In this beautifully illustrated book GARDEN STRUCTURES author Linda Joan Smith focuses our eyes on walls, fences, arbors, archways, rock and stone barriers, pools, and private secluded spots for herbal abundance. These are the aspects that give the significant garden personality - the framework for the various constituents of every living thing in the garden. Though not a book intended to instruct, Smith creates a flow of information and images that inspire, leaving the 'how to' to the ingenuity of the gardener.
   
   The gardens in the lushly colorful photographs come from a very wide range of areas and Smith is careful not to exclude even the tender of the smallest plot of land. This is a perfect lap book for the quiet times after the leaves are raked and the chill in the air prevents active work in the garden. It is a pensive source, a place for creativity while the seasons pass. Highly recommended. Grady Harp, October 05



5. This is a lovely book, one to enjoy on a coffee table, especially during an infinite winter. Nearly every page has color photos; even small photos in this book are large because the format is so big.

   And what variety: gates; fences; walls; edgings; trellises; arbors, pergolas, and arches; paths; hedges and espalier; potting sheds and greenhouses. Within each section, many examples are given along with (very) occasional drawings of a project. Some unfootnoted history and observations are included, as well. So the book offers extremely broad scope -- one might even call it "encyclopaedic". But be warned that you may not, for the most part, be able to divine (based on content) whether a structure will work for your garden.

   The book catalogs topics pretty well; the photos assure this. But to be truly encyclopaedic, the book needs a much more comprehensive table of contents, especially because there is no index. And I would like to have seen footnoting (or at least a list of sources) for the bits of historical information included. Ultimately, though, the reason the book drives me nuts is that it is very hard to find my way back to ideas or photos that interest me.

   That said, you will almost certainly see something new to you. And once you see something of interest, you'd better mark it well because the book will give you absolutely no help in finding it again.

No comments about Royal Weddings.

4 comments about Instant Light: Tarkovsky Polaroids.

1. Tarovsky's polaroid photos, many of them landscapes, are evocative and nostalgic, while exhibiting a style of composition that is fresh, inventive, and thoughtful. He manages all this without the need for costly equipment, using only inexpensive polaroid cameras. The photos made me feel as though I had been there and seen his subjects for myself--although I've never been to Russia. Or perhaps Tarovsky's images simply have the power to evoke nostalgic longings in us, without being able to identify where they come from.
   
   Highly recommended.



2. lots of religious references in the text. the pictures were fairly satisfying. was not the greatest gift i've ever given someone.



3. Ingmar Bergman is quoted as saying that '..for me, Tarkovsky is the greatest filmmaker' -- not bad, considering that the source is numbered among the most respected directors in the history of cinema. Tarkovsky made a 'scant' 7 films over the course of his career -- but each one of them is outstanding. His philosophy of art and spirituality pervades all of his work -- including the incredible photographs reproduced in this thoughtfully assembled, lovingly printed volume.
   
   Tarkovsky's son, along with Tonino Guerro (a close friend and collaborator of the filmmaker) and Giovanni Chiaramonte (a wonderful Italian photographer whose comments at the end of the book show that he shared a great deal of Tarkovsky's spirit and concerns) have put together this collection -- and I have no doubt that it will not only be treasured by those who are already admirers of the director, but that it will serve as a fitting introduction to those who have as yet missed out on him.
   
   The strength, depth of spirituality, transcendent beauty and wisdom contained in and conveyed by the images and thoughts here are timeless. One of the driving forces in Tarkovsky's work was to 'stop time' so that the viewer might better understand not only the events depicted in his images, but also, upon reflection, better view his own soul, personality and place in the scheme of things. There are many photographs in this book that have that very time-stopping effect.
   
   This is a collection that I will treasure -- I can't recommend it highly enough.



4. If anyone remembers polaroid pictures from back in the day, it's truly amazing that Tarkovsky captured the beautiful & haunting images he did. This collection gives the world a postmortem gift from one of the most important filmmakers/artists that has ever graced this earth. We should all give thanks to his son, Andrey A. Tarkovsky, for publishing this collection of pictures and letting us all see these images of mysterious and poetic beauty.

5 comments about The Sinatra Treasures: Intimate Photos, Mementos, and Music from the Sinatra Family Collection.

1. The Sinatra Treasures is yet another look at Frank Sinatra's life and career, this time with never-before-published quotes, more than 200 black-and-white and color images from several Sinatra archives and 30 removable facsimile reproductions of items (scripts, a Sinatra photo album). Also included is a CD with an hour's worth of rare interviews and songs, including Frank singing a parody of "High Hopes" for presidential hopeful John F. Kennedy's campaign.
   
   The author, Charles Pignone, is a Sinatra family archivist and has written liner notes for several Sinatra releases. He has been president of the Sinatra Society of America since 1984.
   
   The book opens with recollections from Quincy Jones and Frank Sinatra Jr. The first chapter charmingly opens with a "cast of characters." Early mementos include a New York Giants scorecard (1942) and "Frank Fare" (1943), an early Sinatra fan magazine. Other gems include a 1944 program script and copies of later programs, telegraphs, and photos.
   
   This is probably only going to have lasting appeal for the die-hard Sinatra collector; it's overkill for the casual fan, and will probably only warrant flipping through once or twice. Also, although the removable mementos are a neat idea, the paper sleeves they come in are very flimsy and tear easily.



2. This is a hell of a deal! I can't believe that more people aren't aware of this treasure trove of photo's, mementos, and music from the Sinatra family collection. This is not some tawdry, half-hearted, gimmicky attempt to make a quick buck. You can tell that it was created with a whole lot of care and heart. First class all the way! Sinatra was a perfectionist, and it is nice to see all the meticulousness that was put forth in this magnificent work.
   
   If you are a fan, then please make this purchase. I can guaranty you will not be disappointed in the slightest. There are so many wonderful little surprises awaiting you, and seemingly every page is a new, delightful discovery. There are more than 200 photos (both in color and black & white), 30 removable facsimile reproductions, never before published quotes from the greats who worked with him (i.e. Duke Ellington, Quincy Jones, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Ronald Reagan, et al...), a compilation CD of rare interviews and songs, etc... etc...
   
   If you love the Chairman of the Board like I do, then trust me when I tell you, this is a must. A definite A+!!!



3. Sinatra Treasures is a excellent book for fans of Old Blue Eyes. This book was first of its kind and worth every penny. It includes an audio cd with performances and interviews of Sinatra and worth hearing. I like taking out the artifacts, although the paper can rip easily. Im sure people have complained about that already. A great book and very fun to look at. Highly recommended.



4. This is probably one of the most complete selections I have ever seen. Having been a Sinatra fan since the late 1940s, I have a lot of very fond memories of seeing him in person, first with the TD band, personal concerts, Old Gold Radio Show, and Your Hit Parade Radio show, plus many personal appearances in the Los Angeles area and Las Vegas. This book complements my own collection of Sinatra memorabelia. It's nice to read an authorized book about the kind of person he really was.



5. Frank Sinatra was, in my opinion, the greatest entertainer of all time. I collect Sinatra recordings and books, and "The Sinatra Treasures" is probably the best Sinatra compilation I've ever seen. In addition to numerous interviews, Sinatra quotes and hundreds of rare photos, it also contains a collection of various Sinatra memorabilia pocketed throughout the book. There's a photo album of pictures from Sinatra early in his career, ticket stubs, a radio script, reproductions of programs from two presidential inaugurations that Sinatra performed at, and much more. There's also an audio CD containing clips from Sinatra interviews, radio appearances, monologues and a few rare recordings, including the version of "High Hopes" used to promote John Kennedy's presidential campaign.
   
   This wonderful collection of Sinatra material sheds light on the numerous aspects of Frank's life as a performer, father and friend. All Sinatra fans should own a copy of this book. (When it was first released, the book retailed for about $75, so the current price is a real bargain. Snatch up your copies while you can!)