5 comments about Sell & Re-Sell Your Photos.

1. So much has changed in the photography world since this was written and updated in 1997. Advice how how to submit slides and why not to buy a Mac (because hardly anyone has them) seems very odd these days. Also the formulas for creating "great stock pictures" have become outdated as well. I have no doubt this would have been a great and informative book in the 80's or 90's but because of the rapid changes in digital technology this book is kind of like reading a "How to Operate Your BetaMax" manual. Perhaps the newer versions would be money better spent.



2. The best "how-to" book I have ever read. Rohn does not miss a detail and hands out consistently useful advice.



3. I am new to photography and I want to make money. This book is filled with a wealth of information. I highly recommend it!



4. I was about to forray into stock photography when I borrowed this book. After a couple of hours I decided to preserve my sensibility and returned the book. The only reason why this book got a three star instead of a 1 is that it made me realise how stupid the whole idea of getting into stock was, perhaps more strongly than is actually warranted by the genre of stock photography. This book starts of with a boisterous principle with the authors name. Such simplified ideas are good but they should be served simply; not in the form of some corny equation. For me, it indicates the shallowness of the author which is again amply proved but the innumerable unimaginative photos which were critiqued and made to look like they were compositional masterpieces. Well if you did not really know that background, theme etc make a good photo then by all means dig it but if you have even an inch of respect for your creativity and sensibility then just run. Having said that, if you are really keen on selling photos this way no matter what, then this might be a good book for you especially with all the information on how to get tax benefits from your business of stock photography; I am pretty sure though that if you dig this book and can be with it till the end then tax and accounting should be your forte and you won't really need much of the information in the book.



5. I received this book 3 months ago, and it never leaves my side. As a budding would-be professional photographer,I learned more about the Photography business than I ever imagined. Just what I was looking for in the first place. eg: What photos sell,and what Photo buyers are looking for - Surprise! Surprise. How to get started professionally - a real eye-opener. Resources to search out etc. Excellent!
   My only criticism - I am left with all these questions that need answers and maybe that was the idea, so that me, the reader, will reach out for more information and spur me on to find more keys to moving forward. Please write another book Ronn Engh

5 comments about Hearst Castle: The Biography of a Country House.

1. This book is a great combination of pictures and info. A picture book with beautiful photos and very informative stories on the Hearst Castle, Mr Hearst himself, and architect Julia Morgan. Replete with extensive footnotes and background facts.
   
   I read it once before a recent visit to the Hearst castle, and I am going through it again to reminisce over the wonderful architecture and art treasures at this magical place, captured here in a wonderful book.



2. I enjoyed this book, and the details of his life relating to the building of this wonderful American treasure. I wish there had been more photos showing the details of the fine art and antiques collected from Europe early in this past century. Also it would have been worthwhile to show much more and better photos of the architectural elements of stone moulding, stucco detail, doors, tiles, ceilings, floor designs and iron work.



3. I actually bought this for a gift for my neighbor,she had been looking for it for a while and she was very excited and said the pictures inside were fantastic.



4. Hearst castle is just an amazing tribute to one man's enormous ego. I am glad that it is preserved as a set piece for Hearst, for that is what he intended all along. This book captures the signifigance of the estate, the images are well concieved, though not as crisp as expected, and the text is informative. This certainly is not the definitive book on Hearst Castle, but it is well worth the purchace none the less. If you have any interest in Hearst Castle, or gilded age extravagance in general, then i cant imagine you being disappointed in this book.



5. Fantastic book exceptional pictures and loaded with written details. Usually in a book like this you get one or the other here you get both! A must read and viewed book,a bit spendy but worth every cent!

1 comments about Photography & Digital Imaging.

1. I'm a photojournalism major and i've bought a lot of photography books for school & myself. This book explains it all in depth its great for info. on lenses, filters, lighting, flash, b/w photography even careers in photography. A friend purchased the book for $90 and it was still worth the price.

No comments about Erwin Olaf.

5 comments about Crowns: Portraits of Black Women in Church Hats.

1. Mike Cunningham pictures are outstanding! Wonderful book to give to someone as a gift.
   
   K.B.



2. The photographs of these women and their remarkable hat is fascinating. I really like the interviews with the ladies, and the unique stories of their lives and times.
   
   My only disappointment was that the picture are not in color. I would love to have been able to see those plumes and feathers in all their glory!



3. Orginally, I purchased this book as a gift and after browsing through it, I decided I had to have a copy of my very own. The photography in this book is excellent. The photographs are shot in black and white in order to focus on the church hats. The stories behind the hats are amazingly beautiful. I will never look at a black woman in a church hat the same ever again. I learned that each hat has a story that must be told.



4. I love to wear hats. I grew up in the South. My Mom wore hats to church every Sunday. She absolutely loved hats! Therefore, when I became of age I too became a hat person! It was like a family tradition. All the girls in the family dressed in hats on Sunday.
   I love hats so much, I wear them every day of the week. During the week I usually wear cowboy hats or something sporty. However, on Sunday, it the dressy going to church hat. And if you are into hats, you will know what I mean about the, 'church hats'.
   Being raised in the South, you were'nt completely dressed when going to church until you put on your hat and heels. To this day I do not go to church without a hat.
   This book, Crowns, really takes me back. It's a wonderful book. It is on a table in my home and it makes for great conversation with visitors.
   FANTASTIC BOOK!!!!!
   
   
   Joyce Marshall-Hamblet



5. Coming from a hat wearing tradition, I fully appreciated "Crowns: Portraits of Black Women in Church Hats". My hat was a pill box a la Jacqueline Kennedy which shows how old I am. Nevertheless, I thoroughly enjoyed this book, the photographs and the women's stories. Hat wearing is a fine tradition and very much a part of Black culture that Michael Cunningham has captured in all its glory.

5 comments about Radiant Identities: Photographs by Jock Sturges.

1. Many of the images in this book hold me totally spellbound, even after enjoying it (in hardcopy) for several years. I experience a sense of "beckoning", a call to enter the images and pursue the stories that most of them so strongly hint at. The cover photo so captivated me that I bought a official/authorized print of it.



2. While Jock Sturges has almost flawless control of the technical aspects of the photographs in this book (excellent exposure and placement of the subject matter): the moments it captures leave much to be desired.
   
   Perhaps it is simply that I am looking at it from the wrong perspective, and I am expecting of it something that cannot be expected of straight portraiture, but I don't believe this to be true.
   The black and white photographs are very well done in that they have wonderful transitions of gradient tones, and the subject matter is always very clear and concise with little confusion as to what aspect of the photo you should be concentrating on. What i don't like is the overall emotional aspect of the photographs, and the reactions of the people in them. For me, there is only 2 photographs in this book that have any sense of emotive quality that i would actively seek out - and even those two photographs have problems.
   
   - In the photograph of the boys holding hands, and in several others, I see apprehension on the faces of the subjects. I see someone looking at a camera not knowing if they should be going about there normal business, and someone who is unfamiliar with the person taking the photograph. It is not outright anger or dislike - just apprehension.
   
   - In the photograph of the girl and the boy leaning on each other on the beach; it is a beautiful sentiment and it is well done, but you can see, you can FEEL the boy looking at the photographer with a sense of protectiveness, a sense of disconnection from his activities in order to be watchful of this person taking photos of them.
   
   In all but a few of the photographs - the person being photographed is looking at the photographer or the camera itself. this is fine in most photography - but the setting of this book is not the studio, and it is among other people. I would like to have expected an interaction with the people around the subjects, with the surroundings, or at VERY LEAST, an internal reactions of the subject themselves (wonder, happiness, sadness, questioning, SOMETHING).
   
   I am of the school of photography that believes in capturing the essence of a moment, the little tricks the body does to convey an emotion, that which is a moving changing thing, that has a reason, a direction; an engagement. You'll see them every now and again in the people your around a lot, a furrowed brow, an upturning of the mouth.
   A big part of being able to capture such moments requires that the person never be looking at the camera. they should be looking at you. at the person behind the camera - and not at a photographer, at a person with whom they FEEL something towards. and if they are simply looking at the camera, there should be something more in it then simple apprehension.
   Personally, this book fails in many ways for me. It is titled "Radiant Identities" - but I see no identities, I see no emotional personality, I see only bodies who are unsure and aware of a man taking photographs of them. I give this 3 stars because the techniques are well done; and because as a resource for artists, it has a few selections that are wonderful anatomical and surface muscle studies that are hard to find elsewhere. From the perspective of art however I would give it a 2 at best.



3. I first came across this book about ten years ago and when I did I instantly became a Jock Sturges fan. But it wasn't until resonantly that I realized just how powerful and deep his art can be. Visiting an art gallery I was stunned by the detail, contrast and the three dimensional quality of Jock's full sized prints. The images you see in his books might have been taken with a medium format camera such as a Hasselblad. Viewing his full sized images, with all their extraordinary detail, you become aware of just what an 8 by 10 view camera can achieve in the hands of a true master. The models seem almost alive.
   
   But this wasn't my only surprise. Many of the images I saw at the art gallery had never been published and I thought that these were Jock's most profound and challenging work. One such print, "Julien et Antoine, Montalivet, France; 2004", really knocked my socks off. We see two beautiful young twin brothers, as naked as the day of their birth, in a bedroom. We know this to be an adult's bedroom as there are no toys or other childish things about, only an adult sized backpack beside the bed. The translucent canopy draped over the large bed and the house plant visible in the upper left corner gives the room a romantic, almost feminine feel. Yet the boys, still a year or two from puberty, seem to own this very adult space.
   
   Antoine is seated on the bed, very relaxed with his arms at his side. Julien stands before him and with an almost sensuous sence of self-confidence he establishes a relationship with us by gazing directly into the camera. His arms are crossed over his chest-perhaps for protection-but, like his brother, he makes no attempt to hide his exposed genitals. His weight is resting on his left leg and his body is shifted sideways in a pose that suggests he is well aware of his beauty and emerging sexuality. This little boy is no longer entirely innocent. He knows that evil exists. He is aware that there are those who would see his beauty as an obscenity and his trust as a come on. We feel privileged that this beautiful boy has allowed us, the viewers, to examine every detail of his stunning body as he meets our gaze without fear or shame. But at the same time we feel challenged. The boy knows that if there is any indecency the fault lies not with him, or with his brother, but with us the viewers. If there is evil then that evil is in us, not him. This picture is worth much more than a thousand words.
   
   If "Julien et Antoine, Montalivet, France; 2004" were to be compressed to the point where it was small enough to fit in a book-or be posted on the net-the stunning technical skill and detail of the photo would be lost and as a result it might well appear pornographic. I felt as if Jock had lead us right up to the edge of the void and then, at the last possible moment, pulled us back to safety. This is surly one of the most beautiful, powerful and potentially disturbing images of the twenty-first century.



4. Read my review on "The last day of summer" if you are looking for a book to sexually excite you. In my opinion this is his second best book, maybe is the fact that the book is not as "complete", as it covers too many different surroundings. It still is a 5 star work of art, go ahead and buy it, you'll be pleased!



5. Mr. Sturges second book, by now he'd fully developed the style his fans all know so well. Some of his best nudes, and clothed portraits, are featured here. This is one of the better photo books I've got, maybe one of Sturges better books.
   The most notable feature are perhaps the two contributed essays, the one at the front of the book quotes unidentified subjects of Mr. Sturges on their feelings about posing for him, you won't find anything else like that until the most recent book "Notes".

No comments about Royal Weddings.

5 comments about Marilyn Monroe: The Complete Last Sitting.

1. I love Miss Marilyn... This was a very interesting book! Beautiful pictures...as was the woman. I would say my only complaint was the fact that it was very obvious Marilyn did not want to have some of the pictures every published. But all in all the book is beautiful...and amust for MM fans.



2. I am so happy I finally bought this book. I was hesitant to spend the money on something not entirely useful but it's breathtaking and so refreshing compared to all the red lips/platinum hair shots we see of her. The book is thicker and heavier than I imagined and has found it's place on my coffee table, partly because I can't move it around so easily. I am so so happy with this purchase!



3. The book is very well made with great quality paper. There is a little introduction by Bert Stern at the beginning and then all the pictures of the last sitting in chronological order. You can see big images, the ones that Stern thought were the good ones, and then the little ones which are very interesting and funny too. It's an incredible book, you can see a new Marilyn, more mature and prettier on the inside and on the outside.



4. Come ho detto nel titolo, è il migliore libro di foto su Marilyn che c'è in circolazione, lei è assolutamente spendida, in uno stato di grazia che l'obbiettivo del fotografo Bert Stern è riuscito in pieno a mostrare.
   Questo grande libro con tantissime pagine e tantissime foto che ci mostrano Marilyn bella come non lo è stata mai è per tutti i grandi fan consigliatissimo avere!
   compratelo!!!!!



5. Its simply a must in every Marilyn collection! Its like spending an entire day with her! If you like Marilyn you will love this book with hundreds of pics.

5 comments about Horse Handling & Grooming: A Step-By-Step Photographic Guide to Mastering over 100 Horsekeeping Skills (Horsekeeping Skills Library).

1. I needed a book for students getting to know horses for the first time.
   This book provided the information they needed in quick and easy slices.
   This laid the ground work for more intensive sessions which they will receive later on in their veterinary and general animal care courses.
   I am very pleased with this book.
   
   
   G.Stratton, SGU.



2. This book is good for folks who have a basic knowledge of horses but want a little further advice. People who haven't had lessons or are just starting to work with horses for the most part will get confused easily. I got this book for a friend and while there is plenty of useful information tha main things we were looking for were hoof care. The most useful information I found was the section on tying the horse and approaching the horse. This book is helpful but definately not a complete source. We actually got Horses for Dummies and THAT book had ALOT of helpful information... including information on what you should consider BEFORE you become a horse owner.



3. I bought this book because I thought it would be just as good as another in this series "Getting the most from Riding Lessons". I was really looking for specifics on grooming with highly detailed photos and step by step highly detailed instructions and tips. This book has some of this.
   
   There's a good section on catching, tying, and handling the horse. There is some basic safety information omitted.
   The hoof care is completely lacking. There is only information on how to lift and support your horses feet. This should be a VERY detailed section of the book considering how important it is to a horse.
   Daily grooming info is only OK.
   Washing section is acceptable to good.
   Clipping section is good but doesnt cover special clipping patterns.
   Mane and tail care and braiding is good.
   No leg wrap information is included.
   No transport of horse information is included.
   
   This all said - it's really hard to find a great grooming book.



4. This book matches exactly what the title says it is providing the beginner with the basics of handling and grooming on a horse that is use to both (in my mind set it pretains to a very gentle well trained horse that is use to a lot of handling, like someone else stated a sound horse).
   The pictures and text appear to be complete on how to do things right and it's my kind of book, no long winded, wasted or unneeded words to make a bigger book thus wasting my time or book shelf space.
   It does just cover the basics on how to do it (not with a horse that is unruley) and on handling you will quickly out-grow the book. It does contain more information on grooming than it does handling so if you are new at that it should be very helpful.



5. I condsider myself a beginner. This book is very simplistic.
   I learned most of these things in the first month of taking lessons. If you have a minimal amount of knowledge, this book would be a waste. Don't waste your time or money. I wish I hadn't.

5 comments about On Feathered Wings: Birds in Flight.

1. ON FEATHERED WINGS IS THE BEST PICS I'VE EVER SEEN OF BIRDS IN FLIGHT. RICHARD HAS CAPTURED THESE BIRDS IN MID AIR ABOUT TO EAT THEIR PREY. COOL PICS CRISPY CLEAR. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND TO ANY BIRD LOVER...BRAVO RICHARD ETTLINGER!!!!



2. Birds are one of the more beautiful and majestic creatures of the world - and "On Feathered Wings: Birds of Flight" is a beautiful and majestic compilation of full color photographs, shot from breath taking angles, truly amazing the viewer with the adept skills of the photographer. With nearly two hundred of these awesome images, "On Feathered Wings: Birds of Flight" is a top pick for community library collections for photography and a great coffee table book for whoever loves birds.



3. Speaking as a wannabe great bird photographer, all I can say is this book is humbling and inspiring.
   
   I agree with another reviewer that details of the shot (focal length especially) would have been useful.
   
   Fabulous.
   
   post-note...I was thinking this would be the first book I ever would put on my coffee table. I was surprised that was the same exact comment when I showed it to a fellow bird photographer. This really is a gorgeous book.



4. Page through any bird photography book or birding magazine. You may not notice it at first, but eventually you come to realize that there are not many shots of birds in flight. The reason is simple - they are hard to get. But this book is just the opposite, birds on the wing is all that you will find here.
   
   This book would have been worthwhile if only for the unique premise, provided that the photographs are at least mostly technically sound. But the photographs here are, as best I can tell, technically perfect. Moreover, many of them are truly breathtaking.
   
   The author has organized the photographs into the following sections:
   - Killers on the wing - raptors (including owls) - 32 species
   - Wings along the shore - "shorebirds", which includes the shorebird family as well as any bird that may be found along the shore or ocean, such as terns and puffins - 21 species
   - Wings of the wetlands - 26 species
   - Songbirds on the wing - 5 species, only three of which are actually passerines (Barn and Tree Swallows, and Eastern Meadowlark)
   
   You will notice that there are more species of raptors included than any other group. Indeed, the raptor section is by far the largest in terms of number of photographs. That is to be expected, since this group is probably the easiest to capture in flight. Some of the raptors are just flying birds against a blue sky. But many of them are truly dramatic. All of the Bald Eagle and Osprey shots are fantastic. But the best could be a close-up of a stooping American Kestrel. It is unforgetable.
   
   My biggest disappointment with the species selection was a lack of songbirds. I can understand the scarcity due to the extreme difficulty of getting good flight shots of them, but still I was hoping for more.
   Another issue I had was the inclusion of photographs of captive raptors. I must note that the birds are free-flying and unrestrained, and I would not have known that they were captive birds if the captions had not mentioned it. This is just my personal opinion, but to me this cheapens the photographs. They are just as technically and artistically excellent as any of the others in this book, but they just don't have the same impact for me.
   
   There is no denying that the photographs collected here are amazing, and in some cases startlingly unique. This book is a must for bird photography lovers.



5. I ordered this book as amateur and enthusiastic ornithologist and photographed. I suppose to see excellent images of birds in motion. I looked forward see a beauty and details of flight. From this point of view I wasn't disappointed. Photos are excellent and many of them are really superb.
   
   I know that it is not an instruction book for wildlife photographers. However it could be interesting to see details of photographies (camera, lens, exp. conditions etc.)
   
   If I search for nit(s) I have to mention that the majority of photos are birds of prey (reason is obvious - great/big birds).
   
   Overall my rating is: Excellent!!!