5 comments about Marilyn Monroe: A Life in Pictures.

1. I've got to say, the pictures in this book are amazing. The book is a little bigger than a notebook, and the pictures are just about full size, making them about 8x10. Which is great if you want to put them on your wall.
   
   My only complaint about the pictures are: although there are about 2 or 3 pictures of her on the beach with the white bathing suit on, that's it. Why not put more of them, they are some of Marilyn's best pictures. Also, the pictures of her in the field in the blue dress, why not more? As is with the pictures of her in the field with the white dress. I don't understand.
   
   I love all of the pictures of her at home in a relaxed state.
   
   But the one thing that sensitive Marilyn Monroe fans might not like is the Foreword. David Thompson almost seems not to like her. But no one knows the exact truth about Marilyn's life, so the stuff he says may be true. If so, I feel sorry for her.
   
   I don't know what to think of her, since I've read so much about her from different people. But it seems like she was a very complex person. Like myself, people don't know what to think about her. That's what I think draws me to her even more. I used to just love her for her wonderful pictures, but now it's fun learning more about her.
   
   Although Mr. Thompson's foreword kind of irked me a little, this book is well worth it to a Marilyn fan or fan of beautiful pictures.
   
   I hope this review helped someone. It's my first review, thanks for reading.



2. In the book possible to find amazing pictures, some of them I have never chance to seen before. Good quality of the pictures and a lot to find inside.



3. 
   I purchased this book as a Christmas present for my sister who is a big Marilyn fan, and I think she is going to be ecstatic when she opens this present. The book is just full of wonderful pictures that bring to life Marilyn! This is a coffee table book that any fan of Monroe would be glad to have on their coffee table. The images span her life and career and include the many of the iconic glamour shot, but what is really cool are the many candid snap shots that help bring into focus the real person behind the image. Once I started paging through this beautiful book I could not stop! I have to be careful or I am going to have to buy another copy! I also just finished reading the soon to be released Misfits Country a fictional behind the scenes look at the Making of The Misfits Marilyn is the central character...must have for Marilyn fans!



4. A must have for any Marilyn Monroe fan.
   This book is full of rare and beautiful photos!
   I own several Marilyn books and this is one of
   the best photographic books I have seen.
   The amazon price for this book can't be beat.
   Recomended for the collector looking for
   stunning Marilyn photos.



5. I found this gorgeous, classy production to be thouroughly enjoyable and comprehensive. This collection encompasses the lifespan of the young Norma Jeane Baker/Mortenson, from lonely little girl to unknown young model, and through her metamorphosis into luminous superstar Marilyn Monroe, as well as into the last days of her life.
   
   It is full of beautiful b&w and color photos, both portraits and unposed snapshots, many of which I haven't seen before. There are also many quotes included, both by MM and about her, and there is a brief timeline at the end of the book that gives an overview of many of the important events in her life. The very short biography at the beginning of the book is a bit drab, but the main story here is, of course, the pictures, which encompass so many of the moments of her life.
   
   If you never got the chance to own Spada's "Monroe: Her Life in Pictures," this would make a nice replacement. This is a wonderful and eclectic gathering of photos, and would be an attractive addition to any MM library.

5 comments about Manufactured Landscapes: The Photographs of Edward Burtynsky.

1. Edward Burtynsky is an extremely talented photographer and manages to capture the most dramatic and mysterious of scenes. Extraordinary photographs of some extraordinary subjects.



2. I am a great admirer of Edward Burtynsky - and I will not hide my dissapointment with the book. I've seen an exibition "Manufactured Landscapes" twice, and have to say that reproductions in the album are of a poor quality, not to mention that at least in this particular case size does really matter...
   
   The album is good to have a general idea about the author, his work and his workshop (nice introduction, and interview with Edward Burtynsky - that's what I've missed from the exibitions) but if you haven't seen full-size prints before, do not buy this book - otherwise it might spoil your opinion about one of the best photographers ever...



3. I discovered Ed Burtynsky by chance when waiting for my dentist...
   It was a chock : over its technical knowledge, this guy is capable to find the perfect angle to show what he wants to show !
   
   as we say in France "respect !"



4. the reproductions in the book were awful. i had seen his exhibition and purchased th e book because of it. the reproductions were not any where up to the originals. i am a photographer and the book is useless to me.
   ronald meyerson



5. I viewed the original exhibition at the National Arts Gallery in Ottawa a few years back. The images are breathtaking, unnerving and awe inspiring.

5 comments about The Mind's Eye: Writings on Photography and Photographers.

1. Yes, this is a small book, and, possibly too much of it is taken up in verbal bouquets tossed to old friends, tourist information about side-trips to various countries, and practical advice to would-be photojournalists.
   
   But those asides aren't the guts of this wonderful book. The important message from this man, who without question was the most influential photographer of the twentieth century, is that if you want to make good photographs you need to look, and you need to internalize a kind of respect for subject, context and geometry that allows you to SEE when you look, without resorting to arbitrary crutches like the "rule of thirds."
   
   Probably the most important words in the book are these: "To take photographs means to recognize -- simultaneously and within a fraction of a second -- both the fact itself and the rigorous organization of visually perceived forms that give it meaning."
   
   That's what the book is really about. Anyone who hopes to become a competent photographer needs to internalize that message.



2. Most photographers would find this a nice book to add to their collection.



3. Very interesting read. I would say a must have for fans of photojournalism and photography in general.
   Highly recommended.



4. I was somewhat disappointed with this book. I expected a lot more from Cartier Bresson. I found a few paragraphs of some interest, but no more than that. It is also a very small book, can be read in a day.



5. I got HCB's book from the library this week and couldn't stop reading it since I started.
   Mind you this book has its pluses and minuses:
   Pluses:
   It is gives good insight in HCB's style of thinking and in general photography in his own words. He talks about his little experiences in China, Cuba, Russia and also about his friends.
   Minuses:
   The book is very brief and u yearn for more of his stories and experience. It has very less photographs, so if you are looking for that you might get disappointed.

   With all that said, I would definitely recommend all of u Photography fans to read it at least once if your local library carries it.

No comments about Mapplethorpe: Polaroids.

5 comments about John Shaw's Landscape Photography.

1. Yeah, it's film centric but much of the information is great for digital too. If you are a wannabee, hobbiest nature photographer like myself, this is a great read.
   
   All of John Shaw's books are great. There is some overlap between them as he goes over the basics but they are all worth a read for any aspiring nature photographer.



2. I learned a lot about exposure, composition, and lighting from this book, but it definitely is a "pre-digital era" publication, so if you're looking for anything specific to digital photography, better check elsewhere. Would seem to me that Mr. Shaw or a digital photographer could bring the equipment section (now titled "Equipment and Film") up to date by at least contrasting film and digital issues--here digital is not mentioned at all. The section on lenses, while very well written, loses pertinence since the majority of DSLR shooters are using cropped sensors. The reader is left to figure out the focal length equivalents to make sense of Mr. Shaw's sage advice.
   
   Don't get me wrong, this man knows landscape photography, and the chapter entitled "The Landscape as Design" is like poetry: "First you must find a visually interesting subject. YOur goal is to present this subject to your audience in a pleasing composition..." He goes on and really hits the target in terms of what separates a good photograph from a great one.
   
   This book is worth owning, I just wish it reflected more about how most people are shooting today, with digital technology!



3. This is a pretty good basic book with some great examples. I gave it only 4 stars because there are some other great books out there on Landscape Photography which I liked better than this one. John Shaw is a good author to explain the basics and sometimes you see him repeat what you read in the earlier chapters, for me I like it because it kind'a reminds you and you can remember it. This is important for the final shoot out day. ** Close-Ups in Nature ** is another great book from John Shaw and I love the theory and examples in this book.



4. This book influenced my outlook for the wide angle lenses, the use of Velvia, and polorizing filters. I now use all three liberally. Thanks John Shaw



5. This is very nice book with wonderful pictures and very practical advices.
   I will recommend it to all semi-prof photographers and amateurs as well.

4 comments about The Art of EVE.

1. This product for the die hards is a great addition along with the new novel. Alot of background and BEAUTIFUL images.



2. The mailman finally delivered the book this afternoon, and I am absolutely satisfied with it`s content! The artwork is great, and I was very happy to see pictures and information about the very beginning of the game, and even about it`s future. I think every EVE Online player will appreciate this book. It offers a little bit of everything, I fully agree with "selderane" on this one.
   
   Besides having great content, the art is printed on high quality paper, and the book itself even comes with a plastic sort of casing around it. I expected the total package to be good, but it exceeded my expectations. Besides that, the book has a pretty neat pricetag here on Amazon, compared to other resellers!
   
   Go order, now! ;-)



3. My husband asked for this book for Christmas, and I'm very happy that I bought it for him. He really enjoys playing EVE, and he really seemed to enjoy this book. I'm not a gamer, but even I thought the pictures were cool.



4. I can't believe I'm going to be the first one to review this product. It surprises me some "EVE Online" fan hasn't already hopped on this yet.
   
   Yes, that's right; I'm not an "EVE Online" fan. I tried two trial subscriptions and it just didn't do anything for me. I found the interface clunky and not intuitive at all and the setting felt very, very lonely. It's supposed to be an MMO, right? Where is everyone? I guess looking at ships that act as a player's avatar as opposed to something more... bipedal might contribute to this.
   
   But, this isn't supposed to be a review of the game. It's supposed to be a review of "The Art of EVE." I wanted to preface my review by making it clear I'm not some fanboy fawning over anything and everything that has to do with the object of my affections. I have some serious problems with the game and its fundamental gameplay. That said, it's a very pretty game. One might even use the word `gorgeous.'
   
   That is why I purchased this book. Well, that and I'm a sucker for art books in general, video game art books in particular (I'm looking at you "World of Warcraft" and "Guild Wars" art books...).
   
   I was a bit worried about the $50 price tag but upon securing it's release from my local comic book shop (yes, I didn't buy it from Amazon) I see that the price is well worth it.
   
   The book comes protected in a nice metallic grey plastic sleeve featuring its name in bold black letters. The book cover itself, covered in an off white semi-see-through thin papery/plastic-like dust jacket featuring the title of the book again in black lettering (except that the word "EVE" is cutout to reveal the book underneath), features a cloudy ethereal scene of dirty blues and grays punctuated by a single light source refracted behind the clouds to illuminate it all. The title of the book is again repeated on the cover in clear glossy text that is all but invisible unless held at a particular angle.
   
   The book is divided into five sections and inside you'll find everything from developer interviews and insights into their process to early concept sketches, completed paintings and models, and looks into the artistic direction they're going to take the game in the future.
   
   There's isn't a single thing I could think of adding to make this book better. I may have removed the pages dedicated to tile art (only two) and some interface screenshots but that's simply personal taste and fans may really like that stuff. I would have filled those pages with more beautiful ship designs, which are already abundant, but it is interesting to see the variety of icons present within the game - something most people, fans or otherwise, would probably overlook.
   
   Let's quickly talk about the ships if we could. They are simply remarkable. All the work put into making each of the game's four factions visually unique from one another is plain to see on the page and that's where it should be. I think any fan of sci-fi ship design would find little if anything to complain about when it comes to the buffet of choices offered in this volume.
   
   The Titans in particular are breathtaking. The one featured on pages 94 and 95 is my favorite. I'd say it was Amarr if I had to guess.
   
   Part Five of the book has me most excited about the game itself. I'm a fan of first-person shooters and I'd like to hope "EVE Online" is moving in a direction that may offer something to me: Ground combat. Having fleshed out space the developers are looking to flesh out the character scale game. Both on space stations and planet side (a game I'm fond of BTW - "Planetside"). If "EVE Online" wants to be a fully function universe (not just a setting) this is a realm of gameplay it should enthusiastically embrace. I think "Battlefield 2142" (and even the aforementioned "Planetside") gives the developers of "EVE Online" some good examples of where sci-fi ground combat can go. This section of the book shows us concept designs of ground- and planet-based vehicles as well as building interiors where it's clear characters are supposed to interact.
   
   So, I think I've made it clear that I'm very happy with this book and I cannot stress enough it's not just for fans of the game. If you like sci-fi art, or just plain `ole good art in general, this is a solid buy.
   
   Leave it open on your coffee table sometime and see who gets attracted to it. It's beautiful and anyone will a pair of functioning eyes will want to check it out.

5 comments about The Complete Guide to Sony's Alpha 100 Digital SLR Camera.

1. I learned more reading the first 75 pages than I had from reading the manual four times! But, I don't know how much is missed because the images are all in B&W and the author refers to the different colors in charts and photos. Still, this book is really excellent. This is my first DSLR and I had only taken 24 pictures in almost two years because I just couldn't understand it.



2. Very good book.
   To figure out by yourself all tricks on Alpha 100 that author provide in this book you would probably need at least a 2-3 years. Strongly recomended. GREAT GUIDE.



3. This is the book that should have came with the camera. Now I have a better feeling how the camera works and how powerful the camera really is. I will be using the "AUTO" setting much less, and only when I don't have time to set anything. A great book.



4. I was surprised that a former rocket scientist could write such a clear, succinct and absolutely useful book. I have tried his suggestions with my a100 and have taken a few pictures I am very proud of. You cannot go wrong with this choice. Hard Copy or downloaded (print pages to take with you on theme shoots).
   
   dateline 3 months later... I have since taken many more pictures with the Sony and Gary's guidance and am still very happy with the outcome.
   
   I even took one of his weekend seminars and came out with much more knowledge than I took in. If you want to move your photography to the next step, check out his schedule on the website when you order.



5. Agreeable w/the other viewer when she said - it pays for itself in the time you'll save in learning how to use your new camera, (its a heck of lot faster than if you're working from the instruction manual alone) and you'll enjoy it so much more. This book is awesome, Gary Friedman is a genius and heaven sent. I finally found a resource material that helps me understand what I need to know about the basics of photography and how to best enjoy the camera. I would recommend it to any Alpha owner out there. Very concise yet very easy to understand. The amounts of insights, hints, tips and clues in every section covered every single question I had in my mind since I bought my A100 and opened a whole new horizon for my photography. Don't waste your valuable time on the manual that came w/the Alpha, get this one immediately!!

3 comments about Stacked Decks: The Art and History of Erotic Playing Cards.

1. Interesting topic, interesting book. Good images, but resolution could be better. If you are into fine photography and a collector of cards this book is a good reference of this subject. Every card collector should consider getting a copy of this book. Emphasis is on the fine art and attractive models, and historic approach. A nice book worth the price.



2. Mark Rotenberg is the obvious choice to do a book on pin-up playing cards, the intro says the contents are from his 450 decks (the world's biggest collection? Probably!). There isn't too much to say about a product that has very few clues about the models, photographers, printers yet over the years the numbers manufactured must run into the millions of packs. Of the 452 cards in the book the majority show anonymous females in predictably unimaginative stock glamour poses that card printers could buy for next to nothing.
   
   I thought the illustrative cards much more interesting. There are a few showing the paintings of Heinz Villiger, Joyce Ballantyne, Al Moore and Gil Elvgren. Strangely no Petty or Vargas decks, were the reproduction rights too expensive? The best cards in the book are surely the two decks put out in 1955 by Parisian manufacturer Editions Philibert who commissioned artist Paul-Emile Becat to paint a series of miniatures showing erotic Florentine life during the Renaissance and another set about Casanova. When compared to these two decks the book's photo glamour material come across as the tacky cards they really are.
   
   It is unfortunate that the book's production is very dull. The cards are presented full on, with none angled or overlapping each other. The addition of a drop shadow would have given them a lift. As most of the cards are visually unimaginative perhaps a few still-life photos throughout the book would provide some interest: a poker hand on a card table with some chips, a scattered deck of cards as a background with four or five prominent. I thought it was particular annoying that so many cards are shown larger than the originals (and some really are too big) which only emphasizes their cheap subject matter and poor printing.
   
   If there had been more creative input in the way the contents had been presented I think this could have been a much more interesting book.
   
   ***FOR AN INSIDE LOOK click 'customer images' under the cover.



3. Stacked Decks is fabulous! There are many, many pages of kitschy, campy 1940s through 70s "nudie" cards, featuring both photos and illustrations. Some are sweet in that girl-next-door way, some are sexy and sultry (or even a bit slutty), and some are just plain hilarious! There are also some really old cards dating back to the 1800s and some fascinating history. It's a perfect present for anyone who loves poker or is interested in pin-up art.

5 comments about Walking the Bible: A Photographic Journey.

1. Book was very interesting and useful in explaining the culture diffrences in the region.



2. I purchased this book last year as a Christmas gift for my grandmother. The photos are lovely and the accompanying text proved just right for a non-reader - interesting captions and short readable paragraphs, nothing lengthy. She was very happy with it and later said it was "beautiful and interesting to read and look through". Several of us enjoyed looking through it on Christmas day, and we were all impressed with it overall.



3. We bought this book for my father-in-law. My husband was skeptical because he wasn't sure he would have the time to read a book. My 8-year-old daughter looked through the whole book before we wrapped it, exclaming on just about every page, "Oh, this is so beautiful!" and then said, "This will be okay for Grandad, it's mostly pictures." He did seem to like it on Christmas Day



4. This book is a great companion to Walking the Bible book or CD set



5. WALKING THE BIBLE: A PHOTOGRAPHIC JOURNEY could also have been featured in our Spirituality section: it's reviewed here for its striking photo impact so that artists don't miss the value of its presentation. It's a companion volume to the new PBS series on its way: in 2004 Feiler reprised the 10,000 mile walk through the Middle East deserts which led to his WALKING THE BIBLE. This photographic odyssey blends stunning photos - many taken by Feiler - with a survey of Biblical places and landscapes. A striking visual panorama, not to be missed.
   
   Diane C. Donovan
   California Bookwatch

5 comments about AirCraft: The Jet as Art.

1. This book has the very best set of aircraft photographs I have ever seen. The precision the photographer used in perfectly focusing, exposing and framing the subjects is astonishing. You can literally see the rivets on the aircraft, and as an aviation photographer, I can tell you that is a very difficult accuracy to achieve.
   
   I was reluctant to buy a book containing pictures of only the underside of airplanes. I thought "There must be other photos, too. Who would ever shoot only the bottom of an airplane?" Well, the bottoms are all you'll see, but wow, are they interesting. I love this book.
   
   This book is for you if you want to see:
   1. Astonishing photography. The exposure is wonderful. You can easily make out detail in the wheel wells, as well as the underside of the fuselage and wings
   2. A very detailed look at the underside of 100 commercial aircraft (and maybe 3 front views) revealing all of the seams, doors, probes, slats, flaps, and landing gear (all the pictures are in the full landing configuration, shot on final approach)
   
   However, this book has absolutely no text, other than the name of the aircraft on each page. So, if you want to read about the features of the aircraft or get information about the airline industry, this book won't do that for you. Also, if you want pictures of the "livery" of airliners, you won't see that here, either, except for the little bit that is on the underside of the jets.



2. How refreshing to come across a technology art book. Artists, of course, have realized the beauty of the machine for decades, especially with the Modernist movement in Europe during the Twenties and Thirties. Charles Sheeler was perhaps the leading American photographer to appreciate the exciting visual form of technology. Now photographer (and designer because he did the book's layout) Jeffrey Milstein brings it bang up to date with these stunning photos of jet bottoms.
   
   I thinks it's worth saying that if you like the technical detail aspect of aircraft maybe this book isn't for you but if you want to see crisp, precise photos of contemporary jets from a very unusual angle you'll enjoy the forty-two shown in these pages. There are some profile shots and seven front-on ones but neither of these can capture the fascination of the undersides.
   
   The book is a treat to look through thanks to the square twelve inch by twelve format with the jets handsomely printed (in 250dpi) on good paper. There is a visual extravaganza of a double foldout (to forty-six inches across) of the 'Indian Princess' Virgin Atlantic Airbus A340-600 so if you ever sat in the window seat on the right-hand side of this particular jet here's a rather unusual flight memento for you. My only criticism is that the list of aircraft on a spread in the back is alphabetical rather than page number sequence and some spreads, amazingly, have no numbers.
   
   A second volume Jeffrey?
   
   ***FOR AN INSIDE LOOK click 'customer images' under the cover.
   
   



3. I like this book because it presents something we always see but never take the time to really look at. It transforms the ordinary into the extraordinary. By omitting everything except the orthogonal view of the plane, we are able to see new aspects of its design. Get a copy.



4. For the passenger aircraft enthusiast, this is an amazing book. The author/photographer has captured, from a very consistent angle, the landing configuration of passenger aircraft that are flying today. The excellent photographs of each plane have been set against a white background that eliminates the distraction of any other surrounding elements and focuses one's view on the plane itself. A very interesting study of passenger aircraft, each photograph reveals details and the differences in wing shape, flaps in landing configuration, nacelle shape, landing gear, navigation lights, etc. that are otherwise only seen in fleeting moments when one is lucky enough to have a plane fly directly overhead just seconds before touchdown. Again, an amazing book!



5. The book provided an interesting perspective, but I guess I expected a mixture of interiors and exteriors.