5 comments about DV Filmmaking: From Start to Finish (O'Reilly Digital Studio).

1. The first half of the book is very thorough in going over the basics of film and digital video. There's also some description on some basic equipment you'll need to get off the ground.
   
   The second half talks about basic editing in Final Cut, which I mostly skipped since I don't plan on using Final Cut. Honestly, for filmmakers who plan on using Final Cut, this would've probably made 5 stars.
   
   Have fun and good luck on your film!



2. I am so thankful for the insightfulness of Mr. Aronson. I have done more conceptual video work in the past when I was a graduate student in photography. I am looking a doing another educational project and wanted to brush up on my skills. The book provides me with the knowledge I can use to feel much more confident in the upcoming project as well as exploring my own fine art projects. I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in digital video.



3. "DV Filmaking from Start to Finish" is a !!MASTERPIECE!!. It is a book I
   recommend to anyone interested in Digital Video. Reading the book was like having Mr. Ian David Aronson in your room sharing with you all of his knowledge.
   
   This book it's not a 18 chapter tutorial on learning Final Cut Pro or After Effects. It's more like traveling back in time and learning from the history of Digital Video to the present day. Aronson show's everything, from film to video, the way you should treat your camera, what you should be
   prepared with; lighting, greenscreen, Hardware, white balance, DVD
   authoring,
   aspect ratios, you name it, including some basic tutorials on doing
   edits.
   He even gives you an internet address to look and confirm what he is showing
   you.
   
   If you are an advanced editor, this book is for you. This book is for to
   read,
   learn and keep it forever just in case you forget a detail, so you can
   review it again and again. I was amazed with the things I have learned from
   Mr.
   Aronson. Thank you and I'll hope to read another book from him.
   
   Jorge Raphael Valenzuela Hernández
   Graphic Artist / Videographer



4. este es un libro que explica de manera didáctica ,todos los procesos que tiene una producción audiovisual.
   Muy bien ilustrado, con ejemplos que ayudan al nuevo realizador audiovisual a enfrentar sus primeras producciones de una forma segura, buscando que éste no cometa errores que luego pueden demeritar su trabajo.
   La única crítica que tengo para hacer de esta obra, es que los ejemplos de montaje los realizan en programa específicos , como Final Cut, algo que de alguna manera deja sin posibilidades a aquellos que manejamos plataformas de edición diferentes.



5. DV Filmmaking From Start To Finish by Ian David Aronson's will reach both amateur and professional digital video users with a basic primer on differences between digital and print mediums. Familiarity with Final Cut Pro or Adobe After Effects, the two programs used here, will aid in understanding DV applications in either PC or Mac formats, while the author's background as a teacher of digital media lends a logical progression to his tips and practical applied examples.

5 comments about Factory Records: The Complete Graphic Album.

1. There really was something compelling about Factory when they started. I still have many of the original UK records on vinyl (Joy Division, Section 25, New Order). CDs don't do the designs justice - too small ! They were concieved as RECORD sleeves and worked as art objects that way. I remember my delight at figuring out the color coding on Power, Corrruption and Lies after staring at it for a while.
   Has any other label managed to build a design mystique like it (Blue Note perhaps ?). Their output got less interesting and less elaborate later on.
   This book is a great nostalgia trip for any original factory fans, and hopefuly conveys the same sense to younger readers. Nice coffee-table book.



2. Complete catalog of the Factory cover art, posters, etc. Factory perfected the symbiosis between the music and art.



3. This book is an awesome look back at some of the best artwork and packaging of its time. The footnotes for each "Fac" are interesting and the reproductions of the artwork are showcased nicely. I only wish there were some photos of the packaging, for instance the famous Blue Monday single with the die-cut, it would have been nice to see how it looked. Still, I think this is a great book!



4. I've always been a huge fan of Factory Records and the designs of Peter Saville so this book was a dream come true. Pictures of all the artwork from Fac 1 onwards, all the New Order, Joy Division, Happy Mondays, Durutti Column - everything you could want.
   A wonderful gorgeous book, the pictures are bright and clear, plus history and stories on major aspects of the artwork - highly recommended fro any Factory / New Order / Peter Saville fan.



5. This is an excellent book for fans of Factory Records. Factory was label that always had beautiful graphic design work. The album covers and poster art were a showcase for the design work of Peter Saville. I highly recommend this thorough book to fans of the label.

No comments about Hot Rod Pin-Ups II: Gearhead Girls and Dragstrip Dolls.

2 comments about Dogs: 101 Adorable Breeds.

1. This is a beautiful book with very adorable photos of many different dog breeds. I found myself falling in love with dozens of the cute and cuddly breeds and even some of the types of dogs I'd never have thought I would be drawn to. Rachel Hale is a fabulous photographer who really captures the essence of the pups. What a great book!



2. Dogs: 101 Adorable Breeds is a photographic showcase for dog breed lovers. Each two-page spread features a striking, professional-quality photograph of a breed of dog on one page, and a brief amount of text concerning the breed's history, disposition, and appearance. Dogs: 101 Adorable Breeds is not a comprehensive guide to caring for one's pet, but rather a brilliantly assembled tribute to man's best friend in all his beautiful glory. A wonderful coffee-table giftbook highly recommended for dog lovers everywhere.

1 comments about Vivienne Westwood (Va).

1. We caught the Vivienne Westwood retrospective traveling show at the De Young Museum in San Francisco, and were blown away by the inventive, fun, nutty clothes this woman produced. This book serves as a exhibition catalog, although many of the pieces in the show are not in the book, and nothing matches seeing the wild shoes, hats, dresses and frocks in person. The book design is a minor annoyance, as it can be a little hard to find the garment pictured, who was wearing it, or when it was created. And I think frankly the girl has her best work behind her, but the glory of it cannot be exaggerated, or, to put it another way, her exaggerations were truly glorious. Over The Top in the very best way.
   
   Thoreau would no doubt disapprove....

No comments about Library of Dust.

5 comments about Invisible New York: The Hidden Infrastructure of the City (Creating the North American Landscape).

1. Great coffee table book of little-seen aspects of NYC. One warning I'd mention is that not all of the pictures are of things underground/unseen. Some are simply of neglected/abandonded/decaying above ground sites (not exactly what I'd expected but it's still a good collection). Perhaps it would be best to peruse this book at your local bookseller before making a decision on the purchase.



2. Invisible New York is one of the three or four most treasured books in my library. Greenberg's black and white photography is beautiful and lush. To me, the book's one shortcoming is that it's not longer! Greenberg has a sharp eye for reading and presenting spaces. A treat for all of us who wonder what lives down there under the manhole cover or over there behind that fence.



3. "Invisible New York" is a splendid collection of photographs which pay tribute to New York City's technological past. Stanley Greenberg's large format camera yields dignified, poetic images of long-forgotten historic structures throughout the city. These range from beautiful pictures of bridge supports and hidden passageways to a deserted building at Brooklyn's Floyd Bennett Field, once the city's primary airport. Although others have found New York City's architecture to be a rich source of photographic imagery, few have been as tenacious as Stanley Greenberg in creating stunningly beautiful visual poetry. I must commend Johns Hopkins University Press for publishing this beautiful tome of black and white photographs and keeping it in print. I eagerly look forward to seeing Greenberg's next book, which I think may be on a recent project documenting New York City's water supply system. He is surely one of the most distinguished photographers ever to have graduated from New York City's prestigious Stuyvesant High School.



4. I have an obsession with abandoned buildings. They are a place I know I can go to be alone because no one visits them anymore but the spirits of those who brought life to the buildings as more than just concrete and steel still linger.

   It gives one a time to reflect on the temporality of our lives and the finiteness not only of our beings, but of our dreams and visions. It gives us pause to reflect on what is important and profound about life.

   When we are in these places we are really inside of parts of ourselves we don't recognize.




5. This book lived up to my expectations with it's beautiful photographs, insightful comments about each location photographed and rich, deep printing. A great book for anyone interested in wonderful black and white location photography, or in learning more about New York City and its' surroundings.

3 comments about Unseen Vogue: The Secret History of Fashion Photography.

1. I was looking for a book that would inspire me while also giving me a sense of fashion photography's history, and this is just the book. I've turned to it many times as a springboard for ideas or for the pure enjoyment of looking at the images. The copy in the front, though difficult to read because of the small font size, gives interesting gossipy tidbits about the shoots. Though not a complete history of fashion photographer by any means, its focus on Vogue keeps the book from being overwhelming.



2. As a fan of the fashion industry, I was excited by this book. It is absolutely filled with major stars. It spans several decades and features models like Jean Shrimpton, Twiggy, Penelope Tree, Pat Cleveland, Veruschka, Uma Thurman, Christy Turlington, Cindy Crawford, Linda Evangelista, Naomi Campbell, Kate Moss, Shalow Harlow, Claudia Schiffer, Karen Elson, Maggie Rizer, and Gisele Bundchen. All of the photos are breaktakingly beautiful and interesting from classy old Hollywood style photos, strange modern poses, and glamorous high fashion spreads.
   
   For those of you who actually read these coffee table books, you will not be disappointed. This book is filled with useful information about the industry, Vogue, and how fashion has impacted culture.



3. The book is essentially the companion to one of the most fascinating shows that I ever stumbled upon. Last November in London, I went to the Design Museum[founded by Terrence Conran] to view an exhibit of aluminum[aluminium].

   Coincidentally, there was this Vogue show. Having paid my admission to the museum, I viewed this exhibit as well. Now, I don't pretend to know much about fashion nor photography. And this show blew me away. And so does this book, but not as well as the show, of course.

   An assemblage of insights into the culture and history of the twentieth century that I would never have encountered on my own. Not only does the story reveal how conde nast's money financed some of the more significant technical innovations in photography[which intrigued me since I try to follow the history of science and technology], but I was also fascinated to discover how it was that Vogue may have had the most energetic and brave war correspondent/photographer of WW2: and it was a beautiful and talented woman - Lee Miller. Do take the time to find out all you can about her.

   And lastly, the photos are knock-outs. I wouldn't have done this show or this book deliberately, but having stumbled into the show, I have to pronounce it one of the most educational exhibitions that I have encountered.

5 comments about Elephant.

1. This is now one of the most beautiful books I now own. The photographs are extraordinary. I am a photographer myself and am blown away by the images that truly capture the essence of the elephant. I would have purchased this book in Australia but the $100.00 cost made it prohibitive. Imagine how thrilled I was to purchase it through Amazon for $32.00 including postage!!!! I will treasure this book for many years to come. Andrea.



2. This is a beautiful book on the life and personality of elephants. The photography is outstanding. I can certainly see why it took so long to photograph the elephants. It is a keepsake for those of us who love and understand this beautiful animal.



3. I think that this book reveals both the deep and fun side of elephants. The picture of an elephant swimming shows off the grace and beauty. By using pictures of elephants in human cerimonies, Steve Bloom portrays an elephants life in a very beautiful way! :-)



4. This is a magnificent book filled with rich photography. From the ground looking up you can see the majesty of the elephant. The group photos show
   their need and love for one another.
   
   My daughter is an artist. When she was very young, she saw her first elephant in the zoo. Her father asked her what she thought. "He makes me feel very deep," she said.
   
   I am a sculptor and toy designer who wanted good photos for my work. This book will fill your eye and touch your heart.



5. With great sensitivity, compassion, passion, and courage, Steve Bloom has created a masterpiece of words and images about elephants and their habitats and caretakers. His aesthetic, poetic insight helps erase any boundaries between "us" and "them." So it is a look inward as well as outward. Bravo, Steve Bloom

5 comments about An Invitation To The White House : At Home With History.

1. I have a collection of Congressional Cookbooks and "White House" Cookbooks and such by former White House Chef's. Hillary's is beyond the traditional "family cookbook" but gives a white house glimpse and is much more than the tradition, which of course is Hillary!



2. Beautiful illustrations of the White House, there's no doubt about that. But if your looking for fancy recipes, this is not the book. Few recipes in it, I was expecting more of that, so I was a little disappointed. I thought I was going to have a book with lots of recipes, for special ocassions; I wanted to invite some friends and tell them, look this dish was served in the White House.
   Not a bad book, just not what I was looking for.



3. I bought my copy cheap from one of Amazon's excellent network sources. I consider myself pretty neutral on Bill and Hillary, but this truly is a shameless advertisement for the two. I was expecting more on the house itself, but basically this is a photo journey through the happier social moments during the Clinton presidency. For this, I still consider the book documenting the Ford presidency to be far better, certainly more candid, and a better artistic statement. The most interesting part of this book for me was the documentation of the planning for a state visit. The recipes at the end of the book weren't very interesting. Certainly, anyone curious about the internal workings of the House itself will be disappointed; JB West's "Inside the White House" is far better. I'm unsure where this book should rest in anyone's library. It could easily be considered fuel for the Clinton spin on their own celebrity. I'm glad I paid only a few bucks for it as I'll have no problem getting rid of it. Recommend looking elsewhere; the Natl. Geographic video on the White House is done much better.



4. This book has some delightful photographs of various White House rooms, furniture, and memorabilia. The text is fairly limited and the photos of the author are (thankfully) kept to a minimum. Overall this is a very enjoyable book and one I can recommend to anyone interested in the White House. As for the invitation, I wonder if the Girl in the Blue Dress received one of these...



5. I actually purchased this book in Washington, D.C., while there for a conference. One of the great First Ladies of the twentieth century provides fascinating glimpses into the most important Home in history, while entertaining the reader with bold and whimsical insights into its many and varied occupants. Did you know that a 145 year-old, crumbling White House was completely gutted by President Harry Truman, with every scrap of detail preserved to be replaced as it was when John and Abigail Adams first occupied it? Such are the fascinating details of history the reader is provided while experiencing the most intimate, day-to-day functions of a house that is both a living, personal family residence while functioning seamlessly as the epicenter of the free world.

   I love the White House. Its history, its beauty, its timeless architecture, and its symbol as the center of democracy to a world hungry for freedom. Long may this home be occupied by men and women of good will who seek to serve the wishes of a free people.