No comments about Modern Architecture.

4 comments about How to Photograph Close-Ups in Nature.

1. Although I've been taking pictures for a long time, I've recently started taking photography classes. Macro photography is of great interst to me. This book has been very instrumental answering questions and giving pointers for the macro photography.



2. This is one of my all time favorite books on close-up photography. Nancy and Michael's work is wonderful and I enjoy reading this book often. Their work shows us a whole new world that we may have never realized was there. Their love of the beauty found in the smallest details and the tiniest of creatures shines through in this book. It inspires me to do better photography. The book is well thought out and put together, as well as beautiful to look at. It covers not just the technical aspects of photography, but also the creative process required in this art. It is a very worthwhile purchase. I would recommend this book to anyone who is trying to take their photography to the next level. Between this book and John Shaw's "Closeups in Nature" you are set to go!



3. I love this book! I love Nancy's approach to her craft! She knows how to shoot beautiful images technically but she also helps you to see and experiance what is going on around you. Michael and Nancy present information that is understandable, usable, and motivational. The book is filled with inspirational images that make you want to pick up your camera and experiment! A very worthwhile book that will sit well next to the John Shaw classic, "Closeups in Nature".



4. I believe anyone interested in close-up photography will benefit from this book. It is well written with many good ideas, not only technical, but also ethical and inspitational.I have read many nature photography books and this rates right up there!

5 comments about Wine Across America: A Photographic Road Trip.

1. Somehow I didn't fully grasp from the Web page that this is a coffee-table picture book of photos of wineries across America--it is NOT a guide or travelogue you could use to visit wineries as you drive across country, which is what I wanted. I allowed myself to be misled by the words "Road Trip" in the title. It's not even a narrative of the authors' driving around the country visiting wineries!
   
   In fact, you can't *use* this book at all, you can only look at the pictures, because there is no map of where these wineries are, or addresses to find them. Not what I had in mind, and this mismatch is why I give it a low score. (As a picture book, though, it's pretty.)



2. Great book, wonderful pictures and nicely done. If you make homemade wine, I think you will love this book, as much as we did.



3. Mesmerizing! The grapes and vineyards leap out at you and the winemakers are accessibly human. You can almost taste the wine in the photos and in the text. This is the definitive book for wine lovers in any state across the U.S. Again, National Geographic photographer Charles O' Rear has shared his fabulous photos and prize-winning journalist Daphne Larkin has written a fascinating, expert account about how widely viticulture has spread in the last 25 years across the North American continent. I doubt there is a better book on American wine culture anywhere, but it is the special personal touch - such as highlighting unsung but dedicated winegrowers in remote U.S. locations from every state alongside more famous apellations and legendary winemakers - that make this book so eminently readable. A tantalizing road trip to follow!



4. I purchased this beautiful book for my brother and his wife who are wine lovers and travelers as well. They thoroughly enjoyed the book with it's
   wonderful descriptions of the various wines that are produced across the country....from the small wineries in the northeast to the larger more involved ones out west. The writing made my brother want to go out on a trip himself and find some of the wineries mentioned...



5. I read a review of this book in a photography magazine and thought the photography must be strong. They were correct. It combines wonderful photography with a fun story of an 80,000 mile roadtrip by the author and photographer, who are married. They find vineyards and winemaking businesses in all 50 states. It is a great book for any wine connoisseur.
   It makes a great coffee table book.

5 comments about Sailor: Vintage Photos of a Masculine Icon.

1. In Sailor: Vintage Photos Of A Masculine Icon, Kevin Bentley has compiled more than 150 authentic and visually stunning period photographs of the sailor. In doing so he showcases the mystery, adventure, camaraderie, exuberance, and romantic allure of the young men who sailed the seas as work and at play. Sailor is a highly recommended collection for students of photography and a nostalgic tour-de-force for anyone who has every traveled the world aboard a naval ship with their friends and comrades.



2. The scope of this collection is stunning, it almost made me consider joining the Navy! These beautiful young men joined together in true affection is a must have for anyone who appreciates male photography.



3. It's really interesting to look at old photographs and imagine times gone by, what it was like to live at that time, and what the people in the photos were really like. Sailor has gathered together in one book over 150 never-before published snapshots of sailors and portraits spanning over a century of time. If you ever dreamed of being a sailor you will find these photos fascinating. The youthful men, the masculine exuberance, & companionship shown in these black & white and sepia-tone snapshots are a peak into a sailor's real life. If we could only stay as youthful and handsome all our lives as these photos show, how wonderful that would be.

   So if you're a lover of old photos, or a serious collector, or if you just enjoy looking at men in uniform, you will enjoy this book. I felt like I was looking through an older friends personal photo album. Kevin Bentley did a wonderful job in gathering together these old anonymous photos, and the book design by J. White is perfect. I really enjoyed this collection of photos.




4. This is a gorgeous book! It's a thoughtful and stunning collection of vintage photos that will appeal to all those interested in sailors and those obsessed with collecting compelling historical photos. I've collected vintage photos for years, and SAILOR reminds me of the importance of finding, saving, and sharing such artifacts. A really wonderful book that I'm sure I'll give as a gift for years to come.



5. Although these are old photographs they stand side by side with any of today's photographers. The youthful men in these pictures are filled with optimism that only youth has. As they sailed the world and posed to remember their adventures and friendships. This is a magnificent collection of subtly erotic and above all stunning pictures. It easily shames all the trite beefcake stuff that is being produced at the moment.

4 comments about Apple Pro Training Series: Getting Started with Aperture (Apple Pro Training).

1. This book is by far, the best Aperture book out there. people are quick to criticize it because it covers a lot of what the shipped booklet covers. This book is way better because it goes into so much detail. For anyone who would bash Apple and Aperture, they must have been living in a cave for the past 10 years. Aperture and this book are by far, the best reason to own and Apple if you are a photographer. Buy it Now and try it out! If you take your time and go thru chapter by chapter, you will be a pro at Aperture. This book is truly a gem and anyone who says otherwise probably didn't read it or is just hating on Apple because their software and machines are truly superior to anything else out there today.



2. NO! Go to jail, do not pass go!
   I bought it, big $26 mistake, same junk as comes with Aperture...Nothing at all new!
   Skip this and go beyond. Shame on Peachpit for even passing this off as a learning tool.
   SHAME!! ZERO STARS!!



3. This book is merely a text copy of the information that ships with the training DVD you get when you buy Aperture. In other words, you already have all this information if you own the program. The only value to this book is as a companion to the DVD or if you don't own the program and want to see what it can do. I'd wait for the next title in the series if you want some real training.



4. This slim volume is mostly white space and very large type. None of the information in this little booklet is particularly helpful nor illuminating and it should have all been included with the application anyway.
   Buying this dumb little "book" will only reinforce your frustration with Aperture and your distaste for Apple.
   
   Don't do it.
   
   david boise ID

5 comments about Julius Shulman: Architecture and its Photography.

1. This book has been my bible. From the pure joy of looking at the visuals to the wealth of knowledge perched on it pages. For anyone interested in architecture and photography this is a must read.



2. If one is ever to purchase a book concerning mid-century modernism, purchase this book. The photography is amazing, and inspiring. The text is informative without being verbose. This is definitely one of the top ten favourites in my collection.
   Mr. Shulman is absolutely brilliant.



3. A terrific insight into the professional career of Julius Shulman. His work, his thoughts on Architects and their work and a cross section of some of the most beautifully crafted Photographs of Architecture from his files.



4. an amazing book; the photography is superb in capturing the essence of architecture



5. An extraordinary and rare book. Master architectural photographer Julius Shulman showcases the stunning modern designs of Neutra, Koenig, Eames, and others with extraordinary talent and craft. The photographs literally glow. Many of them bowl you over with their beauty. Others have the camp value of '50s advertising: housewives in modern kitchens, families lounging at poolside, couples entertaining in open living spaces. Shulman adds considerable depth by recalling his relationships with the architects, his encounters with the homeowners, his notes on making the photographs. If you admire modern design, appreciate fine photography, and like a good story, this is a book you will cherish.

No comments about Patagonia: Nature's Last Frontier.

3 comments about Words of Light.

1. While Cadava has some interesting insights into Benjamin's thought and the terms in which he couched his conception of history, the text leaves a lot to be desired. The writing style is high academic by way of Derrida, and by focusing exclusively on photography as a Benjamin's vehicle of history, Cadava elides over much of the near-mystical "flashes" of insight that characterize Benjamin's later work. Read the "Arcades Project" first and come to your own conclusions before reading this book.



2. A challenging, sometimes frustrating, but ultimately satisfying interaction with the works of Walter Benjamin. Sifting through the "flashes," "stars," "lightning" and "ghosts" that ignite, light and haunt Benjamin's disjointed philosophies, Cadava has penned a highly respectful tome reflecting and furthering the thoughts of this enigmatic, doomed thinker.



3. Cadava's Theses are illuminious! But It was, as I remember, once seen in the reading of Derrida's "Differance". However similiar it may be, history captured by photography has given insights for me. In fact I was confused with the difference between J. Baudrillard and Derrida. Reading Cadava's theses, particular the 'between either ... or', I could percieve the meaning of Derrida's 'quasi-transcendantal' and 'survie'. Of course, J. Derrida not identical with Cadava, but I think the spacing and temporization of differance was behind historicity of photography. Finally, between light and darkness, there is points. That it!

No comments about Special Effects: Wire Tape and Rubber Band Styles.

4 comments about The Unforgettable Maharajas: One Hundred and Fifty Years of Photography (Roli Books).

1. A truly enchanting book. After reading it I was on the Internet for hours, researching all the various people whose pictures were in it. Highly, highly recommended.



2. Love to look at pictures of this misterious culture and enjoy imagining their lives before the English arrival. Highly recommend it.



3. ..from a surreal era of Indian history. It was a totally ostentatious and absolutely over the top lifestyle. The pockets of the sub-continent that were these states of princely India were to a degree remnants of the Mughal Empire. It truly must have been a painstaking process to put together all the photographs. But what a collection! Going through this book really takes you back in time, some superb rarely seen photographs. Some of the photographs are from private collections and national archives.



4. This is an extraordinary book, with fantastic pictures, some very famous, other belonging to princely familly collections, never seen before.Much better than most of the others on the same subject.
   
   I highly recomend it for anyone interested on Imperial India and the maharajas