3 comments about Walker Evans: Lyric Documentary.

1. At once a splendid coffee table book and an impressive work of original scholarship, "Walker Evans: Lyric Documentary," by John T. Hill, has much to please nearly everyone. The duotone black and white reproductions are sumptuous, among the finest I have seen. They illustrate Evans' seminal production during the years 1935-36, photographing for the US Government's Farm Security Administration during the Great Depression. Their selection, presented in chronological order, is a fine mix of the familiar - many of Evans' greatest images - with lesser known works and variants. Of particular interest to me is a plate comprised of two consecutive exposures that the author has joined together into a powerful panorama (pp. 158-59), a risky move that he manages in bravura fashion.
   
   John T. Hill has written, co-written, or edited, to my count, at least nine books and catalogs on Walker Evans, including "Walker Evans First and Last," "Walker Evans At Work," "Walker Evans The Hungry Eye," "Walker Evans Simple Secrets," and "Walker Evans: Havana 1933." As Evans' friend and colleague for ten years at Yale University, and then as executor of Evans' estate for twenty years, John Hill is uniquely qualified to discuss the photographer and his work. And as a printer of Evans' photographs for nearly forty years, Mr. Hill possesses a thorough understanding of this photographer's oeuvre and intentions.
   
   John Hill's two essays - one on an unpublished lecture Evans gave at Yale, illustrating what the photographer called his "aesthetic autobiography," and the other a short history of Evans' book publications within the context of their times - are important additions to Evans scholarship. Additionally, Alan Trachtenberg has provided an illustrated essay comparing the image selection and sequencing of the two major editions (1941 and 1960) of Evans' and James Agee's "Let Us Now Praise Famous Men."
   
   Of the countless books and articles that have been written about Evans in the thirty-plus years since his death, "Walker Evans: Lyric Documentary" is among the best. It is one of a few that I would classify as an essential Walker Evans book.
   
   Rodger Kingston
   Kingston is the author of "Walker Evans In Print: An Illustrated Bibliography."



2. Walker Evans' famous gift as a photographer is said to be his ability to erase himself as the creator of the images he captured, but he was there, of course, and made the necessary artistic judgments that distinguish his work. John T. Hill's masterful book, "Walker Evans: Lyric Documentary" is, in every way, an apt tribute to Evans' artistry.
   
   Giving us a comprehensive presentation of the best work from Evans' most creative period is valuable enough. Yet Hill has provided something equally wonderful and useful, by illustrating what Evans called his "aesthetic autobiography." Using an unpublished lecture at Yale, in which Evans identified works of art, architecture and science he viewed as inspirations for his work, Hill furnishes compelling examples from these artists as visual annotations to Evans' work.
   
   The result is exactly what one would hope for--not a laborious reinterpretation or egotistical "appreciation" of these great photographs, but a vivid presentation of the images themselves in a fashion that invites interest in the background material as an additional reward for the viewer. "Walker Evans: Lyric Documentary" is John T. Hill's fifth book on Evans and provides new insights into the work of the legendary photographer, considered by many to be the greatest artist of our time. This book is a great achievement by Hill, although fittingly, the reader will scarcely notice the skilled editorial hand shaping and ordering these powerful photographs that need little adornment.
   
   Randall Roden



3. This is the only book I know of that contains Evans' own account of his aesthetic genesis with illustrations of his visual sources. Excellent essay by John T. Hill, who was a colleague of Evans at Yale University. Particularly noteworthy are the very finely reproduced plates of the seminal work of Evans during the years 1935-36. These are easily the best reproductions of Evans photographs that I've seen. A scholarly work and an important research tool.

5 comments about Digital Video Pocket Guide (O'Reilly Digital Studio).

1. A waste of time and money. You can learn more about DV video on line for free.



2. I recently reviewed this and the more recent Oreilly book, Digital Video Hacks, with contributions from the author. Hacks is much more up-to-date and contains lots of things from the Pocket Guide. But a lot of the troubleshooting tips from Pocket Guide are about using cameras and mikes, not stuff likely to go out of date. Here is what I wrote specifically about Pocket Guide:
   
   For readers looking for more information about the shooting process itself, the cheaper and more succinct 2003 Digital Video Pocket Guide by Derrick Story covers that information superbly. Story's book goes into more detail about equipment to buy as well as how to resolve lighting and sound problems. There's only so much you can say in 112 pages, but 30 of those pages are devoted to solving practical shooting problems (i.e., the walking interview, dealing with wind , etc.) Another 30 pages consists of reference material and tables about basic camera concepts (i.e., how aperture relates to depth of field). Also, this book in particular has a high percentage of color photographs, which (like those in Digital Video Hacks) make it easier to understand what the writer is getting at. Some of the information from Digital Video Pocket Guide is duplicated in Digital Video Hacks, but lately I've found myself referring more often to the Pocket Guide than the Video Hacks book.



3. So... You got a new digital video camera for Christmas, and you want to be the next Spielberg? Unless you've had experience in how to shoot good video, you'll end up with a lot of home movies in digital format that don't look any better than anyone else's home movies. To remedy that, get a copy of Digital Video Pocket Guide by Derrick Story (O'Reilly). In 113 pages, you'll learn the essentials of how your camera works, basic editing and shooting techniques, and tips on how to improve your video quality. While this shouldn't be the only video guide you get, it will be more than enough to get you started on the way to making movies that people will enjoy watching.



4. Digital videography is challenging and this useful pocket guidebook makes taking videos more exciting and fun. By following many of the suggestions and tips throughout this small reference book you will find it helpful when preparing for your next home movies. This is one of the few books dedicated to digital video. Most current publications like magazines keep you up to date with the latest gear but this book is more in-depth on the art of video productions. The author Derrick Story has written many books and provided photographs for countless others. The pocket guide is a series of small books that includes titles like digital photography, Macintosh Troubleshooting, Extreme Programming and over 200 other pocket guide titles.

   As a video producer I found this book very easy to read and understand and felt this reference book would offer any level of videographer benefits from this information. The book is broken into 3 chapters and one reference guide. The first chapter starts with "What is it". This chapter covers the camcorder basics and may other more advanced concepts including time-code, analog line-in, aperture, image sensor, interlaced video and progressive scan. I was quite surprised that these subjects were covered since these are new features found on the newest camcorders and the average videographer may not be familiar with the concepts. It is nice to read about some of the newest features and how they can benefit the end user. This first chapter is very comprehensive going well beyond the camcorders instruction manual.

   The second chapter covers the physical camera and its features, how does it work explain concepts and techniques for today's digital video shooting. The section on time-code and logging was invaluable. The third section is how do I...Tips, Tricks and Techniques offers 12 very helpful and modern information on what the average shooter may encounter.

   One concept that often overlooked in the wave of new technology is the fundamentals. The art of storytelling is true regardless of the latest and greatest camcorders and accessories. The author emphasizes the camcorder is just the tool that allows the individual to create and visualize your message. I found myself revisiting several techniques that I have used in my video business on a recent trip to Baltimore for the US Open table tennis championships. I took my camcorder and candidly interviewed several players and officials. When taping my subjects I utilized the walking interview tips in the final section. The ability to change background offered variety to many of the candid comments. I also used the technique of entrances and exits. This allows the subject to enter the frame follows them for a period of time and then let them exit the frame. This clean shooting transition is a bridge commonly used in movies and TV shows.

   Overall this book is very useful and I found several of the tips very informative. I recommend this book for the beginner and intermediate level digital video user.




5. Book Review: "Digital Video Pocket Guide"
   by John Suda

   "Digital Video Pocket Guide", by Derrick Story, is another in the series of "Pocket Guides" from O'Reilly & Associates, Inc. Like the others, it is a well-written, comprehensive introduction to a technical/aesthetic area.

   This is a small, pocket-size book of 113 pages, including index, published on bright, glossy paper which provides brightness and contrast for its included photographs and makes it easier on the eyes for reading.

   I have been contemplating investigating digital video myself for some time and found this little volume to be a near perfect introduction for a couple of reasons. First, the substantive material contains about everything one needs to get a start in digital video, from buying a camera, to learning and understanding its controls and features, to using the equipment, and tips on how to get some quality production from the camera. The second reason is the unusual (for a computer book) author's "voice". Story's style is casual, friendly, clear, simple, encouraging, and even soothing, Imagine attending a 2 or 3 hour presentation by an informed camera salesperson who knows how to produce videos, who has the personality and presentation of Mr. Rogers.

   It's the substantive material which is most important however. Story walks the reader through the entire movie-making process, from start to finish. Even technical concepts like "black the tape", "bumping", and "zebra patterns" are made simple and easy to follow.

   The book has three parts encompassing explanation of the equipment, how to use it, and how to produce some quality product. There is an appendix of a handful of quick reference tables pertaining to color temperature charts, types of microphones, and other incidental matters.

   The best sections deal with learning how to shoot scenes including how to light a scene, and how to prevent wind from ruining your audio. There is a nice 10-step movie production checklist which details all one needs to start and complete a beginner's video project.

   For a small volume on a technical topic, this is an unusual good read.

5 comments about Naked New York.

1. I've ended up buying all the books in this series, and it's resulted in some interesting reccomendations popping up sometimes for me.... But this isn't a "nudie" book in my eyes. The books are all interesting conversation pieces amoung good friends, everyone finds them interesting. It's such a simple concept that we all wonder about!



2. I was looking for Spencer Tunick's work, and somehow this book came up in the search instead. I wasn't careful enough looking at the description, comments, etc. So, I ended up buying it.
   
   Aside from the disappointment of not getting what I was hoping for, I find this book rather boring and monotonous. Of course, this could have been author's intention to put all the subjects into a similar setting and underline the idea that these are ordinary people from the streets, however this doesn't make these images any more compelling or interesting for myself. I still find the book dull and repetitious. And it was twice the disappointment for myself.



3. Greg Friedler succeeded in getting over 70 ordinary New Yorkers to pose for him, both clothed and naked, in this strange but intriguing book. The subjects are all photographed in the same fashion. They apparently showed up for the shoots wearing street clothes, were photographed in them and then photographed "naked." Friedler explains the difference between the words "nude" and "naked", and I think he is correct here. "As I see it, photographing someone naked is about trying to get at some kind of truth, whereas photographing someone nude is linked more to sexual gratification, eroticism, or our conventions of beauty." The subjects to a person all stand looking straight-on and unsmiling into the camera. They are all shot against an ugly brick wall and lit with unflattering, shadowless flat light. Ranging in age from 19 to 75, they are for the most part white with some black models and and a couple of what job applications might label "other." There is a pregnant woman, a grossly overwight woman, skinny folks, a breast implant or two, tall, short, et al. As the photographer says in his definition of "naked", there's not much pretty here. And being "naked" certainly is a great equalizer. A walk through a steam room or communal shower proves Mr. Friedler's theory of equality. All we know about the models is their occupations and ages. While there are a couple of upper income types here-- a pediatrician and an attorney, for instance, most of them are at the other end of the pay scale-- school bus driver and cashier-- to name two. Perhaps they had less to lose by baring their all. There are some occupations on the edge here, transexual karate instructor, porno star, prostitute, dream interpreter, closet queen-- whatever that means--junkie-- I thought that was a condition rather than an occupation--piercer's apprentice, erotic masseur. Then there is a limo dispatcher aka New York's most tattooed man.

   While these photographs show the influence of both Richard Avedon and Diane Arbus, the differences are obvious. Avedon for the most part shot unsmiling celebrities looking straight into his camera against a white background. Friedler obviously goes one step further or several feet downward for the full monty here. Arbus apparently did some of her work without the cooperation or knowledge of her subjects, something she should have been ashamed of. Friedler, on the other hand, had the full cooperation of everybody concerned.

   This book generates a lot of questions. How did Friedler select his subjects or weed out the bad apples, to mix a metaphor? (How could there be any bad apples in this 20th Century Eden shoot?) Age, sex, occupation and race must have entered into his decision but he doesn't tell us that. Could this project have been so successful in a much smaller, city or town, say Columbus, Georgia or Dayton, Ohio? Did the subjects tell their friends and family about their afternoon of exposure or wait to be discovered at the bookstore? Why did the models do this? Two or three models say why on the back cover of the book, and the photographer has some ideas on the subject as well. I suspect there may be as many different answers as there are people here.

   What impressed me most about this book is that the Norton Company, that staid keeper of truth when it comes to college literature, is the publisher. That says volumes-- speaking of which, Mr. Friedler has done a similar work for LA and London. Lady Thatcher naked? Wouldn't it be great if Friedler could do a series like this for U. S. Senators or big city mayors or CEO's of big corporations? Imagine the books he would sell.




4. Friedler shows to fine effect in this book the contrasts between our public and private selves. I really appreciated what the 30ish woman (a brunette social worker) had to say about her reasons for posing. Kudos to her! Granted this book speaks to the voyeur in each of us. But it also shows how liberating it is to be naked and proud.



5. A lot of people would think this is quite a boring book, but I found it fascinating to see how much clothing changes someone's appearance. It just reinforces the idea that we're all naked under our clothes.

5 comments about Women Before 10 a.m..

1. Great Book with women as they should be seen. But you've got to be mature enogh to appreciate it and for the guys looking for cheap porn and not art recommend you just skip this! But if you want to see women without makeup or any fancy hair style this is a definite recommendation to add your collection.



2. I LOVE THE BOOK... IT IS A COMBINATION OF GREAT ART AND ENTERTAINMENT!



3. I normally don't like to write these reviews, I feel art and music are such subjective experiences, you really need to check it out for yourself. But I had to say that this was a very beautiful book. Its an intimate view into a world, most of us men rarely get to be a part of, especially living in such a fast paced world. Veronique Vial captures these passing moments, tip toeing her way through the homes of some well known and before-they-were-famous woman. All the more reason to appreciate this book. Being a photographer, I can also appreciate the clean straight forward layout, that really shows off her great work. Her previous Men Before Ten am, I found too dark and over designed. Its hard to compare the two, because of the subject, but the printing on Women is superior and it has brighter and livelier feel. Her photographs really capture the moment, which is what great photography is all about.

   I would compare her to the likes of the great Magnum photographers like, Bresson, Bruce Davidson, Elliot Erwitt. Her ability to capture the "life" in her subjects and "the moment" shows through in these photographs and her other work (see O Cirque du Soleil).

   I gave five of these as gifts to woman friends and they loved and enjoyed this book, seeing themselves captured in these beautiful moments.




4. The concept of this book was to shoot candid photographs of women doing their normal activities in the morning, following on the successful book done with men in the morning. The purpose was to get the real person behind the polished facade of the famous. Ms. Vial wanted to see "raw, real, natural . . . no makeup, no posing, I wanted their souls." Each photograph was done without additional lighting and was based on a few candid rolls. The book notes the time when the photograph was taken in most cases. Most are from 7 to 10 a.m. The images catch the subjects in bed (alone, and with pets, a mom, children, and men), bathing, showering, with kids, wearing robes, wearing no robes, dressing, exercising, smoking (too many of these), brushing their teeth, drying their hair, putting on make up, having coffee, meditating, making breakfast, eating breakfast, and even working. The concept works best for those who are still half conked-out while they are being photographed, and those who are not professional models. The bright-eyed professional models look just as great as they would on any fashion shoot. It's testimony to their talent for posing without direction. The book contains lots of notes about the subjects, both written in calligraphy and in printed captions at the end of the book. The book would have been a lot better with much more editing. Many of the images add little, other than to make the people look bad. Some of these women looked like they were coming off an all-night drunk or a drug-based party.

   The images here would often earn the book an R rating if it were a motion picture. There is total nudity in some cases, but of the modest sort.

   A major drawback to doing candid shots in available light is that many of the images end up looking like semi mug shots, because the light was so poor. I feel that more of these should have been eliminated.

   The brief foreword by Sean Penn didn't do anything for me. I suggest you skip it.

   One of the touching photographs in the collection is of Demi Moore in bed with her dying mother.

   Other touching images include mothers playing with their children, pregnant woman struggling with their temporary girth, and women with their pets.

   Despite the limitations of the book, I liked many of the photographs either because they did give a window on the soul or because the woman was just so beautiful or interesting that she overcame the circumstances of the photography.

   Here are my favorites: Reese Witherspoon; Helena Christensen; Uschi Obermaier; Julia Stiles; Laetitia Casta (7:17 a.m. and under water); Ingrid Seynhaere; Emily Watson; Mia Kirshner (2); Sophis and Tess Medina; Charlotte Flossant; Amanda De Cadenet; Emma Thompson (2nd one); Dyan Cannon; Frederique van der Wal (2); Diane Warren; Eileen Ryan Penn; Debbie Morgan; Sofia Coppola; Sigourney Weaver (2); Joely Fisher; Lisa Marie; Lumi Cavazos; Angie Everhart; Cheryl Tiegs (2); Gina Gershon; Lois Chiles; Jennifer Beals; and Emmanuelle Sallet.

   After you finish enjoying this book, I suggest that you do your own version of this photography with the people in your family. Get them at various times in the day when they are at their most open. It will make a wonderful scrapbook!

   Find the natural person behind the prepared mask and response, . . . and cherish them!




5. I like this book alot, I love b&w pics, I feel that the ladies are not being completely natural for as soon as they open their eyes they see someone with a camera. Great pics though.

2 comments about Latino Fan Club.

1. I am a big fan of the guys from Latino Fan Club. They're really hot, masculine, and have huge c**ks. I typically purchase their calendars every time they come out (haven't for 2008 though, the quality was a little disappointing). This book is a collection of the calendar shots, and it's great to have them in a bound book format. I'd recommend it very highly for anyone interested in the latino male hirsuitness and endowments.



2. Not all my favorite LFC men are there, but many are. Some too often. Could have been used for others. And an index with their names or their names written on the page with their photo would have been nice.

No comments about Beate Gutschow: LS/S.

2 comments about Video Production Workshop (DMA Series) (DV Expert Series).

1. Interested in making video production a career - one more stable than most in the face of technological changes? Make Video Production Workshop your course-in-a-book on the technical aspects of video production: it comes complete with a DVD-ROM outlining technical production formats, skills, editing concepts and shooting tips - everything needed to produce a quality video. The 'workshop' offers in-depth analysis of three stages of production and explains the importance of team roles throughout. And, the DVD portion offers slips and sequences to further illustrate. You can't go wrong!



2. Interested in making video production a career - one more stable than most in the face of technological changes? Make Video Production Workshop your course-in-a-book on the technical aspects of video production: it comes complete with a DVD-ROM outlining technical production formats, skills, editing concepts and shooting tips - everything needed to produce a quality video. The 'workshop' offers in-depth analysis of three stages of production and explains the importance of team roles throughout. And, the DVD portion offers slips and sequences to further illustrate. You can't go wrong!

2 comments about Photometrics Handbook.

1. I have read a lot of reviews (for other books) from people who bought books for the wrong reason. Make sure you understand- this is a specifications manual for professional stage electricians and lighting designers. This is not an introductory text book and is not appropriate for most amateurs and volunteers in community theatres. If you don't already know the meaning of the following words and phrases:
   throw distance, wattage, color temperature, bayonet, focal point, ERS, and Parabolic reflector...
   this is not your book.
   Even if you do- chances are, if you're not sure whether you need it, you probably don't.
   
   That being said- Every lighting designer and stage electrician should own this book and keep it in their glove box with their wrench and gloves.



2. There are two things a good electrician should always have handy, his wrench and this book. This books has all the informaton on all the lighting instruments that I have come across. When drawing or hanging my plot I make sure I have my book handy. No more guessing or looking for the torn instrument specs. This is the one great book an electrician can't do without.

4 comments about Fetish 101: Celebrate Your Fantasies.

1. This is a little gem of a book - beautifully designed and photographed. Beautiful bright color photos on high gloss paper in a compact hard cover book.
   
   This book was made with the usual class that Marquis brings to the beauty of fetish photography- it is not porn (although there is nudity.)
   
   If you want hardcore photos or porn, this is not the book for you.



2. The size of the book is VERY small. I had no clue it was so tiny but the content inside looks really good!



3. This is a small book, and is titled Fetish 101 for two reasons. 1) It has 101 fetishes in it. 202 pages, one page each for the picture and the description. 2) It's a very basic and very introductory book about fetishes.
   
   The thing that I don't like about fetish books is that some of them are gross. This one is tasteful, and the the pictures are well done. There is some nudity, but not a lot. Most of the pictures in the book look like the one on the cover.
   
   An example fetish is #23: Schoolgirls
   
   "We're not talking about real schoolgirls, of course! This is about roleplaying, adults behaving like schoolgirls. The outfits are skimpy skirts, knee-length stockings, and black patent leather shoes. Schoolgirls pretend to be shy, but they know exactly how to seduce the teacher."
   
   That's a typical entry. Not too racy, but it's a cool book to look through and say, "I would like that," or "I wouldn't like that."



4. This book goes nowhere, and is of extremely small size. The images are all tired old fetish pictures you would expect to see as cutting edge fashion in a Sunday Magazine rather than anything in a scene publication. It just covers the tired old fetish standards, rubber, leather, feet, that sort of thing, each with a single photo and an inane paragraph of text.

2 comments about Take Me Fishing: 50 Great Writers on Their Favorite Sport.

1. This collection of Fishing tales hits on everything that is great about fishing. The sights, sounds, memories, all of it! Reading these stories stirred up so many of my own forgotten fishing tales that I wanted to rush out, and rediscover my love of the lure. It is such a good read.



2. This is a wonderful collection with some of my favorite fishing writers. I loved this book.