5 comments about Photographers Market Guide to Building Your Photography Business.

1. While the subjects covered in this book aren't exhaustive by any means, I was more bothered by the lack of proper editing. Blatant misspellings ("fiftenn-plus years in the business"), missing quotation marks, incorrect punctuation, and bad grammar make this book difficult to take seriously.
   
   Subject-wise, the author just doesn't go into enough detail to make this book worth reading. She brings up important subjects, but doesn't explain or define the terms. For example, in chapter nine, the author discusses protecting copyrights. She advises not to "give away the intellectual property farm," but doesn't explain how photographers are giving away their copyrights. Perhaps she assumed that a photographer would already know what he or she needed to know about copyrights before reading this book. She would be wrong. After reading a chapter, I have to resort to looking up information online to fill in the gaps.
   
   I don't recommend this book. Please don't use it for a class. It was a waste of my money.



2. As a professional photographer I found this book to be very useful in the early stages of starting my business. After spending much time doing all the things I thought I should be doing (and not getting very far!), I read this book and realized that being a professional photographer was going to mean much more than just being good at photography.
   
   Like many businesses, professional photography requires skills in marketing, selling, advertising and dealing with people. This book introduces all these concepts and more, together with a lot of interesting case-studies of people who have switched to photography from other careers, and how they met the challenges of doing that.
   
   Professional photography can be very rewarding and is an excellent business to be in - but make sure you get off on the right footing by realizing that 90% of it is knowing how to run a business. This book is an excellent way to start.



3. Apparently, and according to this author, the only business you should open as a photographer is a studio. Everything else is pointless.
   
   That being the case, she should have made that clear in the title.
   
   The money I spent on this book was absolutely wasted, and I won't buy anything else without reading the reviews first.
   
   Totally useless.



4. Not Everything you need to know to start a business but a LOT of what you need to know. No book has Everything you need to know. I recommend this book to those who have not been in business before and want to open a studio. Great advice on customer service and dealing with the public.



5. I have studied "fine art" photography for a long time now. This book was very helpful to me as I've been timid about using my skills & knowledge to start a business. the book is encouraging and informative. For me it was perfect.

5 comments about Photoshop Lightroom Adventure: Mastering Adobe's next-generation tool for digital photographers.

1. I know some reviewers have critized this guide as being neither fish nor fowl, but I think it is a worthwhile purchase. The photos of Iceland are the icing on the cake--the text is clear and informative. I was not sure I really wanted to purchase the program until I got a better grasp of its potential; this book provides the overview I needed, and is sufficiently detailed that I should be able to use the program effectively. The page layout is quite good and the photos really are outstanding. Highly recommended!



2. As far as the book goes, its a fairly conventional tutorial - but the layout makes it stand out. Filled with colorful pictures on glossy paper, Lightroom Adventure is part coffee-table book, part technology tutorial. Its pages are divided horizontally into thirds: a third is devoted to text while the other two thirds are reserved for screen caps and photographs.
   
   Its a format that is hugely engaging to read. Periodically Aaland will break with a two page splash of a particulary striking photograph shot by someone on the team. It is embellished with something personal about the photographer and the circumstances under which the picture was taken. The pictures may interrupt the flow but actually do a stellar job of integrating the book under the Icelandic Expedition theme.



3. When I started using Adobe Lightroom I was really impressed with the feature set and work flow options. It turns out that I didn't know the half of it. I picked up this book and it was tough to put down. It's not really a technical reference manual. However, it is still a very good reference as relates to the Lightroom software.
   
   The book takes the reader through the Lightroom features while telling the story of testing the Lightroom product with a group of photographers shooting in Iceland. Through this format I not only learned how to improve my use of the Lightroom features, but it helped me improve my workflow. Since I shoot a lot of photos, this made it worth the read for the time savings alone. I also learned some significant things about digital photography. Not that I thought I knew everything, but I wasn't expecting some of the great info I found.
   
   The layout of the book is easy to follow and well organized. The example photographs are a stunning inclusion as well. Even if you already have a bit of experience with the software and photography this book is a great tool that will help you step it up.



4. Great book, not only from a reading perspective, but from an art
   perspective. The book is beautiful, inspiring, and informative. I
   really enjoyed the read, and the pictures are fabulous. Initially,
   when I requested a review copy, I thought it was for Photoshop CS3, I
   was unaware that Adobe made software called Lightroom. I have a Mac
   with Apeture, which is similar to Lightroom, but I downloaded
   Lightroom and tried it out as I read through the book. I love the way
   the book tells a story as well as teaches you about the software.
   Mikkel does a great job teaching about the software, I learned a
   great deal about the software and found that I really like it. The
   imagery in the book is breathtaking and, Mikkel really helped me
   develop my photography eye further to make my images much more
   appealing. I thought the book not only teaches you how to use the
   software, but also how to critique photos.



5. Terrific book. It explains everything you would want to know about Lightroom. I'm particularly pleased that Mikel Aaland delayed the book to include the 1.1 upgrade to Lightroom. The book is well laid out, with lots of photos and illustrations. The format is easy to read and specific info is easy to find, if, like me, you want to read up on a particular topic rather than read the book from front to back.

5 comments about Burning Man: Art in the Desert.

1. So much of the photogprahy of Burning Man is all glitz and surreal glamour, with a big measure of breast often thrown in. Yeah it's a big party with all sorts of wacky and interesting costumes and bright sights, but the real soul of the thing is the making of the art.
   
   Public art is always a gift to its community. The type of art that has grown out there, especially in its scale and ambition, often demands substantial gifts from the community to exist. It is a sublime and outrageous feedback loop, the process and product of which have never been as clearly and deeply represented as in this luminous book.
   
   The inner cover photo of a box of matches full of dust and containing not only matches but burnt stubs, cotter pins and a spring, is one of the most complete and lovely images of the spirit of these brave artists I have ever seen. If you can understand that photo you can probably understand the process of making art out there.
   
   Leo Nash certainly does understand the process. By far the most revealing collection of Burning Man photos ever compiled, as close to a portait of the thing as you are likely to see.



2. I bought the book because I like black and white photos and because my son has attended Burning Man and worked for the corporation that creates the event in 2003. My intention is to give him the book; but, I decided to read the text before sending it off. The intro is long winded drivel (and at the time of this writing, the writer of the introduction has wasted valuable real estate on this product page with some self serving crap from his blog; who wants to wade down the page to get to the real reviews?) and the text by the photog is self indulgent in the style of the "burners." The notion that this event is somehow "spontaneous" is what really makes me laugh. A more apt description would be something on the order of "this is my personal journal and musings on this ongoing "spontaneous" event, plus some photos" The pictures are well made, and the presentation with a slipcover is nicely done, which is what rescues the book.



3. I just received this book as a gift. I immediatley sat down and slowly turned each page in amazement of what he has captured. I cried.



4. This is seriously one of the coolest books I've ever seen in my life. I've never been to Burning Man (wouldn't want to), but these pictures are AMAZING. It might have been worth enduring desert discomfort dust storms and camping just to see the 2996 "Uchronia" structure-- wow.



5. Nash is a great photographer, with a clear, timeless vision that you can literally feel. His photographs hold you and keep you looking into them, farther. This is another volume in the work of our best contemporary photographers, and an extraordinary record of art and a place we might never have otherwise seen.
   
   Burning Man is often described as being indescribable, and for good reason. So much of the art created there is ephemeral, lasting just a few days before burning to the ground. An entire city of 30,000 rises, falls, and disappears. To some, it feels like a heartbeat, and to others, a lifetime. To describe it in words is nearly impossible, when so much quickly becomes the elusive memory of memories.
   
   Through Nash's remarkable photographs, we see a decade of visionary work and creativity that physically existed for only a moment. Whether you've been to Burning Man or not, this book will fill you with awe, and longing for the place.

3 comments about Photographing Your Family: And All the Kids and Friends and Animals Who Wander Through Too (NG Photography Field Guides).

1. I enjoyed this book a lot. It would a great first book for learning how to photograph your family. It is deceptively simple in its approach and a lot the stories within the book have a Joe McNally "The Moment It Clicks" personal feel to them since he uses his own family photos throughout the book with stories about each photo. He explains why some photos work and some don't. He prefers natural light so don't expect lighting diagrams in the book. I would characterize the photo style as documentary. If someone were to ask me to recommend a single book on photographing a family, this would be the book I would recommend.



2. I picked this book up after seeing the author and book profiled on CBS Sunday Morning. I would like to return it as it falls short of really teaching one how to photograph their family. I love photography... and I love my family, but I'm no better off now as a photographer having bought this book. Unfortunately, I can't recommend the book and I'm a big fan of this photographer.



3. You know how you used to take lousy photos with your old film cameras, but then the digital revolution came along and you finally bought an expensive, feature-laden 10MP digital SLR and you suddenly find yourself... still taking lousy photos?
   
   Yes, because it doesn't matter what kind of camera you have. You still need to learn a few hints and tips to use it properly. A photographer with good skills could get amazing images out of a pin-hole camera.
   
   The wonderfully clear and simple new National Geographic book, Photographing Your Family, provides just about everything you need to know about taking great pictures of your kids, spouse, friends, pets, and whoever else you point your camera at. Award-winning photographer Joel Sartore offers his guidance and tips on subjects ranging from light to composition to printing. More importantly, on every page of the book he features examples of his own images. There is no better way to learn photography than to study the work of others. Sartore's accompanying text is easy to understand for a beginner, but detailed enough for those who might need a refresher. My 9-year-old son even enjoyed looking through it, and picked up a few techniques he can use right away.
   
   So, stop taking lousy photos. Instead, take the time to learn a few things so you can start having fun with your camera. Photographing Your Family is the best book I've seen for helping the average person capture those special family moments that belong in a photo album. Highly recommended!

5 comments about The Photograph as Contemporary Art (World of Art).

1. Excellent book for anyone interested in photography. Even more beneficial when you begin to get serious about your photographs.



2. I am a photographer. I also live in New York City where I wander through art galleries displaying photographs with which I have a hard time coming to grips. Charlotte Cotton's book seemed to be aimed right at me.
   
   What distinguishes a contemporary art photograph from other beautiful photographs is not always clear, but like Supreme Court Justice Stewart, I know it when I see it. From what the author suggests, it may be that contemporary art photography is less concerned with the form and more with the content, and that viewers are meant to be semiologists decoding what a photograph stands for.
   
   Cotton begins her book with an introduction that includes a taxonomy of contemporary art photography, and to the extent that classifying an object helps us to know and understand it, the introduction alone justifies the book. Surprisingly, rather than look at style or subject matter, she organizes the book based upon the photographers' motivations and working practices. For example one of the classes is pictures of events that have been specifically organized to be photographed while another is pictures that aim to reproduce or refer back to something in the history of photography and other arts.
   
   Each of the classes is allocated a chapter, and allocates a paragraph each to the work several artists, along with a representative photograph. Cotton explains how the photograph fits into the genre and explains something of the meaning of the work. Most of the photographs are just large enough to provide some appreciation of the work and the explanations are as concise as possible.
   
   The book is meant to be a survey and so is more useful for providing a framework for understanding the overall categories than appreciating any individual picture. It should also be noted that the book does not cover a great deal of recent popular photography like the works of Annie Liebovitz or Art Wolfe. I expect that these photographers are seen as working in an older tradition and that they are not "post modern", again, whatever that means.
   
   For the individual who is trying to get his arms around the direction and meaning of much of modern art photography, as well as for people who have dismissed contemporary art photography as unfathomable, this book will provide a good introduction, particularly since Cotton doesn't seem to be tied to the language of deconstruction, but rather speaks without jargon. Yet this is a field of such great variety that even if one read all of the hundreds of books listed by the author for further reading, one would have only scratched the surface.



3. This book offers an understandable discussion of a complex subject. Recommended!



4. I learnt a lot from this book on what is happening out there in the world of photography today, boundaries are being crossed, there actually is a revolutiopn in the arts in general at the moment, which I find out to be much much more exciting than most people think, especially with photography. I happen to be a photographer myself and I strongly suggest this book to people who think they have mastered the subject and thought they had an open mind.....there is still a long way to go and loads of arenas still unexplored unlike what we used to think that it has all been done before but no, this book shows how we are still pretty much at the beginning of our adventure in this subject, we can break down a lot of our old beliefs that were gathering cob webs.



5. This book is a great introduction to understanding the world of contemporary photography. I have appreciated how the chapters are set-up as a look into the main branches of contemporary photography. If you are a photographer, it can help you discover more people who are doing work which relates to your work or inspires you. Because it has information about so many different photographers it cannot cover them all as thoroughly as one might like; however, it acts as a wonderful springboard into further research. I have found it very useful in searching for great works of photography.

5 comments about The DAM Book: Digital Asset Management for Photographers (O'Reilly Digital Studio).

1. Overall, this is a good book that thoroughly covers all the essentials of putting together a system and practices to organize and preserve your photo collection.
   
   On the hardware side, he shows excessively expensive harddrive setups, when 2TB Western Digital MyBooks are dropping under $500. (Such statements are always relative to the date they're made -- 18 months from now that might be 4TB for $400.) I do agree with some comments he makes about RAID not being such a hot idea. The increasing size of individual drives is making the time it takes to reconstruct a failed drive in a RAID configuration reach absurd levels. When it took five or more drives to assemble 1TB, RAID seemed pretty clever. It's time has passed.
   
   On the software side, he pushes Bridge plus iView MediaPro. That may have been the hot setup when the book was published, but Lightroom is gaining converts at a high rate. A 2nd edition revised to center on Lightroom would be good. At the very least, he'd need to explain exactly what Bridge + iView MediaPro can do that Lightroom can't and why it matters. I believe Lightroom alone offers a much less convoluted system then that combination.
   
   Finally, for a book whose entire point is organizing and preserving photos, it has a curious hole. If your photo archive is all of your family's pictures, as opposed to a wedding photography business, how do you ensure it will outlive you? He makes a few remarks about how having things well organized will make it easier for your family, but that's it. Thinking about such things proves I'm getting to be an old fart, but it strikes me as a major omission in a book on this subject.
   
   My criticisms shouldn't detract from my original statement -- it's overall a good book. Even if I don't follow his exact hardware and software recommendations, he made me think through whether my combination was completely sound. I've changed how I was doing some things, and changed some of my ideas about what I plan to do in the future, as a result. It's the best and most thorough book on the subject available to date.



2. If you're an amateur or a professional getting into digital photography you need to sit down and read a book like this. Managing your photographs (your "assets") is necessary and it will help you find, print and publish your work.
   
   This book isn't 100% up to date but the book's web site is a nice supplement with active discussions.



3. This is a must-have book for photographers who are amassing a large collection of photos.
   
   I needed to read it 2 times before getting a feel for how to impliment it.
   
   Great strategies and it has now changed my workflow completely and for the better
   
   Money very well spent (although it cost me many thousands more since I also updated my computer, server, and softward to impliment this)
   
   Regards, Dean



4. This is a good book. It is very helpful in determining how to organize photographs. It also is a give a good review of Bridge. It would be nice for the book to be up dated to cover CS3.



5. I found this book to be an excellent resource to help you to understand how all the pieces fit together.

1 comments about Surfing Photographs from the Seventies Taken by Jeff Divine.

1. this is an amazing book- some of the best surf pictures (in my opinion) during one of the most visually inspiring era's of surfing. the pages are arranged in such a way so as to not distract you from their content, the printing is awesome and there's not a single shot not worthy of a poster size above your bed. this book will not harsh your mellow- it will make you want to move to lucadia, ride only a single fin & get a job wrapping surf wax for .25 cents per bar....

5 comments about Photoshop Studio with Bert Monroy: Digital Painting (Voices That Matter).

1. As T. J. Riley said, some of the material in this book does look a lot like what's been presented in past issues of Photoshop User, and for a long time subscriber, this book may not be anything special. I do seem to recognize some of the techniques. Yet, it's still a useful compilation. The wonderful examples are inspiring. The example workflow is solid. And, it doesn't hurt to have a series of disconnected tutorials compiled, and coordinated along a theme. As a long time NAPP member and consequently a subscriber to Photoshop User, I wouldn't say that the book is a revelation but it is useful and it never hurts to go over a technique or two that I don't use often again. It also never hurts to feel like I'm looking over the shoulder of a master displaying his craft, and Bert Monroy is a master, not only of Photoshop but also at teaching it. If you're interested in Photoshop as a painting tool, you could do a lot worse than getting this book.



2. If one word sums this book up its "Amazing". Some other reviews say it is a rehash and I can't address that, but if this is the first of his books you have read it is very well done. His work is unbelievable. You swear you are looking at a photograph. His techniques are easily explained and the reference pictures are perfect for the material. It is a quick read. There are also downloadable pdf files that go into more detail but the book stands on its own to me. Great Work!!!



3. Once again, Burt has hit a home run. This book takes you through some of his methods of creating portions of his art in his projects. There is some repetition to his other books, but who in this world of digital art can't use a little refresher on certain things once in awhile.
   
   I highly recommend this book to anyone that wants to move up to another level of using Burts' ideas not only in Photoshop, but also Illustrator and how they work hand in hand to save you time and yet increase your knowledge in both.
   
   HollywoodBob



4. When TechTV and the Screen Savers were around I always looked forward to the segments with Bert Monroy doing a Photoshop tutorial. So, when I had the opportunity to review his new book, Photoshop Studio with Bert Monroy: Digital Painting, I jumped at it.
   
   The book may not be what you'd expect. It was not what I expected. It is not a book of traditional how-to lessons, although you will learn how to improve your Photoshop skills. Instead, it is a book by an artist describing the process he goes through in creating his digital paintings. This process not only includes how he made a table cloth with a particular pattern on it, but also going out and taking the right photographs for reference.
   
   In his Introduction Monroy explains how the book started as the traditional how-to book, but he was encouraged by several people to make it about how he paints and works. This decision was made after he started writing the book. As a result, the how-to chapters are available online as a downloadable bonus. Directions for accessing these chapters are in the book.
   
   The beginning of the book describes Bert's process for starting a painting, finding reference materials, and how he determines lighting in a painting.
   The book then moves on to its heart, the paintings. There are seven chapters describing the process of creating seven different paintings. Each chapter contains descriptions of how to achieve the same effects in your paintings.
   
   The end of the book contains a chapter full of tutorials. These tutorials might be considered your traditional how-to section of the book.
   Overall, this is a fantastic book that presents digital painting in Photoshop in a very creative way. As an artist and an art teacher, I really enjoyed reading the process and thinking that went into these paintings and other painting Monroy works on.
   
   The book is not for the Photoshop beginner. It will not teach you how to use Photoshop. In fact, it assumes that the reader is familiar with Photoshop and many of the tools.
   
   At a price of $[...] (U.S.) it does seem a bit pricey. I would be more inclined to purchase a book like this at the $[...] range. However, if you are a digital artist and a Bert Monroy fan, and you want to drop $[...] down on a book; you won't be disappointed.
   
   MyMac.com rating: 4.5 out of 5
   Originally Published at: [...]



5. I sorry Monroy fans. Although Bert's books have certainly been influential. This one, is a rehash of old tricks and just a few new ideas to pepper the pages with incongruent images. The tips and tricks are enough for the uninitiated but can be found in backdated pages of Photoshop magazine and other adobe branded periodicals. Save you time, save your money. That is unless you would like to buy my copy...
   
   T.

5 comments about Digital Portrait Photography and Lighting: Take Memorable Shots Every Time.

1. I am new to portraiture, studio lighting and many other facets of portrait photography. I found this book to be most instructive. The index is complete and easy to follow. Therefore, I can find definitions, implementations, uses, etc. very quickly. I don't like reading page after page trying to find a particular detail...I would rather go to the index, do a word search, find the information I need and implement. I can do that with this book.



2. This book covers all of the bases. It includes everything from equipment to lighting to posing. There is even a section on post processing. It is organized well and written in a very clear manner. I think that it serves the serious photographer well. Pros may need a bit more detail however.



3. This book is a must-have for beginning photographers. It covers so many different aspects of photography, from equipment needed(and estimated costs), to lighting, editing software, posing, creative techniques, starting your own business, composition, etc. I would recommend this book to anyone who was getting into digital photography & was looking to buy their first book!



4. While reading this book, I found myself taking notes constantly. The wealth of information is outstanding and it really helped me make choices as to my future lighting purchases. I would certainly recommend this book for any photographer wishing to start portrait photography.



5. Great book with all the information to get you started and keep you going. It also has the answers for the questions you forgot you had. You would need to review several books to get all the info packed into this one. If you need help check out [...].

No comments about Luigi Ghirri: It's Beautiful Here, Isn't It....