5 comments about The Human Figure: A Photographic Reference for Artists.

1. This black and white artists' anatomy has its share of
   shortcomings: the single male and female models that comprise
   most of the illustrations, the ridiculous jock strap, the distractingly
   stunned expressions on the models' faces.The reproductions themselves
   are mediocre and the book is not terribly attractive.
   Why four stars then? Because for graphic artists, where the need
   is often for a symbol of a person rather than the depiction
   of an individual, these photos are more than adequate. Coupled with
   the very low price and the convenient format, this is a good
   studio investment.
   
   Lynn Hoffman, author of New Short Course in Wine,The



2. From the back cover: "Subjects included are male and female, and the models range in age from two years old to ninety years old. All together seventeen different models were photographed, in the most useful and instructive poses for the artist." This is a grossly misleading statement! What it should have said is: "We photographed one young male and one young female in some very uninspired, amateurish, and rather stiff poses. Because we have a ridiculous, prudish, and skewed Victorian attitude, we clothed the male in a distracting jock strap, making all of his photos somewhat useless as an honest reference for drawing and painting complete figures. We then filled up the rest of the book with a handful of equally uninspired shots of children, and a bunch of closeup photos of things like ears, but we made them such extreme closeups they contain no proportional reference and so are rather out of context with the rest of the figure. It did however, allow us to state, categorically, that we portray 17 different models!" I'm not sure who this book was meant for; prudish, Victorian, amateurs and shy, easily offended, weekend sketchers maybe? For a serious artist involved in the serious study of the human figure this book has nothing to offer. Don't waste your time or money. The only reason I gave this book one star is because I couldn't give it 0 stars... I sent it back the very next day after recieving it.



3. This book is a rare find for easy reference for an artist. Has a great collection of various poses for both male and female models, including holding objects. The only problem I found with the book is the layout...every page has you turning around the book.



4. Because of comments like the reviewer who assumes that because it includes a few shots of a nude child it must be harmful trash and banned. This book was on the library shelf at my community college, and I never expected to find it still in print now because of its age.
   
   I would not be interested in owning this book if it weren't for the various shots of different faces at different angles, hands, older and younger models, etc. Drawing children is incredibly difficult, the proportions of their bodies and faces are different from adults. It's very frustrating if you are working on a piece that requires children, especially if you have no children of your own to model for you, and going to public places to sketch or take reference photos of children will get you suspicious looks from parents. A nude child is NOT sexually provocative, and none of the other poses by the adults in this book are provocative either. I do wish there were more full-body poses of models besides the young adult male and female model, but you can't have everything in a single volume. The male model's jock strap is silly, especially considering there is no such censoring garment for the female model - underlining the silly belief in western society that female nudity is acceptable, but male nudity is taboo. It doesn't get too much in the way if you just need a generic pose reference. There are also some shots of the male posed with a stick, holding it similar to a shovel or other such prop (Can't recall if there are similar poses with the female), which is also helpful if you need to draw a character in action. Certainly no equal to having a real live model, but a good alternative in a pinch.



5. For anyone that appreciates the beauty of the human form, and enjoys drawing it...this is the best pose book on the market. This is not saying a lot, since there are not that many pose books out there. At least not many with lots of pictures, and at a size that is usable. This should be in any serious artist library for reference. The head shots and hand shots alone are worth the price. I agree with one reviewer that the jock strap is unnecessary and only distracts from the male form. Fortunately they did not do this with the woman. Considering how high modeling fees are, this book is a bargain.

3 comments about Sparkman & Stephens: Classic Modern Yachts.

1. A wonderful book with beautiful pictures. S&S at his best. A chapter is dedicated to the S&S Swans, as an owner of a S&S Swan, it's a "must have"!



2. illustrious book with high-quality binding, interesting feature on restoring Stormy Weather, and chapters on Kialoa II, and my favorite,
   Bolero, plus fast delivery 1 week to Canada, right to my door!



3. Sparkman & Stephens: Classic Modern Yachts, glories in the beauty of their classic boats and their racing successes. Some of Sparkman & Stephens best and most successful designs are presented in superb color photographs. The book has enough gorgeous interior shots and sparkling action pictures under sail to satisfy any sailor or photographer.

1 comments about Dolce Italia: The Beautiful Life of Italy in the Fifties and Sixties.

1. I was expecting a collection of beautiful Italian women in haute couture, instead I got what appears to be one photographers work. It was interesting in that it introduces many influential Italians and makes a good one-sided sampling of cultural history of that period. As a photographer I was looking for a "keeper" that would inspire me with the work of others, this book doesn't fulfill my expectations.

2 comments about At the Water's Edge: Muskoka's Boathouses (Art & Architecture) (Art & Architecture).

1. You can not longer build and live so close to the water's edge but these beauties are grandfathered in on beautiful Muskoka and Rousseau, et. al. I thought of my boyhood days on a lake in Northern Minnesota. I remember smaller and less grand boathouses where the sundappled water reflected off the rafters inside. You were really one with the water. This book captures the essence of it all--I could almost smell the water, wood, paint, varnish, canvas, wet rattan and wicker--



2. At the water's edge

   Muskokaá Boathouses.

   This book gives the reeder a chance of dreaming back to the early yaers of the 20th century and experiance how the riche and famuose people spent there weekends and holidays. If you are intrested in old houses, especially bothouses, and architect designs this book is a must.

   This book is my best inspiration ever.

   Peter Östlund Stockholm Sweden

5 comments about Huntington Beach, California (Images of America).

1. I had contacted the author prior to buying the book - to use any pictures needed for my archaeology report on a site I was working. I couldn't believe the treasure I found inside. Those pictures allowed me to continue my research direction & I was able to reduce the age of my site from c.1900-1940 to c.1900-1927 & have the proof to back those dates up. I applaud Chris for this book & hope to obtain other copies for friends & associates, in the future.



2. I grew up near Huntiington Beach and remember the times of oil wells and derricks up and down the now-famous beach. If you drive around the town and look closely, you can still see a few derricks pumping away. What is most interesting to the reader, and should be most instructive to younger people, is the fact that Huntington Beach was part of the oil boom that attracted many, including J. Paul Getty, to southern California in the early years of the last century. Also, compared to other books in the same series, this volume has more "people shots." It's interesting especially to note what people wore in earlier times, even to the beach!



3. Huntington beach has changed and former residents and visitors can easly miss once popular landmarks. This book combines a pictorial history along with a collection of then and now photos. A nice book to have.



4. Having lived in and near Huntington Beach for the last 5 years, I found this book fascinating. Historically, you get a great perspective of what the city once was...and how it developed throughout the late 1900's. But what I found MOST interesting...was the before and after transformation. Walking the same streets the author had. Lining up the same shots at the same historical locations. Standing in the exact same spot that the pictures had been taken almost a century before. And seeing how this sleepy surfside town blossomed into the famous city we now know. I definitely recommend this book for anyone that lives in Huntington Beach. It's great reading...and great for exploring the sidewalks of HB.



5. Excellent pictorial history of "Surf City." We've lived here for years and never knew all that had gone on here. Incredible selection of rare historic photos, which we've always been on the lookout for. Well worth the price of admission.

5 comments about Body & Soul: The Black Male Book.

1. D'Angelo, the cover man, is not to be found inside. The title is much too broad; a more accurate title would be, "Fashion Styles of Some Rich & Famous Black Males." As for bodies, they are mostly clothes hangers here; the amount of skin on the cover is misleading. The contents rate as PG because of a couple behinds and a few covered crotches; there is no full, frontal nudity whatsoever. I don't know how anybody gets any soul out of this book, unless they see it in the eyes of some portraits or glean it from scattered quotes of fashion magazine staffers, usually a phrase or single sentence each, as the quotes, along with some other one-sentence observations by the author, are the only text. Therefore, the cover and title are cheap, bookselling tricks, but the book price is not cheap. A used copy, however, IS cheap, as buyers turn into sellers. Although a book about men of color, I am surprised that black & white plates out-number color 3:1, as I count about 90 b&w and 31 color photo's. I am a fan, too, of some of the people featured, but, to me, this is no reason to gush about the book as a whole. Although I could ooh and ah about some of the photo's, there are a like number of dogs and mediocre shots. What could form a pop-culture chapter itself is the number of celebrities who must have paid a lot for elaborate fantasy scenes shot by highly-paid photographers. I would not feel good about seeing this sort of arrogance if I shelled out a lot for their books, CD's, magazines, ticket prices, etc., the profits of which finance such folly. The author sees Black male fashion from a mainly GQ-type perspective, which may be right in-step in certain parts of Manhattan, but, from here in 'da hood, its seems like he's in an ivory tower. He has a new book coming out, with a similar cover and title, of which I will be suspicious. Except for a few unkwnowns, I expect that everyone involved is highly paid--subjects, photographers, fashion industry, etc.--and I wonder if people paid to be in this book, either in the form of their likeness(es) or their work; it would explain a lot.



2. Have owned this book over six months but just had to get my twocents in on a review. My purchase was based solely on the frontcover showing the gorgeous black rapper- D'Angelo. Since his MTVvideo titled "Untitled" was one of the hottest & sensual videosever to hit the TV screen, I naturally assumed Mr. Thomas wouldtreat all his purchasers to a D'Angelo collection highlightinghis extremely buffed 'bod. Or maybe he could have given us JamieFoxx instead spoofing D'Angelo on his syndicated weekly program.I salivated alot at the other photos- many too small but in the end it galled me that MY MAIN MAN was really a "no show!"



3. Unlike most of the reviewers here, I got to meet some of the guys here either in concert, from the 'hood etc. All left a bad impression on me, so to see them so marvelously pictured here is confusing.



4. I agree Shannon. Gary Dourdan is SWEET! Someone should do an entire book on him!



5. Ladies, get your credit cards out (or borrow a friend's), get your car to the mall (or catch the bus), buy this book now (do what you must)! I am not even kidding you for one second. This is a beautiful book. This book will make you proud to be (check one): 1. Black 2. An admirer of black beauty 3. Female 4. Male 5. Visually adept. All I got to say is Gary Dourdan, my dear, God Blessed You. God Bless You. All the other fine young specimens and the infinitely talented stylists, editors and photographers, "y'all GO"! (Specifically, GO directly back to the drawing board and do this again...serially,pleeeeeease!) Love... me.

4 comments about The Legendary California Hackamore & Stock Horse.

1. This book is excellent for both the novice and veteran horseperson. There are a few mistakes that the editor didn't catch (some spelling errors of people mentioned in the text), but overall a very attractive and informative book. This book has a deep personal meaning for me because in the late 1970's I was fortunate to have been a "student" of Bobby's at his ranch in Pleasant Grove, CA. Even as a young girl I admired Bobby's talent with horses and one should especially take note of how he uses his hands when he rides. As a horseperson I also tried to immitate his light touch on a horses' mouth. It's very fitting that the cover photograph is a picture of Bobby's hands!



2. This is the finest book I have seen produced that catalogs the greats of the Hackamore and Stock horse industry. Its got them all. The photos are stunning and the description of this kind of training is first class. Great book!



3. Bobby Ingersoll has written not only the perfect training manual for starting young horses, but a beautifully illustrated and informative coffee table book as well. He has given credit to the talented artists who braid these hackamores and what is unfortunately becoming a lost art. His soft and gentle style of starting the young colt through feel rather than demanding submission through force will benefit everyone who truly loves horses and strives to be a real horseman. His tribute to the true horsemen and horsewomen of past and present makes you want to just stand up and cheer. Bravo, Bobby Ingersoll!



4. Beautiful!! Beautiful!!
   
   
   The Mexican Traditions on starting green horses has been handed down from generation to generation. The Jaquima came first, with it the colt was taught to handle himself to perfection and bridling is the last step.
   
   Training horses is a serious business..., the Bible of training colt with Hackamore is Ed Connell book, but if you want to tune some details of your training with the hackamore, this it is the book that you need.
   
   The legendary California Hackamore and the stocke Horse is another great book with enormous tips and knowledge, beautiful pictures!!.
   
   Right Now I'm looking for the Benny Guitron DVD, the Master on training horses with Jaquima.
   
   El Vaquero Mexicano "El Charro" ---- The American Cowboy "The Gentleman".
   
   ¡Hermoso! ¡Hermoso!
   
   Al Hakma --- Jaquima --- Hackamore
   
   Las tradiciones mexicanas en iniciar caballos verdes son de generación en generación dentro de la tradicion oral. El Jaquima vino primero, el potro educado para llegar a la perfección por ultimo se embridaba.
   
   El entrenamiento de caballos es un negocio serio..., la biblia del entrenamiento de potros con Jaquima, es libro del Ed Connell, pero si usted desea afinar algunos detalles de su entrenamiento con la Jaquima, esto es el libro que usted necesita.
   
   Ahora estoy buscando el benny Guitron DVD, el amo en caballos del entrenamiento con Jaquima.
   
   "The Legendary California Hackamore and the stock horse", es otro gran libro con enormes consejos y conocimientos asi como hermosas fotografias!!.
   
   EL Vaquero Mexicano es "EL Charro" --- El vaquero Americano es "El Caballero".

No comments about Raging Stallion Studios: Stallions 2009 Calendar.

1 comments about Professional Filter Techniques for Digital Photographers.

1. If you want to: 1) understand how traditional filters work with digital sensors, 2) what creative effects you can achieve with filters, 3) want to know how to use filters to cut down on computer file processing time or 4) get suggestions for filters you should have before you go on a trip this book will answer your questions. If you normally leave home with UV and polarizer filters and do post processing of your files with software filters you could do without this book. That said, I recommend the book as a reference even for the latter category of shooters since it summarizes traditional filters and their applications so well.

2 comments about Key West Houses.

1. Not only does this book capture the beauty of Key West architecture, it is very informative of the styles as well.



2. This book is full of wonderful photographs of Key West homes. I have not been yet, but would love to go and this book really inspires me.