5 comments about Breach of Peace: Portraits of the 1961 Mississippi Freedom Riders.

1. The Freedom Rider mug shots were collected by Mississippi's State Sovereignty Commission, which was established to protect segregation in perpetuity. The aim was probably to assure that if the Riders returned to the state, they could be run out on a rail, or perhaps blackmailed if they were later ashamed of their youth.
   Who knows why the police photos went into the archives? Mississippi Sovereignty Commission employees were notoriously drunken incompetents (see numerous scholarly articles to that effect) and they needed to collect every shred of evidence of having shown up for work.
   When the Sovereignty Commission's files were finally open to the public thanks to years of work by the ACLU, the evidence of their intimidation & spying & incompetence was astonishing.
   And yet, even in the mug shots, the strength of character & idealism of the Riders showed through. Photographer Eric Etheridge made it his mission to track down those of the 500 Riders who were still alive, and persuaded many to allow him to do new, artistic, penetrating "mug shots" for posterity.
   My regret is that the interviews which went with the portraits were so curtailed by the art book format. I also feel that the intensity of his approach made many people look more forbidding than they are in a more natural setting.
   This is a valuable, powerful & revealing book, which presents to the public some of the people who have not been celebrated but who made the history while others got the kudos.



2. I recently purchased this, having read a review in either the Wall Street Journal or New York Times. It provides background information regarding the Freedom Riders within the civil rights movement and then offers photos of the individuals arrested and profiles of many of them: what they were doing then, why they joined the effort and what they've done since and are doing now.
   
   The book provides a human face to a movement -- something that is very effective here given that the participants spanned various parts of the country, different socioeconomic backgrounds, etc.
   
   The only issue I had with it, which is minor, is that the project is ongoing, which makes the book seem incomplete. That doesn't make me regret the purchase, however. Well worth the money and time.



3. This is a unique piece of literature that gives you a sense of pride for those unsung heroes of the past who made significant history. Great pictures and autobiographical sketches. This should be in every American's household library!



4. My review is not in anyway impartial or detached. Forty seven years ago tomorrow (June 2) myself and five fellow Riders were arrested in Jackson. Three members of our group are no longer with us today, with this disclosure in mind I will now review "Breach of Peace: Portraits of the 1961 Mississippi Freedom Riders" by Eric Etheridge.
   The book is beautifully printed and the portraits are of outstanding quality. The text is, of course, minimal but to me at least, provacative in the extreme. The interviews Mr. Etheridge was able to conduct and include were the flesh on the bones. Incidently, I spoke with Mr. Ehteridge and was advised that the interviewing connected with his project is continuing and they will eventually show up on the internet.
   This book is a perfect complement to Raymond Arsenault's "Freedom Riders: 1961 and the Struggle for Racial Justice"(see my review). For primary history enthusiasts, I cannot strongly enough recommend: Mississippi Department Archives and History (MDAH Digital Collection). To get a feel for the real situation in Mississippi of what segregation meant in that state.
   Perusing the portraits was like a portal back into time. Bittersweet memories of accomplishment and failure. Yes, we accomplished the immediate objective of integrating interstate travel and in the ensuing years(at the cost of a lot of blood) removed most overt forms of discrimination. But, sadly if one takes the time and energy to peer into her or his surroundings(locally and globally) the idealism of that time is rarely observed.
   WE SHALL OVERCOME?



5. "Here is a picture of the emergent civil rights movement plunging forward, adeptly taking its strategy of nonviolent direct action to the national stage" writes Eric Etheridge in the introduction to this wonderful book.
   
   Etheridge found approximately 320 mug shots of Freedom Riders who had been arrested in Mississippi in 1961. Ironically, the mug shots were warehoused by the Mississippi State Sovereignty Commission, a Mississippi agency formed in 1956 "to protect the sovereignty of the State of Mississippi...from encroachment thereon by the Federal Government." The Commission got the mug shots and arrest records from Jackson and Mississippi State police. (The Mississippi State Sovereignty Commission: Civil Rights and States' Rightsis an excellent history of the Commission.)
   
   Etheridge has worked as a magazine story editor and on various Web-related projects. He was able to track down and photograph and interview more than 100 Freedom Riders. Many of the modern photos appear next to the original mug shot, as well as the all of mug shots of every Freedom Rider arrested in 1961 in Jackson.
   
   A sample entry (for Larry Bell) consists of the two photos and the following text:
   
   "Born: March 5, 1942, in Monroe, GA. Grew up there and in Los Angeles, where his family moved in 1950.
   
   "Then: Freshman, Los Angeles City College.
   
   "Since then: Returned to Los Angeles, working as a janitor during the day and attending City College at night. In 1966 was one of the first blacks to go to work for United Airlines in California. When he retired in 2000, he was a flight-attendant supervisor and also trained newly hired flight attendants. Still lives in Los Angeles.
   
   "Quote: The clothing that they gave us in Parchman was a t-shirt that was military green and some green boxer shorts. No shoes, no. And as we began to protest, they took them from us and left us with nothing. Then they took the mattress, so now we had to lie on a metal slab with them little round holes--and boy, you talk about some hard sleeping at night? When you're sleeping on the thing, there's that indentation where your skin goes through that little round hole, and there you are, half of you is like being suffocated and the other half is being cut out, you couldn't sleep any way you tried. So we sat up and we debated all night, and we got more boisterous in our songs."
   
   As Etheridge notes: "The irony here is that the Sovereignty Commission documented the success of the Civil Rights movement instead of defeating it, and left behind a great visual record and the names of everybody involved."
   
   There are two excellent histories of the Freedom Riders:Freedom Riders: John Lewis and Jim Zwerg on the Front Lines of the Civil Rights Movement by Ann Bausum and Freedom Riders: 1961 and the Struggle for Racial Justice (Pivotal Moments in American History) by by Raymond Arsenault.
   
   Etheridge's excellent book adds a human element of great power to the story.
   
   ***
   
   Reviewer's Disclosure: I worked on various Civil Rights matters in Mississippi between 1961 and 1970 as a law student and later as young lawyer.
   
   
   Robert C. Ross 2008

5 comments about Eyes over Africa.

1. This is the most amazing book. The photography is extraordinary capturing the smallest details, such as the smile on someone's face who is waving @ you. It is a must have for anyone interested in Africa & makes one want to go there.



2. Eyes over Africa (Hardcover) by Michael Poliza (Author)
   
   I saw the bigger version of this book "Eyes over Africa (Hardcover) by Michael Poliza (Author) " in a store were it was displayed and I fell in love with it .
   This piece of art is one of those rare items you do not forget after seeing it .
   The amazing and breathtaking images were imprinted in my mind , I had to buy this book!



3. I can only but dream of seeing as much of Africa as Michael Poliza has, but this book carries me along on his journey. The level of detail is incredible - the more I look at the images, the more I find that surprises, delights or intrigues. Many pictures are pure abstract - and then I flip to the back of the book, only to find they are acute observations on some fascinating aspect of the natural world. Sadly, this detailed record is now vital in an age when global warming is changing the face of Africa so quickly. Perhaps these images will inspire us all to make a difference.



4. A truly beautiful book that gives the reader an immediate sense of the vast and immeasurable beauty of this grand continent. There is a vunerability in his work too. One gets the sense that even though the subject is grand and impressive it is all too fragile.



5. A new and refreshing perspective on a beautiful place. "Eyes Over Africa" will be a centerpiece of my photo book collection. Absolutely breathtaking. I've always been a fan of aerial photography and this book has solidified it for me.

1 comments about Road to Freedom: Photographs of the Civil Rights Movement, 1956-1968.

1. One of the most tumultuous and chaotic times in American history was the era of the Civil Rights Movement. "Road to Freedom: Photographs of the Civil Rights Movement 1956-1968" is a photographic history of this time when people were willing to go into the streets to protest a then racist government and society. The story of the movement is told through poignant black and white photographs, making "Road to Freedom" a good coffee table book for those who feel strongly about the movement, and for community library collections focusing on books of photography.

No comments about Wolves 2009 (Calendar).

5 comments about Photoshop CS3 for Nature Photographers: A Workshop in a Book (Tim Grey Guides).

1. After purchasing three other books on CS3, this was the most applicable for someone that is primarily focused on nature and landscape photography. The authors introduce you to their work flow, which I find works well. They guide you through the entire process, beginning at taking your picture, to setting up your preferences, to final print. It leaves room for your own personal settings without "directing" you to do it only their way. The authors not only explain the "how", but the "why." This was something I found lacking in the other books, even the official Adobe workbook. The lessons are easy to follow and understand. You don't have to be a computer expert to work with this book, but basic knowledge of CS3 helps, although not required. If getting the most out of your landscape/nature images with CS3 is your goal, then this is your book. A very good "A to Z" instructional guide. Highly recommended.



2. For several years I have attempted to gain at least a small degree of skill doing some basic image editing using Photoshop. Each attempt was accompanied by the latest and greatest book claiming to be the source of everything needed to become quickly proficient with Photoshop. And these books tend to get read -- perhaps all the way to chapter 3 -- where I become entirely overwhelmed by the minutiae and lose complete interest, especially since the book is only introducing details and accomplishing nothing useful. I was skeptical when I purchased this book, assuming it would lead to the same dead end. I have been very pleasantly surprised, not to mention pleased with the progress I have made -- right through the final chapter!
   
   I think several things make this book stand out. The authors have wisely chosen not to attempt to document every single feature of this huge and complicated software tool. Often they note, in passing, areas that they do not plan to cover -- and why (because the software was designed for a wide audience and nature photographers only need a sub-set of the available features). The book progresses very logically, providing you just what you need to do "the next thing." In practice, this means that you only need to learn a reasonable number of things in order to begin to see some success. As well, you then begin to build on these skills -- but never to the point where you become frustrated with the process. Finally, they provide options for you to consider and try, typically suggesting that you use the method most comfortable for you. In hindsight, I believe that many of the earlier books that I worked with often required adherence to the author's proscribed ideas about how to do this or that. It was quite nice to discover, for example, that a "keyboard person" was not forced to use the mouse -- and vice versa.
   
   I can certainly recommend this to advanced beginner and intermediate photographers -- not JUST Nature Photographers. If you need to work with some of the advanced options that Photoshop offers then this may not be the right book for you. If you have tried many times to succeed with Photoshop I urge you to try again with this book -- you just may find that you will succeed this time!!



3. This is a pretty good book filled with quite a few tips. The writing style was difficult for me to enjoy per se but the content is there. It was extremely distracting however for nearly every photograph in the book to have the caption "Photo by Ellen Anon". Over and over and over....Even multiple steps in a procedure apparently required a credit on each photo. Just a small gripe but it would have been easier to say at the beginning all photos by Ellen Anon unless otherwise noted.



4. I had been muddling through Photoshop for years, learning how to do things mostly on my own. This book, however, was an eye-opener. First off, although being nature photographer-centered doesn't mean it is impractical for other subjects, the nature focus does preclude the types of portrait and architecture examples of other books that really don't help the nature-oriented photographer very much. I find this to be a big strength.
   
   The book is fairly inclusive of most of the basic tools needed to produce quality photos, but some areas are a bit lacking, notably with respect to sharpening. Specifically, there is no discussion of high-pass sharpening, nor of the multipass sharpening process (capture, creative, and output sharpening) that Adobe is now embracing. If you are interested in getting the best out of your photos, I strongly suggest googling these two subjects and learning more.
   
   This book, as do all books on the subject, also suffers from that fact that parts of it are partially obsolete almost from the time it was printed because of advances in plug-in technology. This is especially the case with the recent upgrade of Camera Raw to version 4.1 (now available for free download from Adobe's website), which has tools (sharpening, notably) that could not be covered by this book because ACR 4.1 didn't exist at the time it was written. Again, this isn't a flaw of the book, just the nature of the beast. Heck, I'm sure someone reading this review a year or so from now will be remarking how obsolete ACR 4.1 is, once ACR 4.2 comes out.
   
   I like the fact that there are two authors for the book because they each have ideas on how to best accomplish their goals. This leads to multiple options being presented to the reader. The sidebars by well-known photographers are also quite valuable, although it seems that they were written based on earlier versions of the book (i.e., once centered on CS2, and possibly CS). As such, some of that information is a bit dated. Still, there is a lot of valuable information in there.
   
   I can't comment on the tutorial CD, because I haven't used it, but for those of you who prefer to learn by doing, I imagine it is a very valuable resource.
   
   All in all, I would definitely recommend this book to any newcomer to Photoshop who shoots primarily nature photos.



5. As a web designer I've been using Photoshop professionally for years. I've also worked on lots of photographs, both my own and those I've gotten from clients. I don't need a how to book on layers, cropping and levels. I've got a good understanding of the basic Photoshop tools, and have benefitted from Scott Kelby's Photoshop CS for Photographers. But Kelby's book is a recipe book both useful and well presented, but I want more.
   
   What I want to do now is take my own photography to another level. Past a certain point, improving becomes less a matter of collecting tricks and recipes and more a matter of learning the entire workflow from experts. For that a basic how-to cookbook is no longer of much use to me. I could probably spend a lot of time working out a good workflow and set of procedures through trial and error, but why not take advantage of the experience of those who have already taken the art of nature photography editing to a high place?
   
   Enter Photoshop CS3 for Nature Photographers. As one reviewer has stated, much of the introductory Photoshop material is covered in other books, but not in quite the same way. Photoshop has many tools, each of which has many settings and options. It's perfectly possible to be familiar with one tool or filter in one context and not realize that it can be used in combination with another tool to achieve a completely different result. I once read that when Einstein proposed his theory of relativity maybe three people in the world understood it. I wonder if more than three people in the world completely understand all of what can be done with Photoshop. What I was looking for and found here is an expansion of my Photoshop horizons, a deeper exploration of the art and science of nature photography and photo editing.
   
   Anon and Grey offer an excellent look over the shoulder of experts in both practice of nature photography and in the use of Photoshop as a digital darkroom. I can't emphasize strongly enough how helpful that approach is for someone who has some Photoshop chops or who has used the program for another end and who wants to get great results with nature photos. Their workflow is time tested and produces excellent results
   
   And nature photograph editing benefits from following a slightly different approach from that of product photography, with which I have some experience, portraiture, photojournalism and so on. Again, I'm struck with how specific and helpful the presented workflow, and the mindset that using such a workflow creates is. And placing editing in context with a specific photographic goal informs my picture taking too.
   
   I recommend this book to anybody interested in nature photography who has at least some experience with Photoshop, though a dedicate beginner could work through the introductory phases with this volume. For someone who has used Photoshop in another context and wants to expand into the nature photography realm this book is brilliant.

4 comments about The Book of Caddyshack: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About the Greatest Movie Ever Made.

1. This is one of the WORST books I have ever read! Basically just to lines from the movie and wrote them down. No insite, instead of learning anything about the movie, I feel dumber after reading it!
   
   Watch the movie, STAY AWAY FROM THIS BOOK!



2. If you like the movie, this is the most comprehensive guide to everything you could ever know about the funniest film ever! It has detailed descriptions of all the scenes, with interviews and opinions from all the key players. I would recommend this book even if you haven't seen the movie, as it can only inspire you to buy the dvd. The comedy within this movie has been long copied, but never bettered. As the author states - the belief is that much of the material was "improvised" but that this could not be further from the truth, as it was created with exacting direction and srcipting. But the originality, and strength of the comedy team make it a brilliant one of! This book is a worthy disection, of the nature and depth to this originality. It's a peach hon!



3. Awesome!!! Just awesome!!! I didn't think that anything could possibly increase my appreciation of this movie, but this book certainly has done that. It's like pop-up video for the whole movie. A must for any Caddyshack fan!!!



4. The Book of Caddyshack is awesome - perhaps even worthy of the Dalai Lama himself!
   
   Caddyshack is one of my all time favorite movies and this book makes me love and appreciate it even more.
   
   The book has all types of tidbits and facts about every minute of the movie and humorous interviews with the actors and production crew members. Thanks to the author's research, after reading this book and watching the movie again, you will notice all sorts of stuff that you didn't see before...guaranteed.
   
   Not only do you learn about the four big stars - Knight, Dangerfield, Murray, and Chase - but there are great stories about all the hilarious supporting characters: Noonan, Spaulding, Lacey Underall, D'Annunzio, Porterhouse, Maggie, Dr. Beeper, Lou Loomis, the Havercamps, and others....which is nice.
   
   The Book of Caddyshack really is a peach, hon!

5 comments about Richard Avedon Portraits.

1. I looked at this book that I just received today and I thought, "These are good fotos but.....but....there is something missing." What is "missing"? The background for one thing! I want to KNOW MORE about these people than Avedon gives us. These portraits are "better than nothng" but...but...who are these people? There are very few "clues" to help us answer that question. On the contrary, Diana Arbus DOES "tell" us who her people are"---both in words and in their surroundings or background environment which Ms. Arbus DOES include. I think Mr. Avedon should throw away his "white sheet" or whatever he uses and show the subject with their environmnet. I'm sure the subjects in this book do NOT carry around a white sheet to put behind themselves! So, why does Mr. Avedon feel he has to use the white sheet? I don't get it and I don't like it. But, the above being said, these ARE very good portraits even with their alledged "defects". Boland7214@aol.com



2. This book is absolutely exquisite. The photographs are stunning and insightful If you are not familiar with Avedon's male nudes--I wasn't--you should be aware that many of them are full frontal and not in any way prettified, pornographic, or erotic. I include this because none of the other reviews mentioned it. Had I been more familiar with the book's contents, perhaps I would not have left the book out on the kitchen counter for the wrong (adult) friend to unfold it before I did!! Yeah, I know, I should have known better . . . . Duh.



3. I bought this book for my photography friend for Christmas. She was blown away. From the moment you open the package, it is clear this book is worlds apart from your standard photography book. Every photo is frame-ready. I highly recommend for the picky photography enthusiast.



4. The format allows for a stand-up display down the entire length of a coffee table! Pretty cool if you ask me;
   Got this as a christmas gift for my art-school-grad photographer/niece. It caused something of a stir when the holiday guests started to look at everyone elses presents.. Along the lines of "Don't let the kids look at that book" and "Let me see it' and "Ewwww".



5. It is not really a book, but an art object: accordion folded and neatly ensconced in a box, its heavy cardboard structure makes it a durable thing, one that transcends the notion of a mere "book." It is an object of intrinsic beauty and the mere holding of it in one's hands conveys the good taste, fine quality, and the superb craftmanship that were blended to create PORTRAITS.
   
   One side of the fold contains text -with some pictures- and the other the portfolio of portraits. Maria Hambourg and Mia Fineman collaborate in the essay "Avedon's Endgame," which presents, analyzes and brings into focus the extraordinary talent behind the portraits; and Richard Avedon gives us a touching essay called "Borrowed Dogs," in which he addresses some of his unquiet talents. The other side is one's private gallery of 27 pictures (including the covers) to be savored at home, each image a meticulous print. In all it is an extraordinary performance by those involved, and a jewel to possess.
   
   Avedon has pushed the borders of his art far beyond picture taking: a master psychologist, his portraits are potent statements about the soul and the fears and the anger and the dilapidation and the triumph and the humanity of his subjects. His pictures are so intense and revealing that the viewer cannot remain neutral. The diptych of Clarence Lippard, a drifter, makes one see more than we have any right to ask for: because if we must view the horror of a wasted life on one panel we must also accept the defiant triumphalism and humor that the second panel conveys. Waste no pity on Mr. Lippard, he asks no such thing from you.
   
   I shall often return to this jewel for solace; and for a jolt about the meaning of being alive and a human being.

5 comments about The Fashion Book - Mini Edition.

1. The Fashion Book is a first-class encyclopedia on fashion as a whole. The cross-references going with each entry make this book an even more entertaining and fascinating source of information as it reveals the entity fashion from different perspectives.



2. This book is a must have as a reference book. It has all the important names in fashion industry and a great editorial design that makes it hard to put it down. Although the size is a little bit tiring ("mini edition"...mmm, kind of says it all!), the pictures couldn't been better.



3. This is a flawless example of beautiful, mesmeric art. Not only does this book capture the ongoing development of fashion through the years, it presents the designers, photographers, makeup artists, and even fashion retailers who made these pieces come to life. Phaidon has always impressed me with the quality of their books, along with the meticulousness they put into choosing the perfect photos for their final product.



4. This is a great referance book for anyone who loves fashion. It's an A-Z book of designers, illustrators, icons, photographers etc. Just about everyone is in here. This is a great book, because it's very inexpensive, small and great because you can look up just about anyone you would like. There are great pictures, and great informative blurbs, including birth and death dates and information about just what made the person so influential. If you love fashion/ fashion history, go out and get this book!



5. This book was suggested reference material for a college course of study at FIDM. Initially I thought this was a paperback condensed version of the hardback book. Upon receipt I found it extremely difficult to read without a magnifying glass - the print is literally micro-small. At first I blamed my aging eyes, but my nineteen year-old daughter whom I purchased the book for has 20/20 vision, and she expressed a similar opinion. I would not recommend this version of the book - if you have the option, purchase the full size hard bound copy.

2 comments about Luigi Ghirri: It's Beautiful Here, Isn't It....

1. I bought this book as a birthday present for my sister. But I think I'm going to get another copy for my own collection.
   This is contemporary photography, shots of an open door or an empty kitchen... But as the photographer says in the title, he manages to capture the beauty of place, mundane but beautiful. I am impressed. He is an ingenious photographer.



2. "It's Beautiful Here, Isn't It..." is not just a book title; it's a statement that perfectly sums up this newest collection of photography from Luigi Ghirri. Filled with countless color photos, as well as essays covering Ghirri's reflections on the time he took the photos and the atmosphere surrounding the events, "It's Beautiful Here, Isn't It..." adds a personal touch to the gorgeous shots on film. "It's Beautiful Here, Isn't It..." is an ideal coffee table book and a top pick for community library photography collections.

No comments about Classic Essays on Photography.