No comments about Sanctuary: Global Oases of Innocence.

3 comments about Marc Jacobs (Memoirs).

1. 
   A disappointing, fluffy book that fails to go into any kind of depth about the designer. On a surface, introductory level it is sufficient. But Jacobs has far more to him than what this book offers. I'll hold my breath and wait until something with greater coverage and depth comes out about this brilliant designer.



2. Though it is a cute book, not nearly enough information about the designer. Marc Jacobs has been around for many years and this book does not cover most of his work and I was very disappointed.



3. This small, adorable book has about a 16 page mini-bio about Marc Jacobs. It takes you through his good times as well as rough. From his time at Perry Ellis to launching MARC JACOBS. And as you start the book great personal candids are showcased. As well as behind-the-scenes shots of his shows, to photographs of his earlier work. A lot of candids of famous friends such as Kate Moss, Sofia Coppola, Zoe Cassavetes, and his partnership with Robert Duffy. Although I would have loved his collection of great Ad Campaigns which I love seeing it's something great to add to your personal library. And if you're like me and can't afford his faboulous clothes you can certainly afford this book and show it off to all your friends.
   
   A Great buy for anyone who loves fashion and anyone who loves Marc Jacobs.

3 comments about Photography (Eyewitness Companions).

1. Let me confess. . . . I am not a photographer. I will occasionally use someone else's camera to take a picture on their behalf. But I don't do many shots on my own for myself. I actually bought this book for someone else in the family, but could not resist picking it up and taking a look, since I do enjoy this series (Eyewitness Companions). And, boy, did I enjoy taking a peek inside this volume.
   
   The book begins by noting that, literally, photography means "writing with light," a rather apropos term, given what a picture can say. Tom Ang's introduction goes on to note that (Page 12): To contemplate the true extent of [photography's] social reach and cultural impact is awe-inspiring."
   
   The first substantive part of the book is probably my favorite--mainly because it focuses on great photographers rather than more "technical" issues. Here, we are introduced to Ansel Adams, Diane Arbus (The picture is not included here, but take a look in one of her collections with that famous picture of Ozzie and Harriet! It's unbelievable), Andre Kertesz, Annie Leibovitz (all those photos of hers focusing on rock and roll!), Alfred Stieglitz, and so on. And Margaret Bourke-White sitting on the Chrysler Building taking a photo still takes my breath away! Very brief consideration of each, but for a nonexpert, it's enjoyable to get a sense of the person and an example or two of their art. There follows a history of photography, from camera obscura to digital technology, which I also find fascinating.
   
   Then, on to more technical issues. Real pros will not find this terribly useful, but for amateurs and "wanna-bes," this would probably prove helpful. Among issues discussed: tools of photography, working with digital images, the elements of photography, taking successful photos, and so on.
   
   Again, for the person who wants a general introduction to photography, to place photography in context, this is a good start.



2. I was pleasantly surprised that this book was able to cover a number of aspects of photography, both historical and technical. As always, do not expect a 340 page book to cover everything, especially if it is taking a wide-angle view of photography.
   
   The book starts with a 40-page chapter spotlighting some of the most famous photographers, spending 1 to 2 pages per photographer, in alphabetic order so as not to appear to be a ranking. The usual names are there: Ansel Adams, Anne Leibovitz, Raghu Rai, R. Capa, Cartier-Bresson, Haas, List, Bourke-White, Diane Arbus, etc.
   
   Another 40-page chapter tries to cover the history and the story of photography. In text and in pictures. Again, do not expect a comprehensive history in just 40 pages of text and pictures.
   
   Next there is a big 80 page segment covering photographic tools. It covers cameras of all sorts (film, digital, etc), lenses, computer software, basic coverage of image manipulation and post-processing, darkroom, and more equipment and technology related topics.
   
   For those who want to time the book based on the cameras pictured in the magazine here they are: Olympus E20, Minolta G600, Ricoh Caplio RZ1, Fji F810, Olympus C70 (I think UK model #), Sony CD500, Pentax *ist D, Leica Digilux 2 (Leica version of Panasonic LC1).
   
   Following up is a 45-page segment that talks about the photographic aspects of learning, such as composition, exposures, filter effects, lens effects, color, light, etc. Again, do not expect a thorough explanation of each topic. For example, Exposure alone has a whole book devoted to it by Bryan Peterson Understanding Exposure: How to Shoot Great Photographs with a Film or Digital Camera (Updated Edition).
   
   Following that there is a 70-page segment covering most of the common photography tasks: travel, portraits, pets, landscapes, kids, gardens, nude, art, architecture, etc, etc.
   
   The book ends with a 20-page chapter that I call "Taking it to the next level" (going pro, exhibitions, commercial photography).
   
   On the resource segment of the book there is a glossary (6 pages), a diagnosing problems segment (5 pages) [eg why did i get a thin flat negative?], and an 8-page directory of photography clubs around the world, various websites divided by topic, along with photographic competitions.
   
   The book ends with the obligator Index (6 pages) and 2 pages of acknowledgements of the pictures used in the book.
   
   Overall I must admit I was pleasantly surprised that such a tiny book (344 pages but smaller size) was able to offer such a wide-angle view of photography. I recommend this book to anyone wanting to learn as much about photography from a single book. This is not a step-by-step how-to book however, and if someone wants a more step by step how-to book, the Dummies or Kiss type of books may be more helpful and less intimidating for them. However as a general introduction to photography this is one of the most nicely composed (pun intended) books.



3. If photography is your passion or even a casual interest, Eyewitness Companions Photography will take you on a journey as seen by photographers through time. You may recognize many of the famous photographs, but now you can also read about the photographer on the same page.
   
   Whether the photographers are capturing a colorful image of a woman talking in a telephone booth in Tokyo or presenting a vision of stillness and space in an outdoor landscape, they all seem to be capturing something invisible that we long for, perhaps that sense of beauty and peace within a busy world, not to mention our longing for time to stop so we can enjoy the moment.
   
   Many of the photographers do reach for beauty in all its forms (from natural outdoor settings to inspired indoor luxury), but there are moments of tragedy and haunting solitude.
   
   If you are interested in image manipulation software to create your own art, there are many software recommendations. The Art of Composition reveals the elements of an appealing and artistic photograph. Timing, color contrast, clear shapes and structure are addressed in detail.
   
   Some of the brilliant pictures include:
   
   A Garden Symmetry - Trees line each side of a garden with a elongated
   pool in the center. The fall leaves create a colorful border on each side as the water reflects the bare trees creating a magical change of seasons, as if the water is reflecting the depths of a snowy winter evening.
   
   Ethereal Landscape - Japanese art photographer Hiroshi Nomura creates a magical forest complete with mirrored balls and strobe lighting. Some of the globes appear to be floating, while most have landed, creating a mingling of modern mystery and ancient mythology.
   
   The photographers featured in this beautiful book include: Ansel Adams, Eve Arnold, Margaret Bourke-White, Manuel Alvarez Bravo, Nobuyoshi Araki, Diane Arbus, Felice Beato, Guy Bourdin, Bill Brandt, Julia Margaret Cameron, Robert Capa, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Ernst Hass, Frans Lanting, Herbert List, Susan Meiselas and many more...
   
   This book takes you through a full range of artistic experience as it introduces you to the types of cameras you will need to achieve various results as well as encouraging an eye for beauty and the desire to create magic with photographs.
   
   ~The Rebecca Review

5 comments about Great Lakes Lighthouses: American and Canadian.

1. great little book to have with me on my "Lighthouse Quest", wouldn't go lighthouse hunting without it



2. This book was like a bible to me a few weeks ago when I hunted for 6 lighthouses in the Duluth area. This is not a coffee- table picture book, but more of a dictionary. There's small pictures, brief descriptions, and directions to every house on the Great Lakes! My only concern is that the book is from 1998. So in the case of one of the "endangered" lighthouses, I'd say double-check to make sure it's still there before driving a long ways to see it. Also, a few that are marked "private" are now bed and breakfasts which may have a little more access than a guy's backyard. But these are minor compared to how valuable this book is when exploring our beautiful Great Lakes shorelines.



3. I take this book with me every time we go Great Lakes lighthouse "hopping". It is loaded with helpful information and I wouldn't consider leaving home without it when on a Lighthouse trek!



4. This book is almost a bible to me while traveling the Great Lakes Region. It features over 300 lighthouses of both the American and Canadian side of the lakes. The lighthouses are indexed by lake, making a trip to an area, easy to plan and execute. Each lighthouse has a photo (if available), brief description and most importantly to me, access availability and directons.

   With the access availability to each lighthouse, (boat, car, private or public), weekend trips are planned to visit each lighthouse in the area. A checkoff box is also printed, to mark off each lighthouse you have visited.

   This is a very useful guide to these historic sites, both operational and non-operational, and a valuable reference book.




5. I have a few books on lighthouses but this one is amazing. The imformation on each lighthouse giving you the location and a place to check mark it and the date you saw it. I am looking forward to using it on my trip to the lakes in October. Thank you for helping me get the best imformation for my trip.

3 comments about Santa Monica Beach: A Collector's Pictorial History.

1. Great gift for those who are newly arrived or have lived here in another life. Many of the photos are very rare.
   
   The area has a rich history that is capturered in these photos. Highly recommended .



2. I grew up in Santa Monica, lived there from the early 50s to 1980. In those days, much of the early history of this wonderful town was still clearly visible. Ernest Marquez has done a wonderful job in writing about the evolution of this beautiful area. For me, he brought back many pleasant memories of my childhood in this town. Marquez has a fine way with his words, and has spread the stories among a nice large collection of photographs. The pace of this book between text and photographs flows nicely. I did not expect to read it cover to cover, but indeed found myself looking forward to reading another chapter every evening before bed. The book is in a quality binding, with good quality paper, and excellent reproduction quality of the photographs. This book is definitely the best one of several books currently available on Santa Monica.



3. Oh, what a beautiful collection of our history here in Santa Monica. One is transported through the century of adventure, discovery and fun as the community grows and changes shape. I felt that I could be there, back in time, if just for a few minutes, with several of the photographs... and the excellent copy. Great to see the original Flash Gordon, Buster Crab, when he was just a swimmer at the beach, like one might be today. Thank you for publishing this collection.

2 comments about Yellowstone to Yukon: Freedom to Roam.

1. I first heard the phrase "wilderness corridor" when I lived in California's Bay Area in the early 1990s. At that time, the concept was used in conjunction with a bike trail linking the entire Bay Area from Antioch to Oakland. One of the benefits of such a trail, , we were told, would be allowing wildlife to roam freely throughout the suburbs.
   I don't recall how that particular issue played out, but the idea was--and is--a good one. Animals don't understand or follow man-drawn boundaries. They roam in territory that most likely has been roamed by their ancestors for thousands of years. Animals are guided by instinct, and man's attempts to limit them to national parks and protected areas is doomed to failure.
   And so the Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative, or Y2Y, was born. In her Publisher's Notes, Helen Cherullo explains the concept as a "dream of a small group of biologists and conservationists--to link the existing parks in the United States and Canada with connected corridors into one intact ecosystem," stretching from Yellowstone National Park, along the Rocky Mountains and through the Yukon. It is 460,000 square miles of untouched land--the last undisturbed parcel of land in the two countries, according to Cherullo, extending 1,990 miles from Cokeville, Wyo., to the Arctic Circle.
   This area of land, the Y2Y Ecoregion, is the home of grizzlies, 118 fish species, 10,000 golden eagles and hundreds of bald eagles, to mention but a few of its inhabitants. It is the traditional land of 31 indigenous Native or First Nation (in Canada) peoples, who have inhabited the area for more than 10,500 years. Less than 3 million people occupy the land at this time, but that is changing rapidly.
   Florian Schulz, a photojournalist who has long championed conservation, tells the reader that the United States and Canada are making the same mistakes his native Europe did--all of that continent's "true wilderness" is gone, cut down for human use and cleared to develop man's idea of civilization. It's a mistake, Schulz says, that should not be repeated.
   So he rounded up some of the world's most noted scientists: geneticist David Suzuki, wildlife biologist Douglas H. Chadwick, and biologist Karsten Heuer, as well as authors and journalists, to document the vast resources, the wildlife and the dangers of approaching development. Interspersed with stunning photography and Schulz's observations, this oversize art book is both visually stunning and a good read.
   While obviously a conservation treatise, the book is so filled with magnificent anecdotes, facts, scientific studies and theories, as well as marvelous pictures of Nature and her children in all their glory, that one cannot just plop it on the coffee table and forget it, as we do with most "art" books. This one begs to be read, to be perused carefully. The photos call for our attention and admiration, the stories and concerns of the writers compel us to pay attention and take a stand.
   The current practice of isolating specific areas as "nature preserves," according to biologists Robert H. MacArthur and Edward O. Wilson, actually contributes to extinction. In a book they published more than 40 years ago, they proved that "islands" of nature--small areas kept separate from other small areas--leads to insularity, which is detrimental to biodiversity and ecological health. Small "islands" harbor fewer species and fewer individuals of those species, and these small populations are more vulnerable to climate change, drought, inbreeding and food supply failure.
   David Quammen, noted conservation journalist, points out the problems with bear management in the Lower 48 as an example of insularity leading to extinction.
   This concept was one of the precursors to the Y2Y concept.
   There's not room in this column to summarize the book--it's something you have to read, more than once, to fully digest. The overall idea of connectedness and attachment to nature is captured eloquently by Suzuki in the Foreword.
   "For most of our 10,000-year existence, our species, Homo sapiens, lived in an intimate relationship with the natural world. ... predictable regularities were collected into a worldview, the sum of all observations, insights and speculations, in which everything, including the past, present and future, was part of a seamless whole. ... In such a world of elaborate interconnection, people understood that everything they did had consequences and therefore every deliberate act was laden with responsibility."
   The words of all the contributors are as eloquent, as passionate, and as though-provoking.
   But it is Schulz's photographs that catch the reader, mesmerizing us with the vision of mountains and lakes and rivers and animals. Schulz captures not only the images hew ants us to see, but imbues them with life: a grizzly eating a root, so close we can smell its breath; logging activities in British Columbia almost cause us to sneezed from the dust thrown up; the purple majesty of Mt. McKinley at dawn causes us to stop breathing for the sheer wonder of the beauty.
   We humans are visual animals, so we will remember the images long after we've forgotten the text. But the views of this pristine land and its denizens should stay with us forever, and hopefully, we will embrace the Y2Y concept so we can see the actual places Schulz has immortalized in person, rather than as faded memories in dusty books, years after the original has been destroyed.
   Readers interested in learning more about the Y2Y Conservation Initiative can visit www.y2y.net for information. Florian Schulz's images can be seen at www.visionsofthewild.com.



2. Yellowstone To Yukon: Freedom To Roam is a coffee-table photography book that takes the reader along with Florian Schulz on a visual journey of the Northern Rocky Mountain landscape. Two hundred full color images showcase that landscape along with the people, animals, and plants that inhabit it. Enhanced with original thematically appropriate essays by Douglas Chadwick, Karsten Heuer, Ted Kerasote, David Quammen, Rick Bass, and others, Yellowstone To Yukon is a testament to the need for conservation of one of our country's still wild, free, and open places where "bison move across prairies, wolves converge on the hunt, elk bugle across valleys, river otters fish the streams, and grizzlies roam the mountains". Yellowstone To Yukon is a welcome and very highly recommended addition to personal, academic, and community library Environmental Studies and Photography collections.

5 comments about Travel Photography: A Complete Guide to How to Shoot and Sell.

1. This book was a disappointment... Yes of course McCartney is talking about travel photography and gives a few -good- advices but the book is a real pain to read. She keeps talking about herself and how great she is and how many countries she traveled and another couples of very useless stories. Also some points are very discutable.... p23 "You don't have to be handsome or beautiful to be a successful photographer, but you should strive to be as physically attractive and well-groomed as you can be."
   To conclude, there are very few photographies, B/W, outdated and some of them not very interesting at all.



2. If you want to dive into the world of travel photography or brush up this is an excellent book. It is full of information, not only on the technical side with lighting tips with the use of flash and film, the difference in what to expect between color and black and white, but also includes tidbits on where to travel, suggestions on what to carry to minimise loss of luggage. In addition the self assignments are instructive and very useful. One minor quirk the lack of color photos, i guess this was done to keep the price of the book down given its size but a few color photos would have added emphasis espicially when discussing general color filter use!



3. Susan McCartney obviously loves her work and it shows in everything she writes. She willingly shares her vast experience and knowledge in a straightforward and enthusiastic style that makes all of her books a pleasure to read. In fact, her love of photography and willingness to share her knowledge infuses her writing to the extent that even topics as well traversed as travel photography (and check out her book on Flash Photography which is also excellent) become fresh and exciting to read about again and again.

   Only complaint is they should have included color plates to really show the results the author accomplishes in her own work rather than the dreary black and white printing throughout the book. I certainly would have paid the extra few bucks for that.




4. Have made my way through several books on travel photography lately, undoubtedly the best I have read!! There are many other books available which are useless when it comes to being practical. This book is not a picture book, just very informative. Recently I went away for another trip overseas and actually lugged this book along for the ride. Susan lets you in on good places to start for every major country in the world and also places to avoid...incredibally usefull. More handy then a 'lonely planet' for photographers.



5. This book not only reveals the nuts and bolts of travel photography and is a "must read" for those interested or planning to become travel photographers; it is a complete course in photography. I consider this book one of the most informative that I have read on the subject. Susan McCartney reveals not only how to photograph, what equipment she uses, but the fine details which most photographers keep to themselves. Ths book not only should be read, but reread until the material is recorded in one's mind like the tradecraft of any profession. A five star rating for this books is what I think it deserves.

3 comments about The Sun.

1. Ever wonder about the big glowing thing above you that seems to be all over the place all the time during the day? Wonder no more. Holy @#%*!! Why isn't everyone flipping out at how amazing the sun is!? And that we have mind blowingly close, beautiful, evil, haunting pictures of it?! Seriously, there is this thing that's setting off its own arsenal of countless numbers of hydrogen bombs all at once and on itself, and we're constantly spinning around it, and there is a book that give you a beyond crazy close look at it. If this book had come out 100 years ago it would be hailed as the most amazing thing mankind had ever seen. Now it just sort of sits on a bookshelf in the astronomy section. Get with it people, and go stare at the sun.



2. That book is about the sun, but the sun is so much more than just the sun. The sun gives us amazing Northern Lights, sparkling solar coronas, mysterious green flashes, wonderful halos, pillars and so on, and so on. The book has inspiring pictures of all these phenomenas. One also will see the pictures of prominences and flares. I really recommend that awesome book.



3. This little book has amazing pictures of the Sun. Great little conversation piece for the coffee table...especially if you've worked on some of the missions that took the pictures.

5 comments about Longs Peak: The Story Of Colorado's Favorite Fourteener.

1. If you plan to climb Longs, have climbed it, wish you could climb it, love visiting the area, love the Colorado mountains etc you won't be disappointed. The photography (and the quality of their glossy reproduction) is simply superb. The text is engaging, well researched, and tells you more about a single mountain than you could imagine. Having climbed it a couple of times and spent 7 years with it dominating the skyline from my balcony this is a book that has pride of place on my bookshelf.



2. This very readable account of Long's Peak from Dougald MacDonald is an excellent volume. Divided into four general parts, MacDonald opens the book with a personal account of hiking the "Through the Keyhole" to the summit. The writing is personal, wry and engaging as he details the common summer hiking route to the top. The History portion begins with the earliest Anglo-American accounts of climbing the mountain and includes some of the colorful personalities that have scaled it. John Wesley "Wes" Powell, the "one-armed mountaineer" to the tragic rescue attempt and death of Agnes Vaille, "one of Colorado's best climbers, male or female, during the 1920s" are here. Early commercial and National Park Service efforts at tourism and stewardship of the mountain are explained. The Adventure portion discusses changes in hiking and climbing methods and routes, along with rescue efforts and the 54 recorded fatalities on Long's Peak. The Natural History portion details the geological, flora, and fauna resources and the best places to look for them.
   
   A sports journalist for years, MacDonald is the former editor of Rock & Ice and has been climbing Long's Peak since 1982. More than a guide book, his Long's Peak is filled with full-color photographs, historical photographs, maps and trail routes. Numerous inset boxes are scattered throughout the book that provide additional information or refer readers to other resources. Appendices include the best routes, a glossary, an index, and a brief explanation of sources. MacDonald conducted and distilled extensive research including primary resources and there is a bibliography; however, the selected notes are too vague for researchers. Long's Peak is the most comprehensive and current volume of the mountain, including the classic by the late Paul Nesbit and a must for public libraries and others with regional or mountaineering history collections.



3. 90% of the book kept my attention from the moment I opened it. The last 10 deals with floura and fauna, things that I'm personally not interested in, but some may find helpful.
   Lots of great scenery and history. A book I definitely will revisit many times to come.
   I've already climbed Longs several times and was so entranced by the history, I went back to search out some of the items mentioned in this book. As I hiked I recalled a lot from the material and next thing I knew my destination was reached in what seemed like no time at all.
   Anyone who's going to the area is highly encouraged to read this book. Anyone who's already been there will find things they were never aware of.
   I'm not a big history buff, but this book camptivated me.
   5 stars eventhough I wasn't interested in the last chapter or two, but the material in the previous chapters was simply awsome.
   Thanks, great book. A+



4. This is an excellent book on the history of Longs Peak. In particular the controversy around who made the first ascent is well researched and fascinating, although I may not agree with all the author's conclusions. This is the best account of the Agnes Vaille tragedy I have seen and contains many factoids I was not familiar with. Many a hiker passing the stone hut below the Keyhole has wondered about it, and reading this account is just what they need.
   
   The photos in the book are magnificent and very well reproduced. There is also a list of recommended routes in the back. This is not a climbing guide, however, and I suggest you buy such a guide if you are planning on climbing any of these routes.



5. Dougald's new Longs Peak book is outstanding. He expertly retells many of the familiar Longs Peak tales, but also tells some new ones. In particular, his account of the first (white) ascent of the peak is the surprising product of some good sleuthing. The writing is superb, as are the photographs. This is an essential book, whether you are contemplating your first ascent of the peak or whether you know it as well as Dougald.

2 comments about Freedom: A Photographic History of the African American Struggle.

1. This is an absolutely gorgeous book, very comprehensive and tons of excellent pictures



2. This book is a gorgeous coffee-table volume. It is divided into sections by time periods beginning in the 1840s and continues to the present. Each chapter is introduced with an in-depth discussion of what was happening at that time, then moves to captioned photos. The book is large, 10"x12", and is presented on heavy, high quality paper; a pleasure to hold and look at! My only criticism is that readability was sacrificed for design. The type is very small and, therefore, difficult to read, and the caption reference number below each photo is mircoscopic. Also, even though I'm sure the photos were reproduced perfectly, some are hard to make out (what do I expect for 100+ year old photos!) I recommend this book whether you are interested in this subject, interested in photography or just love beautiful books.