1 comments about Humanlandscapes: Interpreting the Human Form.

1. P Miller's collection of beautifully arranged photographs highten and highlight our senses and experiences of the human body, particularly the female form. The images are accompanied by insightful and thought-provoking prose. The black and white photographs especially have excellent balance of light and dark. The photographs and text flow effortlessly together and to each other.
   This book stands out from the usual photography coffee table books in its exquisite presentation of the relations between the female body and nature.

5 comments about Punk Pioneers.

1. Artifix Greg: "I was on Amazon and I saw that your book is finally coming out! Great news there!!!!! You've inspired us at Artifix Records with your work and friendship. You have produced an amazing body of work and you will be remembered forever. I see the name Jenny Lens popping up so much now! In just a few short years, you have really re-established yourself and you are the top dog! Congratulations!" -from an e-mail sent to Jenny Lens from Artifix Records



2. This book is the bomb!I like the book because it shows the musicians (and fans) in impromptu settings,which creates an air of being there.I like the large photo layout and the fact that there is not too much text to distract the reader from focusing on what's going on in the photos.It has become my new "coffee table" book!



3. it's too bad that Jenny was too scared of the big bad brown "Other" to go get shots of the EastLos punk scene... Que viva el VEX!!



4. I was so Waiting for this Book! It does NOT disappoint!
   
   Not only do you get Jenny's Iconic Pictures, you get some Personal anecdote's of her Insider's time in the scene. I talked once on the phone with her for over Two hours! We talked about it All & the Stories in the Book are the same to what she told me, 3 years earlier! before she could even Think about Making the Book! More is Coming!
   
   Her Genuine Enthusiasm for the Scene & its Music & bands comes Right on through! Just Buy it!
   
   Support the Real Supporter's of the LA punk Rock Scene! Check out [...]



5. Aside from Frank Grimes cries of racism (yawn - read his other book reviews which contain the same EXACT, ludicrous accusations) ... keep in mind, he's 100% incorrect: Jenny is the least racist person I know, and the other positive reviews regarding her recent book are spot on! Punk Pioneers is a truly fantastic collection of writing and pictures from one of LA punk's greatest artists. Unfortunately, the early LA punk scene always took a back seat to New York and England; which no doubt, is a shame. When one fast forwards to over 3 decades later, it's easy to see LA punk may have actually had a bigger impact on the music scene than its east coast and trans Atlantic counterparts. Jenny's book gives LA its due credit, and captures the essence of this creative, unique, and influential scene. In addition, it includes excellent shots of NY and the UK. I've been waiting for Jenny's book for years; I've always considered her the greatest photographer / punk historian there is. This book validates that view: these amazing photographs breathe life back into the days of old. I put on a compilation of 70's punk, turned the cell phone off, and allowed Jenny to take me on an incredible journey ... what a trip!

2 comments about Luxury Hotels Top of the World (Luxury Hotels).

1. This book is beautifully presented and photographed of some of my favorite hotels around the world. The properties chosen epitomize the full sense of luxury and being. I am fortunate being a merchant of the finest in luxury home furnishings that I travel the world searching for more "luxury treasures" and stay in many of the properties listed and showcased. The photography is much "real" of the feeing of the properties. Looking through the pages, I thought, "they missed this or that", but overall its a spectacular presented book....Splurge, pick up the telephone and call the airlines for a dream trip of luxury.



2. This book is wonderful, there's a panoramic of some of the most beautiful hotels in the world. It's focused on ancient and classical design hotels, so if you're looking for the newest it's not recommandable.
   Brilliant pictures and good description of the hotels, if you put this book on the table of your living room your guests will like to read it!

5 comments about Milwaukee Then and Now.

1. I've always loved pictures of old buildings, in order to admire the detail and to imagine what the city looked like back then. This book uses large pictures as a window into the past, and compares them to the same location today. Some buildings have survived, and some great buildings have been lost. It's rather shocking to see how bland modern buildings look compared to the rich ornamentation of the past. Even buildings that have survived don't have all their original details. It's a pity, but compared to the great buildings we have lost, we're darn lucky to still have them around. If you like Milwaukee history, you need this book!



2. Elysium in print! This book is simultaneously informative, beautiful, and intriguing, while fantastically showcasing the supreme City of Milwaukee ... "The German Athens on the Lake." The historic photographs are absolutely fascinating, while the accompanying captions are insightful; additionally, the very premise of the book--a comparison of past and present--is excellent. The only fault I find with this magnum opus is that there could have been a little more attention given to the industrial epicenter of yore--the Menomonee Valley--while there could have been less attention given to churches. Actually, I'm sure any person intimately familiar with Milwaukee will probably be able to pinpoint a handful of locations, neighborhoods, and/or specific buildings that should have been included, but it's hard to fault the author for that fact. Along with Gurda's masterpiece, this is a truly mandatory book for all Milwaukee devotees, and it should be issued to fanatics of our dear history!



3. For anyone who lives in Milwaukee or has connections there, this is a great book. The photos are top-notch and I learned a lot about the city from the interesting explanations. My only disappointment was that the Allen Bradley clock tower wasn't in there. Maybe, being built in the early 60s, it didn't qualify as old enough, but it IS the world's largest 4-sided clock (with faces twice the size of Big Ben) and quite a landmark. So 4 1/2 stars if I could :)



4. I absolutely love these books that show the before and after of historical sites. I wish there were more local books like them. Fantastic images and great factual information. I would love to see a book like this for West Milwaukee, West Allis, Wauwatosa, etc, as this book is really more of a downtown book. The Images of America series is really nice, but it doesn't have the then and now perspective Sandra has in hers.



5. Even if you're not turned on by the nifty then/now gimmick, the photos are often large size and high quality.
   
   This book is a milwaukee architectural history buff's dream come true.

5 comments about The Photographer's Handbook (Third Edition, Revised).

1. I agree, its a must have for beginners on up. I got when i first started and still use it today, if i need a lighting reference or film reference. Its tremendously handy and thorough.

   Compared to most college-level photography texts, its also a great deal.




2. I found this book to be the best book on all aspects of photography. It shows examples of very simple
   lighting setups and some very very complicated and interesting examples. It will show you how you can set up rooms with conflicting natural lighting, by mixing the lighting with flash or incandesent lighting. It shows you what equipment you will need. In addition it covers everything, and I do mean everything in photography.
   I am ordering another one because the first one I had literally came apart. That is the one thing that dissappointed me. Its NOT the fault of the author. My first book was very poorly binded.
   Some of the pages came loose. In all honesty let me say that I was rather rough with it. If this one falls apart, I am going to punch holes in it and put it in a loose leaf binder. I miss my first one so very much.



3. First of all, I'm not a Professional Photographer, that's the reason why I purchased this book in the first place. I like the topics and the physical size of the book. Other than actual content, I purchased this book as a "Reference Book" so I like to refer to it in the field when my hands are holding 2 camera's and a tripod.

   What I don't like about this book is, that to me it's structured in a way like reading an appliance instructions. Pages are set up in a way where the printing is TOO small to read, even with reading glasses. The book is printed in very light ink, very difficult to read, even in bright light. Chapters are not clearly divided, it's like one big 'run on' sentence.

   Topics are too technical and is really written for the Professional Photographer in mind. Maybe if the title was changed to, "Professional Photographers Handbook", then I wouldn't be writing the review.




4. Lots of pretty pictures... John Hedgecoe has dozens of books under his authorship. The problem is that he recycles the same pictures and text over and over again. Most of his books (like "John Hedgecoe's New Introductory Photography Course ", "John Hedgecoe's Guide To 35mm Photography ", ETC.) are mostly the same book with different titles. Even books that should have different subject coverage, don't.

   It isn't a bad book but it is basic. I had one of his book when I was just beginning but since lost it. Never missed it either.

   Better books on photography would be "Ansel Adams Guide, The Basic Techniques of Photograph" by John P. Schaefer. I'm no fan of Ansel Adams but this still a good book.




5. I bought this book thinking that it would teach me about technique, apeture, etc. Unfortunately, the book lacks detail and most of the book is made up of photographs and then the author's description of how he got that photograph. However, the author has some pretty good ideas for photographs, and thus I used some of his ideas for trying out some photographs of my own. I still was looking for something with more detail and instruction.

5 comments about Cutting Edge Photo Cropping for Scrapbooks.

1. As always with these kinds of books - another great read and guide for scrapbookers!



2. This is a book provides new ideas for cropping to enhance your scrapbooks. The page descriptions are clear and easy to understand. This is a good book for the intermediate scrapbooker.



3. What an awesome book for a remarkably awesome price



4. So many wonderful and useful cropping ideas. I've tried them and my scrapbook pages are too good to be true. These unusual crops truly made my pages a work of art.



5. I didn't think that Memory Makers would be able to top the original book, "Memory Makers Creative Photo Cropping for Scrapbooks", but they did with this book! Instead of presenting the first book with some slight modifications, Memory Makers generated all new cropping ideas and examples. Both of these books will be of value to anyone who scrapbooks. I guarantee that this is not the same old scrapbook publication.

5 comments about The Russian Century: A History of the Last Hundred Years.

1. I echo the views of the other reviewers ... that this book is an outstanding introduction to / overview of 20th century Russian history. It's worth the price for Brian Moynahan's sweeping, lucid narrative alone, but when I first borrowed this book from a friend it was the photographs that kept me rivited for hours at at time over several days. I'm convinced that this will come to be regarded as of the great collections of historic photography ever. Very highly recommended!



2. Moynihan's book serves as a solid overview of what is painted as a fairly blighted century. From collectivization, to Stalin's brutal purges, to invasion by Nazis, to the dark restless sleep of the soul inspired by Brezhnev, the Communist years were not kind to the Russians. From the tsar to Yeltsin, Moynihan offers a clear mix of history and analysis that makes this a quick read. Still, the chapter on Russia's war with Germany unfolds like the blitzkrieg, and if you're looking for details, this is not your book. Moynihan paints with very broad strokes and does not attempt to get into the minds of the Russian people. Given that they were treated as nothing more than neccessary cogs in Stalin's megalomaniacal drive to modernize a peasant state, it would be nice to know more about their perspective. Nonetheless, this is a lucid narrative of a century's worth of troubles.



3. Brian Moynahan clearly sets out the assumption that is too guide the rest of his interpretation in his introduction, "underneath every brownshirt is a red" or some similar statement. This extreme bias taints the entire work. However, it is still an interesting read



4. The Russian Century is a whirlwind tour through the last 100 years of Russia's history, with the core of the book dedicated to Stalin and the WWII years. This is a short, fast book that touches lightly on the key events of the century but discusses none in great detail.

   Moynahan is a journalist and not a historian -- he gives the reader the feel and flavor of the Russian experience instead of a hardcore analysis. It is the sizzle of Russian history without the meat. This is a book where one learns that Lenin disguised himself with a gray wig during the Bolshevik Revolution, and that Stalin once fired a famous jazz singer because her songs were too complex for his taste. On the other hand, the Yalta conference is alluded to in just one sentence and never discussed again. Raisa Gorbachev's shopping habits receive several mentions, while the complex internal politics behind glasnost are glossed over.

   These are not faults -- just differences. The Russian Century is the perfect "survey course" for someone new to Russian history. They can get the quick overview here and then learn more about specific events in other books.




5. Moynahan's journalistic instincts are to the fore in this fast moving account of one of history's great upheavals. The author has plenty of experience covering Russia as a journalist at The Times. The coverage doesn't just take in the politics or revolution. There's social history, art and lifestyle - as well as all the gruesome stuff involving purges, genocide and the death camps in eastern siberia.

   It also has some wonderful pictures - especially one showing an old woman experiencing voting for the first time. Something that is so familiar to most of us was so alien to her. She was ninety and old enough to remember Tsar Nicholas.

   The coverage is heavily bent towards the first half of the century since most of the action took place then. Moynahan's big picture style means that you really get a feel for how traumatic and vengeful these times were for ordinary people. The revolutions and the spread of communist power throughout the empire was quite simply government by a gang of murderous thugs. Fiends of the worst possible kind with a liking for violence.

   The end of the party and the Russian Empire is dealt with only lightly since the book was first written in the early 1990s. (I read the 1994 version and haven't got around to reading an updated version). That, I don't, think is a big issue since most readers will have been around long enough to have a pretty good handle on the Gorbachev and Yeltsin years anyway.

   All too often, these types of histories are academic (often mind numbing) and/or far too long. This one is short, sucinct and highly entertaining. In fact, anyone wishing to get into the excellent accounts of the revolution by Figes or Pipes should read this one first.

5 comments about The Little Digital Video Book (Little Book).

1. This can by no stretch of the imagination be considered a comprehensive guide to digital video. It cannot even be considered an adequate "operator's manual". It serves a much different purpose. It helps one who knows nothing or practically nothing to get started, to learn the right questions to ask and to determine if this is really a field of interest after all. For those purposes, it is excellent.
   
   In addition to some very basic general priniciples, this book also contains a lot of practical advice and entry level explanation. Why is time code important? Why should tapes be logged? What is the best way to capture the kids' birthday party and not completely bore everyone? Each of these questions, and others, is important but their importance may not seem at all obvious to a beginner. This book answers question like that so that people who will take this hobby further will get started on the right track.
   
   The place I see this book as particularly valuable is for someone considering the purchase of video equipment. It will provide insight as to what is involved. Someone who has already bought some expnesive equipment might be better served by a book that is a bit more advanced.



2. My home videos are better already because of this book! This book is not necessarily aimed at the pros, but at the amateur who wants to make better home videos. The information and tips are excellent, but some of the writing style could have used editing.



3. Great book for beginners. Demonstrates everything from shooting the video to editing on the computer. The author covers nearly every video editing program available.
   
   This book focuses on creating small projects. The book provides exercises that help you get going. They demonstrate what you should try, as well as what you should not try.
   
   This is not a lengthy book. You will probably get through the entire book in a few days. But it is great to refer back to as you begin your own video projects.



4. This is NOT a book for those people who already know and practice video making skills. It is an excellent book for the person with little or no introductory knowledge of digital video however.



5. In short 178 pages Michael Rubin covers the essentials of making home videos. This is a book for beginners. It follows a structure (and approach) smilar to an English composition college course - Rubin teaches techniques (types of shots, as you would cover paragraph structure), but also fundamental stylistic considerations (movies ,not unlike Enlgish compositions, must have structure, e.g. beginning, middle and an end).
   
   There is much I liked about the book:
   
   (1) Comprehensive - covers everything a novice would need (a) products (out of date - see below), (b) camcorder handling technique, (c) shooting techniques and (d) editing
   
   (2) Less product covereage; more focus on techniques - spends almost no time on discussion regarding camcorder choice (which seems to be the area where most other similar book allocate too much attention) .
   
   Thechniques are described in detail and author's views are clearly argumented.
   
   For example, chapter 3 "Shooting" introduces camera holding techniques, gives Rubin's summary 11 rules of shooting and covers major techniques:
   (a) structure - beginning, middle and ending shots; close-up, medium, large shots;
   (b) coverage - establishing shots, over the shoulder shots, cut-away shots.
   
   Or, Chapter 6, Editing, provides the following brakdown of approximate time required for postproduction of 20 min of material:
   - 20min capturing the material on computer
   - 45min creating the "first cut"
   - 30min recutting and trimming
   - 15 minutes creating titles and effects
   - 10 min finalizing
   
   (3) Clearly expressed opinnions - Rubin is not afraid to articulate his position (the market is otherwise full of "decriptive" books whose authors are afraid from taking a point of view).
   
   For example, regarding close-ups, Rubin states, "...because your camera's viewfinder and LCD are so small, there is a real tendency to shoot everything too close...when you are shooting someone's face, don't be afraid of cutting off the top of their head. It's the eyes, not the head, that make for a powerful close-up of a person."
   
   (4) Rubin is an able teache - and he teaches substance, not just technique, which is to say - he suggest a style of thinking while making movies.
   
   For example, here is how Rubin puts forward his idea that making movies is what he calls, "shooting to edit" - "Shooting to edit involves nonlinear thinking - tha is, thinking "out of order". The last shot you make may turn out to be your opening shot..."
   
   (5) Practical examples and exercises - Rubin illustrates with pictures many of his ideas (I would have loved a cideo-CD with the book). He also suggests exercises. For example - shooting at a dog park, so that one fine-tunes techniques (such as allowing subjects to "exit" the frame).
   
   
   I also have a concern (or two) about the book:
   
   (1) Technical material is dated - the book is published in 2002 and largely focuses on discussion of tape-based camcorders. There is no discussion of high definition videos.
   
   (2) Limited additional information - a CD/video CD or web-site supplied with the book would have been nice. While illustrations (in black and white) in the book are OK, real video examples will have been useful.
   
   All-in-all, this an excellent book for beginners.

5 comments about Gardens Around the World: 365 Days.

1. What an excellent publication! This compilation of exquisite garden photos is a must have for any home owner or gardening enthusiast. Gardens Around the World: 365 Days is worth every penny of its full retail price, Amazon's deeply discounted price makes it a steal. Don't pass this one by! Your guests will quickly grab hold of this well bound book to see which gardens are featured on thier birthday, anniversaries, etc.



2. This is a lovely and unique book that features over 150 gardens throughout the world. Each double page spread corresponds with every day of the year (like a calendar), with a brief description of the garden on the left page and a photograph on the right page. Some gardens are featured on more than one page. Many of the gardens are world famous while others are more obscure. The size of the book is unique (7" high, 10" wide and 2 1/2" thick) and looks almost like a beautiful decorative box.



3. Photographer/naturalist/writer Mick Hales has created a book that visualizes not only the beauty but the imperative importance of gardens. He traveled throughout North America, Asia and Europe and not only found gardens of extraordinary beauty, but found those lovingly patient vistas from which we, the viewer, can be brought into an understanding and appreciation of the message of each garden. The photography is stunning, like paintings recreated by an artist's eye, but here the subject is captured without recreation: Hales' lens captures what is really there.
   
   Hales speaks to each photograph, each garden view, enhancing what we otherwise might miss from the one vantage given us. He has arranged the 365 gardens both alphabetically as to place and further defined the photographs by months of the year. Here are gardens from winter to fall: the flow is as magical as the qualities of nature.
   
   In his short but sensitive introduction to his portfolio he states: "As our society moves faster and faster, with technological advances each year, it is hard for us to keep our connection to the land. Keeping a garden is on answer to this loss - having one's hands in and smelling the soil. Watching plants grow, flower, and die back reminds us of our own humanity and the lives we have been given." And that sums it all! This is a MUST for gardeners, for naturalists, for dreamers. Highly recommended. Grady Harp, July 05



4. First of all, the title is very misleading. The ambition of this book is NOT to show the most beautiful gardens around the world and it has nothing whatsoever to do with the days of the year. It's easy to see that it's all a trick to market the book. The photographer has amassed a lot of photos over 20 years and hey - why not publish them? But what can possibly make the collection look a little less haphazard, the're from all over the place? Let's call them "gardens around the world", although the majority is from the U.S and Europe is only represented by G.B, France and Spain... And the gardens are NOT shot at the date they are given in the book, there is not a garden for every date, there are howewer a PHOTO for every day. The date-concept doesn't add anything to the experience of reading this book.
   
   The good thing is that at a bargain price you get hours of garden exploring in your armchair. And for a European it's interesting to see some great formal American gardens that actually put there European predecessors almost in the shade. That would have been a good book, the American contribution alone.



5. This book features lovely photographs of a wide variety of gardens from throughout the world -- one for every day of the year. The gardens vary quite a bit in their style, location and zone. The book is small -- 9.6 x 6.6 inches, but thick (2.1 inches) and heavy. Each two page spread is dated with a decription of the garden on the left page with the photograph on the right page. The book can serve as a perpetual calendar (as there are no years or days of the week, just months and days) with a different beautiful picture for each day or as an idea sourcebook for your own garden. Either way, the book is well worth the price given the large number of beautiful gardens that it features. I even discovered some public gardens of which I was unaware. So, the book can even serve as a guide to gardens (the public ones) that you might want to visit. This is a wonderful book for people who love gardens.

No comments about Bill Wood's Business.