No comments about The Work of Art in the Age of Its Technological Reproducibility, and Other Writings on Media.

5 comments about Anatomy Lessons from the Great Masters.

1. I will just say that this is very helpful for reference to specific part of the human anatomy. Especially the skeletal and muscular diagrams at the back of the book.



2. for us amateaur artists who want inspiration to create great works of art. This book shows the details of the human body and how great artists drew from live and dead bodies as they create the greatest masterpieces in art history.



3. I took an art class at the junior college and the instructor suggested copying the masters to improve drawing skills. I bought this book and copied every picture. Not only did it familiarize me with many artists I had not heard of but, over time my drawing skills improved dramatically. I am now buying collections of drawings of other artists and copying. I highly recommend the book not only as a reference but also to be used to improve skills. I have an engineering background, not art and this helped immensely.



4. Pick up this book if you are looking for a great artistic anatomy reference book. If you are looking for more than reference, however, you might want to look elsewhere. While this book is definitely good, it doesn't give the artist direction in how to draw or depict the illustrations. The text is pretty much straight-forward, usually only noting the parts of the bodies in the images. Second, this book lacks the poetic and great writing of Robert Beverly Hale.

   Anatomy Lessons from the Great Masters is more of an extra reference book or a supplement to Drawing Lessons from the Great Masters. In that book, Hale really teaches to the reader whats needed to depict anatomy, what steps the artist must take, gives tips on how to become a great or accomplished artist, why the artists of the past were so good, what mistakes beginners of figure drawing usually make, and sooooo much more. It's pretty much an incredible book to have even if you're not into figure drawing.

   I think Anatomy Lessons would probably be more highly regarded in my eyes had Drawing Lessons been nonexistent. Anatomy Lessons is great for further reference, if thats what you're looking for though. I probably wouldn't recommend anyone to buy this book unless you already own or have thoroughly read and studied Drawing Lessons by the Great Masters.




5. An excellent book on artistic anatomy. Reading this one book has taught me more than some figure drawing classes. A systematic deconstruction of how the masters of artistic anatomy have integrated their knowledge into some of the greatest drawings of all time. The book goes through the drawings of famous artists, categorized by the region of the body on which the drawings are focused, and attempts to explain how extensive knowledge of anatomy has been effectively applied. It touches on how these artists could create drawings which are more powerful than merely a photographic rendering of the model through their use of anatomy.

   Unfortunately, the book is very cheaply bound. Entire leaves have detached themselves from the spine, though I have treated the book very well. My copy has turned into a stack of paper and scotch tape, wrapped loosely in its former cover. Despite that fact, I still consider it worth the purchase.

   I have both this book and "Drawing Lessons from the Great Masters." Both are excellent books, but if you must only buy one, get this one. It is the better of the two.

4 comments about Night Vision: The Art of Urban Exploration.

1. Anyone who's followed Troy Paiva's Lost America work will know what to expect from this book. Lavishly realised images of fascinating relics, awe-inspiring sights, and Troy's personal perspective on the world of discarded infrastructure.
   
   This is the sort of book you'll find yourself insisting friends, relatives, and workmates look through. Buy a spare copy :)



2. Troy Paiva has knocked one out of the park with this book. The quality of the photos leave little to be desired. His writings lead the reader through an odyssey of the macabre world of abandoned night photography. The added spice of light painting creates the mood so required to complete the aura behind this type of photography.
   
   It would be an injustice to not purchase and enjoy this book.



3. I thought this collection of Paiva's night photos much better than his previous 2003 book Lost America: The Abandoned Roadside West mainly because Lost was issued by Motorbooks, a publisher of picture books rather than photo books which unfortunately meant that Paiva's images were mixed together with text in rather bland spreads. Chronicle Books are much more sympathetic to creative endeavors and with 'Night Vision' they give these remarkable photos the presentation they deserve.
   
   All the photos pages are black which certainly enhances their appeal and air of desolation but it also throws up Paiva's use of colored spots which, by now, is clearly his trademark. The five photo chapters reveal a wonderful selection of man-made abandonment. Chapter five featuring photos of the Aviation Warehouse at El Mirage, California is my favorite. To my mind nothing looks so dead and poignant as scrapped jetliners with miles of cabling, spars and struts from a half dismantled fuselage and cockpits with dust covered instrument clusters. The twenty-six photos capture all this so well.
   
   The four other chapters cover: the abandoned Byron Hot Springs Hotel between Oakland and Stockton, California; Desert; Southern Pacific's Oakland train station in all its crumbling splendor and decommissioned military bases. This last photo section could easily make a separate book with plenty of abandoned bases across the US.
   
   
   In the front of the book Paiva writes about his photo technique and adventures as a solitary nighttime snapper. He also writes a short intro to each photo chapter. The layout and printing are fine (with 175 screen) though I thought the blue captions on each page are rather hard to read in a domestic lighting environment.
   
   'Night Vision' delivers some wonderful images in a format they deserve rather than the bland presentation that weakened the photos in 'Lost America'.
   
   ***FOR AN INSIDE LOOK click 'customer images' under the cover.



4. Troy Paiva, whose work is handsomely reproduced in this book, is one of the acknowledged masters within the small cadre of professional night photographers. The stunning photos in this monograph demonstrate the high quality of Troy's work.
   
   These are images of crumbling ruins in the American west ranging from abandoned military bases and resorts to the old train station in Oakland, airplane part junkyards, and erstwhile roadside attractions. If it is romantic, seedy, falling down, and visually arresting it is grist for Troy Paiva's night time mill, who previously mined this vein in his classic Lost America: The Abandoned Roadside West.
   
   Night Vision is subtitled The Art of Urban Exploration, which strikes me as a bit odd. Certainly, the fascinating photos in this book and the related stories are about the archeology of recent human culture. But they are not particularly "urban." In fact, with the exception of the wonderful series of photos of the old Oakland train station, this work shows isolated or even rural settings (you can get a sense of this even from the book's cover).
   
   While Troy Paiva's writing is lucid and compelling, I also don't have much use for the trendy and mostly irrelevant opening essay, Desert Iliad by Geoff Manaugh.
   
   Troy writes that he shot film until fairly recently, switching to digital in 2005 (about the time I did). I believe that most of the photos in the book were taken with digital equipment. Troy's preferred subject matter and technique differ from mine. He is looking for lost human artifacts at night, I primarily like the natural landscape. Troy's exposures are in the 2-4 minute range, and he light paints with flashlights and gels. My exposures are often far longer, and I'm not that interested in colored light painting. These differences help point out the vast vocabulary range available in night photography, and why this is an exciting area for many people.
   
   In his description of his technique, Troy writes that mostly he doesn't post process his images much: "These captures are virtually untouched, straight out of the camera, with all the scene's warts and blemishes intact." Why Troy thinks this is a positive is unclear to me, although obviously many people share this viewpoint. (I won't go into the argument in great length here, but a digital camera is a computer with a scanner and lens attached, so why not do some of the processing on a computer with greater capabilities?)
   
   I highly recommend this book for three different reasons:
   
   You can learn techniques of night photography from a master.
   Troy's stories of getting these photos on location in crumbling America are a great tale of adventure.
   The images are stunning, and worth the price of admission on their own.

No comments about Wisdom.

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

1. I highly recommend this book with Photoshop elements 6....A great help and easy to understand



2. Very clear explanations, easy to follow, I'm enjoying learning. I have done some minor things and my confidence is growing. I recommend this book by Philip Andrews strongly.



3. 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.



4. ***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.)



5. 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.

5 comments about Digital Photography: Top 100 Simplified Tips & Tricks.

1. Written by Mary G. for Ann F. and Mary G. @ SCG Photos
   Using "Simplified, Tips& Tricks" was soothing to my novice photographer's heart. I was able to quickly scan and/or find all topics of interest by color, number, and/or page. The table of contents was simple and direct in layout, while being comprehensive in alerting me to what each section/chapter offered. I also found that there was an abundance of photos and illustrations...which I would expect in a photography handbook , but is not always the case as I've learned. I found the color bar which rated the degree of difficulty for the "tip/trick" presented; was most useful and right on, in choosing a new task to try at my novice level. This is an excellent book for the photographer who is ready to move past the "auto" setting and gain more knowledge and experience.
   
   What was especially wonderful about "Simplified, Tips & Tricks" is that the body of the book delivered on what it promised in the table of contents, and the delivery was uniform, multi-faceted, and comprehensive without being overwhelming. A useful book that will be used over and over again!



2. The product is excellent and the seller too. I received my product on time and without inconvenience.



3. Good learning book for beginners in digital photography. Not very helpful if you've been doing this for a while.



4. This is FUN learning through the use of colorful visuals and well written text. This book is organized to take the reader from initial camera settings and basic shooting guidelines to wonderfully creative suggestions for achieving those "Wow!" images. Color bars on each page indicate level of task difficulty. Those learning and working in Adobe Elements will enjoy Chapters 7 and 8 as they follow the easy steps to working with histograms, layers, cloning, RAW conversions, etc. The last two chapters take your images through the successful printing process and finally the culmination of creating digital projects for others to enjoy. This book is a great tableside quick reference for beginners up through intermediate photographers. I highly recommend it!![[ASIN:0764596160 Digital Photography: Top 100 Simplified Tips & Tricks]



5. What can I add ?
   
   To say more and to be quick :
   - real good advices rated by difficulty
   - simple to understand and to practice
   - no sequential reading required, you can pick up in the book...
   
   It just could have 50 more tips... Maybe in the Vol.2...
   
   Excuse my speaking (I'm french).

5 comments about Pricing Photography: The Complete Guide to Assignment & Stock Prices.

1. I can't encourage you enough to know the information in this book. There are even forms in the back for you to use when billing people. The last time I brought my invoice to someone they responded about how professional it was. Read this before you start making mistakes that will become very costly to you and your business!



2. This book was invaluable in the pricing process. It includes guides that most other books of this kind do not. For example, guides for how to calculate your annual overhead in order to take it into account with the pricing of every job. Great book, and I'm sure it will come in handy when it comes to pricing stock images.



3. The only book you may ever need in general stock & assignment photography pricing. This is my conclusion after buying several books. Other books discuss the business but left the pricing. So this topic become "mysterious" for most photographers starting their business. Well thought and the authors are not afraid explaining their ideas in details. Very useful and serves as reference whenever you need it.
   
   For specific subject combine with other book. E.g for nature photography business, combine this book with John Shaw's Nature Photography Business.



4. An invaluable guide for photographers providing information on pricing, negotiation and business behavior with clients, A very good book



5. I'm a professional photographer so I have experience in pricing, but until I read this book I didn't realize how much more there was to learn. I have picked up a lot of subtleties in negotiating techniques which has given me increased confidence in dealing with clients. Another plus for me was the language rights section. By using the careful, precise language when writing an invoice I am now avoiding some pitfalls in the permissions I grant to clients. The pricing charts are a great reference so I can see where my rates fall in comparison to the national average. Sometimes I even show the price charts to my clients so they can see what a good deal I'm giving them! The book is a gold mine of information -- all spelled out in photographer-friendly language.

5 comments about X-Posed.

1. This masterfully put together book gives a great introduction to Mr. Rosser's beautiful photography. All admirers of the male form should add this book to their list of things to own. It does not disappoint!



2. This book is a must have for any fan of the male body. Not only does Mr. Rosser capture the beauty and strength of the models but he also manages to display these men's more sensible inner side. I only wish we could see photographs of this artistic quality in a much better and larger format, this is of course not the artist's fault, but the publisher's. After viewing this book you will owe it to yourself to become a member of Dylan Rosser's website, a truly magnificent showcase of his work. www.dylanrosser.com



3. Dylans photography is second to none - and now his fans have documentation of that. This book is a collection of his finest models and finest shots as only Dylan can capture them. Incredible!



4. If you're a fan of the male body, erotic photography focusing on the male form, or fabulous coffee table books, you're certainly familiar with Dylan Rosser. One of the preeminent photographers of sensuousmale imagery, Rosser sits in a class of his own, whose work, if translated to words on paper, would speak volumes in just a few words.
   
   His newest offering, X-Posed, is no exception. As you'd expect, the men featured within these pages are stunning, gorgeous, beautiful, sexy- everything you could want in a perfect model. What sets these photos apart from every other book of nude men however, is the brilliance of the man behind the lens. The shots are full of so much emotion, so much tension, relief, ecstasy, and masculinity, that they seem to come to life, each one telling a unique story.
   
   There's no shortage of skin either, but unlike some other books in this genre, X-Posed is never skanky or trashy. Paging through this volume doesn't leave you feeling dirty, and you never wonder why these models took their clothes off. Rosser brings such an original, primal, and comfortable feeling to the male form that each man is perfection in his own self.
   
   And as the reader, we're fortunate enough to get to share in their beauty.
   
   X-Posed is an incredible volume of photographic artistry, featuring magnificent images of incredibly sexy men. Add it to your collection, or pick it up and keep it on hand for the next time you need a housewarming gift- I guarantee whoever receives it will get quite warm indeed...



5. ...high quality photo book that holds up with the best, from Lynes and List to Mapplethorpe and Bianchi. I hope Mr. Rosser keeps making and publishing his fine art.

2 comments about Great Lodges of the National Parks: Volume Two.

1. Fun reading if you are an explorer of the National Parks, which I am. Certainly the most detailed descriptions in general circulation of these historic places. The second edition had a few places in it that I did not know about and have now placed on my list of lodges to stay in. Without a doubt all these places still have great position. For example the Many Glacier Lodge was the most dramatic nature setting of any hotel I have ever stayed in. This includes some really fabulous places in Europe. But the level of the rooms does tend to vary. Check Frommers, AAA, or others to get a sense of what the room quality may be. Frankly with some like the Many Glacier, it did not matter. But to those wanting to stay at a "Four Seasons" level accommodation in a National Park you may not be happy.



2. When I saw GLNP on PBS, I was surprised to find that Christine Barnes had yet again discovered more national treasures to share with us all. I have all of her books, and like the earlier ones, she makes these lodges come alive in so many ways. I suggest you only read one chapter at a time, then let the experience sink in overnight. The photography by itself tells a story with a great selection of photos including priceless historical shots. Those who appreciate history will not be disappointed as the author covers each topic in an accurate, but interesting way. Architects will appreciate the detail and early renderings. And finally, for those who are looking for new places for the family vacation, this book is a must. I visited many of the lodges featured in her previous books, both in the US and Canada. I can assure you there is nothing artificial about any of these places. As they say, they are the "real deal" and part of our history we can all be proud of and experience ourselves

5 comments about San Francisco Giants: 50 Years: 50 Years.

1. The book came absolutely perfect. I am very happy with the service.
   I couldn't wait to open it and start reading it. I am a huge fan of the Giants. Thank you



2. SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS: 50 YEARS BY BRIAN MURPHY: As only a recent fan of the San Francisco Giants, I know of the 2002 World Series defeat, Barry Bonds's race to reach and beat Hank Aaron's homerun record, and the young and magnificent arm of the 22 year-old pitcher Tim Lincecum. I know the names of the great Giants like Willie Mays, Willie McCovey, and Juan Marichal; but the period from the 1958 move of the New York Giants to San Francisco up to the end of the 1990s is a time I know little ...more SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS: 50 YEARS BY BRIAN MURPHY: As only a recent fan of the San Francisco Giants, I know of the 2002 World Series defeat, Barry Bonds's race to reach and beat Hank Aaron's homerun record, and the young and magnificent arm of the 22 year-old pitcher Tim Lincecum. I know the names of the great Giants like Willie Mays, Willie McCovey, and Juan Marichal; but the period from the 1958 move of the New York Giants to San Francisco up to the end of the 1990s is a time I know little about. Thankfully 2008 is the fiftieth anniversary of the San Francisco Giants, and to commemorate it a beautiful book has been published, written by Brian Murphy (a host for the KNBR sports radio station), celebrating the fifty years of San Francisco baseball history with the Giants.
   
   The cover of San Francisco Giants: 50 Years captures the book perfectly with a split picture: on the top is Seals stadium, formerly a place for minor league baseball, it was where the new San Francisco Giants played their first games; at the bottom is the breathtaking AT&T Park, where the Giants currently reside. A foreword from longtime fan Danny Glover takes the reader back to moments in Glover's history as a little boy watching the greats play as Giants. Brian Murphy then sweeps you back to the first days of the New York Giants gracing the streets of the city by the bay as the new San Francisco Giants. Murphy uses a descriptive style that congers images in one's mind of the history of this baseball team, not overloading the book with stats and numbers, but providing facts and details where necessary, informing the reader of the many great strides the Giants have made, as well as the crucial times they came within reaching distance of the World Series ring: in 1962 against the New York Yankees, in 1989 against the Oakland Athletics, and in 2002 against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
   
   Brian Murphy takes the readers through the many highpoints of the San Francisco Giants history, as well as the many low points. There is the miraculous story of the pitcher Dave Dravecky, a star for the team until a tumor was found in his pitching arm, who after surgery and recovery returned to pitch one of his best games ever. In the following game, he snapped his humerus bone, and eventually had to have his arm amputated. The story of the great Bobby Bonds, as his son hung around the clubhouse and watched his father and god father, Willie Mays. The career of Barry Bonds who came to the Giants in 1993 and spent the next fourteen years smashing records and creating news goals for future players to reach. And hints at possible future greats for the San Francisco Giants like Matt Cain and Tim Lincecum, who pitched in the 2008 All Star Game at Yankee Stadium. The book ends with a superb finish: an afterword from the great Willie Mays, as he recounts some of his memories as a Giant.
   
   San Francisco Giants: 50 Years is a treasure for any sort of fan of the Giants bursting with photos, booklets featuring team photos and opening day lineups for all fifty years, along with an audio CD recounting fifty years of play-by-play highlights. It is a book that will never spend long on the shelf, as readers will keep picking it up again and again, whether to look up a detail of history, check on a team member or stat, or simply to look at some of the greatest players the world of baseball has ever known.
   
   
   [...]



3. My siblings and I bought this for our dad for father's day and he was really happy with it.
   
   One of the neat aspects to it is team photos and lists of the team players during specific years.



4. If your a loyal S.F. Giants lover, you'll need to get this fantastic history book. (with simply great pictures) It covers the Giants days at the old S.F. Seals ball park at 16th and Bryant. I use to get there on the Muni for I think 5 or 10 cents each way. But more than a fan gem, it covers the Giants MLB history like no other book. A great gift, should be displayed on a coffee table etc., etc.



5. I'm sure the author is a nice guy and everything, but he writes like an eleven year old! This photos are nice, but I can look at those on the internet for free.
   
   Save your money on this one, folks. Buy game tickets instead. No matter how obnoxious the fans are around you....they can't be worse than this guy!