5 comments about North Carolina Waterfalls: A Hiking and Photography Guide.

1. I am an amatuer nature photographer so I am always on the look-out for books to know where to go to shoot. This book may be the best photography guide I have ever had. He tells you where the waterfalls are, and how to photograph them. Best of all he has the guts to rate the quality of each waterfall on a scale of 1 to 10. There are so many waterfalls that I can't visit them all. With this book I can go only to the highly rated ones and know they will be knock-outs. When I get there he will help me to know how to shoot it. This is a great book!



2. A good reference, but I found the directions confusing at times. You need to drive slowly and read carefully.



3. Excellent book for locating waterfalls. Very good directions. Is a good book for those just wanting to look for waterfalls, but not much for a regular hiker as most of the trails are either very short, or there is a need to bushwack.



4. This is an essential guide for anyone who loves waterfalls and lives/travels to North Carolina. The photo tips are very helpful. This is a great update to the original, as access points and property ownership change. The author has even changed his mind about some of his initial beauty ratings -- some up; some down -- so you know he's done his research as well as the footwork.
   I also recommend Kevin's book on Virginia/West Virginia waterfalls and North Carolina wildflowers.



5. I'm planning a photographic trip to NC to do waterfalls. This book has more falls than I can possibly photograph. Book is well organized. Gives helps with travel, times to photography, best locations. It's all in this book. Hikers will also find it beneficial.

5 comments about Vegas Pro 8 Editing Workshop (DV Expert Series).

1. This book is a treasure trove of info. It is one of those indispensible manuals that gives so much needed info, counsel, and absolutely clear examples. This is a MUST BUY for anyone learning Vegas or video/audio editing. Excellent job. A DVD with samples, examples, and software is included. The answer you are looking for is in this book. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.



2. It must first be said that Douglas Spotted Eagle obviously understands Vegas, which is the best NLE program for its price. But this book did not live up to the editorial review hype
   I purchased this manual hoping for an in-depth Vegas Pro 8 learning experience, but I am somewhat disappointed. Editing mistakes within the book made some parts a bit confusing. And if a working veg file is on the DVD to follow what the book is teaching, use the same image as in the book.. But, the author did do a great job of explaining things that were previously murky to me. (Masking, for example.)
   The single most important thing I gleaned is what Douglas Spotted Eagle espouses throughout this manual. EXPERIMENT. Check out every fx - every transition - every filter. Add multiple fx to events - see what happens.
   The workshop is advertized as 528 pages, so I figured it would be worth the price. But a chapter touting plug-ins should not have been included. I can get that kind of info by Googling.
   By the way, there are many Vegas Pro 8 user "tutorials" posted on YouTube. All free!



3. I liked this book firstly because you can read it even without having a computer in front of you. It is full of pictures and you can read it even when you are traveling. Initially it covers all menus of Vegas one by one and gives occasionally real examples of how to use them. So it's good for the beginners. After that, covers specific methods and there is an accompanying disk containing several .veg projects. So advanced users will also be satisfied. The author appears to have deep knowledge of video and especially audio aspects. My overall feeling is that I have a book I can refer to whenever I need help in Vegas.



4. Preface: If you are a beginner and not intending to do video very much, the whole Vegas/DVDA kit may be a bit much. However, if you want a veritable Swiss army knife and are willing to learn, this application can do just about anything you may want, including Blu-Ray DVD authoring. For Hi-def editing/authoring, it's far cheaper than Final cut and most other "pro grade" apps too. Neither the app, review, nor this book is intended for a beginner IMO. It's best for someone who started out on a consumer editing app and wants to grow beyond those limitations economically, or the upgrader.
   
   While the author is acknowledged as an authority on Sony Vegas, this book has some noticeable gaps, such as virtually no information on using the sister application that ships with Vegas 8 Pro, DVD Architect. I am keeping the older Vegas 6 book for this reason. This is the main reason for three stars.
   
   In the areas of DSE's core competencies, such as effects, keyframes and especially audio, the book is an indispensable reference and well worth the price. There are additional chapters in PDF format on the included CD, some useful, such as a glossary, some dated. Despite the deficiencies, it's still the only thing out there besides trolling the web and in the areas covered it's understandable and worth every penny.



5. Took delivery of this book recently. There's a lot of good information in it. Another reviewer remarked that it's not a book for beginners and assumes an existing level of knowledge, particularly as it relates to colour and digital editing. I'd agree with this.
   
   While there is a lot of good information contained in the book, it is without question one of the most poorly written books I've every bought. Graphic examples don't seem to relate to the content on the particular page. There are no references in the written material to the graphic examples so you're left trying to guess what goes with what. There are repetitions of the same discussion. It's a very, very poor editing job as well as less than stellar writing. Having read other books from Focal Press this is a bit surprising.
   
   If you can wade through the poor writing and editing, you can probably pick up some things from the book.

1 comments about On Reading.

1. It is enough to say that this book is by Andre' Kerte'sz which means the one who purchases it will not regret it.

5 comments about Beach Stones.

1. This book has beautiful images and interesting text. A good book for people who love the beach. It would make a good coffee table book. I was disappointed in the lack of depth offered by the text. I was hoping for more in depth geologic information, and a greater variety of stones pictured. This is not the book for you if you want an in depth look at geologic process and the mineral composition of stones that wash up on the beach.



2. This is a unique and valuable book...showing stones that may be found on beaches around the world..her artistic way of laying out the positioning of these stones in the book is a treasure !Susan



3. I loved this book since I enjoy the beach so much. It would go great with the book "Beach Lover's Guide to the Perfect Sandwich" After all you can work up quite an appetite checking out all the beautiful stones on the beach.



4. beautifully photographed with detail and style. presentation of each stone is clean and presents the piece as a single jewel. Worth the price,
   just as a vehicle to peace and tranquility.



5. I gave BEACH STONES to my son for his birthday. He loves collecting stones at the beach, and he loved this book!

4 comments about The Kennedy Family Album: Personal Photos of America's First Family.

1. I am a History and Art Book Lover, as well as someone who really appreciates biographies. What a gorgeous book with rich and colorful, wonderful photos. I really enjoyed seeing these pictures and reading the stories and anecdotes that describe them. I've never seen a lot of these photos and some are very poignant shots, like the last photo taken of JFK before he left Palm Beach to head off to Dallas. It really gives a new perspective on the Kennedy Family, during the Camelot years, while they spent time in Palm Beach. I definitely recommend this book for your personal library and it also is a wonderful gift book.



2. Bob Davidoff's memorable photographs gain added power from the stories behind them, masterfully told by Linda Corley. His images are moving and memorable. Many will bring a smile to your face; others will leave a lump in your throat. It's no wonder so many of the photos are treasured by family members.
   
   Because of Rose Kennedy's trust in Davidoff, he had unprecedented access to her and her entire family. The result, through words and pictures, is a journey through history. You'll see four generations of America's First Family at work and at play.
   
   A beautiful volume, it includes some of the best shots I've ever seen of Jackie Kennedy, one of the most photographed public figures of the past half century.
   
   This vast, long-stored-away collection of photographs is so personal you'll feel like you're prying into their "family album." While some will label this a "coffee table book," it is that -- and so much more. The Kennedy Family Album is one I surely will order for my family and close friends.



3. This beautiful book offers a snapshot of one of the world's most famous families. The photgraphs become short stories with the well-written captions. I enjoyed every photo and every page that visited another time and the family-side of America's Camelot.
   Chip duPont, FIIDA



4. An incredibly heartwarming look at America's first family. This book takes you back to a time when the hopes and dreams of a nation rested firmly on the shoulders of the Kennedy's. In a touching way, you see the "real side" of the family via photos that are eerily similar to those in my own family photo album. The author does a terrific job bringing all the photos to life, and wonderfully narrates you through all the life events.

5 comments about Photoshop CS3 for Nature Photographers: A Workshop in a Book (Tim Grey Guides).

1. As a web designer I've been using Photoshop professionally for years. I've also worked on lots of photographs, both my own and those I've gotten from clients. I don't need a how to book on layers, cropping and levels. I've got a good understanding of the basic Photoshop tools, and have benefitted from Scott Kelby's Photoshop CS for Photographers. But Kelby's book is a recipe book both useful and well presented, but I want more.
   
   What I want to do now is take my own photography to another level. Past a certain point, improving becomes less a matter of collecting tricks and recipes and more a matter of learning the entire workflow from experts. For that a basic how-to cookbook is no longer of much use to me. I could probably spend a lot of time working out a good workflow and set of procedures through trial and error, but why not take advantage of the experience of those who have already taken the art of nature photography editing to a high place?
   
   Enter Photoshop CS3 for Nature Photographers. As one reviewer has stated, much of the introductory Photoshop material is covered in other books, but not in quite the same way. Photoshop has many tools, each of which has many settings and options. It's perfectly possible to be familiar with one tool or filter in one context and not realize that it can be used in combination with another tool to achieve a completely different result. I once read that when Einstein proposed his theory of relativity maybe three people in the world understood it. I wonder if more than three people in the world completely understand all of what can be done with Photoshop. What I was looking for and found here is an expansion of my Photoshop horizons, a deeper exploration of the art and science of nature photography and photo editing.
   
   Anon and Grey offer an excellent look over the shoulder of experts in both practice of nature photography and in the use of Photoshop as a digital darkroom. I can't emphasize strongly enough how helpful that approach is for someone who has some Photoshop chops or who has used the program for another end and who wants to get great results with nature photos. Their workflow is time tested and produces excellent results
   
   And nature photograph editing benefits from following a slightly different approach from that of product photography, with which I have some experience, portraiture, photojournalism and so on. Again, I'm struck with how specific and helpful the presented workflow, and the mindset that using such a workflow creates is. And placing editing in context with a specific photographic goal informs my picture taking too.
   
   I recommend this book to anybody interested in nature photography who has at least some experience with Photoshop, though a dedicate beginner could work through the introductory phases with this volume. For someone who has used Photoshop in another context and wants to expand into the nature photography realm this book is brilliant.



2. I had been muddling through Photoshop for years, learning how to do things mostly on my own. This book, however, was an eye-opener. First off, although being nature photographer-centered doesn't mean it is impractical for other subjects, the nature focus does preclude the types of portrait and architecture examples of other books that really don't help the nature-oriented photographer very much. I find this to be a big strength.
   
   The book is fairly inclusive of most of the basic tools needed to produce quality photos, but some areas are a bit lacking, notably with respect to sharpening. Specifically, there is no discussion of high-pass sharpening, nor of the multipass sharpening process (capture, creative, and output sharpening) that Adobe is now embracing. If you are interested in getting the best out of your photos, I strongly suggest googling these two subjects and learning more.
   
   This book, as do all books on the subject, also suffers from that fact that parts of it are partially obsolete almost from the time it was printed because of advances in plug-in technology. This is especially the case with the recent upgrade of Camera Raw to version 4.1 (now available for free download from Adobe's website), which has tools (sharpening, notably) that could not be covered by this book because ACR 4.1 didn't exist at the time it was written. Again, this isn't a flaw of the book, just the nature of the beast. Heck, I'm sure someone reading this review a year or so from now will be remarking how obsolete ACR 4.1 is, once ACR 4.2 comes out.
   
   I like the fact that there are two authors for the book because they each have ideas on how to best accomplish their goals. This leads to multiple options being presented to the reader. The sidebars by well-known photographers are also quite valuable, although it seems that they were written based on earlier versions of the book (i.e., once centered on CS2, and possibly CS). As such, some of that information is a bit dated. Still, there is a lot of valuable information in there.
   
   I can't comment on the tutorial CD, because I haven't used it, but for those of you who prefer to learn by doing, I imagine it is a very valuable resource.
   
   All in all, I would definitely recommend this book to any newcomer to Photoshop who shoots primarily nature photos.



3. This is a pretty good book filled with quite a few tips. The writing style was difficult for me to enjoy per se but the content is there. It was extremely distracting however for nearly every photograph in the book to have the caption "Photo by Ellen Anon". Over and over and over....Even multiple steps in a procedure apparently required a credit on each photo. Just a small gripe but it would have been easier to say at the beginning all photos by Ellen Anon unless otherwise noted.



4. For several years I have attempted to gain at least a small degree of skill doing some basic image editing using Photoshop. Each attempt was accompanied by the latest and greatest book claiming to be the source of everything needed to become quickly proficient with Photoshop. And these books tend to get read -- perhaps all the way to chapter 3 -- where I become entirely overwhelmed by the minutiae and lose complete interest, especially since the book is only introducing details and accomplishing nothing useful. I was skeptical when I purchased this book, assuming it would lead to the same dead end. I have been very pleasantly surprised, not to mention pleased with the progress I have made -- right through the final chapter!
   
   I think several things make this book stand out. The authors have wisely chosen not to attempt to document every single feature of this huge and complicated software tool. Often they note, in passing, areas that they do not plan to cover -- and why (because the software was designed for a wide audience and nature photographers only need a sub-set of the available features). The book progresses very logically, providing you just what you need to do "the next thing." In practice, this means that you only need to learn a reasonable number of things in order to begin to see some success. As well, you then begin to build on these skills -- but never to the point where you become frustrated with the process. Finally, they provide options for you to consider and try, typically suggesting that you use the method most comfortable for you. In hindsight, I believe that many of the earlier books that I worked with often required adherence to the author's proscribed ideas about how to do this or that. It was quite nice to discover, for example, that a "keyboard person" was not forced to use the mouse -- and vice versa.
   
   I can certainly recommend this to advanced beginner and intermediate photographers -- not JUST Nature Photographers. If you need to work with some of the advanced options that Photoshop offers then this may not be the right book for you. If you have tried many times to succeed with Photoshop I urge you to try again with this book -- you just may find that you will succeed this time!!



5. After purchasing three other books on CS3, this was the most applicable for someone that is primarily focused on nature and landscape photography. The authors introduce you to their work flow, which I find works well. They guide you through the entire process, beginning at taking your picture, to setting up your preferences, to final print. It leaves room for your own personal settings without "directing" you to do it only their way. The authors not only explain the "how", but the "why." This was something I found lacking in the other books, even the official Adobe workbook. The lessons are easy to follow and understand. You don't have to be a computer expert to work with this book, but basic knowledge of CS3 helps, although not required. If getting the most out of your landscape/nature images with CS3 is your goal, then this is your book. A very good "A to Z" instructional guide. Highly recommended.

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

1. 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!



2. 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.



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. 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.
   
   
   [...]



5. 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

3 comments about Nursery Style.

1. This is an amazing Nursery book, it does not matter if you are vintage, classic or modern in your taste. It's very instructive on how to create a one of kind nursery. Loved It! Beautiful rooms and ideas!



2. I found this book to be worth every penny. The inspiration in decor can be applied on any budget, which is the beauty of the authors' suggestions. I thumb through this book every night and seem to find something I hadn't noticed before each time I do. I love this publication!



3. I've flipped through many nursery books and this book is beyond compare. Buy this book if you're looking for modern beautiful and unique styles. The book does cover 'vintage' decor aswell but the authors have done it in a very current and modern way that most moms our time will love. It comes with design tips that help you cut your budget aswell. I feel that, if you're the type of parent that wants to decorate a nursery without it looking too childish or toys'r'us looking this books is for you. A fantastic find for me.

No comments about Large Parks.

3 comments about One Hundred & One Beautiful Small Towns in Mexico (101 Towns).

1. One Hundred & One Beautiful Small Towns in Mexico
   
   What a fantastic resource for discovering the hidden gems of Mexico. We're planning a trip south, where the dollar will still deliver good value, and are thrilled that we found this book. It's packed with beautiful photographs, informative summaries, a selection of hotel and restaurant recommendations in each location and a regional index to help the reader/traveler organize and plan an itinerary. It covers the places we're all familiar with, but this book also reveals a whole new Mexico that you don't hear much about from the travel websites and agents.
   It's not the sort of book you take with you. It's one you want to have before you plan. Who knew about the turquoise lagoons of Bacalar? Or the "dance of the fliers" in Papantla? If you're looking for an exciting and exotic cultural adventure or just wanting to know more about Mexico, get this book!



2. This is a beautiful book with some great photography about some of the "unknown" places in Mexico. It goes beyond the Cancun and Cabo San Lucas and transports you to another side of Mexico that few people know. Small, charming villages that still preserve the colonial history and the traditions that make them special and makes you evoke a period in history long gone. The descriptions are short and I will have love it if there was a more detailed map of where these places are located and how to reach them.



3. This is a great book detailing many beautiful small Mexican cities .The pictures and the information provided are first class.