5 comments about Take Your Best Shot: Tim Grey Tackles Your Digital Darkroom Questions.

1. This book is a collection of (presumably) common questions, and Tim Grey's answers. Most of this information can be found on the Web easily, but for someone who is just getting started it might be useful to have such a compendium. On the other hand, for anyone who already does know what the difference between JPEG and RAW images is etc, the answers in this book don't have enough depth (especially when talking about how digital cameras work), and are sometimes incomplete (e.g. there is no mention of watermarking in the response to a question about "securing" images). At the same time, some of the questions are over-specific (e.g. "What Do the Highlighted Menu Items In Photoshop CS3 Mean?"). Even if the format of the book doesn't allow for detailed answers, I'd at least expect pointers to further information (there isn't even a reference section).



2. I'm the author of this book, so you might want to take this review with the proverbial grain of salt. However, I can tell you that of all the books I've written (over a dozen), this was by far the most enjoyable for me to write. My hope is that readers will likewise find it to be enjoyable and informative to read, and I'm delighted that the reviews presented so far here reflect that.
   
   I've long felt that the question-and-answer format was a powerful way to learn. That was part of the motivation for creating the free Digital Darkroom Questions email newsletter (www.timgrey.com/ddqp/) in a question-and-answer format (the other reason being that I was simply getting a lot of questions from photographers!).
   
   In this book I've tried to cover the topics that have been most common (or most troubling) for photographers over the years. I'm biased, but I like to think this book has successfully encapsulated the most common questions in an organized format with an entertaining (while informative) style. I include my biggest "pet peeves" (so you'll know you're not alone when you get frustrated, and also know what to watch out for), as well as "Let's Settle This Already" sidebars that provide definitive answers to topics that have been the most controversial. These two features are, I think, of huge value in this book.



3. This book is presented in question and answer format.
   
   As an advanced hobbyist photographer, these were exactly the questions I've had. The answers were clear, with (when needed) step-by-step instructions on how to do the task.
   
   I have two recommendations: For photographers -- get the book and also subscribe to the author's newsletter (one question/answer each). For the author -- write a second volume, soon.



4. Great Book. I am a subscriber to the regular TimGrey.com but found the book a wonderful source of review and reinforcement. It is hard to keep up with the ever-quick changes that occur in this ever changing digital world and I appreciate the sharing of up-to-the-minute information. Thanks Tim!



5. I can't really add anything to Gordon Schultz's review except to say that I agree with it 100%. Tim Grey has written an excellent book in a very user-friendly format which is chock full of information on every aspect of digital photography. If you're into RAW conversions, Photoshop editing, and home printing then unless you're an experienced pro, you need this book. I simply can't recommend it highly enough.

5 comments about Beyond Basic Photography: A Technical Manual.

1. I really like Henry Hoernstein's book, Beyond Basic Photography: A Technical Manual. I use it as a text book for my Photo II class. It brings 2nd semester students to the next level, "Old School" style. Easy to read and to the point.



2. For those of us who want to go on in photography and learn in depth techniques, I think this book is pretty good. I have Horensteins book Basic Photography. I appreciated all the indepth coverage of the elements of basic photography. Beyond Basic Photography continues with more detailed coverage. I don't like the illustrations this time around, they seem more cartoony--but the content is very detaile.
   
   The book is very specific about teaching you how to get good negatives, which will in turn, help you make better prints. That's always a good thing.



3. "Beyond Basic Photography" is indeed a technical manual, in the sense that it focuses on things you can do in the darkroom and in lighting setup. It does feel outdated for those of us who have left the bad-for-health-and-environment chemical world and adopted the digital revolution. There's also nothing about how to take pictures; the emphasis is how to light and how to process the film.



4. This book is really surprisingly still in print. It's from the 70's and it looks like it. Some useful information can be gleaned from it to be overgenerous. I find it rather amusing in fact. The photos inside are absolutely ridiculous. They are clearly examples of "just let me take your picture for this ass of a book I'm writing..." -- the fat couple in lawn chairs is pretty funny (pg. 21). The discussion of the zone system is laughably short and comprises only 5 pages. Most of the discussion centers around mixing various chemicals in various ratios. I wonder if all of these are still available on the market. The drawings in the text are third grade level, and someone actually gets credit on the cover! This is a very poorly done text and I don't recommend it with so many other books out there on this subject matter.



5. As a student of Henry's at the Rhode Island School of Design I read the book BEFORE I attended RISD I was captivated by the simple ways he explained the "sometimes" complexity of photography.

   Such as Henry's way - making life easy and fun for everyone.
   
   I suggest checking out his other books too.

5 comments about Lighting for Digital Video & Television, Second Edition.

1. I got this book out of the library to read as a preparation for doing lighting on a low-budget movie I'm planning. Long story short, I devoured the book, then had to renew it so I could read it again and again.
   
   People with big expensive lights will love the clear use of big expensive lighting equipment.
   
   People who know nothing about lighting (like I did before I got this book) and have no money (like me) will love the low-budget chapter, and specifically the "spit and gaffer's tape" (author's words) list of equipment for those of us without deep pockets.



2. This is an amazing book. The guy is a true pro and explains everything you need to know to get takes that look professional on the first try.
   
   The book is really well written and organized. I blows by while you learn all the hows and whys of lighting video.
   
   I recomend this to anyone who feels that they are not at the professional level with lighting yet. It will change your life.



3. Overall, I think this book is very easy to read. The author starts with the basic elements of lighting and builds on that foundation. I am using it with a lighting for video class that I am enrolled in, but would be very helpful by itself. The pictures really help to guide the process and set up your lighting scenerios properly.



4. This book changed my perspective of lighting being a beginner and it gave me so much insight and the buzz words to work with the pros... Truly enjoyed it and refer to it often! (NO I am not the author)hehe I just really liked it. It rocks!!



5. Lighting for Digital Video & Television introduces the basics of lighting for film and video in a very concise and lucid manner. The information published here will serve the filmmaker with very little or no budget as well as those with professional budgets. The author presents both relevant theory and practical advice. The single best book I have purchased on the subject of lighting for video.

5 comments about The Tokyo Look Book: Stylish To Spectacular, Goth To Gyaru, Sidewalk To Catwalk.

1. I'm not someone that's into fashion too much on a personal level. I have my own style, but I don't particularly care to spend all of my money on clothes and a particular look, but I can appreciate why people do and find it interesting on a certain level. Judging from what I've seen on television and in movies, etc. the love affair with fashion is taken to an entire other level in Tokyo.
   
   The detailed descriptions of the fashion "dos and don'ts" of particular subcultures was interesting and infinitely more intricate than anything I could've possibly imagined. I figure if I found it interesting and I'm not even particularly interested in the subject, then I imagine this is a treasure trove for the folks that live for fashion. The text is certainly interesting, but it can be enjoyed even as a coffe table/picture book type of things as well. I've always wanted to go to Japan and it's made me want to factor in an entire day just to people watch in some of the fashionable neighborhoods of Tokyo. If a book can make you want to explore something further that you never had a great interest in then the author and photographer have done a good job.



2. As a total Japanophile, I really loved this book! The pictures are beautiful and its just a perfect example of why I love those Tokyo Fashionistas. Unlike North America, where we are slaves to what we think other people want to wear and try to "fit in", a lot of the young Japanese people on the streets where what they want and have no qualms about standing out and looking unique!
   
   The book shows and describes the different looks, and often which district the look is from or originated. The text is mostly narrative, but I would've preferred some more informational style text. Such as a list of what elements compose each style and/or how to recreate the look for yourself.



3. My current ringtone on my celly is a short clip of "Harajuku Girls" by Gwen Stefani - it's been on phone for over a year now. As someone who has spent a formidable amount of my life in Japan, I covet and collect anything remotely "cute" from or even inspired by Japan, ringtones included. So it's no wonder that I love this book. Published by Japan-based Kodansha International, The Tokyo Look Book (2007) is a motley collection of photographs and interviews of Japanese fashionistas and fashion designers. "Motley" is probably a huge understatement, given what Philomena Keet (the author/editor) calls the "fashion spectrum" that exists in Tokyo. The photographs of Japanese guys and gals make me smile knowing that those pictured often follow their own drum beats. Even in the most outrageous and incongruous outfits, the Japanese youth wear their clothes with confidence or paint their faces with layers of make-up without second-guessing why they do it. If anyone has ever wondered who these "Harajuku Girls" are that Gwen Stefani sings about, pick up a copy of this book. They are fantastic!



4. i love japanese street style! this book gives so many different pictures of fashionable people on the streets of tokyo. it gives a little bit of background information about the culture and background, but if you want to get a more in-depth background and information on japanese styles and and designers and shops, i recommend Style Deficit Disorder by Tiffany Godoy.



5. Since I'm an author, and my novels often feature both Asian Americans and Asians who have moved to the US from overseas, I was very interested in this book as a research tool. I was not disappointed.
   
   This book is rich with pictures showing the different fashion styles prevalent in Tokyo. For someone who only visited Tokyo a couple times with family (and who didn't meet anyone my age), this was an eye-opener.
   
   I like the fact that there are often several photos showing examples of each particular style, rather than just one photo to show each style. It helped me get a better feel for the trends of the "look" rather than just one person's ensemble.
   
   The book shows the entire breadth of styles, from conservative to garish. I liked the hair and makeup showcased on the people photographed, as well.
   
   The fact that the people were all from off the street gave the book an air of greater credibility, since they didn't arrange a photo shoot with models. I felt like I was getting a slice of Tokyo life and culture.
   
   For me, this was an excellent research tool.

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

No comments about Sharks 2009 (Calendar).

5 comments about American Ruins.

1. I was very disappointed in this book. I have collected many photography books on ruins since the 1970s. This is one I would not have bought if I had been aware of the use of infrared imaging. The infrared imaging makes the foliage in most photos stand out so much that it distracts from the structures being portrayed. Drooker is a good photographer as far as composition and fine black and white images. The only sections that were really beautiful, to me, were the Bethlehem Steel works, where there was little or no foliage in glaring white to distract from the objects. The buyer should be aware of his use of infrared in the description of the book. I was unaware of it because the book was "recommended" to me on my email and I did not look at the entire description. It was suggested by Amazon since I have often bought photography books and books on ruins. The description on the book's site is actually misleading - it certainly is NOT the first book to cover American ruins. I have many others in my bookshelves.



2. I was intrigued when I first saw this book on Amazon, and was pleased to later receive it as a gift. But I was immediately disappointed when I discovered that the images are all infrared photos. The result is certainly not informative, nor would I consider it art. Rather, they are overstylized, self-consciously "arty," and frankly hacky-tacky. Why, when one has subjects as dramatic as these, not present them as is? Why deny the reader/viewer the chance to see these buildings and places as they really look? I recommend instead any of Camilo Jose Vergara's books. His images of American ruins are probably more journalism than art, but they at least let the fascinating ruins speak for themselves.



3. IR photography was popular some 50 years ago and remains an interesting way to view landscapes. The MOST interesting facet of the book is the selection of ruins that, in many cases are little known outside their immediate area.



4. It was a book I wanted. I bought it at the high price. When I got it there is so much type written words where you would expect more pictures. Also the pictures are done in Black and White. Where the ruins blend in and you cannot really see them. Also many of the pictures look the same but say different ruins. So, less type and more color pictures or a better photographer.
   Not worth the money!!!!



5. The book was well put togetheer and had sites in it that I had not been to and knew very little about. The Photography was good and helped with the written explanations of each site.

2 comments about Curse Of The Black Gold: 50 Years of Oil in the Niger Delta.

1. Building on my love for Michael Watts, this book is simply phenomenal. Watts and Kashi have gathered some of the best photographs I've seen of the Niger Delta crisis, and assembled them with compelling accounts of the crisis by activists and academics. No doubt, this book will not only encourage you to explore the issue in greater detail but the previous works of both Watts and Kashi as well. Please buy this book! It is an important read, it's extremely moving, and it's a steal at the price.



2. I just returned from working in Port Harcourt for several months. This is a very graphic book from people who were able to penetrate the heart of the Niger Delta with pictures that very few people would otherwise be able to see.

5 comments about Lasting Light: 125 Years of Grand Canyon Photography.

1. A beautiful selection of images that trace how the Canyon has been viewed through a lens over the past cnetury and how that view has evolved. You can begin to appreciate how the Canyon got to be grand (to paraphrase the title of a book on the history of the Canyon). It was also nice to have included images of the types of cameras that were used to make the images.



2. I bought this as a present for my wife. We had just returned from a trip that included a visit to the Grand Canyon, and I wanted to get her a memento of the visit. This book sounded good, but was not the one that included the beautiful vistas that we wanted. There are some photos too dark to really discern why they are included. There are some photos of a boat on the bank of the river. That could be from anywhere.
   Although I suppose others may find it interesting, we didn't want a book of prose, we just wanted amazing photos. This was not that book.



3. This book is so awesome, and of such high quality, that its Amazon price seems surreal...I have two copies and am ordering a third, for posterity or whatever.
   
   Intensely beautiful photographic prints, at the very leading edge of Canyon photos....almost beyond description!
   
   If you buy one copy of this book, you'll then want another for a gift, and another for your own collection.....etc.



4. Yes, you would expect truly astounding photography here, and you get exactly that, in lots of different flavors too, but the stories are deft and revealing -- far more than in a book of photos alone of a place that you couldn't take a bad photo if you tried. Trimble himself is a master craftsman with the camera, but his service here is to gather some really remarkable work and voices into a tome that anyone who has gaped and prayed there will want to paw through before you get major brownie points for giving it to someone else. Terrific work.



5. Lasting Light is a treasure, a compilation of photographs taken of the Crand Ganyon over a broad stretch of time. The viewer/reader may gain a sense of history, passing from the old to the new. The book is an experience in images of the vast wonder of the Canyon and the smallest, most discreet detail. Because the text is direct and not-technical, anyone interested in what is grand and lit by extraordinary light, the Grand Canyon itself, will find this work a delight.

5 comments about San Francisco's Lost Landmarks (California/Old West).

1. For a native San Franciscian, this was a thrilling read. I was shocked on what I learned and it is interesting to see how things change. Strongly recommended.



2. Some very interesting tidbits here, but as a San Francisco resident I kept asking "what's there now?" It would have been great to include more (brief) history on what happened to the properties after these places were no more, or at least the addresses of the buildings that are there now. Some of this info is there, but it's hit or miss. Also, poor editing is a distraction throughout.



3. I am a fan of the 1960's coffee table, giant picture book histories of urban America distroyed. Lost New York, Lost Chicago, Lost Boston, and the now hard-to find pre hurricane Katrina, Lost New Orleans had a part in urban historic preservation awareness. Lost San Francisco never existed. And that's too bad. James Smith's book, Lost San Francisco Landmarks is a fine, well written work of local history. It explains San Francisco better than anything I've read. The why of Treasure Island, the tolleration of "civic sexuality" and the over use of quake prone land-fill engineering all get aired. It's A great read. RW Los Angeles.



4. So many books appear yearly on San Francisco that it's easy to miss one - and San Francisco's Lost Landmarks is not one to miss; it holds riches like few others. Where competitors offer listings of dates and facts, San Francisco's Lost Landmarks uses vintage pictures to blend with history to tell of lost pieces of the past. From the Tivoli Opera House and Gardens to Ralston's failed Grand Hotel, San Francisco's Lost Landmarks is history at its best.



5. We all know San Francisco is a growing, changing city. But it's not just businesses, buildings, and other human-created landmarks that have changed in San Francisco over the years. The coastline, streams, marshes, bays, hills, valleys - all these natural parts of the landscape were filled, leveled, increased, decreased, and otherwise radically modified in the City's early years.
   
   All that information is just part of the first chapter of this fascinating book. Other chapters look at famous San Francisco restaurants throughout the years, the theater scene, hotels, expositions, gambling halls, and many other notable attractions in this always-fascinating City by the Bay.
   
   It seems like fully half the book is pictures: photos, vintage drawings, theater playbills, even a menu for the Clift Hotel, that closed down just recently. The pictures are all interesting and clearly captioned. The information is all reliably presented and well-organized. The author, a San Francisco native and local historian, obviously did his homework well. What a fun book!