2 comments about Peace: The Biography of a Symbol.

1. This is a great book that shows the history of the peace symbol. Nice photos and is well written. I bought a few copies to hand out to teachers for their classtrooms. A good history lesson.



2. A readable history of the peace sign, well-illustrated. Baby Boomers will enjoy this look at the origin and uses of that thing they used to draw on their notebook covers during health class.

1 comments about The Romantic Male Nude.

1. The Romantic Male Nude is pretty much what the name implies, with about 200 photographs from 41 different photographers of men in various poses. Other than the brief forwards at the beginning of the book and the photographer credits at the end, there is little other writing, and the book stands purely on the beautiful images contained within.
   
   The photos are broken into several main categories - 'youthful yearning', 'romantic men', 'al fresco', etc, although the editors have done a great job in putting together a collection that remains consistent throughout. The photos explore the romanticized male form, and so rather than capturing the erotic, the men are mostly posed in a fashion that shows off their bodies without delving into the tacky. There is a quiet innocence to these men, with a slight air of sadness about them, and the overall mood of the collection is much more powerful that similar books.
   
   The subjects tend to be well-built and muscular, and I'd guess most of them are in the 22-30 age group. This is a nice departure from the overly-thin twinks that are often photographed in books like this. If I had to put these guys into a category, I'd say they could live in the Abercrombie & Fitch universe, but they'd probably hang out with a smarter and less annoying crowd than the dumb boys in the advertisements.
   
   Because this collection runs to the artistic more than the erotic, the photos tend to emphasize muscles and builds in poses similar to Michelangelo's 'David', and the allure of 200 hundred 'Davids' assembled together is powerful. The pictures are about 70% black and white and 30% color, and the large format of the book is nice since most photos are 8x6 or 8x8, with a few larger spreads.
   
   The collection does not shy away from full-frontal nudity either, which sets it apart. Around half the photos capture the full frontal male form, although being about romance more than sex, only one or two images portray men in an aroused state. About 80% of the photos are of single subjects, with the remaining being of two men together. Of those, most portray the men hugging or embracing, and most duo shots do not show full frontal nudity.
   
   Overall, this is a beautiful collection of sexy men. It's not designed to be eroticism, but it is arousing. For those who enjoy artistic nudes and the romanticized ideal male form, this is a great addition to any collection.

5 comments about The Art of Pregnancy Photography (The Art of).

1. This is a very good book that covers the topic of pregnancy photography. The book is richly illustrated with creative maternity images. What I especially liked the integration of the Fathers and siblings in many of the images.



2. Jennifer George's ART OF PREGNANCY PHOTOGRAPHY tells how to capture the pregnancy experience at all stages, showing how to photograph the mother-to-be either alone or with her partner, or with the whole family. Techniques and insights on poses and positions accompany tips for retouching, enhancing lighting and color, and interviews with pregnancy portrait photographers.



3. This is a wonderful book to cover the business and Art of maternity portraits especially if you are newer to that type of photography. The posing is lovely her detail on the subject is extremly helpful. Great Job!



4. This is one of the best "How To" photography books I have read. I found it practical in every aspect of how to approach the many aspects of maternity photography. This can be a touchy subject at times for a male photographer and Jennifer has inspired and helped to convince me to continue with this type of work. So this book helps on many levels with beautiful examples of her work throughout. She has many unique original compositional ideas and use of light with great fabrics and simple props. I highly recommend this book.



5. I continue to gain insight from this book. The contemplative, tranquil images inspire creativity, as one gains insight to the photographer's perspective and expertise. Her frankness in sharing technical skills both behind the camera and in her use of Photo-shop and marketing is extremely helpful to any professional or aspiring photographer. I highly recommend this book if you are interested in taking your photography to the next level or just searching for inspiration.

5 comments about Macro Photography Photo Workshop.

1. This is a very helpful, informative book. I have not done much macro photography, and this book made it fun to try. I highly suggest that anyone who has a camera and a little time, read this book, and then get out and play.
   Gayle Gahn



2. I am a novice in macro photography, having been exposed only to medical/dental close-up photography in the past. The author has been kind enough to keep the text less technical and geared more to the novice to average photographer. The examples are annotated with the source and equipment used. He provides tips, cross-references with each new chapter, and has `assignments' that allows one to practice what was read. At the conclusion of the book he provides websites to allow you to see what others have to offer. I recommend this book for both the novice and the average photographer as an excellent resource.



3. As a beginner in Macro Photography, I found this book useful. It was thorough starting at the beginning by describing what macro photography is and the various pieces of equipment needed. The author then moves into more technical information such as lighting and depth of field. In his photos, he fully describes which camera was used, which lens, f-stops, shutter speeds, ISO, and additional information. At the end of each chapter he gives an "assignment" and encourages you to post your photo on a particular web site.
   He goes beyond the most obvious macro subjects of flowers and insects. He covers everyday objects, beauty of textures, abstracts, and people.The book is filled with many photos to learn from.
   I like the fact that it was not written so technically that I could not understand it. It was easy reading.Highly recommended for the beginner who wants to learn about macro photographer.



4. i now have 3 of these photo workshop books and they are excellent books and full of information. the photographs in the books have a statement next to them to tell you how they were shot. the information is current for the new digital camearas and it full of usefull information.



5. By concentrating on small images and texture representation a photographer's overall approach and finished results can appear more professional. MACRO PHOTOGRAPHY PHOTO WORKSHOP is thus an outstanding title not just for working macro photographers seeking to improve their results, but for any looking to understand macro images in everyday surroundings, and use the latest camera devices to capture the best shots. From common macro problems and digital editing techniques to shooting insects, flowers and more, MACRO PHOTOGRAPHY PHOTO WORKSHOP is especially recommended as a supplemental classroom text for any photographer moving beyond the beginner levels.
   
   Diane C. Donovan
   California Bookwatch

5 comments about Microsoft Windows Movie Maker 2 (Visual QuickStart Guide).

1. Movie Maker2 by Jan Ozer is An Excellent Book. I,like most people,have Windows Movie Maker on my computer so I wanted a book that would help me do good book promotion video's and understand the program better. This book does everything I hoped for and I am glad I purchased this book and every since I purchased it I use it at least once a week to make sure I am doing things right and also to see if the book suggests doing something different that will result in a better video. My video can be seen on my web-sites and places like Google and Yahoo. Look for ErvHarmon
   Video's
   
   Thank you Jan Ozer for writing this book as it has helped me very much and I gladly recommend it to anyone that wants good results from Windows Movie Maker2



2. I wanted to know how I could take video from my camera, edit it, create a video and store it on a CD. This book did exactly that in a no-brainer manner. The book showed the Window's screens and what you had to do at each screen. The only minor problem is that the screens are different for different versions of Windows.



3. I didn't know - and this book showed me how to use it. It is so easy to create a narrated powerpoint presentation, and give you the ability to distribute as needed.
   
   I cannot believe how easy it is to create movies using my video camera, and even better, the softare is FREE (Look in your "START " to find it.
   
   This book could NOT make it easier to take full use of the program.
   
   I lead a business unit and now pre-record and narrate all of my powerpoint presentations, which has eliminated the need to give multiple presentations on the same topic. This has reduced my travel, time needed to present multiple times, etc.
   
   I looked at a number of other books on the Microsoft software package, and this one is the easiest to use by far. YOU WILL BE AN EXPERT AT CREATING VIDEO BLOGS OR NARRATED POWERPOINT PRESENTATIONS IN LESS THAN A FEW HOURS using this book.



4. Jan Ozer's book was a great find for me. I needed to quickly edit digital interviews using Movie Maker 2 and this book gave me everything I needed (and more)! I jumped right in reading the chapters I needed--I'll save the "other stuff" for another day.
   
   This is an excellent resource tool for my book shelf. I really like how the author took his own personal project and walked me through it from beginning to end, offering process and tips along the way.
   
   I edited a professional looking video for the web--not bad for a first project!



5. Download and research for movie maker effects, I found some decent transitions and title effects for movie maker :)

5 comments about Crossing Boundaries: A Global Vision of Design.

1. This book lacks consistency, and although the pictures might be technically good, the interiors design itself has little to do with the story the author is tryng to sell to us: that he has seen certain things in his 'exciting and sophisticated'journey that inspired him to create special interiors. What we get instead is a twisted, dated, unrespectful and pasteurized concept of what other cultures could give us in our every day living. Please, don't buy it.



2. My wife and I plan to remodel, and bought this book for inspiration and design concepts. We ended up quite disappointed.
   
   The book has 5 chapters organized around 5 places that Mr. Wolf traveled to. Each chapter consists of two parts: travel log and design. Both parts show many colorful photographs, some of them quite beautiful. In general, the travel log part has more pages then the design part. For example, in Madagascar Scale chapter, travel log has about 24 pages vs. 18 pages for design. The pictures are even more lopsided towards the travel part. Often the relationship between the design and place seems rather superficial or contrived like a blue/yellow color scheme that is somewhat similar to an umbrella on a photograph or a light color bedroom inspired by a misty landscape. Also, Mr Wolf's design schemes are not as varied as you would expect if they were inspired from all over the world. Most of them use very similar style furniture and color schemes.
   
   Worse still is that the book does not present design concepts in any systematic fashion. It does not say much about the places that Mr. Wolf designed, what were the challenges, or how different rooms fit together. There is not a single floor plan in the whole book, and rarely it shows the same room from different angles to give the reader a feel how things fit together.
   
   Conclusion: If you are looking for a travel diary with pretty pictures, this book might be for you. If you are looking for design ideas that are of practical use, stay away. You might consider Kelly Hoppen's book ``Home'' instead. We bought it together with this one and found it packed with useful interior design concepts and really helped us to think through all the elements of designing a house or apartment.



3. I regret that i have bought this book! It does not show anything special and the objetcive of the author of showing misery people and then show glamorous spaces is a shame!!!!



4. This book with it's exciting interior pictures captures interior design at it's best. Mr Wolf's incorpration of ethnic items makes these interiors personal and interesting. His use of color and his inclusion of Benjamin Moore color numbers is a nice feature. I very much like this book and his style. I am an interior designer also and I'm not easily impressed by most other designers work.



5. mr wolf in his travels search for inspirations in the most unusual places: ethiopia, burma, syria - most of times acquiring local handcrafted items which he will use in his decorations. Although his palette is a bit neutral, with pastel colors most of times, his interiors are extremely beautiful, with subdued elegance and charm. Interesting is how he manages to mix the objects from his travels, with modern furniture, mirrors in abondance and white walls.

5 comments about Playboy: Redheads (Playboy).

1. This book, although small in size, is packed full of stunning beauties. It is fairly dated but the girls are all stunning and all but a few are natural redheads. An up to date version of this book would really put the icing on the cake, but whilst we wait for that, this book will certainly fuel a passion.
   
   The dvd to go with this series is an absolute must for any 'redophiles'. Both are recommended highly.



2. This book really isn't just another playboy, its more of an art book dedicated to red heads. If you've got a thing for red heads then I would say this book is a good choice. While not all of the girls are attractive some of the prettiest girls I have ever seen are in here. Its interesting to see the changes of women over the decades.



3. This mini-volume is one of three vintage photo collections issued by Playboy to celebrate any man's favorite hair color. PLAYBOY: REDHEADS is an homage to that relatively rare though undeniably beautiful and mysterious mutant strain, the true redhead.
   
   James Peterson, the Editor, must love redheads the most. He waxes absolutely rhapsodic about them in his introduction. Any man who appreciates the redhead will instantly understand.
   
   The book consists only of photos dating from 1953 to 1974. While many alluring redheads have appeared in Playboy's pages since then, by limiting the collection to The First Twenty Years, Peterson has no shrift with "bottle jobs," ignores the artificially-enhanced breast, and disdains the racing stripe sorority and the Baby Bare Generation. Thank heavens! The women portrayed herein are real women, some of them wearing Mrs. Cleaver's hairdo perhaps, and some of them more voluptuous and less toned than current tastes allow, but, still in all, untouched by surgically-gloved hands.
   
   Since this is a collection of vintage photographs, they range from 1950s stilted to 1970s freestyle, and it is interesting to see the magazine evolve, and our culture's perceptions of feminine beauty change.
   
   My only criticism is that there just isn't enough of it.
   
   PLAYBOY: REDHEADS is a great "stocking stuffer" book for any man with taste.



4. Whether it's a smoldering auburn, a fire engine red or a sweet strawberry blonde, red hair has captivated red-blooded men for centuries. The rarest and most beguiling of hair colors finally gets its due in this collection of fabulous full color photographs from PLAYBOY from the fifties, sixties and seventies. This sleek volume presents a host of scantily clad beauties each in her favorite element: frolicking poolside, preparing the perfect cocktail, starting a pillow fight. Elegantly designed with the discerning man in mind, REDHEADS captures the eye like only a REDHEAD can.



5. this review refers to the Brunettes edition of the 3-book Playboy series:Brunettes,Blondes and Redheads.
   the girls in these pages range from the late 50's to the early 70's.
   i am of the age that the girls from the mid-60's to early 70's are my favorite so this book was just for me and i should think other men who prefer girls from those days.
   Playboy girls are always so pretty. sweet smiles. nothing dirty or raw about them.
   the girls from this era had no use for implants which i don't even think were around then.
   back then, the girls were all natural. and the brunettes in this book are all natural and beautiful......and of course sexy.
   i highly recommend this book. and it's very reasonably priced too.

5 comments about The Art of Digital Wedding Photography: Professional Techniques with Style (Amphoto).

1. This book sets itself apart by providing the exposure information of every photo, and when relevant, the lighting information too (think the cake shots). This alone makes it a keeper because it allows you to better visualize yourself as the photographer. For instance, the focal length tells you where you would have been standing.
   
   Another notable strength of this book is the coverage of a wide variety of techniques. For example, those who have come to rely on auto-focus cameras may struggle on the dance floor. Not if you know the "zone focusing" technique highlighted in this book.
   
   In general, I find the coverage adequate and the photos inspiring. Some reviewers fault the postprocessing part of the book but really it is just a gallery demonstration of what can be done easily with photoshop filters. The subjects of postprocessing and retouching are better covered in other books.
   
   I highly recommend this book and its pre-digital predecessor for those who are already familiar with photography but want to get started at weddings.



2. Stunning images and inspiration here! Get this book! And get Glen Johnson's too. The only thing you will find that is a bit odd (but it also makes me feel good in a way, shows pros like Bambi have the same struggles as me!) is that quite a few of the sample images have problems - too dark, blurry or both dark and fuzzy. This is the same problem I have in dark, church settings.
   
   This may not be the place for it, but can anyone recommend a good book on ON CAMERA flash photography (using hot shoe, on and off camera external flashes)? I love 'Understanding Exposure; Revised Edition', every photography needs to read that! But when you add a speedlite (Canon, Nikon or other) the rules change and everything tends to be way too dark, or way over exposed. Anyone found a book that helps with that? For now, it is just trial and error for me, even with the super, ETTL powers that come with our super modern flashes. I don't want to but a Quantum light when I struggle with even mastering the manufactures flash.



3. This book has excellent recommendations and techniques for capturing the most beautiful wedding photos. The pictures published in this book alone are worth the cost of the book, IMO. They are beautiful and give great ideas. She tells you exactly how she captured the photo although I would've liked some more technical info on some of the photos. I highly recommend this book.



4. If you are a photographer, you know perfectly well that no book is going to teach you much of the style you develop on your own. It is great for general ideas, but you really should be able to see who you are working with and figure out what kind of shots will suit the couple. I doubt that there are many brides that will appreciate a picture like the one on the front cover of this book.



5. If you're looking for a book that illustrates wedding photography in broad strokes, this book is fine. It talks about breaking the day down into different sections, what the photographer likes to have in her bag, some post-processing filters she uses, etc... However the treatment is on the shallow end in detail.
   
   On the back of the book it says "... to inspire any bride-to-be and the photographer on her special day." I think as long as your not looking for more than inspiration, this book will be fine, however it does not really go into technical depth on the challenges and techniques to handle those challenges that a wedding photographer will encounter.
   
   It's really aimed more at inspiration than instruction.

No comments about Magic Lantern Guides: SONY DSLR A300/A350 (Magic Lantern Guides).

2 comments about Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi/400D For Dummies (For Dummies (Sports & Hobbies)).

1. Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi/400D For Dummies
   
   I am pleased to be able to recommend this book to other shoppers. It's an all in one explanation for those like me who need a little help in understanding their Canon EOS 400D. The layout of the book is excellent and each aspect of the camera and its operation is clearly explained. It gets the thumbs up form me! 10 out of 10



2. I was given a Canon Rebel XTi as a Mother's Day gift. I absolutely love the camera but the manual modes were way over my head! When I received the book I began reading chapter by chapter. It is set up very simply & easy to follow. I went from not being able to even understand manual modes to taking gorgeous photos within minutes! The f-stops, shutter speed, & ISO were explained in a way that just made it "click" in my head. Great book!