2 comments about Retrospective Two.

1. I've been a Kenna fan for over 15 years. I have sorted through stacks of his images in galleries. I've never seen an image of his that I truly disliked, and have seen hundreds that I would love to have. This book is a continuation of his uncanny work in landscape photography. I don't have anything negative to say about this book.



2. Retrospective collection of photographs. Destined to be another Michael Kenna collectible. A handsomely elegant production by Chris Pichler and Hideyuki Taguchi: Oversize-volume format in square shape. A very tall and thick book. Peach silk cloth boards with embossed titles on cover and spine, as issued. Photographs by Michael Kenna. Essay, "Inventing Peace", by Anne Wilkes Tucker in the English original and Japanese translation. As difficult as it may be to imagine, Kenna's following in Japan is larger than in the United States. Extensive Biography and List of Plates appended at the end. In pictorial DJ with white and gray titles on the cover and spine, as issued. Published as a companion book to the artist's first retrospective, the new collection presents an overview of Kenna's landscape photographs made between 1994 and 2004, at the height of his fame. "Michael Kenna is arguably the most influential landscape photographer of his generation. The subject of over 20 books and hundreds of solo exhibitions throughout Asia, Australia, Europe and the United States, Michael Kenna often works at dawn or during the night. He concentrates primarily on the interaction between the ephemeral atmospheric conditions of the natural landscape, human-made structures and sculptural mass. Kenna's exquisitely crafted prints are included in such Permanent Museum Collections as The National Gallery Washington, DC, The Museum of Decorative Arts Prague and The Victoria and Albert Museum London. In 2001, Michael Kenna was made a Chevalier in the Order of Arts and Letters by the Ministry of Culture in France. Born in Widnes, England in 1953, he currently lives in Portland, Oregon" (Publisher's blurb). Anne Wilkes Tucker's illuminating essay examines Kenna's influence and impact on contemporary photography. One of the best single introductions to the art of an important photographer. © 2006, ModernRare.com

5 comments about Photographing Horses: How to Capture the Perfect Equine Image.

1. I am very new at taking pictures. I now say photographs. I love this book. I love horses. What could be better than to learn about how to take photographs of these most awesome creatures. This book is a treasure and anyone even thinking about taking photos, of anything, would benefit from reading and studying this book. It is a work of art as well as a lovely and very informative book.



2. Down to earth information for those of us that are novice photographers.She lists simple rules to follow and explains them so you understand the why. It is a good basic book to get someone started in photography with horses. I am guessing that it would not be much information for a more advanced photographer.



3. This book is great for beginners! Easy to read. Every horse show mom should read it. It does a good job of correcting beginner problems. I also liked the "typical" photography section that outlined the usual shots taken in the industry and the model horse study. Like I said before, this book is a great book for beginners. You could also benefit if you are an advanced photographer and don't know much about horse photography. I would not recommend it to someone who has a good deal of both photography and horse experience though. They would probably find it too simplistic.



4. Even if you think you have a complete knowledge of horses and methods to capture them in photograph, you will learn much from this resource.



5. Full of information for the equine photographer. Thank you for a book that fulls in the missing information for equine photography, and giving me all the tricks of the trade. Enlightening!!!

3 comments about French Country Hideaways: Vacationing At Private Chateaus & Manors in Rural France.

1. This is a great book for someone who is thinking of staying at a private French chateau or at a country manor. The book is divided into different regions of France, beautifully illustrating both the exteriors with their stunning views as well as the interiors of these places. One learns some information about the current owners of these charming dwellings. For each residence, there is a list of places to visit recommended by the owners. At the back of the book there is useful information on each chateau or manor such as the address, phone number, fax number, and often email address and website. This is a great travel aid for someone who planning a special vacation in rural France. Great decorating ideas too!



2. I can only comment on the pictures in this book because I haven't had time to read the text lately. The pictures of the exteriors of the chateaus and manors are very well done. There are some nice photos of the interiors - what one would typically expect in a book of this title. Nothing was surprising and I wouldn't exactly call the interiors fabulous. For truly fabulous interiors I would suggest: The French Chateau by Christiane de Nicolay-Mazery & The French Country House, also by Christiane de Nicolay-Mazery.



3. Do you like to dream of travel? Or do you really go to France, leaving the beaten track to experience the very best countryside, cuisine, elegance and hospitality? Either way, this stunning book is perfect for you!
   
   Casey O'Brien Blondes has found, meticulously researched, and visited 36 authentic chateaux and manor houses that welcome travelers. More than that, she describes the spirit and character of each place so vividly that you can practically smell the pungent rosemary in the kitchen or the antique roses you might find on your bedside table. While soaking up the history of the place or meeting the family, you will revel in the beauty of Stephanie Cardon's incandescent photographs. This is also an unusual and glorious resource for interior designers, filled with color and charm from austere to cozy.

No comments about Get the Most from Your Digital Camera: The Ultimate Guide to Digital Cameras, Software, Printing and Technique.

4 comments about Bondi Road (Bondi).

1. Have to say I think this book is the least interesting of the four in the series. The guy on the front features in around half the pictures with maybe six other guys making up the rest. Got the feeling that Freeman had run out of ideas and models for this book.



2. I have all Paul Freeman's books and this guy never disappoints me. He knows how to capture the essence of what a real man is. And the aussie guys that he puts in his books are everything a real man has to be. This book is for guys who loves real men.



3. I have the entire collection and this one is one of the best that I have ever bought. Sensible nude photography ,not porn. Only art. It's worth buying.



4. Of the three previous photo books by Paul Freeman.
   The fourth Bondi Road is the best.
   It has an even more casual feeling to it than Bondi Urban.
   The other two books Bondi Classic and Bondi Work were more staged and
   posed than they should have been.
   As with the other books the men in them are as all ways spectacular!

No comments about William Henry Fox Talbot.

2 comments about The Lost Amazon: The Photographic Journey of Richard Evans Schultes.

1. 
   This is the way to see the Amazon, through the Rolleiflex camera of one of the greatest explorer-scientists.
   
   This is the way to hear of the Amazon, through the Irish tale-telling of Wade Davis, himself an epic explorer-scientist.



2. Schultes was perhaps the greatest ethnobotanists of all time and definitely the father of the subject. In this book, his pupil (and today famed explorer) Wade Davis puts together a sampling of his photographs throughout his life in the Amazon, providing a visual context to the story about the great scientist and explorer.
   
   Schultes lived among indians for many years in the northwestern Amazon, in search for knowledge about its plants and their secrets. He uncovered many hallucinogenic plants in the process, which earned him a cult status in the 1970s. During his time with the indians, he was able to build strong relationships with the natives, which earned a position of respect and gave him the ability to explore their land and knowledge deeply.
   
   Schultes is one of the last great explorers who disconnected himself from the outside world for years in order to collect new specimens and search for more knowledge. Such figures are rare, if at existent in the modern world. He wrote many books about his travels, which would also make interesting reading, especially as they relat ehte knowledge he gathered. This is more of a coffee table type of book, with many pictures and less story. Having read one of his books, I appreciated seeing the pictures of his time in the Amazon.

2 comments about Angels in Africa: Portraits of Seven Extraordinary Women.

1. ANGELS IN AFRICA: Profiles of Seven Extraordinary Women (2006) by Beth O'Donnell & Kimberley Sevcik, documents seven African women working to overcome devastating problems in their African communities. Organized by country, each chapter of Angels in Africa introduces us to a remarkable woman who is tackling an issue that is particularly prevalent in that country. Ann Wanjiru represents 2,000 grassroots women of GROOTS Kenya; In Tanzania, Edina Yahana helped plant more than one million trees in an effort to save the rainforests from decimation; Celina Cossa, Founder and President of the General Union of Agricultural Cooperatives (UGC) of Mozambique, is one of the most respected women in Africa; In Rwanda, Pascasie Mukamunigo, a Tutsi woman brings together the Hutus and Tutsis through a community weaving project; We learn about the work of Prudence Mwandla of South Africa who has dedicated her life to sheltering AIDS orphans who had been abused, abandoned, sick, and hungry; Aminata Dieye of Senegal created a program that trains young girls in non-traditional jobs. In Senegal, that's not an easy thing to do, and Mme Dembélé Jacqueline Goïta, Directrice Exécutive, CARITAS of Mali, Fighting Poverty, Hunger, and Homelessness.



2. This is a beautiful book, with sensational stories and wonderful illustrations.
   I thoroughly recommend it.

5 comments about Complete Guide to Digital Infrared Photography (A Lark Photography Book).

1. Most of the example photos in this book are from photographers other than the author. Makes a reader wonder if the author has taken many IR photos of his own. As was mentioned in another review, his post processing section consists of telling you to buy expensive plug-in modules for Photoshop. Apparently he does not know how to create effects such as sepia toning and depends on the expensive plug-ins to solve that problem. Not worth the paper it's printed on. His section on exposure, depth of field, and focusing are pretty thin and contain information available for free on the web. Not recommended.



2. Infrared photographers are in their own creative league. Read this book, check out Joe's images, read his words, and you'll see why Joe is one of the top IR photographers around - any why he is the technical director of The League of Creative Infrared Photographers. I've been a photographer for about 30 years, and yet I still continue to learn and grow, thanks to books like Joe's. - Rick Sammon, Founder, The League of Creative Infrared Photographers.



3. This is a good basic introduction to infrared photography, with beautiful photos. However, it concentrates on landscape photography (as you might expect) and a lot of the text in this 160-page book deals with post-processing techniques.
   
   A newer and much more comprehensive book is David Busch's Digital Infrared Pro Secrets,which explores the topic in a more wide-ranging and in-depth manner. For example, Busch's book shows you how to convert your own camera to infrared photography, how to make your own inexpensive IR filter, and how to build a viewfinder that by-passes the IR "blackout." In addition to landscape photography, that book has techniques for shooting architecture, portraits, sports, and other unconventional subjects.
   
   Serious photographers should probably have both books. Farace's is a good guide to infrared fine art landscapes, while Busch's book is perfect for someone who intends to get serious about IR photography.



4. If you need or want to know anything about digital Infrared Photography
   this is the book to get it was exactly what I need to get started.



5. Most of the information in this book is available for free on the internet. Filter information, how to properly expose and focus a shot, etc. is all basic and common sense. The most disappointing part of the book was the post processing. Almost all of the post-processing instructions describe how to use Photoshop PLUG-INS that the reader may not have. Each of the plug-ins mentioned will cost you between $50 - $200 and even if you already have them the instructions are so basic you never get a feel for what you are doing or why.
   
   If you don't have access to the internet and are a complete newbie to IR Photography this book would be OK, which is why I am giving it 2 stars.

3 comments about Washington, DC: A Photographic Portrait.

1. This book has tremendous photos of our nations capital!! If you have not been, this book will make you want to go. It makes for a great family vacation!!
   
   Billy Wannyn



2. Having just recently called DC home, Jake McGuire's photographs have been a great introduction to the DC area. His work is not only artistic, but captures the details of the unique architecture in this region. The book provides a great introduction to every newcomer and visitor to the area.



3. For anyone who loves Washington, D.C. this book is not to be missed. The photographs are unique and show familiar locations in unusual delightful perspectives. For those who have not been to the nation's capital it will surely whet the desire to make the trip. It makes a wonderful gift which can be appreciated for many years.