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.

5 comments about Lost Balls: Great Holes, Tough Shots, and Bad Lies.

1. I saw this book on the coffee table of a friend and immediately went home and bought it as a gift for my brother. He is an avid golfer and was overwhelmed with this gift! He has it on his coffee table and said his visitors never put it down and it's his favorite gift of the year! I'm not a golfer and I still LOVED this book!



2. This book is perfectly delightful. I purchased this for my husband, and he has spent hours pouring over it. The pictures are wonderful and very high quality. He swears I bought it because so many pictures are of him in trouble at the golf course (not true!), but loads of laughs.



3. I ordered this book as a gift. I loved it so much ( I am NOT a golfer at all) that I ordered another as a gift plus one for me!



4. This book's photographs are absolutely brilliant! I first saw the book walking through a store and picked it up only to open up to a page where a golf ball was stuck in a pile of poo. I was flipping pages before you knew it and every shot had me smiling, laughing, reminiscing and just really enjoying the photos. If you are a golfer or going to be buying this book for a golfer I am sure they will get as much enjoyment out of it as I have. Everyone comes into our home and I catch them flipping pages on the book and enjoying it. So don't pass this book up, buy it now!



5. I gave my husband Lost Balls for Father's Day and he absolutely loved it. My 16 year old son and I both enjoyed it as well. This book has beautiful pictures - the photography is excellent - that capture some incredible and impossible lies. The scenes are lovely and make one appreciate golf as a form of relaxation. The many precarious positions that are captured make one appreciate golf as an obsession. For those who love and hate this game, this book will be enjoyed.

5 comments about Adobe Photoshop Elements 6: A Visual Introduction to Digital Photography (book with CD).

1. In college I took a required course to learn what kind of learner I was. I thought it was stupid and didn't want to go. Everyone knows you learn by reading books. What I found out was that I had a much higher retention rate in the visual mode. Made college a lot easier. This book is a good example of a text for the visual learner. Very well laid out and paced.
   
   My one complaint was that it was a bit skimpy on the Organizer. Many of us have a mess of photos that we need to organize. This organizer eliminates the need for sub-folder after sub-folder but the book does not highlight that strength nearly enough.
   
   I highly recommend the book for the new-to-digital-photography set.



2. ***THIS REVEW IS FOR THE CD ONLY***
   
   I really like how the CD explains the PE 6. It shows the entire screen as it helps you through the tutorials. Very helpful to me, one who is new to the PE programs and requires an audio and moving visual way of learning.
   
   The bad part is that the audio on the CD I received was garbled with a distorted sound throughout the disc. Some of the subheadings were worse than others as far as the audio distortion goes.
   
   I contacted Focal Press, talked to a tech guy. He helped me try some things on my computer that did not end up helping with the audio trouble I had with this disc. Later he went over his copy, then emailed me to say that his copy was not effected. I returned my first copy, received a second and it did the same thing in the exact same places. So I returned the second copy as well.
   
   Before returning the second copy, I even tried down loading the free quick time by Apple, which a website for another book had recommended for their audio trouble in hopes it would help this one. It did not help my CD trouble with this book. (I do not have any other trouble with audios with my computer from any other discs. Just the CD that came with this book.)
   
   I then bought the book: How to Cheat in Adobe Photoshop Elements 6 for it's CD. I was disappointed with the only partial view of the screen. This was very limiting since it doesn't show where to click so you can try it for yourself.
   
   If anyone has a tip on how I can get this CD to work on my PC (A Dell Inspiron 6400 please let me know so I can buy another book and try it again.) I learned several things on PE 6 software from the CD that came with this book but can't remember them all. The garble distortion was so annoying! Hopefully your disc will be fine.
   
   (4 stars is for the CD only and it is missing a star due to the audio garble and distortion.)



3. As the subtitle says, this is an introduction to Adobes' `junior' image editing application.
   
   The book itself is well laid out, with sections ranging from introductions to digital photography and Elements itself to printing, file management and some simple projects.
   
   It's a good book for dipping into - the sections are easy to navigate with a clear contents page and index to help you find your way around.
   
   The graphics used throughout the book are clear and well laid out and illustrate the tools and techniques being described in the text. Screenshots are good and a reasonable size so you can see all the components of a tool or menu.
   
   At the moment, it only covers the Windows version - there's no indication of what will happen when the Macintosh version is released later this month.
   - All the keyboard shortcuts are for Windows, and the `Organizer' workspace is fairly extensively covered - the Mac version will use `Bridge' as featured in CS3, so a relatively major rewrite would be required.
   
   However, for users of the previous Windows based Elements version, mention is made where appropriate to equivalent commands in v.5 along with indicators where a particular tool or technique is new to v.6. It should be just possible to apply some of the techniques to older versions of Elements, but I wouldn't recommend buying this book unless you already own or are intending to upgrade to Elements 6.
   
   A CD is supplied with the book which has a number of video tutorials covering the new and updated features in v.6 and some of the projects featured in later sections in the book, along with resources for practising the more complex work-throughs - within the text, an indicator is used to show that content is available on the CD.
   
   The author also has a web site including video podcasts, tutorials, and loads of additional resources, some for previous Elements versions.
   
   I found this to be a very informative book with plenty of material for the new Elements user and a good all round introduction to digital imaging.



4. With reservations, I encourage you to get this book if you want to start learning how to use Photoshop Elements 6. The book provides a somewhat different perspective from the information available from the Help file and from Adobe's web site. Don't expect this book to provide the information you need to become a Photoshop Elements expert. Explore the Adobe web site to get that information.
   The information in this book could, I think, have been more effectively presented if it had been subject to much better editing.
   Unfortunately the book suffers from several problems. I find the author's writing style somewhat irritating. Sometimes he uses many words to say almost nothing. At other times, the author summarizes important matters that deserve detailed explanation in just a few words--I get the impression he couldn't be bothered to write adequate information.
   The book omits information about some of Photoshop Element's useful capabilities.
   The index is close to a disaster, probably because the index was created by a professional indexer on the publisher's staff who had little or no knowledge of photography.
   The overall organization of the book could be much improved. There's a somewhat brief description of the Organizer in Chapter 3, with no reference (as far as I noticed) to much more information in Chapter 14.
   The Jargon Buster section at the back of the book is totally inadequate; it minimally defines only a very few of the terms users need to understand.
   Nevertheless, if you take the time to read through the book, you'll pick up a lot of useful tips about using Photoshop Elements.
   
   Gordon Padwick



5. Adobe PSE6 A Visual Reference to Digital Photography is a great reference book. Philip Andrews starts at the beginning - "what is digital photography and how does PSE6 help you manipulate digital images" and takes you all the way though the PSE tools to a final chapter usable project. And he does it it an easy to understand manner. Oh, did I mention the keyboard shortcuts appendix? This is a comprehensive book - highly recommended. No, I am not related to, nor have I ever met Mr. Andrews - I just really found this book useful.

5 comments about Nikon D60 Digital Field Guide.

1. A most excellent book. I agree with the other reviewer that said this should come with the camera(grammar is much better here:)). Well put together and has an intellectual flow. Paper is a bit weird, but my guess that is just so the photos look better.
   
   All in all, a great buy!!!



2. The D60 field guide is an absolute must have for anyone who has a D60 and is new to DSLR photography. If you are not new to DSLR, I would still recommend getting yourself a copy anyway as it serves as an excellent reference tool.
   
   I anxiously awaited the release of this guide after I got a D60 in May. While I waited for its release I used various resources on the internet to familiarize myself with the camera and learn important basics for DSLR photography. Although I was fairly successful on my own, this book would have saved me hours of researching and frustration (not to mention an entire set of photos from the zoo that came out terribly grainy).
   
   Overall, the book does a wonderful job introducing the user to the features and functions of the D60. Also, it is intuitively organized and presents information in a way that makes sense (unlike the user's manual which I find equally as useful as the spanish version that came with the camera too).
   
   For the novice, a first read through will answer a great deal of the seemingly infinite amount of questions that one may have starting out with DSLR and the D60. For the intermediate to experienced user, the book will prove to be a handy reference guide for specific types of photography.
   
   I keep the book in my backpack wherever I go to take shots and I find that most of the time there are a few pages specifically dedicated to explaining tips and techniques on how to approach and shoot the exact type of photos that I am trying to take. The full color examples with a brief discussion of how to achieve the same are extremely helpful as a starting point for a specific type of shot.



3. "Nikon D60 Digital Field Guide" is an in-depth, detailed description of the functions and controls of the Nikon D60. The book also includes general, need-to-know photography information and tricks of the trade.
   
   Many photography guides out there have great information, but have to generalize for multiple camera models, or if it is camera specific, they go over the controls without going into general photography information. This book contains it all, describing every aspect of your camera and explaining how it pertains to the art of photography.
   
   This book has too much information to read once and remember. The information and organization, however, makes it indeed a "Field Guide" for digital photographers. It's easy to go back, find the subject you are searching for and get the exact information you need.
   
   A must-have for new and seasoned D60 users, alike.



4. I'm an absolute beginner DSLR user, keep that in mind!
   Sure, it covers most aspects of the camera, but it jumps from almost "tedious basics" to long text sections. I mean, it's a book about pictures so why not use some pictures to illustrate concepts, ideas, and settings. In the advanced sections there are some example pictures and then tables detailing the settings. BORING! Uninspired, a typical example of how software books used to be: quick rewrites of the manual.
   Get the "Magic Lantern's Nikon D40 DVD guide" instead (the D60 is almost identical to the D40.



5. If you have a D60, this is a must read! Even your other friends with different cameras would benefit from reading this!
   
   So when I first got this book, I actually didn't expect much, but I wanted to read it anyways. After reading it cover to cover- I was WRONG! It is a WEALTH of information about the D60- Nearly everything! Sure there are pages on the buttons and EVERYTHING is covered, so a lot of it is review. However, that is a good thing in my mind.
   
   After the first three chapters, which were mostly review, I was enjoying reading the guide. Although I knew most of it, I also was shown some new tricks, better ways of doing things, and other cool stuff. Starting in chapter four, I really was enjoying the read! I leaned some new concepts and others were reinforced. Both composition and exposure were heavily covered, but very informative and well written. Chapter 6 was my favorite chapter- "working with light". Just as it says, it is all about light. Some of it was flashes, most of it was about lighting in general, and extremely informative and helpful in my photography. Another great- and large- section of the book is real world situations, and how to make great photos of them. From landscapes to macros.
   
   In short, this book rather unexpectedly improved my photography, and made me faster and more comfortable using my D60. If you own the D60, buy this book now! It is UNBEATABLE for the price! In fact, since most of it applies, I would suggest it to D40 and D40X users also.
   
   Erik from Flickr.

No comments about Sierra Club 2009 Wilderness Calendar.

5 comments about A Time it Was: Bobby Kennedy in the Sixties.

1. Bought this for my dad for father's day. Great pictures of a memorable time in history with a visonary who lost his light too soon!



2. This book and its images were all the more gripping having been an observer at the time. The photos and the words provide an image of a nation trying to be the sum of its promise, only to be plunged into a tragic self assessment after the assassination.
   It is paramount, 40 years later, that we take the opportunity to remember how far we have come. This book reminds us that we can do better, that we must do better, that we are better.



3. it's photgraphs of the campain are stunning the brief narrative gives a true sense of sumer 1968



4. This book of pictures was a wonderful walk down memory lane for me. At 16 I was to join the Kennedy campaign as a volunteer after the California primary. On the morning I was to depart, my parents woke me with the news of his shooting. This book, however, reminded me of the promise unfulfilled Robert Kennedy represented--how much better we would have been as a people, as a country, as a government had he been president in 1969 instead of Richard Nixon.



5. I got plenty of information about this order. When it was slightly delayed, I was informed, as well as when it shipped. I was very impressed with the service.

No comments about Vanity Fair: The Portraits: A Century of Iconic Images.

5 comments about Digital Photography All-in-One Desk Reference For Dummies (For Dummies (Computer/Tech)).

1. This book is great. All I expected and more. Price was more than reasonable.



2. This is a very thick book. But it is a wealth of information on digital photography. You can use it as a reference or read the entire book. Most books you get on photography are outdated, and have not got much information on Digital Photography. this an up to date one.



3. I found this book particularly annoying in part because it continually suggests the reader can learn MORE about a given topic of interest by buying another book by the author. It blows off Mac and I found it a waste of money.



4. The book is filled with info, but it "focuses" on the digital SLR, rather than the point and shoot. There should have been a warning in the description. It's still useful.



5. This book is huge and covers most anything one can think of on this topic. I bought it for my husband who has recently acquired a digital camera. He hasn't begun to even scratch the surface but has already found it helpful and knows it will as he tries new things.

5 comments about Exposure and Lighting for Digital Photographers Only (For Only).

1. If you're a beginning or intermediate photographer looking to learn more about exposure and lighting, then this is the book for you. It's easy to follow - with plenty of good illustrations. After you read this book you'll be able to take your digital camera off "Auto" and get control of your photos. I especially enjoyed the "Pro Tips" that are located throughout the book.



2. I didn't manage to read the whole book (only the first third) because I got bored. It may be useful though for the very beginner photographer.
   
   I stopped at Chapter 7 when I've read "Apertures toward the extremes of the range often tend to exhibit somewhat less sharpness and more distortion". The statement is correct regarding sharpness but not true regarding distortion (which doesn't change with aperture but does change on a zoom with focal length).
   
   I do not recommend this book.



3. First I should say the title is not totally accurate as I was not familiar with the Zone System by Ansel Adams and the book has an interesting section on it. As for the rest, no truly new information is provided that could not either be provided by an experience with slide films, or inferred from digital cameras manuals. Still the text is quite fluent and provides a good refresh about known notions; moreover the pictures are stunning. I would encourage people in two groups to buy the book: big budget beginners with an interest in improving the quality of their pictures (the book in fact talks about _many_ expensive equipments), or experienced photographers wanting to have some new inspirations.



4. This book is for the beginning photographer who wants to learn how to capture better images. It provides a fair amount of technical information but in a way that is easy to understand. I highly recommend this to anyone who isn't happy with their "point and shoot" behaviors.



5. This book gave me a lot of ideals to work with on my canon camera. I even coped some of the iformation down and put it in my camera case.

5 comments about Mastering HDR Photography: Combining Technology and Artistry to Create High Dynamic Range Images.

1. Detailed instructions. Covers multiple software packages. List of settings for each piece of software. Tells how to set-up and get proper composition for good HDR images. This is important. You're going to like this book.



2. I liked this book for the most part. It covers HDR software fairly well, especially Photomatix, which is an industry leader. The author includes a substantive discussion of dynamic range in terms of seeing, capture and printing, and you do get a good introduction to the vocabulary.
   
   I only gave 3 stars however. There are a number of issues. 1) Some of the images are mis-captioned; usually you can figure out which is which, but better proofing would have helped. 2) Many of the images are simply too small to see the effects he says they represent. 3) The subjects of many images are so abstract, you cannot tell what the subject is or what it should look like. I would strongly recommend that the author provide links to downloadable copies of the images so a reader could follow along. (This seems to be a problem with other books on this topic.) 4) There are a few errors regarding dynamic range and LAB colors, although these do not affect the usefulness of the book. There is no errata available on the author's site or the publishers site. 5) The screen captures are for an earlier version and some confusion, though small, results. This is really due to the fact that the software is evolving rapidly and not the author's fault.
   
   The book convinced me the value of the Photmatix software. I have been struggling with the HDR feature of Photoshop CS3. The trial version of Photomatix adds a watermark to saved images but is not so intrusive that it prevents learning or evaluation the software. (Bravo! Photomatix!) I shoot landscapes, and moving water is simply beyond the capabilities of Photoshop, but handled very well by Photomatix. (I would very happy if Adobe acquired Photomatix much like they did Pixmantec.)
   
   If you are interested in starting with HDR imaging, this book and a trial version ot Photmatix will give you the tools you need to decide if it will work for you. Well worth the Amazon discountprice!



3. Having already Christian Bloch's and Ferrell McCollough's texts on HDR imaging, I was intrigued by the accolades given to Michael Freeman as a writer by some of the readers here, and I got this book as well.
   
   In fact, this book does not stack up to the both other works on the subject. Author often meanders into philosophical issues of composition, like the "Gestalt theory", instead of analyzing the issues of high dynamic range.
   
   Bad are the example images, in many cases almost in the size of a post stamp. I could not make up any details in many of them, they are often that small. This problem was amplified by the print technology used by the publisher. Do you remember the early color print, in which you could see strange hexagonal patterns of color dots? Well, you can see them here too, and when such artifacts appear on these tiny images, their practical value is close to zero.
   
   Some other critiques here called this book too technical. I am sorry to disagree. On this aspect I am on the very opposite side of the scale: This book is virtually devoid any technical details. It is the "blah blah" type of text, to use the vernacular.
   
   Take rather Ferrell McCollough (not too technical, fantastic photography) or Bloch (technical and very comprehensive, rich in detail). You can skip this book.



4. It's sad that Michael Freeman's Mastering HDR Photography wasn't handed over to a publisher that cared more about the reader. Freeman manages to pack a lot of information into the text, but the type--it's an ultra light sans serif type that my middle aged eyes had trouble reading in all lights--kept me from reading all the material. There are reasons why there are so many fonts available; the publisher should give them some thought. I wrote to the publisher, but received no answer. That tells me they don't value their readers' input.
   
   I gave up on the Freeman text and went back to Amazon for McCollough's Complete Guide to High Dynamic Range Digital Photography and am completely satisfied. McCollough offers a different approach to HDR than I had used, and it makes complete sense. Even nicer, I can read his text.



5. Excellent reference for HDR photography. I use Photomatix but was unsure if I was using it's functions correctly. This book is a very good instructional text not only on Photomatix but other software out there as well. If you do HDR you NEED this book.