5 comments about At Twelve: Portraits of Young Women.

1. Sally Mann succeeds in showing girls on the cusp of womanhood, some of them appearing androgynous, others decidedly feminine. There are a few adults in these pictures, including friends and strangers. There is no nudity other than one of an infant lying reclined between a woman's legs, and neither person can be identified.
   
   This is a "sensitive" subject, and the photographer/author is aware of it. In fact, one of her photographs is of a girl-turning-woman next to an older fellow, in his twenties. When you read the text, you discover the difficulty she had in getting the young lady to stand close to the man in the picture; some time after this photograph was taken, the girl's mother shot him in the face for "harassing" her daughter.
   
   Viewing these girls on their birthdays, lounging with friends, or posing for Ms. Mann, it's easy to feel a pang that is something more than wistful: were there only a world where--girl or woman--they could finally be both natural and secure. Perhaps it is the source of Ms. Mann's great photographic power, that she confronts us with an issue present in life itself. Girls or women, one only wishes they could be happy and free, safe and valued for themselves.



2. This is one of my favorite portrait photography books. It's often profoundly disturbing, with such poignant images capturing girls on the verge of womanhood, offering us glimpses not only into the children that they were but into the lives they're going to lead as women, and it isn't all pretty.
   
   Sally Mann is wonderful at capturing the souls of those she photographs, often poor, rural-living individuals, full of pride and hopes and dreams. I have collected many of her books, and this has always been my favorite. It's very controversial - her work always has been - but if you look at it with your eye on that cusp of womanhood, you will see more than you ever dreamed.
   
   Sally Mann is a true visionary photographer who will certainly be hailed in the years to come as one of the greatest photographers of her time.



3. just awful
   
   save your money, this book is not worth it. The pictures are dull and lifeless, boring composition. Mann hasn't captured anything here but a bunch of worthless photos. Any 10th rate amateur photographer could have done better.



4. Sally Mann hasn't a clue how to capture the souls of those she photographs! If you are looking for artistic shots of 12 year olds then this book isn't for you. The picture on the cover is deceiving about the books contents. You're better off with buying the David Hamilton books (oh and by the way he is much better at photographing his subjects than Sally Mann could ever hope to be).



5. Maybe I missed something. The pictures are beautiful, and they are supposed to be an attempt to capture the essence of young women on the cusp of becoming adults. What I got was pictures of young women-- missed the whole "becoming" thing. I could just be thick, but this one just passed me by devoid of any emotion.

5 comments about Historic Costume in Pictures (Dover Pictorial Archives).

1. This book is a reproduction of the 1907 book "Costumes of All Nations" (3rd edition), which in turn was reproduced from a series of plates produced by Braun and Schneider in "Zur Geschichte der Kostume" between 1861 and 1890. Unfortunately, in the process, all of the text (both the German and English) was removed (as was the color). So we have no way of knowing what went along with these drawings.

   Furthermore, there are no references of any kind, so you can't go back to the "original" painting, or source to verify the information. It may be helpful for getting ideas, but not for any serious costume design.




2. If you are interested in the proper history of costume, this book is not for you. It was created in the 19th century, when costume history was at its beginning and it reflects all major faults of the researchers of that time. Many things, claimed to be true at that time, are now proven to be completely wrong. Personally, I have found some blunders in this book. So, if you want to do a thorough and accurate research for your costume, refer to the modern researchers, authentic paintings and manuscripts. Definitely not this book. It is like using 14th century manuscripts for studying modern English.
   But if you want to compare the work of modern and Victorian authors - go ahead, this is a wonderful example.
   This book can also be quite suitable for those, who are interested in theatrical costume, where looks come first and authenticity does not matter.



3. If you're a serious student of costume history, this book is not for you. But if you're a beginning re-enactor, or you work with them, it's an excellent source for getting the "feel" of a period. It is typically Victorian in line, as are many similar books still in print. BUT it's comprehensive through many time periods, shows accessories well (which a lot of similar books do not), and makes for a good beginning point.

   I've found it very useful in getting beginning costume students to pick a period for further research.




4. This is another book of Victorian redrawings of historical garments and outright inventions and fantasies where ancient clothing is concerned. While it might be useful to theatrical costumers, Victorian recreationists, or those interested in the history of costume illustration or interpretation, it is of no use to those doing historic costuming or interested in costume history.

   If you want accurate representations of historic clothing, get a book with reproductions of art from the time period of the clothes you're interested in.




5. As a costumer for the high school i find it difficult to find books that are comprehensive with pictures of enough time periods to find what i am looking for. This book shows enough examples to get the styles across, unfortunately it is in black and white but it is still detailed and wonderful.

5 comments about Kinsey Photographer: The Locomotive Portraits.

1. The bygone days of steam-powered logging railways come back in this fascinating collection of B/W images.
   As the title says, the locomotives are the protagonists, but many other details about the whole life of a logging railway in the Pacific Northwest manage to sneak in around the main subject - logging crews, base camps, service cars, rails and trestles - and of course the trees, both standing and felled, some quite awesome by their sheer size.
   For the steam enthusiast, a visual feast: the logging locos were often quite off the beaten path - literally, of course, on their crude, temporary rails, but also in their design; several types of odd-looking engines were developed for the particular needs of this job, and rarely seen on mainline rails: all were different fron the conventional, side-rod driven locomotive and especially suited to sharp curves, uneven right-of-ways and, above all, unbelievable grades (happily, they very uniqueness made them survive until comparatively late in the steam era and some are to this day under steam in tourist service).
   And for any other one, an interesting and entertaining trip down nostalgia lane; the well-written text complements nicely the images and makes the book enjoyable also to the newcomer.



2. This is an excellent book with great photos of many geared locomotives. A must have for anyone wanting to detail a model of a geared locomotive, or just for looking at the pictures. Each photo has a short narrative describing the photo. A well done book.



3. This is a beautifully produced work of a master photographer. The large format duotone prints are a joy to look at, with crisp detail and lovely tones. The book provides excellent examples of Darius' ability to capture the majestic beauty of hard working (but well cared for) steam locomotives (both geared and rod), along with the people whose lives they touched (engine crew, loggers, camp crew and families). I would have paid $20 each for several of the prints in this book. This is primarily a "picture book", but the additional commentary from railroaders and loggers of the Kinsey era adds that personal touch that the photographs so often contain.



4. This book is a source of absolutely excellent photos of Shays, Heislers, and Climaxes used in the logging industry in the Pacific Northwest. With his huge box cameras and glass image plates, Kinsey was to B&W photography of the period as IMAX is to color motion pictures of today. The photos are the best B&W photographs I have ever seen on any subject. They are definitely of museum quality.

   Geared Steam Locomotive Works




5. I have looked at many hundreds of railroad books (and well over 100,000 photos), but the photographs in this volume are the best I've ever seen. Kinsey used a view camera and 11"x14" glass plate negatives to produce large contact prints for sale to the subjects (locomotive crew members) early in this century. The results are absolutely stunning; every photo has extraordinary tone and detail, impossible to produce with the small format (35mm and rollfilm) cameras commonly available today. This is a "must have" book for any photographer who wants to see what print quality large negatives are capable of producing. Darius Kinsey is the "Ansel Adams" of railroad photography.

5 comments about The Park Loop Road.

1. I bought this book before going to Acadia Natl Park. It was incredibly helpful. Our exploration of the Park Loop Road was more interesting because of all the helpful info in this book. Loved the pictures. Very representative of the actual places.



2. I can't wait to get there in late Summer '06!
   This book is great for anyone planning on visiting Acadia National Park.
   If the park is only half as beautiful as the pictures in the publication, I can't wait!
   I've already planned several routes to run and ride (bicycles) while we are there.
   Thanks!



3. All of the books written by Robert Thayer convey the true beauty of Acadia National Park. Robert is an outstanding photographer/ author and is an inspiration for my own work. I have seen many slides of Roberts work and I am always impressed. I give this book my highest recommendation for any person interested in learning about Acadia, nature, wildlife, and especially photography. He also has 3 other books available on Amazon.com of an equal caliber.



4. After throughly reading this book through 3 times I have come to the conclusion it is a wonderful book full of useful information. The pictures alone are beautifuly taken giving reason enough to purchase this book. Also Mr Thayer is an excellent chemistry teacher and I hope after reviewing this comment he will raise our grades



5. An excellent overall introduction to Acadia National Park and Mount Desert Island. Good overview of geology and natural and cultural history. Provides up-to-date information on roads and hiking trails. A wonderful guide or souvenir of the Acadian experience.

1 comments about Mothers and Sons.

1. This book is lovely. The photographs and the prose are so heartwarming! My son is grown now and has three sons of his own, and the book sits on my library shelf - I love to reach for it and look through it - because it always makes me feel so rich and blessed for having a son.

5 comments about Creative Digital Printmaking: A Photographer's Guide to Professional Desktop Printing (Photography for All Levels: Intermediate).

1. While searching out another photography book, I stumbled upon this one and bought it on a whim. What a revelation! I am totally thrilled with the book, the authors' writing, and the info - both aesthetic and concrete - inside. I've had several print b/w darkrooms - bathroom affairs that I've loved - but no longer have the space. I really have missed the print-making experience. Thus Creative Digital Printmaking opened new and exciting doors to me. Even better, it clearly explained how to handcolor digiprints, something I'd done with my b/w images, but never imagined I could do with a digital print.
   The book's instructions and explanations are masterful - clear and concise, yet full of exciting techniques. While the book takes the reader on interesting creative journeys, Airey also focuses on the concrete, such as how to calibrate a monitor and the best way to scan a negative or photograph. The combination works. So do the excellent photographic examples. If you have the urge to make digital prints that last and ones that resonate with and excite viewers, this book will guide you on your way. I can't recommend it highly enough.



2. You can spend weeks following web users groups that discuss specific papers, inks, printers and combinations of archival inks and papers etc. You can subscribe to numerous artists' magazines. But in this book, you can save yourself months, because of Theresa Airey's practical information and lists. The book not only helps photographers looking for quality in printing but it also gives people who hand tint photos good advice with the current lineup of digital materials. From the applications standpoint, I like that this book takes readers from basics to difficult, creative projects. The listings for companies, websites, papers and other media are excellent. To Amphoto Books: Please give us more from this talented and extraordinarily helpful author.



3. BASIC Digital Printmaking -That should be the title of this book. Perhaps for the amateur photographer who is unfamiliar with basic digital processes. There is so much more that can be done, missed completely by this book.
   The book is filled with cheezy Photoshop effects equal to those "star" filters back in the 70's. cheezy, cheezy, cheezy...



4. For those who endeavor to perfect fine art digital printmaking, this is the book to read. It is a "how to" and so much more. The book covers paper, ink, techniques, hand coloring and the practical application and intereaction of all of these variables. The book is cogently written and elegantly displayed. It is a must for anyone's library who wishes to expand their horizons in the digital printing arena. Ms. Airey is a master of her craft and it shows.



5. For those who endeavor to perfect fine art digital printmaking, this is the book to read. It is a "how to" and so much more. The book covers paper, ink, techniques, hand coloring and the practical application and intereaction of all of these variables. The book is cogently written and elegantly displayed. It is a must for anyone's library who wishes to expand their horizons in the digital printing arena. Ms. Airey is a master of her craft and it shows.

1 comments about Arnold Newman.

1. Excellent collection of Newman.
   Everyone does environmental portraits these days.
   Newman is the original and the best.
   A beautiful and inspirational collection.

No comments about Dream Homes Washington DC: An Exclusive Showcase of Washington DC's Finest Architects (Dream Homes).

3 comments about Creating Keepsakes: Photography for Scrapbookers (Leisure Arts #15949).

1. As I said, it would have been a really good book had i received the parcel. It was due on the 8th Jan and I haven't received it yet



2. I was amazed at how simple and easy to understand this book was but still so helpful in learning how to take great pictures for scrap booking.
   
   **Becky**



3. This is, as the title suggests, a good basic introductory book for those who are new to photography. It certainly gives a good initial run-down on all the over-arching principles of taking better shots with the main focus being on composition rather than tech specs. It's an easy read, and the steps suggested should prove useful to its target audience. I found it quite specific to scrapbooking though. It is not the definitive guide to photography by any means, but nor does it present itself as such. A worthwhile purchase for the burgeoning scrapping population.

3 comments about I Will Never Forget You: Frida Kahlo and Nickolas Muray.

1. A Love Story Documented in Letters and Photos
   
   This book, authored by the "Kahlo Guru" Salomon Grimberg, is not just another Kahlo biography nor is it just another book of Kahlo photos. This book tells of a love story between the photographer Nickolas Muray and the painter Frida Kahlo. Written in somewhat of a biographical format, it begins with Muray's life "before Kahlo" followed by Kahlo's life "before Muray"... and then they meet. When these two icons collide, the love story begins. This book captures the most intimate moments of that secret relationship as told through their love letters and the many photographs taken by Muray. 56 of those photos, some never before published, are shown in this book in full color and duotone plates.
   
   This book begins with a one page acknowledgement written by Grimberg. In the back of the book there is a 3 page chronology of Nickolas. Following that is an index of 88 known photos of Frida taken by Muray, complete with a thumbnail photo and identifying information.
   
   When you've read of all the mundane biographies and want to read something more personal about Frida, then this book is for you. Although it's a love story, it's just another tragic chapter in Kahlo's anything but ordinary life.



2. Many wonderful photos of Frida Kahlo by Nicholas Murray, though they could have been reproduced on a better quality of paper. The text is poor - much of it appears to be mere speculation rather than historically supported fact. And even the speculation jumps events, leaving out intervening information. Numerous typos as well.
   
   If you want the photos - 5 stars for the photos, but 4 for reproduction. If you want accurate biographical information - 2 stars.



3. I purchased as a gift for an artist and follower of Frida Kahlo. It by far is the best book yet on Frida's life and art. This book depicts her concern for humanity, emotions, her inner beauty and life lessons. The recipient loved it!