5 comments about Adobe(R) Photoshop(R) 6.0 Classroom in a Book.

1. The Item arrived on time and in good shape . I would do buisness with this merchant again. Thanks



2. If there are those out there who have read: "Adobe Photoshop 6.0 Classroom in a Book" ISBN 0-201-71016-1
   and disliked it as much as I did, please submit reviews of better books you've found.
   
   I got the impression that, that book tried it's best to make sure you had very little idea of what the lesson was leading up to until the very last sentence. The problem with this method is that it makes understanding and following the lesson much more difficult because you have little idea of what it's leading up to.
   
   Using it as a reference is pretty much impossible. You can't just pick up the book and go to a point of interest and learn that topic. It seems like you have to start at the beginning of the book just to get the sence of something in the middle or end of the book. Frankly, what a piece of crap. Thanks for any recommendations.



3. When I first picked up Adobe Photoshop 6.0, I almost gave up on it because I had no idea how it worked. Instead I searched around for a book to teach me how to use it. Well, Photoshop 6.0 Classroom in a Book was the right one to chose! Simple, step by step lessons teach you about each feature of 6.0. If you're brand new to Photoshop, this book will make you an expert!



4. If you want the practice and need a step-by-step lesson, this is a good book. I did want the step-by-step practice, and I'm still glad I bought the book. However, it only tells you what to do. It's not very good at explaining why you're doing it or what exactly the overall effect will be. Also, any tool, filter, etc. that you don't learn about in the lessons, you don't really learn about at all. I think it's a great book for practice, but it's probably best used in conjunction with another book that doesn't have lessons but gives a better explanation of the tools, what they do, and when and why to use them. An example is probably Photoshop 6 For Dummies. I haven't bought it yet, but I've looked through it, and I think it will be helpful if used along with Classroom in a Book.



5. First, let me say that it is very easy to pick apart any book that attempts to introduce a beginner to such a complex application program as Photoshop6. I am not an expert on Photoshop but I have invested a lot of time and money learning how to use it effectively in web development. This is an very cost effective approach to learning some of the useful features that Photoshop offers to the artist both in the Print media and the electronic web pallet.
   Just remember this is starting point Photoshop is an life long pursuit if you are trying produce original quality work. If you can find a good copy used. It will be a reference book that you will continue to use years after you complete the exercises in it.

5 comments about The Watercolor Book: Materials and Techniques for Today's Artists.

1. I have way too many watercolor books (buying WC books is addictive, although not as addictive as buying new colors). This book is one of my absolute favorites, and one I find myself returning to over and over. I am a very big fan of the entire "Materials and Techniques for Today's Artists" series, and I own their Drawing Book, Pen & Ink Book, Pastel Book, Acrylic Book, and Oil Painting Book.
   
   All of the books in this series seem to follow the same basic format. The first third or so of the book cover materials in great detail. The emphasis is on the types of materials that you need, options available, and characteristics of specific brand names. If you're a beginning watercolorist lost among all of the brands of brushes, paints, and paper available then this will be a great resource. The middle 3rd of the book focuses on general techniques, followed by a series of discussions related to specific subject matter. The final third focuses on mixed media - and in my opinion this is the area where Dewey's books really shine. I think he's a great pastelist and uses pastels and watercolors together to do some amazing stuff.
   
   I view this is a great book for folks that know at least a little bit about watercolor painting and are interested in getting into more depth and detail. I probably wouldn't recommend the book for absolute beginners, because I think absolute beginners would find the book a little overwhelming. Some initial questions that absolute beginners might ask (like "What colors should I have on a basic palette") aren't really addressed until pretty deep into the book. For an absolute beginner, something like Jack Reid's "Watercolor Basics: Let's Get Started" or Charles Reid's "Painting Flowers in Watercolor With Charles Reid" could be a better choice. But if you've seen enough of watercolor to know that you want to know a lot more about it, this book is a great resource.



2. I found this book very helpful -- a good introductory book on water color techniques and products. Lots of detail on the different materials and tools used in watercolor (paper type, brushes, paints, misc). The author discusses the uses of each and which products and brands he finds most useful/of the best quality. The author also discusses different techniques (with examples). The book is in color and the step-by-step instruction is useful for beginners or those of us that are a bit rusty. This book will also be useful for people that have never taken an art class as there is background info as well (the color wheel, values, etc.).



3. I wish I would have bought this book before I bought the supplies I did. I know that I would have saved a lot of guesswork and helped form my style faster and more satisfactorily. I am an amateur painter and will always be, so cost effectiveness is an issue. Even though I have brushes and stuff that I will not use (probably) I have the feeling with this book that I have an instructor at hand. Thanks guys!



4. After reading several books about watercolor, I found this book to be the best watercolor book on the market. It is the clarity and thoroughness of the explanations that make this such a valuable resource. I particularly found the section on color theory helpful. This is not a book with a few scattered tips against a background of gorgeous pictures of the artist's work. Rather, it is a master teacher reaching out to all levels of learners as he takes the mystery and confusion out of doing watercolors. If you were only going to buy one book about watercolor--this is the book!!
   
   The Watercolor Book: Materials and Techniques for Today's Artists



5. I was recommended this book by a professor to use as my guide in an Independent Study in watercolors. I don't have any other to compare it to, so I'm just writing what I got out of it.
   
   It has very good descriptions about types and brands of paints, papers, and brushes to start out with. There are also some chapters dealing with general composition and color theory.
   
   I was more interested in techniques though, which I thought Dewey covered well. As a newcomer to watercolors, I was introduced to different types of washes, layering, lifting techniques, etc. I really liked the mixed media section which discusses laying watercolor with things like pastels or colored pencil.
   
   It was nice to see a variety of work too. It's not all of Dewey's pictures (though I thought his stuff was pretty dang amazing).

5 comments about H2O.

1. This book is amazing. The pictures are absolutely breathtaking. Schatz's pictures are unique and varied - switching from elegant and erotic to surreal and abstract and back again. The book is really large, so the pictures get a chance to really stand out and allow the viewer to examine them in detail. I think a smaller format would have taken away from the impact of the photos, so I'm glad the publisher chose this size. Each page could be its own print. The price of the book is absolutely worth it.



2. This book is great for artistic reference, and has a very classical quality to it. The unique approach of using water in each photograph is a nice touch, but not the strength of the work. Great photography and subject matter.



3. For all its variety, this collection has one underlying theme: water. The most dramatic photos in the collection are like the cover shot, dancers floating underwater. The amazing results shown here come from an equally amazing adventure in developing the techniques for taking these pictures.
   
   In most of the photos, the artist and model both release their breath underwater until the air in their lungs no longer floats them to the surface. Then, the model is free to pose in ways that would be impossible in air. The model need not worry about balance or support against gravity, true. The water has subtler effects on the figure, too - for example, breasts float, giving them higher, rounder forms than gravity normally allows. Schatz's one zoftig model, Alexandra Beller, has the curves to show that effect in the most striking way. And, as the cover shows, hair and gauzy drapes can reach a flowing lightness that just isn't possible elsewhere.
   
   Schatz found that dancers, and very few others, could work as his models. For one thing, they had the muscle knowledge and physical skill to use weightlessness effectively - after all, hadn't so many dancers been trying for that all along? For another, most women naturally bob to the top of pool. Dancers and other athletes typically have more lean mass, so can reach netural buoyancy much more easily.
   
   Although the free-floating forms caught my attention most firmly, Schatz uses water on other ways, too. Its reflective surface, whether seen from above or below, creates baffling mirror-pairs of arms or legs that pierce that surface. Underwater bubbles or above-water droplets adorn the models, and bubble-trails create unearthly auras. Then to push his imagery even farther from the world of gravity, Schatz somtimes rotates or inverts his photos. In a few, the model faces her rippled reflection in the water's surface - but the image is turned so the surface of the pool appears to be a vertical plane.
   
   It's a stunning collection, and not just because of the gorgeous figure studies. Schatz has done something truly new: he has freed the figure from gravity, and in doing so he has changed the shape of the figure itself.
   
   -- wiredweird



4. Howard Schatz has created another beautiful underwater photography compilation of female models. The subject matter is similar to his two prior underwater books, Pool Light and Water Dance. Some photographs were taken from Cirque du Soleil performers in the show "O". The picture composition is excellent as the models appear weightless in the water and the lighting is perfect. This book is great for the coffee table and for serious collectors of color photography.



5. H2O exemplifies a master artisan working at the height of his powers. Howard Schatz showcases once again his unparalleled genius in capturing the elegance of the human form. And short of attending Cirque du Soleil tripping on peyote, this work is unlike anything you'll ever experience again. It's one of those rare publications that literally transport the viewer into another realm; a dreamworld where beautiful, swanlike models float like angels in a surreal water ballet. Where reality is twisted into some sort of magical, impressionistic state of being. Refracted light, color, even the airy magnificence of water bubbles all go into engineering each impossibly delicate image.
   
   It's no secret nor a coincidence that Schatz uses professional dancers, ballerinas, and athletes to populate his underwater stage - few others could so gracefully perform the unimaginably beautiful feats that construct this work.

5 comments about Las Vegas Then and Now (Then & Now Thunder Bay).

1. I purchased the book for my son-in-law who enjoyed it VERY MUCH. Great Book.
   Shirley Nordby



2. this is a nice book with very beautiful photos ,a must for people who like
   to learn about other cities evolution.



3. I drove through Las Vegas in 1975 and was so unimpressed I didn't even stop and get out of the car. I wanted to see if this book had any photos from that era and was pleased to find out my memory wasn't faulty. I was also there in the mid '60s and the late '90s and the book didn't let me down on those memories, either.



4. I was finally able to visit Las Vegas last year and bought several Vegas books as souvenirs. Unfortunately, most of the books only provided information on present-day Las Vegas. Also wanted were pictures of the Las Vegas I had seen on TV as a kid. After all, that is what gave it its magic & attraction to me.
   
   This book provides that. Pictures of the old & new are featured on opposite pages for easy comparison. The pictures are large, sharp, & clear, & are of excellent quality to this layman's eye. They are also accompanied by short paragraphs of essential facts such as build dates & owners, along with information peculiar to the specific buildings.
   
   I highly recommend this book to the nostalgist.



5. The book is a fascinating look at Vegas in the past and present. For each subject there's the "then" and the "now". It captures the amazing evolution of defines Las Vegas. With each picture is a paragraph about the scene. It's a nice coffee table book but also a cool reference book.

5 comments about Long Way Round: The Illustrated Edition: Chasing Shadows Across the World.

1. I have this story on DVD and thoroughly enjoyed it so I decided to buy the book. It closely mirrors the DVD's, and had lots of pictures. Needless to say, I would highly recommend both. I've just started reading, "Long Way Down", and within a few pages have become as captivated as before. These adventures are the type of thing I would have loved to do 20 years ago, I can kinda get a feeling of what it must be like through Ewan and Charlie's travels. Thanks, Guys, for a really good time!!



2. The photos are great and compliment the journey and the text. A must have for any touring motorcyclist.



3. What an awesome book, recording an awesome experience. As a biker myself, I was attracted to the book just to read about a trip that is beyond my means and abilities, but the book ended up meaning much more than that to me. It showed me, yet again, that wherever you go in the world (And I've travelled a fair bit of it myself in my work as a seafarer !) people everywhere are just people like you and I, when you get past the religious, political and economic differences that can so often divide us. It also highlights the fact that people who make a living in the film industry are not necessarily unapproachable, self centred and addicted to adulation. They can be warm, human and prone to the same joys, fears and desires as the rest of us. In short, they are human beings who just happen to have a good job. This is not just a good read about a motor bike trip of a lifetime, it is a book that rekindles hope that the world, and its varied people, is a beautiful place after all, and not half as dangerous as some would have us believe. Whether you're a biker, an armchair traveller or just someone looking for an exciting and inspiring read, then this book is for you. I can't praise it highly enough.



4. Long Way Round chronicles the around-the-world motorcycle adventure of Charley Boorman and Ewan McGregor. It's unlikely I'll ever do anything like that in my life, but the book gave me an idea of what it's like. Both of them are entertaining writers and it was a really inspiring book. A great tale of taking an adventure and making it a dream come true; of friendship; and of overcoming obstacles. A great companion to the dvd set.



5. I couldn't wait to get this book. It sounded like a great story of adventure across several continents. After the first chapter I deeply regreted my purchase. What had great potential turned out to be two guys boasting about their popularity and how it was going to be difficult being celebrities. Maybe it's just me, but I wouldn't know them at all, despite their numerous references to the movies they've been in. I thought I was getting a book about the challenges of travel abroad and pictures of these places. What I got was a book with too many pictures of the authors, weak stories of the places they stayed in and the food they ate.

5 comments about Power of Now 2009 Wall Calendar.

1. This book changed the way I looked at life. I will recommend this book to anyone who are looking for answers. Keep an open mind and keep on reading even if the idea seems very strange.



2. This book has brought me more peace than any other book I have ever read. Do not pass it up. If you are reading this review you are ready to enjoy it's fruits.



3. This is a great book to learn your relationship with time and how to releive stress, anxiety, and fear by living in the present. It is easy to read and very insightful. If people understood these principles we could alleviate the mental dysfunction that causes so many people to be on prescription drugs for anxiety and depression.



4. One of the best books You could read in Your lifetime. The author is the " Real Deal ! ".



5. This book is a great introduction to living a peaceful life with a quiet mind. After reading this book my interest in achieving what Chopra discusses became very strong and since then I've continued down a more spirtual path. The concepts here are super simple, yet made complicated by the extreme power of the noisy mind.

5 comments about Adobe Photoshop CS2, Revealed, Deluxe Education Edition (Revealed (Thomson)).

1. The book does what it says and it will teach you Photoshop but the text can get a little confusing. For instance during the final projects and the end of the books some of the techniques they ask you to do are not to be found in this book nor could I find them in the index. Some of the steps it asks you to do are repetitive and have nothing to do with the task at hand.
   
   On the other hand I have learned a lot about Photoshop from this book and I am now confident in using the program. I do suggest reading the text in between the steps seeing how that clarifies a few things for you. For what its worth this book is worth the price and is great for anyone wanting to learn Photoshop.



2. This is a textbook I needed for a class, but I'm enjoying it anyway! There are a few items in here that seem to be done with less skill than the professor's method, but all in all, it seems like a good, user friendly book.



3. This is a great book that shows the hows and gives you the whys behind it. I recommend for any beginner Photoshop users.



4. I'm half way through this book. Although I've used Photoshop extensively for some time, I have learned a lot in every chapter. The explainations, exercises and tips are all good. Unfortunately, the editing was poor (mostly little mistakes, but they waste the student's time). Also, the index failed me the few times I tried to use it.



5. I was using Chris Botehlo's Adobe Indesign CS2 Revealed, which is an excellent, clearly written book, so I naturally bought this book when I needed to learn Photoshop. Unfortunately, Ms. Reding's ability to convey complex instructions is lacking. The instructions are very disjointed and confusing. With no particular offense meant toward Ms. Reding, I strongly suggest that she partner with Chris Botehlo when writing the next edition of this book.

No comments about Illuminating Video: An Essential Guide to Video Art.

5 comments about Creative Lighting Techniques for Studio Photographers.

1. Many reviewers point out that this book is not suitable for a novice, not even for quite experienced photographers without studio background. When buying this book, I was an amateur "natural-light photographer". I had no idea about studio photography. I bought a couple of books, including this one, together with my first studio lighting set.
   
   This book was quite difficult to read, especially for a non-native speaker. However, after getting a bit used to the language, it was really a pleasure to read. I learned very much and with a certain effort understood everything quite well. Just started to read it the second time to memorize better. And just ordered "Light: Science and Magic: An Introduction to Photographic Lighting" which was recommended by one of the reviewers to compare...



2. My background is in engineering photography (high-speed events), but I want to learn more about studio photography for marketing and demonstration. I purchased this at the same time I purchased Light: Science and Magic: An Introduction to Photographic Lighting and Softbox lighting Techniques. This one was in the middle of the pack: not as good as Light:Science and Magic, but much more useful than Softbox. This book had some low-budget, low-tech, but fairly high concept techniques for tackling a variety of subjects. Unfortunately, I was looking for a more abstract approach than this.



3. Very good book. I found this book when I was doing some internet searches on Dean Collins video on 3D contrast (Which is a great video). Dave Montizambert worked with Dean Collins. This and the 3D contrast tape go hand in hand. I take notes when I read photography books, and this yielded a lot of good information for me.



4. This book gives you lots of ideas to make studio photography more interesting and versatile without buying expensive equipment. It's easy to read, has lots of tips and lots of lighting diagrams and example photographs. Author tells you what effects you can do without photoshop, and then tells you where photoshop would be useful.



5. I'm still learning more about lighting, ( I think I will be always in that stage), and this book answered a lot of questions, provided a lot of techniques, to reach a quality studio lighting. There is a lot of termonology here, scintefic knoledge, but you get the infomration that helps you to control lighting in a professional way in your studio.

5 comments about The Photographer's Guide to the Maine Coast: Where to Find Perfect Shots and How to Take Them.

1. Book has loads of information and beautiful pictures. I plan on using the suggestions during my trip to Maine.



2. My wife and I are planning our vacation to Maine for late Summer '06. We enjoyed the book, pictures, and suggestions for "great pictures."
   We'll see how it goes!



3. We followed his book to the letter and a great book with valuable infomation. Would recommend this book for anyone traveling to Maine and who likes Lighthouses. Wonderful and helpful tips.



4. This is a good guidebook. It has enough detail/description to allow one to rationally select "likely sites" without being overpowering. However, there are an number of annoying editing errors present. (For example, every time the text reads "this place is 0.05 mile beyond that place", what's really meant is "0.5 mile". This is wrong in every place it's mentioned!)



5. David Middleton and Bruce Morrison have created a very insightful guide to coastal Maine photographic "hot spots". I am a professional photographer based in Maine, and while I am quite familiar with most of the places mentioned in this book I was pleasantly surprised to find out about others I had overlooked or was not aware of. (I also have a few secret spots of my own that did not crop up in the book..thankfully... but that's what makes this fun - a guidebook is best put to use as a springboard for further exploration.)

   Photographers who live in Maine or are planning to visit coastal Maine will find much to enjoy here. You couldn't ask for a better resource. Even non-photographer types would do well to mine the gems of this book for general sightseeing and hiking tips.
   Middleton and Morrison put you smack dab in the middle of great photo opportunities. A bit of a warning here: after you get a copy of this book you will feel a sudden and intense urge to be out on the Maine coast with your camera.

   PS - Middleton's guide to Vermont photo sites is excellent as well.