No comments about Handbags Gallery Calendar 2009 (Page a Day Gallery Calendar).

5 comments about Real World Adobe Photoshop CS3 (Real World).

1. This book surpassed all my expectations, it was made for serious professionals, and that's what I wanted. Although I'm only an amateur photographer and Photoshop enthusiast, I'm enjoying the book, but because I'm very curious and exactly because I love Photoshop so much I wanted to understand everything about it.
   
   If you are also an enthusiast/amateur but don't care about how this marvelous program works, you better get an easier book with canned "how toos". This book also has step by step guides, but on the top of it they explain every single detail of how everything works.
   
   The authors give very in depth explanations on color theory, color management (I had a hard time on this), color spaces, exactly what is a digital image, etc. Although I found this all fascinating, as I already said I had a hard time trying to understand some concepts about color management, but my guess is that if you are a professional you will understand it better.
   
   They also explain Bridge and Camera Raw. I understand why they included these 2 programs in the book (they work together, although CR is actually a plugin), but I could live without it, mostly because there are more in depth books about CR, like Real World Camera Raw with Adobe Photoshop CS3 (Real World), by Bruce Fraser and Jeff Schewe (I love this guy, check out his videos on CR at the Luminous Landscape website). If you don't plan on buying a specific book on CR, then the chapter about it is a good introduction.
   
   The most fun part is of course on Photoshop itself, covered in a brilliant, flawless way, with everything you could wish for and more.
   
   The book is massive, more than 700 pages, and is written in a nice, light but serious way. They won't waste your time and patience on endless silly jokes like Scott Kelby. For someone like me, whose mother language isn't English, I could understand everything and the reading flowed smoothly.



2. This book is so much more than a list of Photoshop options. It tells you how to do the things that as a photographer you will probably be doing a lot of, not all kinds of theoretical stuff that you will probably never even think about doing. That said, there's too much pre-press and print industry material for my taste. But the photography-relevant material is first-rate.



3. There's nothing else out there that comes even close to this book as an encyclopedic reference to Photoshop CS3. Losing Bruce Fraser is a terrible blow to all of us who've relied for decades on his ability to make complicated subjects understandable, but David Blatner is keeping up the tradition and it appears that Conrad Chavez is a valuable addition to the lineup.
   
   The chapter on color settings in this book is worth the price of admission all by itself. If you do serious work with CS3 you NEED this book. Sit down and read it all the way through, highlight revealing passages, and make notes on the blank parts of the front pages. When you finish you'll have the whole story at your fingertips. Like most CS3 users I work with a subset of Photoshop most of the time, but when I'm faced with an unusual problem I can dive into this book and come up with the solution in a minute or two. Once you've done your homework on the book you won't want to be without it.



4. Very in-depth explanation of Photoshop CS3. A lot more detailed and advanced than most Photoshop books. This is really a resource or reference book and not a book that you can just sit down and read through like Scoot Kelby's book on CS3 for digital photographers, but it is far more informative and in-depth than Kelby's book.



5. Excellent book for those wanting to set up colour workflows. In depth explanations based on practicle applications. This is not a step by step guide for those wanting to learn photoshop

5 comments about Beyond Portraiture: Creative People Photography.

1. Bryan Peterson is a photo genius! I first read his understanding exposure book and was blown away by the detail and examples he gives in that book. after chatting with him via e-mail, he recommended this book. If you ever have taken a portrait(which everyone with a camera will or has) this book gives the inspiration to explore the full potential of every shot you will ever take from now on!



2. I loved this book also! Just as informative as his other book! A great asset for any collection!



3. Bryan not only is a great photographer, he is gifted in teaching others what he knows. He tells you exactly how to get the results he gets. The book is very good.



4. This is the material that is ausent here, in Uruguay. I believe the reviews before published, were right!! and I'm very pleasant to recommend this book!



5. This is a book meant for YOU, the photographer who wants to invest time, time to look closely, observe and then tweak the image to the point that YOU find it acceptable. Bryan has found a good balance in text and pictures. He shows clearly what defines a successful picture and from then how to make that a winner ! Beautiful examples enrich this book, but don't neglect to read also, the text is highly informational, for both digital and analogue photographers alike.

5 comments about Through the Lens: National Geographic's Greatest Photographs.

1. I am an aspiring photographer. I was actually in the book store the other day just browsing and I picked up this book as well as the other 2 in this series (which are on there way). I was very impressed so I came home and got on Amazon. I got mine used (in great shape) for 10 bucks shipped...How can you go wrong there.
   
   The reason I purchased this book is because I think it is really good to see what has made it to print and to get a feel for what a huge magazine deems good for print in it's pages...that alone is worth studying and again 10 bucks shipped, is a killer deal!!!!!! Also another great thing about this book is that it has photos from 80 years ago and for those photographers wanting to gain that feel in their photos, it offers a great place to reference to see how it was done in print (not on some tute from the internet).
   
   Another great aspect to this is that if you ever entertain and have this on the coffee table it is great for guests, creates conversation and also makes you look very well versed! ;-)



2. We were highly disappointed in this book. The photos were grainy and certainly not National Geographics greatest! We have seen absolutely stunning shots from them in the past and not one was included in this book. It was a great disappointment.



3. Fast shipping, love the book, but the front cover was tattered on the edges. Thanks!



4. For such a large book, the images that are exceptional are few. I was disappointed, given the huge assortment of excellent NG photos from which to choose, that these were deemed "greatest." Worth the $20, but not much more.



5. I came across 3 National Geographic photo books while doing some Christmas shopping. The first one a found was In Focus, which is a history of portraits. I also found this book and the Wide Angle book. After carefully researching the reviews and looking at them in a bookstore, I bought IN FOCUS. I agree with other reviewers that this book and Wide Angle are too grainy, not top quality photos. Wide Angle was actually boring photos with no information in the captions to help romanticize the photos. IN Focus has better quality photos. It will make a great gift for someone who loves National Geographic but may not impress the aspiring photographer. The captions aren't fantastic, but if you love National Geographic, you don't need someone to spell out for you what the beauty of each picture can show. My complaint is that the caption isn't always on the same page as the picture. You may have to flip forward or backward to find out what you are looking at which is some what distracting to the flow. Point is, it is a coffee table book. Would make a great book for a lobby of a business where people have to wait and need something to look at.

1 comments about The Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi/450D Companion.

1. There are lots of camera books that regurgitate the product manual. This book, however, offers explanation of the various options and settings on the camera. It also explains how the camera should be set up for different kinds of photography. It is well illustrated and the figures and photos in the book are first quality. If you own a Canon Rebel Xsi, this is the only book you will need.

5 comments about 2008 Photographer's Market.

1. To photographers.
   
   The book does have ton's of information, but it no use unless you already have lot's of great images (I am talking hundreds and hundreds), learned what you can on internet and have a large list of clienteles.
   
   "Why would I need this book then?"- you ask.
   Good question.
   
   I don't know.
   
   It does feels good, though, knowing that there are so many people out there who need photos.



2. I bought this book just out of curiosity, but discovered that it provides a lot of insight to the real world of photography market out there. I think I should recommend this book to my friends.
   
   cheers,
   Nilanjan
   http://www.cutcaster.com/studio/pub/836020742



3. The author did a great job providing a huge amount of resources for photographers! The book has understandable instructions and suggestions on how to use the book too. I'm excited to see how much extra money I can make using this, thanks!



4. This book was very informative for photographers hoping to sell some of their work. I would recommend it highly



5. While there's lots of marketing help here, listings for the religious markets are not all inclusive. Hence for one who already is familiar with that field, I didn't pick up much new. Maybe other fields are better covered.

5 comments about Creature.

1. I bought this book as a gift for my husband - it is really beautiful and we both enjoyed it!



2. It is obvious by looking at the other reviews that the controversy over this book's layout is frustratingly bifurcated for the undecided buyer. The book has a delightfully bold layout and my review is as follows; the white backgrounds create a uniformity that stabilizes the book page to page. Additionally, the white aids the effort to capture the intrinsic 'creature' within each animal. Unless there can be an appreciation and an understanding for the blankness within this book, its purchase will sadly be seen as a waste. It is comforting to know that, regardless of harsh critics and naive readers, the book was driven solely by simple design. In our capitalistic economy today, it is difficult to create a sound book without trying to appeal to public tastes, but Andrew Zuckerman succeeded with Creature.



3. The photos in this book are amazing. They are very detailed and clean, accompanied by the white background every animal comes alive. The back of the book helps you identify what each creature is. There is a massive amount of 'blank' space in the book, which some reviewers dislike. It is intimidating at first, but really draws your attention to the animal. My only dislike about this book is how bulky it is. For such sleek photos, the book is extremely thick, large, and heavy (though this does mean the photos are of decent size). I hope you have a big coffee table.



4. Andrew Zuckerman's photography is amazing and awe inspiring. Looking at his images becomes a meditation.



5. The book was created to show the elegancy and wonder of the animals in our world. The pictures are clear and very close up to capture the beaty of the animal. The creator of this pictorial has done an excellent job. I am very pleased with the book.

5 comments about The Visual Story, Second Edition: Creating the Visual Structure of Film, TV and Digital Media.

1. Because of plenty of pics the read is very easy and took me something like 2 days (on occasional reading). The book itself deals both with composition and movement, and some very interesting points about flat and deep space. I recommend it not only to cinematographers but also interested in composition. This is a good explanation of all types of perspectives and many other things. Easy to read but quite solid in quality of info.



2. I teach a class called "Story" at Los Angeles Film School and this book is on my Recommend Reading List for all students but I especially tout it to cinematography, production design and directing majors. There are many books that talk about the basics (shot size, 180 degree rule, etc.) but if you want to go beyond that to find out what kinds of choices the great filmmakers make and why, this is the book with the answers.
   
   One thing young filmmakers and students often fail to understand about the auteurs and master directors is that they base their shots on what serves the story, not the fact that the shot "looks cool." I love the fact that author Bruce Block talks so much about the need for the visuals to follow and reflect the ups and downs of the underlying story structure. I also love the fact that that he takes film theory and shows the filmmaker how to apply it. Ordinarily, film theory and film practice are two separate worlds.
   
   I never thought I'd find a film book I liked better than the first edition of "The Visual Story," but now I have: It's the 2nd edition, which has a bigger, easier-to-read format, many more color illustrations and more, updated examples. The students who've taken my advice and read this book are blown away by it. I believe it should be mandatory reading for anyone who is in the film business or who hopes to be.



3. I am a visual person. I'm currently taking a film class and had to purchase The Visual Story for class. Let me first say that I am an aspiring filmmaker. I have an incredible library of handpicked books catering to any and all aspects of the filmmaking experience and this is by FAR among the very top of my selections! It is really terrific at not only explaining concepts very concisely, but it also is full of real visual examples. Terrific book. Buy it! You'll be glad you did.



4. Film is all about the image, and Bruce Block gives you a visual toolkit. With this book, you can construct images that help to tell your story, set the mood, and control how the image affects the audience. He helps you build your film shot by shot. His techniques, illustrated with new art and images from films, will make any film stronger and all filmmakers more confident and creative. Many of Hollywood's leading directors have benefited from his expertise. Now the rest of us can, too. I highly recommend this book.



5. There are plenty of books out there about how to write a great screenplay. But film is a VISUAL medium, and books about telling stories VISUALLY are few and far between. Not only does Bruce Block have a superior instinct for visual composition, but he's able to explain the often complex relationships between subjects, light, color and motion in ways that are easily accessible. If you're interested in writing or directing movies, THE VISUAL STORY will help you immeasureably along your career path. And if you just like to see movies, this book will give you insights into cinematic storytelling elements you've always FELT, but probably never before recognized. This is an essential book for anyone who loves to make or enjoy motion pictures.

5 comments about Lighting and the Dramatic Portrait: The Art of Celebrity and Editorial Photography.

1. General overview book. Not a great tutorial.
   
   With great anticipation to embark the world of studio and lighting photography Grecco does underline the basics of studio photgraphy lighting ; however, that book is more geared towards beginners rather than intermediate.Largest part of this book is describing experience with "celebrities" wich left a slight pretentious aftertaste. If you are looking for a book about the limited basics of studio lighting than this for you, otherwise I highly recommand to take workshops or experiment in your studio.



2. The author provides some incredible pictures, offers less than you need to understand how they were taken, and ends up making you think, hard, about the creative process. This book will be most appreciated by more advanced photographers who are willing to take a do-it-yourself approach to learning how to light and take dramatic portraits. Everything you really need to know is in there, but you have to work to extract it. I think the process will make you a more thoughtful photographer and a better one. If you're the type who likes mindless step-by-step instructions, and discovers that such rote approaches can't really be applied creatively, you will be disappointed in this book. All others are invited to read, study, and learn.



3. Obviously, Michael Grecco is an accomplished photographer, his body of work speaks for itself. On the dust jacket and in the introduction, Grecco says, "...Assistants and other photographers have asked why I would want to give away my secrets in a book..." After reading this book, I would like to assure Mr. Grecco's contemporaries that his secrets still lie safe with him.
   
   Lots of allusions to celebrity and lots of high end equipment name dropping occur. There is very little discussion about development of the theme of an image. This is definitely a book for Grecco fans not for experienced photographers seeking additional insight. The title is deceptive, the chapter on Illumination is 44 pages, that's right, 44 pages.
   
   Don't bother.



4. There are a lot of pretty pictures, and a few lighting diagrams, but most of this book is Mr. Grecco recounting his favorite photo shoots with stories that don't lend much to teaching new photographers. It may be packed full of inspiration, but it's lacking on inspiration. Also, you will be hard pressed to recreate any of the images you see here, unless you have the kind of budget that would suggest you not be concerned about spending the $30 for this book anyway.



5. This book is everything I had hoped. I wanted to see how the "big guys" get such gorgeous shots. It's true that just owning an expensive dSLR does not make you a professional, it takes practice, lots of photo shoots, and, most importantly, an eye for creativity. Grecco is an extraordinary photographer. I know I'll probably never be photographing celebrities or have the budget for a clan of assistants and high price lighting equipment, but some of his techniques I can certainly adapt. This is a wonderful book with enough tips and beautiful images to inspire any photographer.

1 comments about Coco Chanel: Three Weeks/1962.

1. This book is so pretty and Coco is just divine. It makes me want to drape pearls around my neck. I bought it for my mother and it made a nice gift bc it is a rather fancy book for the price...and it's COCO! Also, my mom likes photography, so she appreciated that the photos were by Douglas Kirkland