5 comments about Storm Chaser: A Photographer's Journey.

1. I thought that book is really nice. The pictures are very detailed and i thought that getting it used that it would be in bad shape. Really it was in perfect condition. I have been looking at this book alot to learn about tornado's. I really recommed this book.



2. Jim Reed's new book STORM CHASER: A PHOTOGRAPHER'S JOURNEY is nothing short of amazing. WIth breath taking photos and insightful anecdotes, the book takes the reader into the forces of nature that shape our lives and create historic, defining moments in time. I met Jim on the ground in Greensburg, KS and he was exceedingly kind and allowed me to spend a very enjoyable afternoon with him chronicling the aftermath of the tornado that struck there. Jim's soul shines thru in every photo and his passion for weather, photography and in the end people is wonderfully displayed in this work. I have his two previous works and all are works of art! Heed Jim's advice to get a weather radio- he knows what he is talking about! I don't look at the sky the same way after meeting him and seeing his work!



3. My wife bought this for her father, who is impossible to buy gifts for. She read it first and loved it. Anyone who is interested in nature or science will like it very much.



4. The title "Storm Chaser" might lead one to believe this is a book about tornado chasing. It is but it's a whole lot more! Photographer Jim Reed takes his readers on a journey of land, sea, and sky covering the four seasons. Along the way we learn how Reed, once an eight year old boy, quickly became hooked on weather and began keeping a diary of events. As an adult he's traveled across North America photographing devastating tornadoes, hurricanes, raging flood waters, spectacular lightning displays, and blinding blizzards. Yet he also focuses on more benign (yet still beautiful) events such as rainbows, aurora, fall foliage, and migrating butterflies. Perhaps the book should have been titled "Open your eyes and take a look at all the interesting weather out there" because Reed shows us that there's natural beauty and wonder everywhere --if one just takes time to stop and smell the roses. Storm Chaser makes a great coffee table book but it's also a good study guide for those looking to improve their skills in photographing nature.



5. I received this book as a gift. The photos in the book are very good. Excellent in most cases. My only complaint, and it a very minor one, is that as an amateur photographer, I would love to have seen the EXIF data (i.e, shutter speed, ISO, F-Stop, etc.) from the camera published at the bottom of each photo. However I understand this is a book of photos, not a photography book. Given the photos, the author must have a lot of waterproof equipment.

5 comments about Life: Picture Puzzle (Picture Puzzles).

1. I have bought all the puzzle books Life has done so far. Will continue. Super book to have for anyone who travels or likes to keep their mind sharp. Received quickly and in excellent condition.



2. Great delivery time,also the book is in fine form.I really am enjoying it alot.It was a good book to take on vacation for something to do on the plane.The is in first rate condition.



3. These puzzle books have been such fun for our whole family. Both our son(9) and our daughter(10) have thoroughly enjoyed their puzzle book from cover to cover. We have had contests to challenge each other as well as worked together to conquer each and every one...can't wait to start a new book!



4. I am totally satisfied with this book, It did not take long to get and I have enjoyed and spent a lot of hours with it....I look forward to ordering more of these books in the future.



5. Based on a popular feature in the now defunct Life Magazine "Life: Picture Puzzle" has 90 puzzles in which readers look at two pictures of the same thing and try to find the differences between each puzzle. In a few instances, six pictures of the same thing are shown and readers have to find the one puzzle out of the six that has been changed. There are four levels of difficulty: Novice, Master, Expert and genius. For those who like a bit of an extra challenge, the editors suggest a completion time for each puzzle. While long-time readers of Life Magazine may recognize some of the puzzles, the editors reworked them with new changes. In fact, they use some of the same pictures in the book at different levels and with completely different changes.
   
   "Life: Picture Puzzle" is a fun challenging puzzle book. I thought that with 90 puzzles in the book, the more puzzles I solved there would be repetition of the differences and it would be easier to solve the puzzles but that wasn't true. Some of the puzzles did have obvious changes including obvious color changes, but there were many puzzles in which I couldn't find all the changes. Several of the puzzles offer hints to some of the changes in either the title or description of the puzzle. The number of changes in the puzzles range from as little as six changes to as many as 20; the more changes, the harder the puzzle. The editors do a good job of sorting each puzzle into the appropriate level of difficulty. The Novice Section is easy enough and solvers should easily find the first five or six changes in each puzzle while having to search a bit for the last few. The more details in the picture in the puzzle, the harder it is to solve. "Easter Surprise" with six pictures where solvers have to find the different one was a nice change. The Master Puzzles give you more time to solve the puzzle and range from pretty easy to tricky and hard to solve. The easiest ones to solve are the ones where you have to pick the different picture out of six choices. The Expert Puzzles are tricky and tough with lots of subtle changes, some involving color changes. There aren't very many Genius Puzzles but they are indeed very hard, even the two where you have of find the different puzzle out of six. Fittingly, the last puzzle, "Final Exam" is extremely hard, with 20 changes to find. As an added bonus, several of the puzzles have an added change that is not found in the answer section. The book says to go to the Picture Puzzle Section on Life's website, but even though I followed the instructions in the book, I couldn't find the answer section on-line.
   
   "Life: Picture Puzzle" is hours of challenging fun.

1 comments about Start Your Own Photography Business: Studio, Freelance, Gallery, Events (Start Your Own Photography Business: Studio, Freelance, Events).

1. "Start Your Own Photography Business" lets you know whether you are ready to turn a photography hobby into a photography career. The book assumes that you already have the talent and technical know-how to do the job, and prepares you for the business side of opening and running a photography business. It covers all the basics you need to know to get started.
   
   I have read other business books from Charlene Davis, and like the others, this one is well-researched and written in the same friendly, helpful style. Highly recommended for those wondering if they could make money from taking pictures on a part-time or full-time basis.
   
   Leslie Halpern, author of Reel Romance: The Lovers' Guide to the 100 Best Date Movies and Dreams on Film: The Cinematic Struggle Between Art and Science.

No comments about Saul Leiter.

5 comments about A Short Course in Nikon D80 Photography book/ebook.

1. Nikon D80 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera (Body only)
   
   I love the camera but the user's guide is just not readable. The ShortCourse is much better; good value!
   
   Chaz



2. This publication has great content.
   Unfortuantly,The black-and-white only pages of it are truly sad. How can one look at a black and white image of the color spectrum and learn? How can one learn about photography with only copied B/W images? the CD is great, I would sugest selling only the CD and using the paper for somethinbg else. It's as if someone just skimmped on the publication cost. I would pay much more for a color version.



3. Thought it was very helpful and informative. didn't like that it was black and white print. For a great color experience I had to sit in front of the computer to watch the CD, which presents great examples of concepts. Wish they would make the book in color print too.



4. Just got the book today, have not yet put it down.
   The cd that come's with this book is great,full of little and useful bits that will help you understand the D80 alot more.



5. While other reviews point the quality of the manual, no one has mentioned
   that the eBook content ( the so called animations ) needs a Internet connection.
   Further having such a connection, it does not guarantee that the link
   will always be there. So I was disappointed that the complete work was not
   on the CD. Also saying that the contents are searchable, etc..
   well, that is standard operation with any PDF document. I have since sold it.

5 comments about Digital Macro Photography.

1. The cover of this book alone drew me to buying it and I get all happy inside every time I look at it. Macro is a joyful hobby, particularly bugs, and for me, dragonflies are the most exquisite of creatures. I am lucky I live in a state that has a ton of dragonfly varieties... This is a great book, really good info on digital cameras and equipment, techniques, and ideas. If I had to recommend one macro book, this would be it.



2. This is truly an in-depth book on close-up photography. It focuses on techniques for getting great pictures of subjects from very close distances. It's approach is simple enough that a beginner can understand, yet goes into enough depth that anyone could learn from it. Although Nikon equipment is featured, I found lots of good tips that apply to my Canon EOS 40D as well.
   
   A good companion to this book is Closeup Shooting: A Guide to Closeup, Tabletop and Macro Photography. If you have both, you'll own everything you need to begin taking wonderful macro pictures.



3. Se trata de una obra bien estructurada con fotos de calidad y algun que otro consejo interesante. Bien por el capitulo dedicado a texturas y el de "post-camera processing" como pequeño resumen para consultas rapidas.
   Por lo demas se trata de una obra para aficionados que deseen dar sus primeros pasos en macrofotografia. No es un trabajo para amateurs mas avezados.En cualquir caso: recomendable.



4. Hands down this is without a doubt the most in-depth book on digital photography that has been written to date. It has improved my skill level by 90% . I was a novice dital photographer before reading this book and today I am able to accomplish the results of the professionals. Buy this Book !!! ... you deserve the best.
   Happy shooting !



5. I've looked at many of the recent books on digital macro photography, and this is the only one that devotes most of its space to macro. Too many that claim to be about macro or close up photography (e.g. "The Magic of ..." by Meehan) largely rehash guides to digital photography in general. Hoddinott does some of that too. I could have done without the "post processing" chapter at the end. But fortunately Hoddinott keeps the book mostly focussed on the subject promised in its title. He gives sensible advice that ranges from the moderately technical to the openly mundane. The latter includes surprisingly helpful suggestions about what time of day and where to find subjects suitable for macro. This is an introductory book that even pros could learn a few things from. One of the most unusual and admirable features: he shows his own mistakes and how he corrected them (though I suspect the mistakes were deliberate). Finally, his own photos (often of quite ordinary subjects)are imaginative, some even stunning.

5 comments about Inside the Vatican (National Geographic).

1. Having been to the Vatican in person, I know how hard it is to take (good) pictures of all the things there. The Vatican city with its myriad of art collections, museum, and antiquity-filled storerooms has something for everyone who likes art or history.
   This book does a great job of capturing the feeling of the city, and hits every major masterpiece in the place. Unfortunately, there are some masterpieces that could have used more explanation or exploration, in particular, "La Pieta," and "The Last Judgement." This, for me, warranted the loss of a "perfect" score. Both of these works have a fascinating history, and tell volumes about the artist (Michaelangelo) himself.
   If you can't make it to the Vatican yourself, this book is the next best thing.



2. Well, I guess part of the problem is that I expected to see more of the "inside" information and pictures in this book. It is more of a picture book with a few notations and some small feature type articles, but nothing really mind-blowing. I thought there would be more pictures of the "never before seen", but it was not meant to be.
   
   Still, it does have beautiful pictures of the Holy See. Not a total loss, it is very aesthetically pleasing.



3. Absolutely gorgeous and chock full of fascinating information written from a very personal perspective. Well done.



4. This is a lovely book. The pictures are beautiful and there were lots of them. But it is not just a picture book- it is full of information about The Vatican that I had never heard before. I didn't know that there were pinball machines and kiddie pools there-- for the families who live and work there. I thought that was an interesting facet of life behind Vatican walls. I especially liked the maps- they gave me a greater sense of how big Vatican City really is. The book certainly captures the granduer and splendor of this wonderful place.



5. The Vatican is the centerpoint for the world's Catholics and this is a picture book that captures the extraordinary architecture of Rome's most famous religious landmark. "Peter built the church on the rock of our faith" ... and what it became was The Vatican. Inside the Vatican is a stunning look at what happens when all roads lead to Rome.

5 comments about Working the Light: A Photography Masterclass (Light & Land series).

1. Recommended; top quality prints. Haven't seen one like it. Notes from the pros for each individual photo offer the aspiring phtographer valuable insight. A true treat for the eye and stimulus for the art in us.



2. This book provided an abundance of perspective on three forms of landscape photography. The format focuses not just on images of the experts but on many other photographers. A feast.



3. Yes an outstanding slection of photos - just wish I'd been there. Those photos only prove to have your camera ready where ever you go and get those award winning results.



4. I found this book to be a great addition to my Libary. It is an educational master piece. This book has shown me a new World, and how to capture that World. On my Road Trips I use both the book and camera.



5. As a previous reviewer mentioned, it's intimidating to see such incredible photography, especially if you're an aspiring photographer (as I am).
   
   However, I find the beauty of the photography here to be inspirational, and the critiques provided are very informative. I highly recommend reading this book if you're an aspiring nature photographer.

5 comments about Photographing the Southwest: Volume 2--Arizona (2nd Ed.) (Photographing the Southwest).

1. A beautiful book but lacked the technical information that I take a keen interest in.



2. If you're planning a tour of the American Southwest these brilliant books are simply the best possible guide to what to photograph, and how. In three volumes Martrès guides you to all the photographic highlights of Arizona, Utah, Colorado and New Mexico. At the well known tourist spots he tells you what and when to shoot for best results, but he's also not afraid to take you off the beaten path to some less frequently visited scenic gems.
   
   I've just completed a photographic holiday following roughly the traditional "grand circle" route, and I couldn't have got some of my most successful shots without these books.
   
   The author provides consistent, detailed instructions for each location, including guidance on lenses and timing. Sometimes he even tells you which rock to stand on! Follow his instructions carefully, and you'll usually get good results, although some instructions require careful interpretation.
   
   It's also great fun shouting "snap!" when you realise the only other souls in some lonely location are also clutching a copy of the same book.
   
   All three volumes have recently been updated, with high quality colour photos throughout, and a comprehensive index of locations including ratings for accessibility and scenic and photographic value, invaluable if a tight schedule means making difficult choices.
   
   I'm already planning my next trip using volume 3! Highly recommended.



3. This was the first book of the "Southwest" series that I have read. I purchased the book to prepare for a trip I was taking to Arizona. I found the book to be an excellent reference for someone that isn't familiar with all of the wonderful landscape locations available in the Grand Canyon state. The only thing that would make the book better would be greater details in the "getting there" sections. Some local maps and maybe GPS headings would also be a great addition. Some of the best spots are very difficult to find and these additions would really help out. Overall, I am very pleased that I bought this book and kept it by my side throughout my journey. I highly recommend it.



4. In the first edition of this book I found Mr. Martres' directions to be hard to follow and, in some cases, in error. This edition has greatly improved them.



5. I bought all three books from the series Photographing the Southwest by author Laurent Martres. I'm preparing for 2 weeks trip to USA next year. I found these books very useful. All provide very valuable information about the best time and conditions for all the people having passion for taking fotographs at most famous places all over Southwest. Simply must have.

5 comments about The Golden Age of Couture: Paris and London 1947 - 1957.

1. I attended the Golden Age of Couture display at the Victoria & Albert Museum last October. It was sensational, but as I was travelling back to Australia was unable to purchase the book at the time. The book is exquisitely presented and provides images and words to almost transport one there. I highly recommend it to any fashionistas.



2. Haute couture and fashion enthusiasts have had a very bad time try to get hold of this wonderful book, but I have to say it's worth the wait for those of you impatient and desirous of owning your own copy. This 224 page book has color photographs, black and white illustrations and in depth descriptions of what exactly the New Look was, how it was created and how it was developed. Aside from Dior and Balenciaga, Jean Desses, Jacques Fath, and Norman Hartnell (and a section dedicated to London couture) are also discussed and beautiful photographs of their work are displayed.
   
   This is a must have for New Look enthusiasts and fashionistas alike.



3. I own this lovely book. The photography is stunning and the oversize format allows one to see the details of the exquisite clothing from this iconic era.



4. This marvelous book, which was reviewed December 2, 2007 in the New York Times Book Review, is, according to Amazon, already out of print, though it was just published in September 2007. What on earth are the publishers thinking to pull it just three months after it went on sale and before Christmas? It's incredibly stupid of Abrams, the New York Times, and, frankly, Amazon, to be pushing something that can't be bought for love or money. A singular corporate screw up for all concerned.
   
   UPDATE DECEMBER 13 2007
   
   Both Abrams and the New York Times have emailed to tell me the book is not out of print. Then why doesn't Amazon indicate that on this page? There is nothing here to suggest the publisher is temporarily out of stock, or that the book will be available again. I'd be happy to hear from anyone with information on the real status of this book.



5. At the 60-year mark since the great Christian Dior upended the fashion world with his immortal "New Look", at last comes this gorgeous coffee-table retrospective of what may be the loveliest decade in 20th-century fashion (though the Belle Epoque of 1900-1914 is right up there with the New Look in my opinion). This book, released in tandem with the Victoria and Albert Museum's 2007-08 exhibit of the same name, is more of an overview than an in-depth examination, which would probably require a book at least three times as long and as many times heavier than the current volume. It's not as widely known as it should be that London also had a major haute-couture movement going during this decade, and the British designes like Hardy Amies and Norman Hartnell get full coverage in this book. All the great designers of the period are touched upon and the various trends and details discussed (there are chapters devoted to textile manufacturing and to Cecil Beaton, the best-known fashion photographer of the period), and the photographs, in color and black-and-white alike, are worth the price of purchase alone. I really can't think of a better Christmas present for somebody interested in classic fashion!