5 comments about Thinkers of the Jungle.

1. This is not your normal "cutesy" wildlife pictorial about our friends of the Indonesian and Malaysian forest, even though the pictures are fabulous. This unusual -- and absolutely essential -- portrait of orangutans even goes beyond zoology. Based on the experience of Dr. Willie Smits, it graphically presents cases of extreme maltreatment of our shaggy relatives, and explains what we can/should/must do. Hold on... this read could be a bumpy ride. But it is well worth it.



2. This book has 3 authors: Gerd Schuster, Willie Smits and Jay Ullal. However, it is not clear who wrote what part of the book. Jay Ullal is photographer (really splendid photographs!). I am not sure whether he wrote anything. The other two authors -together- wrote the text. At the end of the last chapter (confusingly, chapters are not numbered!) one reads: "Text: Willie Smits, edited by Gerd Schuster" and this is also indicated directly below the chapter title.
   The chapter before the last one is written by Willie Smits which is indicated at the end of the chapter, but not at the beginning of the chapter. The rest of the chapters do not indicate an author. Despite this, one encounters several times the word 'I'. One must guess who 'I' is. Unsurprisingly, people are confused.
   
   However, the most important thing about the book is that Smits has been and is very active in the protection of the orangutan. Nobody else in the world has done so much to protect orangutans. See especially the last chapter about the Samboja Lestari project!



3. I am in two minds about this book. On the one hand, it highlights the plight of the orangutans and the amazing work being carried out by the BOS foundation magnificently, and it very well written. The pictures are also terrific.
   
   On the other hand, I was left a bit uncomfortable by the authors obvious infatuation with Willie Smits. It is also obvious that Schuster's time in Indonesia has been sparse, as he seems to have very little understanding of the political and social complexities of that country. He implores other scientists to speak out about the government, and rubbishes other people's work, but doesn't seem to have any comprehension of the difficulties they may face in their tasks, or what the ramifications of his suggestions may be.
   
   All in all, it is a good book and is well worth buying, but you never forget that you are reading a book authred by someone who is not an expert in this field, and has never worked in a developing country.



4. This critical book reveals the important work of the Borneo Orangutans Survival (BOS) Foundation--the largest primate rescue project in the world. Gerd Schuster highlights the amazing achievements and discoveries made by its founder, the unique Dr Willie Smits. Both a celebration of the magnificent cousin of ours, the orangutan, and a stark warning of what will happen to them if we do not intervene, this book is essential reading for anyone who cares about wildlife and the state of the planet.



5. This is a well written and beautifully photographed book about the dwindling Orangutan population and what can be done to help them. It gives factual information about the Orangutan way of life, what happens to them when they are taken from their homes in South Asia and how their natural habitats are disappearing. A wonderful book which will awe and inspire you.

2 comments about Face of Fashion.

1. The contemporary fashion portrait is the focus in FACE OF FASHION, which brings together paintings made for the fine arts yet embodying fashion styles, standards, and art. The array of photographers whose works appear here all have a distinct, unique style within fashion photography, making FACE OF FASHION an excellent juxtaposition of varying approaches and styles and a top pick for any college-level art or fashion library. Full-page color images blend with essays and writings about the photographer's approach and the fashion and art worlds.



2. If you think of fashion photography as being the pictures of clothes draped across beautiful bodies to be shown in advertisements, you will find only a small percentage of the pictures in this book to meet that expectation. Instead here you will find photographs that are striking, that don't really fit with the idea of selling a dress. Indeed if 'fashion' implies clothes, some of the pictures here don't show any clothes at all, just the form of the model.
   
   The result is a collection of photographs that show what the best of the best of photographers are doing today. Striking, yes. Disturbing, sometimes. Beautiful, often. Sexy, usually. Each page brings something to the eye that's usually a surprise.

5 comments about Where'd You Get Those?.

1. If you love hoops and played any serious ball in the 60's or 70's this is a must read. It has become a coffee table book in our home and I find myself picking it up often to look at the classic pictures of BBall shoes or to get a laugh from the dead on observations and memories. I was in the thick of the changing world from canvas Chuck's to adidas, Puma, Pro Keds... the pre-Nike era.



2. If you are at all into the sneaker culture get this book. It brought back such great memories. I thought that a few of my friends and myself were the only ones who flipped over kicks back in the day. Bobito puts out quality material. I have some of his videos as well.



3. Yes, Yes Y'all,
   
   I'm not a sneaker fiend (not that it is a negative term), but this book is "DOPE"! If you are a sneaker addict, then this book is for you. Buy this joint NOW!
   
   Peeese!
   
   Mr. J.



4. I got this book as a gift for my son and he loves it! Definitely a must have for any avid sneaker collector!



5. Bobbito's little tour of the history and evolution of the sneaker culture gives us a personal look into what made the sneaker game what it is today. Although Bobbito should be well respected for his knowledge and contribution to the sneaker culture his elitist attitude towards shoes made post 1980s is somewhat off-putting to the generation that came after his.

5 comments about Earth under Fire: How Global Warming Is Changing the World.

1. My experience is that journalists often write the best books, because they know how to research and how to write. Gary Braasch's book is in this category, the result of 8 years' worldwide research with climate experts and regular people, and taking photos with impact. He has created the first "coffee table" book on global warming, which also contains A-Z information and essays by several top scientists.
   
   I have followed this issue for years, and still learned from his "Global Warming and Climate Change Explained," and from his history of the UN Climate Treaty and Kyoto Protocol (two pages or less for each). Fully documented, one quarter of the book is about solutions. Suitable for everyone, experienced and new. I gave a copy to an environmental educator friend and to my 16 year old goddaughter.



2. This book shows photographic and published documents about global warming stemed from devastation, pollution, and careless attitude of humans concerning the exploitation of world natural resources. Photos and citations of data obtained from several publications make up a good source of information on this subject. Photos taken of the same natural locality aiming to compare the conditions of such areas after some period of time, should present specification of time of the year they were both taken (the reader supposes they were both taken in the same month or season!).This book would worth more in economical and ecological terms if it had come out in paperback!



3. Did you know they've moved the lighthouse on Cape Hatteras 2800 feet back from the shore due to rising sea levels? Me neither, but this is one of a myriad of telling tales Braasch brings into play to sound the alarm about global warming. He literally circled the globe--east to west and north to south--to gather information and photos for this book. He then combines these with easy-to-read narrative in a large-format work to tell the tale of a changing world.
   
   Braasch's research is meticulous, and he goes out of his way to note dissenting views, but the conclusions are crisp and clear as a warming Arctic winter day--the planet is getting hotter and this can only mean trouble. If you have time to read one book on the current reality and looming consequences of global warming, this is it.
   
   Sample info from Earth Under Fire: Stand-by mode of electronic gadgets consumes 6 percent of US electricity--one coal-fired electrical generation plant produces as much CO2 as 1.5 million cars--coal power plant pollutants kill 24,000-30,000 US citizens every year--and 10 times that many Chinese.



4. Very important topic clearly presented. Photographs prove the losses the planet is suffering and man's wanton disregard for the deterioration. The photographs are extraordinarily beautiful, the yin and yang of this issue.



5. This book shows people being affected by climate change now, and give them a voice in both words and pictures. Scientists give reports about how climate change impacts all aspects of our survival. You will be given ideas of how to make a personal impact about climate change. Readers with prior knowledge and those just starting out will both enjoy this book.

2 comments about Lead Belly: A Life in Pictures.

1. Many people have loved Lead Belly and his legacy, but none perhaps so much as John Reynolds, one of the listed authors of this book. Although John is listed last of the 4 contributors to the book, this is really his project, and one that he has labored on for many years to bring to fruition. Lead Belly (or Leadbelly) was a seminal force in our understanding of 'American' music, and his influence has informed even those who have never heard of him.
   
   This book is a beauty, and is not meant to be an exhaustive biography, but rather a celebration of the man, his times, his influence, and his music. As such, it succeeds spectacularly. I highly recommend that you search www.youtube.com for Lead Belly videos to accompany your journey through this book. It will add much to the experience, and actually enhance the fact that this book is a wonderful keepsake and motherlode of visual delights and insights in our understanding of this man.
   
   My favorite page was "The Leadbelly Method" by contributor Glenn O'Brien.



2. Whether you favor the two-word or the single word version of his name, this pictorial biography of Leadbelly is just outstanding! Truly a labor of love by the authors and it should be well received by all Leadbelly fans as well as by any who are interested in folk-music and blues. Particularly poignant are the photos showing Leadbelly just months before his death holding Alvin Singh and/or his guitar. This book is highly recommended!

5 comments about Helmut Newton Work (Taschen Jumbo Series).

1. If you plan on buying only a single hardcover photographic book by Helmut Newton I strongly recommend this one. (It probably will not be the last you buy anyway...)

   The book cover quality is not the best possible but the price is at par with that. Luckily the printed, amply sized pages (279 numbered) are very good. The publisher is TASCHEN, Cologne and the book is printed by EBS, Verona 2000, at least the one I have

   The book contains undisputably many of the icons of Mr. Newtons work the most striking, as always, in monochrome. The book has also several color plates.

   On page 29 there's a statement that is a guidline for my own, and certainly many others work; "Nothing has been retouched, nothing electronically altered. I photographed what I saw."




2. Published to coincide with the huge touring exhibition arriving at ICP later this month, Work is both a catalog of the exhibition and the first comprehensive review of all aspects of Helmut Newton's photographic life, ranging from fashion shots to nudes and portraits and some of his more experimental work. Some viewers might be offended by some of his more extreme images -- the woman on all fours with a saddle on her back springs immediately to mind -- but their beauty and technical perfection is undeniable. Newton often focuses on the threatening sexuality of women, often placing them in confrontational poses in seemingly incongruous settings. Balancing out his more overt images, however, are portraits that display a fragility and peace that serves to underscore the impact of his more outre work. The breadth of Newton's styles and his technical virtuosity are simply staggering. Containing many new and previously unseen works, Work is a must for any devotee of photography.(



3. I swear Master H. has peered into my mind! Photograhy as it should be, Photography as it is meant to be. A captured thought in your mind or a captured picture in your own eye. Taste the visuals of this well put together book of b&w & color. Enjoy it as it is. Pace yourself with or without your Martini, and let the Princess of Hanover steal your thoughts as she did mine! If you have never danced along the edge, you will........



4. Mr. Helmut Newton's work continues to have the ability to shock, and this exhibition catalog from the recent 80th birthday celebration show at the German Center of Photography at the Neue Nationalgalerie in Berlin will definitely get your attention. The images contain many new and previously unpublished works by Mr. Newton. For those who like his aggressive and humorous views of women as leaders in sexual fantasy, this book is a must. For those who like his close-ups of faces more, this book will be a disappointment.

   Before going further, let me mention (as the jacket cover images certainly suggest) that this book is rife with female nudity in sexual situations of an extreme nature. I suspect it would be hard to get this book rated as an "R" if it were a motion picture. The book is inappropriate for children, so make your purchase decision accordingly.

   The essays in the book are the best part. I thought they captured the spirit of Mr. Newton's work especially well. Here are a few key phrases about the subject matter of his work that I liked and found particularly apt:

   "women who take the lead"

   "women who love and desire"

   "women who are both responsible and willing"

   "imagination and reality merge"

   Mr. Newton was born in Berlin in 1920 and had to leave with his parents to escape persecution by the Nazis in 1938. It is very fitting that this show be held in Berlin, and that it contain some very wonderful images he shot in Berlin of women just before the Wall came down there.

   He does not add much to his work to help you understand it. His view is that "a photographer . . . should be seen and not heard." His messages are very overt, so I think you see what he had in mind.

   The works displayed here are primarily his female nudes and sexual fantasies. These involve female nudes in both domestic and public situations (as well as ones where they are treated like objects, such as the woman hanging from the wall like a part in an auto assembly plant), contrasts with clothed women (using the same models), as participants with mannequins (evoking the famous Newton humor), and as contrasts between the use of color and not for the same scenes.

   The brilliant part of this book is its design. Facing pages always present a problem for photography book designers. What should be the relationship? In almost all cases, the facing pages here dialogue powerfully with one another and add to your understanding of each image. There are also some stunning color montages that could keep you occupied looking at them for hours.

   Some viewers will be offended by the most extreme of the images that display women as objects. These are meant to be criticisms of that perspective, so they are meant to offend. Offend they will. To me, the most powerful is a woman hunched over on a bed facing down with a saddle on her back.

   Of course, some may be even more affected by seeing the carefully posed statements employing his wife, Ms. June Newton, the show's curator, as the unclad model.

   Many of my favorite images of his were missing from the book. Among my favorites available here include:

   Chatillon Mouly Roussel & Dormeuil, French Vogue, Paris, 1979

   Pierre Cardin, French Vogue, Theoule, France, 1992

   Faye Dunaway, Vanity Fair, Los Angeles, 1987

   Ralph Fuentes, Vanity Fair, Venice, Italy, 1995

   Walking Women (clad and unclad), Vanity Fair, Paris, 1981

   Sie kommen (clad and unclad), Vanity Fair, Paris, 1981

   To me, Mr. Newton's greatest genius is in his ability to capture the personality of the model. This draws him in closer to the subject, and his aim is unerring. I missed seeing more of his portraits in this volume.

   The editor deserves commendation for including some of each of Mr. Newton's many experimental styles. His virtuousity with technique has not been shown in one volume before.

   The quality of the paper and reproduction are outstanding, and you will be very pleased with the representation of the images in this volume.

   After you finish seeing these images, I suggest you think about how we can move beyond these perceptions of who a woman is. Does identity have to be so sexual to be honest? In a world of sexual equal opportunity, how should women think about themselves and how should men think about them? Those questions still need a lot of work photographically.

   Look closely and have a great good laugh at the outrageous humor!




5. This beautifully bound and printed tome is a must for any Helmut Newton fan. If you are looking for an introduction to Newton's work, this is an excellent starting point. Included are many of the master's better known photos, as well as many not frequently seen. The photos are sumptuous. The quality is exceptional. Why are you waiting???? Buy this book!

2 comments about Williamsburg Before and After: The Rebirth of Virginia's Colonial Capital.

1. As a big fan of Colonial Williamsburg, I purchased this book years ago. The story of the restoration is really interesting. The beautiful photographs capture the essence of the story--so it's a nice "coffee table" book as well as an engaging read.



2. I have checked this book out at the library looking for 'GOOD' photos of some of the older homes and the resconstructed homes from the 1700's. The photos are absolutely breathtakingly crystal, clear, show wonderful asthetic views, and give a simple and linear time frame of ownership and construction/demolition, reconstruction of many of the homes in the Williamsburg area. This book is worth every penny if you buy it for research and historical purposes. Of all the books on Williamsburg that I have ever read (dozens and dozens), this one is the most excellent!

No comments about Plastic Bondage.

No comments about Native American Photography at the Smithsonian.

5 comments about I Can't Be Good All the Time.

1. This has the best Comments! It's great for all you sassy women out there! It makes me feel better just looking through it. I gave it to all my girlfriends for christmas this year! It's got the amazing retro pics too. I love it!



2. For the independent female (who has a good sense of humor), you won't find a better gift!
   
   This book sits in my powder room and not only do I still pick it up and get a giggle now and then, but my guests always emerge from the loo with a smile, too!



3. I love Anne Taintor's humor. This collection is not quite as funny as her other ones, but was a hit with the person I gave it to as a gift. Enjoy!



4. I got this book for my mother, along with the other one recommended by Amazon to buy together, and it's very funny. I was looking for something that would give her a lift and it definitely did; she enjoys them quite a bit.



5. This book is a very humorous one just to leave laying around for a random, quick giggle.