2 comments about Pontiac Firebird Trans-Am 1969-1999 Photo Album.

1. This is an excellent book with tons of pictures. Foreword by Herb Adams the suspension king. There isn't really too much to say about it except for some great pictures, and it would probably be a ton better had the pictures been in color. Every year car up to the 30th anniversary is shown in this book. There are also a few customs and some of the other cars like the concepts. You won't be dissappointed, but you will with no color. Recommended



2. This book was pretty well written, but in the 20th century, we all could use a little color to perk up our days. There was a great amount of pictures. . . A LOT OF PICTURES! But absolutely no color--except for the brilliant cover photo. I guess I'm too materialistic.

2 comments about Geisha: A Photographic History, 1872-1912.

1. This is a wonderful book filled with great old photograpics and text. A book that anyone interested in other cultures would really enjoy!!!!



2. Dr. Stanley Burns is well known as the founder of the Burns Archive of Historic Vintage Photographs and as the author of several previous books about various niches within vintage photography. Here, Dr. Burns focuses on the representation of Geisha in photography during the peak of their popularity. This time period of photography in Japan is of increasing interest and popularity among museums and collectors, and several important books on the subject have been published recently. Burns take is a unique tact, though. He uses the photographs to tell the fascinating story of the geisha, but he does not dwell on details of individual photography studios. His is not a collectors guide, so he avoids the issue of attrubiton which drives so many such texts. And the production quality of "Geisha" comes closer than any previous works in truly representing the beauty of these hand-colored photographs.

No comments about The Art of Alex Gross: Paintings and Other Works.

5 comments about The Backpacker's Photography Handbook.

1. To be honest I wasn't expecting much, however, after reading the first few pages I was entranced by the authors non nonsense to the point style of writing.
   
   Although much of this book is denoted to hiking and equipment, I found the topics in the area interesting and helpful. His photographic sections were very good and I learnt several things I didn't know (I am a high level intermediate level photographer).
   
   The author promotes his Chromozone system in this book which I subsequently bought (guess what - it works!). The system is based on the zone system but for colour and not black and white work.
   
   I would recommend this book. It is easy to read, factual, well written and concise.



2. I thought this book's information was too general on both backpacking and photography, without enough detail to either improve my photography or backpack with a higher level of safety and fun. It might be helpful for someone who has never backpacked with a camera, but not someone with even a little bit of experience with backpacking and photography.



3. The author draws from an excellent background and beautifully presented examples. If one is interested in backpacking into the wilds and taking good pictures consistently, this book describes exactly how to do it.

   Although Campbell uses the book to blantantly advertise his exposure system, it is very well written and explains the art of good photography extremely well. His technique actually works! I've tried it and I have had more consistent results.

   His checklists for gear and his comments about the items are extremely valuable for those who have not ventured far or for those who would go farther.

   This is a good beginner or intermediate book.




4. Great Book....Easy to read and understand...worth reading and carrying afield. Wealth of Informaton.



5. Although I am not an avid backpacker, my photography club recommended this book and I must say that it's my favorite photography book. I take it with me on every photo trip. It's tattered and torn from use and I will have to buy another one before long. Congratulations to Mr. Campbell for writing a clear and concise book. I know understand exposure.

5 comments about A History of Western Architecture.

1. Watkin knows his stuff. But I don't so I bought this book which didn't clear things up as much as I hoped. There are far too many details, not a sense of narrative through history. Then there are far too few photos of things he expose's so that I have to guess what he means. And no maps. My geographic knowledge is not that good. I think it could be improved by streamlining, photos near the text which refers to them, and a map at the start of each section. But his prose is beautiful sometimes.



2. This is the fourth edition of this monumental book. This edition has been expanded to include additional coverage of Egyptian and Mesopotamian architecture at the early end, and the coverage of the architecture of the twentieth century has been greatly expanded. There is also expanded coverage of the architecture from Asia, particular that of Japan.
   
   The book now has 50 color and 931 black and white photographs. Most of these are from Europe, but the rest of the world does have some coverage.
   
   The increased size and scope of the book now presents a continuous coverage of the evolution of architecture from the earliest building, about 5000 B.C. to buildings constructed in the twenty first century. It is the most complete single volume history of architecture available and it's new edition is greatly improved.
   
   The author, David Watkin is Professor of the History of Architecture at the University of Cambridge.



3. Dr. Watkin and his publishers would have done better to have deleted virtually all of the text from this tome, leaving more room for the most successful part of the book, its photographs. While the bleeding of the images helps make the format seem more up-to-date, this book remains hopelessly out-of-date, the inclusion of Frank O. Ghery's Bilbao Museum and I. M. Pei's glowing pyramid on the cover notwithstanding. The gaps in this book are egregious as are the waxing and waning from over- to under-statement. While the color images are lovely, many of the black & white images of pre-20th century works seem as if they were taken from a photocopy.

   Dr. Watkins' propensity to treat "the New World" as a lost appendage of the British Empire colors the latter chapters in particular. The influence, for example, of "The Chicago School" barely registers within his stylometric system. As is often the case with survey books, in the end it seems quite a lot about all too little.




4. First time I read D. Watkin's book almost 10 years ago. Basically, it is a comprehensive and detailed throughout. However, I was struck by one 'little' improper detail - instead of the picture of Haja Sophia (St. Sophia Cathedral) in Kiev built in 11 cent. I found a picture of a Neo-Byzantine style church which dates to the beginning of the 20 cent. I'm just curious is it that difficult for a recognized art historian to tell the difference? Or it's just a matter of 'neglegence'? In 1996 I wrote a letter to the Publishing house and recieved a nice answer saying that in the case of the third print they would definitely check and replace the picture with the proper one. No changes so far.



5. Suprisingly the book begins with Ancient Rome, leaving the Caves, Stonehenge, and Egypt out, but as a result has more time to explore Western Architecture in greater depth for a Survey Book. The photographs are excellent, with many in color.

4 comments about Diaspora: Homelands in Exile (2 Volume Set).

1. I read about this book in Pop Photo Magazine (www.pophoto.com) and was very intrigued by it. I got the book and it is awesome! It's probably the most comprehensive photographic look at the Diaspora that I've ever seen. A great Hanukah present!



2. French photographer Frederic Brenner has brilliantly documented Jewish life in the Diaspora with his magnificent photographs. He has spent the last twenty-five years traveling through over forty countries, on five continents, creating and compiling this collection of images of Jewish communities, faces and culture. Brenner has woven a thread, through the visual image, that shows a people united in their heritage.

   This beautiful two volume set is presented in a heavy laminated slipcase. Volume I, PHOTOGRAPHS, contains 262 of Brenner's black and white photos, 2 two-page color photographs, and one map. There are images of a Jewish Harley-Davidson motorcycle club with members posed in front of a Miami Beach synagogue; Jewish workers and their children from Birobidzhan, the former Soviet Union's Jewish autonomous region; portraits of modern Jewish writers living in Austria and Germany; women who have lost their children to the secret police in Argentina; Marranos in Portugal who continue the tradition of celebrating the Passover secretly; Jewish men selling Christian souvenirs in Rome's St. Peter's Piazza; a spiritual gathering of Navahos and Jews in Arizona; Jewish barbers from Tajikistan and merchants from Calcutta. The only color photographs in the book show a yellow swatch of cloth printed with the Star of David that Jews were forced to wear under the Nazis. There is an entire room covered in the same cloth - a photograph commissioned for the Vienna State Opera that hung there as a stage curtain.

   Volume II, VOICES, contains writings - essays and commentary from such modern intellectuals and authors as Carlos Fuentes, Avivah Gottlieb Zornberg, Georges Steiner, André Aciman, Jacques Derrida and the voices of the people photographed.

   Frederic Brenner wrote, "The Jews I have photographed are all contemporary, but together they reflect a full spectrum of space and time . . . Diaspora: An experience of dispossession and discontinuity. . . . The photographs enable us to see and acknowledge the multiple threads from which we are woven, to listen to and acknowledge the multiple voices within us, even when paradoxical and discordant."

   These massive albums represent a tremendous achievement. Brenner has given a gift to us all. These books deserve a place of honor in the home.
   JANA




3. This is a book remarkable for its depicting the so many facets of UNITY. Its stated and documented variety in unity is achieved by capturing the unity in variety of all self-described Jews. Yet, such generous conclusion soon becomes the premise of an inference, one cannot abstain from, about the unity of all humankind.

   Great photos that span over several decades, continents, countries, and one people along a vast continuum. The subjects do a certain amount of posing as if in preparation for the moment the reader meets them all. And the reader has the option to meet them in any sequence OR summon all these geo-temporal instances in one place, at one time.

   Great photos, consistent quality and presentation technique, good commentary in the second volume. Excellent gift to us all!




4. I rarely enjoy a "coffee table book" but this is so much more. It is absolutely brilliant-- the many essays are brief but thoughtful and a wonderful companion for the photos which span the evolution of a 25 year career-- or rather-- vocation. Highly recommended.

2 comments about Cuba: Picturing Change.

1. I was drawn to the book by the powerful and fun photographic images. Ledbetter does an outstanding job capturing the images of Cuban life in a way that allows you to both celebrate it and to empathise with the struggle of the Cuban people.

   The Essays are an unexpected extra in a book of this nature that make the work a multi-dimensional experience. It appeals to those interested in both Photography and Cuba. I highly recommend it!




2. This magnificent collection of photographs captures the beauty, spirit and mystery of Cuba, the USA's often-overlooked neighbor... Ledbetter's clear, passionate and respectful eye has created a stunning work -- the book takes us far more deeply into the Cuban culture than the soundbites of recent news stories (Elian Gonzales, President Carter's visit) allow. Ledbetter's photographs and the accompanying essays make this book essential for anyone who wishes to understand Cuba more fully; the book also richly rewards the reader who simply appreciates great photography.

2 comments about Country Houses Of France.

1. I bought this book because someone else's review was so high on it. The review was misleading. This book has very few exterior photos of houses and the exterior photos are tiny. It has no floor plans. I'm an architect and this book is virtually useless for me. The book is mostly on interior decorating and the interior photos are beautiful. For architecture this book gets one star, for interior decorating it gets five stars.



2. As a home builder and remodeler in three states (TX, GA, UT) I am constantly looking for new ways to set my projects apart from the crowd of new and used home on the market. It's easy to make an old home look new again, but to make a new home look beautifully old... that takes talent, inspiration (and great sub-contractors).

   "Country Houses of France" has been a wellspring of ideas for me. Each beautifully photographed house is accompanied by well-written details about its history, style, past and present owners, etc.--all in French, German, and English. (This made reading the book all the more fun since I speak just enough French & German to be dangerous.)

   However, although the commentary is interesting and informative, this book is really more about the photos of the houses and includes numerous interior and exterior shots as well as detailed close ups of interesting architectural and design elements. There are dozens of pictures of wall finishes, furniture, fabrics, light fixtures, plumbing fixtures, mouldings, flooring, landscaping, etc.

   I would recommend this book to anyone interested in either the historic architecture of the French countryside or the interior design of that architecture. Both are well represented here.

No comments about Dream Horses Calendar 2009 (Wall Calendars).

5 comments about Touch Me I'm Sick (powerHouse Classics).

1. For those of us who somehow can't seem to get enough of this stuff (you all know the "G" word), this book is perfect. In the wacky world of late 80's/early 90's Seattle, Peterson's photos are absolutely iconic.



2. Absolutely awesome book of photographs from a period of music I had the pleasure of being part of. If you like music; especially the artists in this book. Then this is your new coffee table book.



3. When I close my eyes and think about the early 90's rock scene, I see Charles Peterson's photographs. I remember going to record stores and buying albums solely on his cover shot - blurred arms, swooshing lights, flailing hair. The cover photographs were so powerful that I could almost feel the greatness of the music inside the sleeve. Nirvana, Mudhoney, L7... fantastic bands captured live in amazing black and white.

   In "Touch Me I'm Sick" you get some of the famous photos we all know and also tons that have never been released. These are the ones that had me in awe. Seeing ten year old photos for the first time of bands I love, it's like a treasure trove!

   I am so happy that Charles Peterson took these photos and that he continues to share them with us. If I could give this book higher than 5 stars, I certainly would.




4. Unlike the other reviewers of this work, I was not there. I just love the artful quality photos in a book that is a collection item. The detail of the photos and the quality of the printing make this a work to savor. This is a forever book, should be on all shelves of collectors of fine photography.



5. A divine marriage of vision, design and subject matter. Peterson's wild, free and spontaneous shooting style provides the perfect visual metaphor for the beer-stained and adrenaline-stoked Seattle grunge era. His pictures look like the music sounds - reckless, courageous, and always threatening to spin completely out of control.

   An aggresive book design and a minimum of text keeps the emphasis where it belongs - on the music's energy and the exhilarating, ritual co-dependence of performers and fans. You can't slam out power chords on a Leica M6 - but Peterson comes closer than any other "Rock" photographer at pulling it off.

   DSR