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.

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 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.

5 comments about iPhoto 6: The Missing Manual.

1. As a beginner with digital photography,there is a great deal of iPhoto that is intuitive;however,there are so many options and errors that can be made,at least in my limited experience,that this book is a constant reference guide. I previously purchased "Switching to Mac,The Missing Manual",and found it so valuable that I bought this "Missing Manual".This series of books has been both informative and entertaining.



2. Some say lightening can never strike the same place twice. The Missing Manual series proves that wrong. David Pogue and the O'Reilly gang constantly hit the mark and spark creativity and knowledge in a variety of programs.
   
   IPhoto 6 covers absolutely every aspect of digital photography on your Mac, leaving few stones unturned. In order to make sure you get the great photos you need and minimized the editing needed in iPhoto, Derrick Story and David Pogue make sure you buy the right digital camera for your needs and tells you the basics of lighting and composition. After reading that chapter, I looked at my own iPhoto library and understand why I liked certain shots and why others ended up on the digital darkroom floor.
   
   After explaining how to buy a camera and create great photos, the authors take you through the steps of using iPhoto in logical order: importing, managing, outputting and of course backing up. More technical manuals need to do this. Instead of taking you through the features, they take you through the workflow.
   
   The writing was typical of the series: clear, understandable with plenty of screen shots to explain the concepts. While I consider myself an expert on iPhoto, the book was full of subtle tips and tricks to shave hours off my digital photo management.
   
   The strength of the book was definitely the extensive chapters on what to with your photos after they are in iPhoto. Photos are meant to be shared, not locked up in your hard drive. He went over not just the specifics of all the printing options such as photo books and calendars, but also using iMovie, iWeb, and iDVD to share the photos with the world.
   
   The final chapters covered some more advanced options such as AppleScript and Automator. Unlike other Missing Manual books that simply point you to the website to download utilities, Pogue and Story explained some of these programs and how they can help you expand your iPhoto capabilities. The Appendix was definitely the icing on the cake handling practically every iPhoto error and it's solution, as well as walking you through the basics of every iPhoto menu command and its implications.
   
   My only complaint was somewhat weak coverage on desktop printing of photos. I always get confused about the way to feed the photo paper and how to configure settings to get the proper output. iPhoto, the printer's software, the printer, and Mac OS X must all be in alignment to print properly. These days, I simply upload it to the drugstore website and print it there. Printing to services other than Apple's wasn't really covered either.
   
   While iPhoto basics are simple and quick to learn, "iPhoto 6 the Missing Manual" helps you become the hands down master of digital photos on your Mac. Others will tremble in fear of your massive knowledge after reading this book cover to cover.
   
   Pros: Covers every aspect of digital photography and makes everyone an iPhoto wiz.
   Cons: Needed more coverage of desktop and third party printing of photos.



3. ANY question you might have, any project you might conjure up.....this book has all the answsers in the most easy format. A must have if you have an iMac and a digital camera!



4. Might not have much for experienced power users - but for me as a Mac newcomer it did the trick. iPhoto is easy to use and most things you can figure out by yourself, but this book is a big timer saver in doing so and has also some tips that you otherwise might not have figured out



5. Do you need help with your photography skills? If you do, then this book is for you. Authors David Pogue and Derrick Story, have done an outstanding job of writing a book that is designed to serve as the iPhoto manual.
   
   Pogue and Story, begin by covering buying, using, and exploiting your digital camera. Then, the authors cover the fundamentals of getting your photos into iPhoto. Organizing and filing them, searching them, and editing them to compensate for weak lighting. Next, they cover the many ways iPhoto can present those photos to other people. Finally, the authors cover a miscellaneous potpourri of additional iPhoto features, including: turning photos into screen savers or desktop pictures on your Mac; exporting the photos in various formats; using iPhoto plug-ins and accessory programs; managing Photo Libraries; backing up your photos using iPhoto's Burn to CD command; and, even getting photos to and from camera phones and Palm organizers.
   
   This most excellent book provides an invaluable grounding in professional photography. Perhaps more importantly, this book gives you all you need to know about digital photography!

1 comments about Alec Soth: Dog Days Bogota.

1. I am so clearly biased, as my wife and i adopted a baby girl from Bogota, Colombia in February of 2007. These images were part of our journey, adn speak to us on a very personal level. But, having shared the book with many non-adoptive friends and aquaintences, I know they speak to them as as well.
   
   An amazing project I highly recommend!

1 comments about Steve McQueen: A Life in Pictures.

1. 'A Life in Pictures' is a bit misleading as the title. Yes, there are several photos spanning McQueen's acting career, but it is hardly comprehensive. For every rare photo (or color version), there is a familiar one (some published a few years ago in the excellent book of McQueen photos by William Claxton). For some reason, the photos are not in chronological order which can be a bit jarring when jumping from the family pictures of McQueen from the 1960s to the longer haired McQueen of the 1970s. This book is filled with quality photos of Steve McQueen. Most are large, and several are in color. This is a book for someone who is a devoted fan or just wants nice pictures of McQueen in one book.

5 comments about Movie-Star Portraits of the Forties.

1. I bought this book because it reminded me of my mother, who loved the movies. She used to buy the star magazines of the times and cut and pasted three scrapbooks with pictures, some of which I recognized in this book. My kids played with the scrapbooks, which got a little ragged, so I threw them out....oh, the unsentimentality of youth. I would love to have the books now, but since I can't ,Movie-Star Portraits of the Forties comes in a nice second. The pictures are beautiful and even if you don't remember the stars, (I do), you will enjoy the glamour and real sexiness of those movie stars of yore.



2. If you like black and white portraits your at the right book; a source of inspiration for my photography assignment.



3. If you love old style Hollywood photography this book is a must for your collection. My only wish was that it showed some of the lighting and techniques used to take the images. But as far as a straight forward picture book goes even if your not a photographer you'll enjoy the great looks and drama from the past.



4. Beautiful pictures! They sure don't make stars like these anymore. Wonderful glamour shots, men & women. Bygone era but at least we have these gorgeous photos to remember or to discover.



5. if your looking for book with old hollywood glamour pictures
   this is the book for you. You cant go wrong 30+ photos of mostly dead actors and actresses

5 comments about Beaches.

1. I love this book. I keep it out on my coffee table and look at it often. Excellent photographic quality.



2. I received this as a gift and could not wait to get a quiet moment to open this book and escape. I did like the beautiful photos, however found that the author had too many of the same area and could have done so much more. The last pages contained favorite beach areas but did not have any photos which I would of liked. Will go back to the book again someday but not what I was hoping for.



3. This is a beautiful little book that would make a great addition to any ocean lover's collection.



4. I am a beach lover, and as the DVD producer / cameraman of the "Waves: Virtual Vacations" Series here on Amazon.com, this book has been an inspiration to me. The spectacular shots of beaches from around the world are truly extraordinary. Having shot myself hundreds of the best beaches from California, Hawaii, Florida, the Caribbean both with stills and for the DVDs, I can easily say this book is top notch. I highly recommend it. It sits proudly on my desk. And for those who want to see and hear what some of these beaches really feel like, bring this book with you and check out our Waves DVDs here on Amazon.



5. The is a stunning book. The photos come from diverse parts of the globe and diverse coastal landscapes. At first, I was skeptical of the small-ish size. But the photos are very high quality and beautiful to look at. Maybe someday I'll get around to looking at the text?

   Now and then, I pull the book off the shelf and flip through the photos -- an instant retreat to the shore. Great for anyone who loves the sea but can't be there very often.