No comments about Stephen Shore (Contemporary Artists).

5 comments about Cindy Sherman: The Complete Untitled Film Stills.

1. 
   Cindy Sherman has been called the most important female photographer of the 20th century. You'd never know it if you should happen to run into her on her bicycle in New York. If you've seen her recently, you might have found her riding around with an avid bicyclist and gray haired fellow who used to be in a band....can't remember "the name of this band".
   
   Both Sherman and her beau, David something or another, have been at the forefront of the post or modern avant garde movement. What's striking about Sherman aside from the fact she looks at least a decade younger than she is, is how she blends in, and looks much like a "regular" handsome thirty or forty something (as opposed to my, at least, definition of a "performance artist").
   
   The series of photos in this book are from her early days. In them, I guees she's portraying all the different characters who live in her mind. The range of personas she embodies is bewildering. If you didn't know it was her, you'd think they were photos of a series of different women, and if you didn't know they were staged, or that she's an artist, you'd think they were actresses from a bunch of different 60s movies. The photos are alternately mysterious, profoundly strange and beautiful, always emotionless, and at times hints at hidden eroticism.
   
   She's been riding bikes and opening a more complete retrospective of her work in Europe this spring and early summer, a 300+ page book of which was published in March.
   
   This book is a great introduction to Cindy Sherman. If you like it, go see her show, and buy the new book.



2. At first glance, you might see ordinary, banal photos that resemble out takes from studio stills. Look deeper and you will see works of genius that expose a new way of seeing and exploring the inner self that have been highly influential in the art world. This book has the images that started it all for Cindy Sherman and for that reason, you should start with this book if you want to learn about this artist.
   
   Who will like this book? I think just about anyone with an interest in art or photography would consider this a "must have" book for their personal library. Nothing in this book would embarrass you if you gave it as a gift; it is edgy, but not to the point of weirdness. I just gave a copy to my 10-year-old daughter for inspiration and she really enjoyed it (though probably not at the level of an adult). If you are willing to look, this book will reward you.
   
   Like any great artist, she makes it look easy. Her singular vision is apparent in the location selection, "set" design, makeup and costuming. If you have ever tried to do this yourself, you will respect what she has accomplished. The end result is that Ms. Sherman reveals what she wants us to believe are her innermost thoughts and emotions. Like great cinema, these photos achieve true suspension of disbelief and challenge the viewer's own framework of emotional identity. In the end, we believe.
   
   Arguably, these are the best work ever done by Ms. Sherman. One complaint about her newer work is that it seems to continue to retread the same themes and variations. Sure, her newest works are bigger and colorful in keeping with the latest trends in photography -- personally, my favorites are the images in this book. There is a freshness I don't find in her later work. But this human story, like her imagery, will always continue to be explored by artists as long as there are humans to explore.



3. This book along with the "Centerfolds" hardcover exhibition book provide the essential Cindy Sherman images. The film stills presented here are all in black and white, and her next project "Centerfolds" were all in color. Taken together you get the complete picture on Cindy Sherman.



4. This is a GREAT book. The pages are large and sturdy and show off her artwork well. A huge plus is the introduction written by Sherman...it gives you an inside look at some of the stories behind and the inspirations to some of the photographs. The book features a variety of her work through time. It is arranged very well.



5. great book and great artist. not sure what the person who wrote negative review was comparing it to, but she/he is a freak show who has way too much time on her/his hands. obviously bitter about something...possibly crazy?

5 comments about Dogs.

1. I love everything about this book. The photographs are amazing, and the quotes are sweet and funny. Wonderfully done!



2. As a collector of dog photos and amateur photographer, I enjoyed this book.
   
   The range of breeds included is marvelous as is the volume of photographs included.
   
   The quality of the book (binding, paper) forced me to limit the book to four stars. However, given the price of the book one can still enjoy the content rather than pay through the nose for a huge, glossy, impeccably printed coffee table type book.
   
   If you love or a friend love not just your dog, but all dogs and what dogs mean to our society, this is a worthwhile book.



3. I collect dog photos myself so I love books of old dog photos. This book is fantastic. The pictures are great. Wonderful to look through and read the titles. If you're interested in old dog photos or looking at dog photos in general, you'll love this book!



4. My new book came today from Amazon.com and I love it! Anybody who loves old photography, especially of dogs, will love this book. Caroline Johnson collects amateur snapshots of dogs, this book is a collection of photos from the turn of the century up to the 50's. It also has a smattering of quotes and writings from William Wegman, the worlds best known dog photographer. Phaidon published the book; as an art student I quickly realized what great books they choose to publish, this is no exception. Some might review the faux cloth binding treatment as lesser quality but it is a great price for a 500+ page picture book.
   
   It is especially fun for me to see all the old bulldogs! I think every other page has one. Oh! And all the old boston bulls pictures... They must have been quiet popular during the early days. There is even one picture that has writing on it. It says, "Can you find Pat? He's a Dandy little Toy Boston Bull and a female! Patsy is her right name." Lake Erie Summer 1928. That old pat joke from Saturday Night Live must be much older or it's an inside joke. The image is of a man cradling a Bt marked bulldog.
   
   This will be a treasured addition to my growing collection of books on dogs.
   
   Enjoy! Naomi & Mugsy (Olde Boston Bulldogge)
   [...]



5. I don't agree with these reveiws. I found the book to be cheaply produced, of very low quality and except for a few pohotographs, of really no artistic value. It made me feel as if someone had just gathered a bunch of photos as quickly as they could and stuck them in a book. I was very disappointed and didn't even bother adding it to my library.

No comments about Graciela Iturbide: Juchitan.

5 comments about The Portrait Photographers Posing Guide: How to pose people for portraits.

1. Bad book with suspicious reviews!
   
   I have got many books about posing and portrait photography at about the same price but great works in term of book production, this one though I can not believe I bought it for 18 bucks plus shiping, I think the reviews are unreasonably too good (very suspicious!!), the only reason I did not return it was that my little girle chew on it,
   There are much better books out there regarding posing.
   In terms of paper and the material and production work I doubt it costs more than 2 dollars to produce such a book.



2. This is a marvelous little book. I wanted to do some portrait photography but didn't know where to start. After reading this well written and well ilustrated book I was given a huge amount of information.
   If you want to know how to pose people either individually or in groups this book will give you an enormous amount of information in a short time.
   
   Buy it it's worth a read.



3. Great little book, wish I discovered it earlier.
   It gives great, practical, and most of all very USABLE tips for photography.
   I've been shooting for a few years now and saw a lot of ideas here which are very helpful.
   The drawings illustrate the concept in ways that a photo would not.
   
   Warning though, this is a very QUICK read... which can be both good or bad.
   Its one of those which you wish you borrowed instead of bought.
   At the end of the day, still happy I bought it. :-)



4. Want a handy little guide to help with posing? This one fills the bill. Through the use of cartoon drawings, principles are simplified to help the beginner, or remind the more experienced photographer. The bottom line is that this book is small and simplified enough to go with you and use on the fly.
   
   If you want to go to the next step, I recommend Jeff Smith's book, Posing Techniques for Location Portrait Photography.



5. I've actually made copies that I've plasticized (3.5" x 5.5") so that I can carry those suggestions around. There are plenty of pose ideas for all the type of photos that I take. Besides, it helps the models see exactly what I mean, and saves time.

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 City of Darkness - Life In Kowloon City.

1. I hate to do this, but other buyers should be aware: I have the July 2005 printing (paperback; the only one available from Amazon) and it has the absolute cheapest, flimsiest glue binding I have ever seen on a book. The cover became detached before I was done looking through it the first time, and now that I have looked through it exactly once, the page sections are starting to fall away from the remaining glue strip. And I am being very careful with it. What a disappointment as the photos are stunning, the text and interviews fascinating, and the quality of the photo pages themselves excellent.



2. This book tells a story of a place most people have never heard of and no longer exists, but was the most densely populated place in the entire world at one point. It does it by well-written text, interviews with people that lived in this one-of-a-kind place, and priceless pictures. Google "The walled city of Kowloon", read up on it, and you won't be able to resist getting this book.



3. the book offers great insight in the extreme circumstances under which people lived in the kowloon walled city. superb photografic material covering a wide aspect of the city and relevant text. a must for people interested in urban vernacular architecture.



4. Everyone who I have ever shown this book to has had a deep reaction to it. I wouldn't handicap this book by calling it a photography book alone, although the photos are very powerful and prominent, but the text deserves recognition aswell. Plenty of personal stories of how people made this decaying city their home. Both epic and intimate. A testament of the human animal's ability to adapt and thrive. Thank god the authors got in to Kowloon before its destruction to create this book.
   
   Also, as a side note: Any artist wanting reference material for decaying urban sprawl, look no further. This book makes for great city or science fiction reference, with unbelievable details (electrical boxes, pipes, hallways, stairwells, etc...)



5. I was born in Hong Kong and lived in the Walled City for 2 years with my mother when I was 10. Love the photos, history, and facts about the walled city, bring back lots of memories.

5 comments about In The American West.

1. I am not normally a fan of celebrity portraits, and perhaps moreso in Avedon's case. I find his celebrity work to be somewhat gimmicky, and not typically interesting to me. However, I recently was at B&N and took a look at "Avedon At Work: In The American West" and was very impressed by the photography (although not really by the book itself, which was really about the process, not the photos, besides the book being too expensive for what it was). This made me somewhat upset that all the normal Avedon work they had there was (primarily) his celebrity work, which, while bound and presented in a very interesting way, was not impressive to me visually.
   
   Thus, when Avedon's book "In The American West" popped up on Amazon for me, I was quite thrilled, and since I needed the extra purchase for free shipping anyway, I snatched it up. When it arrived, I was thrilled. The book is large (as large as Schoeller's "Close Up") but is also covered in a plastic sleeve to protect it even further, which is a welcome addition to such a gorgeous book. The cover has a great feel to it, and the pages are all a good weight and clarity. The photos are large, but not so large that you can't take it all while holding the book at arms length. They are detailed, highly personal, and extremely complex and subtle. They are what good portraits are. In the beginning and end of the book, it has a few pages of text talking about the overall project, and some specific people, however it keeps it separate from the images, which I find to be better, since you can then simply go through the images and view them as they are, without any other context or distraction. The only accompanying text for each photo is a brief caption including name, date taken, and occupation or title (Drifter, Oil Field Worker, etc.). While often they are predictable, there are a few captions that truly add a new depth to the image they are attached to.
   
   Overall this is a great book. It is unusual to find such high quality, large printed books for a great price like this, and so if you're considering, you should not pass this up.



2. Avedon's post-celebrity period, arguably more poignantly presented in this publication than in any other of his works, is a real mark of his maturity as a portraitist. This is a high quality, candid, provacative and haunting record of the liminal characters of the American west, a project Avedon himself said he would have been happy spending the rest of his life completing. Essential reading for aspirant or active professional portraitists.



3. People like to say Avedon strips down everything, background and context and props and even shadow, but that's not really true, each of these portraits contains the pieces of a really complex narrative, and these people come to life in ways that are simultaneously erotic and sad, flamboyant and inarticulate, haughty and humiliated.



4. If you like portraits this book is for you. The images are all the same: white background and a person looking in the camera. Take your time to look at it. Focus on the faces and eyes and you will understand the power behind these images. That is what Avedon was looking for. A book with no wording, but who needs words when an image can say 1000 words?



5. I recently attended a gallery showing of some of these spectacular photographs at Stanford University. It was a real treat to be able to purchase a book to remind me of the experience. Very moving show.

5 comments about The Hand of God: Thoughts and Images Reflecting the Spirit of the Universe.

1. This work brings home the grandeur of our universe (and the creator behind it) as best as any book, video or special I have ever seen. The quotes from theologians, astronomers and prophets that accompany the images do not all point to a singular philosophy or faith, so do not be too hasty to write this tome off as a religious work or creationist propaganda. The photo prints are of superb quality and the quotations are well matched. My personal favorite quote is found on page 128, next to an image of a cluster of Massive Infant Stars: "I find it as difficult to understand a scientist who does not acknowledge the presence of a superior rationality behind the existence of the universe as it is to comprehend a theologian who would deny the advances of science. And there is certainly no scientific reason why God cannot retain the same relevance on our modern world that he held before we began probing His creation with telescope, cyclotron and space vehicles." -Wernher Braun
   This text is also a fresh reminder that while popular, secular science writers often demonstrate a lack of wonder and exaggerate the claims of their theories, the real scientists, the Einsteins, Newtons and Keplers, regarded themselves as full of wonder and mere children who had stumbled upon a few pretty pebbles upon the ocean's beach (a paraphrase from Abraham Heschel's "A Philosophy of Judaism"). Regardless of your personal faith proclivities, if you understand that no human has all the answers (and perhaps not even very many) you will enjoy this book, guaranteed.



2. This excellent collection of pictures from space presents an awesome and inspiring view of space through many of the Hubble photos accompanied by pertinent and profound quotes from thinking peple.
   
   It is a marvelous and thought-provoking encounter with the heavens regardless of your religious views.
   
   I have given it to my children and friends and received 5-star responses from all who see it.



3. I am not one to give praise easily. In fact, I can't remember when I last reviewed a book. But this book is truly a work of art. It is very well written and will prick the conscience of any agnostic or non-believer. It's as if there is this giant puzzle which nobody has been able to put together, till Michael Reagan came along and assembled the pieces.
   Well done, that man. I also believe this book should be in every Primary school library.



4. As a young atheist, I was numb to the Creator. And now, after God's mercy has brought me to Him through His Son Jesus Christ, I know the joy of worshipping Him. This is a book that, for me, leads the heart to humility and worship of the great Creator of all.



5. If you are looking for a book to provide snippets of inspiration for others who are dear to you, or, perhaps one that will spark your own prayer and devotional time, this may be the book you are seeking.
   
   "The Hand of God" is a collection of photographs taken in space, many by the Hubble Telescope, showing the vast and awe-inspiring wonder of the universe. These photos, a new "eye on the heavens" show every manner of nebula, comet and star formation for the wondering earthbound traveler. Presented in deep and vivid colors, the photos are thoughtfully paired with inspirational quotations, both familiar and obscure.
   
   Of the many gorgeous images, surprises abound. A view of Jupiter's Great Red Spot and its surroundings looks every bit like a segment of Van Gogh's "Starry Night". A shimmering white cross-like photograph of Galaxy NGC 4640A is coupled with these lines from an ancient Jewish proverb: "God said to Abraham, 'But for me, you would not be here.' 'I know that, Lord,' Abraham answered, 'but were I not here, there would be no one to think about you.'"
   
   Here are page after page of vast and panoramic views--both in word and in photograph, ranging from the tender greens and blues of our own earth, to a halo-like image of a filament eruption on our sun.
   
   One would not classify this as a coffee table book per se, since its 8" x 8 1/2" dimensions are much smaller. It is perhaps best called an end table or nightstand book, suitable for an occasional glance or prolonged study. Either way, the unfamiliar images are profoundly inspiring, and invite the reader to move beyond Arthur Schopenhauer's observation, "Everyone takes the limits of his own vision for the limits of the world." This book is sure to expand your limits and inspire your vision, beautifully.

5 comments about Very Charleston: A Celebration of History, Culture, and Lowcountry Charm.

1. Good books with fast service!
   Thanks, Sent right away~
   
   Thanks,
   Gloria



2. Well written and hightly entertaining.
   This small book captures the remarkable
   charm and southern sleekness of this
   city. AND the recipes are wonderful.



3. I've been going to Charleston since I was a small child, and I learned a few things from this fun little book. I bought it for the illustrations- I love maps and "Did you know" kinds of books-and thought this was the perfect marriage of the two. Charleston is so interesting that I think there is more to tell, so I wish it were a little longer.



4. My daughter had this book with her when we visited Charleston for the 2nd time. After reading it (couldn't put it down), we found more reasons to return to this wonderful area; learned more interesting facts about already viewed streets, homes and history. It is a light read with beautiful watercolor pictures throughout the book. Don't pass it up!



5. The wonderful watercolor drawings and short descriptions make this book a must have for those people who have been (or will soon go) to Charleston, South Carolina. The spirit and color of Charleston is captured in this small volume. I traveled to Charleston with three other women and we all bought this book! One lady even used it as her trip journal, making comments in the book about places we had been. I bought one for another friend going to Charleston and she, too, loved this little book.