5 comments about Ready to Roll: A Celebration of the Classic American Travel Trailer.

1. This book has a fine combination of beautiful photos and well written text about an American niche. There are stories and examples from all over America that give a glimpse of the joy of seeing the world from a home away from home.



2. I have a weakness for books on architecture and interior decorating anyway. But this is the one I turn to again and again. For those of us with Champaign tastes and beer budgets, a vintage trailer is ulimately doable. Own your own piece of modernist archeture, albeit on wheels, even though you could never touch a Mies or Wright. When ever I try to figure out what to do with my 1957 Sportcraft (a classic silver-clad "canned ham"), I flip through these pages. I always find something inspiring.



3. This is an incredible wealth of information for anyone interested in architecture, travel trailers, and Americana in general. Lovely photography is augmented by nicely coordinated text. Some redundancy is my only criticism.
   
   Bob



4. An architect and a photographer co-authored this classic mix of pix and text that rolls us down the American back roads in high style. From the early almost-train cars manufactured for the wealthy, to the poor man's alternative --- "Sleep in Your Car," one ad suggests --- we are drawn along by the fantasy of life fully lived away from home, a fantasy that could only have taken root in America, where roads and cars grew up together in serendipitous symbiosis.

   Before the metal bodies and custom interiors, there had been the Conestoga wagons and, before that, the wooden gypsy vardos of old Europe. Sheepherders had "arks" made for crawling across the lonesome prairie, precursors to "tin can tourism" that attracted freedom-loving Americans almost as soon as they discovered the practicality of the auto itself.

   From the 1930s onward, the question was not if they would buy it but what shape they would purchase, as independent companies vied for a market share, assembling campers shaped like teardrops, bread loaves and fantastical avian forms lifted from the burgeoning airplane industry.

   Today's RVers owe much to Wally Byam, a true fanatic whose conception of a trailer accessible to the average middle-class family resulted in the Airstream, arguably the finest development of the pull-along format. With wood paneled mod cons within and an aerodynamic metal bullet exterior, the Airstream divorced trailering from the Oakie image and spawned many imitators. While confections like the Curtiss Aerocar and Pierce Arrow's faux railcar sought the aristocratic end of the market, and utilitarian itsy-bitsy tent-trailer combos attracted the low budget traveler, Airstream sat doggedly in the middle, offering class, ease of hauling and fine workmanship at an affordable price. "Today, more than four decades after his death in 1962, Byam's basic Airstream design continues to roll off the Jackson Center production lines, still widely regarded as the Rolls-Royce of trailers, and still inspiring imitations."

   For nearly fifty years in the heyday of over-the-road vacationing, there was a Very Large Array of metal boxes on wheels, with names like Comet, Gypsy Wagon, Spartanette and Airfloat, and some more durable brands like Shasta. Because these ephemeral blips on the trailering screen were often handcrafted and built, remarkably, to last, many are still rolling or at least set up on blocks in mint condition, alluringly photogenic.

   Gellner and Keister sought them out and tastefully snapped their innards and their outer skins, along with the cars that pull them. Where the snowbirds flock, these metal bubbles proliferate, often hauled by cars of equal interest to collectors. Now there's a new craze, and why are we not surprised --- that of building "vintage" campers, look-alikes to the old timey road runners of the early 20th century. Is this true "camp" or what?

   Peering inside these metal marvels, via the camera's eye, we get a feeling for what was considered essential to the traveler in times past: parquet flooring, lounge chairs, recessed doors and plastic laminate kitchen counters, the latest thing. Beginning as a simple imitation of home interior design, trailer construction soon became a playground for experimentation in the technology of the tiny, the art of making things work smoothly in cramped quarters without skinning knuckles or having to sleep in a ball.

   Like millions of Americans, I've followed the camper craze, the boondoggling and midnight interstate rest area getaways. I've moved with the carnival where homes on wheels have to be durable for the weekly hops. Maybe when I retire I'll look for a campsite at Slab City in California or Quartzite, Arizona.

   If you love this book, then you're the guy for me. You and I could hit the high spots --- starting at Braden's Castle in Reno (that's where we'll get married), then on to Shady Dell in Bisbee, Arizona, where overnight guests can stay in vintage trailers. We'll honeymoon there in the Spartan Royal Mansion.

   --- Reviewed by Barbara Bamberger Scott




5. Ready to Roll: A celebration of the Classic American Travel Trailer
   Although I am admittedly a bit biased because of Tin Can Tourists' association with Dough Keister and this project, I found the book to be top notch. The blend of Arrol Gellner's text with Doug's pictures provides the reader with much more than a typical "coffee table" book.
   I believe it deserves a place with Galloping Bungalows and Wheel Estate as a must for those that require a fuller understanding of the RV evolution from the Tin Can Tourists to Airstream Founder, Wally Byam.

3 comments about Mastering Digital Wedding Photography.

1. I still haven't finished it but i find this book awesome!!!
   
   I referred to it after seing Mark Ridout's website. It contains lots of pratical tips about both wedding photography business and wedding photography itself.
   
   Go for it!



2. There is a lot of good information for the beginning photographer getting into the wedding business. I like the way that the wedding day is broken into segments and details what the photographer and crew need to do to stay on top of the event. I would like to see more alternative programs or methods to accomplish the finishing touches. The book compares iview and lightroom and gave good coverage to both. There was limited coverage to the use of the internet to share photos. The mention of fotofusion as an alternative to using photoshop for collage layouts is good advice.
   There are some typos in the book but they do not take away from the overall message in the book. I am now just getting back into wedding photography after an absence of several years. The book has been great in detailing how the art of the wedding photographer has changed.
   I recommend this book for anyone who wants to get an in depth overview of wedding photography as an occupational choice.



3. I generally like books from the Thomson's digital photography series. Their books are typically lucid, well illustrated, and informative. Karney's book fits well into the Thomson series. He brings his expert, professional knowledge to the craft of wedding photography, focusing primarily on the technical aspects of the profession.
   
   But keep in mind Karney's book is a general guide about wedding photography. If you already have such a book, you probably won't learn too much different in this one. He introduces the basics of choosing camera and software related equipment, setting up and carrying out a wedding shoot, and processing the photos after you've shot the wedding.
   
   Specific chapters include: Equipment Matters, Computers and Software (main focus on PC and Windows users. No Mac examples present), Setting Up a Website, Getting Ready for the Big Day, Making Creative and Fun (this section could be expanded), and Proofing, Selling, and Printing.
   
   He primarily shares and explains the tools he uses, such as iView Media Pro iView MediaPro 3 (Win/Mac) and Photodex ProShow. He doesn't delve into the latest popular software like Adobe Lightroom Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 1.0 Win/Mac or Apple's Aperture Apple Aperture 1.5. But the workflow process he introduces could apply to almost any digital management system.
   
   The book is well illustrated and even contains a few useful camera tutorials that every photography should either know about or learn. In fact, it would be great to see Karney write an entire book of these types of tutorials.
   
   Cons: The book is lacking in a few areas. I felt he should have spent more time on photo technique and style. You will certainly need to check out other books on this subject. And many of the photos included in the book, while very nice, don't always illustrate the points he's making on a particular page. For example, all the tutorials could have used photos to illustrate what he is instructing readers to do. I also think he could have included more about how Photoshop actions useful to wedding photographers. PS actions are huge time savers for anyone in the business. And finally, the business aspects wedding photography are not well introduced in this book, but again you can find more information in other books about this topic. Check out Best Business Practices for Photographers
   
   Overall, though, the book is one of many that a serious beginning photographer should read. I've read better ones than this, but I do appreciate the information and experience Karney shares in his book. I highly suggest getting this or a similar book if you're just starting out in the profession and you're looking for ideas and suggestions from a pro.

5 comments about Photo/Stoner: The Rise, Fall, and Mysterious Disappearance of Surfing's Greatest Photographer.

1. Stoner was an up and coming photographer. Too bad about the drugs and his eventual disappearance and finally declared dead some years ago. Alot of good people were lost to drugs in the early days..time just stopped for many in the surfing business..many just could not adjust to change and older age. So it goes!



2. There are people in this world...maybe you know a few of them...maybe you are one of them...who don't really seem to fit in with things of this world. They are driven by maddness or inspiration or both and bring forth things to this world that can never be replicated.
   
   Such is the art of Ron Stoner.
   
   I call his photography art because that is exactly what it is. It captures more than a sport that is, for the most part, widely misunderstood by the majority and goes straight into the salty depths of its soul and lets you in on the secret that most surfers understand; that the ocean is just a symbol of something even greater and riding the waves is simply done out of appreciation and respect for that something greater.
   
   And just like you can look at a Van Gogh or a Matisse and feel something within bursting forth, you can look at a Ron Stoner photograph and feel yourself melting into a world that is very, very Real but not too many of us actually frequent. It is the middle-ground...the veil between the seen and the unseen...the bridge between heaven and earth and even if you but receive the tiniest glimpses of its Reality, you will never ever be the same
   
   ...and why would you want to be?
   
   Surfers exude a raw kind of spirituality. They seem to have a "knowing" that there is a magic to life...that "walking" on the water is the most normal thing there is...that all limitation comes from a shallow sense of self and begs release. Maybe it's because this group of people literally soak themselves in the primal soup where God Itself stirred the waters with Its Firey Imagination and created Life Itself.
   
   And like the Living Spirit, everything beneath the surface is Forever, Eternal, Infinite, Beautiful. Even now you are breathing in and out bits and pieces of original life. Even now you are aligned with the Mind of Creation who without hesitation spews forth the invincible invisible.
   
   I like to believe Ron Stoner remembered this and took photos as though he was trying to capture not just the sport and the art of surfing, but something that transcends time and space and rises to meet with the Eternal Grace that is forever making all things new, whole, and holy. He saw through a Divine Lense and captured things on film that leave you shaking your head and giggling silently to yourself out of sheer joy. It's too bad that Stoner could not fully grasp the Truth of his art/his life.
   
   Why did Ron Stoner dissappear into the shadows of maddness?
   Why did Van Gogh?
   Why do any of us?
   
   Why do some people burst forth with so much creativity in a relatively short period of time and then dissappear into the stillness of the night?
   
   I don't know and I don't pretend to know.
   
   Maybe they give the rest of us something to strive for. Not in the outer world, but in the realms of the hidden heart. Maybe they weren't mad or crazy but just frustrated that the world could not understand true passion and authentic love and original innocence which is deep within us all and for the most part, completely forgotten.
   
   The sun goes down on us all- but like the waves of the sea- we all come out of something bigger than ourselves and even though we like to pretend we're separate from this Infinite Source of Power and Beauty, True Art, like the art Ron Stoner left us with, gets us to remember very, very quickly that we aren't.
   
   I love this book.
   
   Peace & Blessings,
   john, "the Light Coach"



3. Great book with some of the best captured photos that Stoner ever did and I am sure more exist. The narratives and forward were great and not long winded which made for a great reading experience. If you surfed during that era this is a must.



4. I bought this for my girlfriend and sent it to her work. I also sit on an exercise ball while at work. Helps with posture and core strength. My girlfriend enjoyed the pink weights she could toss around while at her desk.



5. Wow! Excellent job Matt Warshaw and Jeff Divine.
   The Story of Ron Stoner is beautiful and tragic.
   What a great time in surfing, 1965-1968, pre shortboard,
   pre-leash and pre-Gidget. Perfect waves with just you and your buddy.
   Soul surfing. Imagine being silly and having fun in the lineup, with
   maneuvers like "Standing Island pullout", and "The coffin".
   
   Stoner had a great eye. His sense of balance and composition is
   evident in every photo. I showed the book to my friend who
   is a Hollywood Cinematographer, and he called Stoner's photography,
   "Top notch".
   
   The reader may be left with many questions;
   Why did Stoner take way too much LSD?
   Why didn't Stoner's "friends" help him until it was too late?
   Why did the mental hospital give him 50,000 volts 20 times?
   Maybe everyone was way too naive...
   
   Though the book was well researched, I wanted more info on
   the above questions. Warshaw takes the high road and avoids
   blaming anyone. Having grown up and surfed in Orange County in the 70's just after behind Stoner, I wonder if his being an inlander made
   him dispensable to his group of "friends".
   
   
   Perhaps this story sat idle for 30 years due to a collective sense of
   loss and guilt. Would Ron Stoner have been treated differently if he was from a beach town instead of being an "inlander" from Pasadena?
   I don't know, I wasn't there at the time.
   
   I had such visceral reactions from the elegant and empty waves,
   that I found myself moaning when I looked at each photograph,
   and my wife accused me of looking at porn.
   
   Man, they had it good back then! Those days of discovery and isolation
   of perfect waves are very hard to find these days, if not impssible.
   Just like Ron Stoner. Great story.
   
   Dave Silva
   Sevenhorses@inbox.com

No comments about The World From My Front Porch.

5 comments about A Practical Guide to Stage Lighting.

1. I love this book, a must for any one interested in the running out a show behind a lightboard. Very useful!!! A+



2. This is hands-down the best book I've ever read regarding the process of designing and executing a lighting design. Other books do wonderful jobs of discussing instruments and electrical aspects, or how to create a design, but very few discuss the day-to-day paperwork and personal interactions involved in getting that design executed. This book addresses that subject thoroughly, discussing what documents to create, how to schedule time in the theatre, how to work with all the other folks involved in creating a production, and so on. Highly recommended.



3. I would say this is NOT the first book to buy or read for someone wanting to learn stage lighting design. The books does not cover the basic theories.

   But - it offers a very good guide to the real-world contraints and demands of lighting. The author give very concrete and useful suggestions and advice. Analysing a complete design ('Hokey') step-by-step is a clever move. It is also the perfect book for those who want learn how to accurately document their designs to last nut and bolt. Even with my 20+ years in lighting and lighting design, I found this book a worthwhile addition to my collection of lighting textbooks.




4. Get This Book! This book has everything a aspiring lighting designer needs. Shelley clearly shows his thoughts with clear illustrations. The first page is his complete lighting design for a show!!Buy It!



5. "A Practical Guide to Stage Lighting" is destined to become the definative source of instruction in the field of theatrical lighting. With the books emphasis on the process of light design it gives the reader the tools necessary to create the art. Whether your goal is to become a good stage electrician or a good designer the explainations in this book will allow you to work and communicate quickly and efficiently during that precious time allotted for load-in, hang and focus.

   Steve Shelley, by taking a chronological approach to light design, illustarates exactly what goes into a successful design. He defines his terms, explains why he does things, and provides anecdotes and insights that make the book entertaining and easy to read.

   The final section of the book on how to focus lights will teach you more about creating and implementing a light design than any other book you have, can or will read.

5 comments about Madeleine Vionnet.

1. Es lo mejor que he tenido , el libro de un diseñador donde estan patrones, diseños y fotos...que mas se puede pedir!
   Ojala se hicieran mas libros como este .
   España,profesion: patronista



2. This is an outstanding book on a revolutionary designer. Wonderful photos, and "patterns" from the clothing. the only problem is Kirke never bothers to tell you what the scale is, so making these patterns is almost impossible. Her directions for making the patterns are laughable. The patterns are white lines on black. Why include patterns if you aren't going to put them in a usable form? There are people out there who can and have made clothing from this book. You will have to be very smart and well trained to do so. that said it is still one of the best books on a fashion designer I have seen.
   
   Maybe Kirke will redesign the book with the pattern section properly done. Then the book would be worth more then $100.



3. This book is even better than I hoped. The photographs are stellar and for some designs - a bird's eye view of the pattern peices are included. Try to wrap your head around those non-conventional cutting techniques! I bought this for myself but this would be an excellent gift for someone interested in Fashion History, Fashion Design, Fine / Decorative Arts, etc. Super-Gorgeous book!



4. A great book on Vionnet's work and life. It has a lot of sewing patterns with instuctions from the WWI era to late 1930's; the patterns include day and evening dresses and frocks, capes and coats, slips and pajamas. Plus there a lot more pictures of Vionnet's clothing. The perfect gift for a fashion student. It is a pity that you do not hear so much about her.



5. This book is an absolute dream right through from the beautiful hard cover to the wonderful photographs, history and patterns. I am a Designer/Patternmaker and is the most beautiful book I have ever bought on fashion. Betty Kirke has put a lot of love and care into this treasure and any student of fashion, especially patternmaking and draping has to purchase this and learn a whole lot about bias cutting.

5 comments about Locker Room Nudes / Dieux du Stade: The French National Rugby Team.

1. There really isn't much to say but GO RUGBY!!! This book has some of the most gorgeous bodies in it!!!



2. The pictures are terrific and capture the beauty of men in their element. I enjoy introducing the book to girlfriends of mine who appreciate men. I highly recommend this book!



3. I gave this to my partner for Christmas and of all of the presents that I gave him, many much much more expensive, this was his favorite. It is truly a hot hot book. It's a must by if you are into "sporn".



4. This collection of pictures taken by Fancois Rousseau of athletic men is a wonderful presentation of his eye for beauty. The photos presented herein are the culmination of his captivating photo shoots documented in the making of the 2004 Dieux du Stade calendar DVD. Many shots from that film are handsomely displayed within the grand pages of this quality pressed book. The men are richly captured within black and white photography that gives them artistic beauty, with shadows that reflect off them offering some intriguing mystery.From the dreamy close-up facial pictures, to the wondrous nude forms, to even the shots of the bare locker room with muddy footprints and a barren field of play, Fancois Rousseau gives us a look through his keen eyes to what all the athletes have to offer, especially a love for their form.These athletic men are gorgeously photographed and are meant to be admired for their overall form; their faces and bodies are meant to steal your eyes, and not be given the same kind of treatment as an erotically charged photoshoot. Oh, there are scenes of eroticism, but it's a testament to Fancois Rousseau's talent that he can always pull it off with taste. There are very few instances of photography to match the class given to these men of sport.If you keep this in mind, and admire the photography for its beauty and not for its lack of frontal shots, you will come to see the men, and the book, as a great assemblage of male beauty. I simply cannot recommend this book enough, especially if you enjoyed the 2004-2005 making of the Dieux du Stade calendar DVDs, as there is no reason you should put off getting this as an accompaniment to those two great features.



5. As well as a vivid pictorial of antomical perfection of the French National Rugby League, this stunning expose lends the gifted eye of this photograher's protrayal of natural lockeroom brawn, and has captured as noted, raw and natual splendor in the male physique. And of course a dream book, of sorts, for a many fan's of the sport and male physique in perfection. In itself, this worthy publicaton proves that the athletic male form, in it's unwavering splendor, can make a marvelous subject matter for a serious collector as well as your coffee table collection, as it throws eye candy to the needy masses of skin in it's ultimate form. Possible' to pull out at your latest soire as it is a Splendidly Bound and Jacketed Publication worthy of a Collector's Shelf.
   Yes it is that good, (gasp, even signed my Madonna offering her own praise) and YES the French have such attitude, as you will see those piercing eye stare, eyebrows flare and pillow lips are poised...as I say...Embrassez-moi vous imbécile.....Appréciez!!

5 comments about Whiskey Tango Foxtrot: A Photographer's Chronicle of the Iraq War.

1. For a photo journal the print quality is not great with pixels visual in some of the photos. Also some are disrupted by the spinal crease as the photo is spread over 2 pages.



2. IN A WORD,OUTSTANDING! I DONT KNOW HOW THE AUTHOR GOT THE TITLE BY THE CENSORS. VERY CLEVER USE OF THE PHONETIC ALPHABET.TO THOSE WHO ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE MILITARY VERNACULAR IT SHOULD RAISE AN EYE. THE TITLE MADE ME TAKE A DOUBLE-TAKE ON THE SHELF AND I HAD TO BUY IT.THE CONTENT IS OUTSTANDING, AND THE PHOTOS BRING BACK VERY VIVID IMAGES OF THE SANDBOX.



3. What a breathtakingly vivid reflection of what we'd all sooner forget. This is an exquisite, painfully detailed collection of photos and text. Capa-worthy certainly. I can't wait to see what will come of such intense and exciting talent.



4. "Whiskey Tango Foxtrot: A Photographer's Chronicle Of The Iraq War" is a compilation of photojournalist Ashley Gilbertson's photographic record of the occupation of Iraq with special emphasis on the battle of Falluja in 2004. Providing the reader with a photographic album chronicling America's early battles in Iraq, the initial occupation of Baghdad, the insurgency that subsequently erupted, Falluja, and the first national elections following the fall of Saddam, "Whiskey Tango Foxtrot" provides captioned snapshots of conflict, celebration, grief, and other iconic moments. As a war-time photo documented history of special interest to anyone interested in America's involvement in the Iraq war, "Whiskey Tango Foxtrot" is an impressive body of work and a recommended addition to personal, professional, academic, and community library Photography collections.



5. This is one of the most beautiful photography books I've seen -- the work is fantastic and the design of the lay-out makes it even more engaging. The writing is also extremely well done and fleshes out the story to make the book even more moving. Excellent work.

5 comments about The Complete Book of Hairstyling.

1. This book reminds me more of a teen magazine than an adult, "get the job done" book. The pictures seemed more intent on selling figures than hair. There are some good tips on how to do hair, but not on styles and step-by-step procedures. I am returning the book.



2. Initially I ordered this book for myself but the styles were complicated as well as geared to bridal looks and I was looking for everyday looks. I gave it to my daughter who is getting married in June.



3. I liked this book because it has some good hairstyles and hair care tips and techniques but for the size of the book I thought it would have a lot more hairstyles than it did. and I dont really like the whole storyline of the four girls either. so I give it a four. now im looking for a book thats just hairstyles and techniques with step by step insructions. What I thought this book would be like.



4. I am doing my own hair for my wedding. This book has a wedding section so I thought it would work. It did not.
   
   Unless you like the kind of hairstyles that are impossible to maintain and that you only see on a runway model, do not buy this book. The majority of the styles are odd and not for every day life. If you are the kind of woman who doesn't believe in spending more than 25 minutes on your hair, Do Not buy this book. These styles take at least an hour to complete and are very hard to do at all.
   
   There is one good thing about this book. It does give good advise on coloring and conditioning. So, if that is what you are looking for, do buy it.
   
   This book led me to believe I was purchasing a hairstyle book. In reality it is only good for hair treatment, because of the unrealistic quality of the styles that they offer.



5. Basic hair care/styling advice throughout the book, very good for someone who wants more general knowledge on hair products, styles, how to take care of but it wasn't very detailed.
   
   there was a cute story throughout the book of 4 friends living their lives and each chapter related a hair issue to what information about hair was written next. for example one chapter a girl was going on vacation so there was advice on what to do with your hair when traveling.
   
   fantastic pictures, especially in the wedding section beautiful hair styles
   
   the book was very well put together and is a nice, enjoyable read...I finally learned what exactly a chignon was and how to create it!

5 comments about Inferno.

1. uN GRAN TRABAJO DE JAMES NATCHWEY, IMAGENES UN POCO DURAS Y QUE DAN QUE PENSAR.



2. It's a good book, very large and with very good quality paper. But my book has damaged in the us mail with water and broken corners.



3. Its ironic that I came across this beautiful book the day before Thanksgiving. I will always be grateful and never complain again. Not many will be able to stomach the contents of this groundbreaking work.
   
   God help us all.



4. This book is not made to be placed in every hands. But everyone old enough to face the sad reality and the ugly side of the human kind should have a look at it.



5. I have owned this book for roughly four years now and somehow manage to revisit it at least twice a year. The images are hauntingly beautiful. Nachtwey has a real gift for photography, for capturing that perfect image, with the perfect contrast, stark, naked and vivid. I feel as if I have been not merely an onlooker of these devastatingly breathtaking images, but as though I have been there.
   
   Inferno was the first exposure to Nachtwey I had had, and it certainly has not been the last. His work is amazing.