1 comments about Berkeley: The Life and Spirit of a Remarkable Town.

1. Berkeley, California residents, natives, or visitors will relish this pictorial display of Berkeley's finest houses and scenes in Berkeley: The Life And Spirit Of A Remarkable Town. Kiran Singh's full-page color photos trace the town's most notable neighborhoods and structures, from Telegraph Avenue, the 'Haight-Ashbury of Berkeley' and home to many counter-cultural influences, to the campus of UC Berkeley and West Berkeley's early settlements. A fine coffee table addition or celebration of one of the state's most notable cities.

No comments about Books of Nudes.

3 comments about Growing Old Is Not for Sissies: Portraits of Senior Athletes.

1. Etta Clark does an outstanding job showing us that old age can be entered into gracefully; the pictures and bio info are great



2. Looking through this book, I was overwhelmed by the beauty of the aging body, as well as inspired that getting older does not mean frailty and inactivity, but independence and renewed energy. Everyone of us can strive to be *our* best, no matter what activity we choose, from surfing to swimming, dancing and senior olympic sports, to body building. Age makes no difference, it is your inner spirit that keeps you young and vital!



3. Etta Clark's subjects, all older people who are very active, show that older people can struggle against the ravages of time and gravity. And the subjects, in their photographs, display a courage and beauty all their own

5 comments about Chavez Ravine: 1949.

1. I bought this book after I saw some of Don Normark's pictures in a local gallery. I was impressed with his work that I had to have the book. After reading the book and trying to see the pictures as he did, I realized that this was more that just a photo book. This was history and how these people lived. This could have been written in 2008, the same problems and the same actions by the government that was felt then is still seems to be happening now. I have read other books written about the city of Los Angeles during the years before and this book helps me understand the people who lived there better.



2. I became aware of Chavez Ravine when I purchased a CD of music by Ry Cooder about the subject. Until that time I would have been unlikely to come across information about this amazing part of LA because I live in New Zealand and we are on the other side of the world - downunder you might say!
   
   However, I have now been to Los Angeles a couple of times, in transit, and so feel as if I have a partial idea of the scale of this city and its surrounds.
   
   I was therefore intrigued to see someone with a copy of this book and promptly looked for it on Amazon's website.
   
   I now have even more insights into this community and it only further amazes me that the land that was home to so many immigrant families could just be taken out from under them - something I feel is quite shameful.
   
   I would certainly recommend this book to anyone who wants to look into the past and read about the immigrant communities in the United States and how they are often overlooked and mistreated.....and then almost forgotten, but for people like Don Normark bringing their world to the fore.



3. My in-laws are of the families uprooted from La Loma-now Dodger Stadium. I'm looking forward to reading about the history of this long, forgotten place.



4. Nestled in the hills between downtown Los Angeles and Pasadena is Chávez Ravine, site of Dodger Stadium and its acres of parking lots. Few baseball fans here could tell you that long before the Dodgers left Brooklyn, Chávez Ravine was the home of three communities of Mexican-American laborers and their families.

   Don Normark, a young photographer in 1948, was climbing in the hills looking for postcard-shot views of LA when he discovered La Loma, Palo Verde, and Bishop. Each neighborhood was a rambling cluster of buildings, dirt streets, and footpaths. The wooded slopes of Elysian Park overlooked the ravine, and beyond were the peaks of the San Gabriel Mountains. He felt he had found another world -- a kind of Shangri-La. For many months, he returned to take pictures of what he saw and of the people he met there. He didn't know that he was recording on film the daily life of a place and its people that was about to disappear.

   The pictures, of course, are black and white, a rich range of gray tones and contrasts under the cloudless southern California sky. In a casual street scene, two men stand talking on the hard dirt, and a third, his back to them, leans across a low concrete wall. All is in sharp focus from the dusty tire track in the foreground to the pointed tower of City Hall nudging up over a darkly wooded ridge in the distance. The mid-afternoon light reflects brightly off one man's tee shirt and from the front of a small white house farther on. Meanwhile, the shadows cast by eaves, palm fronds, parked cars, and the men themselves are deeply dark.

   There are many pictures of people, of all ages. Some look into the camera. Most are busy working, walking, talking, playing. A young girl wears her confirmation dress. A boy watches his father repair a car. Two men spar under branches thick with bougainvillea blossoms. An iceman stands in an open gateway, tongs slung over one shoulder. A young woman arranges flowers on an altar. A workman returns home along a winding footpath at the end of the day (see book jacket above).

   Fifty years later, Normark gathered together his pictures and began looking for the people who had once lived in Chávez Ravine. This book is an album of those pictures, with commentary by the people he found, in their own words. Normark writes simply and clearly about himself and his experiences. Like his photographs, his writing style is sharply focused. In the opening pages of the book, he describes the forced relocation of the people of Chávez Ravine during the Fifties, and the various public and private interests contending for control of its development. Normark's book is both handsome and beautifully written, a fine example of text and image illuminating each other.




5. This book is full of classic, socially-conscious photography that bears a spiritual kinship with Dorothea Lange's Depression Era photos of Dustbowl Families. The images are doubly rich: as Old School black and white images shot on a reasonable speed film, with a broad and caress-ably subtle range of grays, and also as a record of a time and place that was stolen, and will simply never be again.

   For those who don't know the story, in a nutshell: The residents of Chavez Ravine, who were almost entirely Latino, were offered the promise that their community would be replaced by public housing as part of a renewal project of sorts. (Some had called their neighborhood blighted.) But as the land acquisition proceeded, and as various official pledges were reneged and political cards played (including exploitation of the then current fear of creeping Socialism/Communism-- after all, I ask you, what could be more unAmerican than affordable replacement housing?), the project proved to be a lie. The final hold-outs at Chavez Ravine were bodily removed by deputies as the last remnants of the neighborhood were cleared to make way for a sports field and parking lot. (!)

   This volume is great because these photos, which speak so eloquently of one specific place and time, also speak clearly of universal things. Children play; young couples tie the knot as family celebrates; honest and good people work to protect what is theirs, to better their lot, and just to get by. -- It is about nothing less than the struggle and joy of life itself.

   If there is any uplift to the wistful story this book tells in beautiful images and words, it is in that the displaced people survived, persevered, and that their old home, and what happened there, is remembered today.

   Sometimes, you have to search for the bright spot. A thought-provoking read. Recommended.

5 comments about Miracle: A Celebration of New Life.

1. This book is ok, but what it REALLY needs is some more pictures of babies.



2. Usually Geddes impressed me - but too much repetition- plus the CD included -ehhh it was included- baby didn't like it nor did I



3. most incredible....Wonderful photography....I gave this as a gift to my expecting daughter...WE have loved wandering thru the book and enjoying the memories a mother and daughter make along life's path, some day her daughter will have the same experience..... WE LOVE IT !!



4. Some old fart blows his beans up her muff and the end result is a 'miracle'? Give me a break. If that's a miracle, so is taking a dump...which is pretty much equivalent to the entire recorded output of this overmarketed, overrated, so-full-of-herself commercial twit.



5. This book and CD are so soothing. I LOVE to look at this book cover to cover. I think it's the most beautiful thing ever. I pop in the CD and look at this book and I'm so filled with awe on the miracle of life. These babies touch your heart, and are captured so beautifully in this book.
   Anne and Celine have given me such a gift!!!

5 comments about How to Photograph Children: Secrets for Capturing Childhood's Magic Moments.

1. Very ilustrative book. Fun to read. Excellent Photographers. But I would like to see more Digital Camera chapters and more studio pictures.



2. Parents love to take photos of kids, but too often the results are blurry and amateur. HOW TO PHOTOGRAPH CHILDREN: SECRETS FOR CAPTURING CHILDHOOD'S MAGIC MOMENTS is newly revised and updated and includes a new chapter on the latest digital photography trends, providing parents with clear advice on how to shoot indoors and out, and how to work with children at different age levels. Especially invaluable are series shots that explain the pros and cons of different techniques. Parents will find these examples lead to a better understanding of not just how to shoot better pictures, but the elements that make for a superior composition. Any general-interest collection catering to parents or amateur photographers will find this a popular choice.
   
   Diane C. Donovan
   California Bookwatch



3. This is a nicely done book by Lisa Jane and Rick Staudt. If you have children to photograph and already understand the basics of photography, this is the book you should have. The photography is outstanding from both a technical and artistic standpoint. And, the ideas for making memorable photos are excellent.
   
   An especially nice feature of this book is that it does not contain an excessive amount of technical information. It's more about impact and emotion (some call it vision) of the photos. This is a nice change from the typical book on photography which usually places the emphasis on the technical side of photography.
   
   The only aspect about of the book of which the reader should be aware is the inclusion of several very high quality images that apparently were taken with a medium format camera and high-quality studio lighting. Because of this, an amateur photographer using a 35mm SLR camera (the typical situation for which this book apparently was written) might be given some false expectations about what is possible with their own equipment.
   
   The above situation brings up an issue that I have with many photography books (most of which, incidentally, are not worth the paper upon which they're printed). This is the use of mostly medium- or large-format images in a book written for the 35mm SLR crowd. Apparently, the authors and publishers like to direct their books towards these people because this is the audience that can provide the largest volume in book sales. At the same time, however, their books incorporate mostly images taken with, for example, a 4x5 view camera, color transparancy film and a $2000+ lens. After all, great-looking images also helps to sell books! Flipping through the pages, the unfortunate reader is given the false impression that he'll be able to learn how to make the same type of wonderful, high-quality images after buying and reading the book. Unbeknownst to the reader, however, is the fact that those photos where not made with a 35mm SLR camera! And, no matter what brand of 35mm camera the reader uses (especially if equipped with a zoom telephoto lens and loaded with 400 speed color negative film) the image quality they can obtain will never begin to approach the clarity, sharpness and impact of those presented in the book they just bought!



4. This book was more than I had hoped. I bought it from another Amazon member and was pleasantly pleased at the response and customer service (having never bought from an individual online before).
   
   When the book arrived I could not put it down. It was filled with great information and tips on photographing children as well as BEAUTIFUL photos. The photos were not only great shots of children, but also provided some posing samples to use as well.
   
   I love this book and wish I could find more like it on adult posing.



5. This is an easy to read and useful book if you're either a parent trying to get good pictures of your children, or an aspiring photographer. It covers a wide range of topics such as lighting, props, location, equipment, etc. After reading this I find myself much more able to critique other's work because I feel I have a better idea of what goes into taking a good portrait. The tips in the book, as the authors even state, are applicable to adult subjects as well. I will say though, that the information is probably a little too low level for anyone who is already doing professional photography.

3 comments about The Idea of Cuba.

1. Having been away from Cuba for more than 40 years, this book bring a lot of memories of my life there



2. The pictures of the old cars were beautifully depicted against the crumbling facade of buildings. However, all the cleavage shots negated that. This made me realize how sad and truly desperate the Cuban people, especially the women must be. I could find art in the picture as long as people weren't in the frame.



3. For anyone interested in the politics, economics and aesthetics... This book is a thoughtful look at the contemporary landscape of Cuba. The photographs are stunning.

5 comments about Diana Ross: Going Back.

1. Ultimate Diana. Her die-hard fans and anyone appreciative of style, fashion and beauty will love this book.



2. I was very dissapointed with this book, because I thought it was going to be a "picture book" of her life and 40plus year career. NOT! Just pictures of HERSELF in the 70's, 80's and 90's. WHERE ARE HER CHILDHOOD PICTURES? FAMILY PHOTOS? THE SUPREMES? Noooothing! I am interested in her incredible life, her sibblings, the early years of the Primettes before they became the incomparable Supremes. Nooooothing! NEVER BEFORE SEEN PICTURES. Again....Nooooothing! Thank God I didn't pay for this book. I got it for Christmas years ago, and it's somewhere in my house collecting dust.



3. Just because it is not a holiday,
   
   doesn't mean that we can't send a special friend a copy of:
   
   Going Back by Diana Ross.
   
   Friends that are "artsy", "shutter-bugs", or simply
   
   into
   
   beautiful images...will love getting >>> SURPRISED !!!
   
   "reach out and touch"
   
   with a beautiful book...i wonder if Oprah has a copy?



4. How befitting that a music and fashion icon such as the Supreme One have her own coffee table book. That is exactly what it is.
   
   This photo journal though somewhat limited in its scope of her career is interesting to view and lucious in its photography. If you are a fan then its a must have. If you like fine quality coffee table books you should consider it. If you are looking for a photo journal of La Ross' career then you will be disappointed.
   
   I made a very grateful and ardent fan of Diana Ross very pleased with a gift of my copy. It was worth the money. I replaced it soon after. It is worth the investment to see the Lady in so many poses and genres that differ from the typical way in which we often see her.
   
   Worth the money (If your'e a fan).



5. Diana Ross is such a visual performer that a book of photographs spanning her career is a very natural collection for her to put together. With the exception of Cher, I've never seen a performer who can look so beautiful and so different seemingly at will. Each photo gives the photographer credit and it reads like a who's who with most of the great photo journalist's taking their turn at capturing a unique quality of Diana's timeless beauty. I never get tired of looking through this beautifully done coffee table pictorical memoir. As the title suggests, this book is all about Diana Ross and is scattered with antidote's and notes from Diana herself. If you're not a Diana Ross devotee then this book probably isn't going to do a thing for you and in that case you'd be better off sticking with her music.

2 comments about California Wild.

1. California Wild can be summed up with two words - incredibly beautiful. Tim Palmer takes the reader on a trip through the wide variety of geology, botany, and animal life of California in this absolutely gorgeous book. The writing is excellent and makes the reader feel they are a part of the wonderful wilds of California. These are some of the most awe-inspiring works of photography to grace the pages of any nature book. California Wild is highly recommended both for the writing style that invites the reader to be a part of a guided tour of the wilds and for the incredible photography.



2. A portion of the proceeds from purchasing this book is being donated to help preserve California's wilderness areas.
   
   If you ask people who don't know California well about the state, they usually describe beautiful beaches, surfing, sailing, tourist attractions like Disneyland and Universal Studios, gorgeous bridges around San Francisco, and famous resorts. What those places all have in common is that there are lots of people to be found there.
   
   Since Ansel Adams began his photography in California, there's been another California that people cherish and want to protect -- the places where there are no people and the wild beauty provides a respite from "civilization." California Wild is an update of that vision, provided in a series of helpful essays about why and where wilderness areas are important in California and many stunning color photographs to help you appreciate what you probably haven't seen before.
   
   Unfortunately, wilderness is constantly in retreat in California and elsewhere. For some areas, these photographs will be the only way to experience wilderness as that recession continues. For those who love the wilderness but don't know where to find it, this book will also be a helpful guide for future trips to and within California. For those who cherish the wilderness, it's also a good idea to share the book with others to increase the legion of those who are defending wilderness areas.
   
   To me, the photographs are the best part of the book. Here are some of my favorites:
   
   Sand verbena against a background of the Santa Rosa Mountains (page 3)
   
   Shifting sands in the Mojave Desert (page 7)
   
   Klamath River (page 9)
   
   Hitchcock Lakes (page 10)
   
   Hat Creek (page 16)
   
   McClure's Beach on Point Reyes (page 18)
   
   Mount Shasta (page 23 and 26)
   
   Smith stream (page 36)
   
   Yosemite Falls (page 59)
   
   El Capitan, Cloud's Rest and Half Dome (pages 60-61)
   
   Mono Lake (page 65)
   
   Oregon Tree (page 75)
   
   Valley oaks (page 96)
   
   Poppies and lupine in Antelope Valley (page 103)
   
   Yucca and Mendanhall Ridge (pages 106-107)
   
   Sycamores (page 110)
   
   Death Valley (pages 112, 115, and 119)
   
   White Mountains (pages 120-121)
   
   Desert blooms (pages 126-127)
   
   Aspens in Lundy Canyon (page 130)
   
   Stanislaus River (page 138)
   
   Desert sunset (page 140).
   
   I hope this book will give the peace and tranquility you desire.

No comments about In Denali: A Photographic Essay of Denali National Park & Preserve, Alaska.