2 comments about All About The Boys.

1. I received the book, All about the Boys, by Michael Andrew in the mail today. It is an incredible book filled with photos of beautiful young men in casual poses that look so natural. The photos were taken in such a way that they radiate erotic heat while not appearing pornographic. Going through the book, page by page, left me feeling as though I know these boys and would love to get to know them much, much better.
   
   Great book filled with excellent photos of beautiful boys.



2. Michael Andrew is a talented Australian photographer who has elected to present his collection of the young lads of St. Petersburg, Bratislava, Berlin, and Vienna as an appreciation of the Eastern European 'look' in male models. He has been able to capture a healthy group of lithe young men in various stages of undress, sharing with the viewer the natural beauty of these 'ideal body' types.
   
   Andrew seems less interested in creating stories with his models than in simply allowing them to act natural with the camera. The quality of color photography is excellent and the varied model types show a spectrum of masculine streaming that will find the viewer retuning to particular models for second looks and comparisons. Yes, the book is erotic, but it manages to allow the eroticism to remain grounded in the suggestion of the models rather than pushing toward the edge that some may find suggestive. It is a fine selection of beautiful youths worthy of many library collections! Grady Harp, June 08

5 comments about Helluva Town: New York City in the 1940s and 50s.

1. Timeless and intimate images of a New York that I almost remember - but can still recognize today. Streets and faces that evoke nostalgia for a recent yet distant past.



2. I bought "Helluva Town" both because I grew up in the '40s and '50s and also because I like books on photography.
   
   This was a disappointment. It is not a very large collection of photos and there were too many taken of the same subjects, so it became boring.
   
   I looked through it once and returned it.



3. This is a rather slim collection of b/w photographs of mid-century Manhattan. A few interesting shots of outer-boro commuters sitting on rattan subway and el seats with the funny hats people wore in the 40's; the rest are unremarkable pictures of prosiac street scenes. Manhattan has always been the mother lode of subject matter for photography, whether the theme is architecture or the man on the street. There are countless coffee table books by better photographers at lower prices in most book stores.



4. Vivian Cherry captures ordinary people in their everyday lives and turns the moments into extraordinary pictures. In the era of humanistic street photography, Cherry was one of a handful of women street photographs, and it's about time that others get a chance to see her beautiful photographs. Some of her most memorable photographs include the demolition of the 3rd Avenue El line, and the startling series that depicts a group of kids in East Harlem who are playing at adult violence - aiming real-looking guns at each other and staging "lynchings," including one picture of a Black youth who is pretending to be lynched. The power and beauty of Cherry's photographs is inspiring. The photographs are important sources of history--capturing New York in the 50s--but are also beautiful, touching photographs. They take you into a time and place, and the faces of the people in the photographs stay with you long after you look away, making you want to look at them again.



5. Vivian Cherry's photgraphs are fantastic! This book is a wonderful addition to any photography collection. Each page could stand alone as a homage to a time past, they are insightful and intense glimses of old New York.

5 comments about Annie Leibovitz: American Music.

1. In response to another review on this site, clearly if you think the book has "poor aesthetic quality" You know nothing of photography or art for that matter.
   The people in this book are beautifully portrayed in silver and in color. Clearly the photographs were taken over a number of years, which shows the scope of the project.
   The only thing that I find wrong with this project is that it may be unfinished. The book is called American Music. Cleary that is why there are mainly blues, rock and roll and hip, country/folk and hip hop artists. Obviosly everyone would like to see their favorite artists in the book and have the ones they dislike removed. I however feel that this is the artists choice, and we have to live with it. If Leibovits decides to put out a 'Part II' it would do all of us a favor.
   The only reason why I don't give this a 5 out of 5 stars is that most of the photographs don't grab you by the face and demand your attention. The ones that grab me the most are the artists I folllow, so perhaps there is something in that. Some measure of knowlegde that must accompany the photographs. Buy the book anyways...and listen to more blues albums. I didn't check this review for spelling, HA!



2. The catalog is gorgeous, the photographs are indeed spectacular. While the written entries were wonderful, they were too few and left me wanting more. I guess that's a good thing!



3. I just saw this exhibit at our MoMA, and the work is outstanding. Some of the images are color, some black and white. There are a number of styles and artists, ranging from the very famous to those unknown outside of their small communities. The point is that these are images of musicians--it's that simple.
   
   Sometimes, Liebovitz's work is witty, sometimes it is unflinching in its honest portrayal. There is vulnerability in the subjects of her black and whites because they are so close, often just the face of the subject. To term them "ugly" is simply wrong. It is rare to see behind the artifice of celebrity images and see performers without makeup and with their skin texture and pores visible. Some of the photos are taken in people's homes, or backstage rather than on a set. This lends considerably to the intimacy and honesty that she is trying to convey.
   
   If you want shots of your favorite singer looking oh so pretty, go to their PR person. This is a serious body of work from a renowned photographer. It blends both her celebrity work with her own private interests in portrait photography for non-commercial audiences.



4. If you love the blues, or love photography this is a great book. While not specific to just Blues musicians this book just makes me think of good old delta blues. The prints in this book shine like they were hand printed by Annie herself. Theres a heart and soul driving this book from begining to end.
   This is a more personal project for Annie Leibovitz and so doenst allway have her studio style inside.
   That does not mean that each photograph is not amazing for they are, but some are a smaller more
   candid world that Annie Leibotiz is capturing.



5. I am conflicted in how this book could reflect American Music. I bought this book as a requirement for my doctorate of music. The pictures, though they were sometimes vivid, I do not feel the book accurately paints a picture of American Music. Perhaps, Ms. Leibovitz should have gotten help from a musicologist (one who is an expert on the history of music) because it is a poor representation of music. It is like saying pop singers are musicians, which they are not. It is an insult to all true musicians in discounting their hard work. American Idol does not represent American music and neither does this book.
   I wasted $30 on this book and though I have never resold a book, I will gladly sell this book back. Do not waste your money.

5 comments about Time.

1. This is perhaps Goldsworthy's most elegiac and moving book, a profound meditation on time and change. If you like his work, you won't be disappointed. This volume and "A Collaboration with Nature" are wonderful and permanent sources of inspiration.



2. Andy Goldsworthy's artwork is utterly ephemeral and fleeting, and perhaps because of this, utterly transfixing. There is something of the ancients in the way Goldsworthy puts together stone, or wood, or leaves--or even in the way he lays himself down on a dry patch of ground in the rain so that when he gets up, we see a sort of reverse shadow of his body. There is an astonishing intellect at work here, and a soul which sees the value in what some art snobs might term "mere beauty."

   Goldsworthy's many mediums are covered in "Time," which features sumptuous photography by Terry Friedman. We see perfectly constructed stone cairns--some pyramidal, some only half done and all the more startling for what isn't there as for what is. We see ruddy sandstone arches four times the height of a man. But Goldsworthy's most consistently inviting work is done not in stone, but in the ephemera nature leaves for him everywhere he looks. Goldsworthy's work is sometimes so fleeting as to question the very nature of whether it constitutes art when it lasts only minutes or hours. The frost shadows, for instance, are simply photographs of the still-iced patches of grass over which Goldsworthy stood in the early morning, then stepped aside so that a photograph could be taken. Of course these are gone within minutes as the sun warms the now-exposed grass. Is this art? Merely the fact that you question it shows your engagement with the work--Goldsworthy fosters a kind of subtle dialogue between reader and artist and the dialogue is consistently engaging. Another heat-destroyed piece is the thinnest imaginable sheet of ice, laid against a moss-covered rock, and Goldsworthy's handprint visible on it. As it thawed, it buckled and disappeared and we see its disappearance in the photographs. It's lovely, it's witty and it is, improbably art.

   Other things disappear, too, but not from the sun's warmth. There is a "stick hole" Goldsworthy built early one spring which he and Friedman came back to photograph throughout the summer until the final photograph shows it utterly covered with the lacy ferns which grew up around it. There are the perfectly circular or perfectly ovoid leaf rafts Goldsworthy stitches together, then sends on their way down a meandering stream, having their path photographed before they disappear. There are the piled of rocks he constructs leading into the ocean so that the tides swallow them up--each stage meticulously recorded on film.

   Perhaps the most transformative art in the book is the mud wall displayed on the cover. Goldsworthy applied mud to walls and floor in such a way that when the mud cracked and dried, it showed the meandering, snakelike pattern he'd put into it. It has become something entirely different solely through the passage of time. This book is filled with surprises and delights, and will have you utterly absorbed, charmed, and astonished. I can't recommend it highly enough.




3. What a work of creative and artistic genius!

   What to say about such an amazing work? For the first few times I
   mainly absorbed the photos of his works, with only reading the
   little captions and it wiped me off my feet. After a few rounds
   of these I decided to read all of the writing in the book that
   accompany the works he made and it totally blew me away. This
   book has definitely altered something deep inside about the way
   Ilook at nature, change, the seasons and time in general.

   Time, as the title of the book suggests is the main topic of the
   book and Andy Goldsworthy's art in general or at least his
   approach and intention towards it. The body of work presented in
   numerous photos and with corresponding writing in the form of a
   journal covers the whole range Goldsworthy's work. For example
   works made from stone, wood, leaves, snow, ice,...

   As a result it gives an excellent overview and introduction of
   his work and via the numerous writings a very deep, personal and
   detailed insight into how he approaches different places, how he
   reacts to change and works with the weather. The writing is on
   par with his work. Very clear, direct, honest and poetic.

   His insight into the concepts of time and change and seasons and
   nature is truly breath taking. The introduction he wrote for the
   book is a wonderful example illustrating this. Part of it can be
   read by using the "Look inside the book" feature of Amazon.
   

   Spending time with this book really cracks ones mind wide open
   about time, change, nature and seasons and how to look at it and
   perceive it.

   And honestly I don't know what's more amazing. These amazing
   and unbelievable pieces of art. Or the incredibly crisp and poetic
   writing, deepening so much ones understanding of the works and
   give insight into Goldsworthys view and approach and thoughts. Or
   simply that out there somewhere a human being is walking this
   earth with such an amazing understanding of time and nature and
   able to transform this into amazing art an writing.

   If the idea of Goldsworthys work is for him to work with time and
   change and nature and to further his awareness of these concepts
   and make sense of them in the most beautiful way then that is
   exactly what this book excells marvelously at for the reader.




4. Andy Goldsworthy's work inspires me to look at nature in a very deep way.
   His use of the environment and natural materials provokes me to look at how I can
   incorporate more natural materials into my own work. I am in awe everytime I open up the book and look at the images. I especially like red clay and the way it went through it's own process through time.
   a gem, a timeless exploration of our natural world!



5. I had viewed the DVD "Rivers and Tides" which is a tour of Andy Goldsworthy's artistic endeavors. It is very compelling and left a lasting impression. I wanted more and discovered, to my delight, that a large number of Andy's creations shown in the DVD were documented in the book "Time". There had to be photographs of Andy's work since most of them are not permanent in either time or space. In the DVD, we see the creation process as it occurs and then it may dissolve or move. In the book, it is "frozen" in time and space and can be appreciated as a work of art. I recommend seeing the DVD first so the book's contents can be appreciated even more.

2 comments about Helmut Newton: Pola Woman (Schirmer Art Books on Art, Photography & Erotics).

1. This well produced book offers that rare opportunity for us to see some of the "studies' that leads up to the defining newton final print. The graphic compositions and the icy allure of his statuesque heroine is unmistakable. Polawoman covers both newton's personal work as well as many of his fashion masterpieces, particularly from the daring pages of the late '70's french vogue. A fascinating book for any Newton fan with many of the polaroids having witty and revealing notes scribbled over them.



2. The man virtually invented modern high-class fashion erotica. If there is another photographer who did it better, earlier, please let me know so I can acquire that person's work as well. The book in question here features reproductions of Polaroids from throughout Newton's career that served as "sketches" for some of his finished work. Some of them have text magic-markered on the margins, and many are accompanied by some sort of charming reminiscence by the photographer. They show how much work went into some of Newton's iconic photos, and conversely, how he could take advantage of the moment and get a unique shot when fortunate enough.
   
   What a life! Many a man would love to have lived Helmut Newton's life, but I doubt many would be suave enough to pull it off. You walk away from this book with the impression that Newton was dedicated to his craft, but at the same time managed to have more fun than many people will ever even read about.

2 comments about New Chairs: Innovations in Design, Technology, and Materials.

1. NEW CHAIRS: INNOVATIONS IN DESIGN, TECHNOLOGY AND MATERIALS is for any interior design library: it gathers over sixty of the most intriguing recent chairs created by designers around the world, pairing color photos with insights on new concepts, materials, and interpretations of structure, form and function. From inflatable and illuminated to hard, stacking chairs, NEW CHAIRS covers a range of options and provides interior designs with plenty of insights: perfect for contemporary interior design holdings!



2. I really love this book. Lots of process pictures-- prelim sketches, actual shots of steps in production, ad layouts, mock ups, etc. Also there are variety of designers and lots of innovative materials used. Especially like the chair made of drinking straws and the potty chair. I would also recommend Dish: International Design for the Home.

5 comments about Old Jewish Comedians (A BLAB! Storybook).

1. If you grew up in the 50's and 60's watching TV, having this short but sweet book on your coffee table to thumb through will bring a smile to you over and over. Being Jewish not required.



2. A great find to give the elderly Jewish family members. My dad doesn't read very much anymore, but he appreciated this book. The images are clear and fun. I'm sure seeing these pictures brought back many memories of his youth.



3. Drew Friedman's work falls into that category of "you either get it or you don't." For those of us who get it, this is pure gold. Besides being the state of the art in contemporary caricature, Drew puts a particular spin on everything he does. There's a lot of love in these portraits of aging comics, but there's still this warts-and-all approach that separates them from pure hero worship. Drew casts his Jewish comedians as wonderful funnymen to be admired, while still keeping them human (or perhaps even more than human). If the Everyman is covered in wrinkles and liver spots, then these larger-than-life Supermen have even more!
   
   With today's comics almost always working blue, and the average comedy club or HBO special containing more four-letter words than a dockworkers convention, it's refreshing to see these old-timers (accent on the old) who were funny without being foul-mouthed. The days of these old-skool comedians is past, but their faces will live on thanks to Drew.
   
   Like Levy's rye bread, you don't have to be Jewish to love this book.



4. God knew what he was doing. First he created the Jews, then he created comedy. Then he created Drew Friedman and his pencils.
   What else can you ask for?



5. No Jokes...I wanted some old Jewish, Catskills jokes. I got a bunch of pictures. I need jokes.

4 comments about Dachshunds: Lightweights Littermates.

1. Ok.. i dont need to say much for this adorable cute book!
   This book has everything!!! high quality book, great photographs, bright color backgrounds make the book alive! and of course, Dachahund puppies! The photographs are very well taken and trust me!!! you can hear the puppies's "sigh...." , you want to jump into the book and give them kissy and smoochies their bellies......and you can smell puppies's breath!!!!!! at least i do.... great book for all dachshund lovers out there!! worth every penny!



2. Love the adorable pictures! I have had dachshunds my whole life, and these pictures capture just how precious they are, especially as puppies. I would highly recommend this book if you are a dachsie lover!



3. I have always loved dachshunds and owned a couple. It is a race you can get addicted on: loads of personality and energy and the funny shape - despite which they are really highly mobile and athletic and strong and brave - and cleverness that can baffle humans. I found this book by accident, opened it - of course - and adored it. There are litters of dachshund puppies, mostly 4-5 weeks old, together and then on individual portraits, each of the puppies on a scale, their name and weight written on the page. And that's all. The scales are of different types and puppies come in smooth- and long-haired variations and several colours, all of them are cute and clearly have their own personality already. Just watch these coy, mischievous, sulking, endearing faces and their round little bums, short legs and long ears! You need to get a living dachshund puppy after these pictures - but watch out: I can tell you from personal experience that a 2-month-old dachshund puppy can wear down two young, healthy, highly fit retrievers and still bounce around yapping "What are you lying there for? I just got started!! Get up and play!!!"



4. I purchased French Bulldogs: Lightweights Littermates and Dachshunds: Lightweights Littermates together, as gifts... I flipped through them prior to sending them off to their final recipient and was pleased to find that the photography and composition was appealing to my tastes. Sharon Montrose's composition skill is what sets these photos out from the rest. I like the bold imagery. And having tried to take pictures of my own pets, I know it's a VERY tough experience to have them pose... they're curious little creatures. My 1-star off of the review is pretty much for repetitiveness; the concept is fresh to begin with, but it gets boring, real fast.

5 comments about Cinematography.

1. A pretty easy read, with enough technical info to actually be helpful without being so dull it glazes you over. A good selection of charts and graphs regarding everything from POV, to lighting, and editing. For the first time cinematographer, this is a great starting reference.



2. This book is written for committed students of the filmic arts who are willing to put heart, soul, and wallet into the process of learning filmmaking. Technically literate, savvy, and still readable by a neophyte, this book makes comprehensible the mysteries of an art whose main practicioners have otherwise tried to make look harder than it is. If you're going to follow the precepts in this book, however, expect to part with a minimum of $25,000 before you shoot your first frame.



3. This book may be a little dated in terms of it's information but it's well worth it in the small tidbits of information that is within this book. It's title is cinematography but it covers almost all of the aspcects of production. From cameras to lighting and editing.There are even a few exapmles contracts and various film forms in the apendix. Theinformation is layed out in a very simple manner making it very digestable to virtually anyone. I used this book to help me when I had questions lighting on a video project I was working on. Essential for first time filmmakers/DP's althought it's in need of an update.



4. This book doesn't need 1,000 words - it speaks for itself. We recommend it to all our students as THE text book to have. An excellent primer before moving on to specialist books. I don't want to be responsible for our students spending a fortune on books, so I tell them that if they can only afford one, then this is the one to get. The problem with many film books is that you can spend a fortune on getting the wrong ones. This is the only one you need to learn all the basics before you specialise.



5. Before you get "American Cinematographer Manual" which is a technical manual for shooting on film you will probably want to start with something that explains the ins and out of the motion picture camera and how to shoot on film. This book does just that.

   Essentially the book deals with all the different formats of motion picture cameras, their internal mechanisms and threading paths. Then the book goes on to dealing with motion picture film itself, the various brands that are available, differences between black and white, color, color reversal and negatives along with a bit about the development process of each one. It is not technically detailed, it just describes and illustrates each one so that you will understand more about them and how they are used. The book then deals with lenses and how to frame your shots and covers a good bit about exposure, fps, filters and lighting.

   This is an excellent starters manual and will get you up and running with your motion picture camera in no time. However when you are shooting on film you will need something like the "American Cinematographer Manual" for technical details on focusing the lens, threading the type of camera you have and exposure adjustments for filters.

   As a note, there is a lot of new digital cinematography cameras on the up and coming that work on digital video tape and not film and many new filmmakers may be advised to check out this route as a cheaper and less costly way of shooting their first film.

5 comments about Where'd You Get Those?.

1. Bobbito's little tour of the history and evolution of the sneaker culture gives us a personal look into what made the sneaker game what it is today. Although Bobbito should be well respected for his knowledge and contribution to the sneaker culture his elitist attitude towards shoes made post 1980s is somewhat off-putting to the generation that came after his.



2. I got this book as a gift for my son and he loves it! Definitely a must have for any avid sneaker collector!



3. Yes, Yes Y'all,
   
   I'm not a sneaker fiend (not that it is a negative term), but this book is "DOPE"! If you are a sneaker addict, then this book is for you. Buy this joint NOW!
   
   Peeese!
   
   Mr. J.



4. If you are at all into the sneaker culture get this book. It brought back such great memories. I thought that a few of my friends and myself were the only ones who flipped over kicks back in the day. Bobito puts out quality material. I have some of his videos as well.



5. If you love hoops and played any serious ball in the 60's or 70's this is a must read. It has become a coffee table book in our home and I find myself picking it up often to look at the classic pictures of BBall shoes or to get a laugh from the dead on observations and memories. I was in the thick of the changing world from canvas Chuck's to adidas, Puma, Pro Keds... the pre-Nike era.