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.

4 comments about Journal of Light: The Visual Diary of a Florida Nature Photographer.

1. This is the most beautiful visual book regarding Florida I've seen on the
   market. The photography, by Jon Moran, is world class. Florida is my home
   and when I want to send information and want to give a glimpse of this
   lovely state that I live in, to friends around the world, this is the book
   that I send to them. Everyone has appreciated the historical notes, the
   factual information about the places where the pictures were taken, and
   the visual memories of the authentic natural Florida, unfortunately
   now not always seen by visitors.



2. I, too, am a Florida nature photographer: but my case is far different, as I'm a student with a limited budget and have only been shooting for two years. This book is especially close to my heart and experience, because, like Mr. Moran, I delight in travelling North and Central Florida in search of that perfect shot--it was great to turn the pages of a beautiful, glossy *professional* book and see all my old haunts, compare my experiences with Mr. Moran's (his passion for the state and the art is so evident), and, when I go back home to Colorado in a month, have someone else's take on Florida's beauty with me. I'll never tire of looking at this book.



3. "For 20 years Moran has traveled the Sunshine State with his cameras, capturing natural Florida as it must have appeared to Ponce de Leon and other early strangers in paradise. Narrating a slide show of his remarkable collection of landscape photography, Moran reflects on his quest to capture the soul of one of the most photographed states in the country." (review from the Florida Humanities Council)
   Before moving to Florida, I only had a vague idea of its natural landscape gleaned from television documentaries on the Everglades. This book brings the wide range of Florida natural beauty into our living room. Enjoy!



4. The author shares with us not only his pictures, but how the capture was accomplished. Well done.

No comments about William Wegman: Dogs on Rocks.

No comments about Boston, A Year in the Life.

5 comments about Driving and Discovering Oahu (Driving and Discovering Books).

1. Whether you're a visitor or a resident of Oahu, you absolutely must have this guide. All you need to know is at your fingertips if you want to really see the island beyond Waikiki. I cannot say enough about this book, it is truly the most informative and organized, easy to use.



2. Great book. Preparing ahead of time for our trip at end of month and this book has come in handy prior to going.



3. If you want to see Oahu, don't go without this book! It's amazingly innovative, informative and useful!! It's the best guide book I've ever experienced! We paid $18.95 for it in January 2008 near Waikiki. It was worth way more than that to us.



4. We live in Hawaii and love Driving & Discovering Oahu by
   Richard Sullivan, and his Maui-Molokai book as well. We have bought a number of copies for our visiting friends since 1993, and these books keep getting better with every new edition. We own an oceanfront vacation rental and in our literature to guests visiting Oahu and/or Maui, we highly recommend Mr. Sullivan's books not only for content but because they make excellent gifts even for people who are fascinated by but may never be able to travel to Hawaii. The pictures are incredible and give the reader a very realistic feel for these beautiful islands.
   
   The only thing worse than misinformation in a guidebook is
   misinformation in a customer review of a guidebook, as in the case of
   TDPM. My husband and I love Amazon's review pages, but sometimes feel people are unfairly venting or have ulterior motives for their reviews.
   
   TDPM, whose review was dated May 29, 2007, must have been using an old
   edition. Our book, copyrighted and purchased in early 2006, states
   that Sacred Falls Park is closed.
   
   Mr. Sullivan also urges readers at least a dozen times throughout the book to consult hiking guides, obtain free hiking maps from the State
   Division of Forestry or other listed agencies, or to join an organized
   hike. For TDPM to take her aged parents on any hike though terrain
   completely unknown to her, without any research or hiking map, is
   unconscionable and inexplicable.
   
   Every guidebook is outdated the moment it rolls off the presses, if not before. Phone numbers change, restaurants move, businesses close. However, we have found that 99.9% of Mr. Sullivan's information is absolutely right on and has been very useful and informative, as well as having kept us out of trouble a few times. And unlike any other guidebook we've ever bought for our travels, this one has earned a place on our coffee table.



5. This book seemed like a really good guide at the book store. It has lots of pictures to accompany travel recommendations. It also lists the best beaches, waterfalls, islands, and hikes on Oahu which I thought was a nice touch. However, trying to use the guidebook to visit these places left my husband and I confused and frustrated. The information is not organized well... important data that you'd like placed within one paragraph - for example about a particular hike - is strewed throughout a chapter. Information about length of trails is inconsistent and sometimes wrong! (Ended up taking my old parents on a six mile hike that was listed as 2.5 mi.) The names of places on maps do not match the way they are listed in their respective chapters. Parks that have been long closed (Sacred Falls) are listed as recommended places to go.
   
   This book is a good concept and has the potential to be a superb guide book if the information was reorganized AND updated. My husband and I use it to get suggestions on places to go, and then use the Internet to back up our facts about directions, distances, and general information. Don't use this book alone!
   
   Aloha!

2 comments about Garry Winogrand: Public Relations.

1. Perhaps I am biased, being a hard core Winogrand fan, but I wish to respectfully disagree with the prior reviewer. True, there are better Winogrand books out there (though some are out of print), but even GW's least effort is better than most others' best. These photos aptly capture moments in political campaigns, art museum fundraisers, protest demonstrations, black tie award dinners, etc. Some are made poignant by subsequent events. Perhaps the stories are best appreciated by baby boomers, NYC glitterati & art scene cognoscenti - it is fun to spot the celebs with enduring reputations, and those who had just their 15 minutes of fame. Winogrand's insider/outsider perspective, however, can be appreciated by anyone with a lively interest in how the star making machinery works.



2. I love "Man in the Crowd", "1964", and "The Animals'", and have yet to see some of his other work, but this one (mostly) leaves me cold. There just aren't the stories going on in the pictures like in his other work, and there isn't the same haphazard grace of composition either. Get ANYTHING else of his first.

1 comments about Seeing Red: The Rapture of Redheads : Photography.

1. This is an excellent book of photography. As a converted redhead, I fully appreciate Schatz's subject matter. Anyone with auburn, strawberry-blond, carrot, copper, or even ronald mcdonald-colored hair should own a copy of this book. I supposed the blondes and brunettes can have one too, but only after the redheads are covered.

1 comments about Bert Stern Fotografie (Fotografie Portfolio).

1. good but not excellent. Too much and unnecessary coverage on Marilyn and the last session, which already has his book with the entire session of hundreds of photos. I miss new, rare, never published before photos or more iconic of the incredible Elizabeth Taylor as Cleopatra session and the Taylor-Burton portraits

5 comments about Still Time.

1. In my view, three works by this gifted photographic artist should be treated as a triptych: this volume, At Twelve, and Immediate Family. Taken as an ensemble, they mutually inform each other both for the range of stylistic and technical mastery exhibited by Ms. Mann, as well as demonstrating the breadth of her photographic vision.
   
   The most recently published of the three works, Still Time is also the only one that displays both black/white and color photos. The subject matter includes portrayals unique to this book and also a brief selection from the two volumes mentioned above. Her cibachrome and polaroid color pictures demonstrate her eye for pure design. Several platinum prints display her awareness of texture and contrast; one of them--a photograph of an arm draped in a flowing sleeve against a multiply flecked, aged wall--is exquisite.
   
   As is all of her work, taken as a whole. Less appealing to me were the impressionistic black-and-white photos presented in a circle as if peering directly through the camera. However, this is part of her creative experiment and it is to be expected that not every subject or mode of presentation will appeal to all.
   
   Were you to buy only one volume of Ms. Mann's work, or as an introduction to it, this book would be a good choice.



2. a rehash of photos from other sources. interesting, but the buyer should have been made aware so as not to duplicate previous orders.



3. Sally Mann was so shockingly good in her book of photographys of her children called "Immediate Family" that I was sure none could be as good. And this book is not as good but it's still five stars.Just the cover of a night blooming cirus draped across her daughter is enough.........like the flower yet to be and the book is fully of much more. In her first books prologue there is the story of the very unconventional growing up that Sally Mann had......her father was a wildly creative man who had his children experience the unusal to say the least........but the most unusal is they apparently experienced the beauty of youth and family and life. Today some would stone her.....we know who they are ......so sad for them.



4. I bought both "Still Time" and "Immediate Family" sight unseen after seeing her new book "What Remains". "Still Time" is a compilation of works from various periods. It is easy to see her promise, and there are some nice photographs. Her progress is interesting. But she really hits her stride when she photographs her children in "Immediate Family". Some of the early shots in "Still Time" seem sort of concocted and overdone-until the photos from "Immediate Family" which are breathtaking. Save your money and buy "Immediate Family".



5. I am an English/photography teacher at a high school in southside Virginia. I had always been a fan of Sally's work and used this book as a teaching tool in my classroom. The way Mann has captured the human form and the "inner workings" of something as private as her family is breath taking in the flawless medium of black and white photography. I had an opportunity to meet her and after explaining to her how her book was used to inspire my students, she happily signed my copy of the book (my students went wild when when they saw her signature)!

No comments about Ed van der Elsken: Jazz.