5 comments about Rackham's Color Illustrations for Wagner's "Ring".

1. I just started collecting fairy tale art like Dulac and Rackham. This book is a magnificent addition to my collection. The illustrations jump right out of the pages to tell the story. Both beauty and darkness are exquisite in this assembly of work. I now want to read the book. I also love lighter fairy tale art such as that of Nielson, but this darker approach to visually telling the tale is effective and wonderful.



2. Arthur Rackham is among the greatest illustrators of what has come to be called 'fantasy' literature. His renderings of scenes from Dickens, Barrie, Grahame, and even Shakespeare are often flawless and many have ultimately proved definitive.
   
   Here he tackles the daunting scope of Richard Wagner's vast operatic cycle DER RING DES NIBELUNGEN, and he is so successful that his images have become the model for most of its traditional stage design ever since they were exhibited in 1912 at the Societe Nationale des Beaux Arts in Paris. Yet Rackham achieves more than merely the giving of face and form to Wagner's characters and scenes. These illustrations capture a sense of space and height, light and darkness, beauty and tragedy, promise and doom which may be described as music to the eyes. C.S. Lewis first beheld them as a boy and later wrote, 'Pure "Northerness" engulfed me: a vision of huge, clear spaces hanging above the Atlantic in the endless twilight of Northern summer, remoteness, severity ...'
   
   For me, the most evocative image in this collection is from DIE WALKURE, Act II. In the foreground we see Brunnhilde anguishing over her orders from the just-departed Wotan. Helmet cast upon the ground, her face and posture effectively communicate distress and isolation; yet most remarkable is how Rackham echoes the Valkyrie's state of mind in the landscape beyond her. The falling hillside; the stark, scraggly saplings scattered into the distance; the shadowy silhouette of other mountains marking the far horizon; the low-hanging clouds; and the muted shades of grey, gold, and brown all convey an overwhelming sense of loneliness as cold and haunted as it is beautiful.



3. I'm swiftly becoming enamored of the old-time illustrators - Joseph Clement Coll, Charles Dana Gibson, N.C. Wyeth, Howard Pyle, and Alphonse Mucha to name but a few. I'm now happy to add Arthur Rackham to that list. As both a fan of illustration (fantasy, comic book, and otherwise), as well as a bit of a mythology buff, I was thrilled to see that Dover (whose name, in my opinion, always spells quality) had produced a volume of Rackham's illustrations of Wagner's Ring Cycle, which is itself based on a famed tale of Norse mythology. The illustrations, as the book notes, were first published in 1910 and 1911, respectively. They are uniformly beautiful, bringing the story to vibrant life. Rackham was clearly a skilled draftsman, and his work has that turn-of-the-century look that is very compelling (Gibson and Wyeth had a similar style).
   
   This book is printed on high-quality glossy paper and features wonderful illustrations of dwarves, heroes, valkyrie, gods, and others that Rackham captures with skill and aplomb. Each drawing is accompanied by a discription, helping to tie the illustrations together and explain the plot to those who might not be familiar with it.While the volume is quite slim (only 64 pages, plus 4 of introductor/background material) it is very much worthwhile. I hope you will pick it up and enjoy it.



4. This book is a delight for anybody who loves Richard Wagner's "Der Ring des Nibelungen" ("The Nibelung's Ring") operatic tetralogy. While I could have wished for just a little more detail in the captions - which could therefore have allowed the entire story of this cycle to be told (a few things consequently get missed - not really major, but wouldn't have hurt nevertheless!) - they are otherwise excellent; and the paintings themselves are not only outstanding art-pieces in themselves - they also are excellent visualisations of what Wagner was trying to do! They're also a wonderful corrective to the all-too-many "modernisations" that for some people like myself are hurting the visual aspect of a given opera's appreciation. [Often those "modernisations" are in bad taste, travesties of the composers' and librettists' intentions, and are either boring, shocking for mere shock value, or just plain BAD!!!!!]
   
   Most warmly recommended for both confirmed Rackham lovers as well as Wagner lovers AND for those who're just getting started with the process of getting to know Wagner's stupendous cycle!!! GET IT!!!!



5. All 64 Rackham's images for Wagner's Ring collected in one book is a grate thing to have if a Rackham lover. Reproduction of the images is not the best possible though. All in all, it is still a good book to have. Rackham is magical.

5 comments about Jacques Cousteau: The Ocean World (Abradale).

1. When I first browsed this tome and saw a pair of yellowtail jacks misidentified as "yellowtail tuna" on page 57 I was put off. But further exploration proved that the mistake was rare if not singular. I would recommend this book to anyone who seeks a deeper understanding of the oceans and thereby, our planet. Gorgeous photography and sterling text make it a must have to your nature library. Four Stars indeed.



2. I highly recommend this set of DVD's not only for the people who are intersted u/w but also who like the nature that newly discovered!



3. This was one of the first books my parents ever bought me which I read all by myself. It is still one of my favorite books and one of the few from my childhood that I have not donated to the local library.
   
   This book was written by Jacques Cousteau, the famous French oceanographer, inventor of numerous diving devices and technologies and maybe one of the most famous scientists of the 20th century. This book is actually a condensation of a series of 20+ books, each of which are devoted to different aspects of the oceans. The original series of books were based on various documentary TV shows produced by, starred in, or otherwise assisted by the author. The original books were very popular in libraries around the world, so the author came out with a condensed version which I am now reviewing.
   
   This book is probably the best source to learn about the oceans, whether you are an adult or child. The text is simple enough for children to understand, but complete and mature in its style, and written like an introductory textbook. The figures and illustrations are gorgeous and in color, and still match those of more recent publications.
   
   Each chapter in this book is short enough to complete in one day, and they cover topics like coral reefs, the N and S Poles, ocean geography, marine mammals, history of life in the ocean, etc... Each chapter begins with a beautiful color illustration on a black page, and is labeled with beautiful names. For example, the chapter on coral reefs is labeled "Pharaohs of the Sea" in reference to their incredible age. My favorite chapter is "The Art of Motion" which begins with a figure of a dolphin jumping out of the water. This chapter's emphasis is on how different life forms in the ocean move about.
   
   Overall, this is one of my favorite books, and a must buy for any science collection.



4. Many years ago, Jacques Cousteau produced a series of 20 volume under the overall heading "The Ocean World of Jacques Cousteau." That series were so popular they were published and re-published in various editions by different publishers around the world. Whilst my own set may be complete, it is, nevertheless, made up from two separate editions published in Canada and the USA in 1975. That series of books is so important to me that I always carry a note in my wallet about which volumes I require to make up a complete set from either edition.
   
   This book, however, brings together all those 20 volumes into a single book with all the information and photographs completely updated. I well remember where I first saw the book and immediately snapped it up. It was in the airport concourse at Reykjavik when I was in between flights from London to Halifax, Nova Scotia. It was the last copy they had and, at the price I paid, I thought I was going to be arrested by the Icelandic Police for theft!
   
   Over a period of time - and in between other books, I have actually read this huge tome. And it is huge. Measuring 34 x 26cm (13¼ x 10 in), it contains 435 pages of information about every aspect of the Ocean World. If you want to know what made Jacques Cousteau an international name, if you want to know what it is your parents keep going on about whenever they say "I remember when Jacques Cousteau first came on the television and we saw.....", If you want to know what made the late, great Jacques Yves Cousteau Tick - then this is the only book you will even need to buy.
   
   Amazing photographs, incredible information and, as I say, 435 pages on just about every aspect of the Ocean World. For most people, a book of this calibre would be their life's work, but of course, Cousteau moved on to other projects.
   
   5 Stars are not enough for this outstanding work.
   
   NM



5. WHATEVER I SAY CAN IN NO WAY PREPARE YOU FOR THE WEALTH OF MAGNIFICENT, BEAUTIFUL,AND INFORMATIVE INFORMATION (TEXT, PHOTOGRAPHS, ILLUSTRATIONS) CONTAINED IN THIS INCREDIBLE SERIES OF BOOKS. GET THEM ALL. YOU WON'T BE SORRY. IT DOESN'T MATTER WHETHER YOU ARE NEW TO THE SUBJECT OR AN EXPERIENED PRO.

1 comments about The Wedding Photographer's Handbook: a guide to modern wedding photography.

1. I bought this book to do a friend's wedding. My specialty is close-up nature photography and doing a wedding needed research! I love this book and use it all the time! I'm doing another wedding this weekend and, of course, referred to the chapters, "The Count Down," "The Wedding Day," and "The Reception" to refresh my notes and memory. This book is very entertaining and Gene Ho apparently has logged a lot of "been there, done that" sort of experiences that really do come up. It's a quick read with very short paragraphs. I seriously love this book!

4 comments about Girls, Guns and Ropes.

1. I was a little disapointed, the quality of the photos are great, but small pages and a little hard to see detail.



2. The photographs in this book are very sexually-charged, yet still artistic and relatively classy. The subjects -- nude, young, attractive-looking women -- are presented with a slightly dangerous edge. Some are holding guns and other weapons while others are tied up in rope bondage. I would say that even if you're turned off by guns, there are still plenty of bondage photographs here that are worth checking out. I've had this book for a while and I still enjoy picking it up for a look.
   
   Very cool and original piece of work.



3. I was eagerly awaiting this arrival from the Super Shipping Saving ordeal (8 days), and the book did not disappoint! I like the sleaziness of the girls, and I believe art can also be designed to cause the onlooker to get aroused. I did go from 0-to-Hardwood in about 3 seconds, but as I leafed through, I realized the same guns were in rotation. I understand it was the author's collection and bound to be limited--but I expect if there is a sequel to up the notch this book has attained that the author will have more funds available to rent some firearms. Perfect-size for throwing in a backpack, and the pictures taken merit a third or fourth glance over. The mood set by the bondage totally augments the sex appeal idea being pitched to the readers/glancers. If there is a follow-up book, I'm definitely going through the Super Shipping Saver ordeal again!



4. I really didn't know what to expect when I picked up a copy of "Girls, Guns and Ropes". Would it actually be tasteful and erotic, or would it be mindless crotch shots like so many other "artists" work?
   
   I was pleasantly surprised to find that this book totally measures up to this girl's standards.
   
   Even though nakedness abounds, Botello keeps it classy with well placed weapons and intense shadows, while still highlighting his models' curves. His dramatic style of lighting adds an ominous yet provocative mood to these black and white pictures.
   
   As the title implies, this book is chock-full of intricate rope bondage; pistols and rifles as well as machetes and meat cleavers. The girls are attractive, with enough variety to please most people; however, brunettes clearly dominate this book.
   
   And the models actually have interesting expressions on their faces instead of the "I'm completely bored" looks that are in some of the other books out there.
   
   I thoroughly enjoyed this seductive book and highly recommend it.

5 comments about The Universe and Multiple Reality: A Physical Explanation for Manifesting, Magick and Miracles.

1. Short but well written. Difficult to know what's correct about the concept of multiple realities in real life. Maybe yes or maybe not. Maybe both.
   
   This could explain how affirmation/ law of attraction works. You flip to another reality when you affirm a new idea. It doesn't happen fast (at this time) like in Bewitched but a person "grows" into the new reality.



2. There seems to be a hidden agenda in this book. "God created the universe." And that is probably true, but I wish the author had been more up front about it. The information is ok. There are many assumptions and he doesn't back up his theories extremely well. Basically, if you can agree that "you" move constantly through static universes you get the whole book. Now pick your destiny!



3. If you enjoyed The Matrix, you'll love reading this author's model of reality. It really is food for thought.



4. It deseves one star, at the most, compared to other books published on the same subject.



5. I had a very mixed reaction of this book, which served as the catalyst for my recent paper on parallel universes and found it to be a very interesting read. What I most appreciated however was that when I asked M.R. Franks about some details in his book he sent me three articles within about two hours. What disappointed me however was the shortness of the book and the focas on cited works from other authors and I don't really buy the andriod therory persented at the end of this book.

2 comments about African American Vernacular Photography (Archive).

1. very informative and easy to follow along, brings aspects of the black life into the modern era.



2. Brian Wallis has succeeded in capturing history in still life with his African American Vernacular Photography. His work gives new meaning to the proverb, "a picture is worth a thousand words." Even the posed shots make a powerful statement; the subjects' pride, their dignity, their silent gaze covey their humanity and culture without uttering a word.
   Each shot can be carefully studed to see the deep meaning of that particular part of history, and that, almost alone, makes Willis's work a classic in itself.

2 comments about Walker Evans: Signs (Getty Trust Publications, J. Paul Getty Museum).

1. Another beautiful collection from Walker Evans, showing his greatest photos of billboards, movie posters, newspaper headlines, theater marquees, graffiti, street signs, hand-painted shop frotns, covering 1920-1975. You will discover variety of ways to interpret the different layers of meanings from his photos with striking impression. It provides an excellent documentary about American culture. Walker Evans also collected and exhibited signs, sometimes next to his photographs, which brings his work into another level. From letters to graphics, from graphics to signs, sometimes people is becoming helpless under the mass media. Highly recommended for graphics / black and white fans.



2. Walker Evans SIGNS are unique and wonderful. These images glow in there black and white surroundings. Some of the images are simple and delicate and other are busy and loud...a great mixure.Codrescu's essays give you a delightful walk through of Evans life.Andrei has an original insight... description of these signs from our past.There is excitment in these essays...energy in which Evans must have had as he photographed these images.As you read on you will see Evans attraction to signs. I also enjoyed the layout of the book. The images have room to breath and the text is perfect. I was very happy to add this book with my collection of photography books.

3 comments about Art Is Elementary: Teaching Visual Thinking Through Art Concepts.

1. I highly recommend this book. It is more art oriented (which I love) than craft. The lessons are idea-based, including drawing lessons for perspective and classic value/tone ball coloring.
   
   Each lesson explains an art/visual-thinking concept to be taught. Then it proposes how to introduce the concept and suggests art activities to do, as well as ways to evaluate learning.
   
   The layout of the lessons is according to an age/learning level, but I do use their overall method. I more randomly reference the lessons for ideas and starting points. Great book!



2. This book has 206 activities for levels K - 7. Each acitivity teaches visual thinking through an art concept. Each activity is divided into sections on teacher prepartions, suggestions, suggested art activities, alternative art activities, evaluation and other things to consider. I have tried to get extra copies but have so far been unsuccessful.



3. Please help me find this boo

No comments about Guzzi Girls: Photographs.

5 comments about Caravaggio (Icon Editions).

1. This is by far the crappiest books on painting book ever. The pictures are black and white and look like a photocopy of a bad photocopy. Needless to say, I returned it the next day. Buyer Beware.



2. I would agree with the other reviewers that in many respects this is an excellent book. Mr. Hibbard analyzes Caravaggio's works in terms that are comprehensive, and yet not puffed up with academic hot air. He describes the historical context of the paintings, and often compares individual works of Caravaggio with similar paintings of other artists. He even points out artistic errors, such as the lack of perspective in the hands of a man in the painting Supper At Emmaus. Hibbard talks about the striking use of color in Caravaggio's compositions, and it is here that one can be somewhat disappointed with the book for, the wonderful paintings of Caravaggio are, with very few exceptions, reproduced in a dismal black and white. If you are familiar with Caravaggio, and are most interested in the author's commentary, than this deficiency would probably not bother you. I have John Spike's "Caravaggio" that is full of color plates, but it is more expensive. Although I have not seen it, I understand C. Puglisi's book by the same name also has many color plates. For the relative newcomer to this great painter, I would encourage consideration of one of these other two books as a companion volume to this excellent book.



3. In one of my last classes for my degree, this book was the required text. I am awed by Caravaggio's work anyway, but combine that with Howard Hibbert's insightful text and you have an amazing book. I would definitely recommend this text for anyone interested in this fantastic artist.



4. Caravaggio is one of the greatest artists of the 17th century. In a very brief period of time he managed to exert a influence over all of European painting.

   Caravaggio was the original bad boy of the art world. He was willing to use well known prostitutes as models when portraying the Virgin Mary or to show saints with dirty feet. This offended authorities in Baroque Rome and Caravaggio was often a trial to his patrons. During the majority of his active career he was on the lam fleeing from a murder charge. He burst on the Roman art scene during the height of its influence and spent his last days in Malta in the company of the knights.

   Although Caravaggio's influence was immense immediately after his death where his masterful use of light and shadow was immitated by countless lesser artists. For a number of years Caravaggio's reputation declined. Raphael's influence dominated academic art and Caravaggio's relatively harsh realism was in disfavor. It was only in the 1950's when a major evaluation occurred.

   This book by Howard Hibbard is probably the first of these modern reevaluations of Caravaggio and it is still one of the best. Professor Hibbard is one of the country's leading art historians and he brings considerable scholarship to his study of Caravaggio's work. Although there are plenty of other books on Caravaggio, I think that this book is still the best of lot in terms of understanding Caravaggio's art (his life was sufficiently messy and his sexuality ambiguous to spur the mills of contemporary scholarship for many years). Professor Hibbard's writing is sufficiently free from academic claptrap to make it an invaluable guide to both the specialist and the novice.




5. This is a beautiful book. As a divorced hardworking mother of 3, I spend all of my time reading this book to my children, Isaul (age 90) Gabriella (age 16) and Kraquel (age 3) I also read it to my co-workers where I work, a prositute. This is truley a work of art.