3 comments about Cinematography: Third Edition.

1. This has been a film orentated clasic for a long time. It was overdue for an update and David Mullen did an excellent job, including Digital Intermediate and other much needed touches. This makes for a very good film orented book



2. This is a good starting point book and/or a reference book. Let's be honest... we're not going to learn how to shoot a film just by reading a book on cinematography. Experience is the best way to learn, which is largely how I learned how to shoot film.
   
   This book will provide you with a lot of technical information, which is why I slated it as a good reference book. Little things about color temperature, filters, film speeds, lenses, etc. There are some useful diagrams and photographs in the book, and it is kind of "matter of factly" written.
   
   I give it only three stars because though it is a decent book... its competitor "Cinematography: Theory and Practice" by Brown is much more informative, much better written and organized, and perhaps the most important, has a myriad film stills as reference.



3. this book is great it gets into detail about every thing u can imagen in the film production prosses....well exept for special effects but other than that this is the book for any Film student who wants to have a chance of making it big
   
   it was diliverd fast and the quality perfect

5 comments about Leroy Grannis: Surf Photography of the 1960s and 1970s.

1. "Granny"s magnificent book is a must for any surfer's library. The art of Leroy Grannis' photographs is not only his beautiful composition and exposure, but also his portrayal of the ambiance, exuberance, and joy of the surfing world of the 1960's and 1970's. He has incitefully memorialized the icons of the period.



2. This was purchased as a gift - specifically requested by the recepient - and so I have never seen it - but they said they loved it - very beautiful pictures that brought back lots of memories for them....



3. In my opinion, this book is one of THE BEST surf books ever. The visuals are clean and classic and takes one back to the golden age of surfing. The writing is short but informative. LeRoy Grannis put his stamp in this world and is a legend among all surf photographers. I am a big fan of Mr. Grannis and of surfing as well.
   Buy the book, put it on your coffee table, have some friends over and discuss.



4. This was a gift for my husband. He LOVED IT! It had great pictures of surfing throughout the years. It was neat to take a look back in time. I am going to purchase another book for my brother, who is also an avid surfer.



5. This is one of the few coffee table books that can give you a rush of adrenalin just by flipping the page.
   
   Leroy Grannis may not have been the sole architect of the late twentieth century surfing culture phenomenon, but he certainly was among the dozen or so people that projected the image of surfing beyond the enthusiasts to almost every nook and cranny of our globe. Kids in Omaha bought surfing-styled duds, listened to surfing music, and went to some really hideous Hollywood surfing movies. Grannis, and the publications that used his photography, took surfing away the beach and showed the landlocked how much fun they were missing.
   
   Whether you lived the lifestyle, emulated the lifestyle, or just want to know how cultural trends can capture the imagination, this is a great book.
   The Shut Mouth Society
   The Shopkeeper

5 comments about Learning from Las Vegas - Revised Edition: The Forgotten Symbolism of Architectural Form.

1. Robert Venturi's study of the Las Vegas signage phenomena and it's impact on "architecture" is brilliant in it's scope. While written almost twenty five years ago, this book gains more and more pertinence as we as a society progress further into a "reality" of symbols, reproductions and representations. These words and thoughts are basically essential to the understanding of any city anymore, not just Las Vegas. Where this book misses the mark though is in the execution, as shown in Venturi's work, of these ideas. The projects put forth seem to pale in comparison to the implications the text actually has. These notions of architecture are by far some of the most relevant and important in modern theory today, it is unfortunate that their full potential could not be realized in these projects.... but maybe that is for you and I to do.



2. Read this book to learn what you shouldn't do as an architect!

   This book follows Venturi's "Complexity and Contradiction", where you can learn how cynically to use casement windows in housing for the elderly where the elderly will happily put their plastic flowers in the windows, but *you* secretly know these are not really hormal casement windows, since they are out of scale (like fascist architecture's lack of scale?).

   This book will tell you about ducks and decorated sheds, but it will tell you nothing about building spaces which nourish creative human community. Try Louis Kahn (e.g., John Lobell's lovely little book "Between Silence and Light"). My postmodernist teachers at Harvard said Kahn's writings were incomprehensible, which says more about them than about him.

   Read Lobell's book and learn why, e.g., a city might deserve to exist. Remember: Only *you* can get beyond postmodernism!




3. This is a quite unusual and offbeat treatise on architectural theory, as applied to the world's greatest architectural monstrosity - Las Vegas. This analysis from the early 1970s is obviously outdated because Las Vegas hadn't yet become the monument to megalomania and excess that it is today, but it was already well on its way. The authors analyze Vegas' unique usages of space, lighting, placement, transportation, and building design for the purposes of communication and promotion. Strange chapter titles give a clue to the left-field analysis in store, and the authors have a clear sense of irony, underhandedly implying that Vegas presents the worst in architecture while they appear to be praising its uniqueness. Unfortunately the narrative gets bogged down in dense professor-speak terminology like "Brazilianoid" and "neo-Constructivist megastructures," along with a general overload of obtuse theory. Add to that the poor-quality and under-elaborated illustrations and you have a book that sacrifices insight and readability in favor of pedantic attempts to impress the authors' colleagues. [~doomsdayer520~]



4. this book is extremely condensed into a multitude of thumbnails or panoramas and text that never fails to reiterate its point. i mean, these two architects really understand the idea of symbols, suggestions, and sheds but after a dozen pages on one idea, you already get the point.
   
   the images are really helpful in exemplifying the amount of criticism for or against the city ("idea") of las vegas.



5. I admire and respect Robert Venturi and Denise Scott Brown for their great career and contribution to architecture, which has yet to be fully assessed. The depth of their thinking, the vigilant efforts to achieve their aesthetic vision, their desire to overcome modernist dogma, which had mutated into marginalized elite uncivic abstraction, falsely denying vibrant areas of life...how can one argue with the importance and value of such work?
   
   Let me try.
   
   To me, this book represents one of the most interesting turning points of an architectural career, very similar to Rem Koolhaas' essay on Bigness in S,M,L,XL.
   
   Both texts are attempting to give themselves an elite artist's alibi for co-opting the corporate machinery's unself-conscious production. Here, both artists (VRSB and OMA)attempt to escape into pop art, just like their friend Andy Warhol, thumbing his nose at the self important abstract expressionists.
   
   There's just one problem with this; they are architects, not just artists.
   And this places them in significantly different political territory. Architects build in the public sphere, and therefore have a powerful civic impact. They enable some political forces, and, by physical default, suppress others. If they were artists, their voice is a singular one, an unsponsored comment, to be entertained or dismissed. Architecture cannot be waved away.
   
   So, being architects, is 'Learning from Las Vegas' and 'Bigness' an elite artist's manifesto, or a cynical architect's effort to solicit clients from the bloated and most lucrative areas of commerce? The ambiguity is disturbing, because ultimately it has proven out not to matter what their intention. Both Venturi and Rem Koolhaas have been most useful tools for the most egregious excesses of our runaway imperial corporate world.
   
   And this is a sad legacy for two brilliant architectural careers. No matter what their aesthetic accomplishments in the way of rarified architectural thought, the more brutal reality is that architects seeking fame cannot also speak truth to power. This gravely undermines their civic responsibilities.
   I am reminded of William Morris' quote, a sad retrospective look at his career, saying that ultimately, his work "only served the swinish luxuries of the rich." A bitter realization for a socialist, one who chose to retreat into archaic craft, instead of trendy pop.
   
   Pop architecture is not a game. It is an insidious symptom of the polarization of wealth, a symptom that Venturi and Koolhaas cheerfully enable, both with their particular form of dissociating irony. They can play with it as a theory, but it has wrought disastrous consequences in the physical and political landscape. Same thing happened to Frank Gehry, another symptomatic starchitectural monster, who apparently doesn't need to theorize. Hard to say when the deal went down exactly. I just don't know.

5 comments about Magic Lantern Guides: Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi EOS 400D (Magic Lantern Guides).

1. Good content but all pictures are black and white! What's the point for a photo book? Not as interesting and to the same level of the book written by C.Lowrie.



2. Awesome and very helpful book be sure to pick up the coinciding Magic lantern DVD....
   
   I posted a better review of the actual dvd on amazon!



3. I just finished reading this guide and it is full of excellent information for users of the Canon EOS Rebel XTi. It provides an excellent coverage for each of the following areas: Features and Functions, In-Camera Processing and File Formats, Camera Menus and the LCD Monitor, Camera Operation Modes, Flash, Lenses and Accessories, and Working with Your Images. It also goes Hand-in-hand with Magic Lantern DVD Guides: Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi. This DVD also provides an excellent visual and verbal guide.



4. A very nice book. I like the tearout laminated wallet-sized guides in the back cover of the book.
   
   I prefer the PIP Expanded Guide book better but Magic Lantern puts out a nice product.



5. Excellent how-to for carrying along.
   Very good table of contents. Easy to find and understand articles.
   Quick Reference Wallet Card a bonus.
   Only shortcoming is black and white format.

3 comments about The Dog Who Loved Cheerios and Other Tales of Excess.

1. Interseting photos but the text leaves a lot to be desired. It gives fleeting details only, with little or no liking for, or affinity with any of the subjects.



2. I love this book! I initially bought it for my husband, who is a fan of the author's photos. However, it has quickly become a staple for my children's bedtime stories. We've been talking about the dogs and their escapades nonstop since it arrived. They have become completely involved in the lives of the dogs. They remember every detail of the stories and they've even added their own. It is so funny to hear them asking different questions and forming their own opinions as the doggy dramas unfold.
   
   Okay - enough Mommy in this review. As a person in a creative field, this is a finely executed book. It has gorgeous photography lovingly rendered and is perfectly art directed.



3. Wonderfully written, humorous descriptions of dogs (& one cat who thinks it's a dog) whom we have all owned and loved for their quirky behaviors! It would be a great book to read when you need a lift, or to use as short stories to read with a young child.

5 comments about Lighting for Digital Video & Television, Second Edition.

1. This content of this book is consistent with the "DV Expert series" range, which I would say are aimed at the novice who has discovered that 'automatic' settings don't really work in most situations and want to understand why and how to start taking their abilities up to the intermediate level.
   
   There are many books on lighting out there, be it for still photography, stage lighting, etc and they all cover the same basic 3 point lighting principles, however this book builds upon this by showing how certain aspects relate to digital video. It also throws in real world examples of lighting situations likely to be encountered and ways to work with them.
   
   I think this is a great book for anyone with a consumer/prosumer video camera and wants to get to grips with subject lighting.



2. Lighting for Digital Video & Television introduces the basics of lighting for film and video in a very concise and lucid manner. The information published here will serve the filmmaker with very little or no budget as well as those with professional budgets. The author presents both relevant theory and practical advice. The single best book I have purchased on the subject of lighting for video.



3. This book changed my perspective of lighting being a beginner and it gave me so much insight and the buzz words to work with the pros... Truly enjoyed it and refer to it often! (NO I am not the author)hehe I just really liked it. It rocks!!



4. Overall, I think this book is very easy to read. The author starts with the basic elements of lighting and builds on that foundation. I am using it with a lighting for video class that I am enrolled in, but would be very helpful by itself. The pictures really help to guide the process and set up your lighting scenerios properly.



5. This is an amazing book. The guy is a true pro and explains everything you need to know to get takes that look professional on the first try.
   
   The book is really well written and organized. I blows by while you learn all the hows and whys of lighting video.
   
   I recomend this to anyone who feels that they are not at the professional level with lighting yet. It will change your life.

5 comments about Complete Publicity Plans: How to Create Publicity That Will Spark Media Exposure and Excitement (Adams Streetwise Series).

1. as a public relations director, i was really missing this book. It refreshed my knowlege and added new inputs to me. this book is good for beginners as well as PR professionals. I highly recommend it for those who want to grasp pulbic relations and corportat communications subjects.



2. This is an excellent book to create publicity for your business. It tells you step by step how to write and implement a publicity plan to promote your products or services. I cannot recommend it more highly.



3. I classify business books as follows: read and forget, take notes and dump, keep for reference. This book is definitely in the latter category. For small businesses, typically characterized by a tight budget, PR is often a mystery. How do so many businesses get into the media - sometimes repeatedly? This book demystifies PR in plain language. It also has formats, elements and numerous examples of the varius types of press releases. The book also makes the valid point that money is better spent on PR than advertising. Buy this book, save thousands of dollars for a consultant, and increase the probability to make thousands for your business.



4. As PR has become more of a necessity for more companies, the world of public relations has become just as cluttered as the world of advertising, yet it remains a completely distinct animal. Gone are the days when writing a decent press release was enough to get you exposure. Today you need to take a strategic approach and have a complete plan. This book helps you develop that plan (and also helps you with how to write a good press release if you've not done that before).
   
   As the host of a radio show called The Publicity Show, I have spoken with a lot of publicists and PR professionals. This book gives an insiders view on what it takes to break through the clutter that reporters are bombarded with and create real momentum that will snowball. If you are looking for how to get consistent exposure instead of just a quick hit, this is the book.



5. I will be using Sandra's title as a recommended resource in my upcoming High Profile Hiatus: Career Comeback Series starting June 2, 2008.
   The 8-week tele-course will show ambitious career women, entrepreneurs and other professionals seeking to re-enter the workforce how to stay visible, credible, confident and connected "during a hiatus" or lay-off to help them avoid career suicide, re-launch their careers with confidence and ease the re-entry process when they're ready to return to work.
   
   Barbara Bamba is a career hiatus expert who specializes in "career hiatus marketing and management." She is the founder and former owner of the Philadelphia Speakers Bureau, a sought after speaker and creator of the High Profile Hiatus: Career Comeback Series for ambitious women, entrepreneurs and other professionals who step-out, opt-out or get pushed-out of the workforce. Contact Barbara for more info at: barbarabamba@aol.com [...]
   
   Complete Publicity Plans: How to Create Publicity That Will Spark Media Exposure and Excitement (Adams Streetwise Series)

5 comments about The Illustrated Alamo 1836: A Photographic Journey.

1. I seldom enter Amazon reviews but this book so far exceeded my expectations I had to put up a 5 star review. There is nothing I can add to the very good reviews already posted - if you have even a passing interest in the Alamo or Texas history you will be entranced by this book. A steal at the price.



2. If you are looking for a complete detailed description of the Alamo fortress - this is it ...Great



3. I HAVE BEEN AN ALAMO FAN ALL OF MY LIFE. I HAVE ALMOST EVERY BOOK AND ALAMO MOVIE EVER MADE IT SEEMS. THIS IS A TREMENDOUS BOOK. FOR A VIEW OF THE ALAMO COMPOUND YOU CANNOT DO BETTER THAN THIS BOOK. WELL DONE. IT'S ABOUT TIME. FOR THE ALAMO EXPERT, HISTORY FAN OR SOMEONE WHO WANTS A VIEW OF THE ALAMO AS IT ACTUALLY LOOKED AT THE TIME OF THE BATTLE THIS IS YOUR BOOK. OH FOR THE RECORD NOT ALL OF THE ALAMO DEFENDERS WERE SLAVE OWNERS THEY WERE MOSTLY MEN DEFENDING THEIR LIBERTY. IT WAS ALSO NOT A RACE WAR IT WAR A CIVIL WAR. REMEMBER THE ALAMO. AND I STILL THINK THAT DAVID CROCKETT WENT DOWN SWINGING.



4. I received the book in the mail yesterday afternoon and immediately plunged into it. I stayed up through the night last night, pouring over each page, comments, photos, art and all. I finally set it down around 10am this morning, having gone from cover to cover.
   
   I tried to wrap my head around the sheer volume of effort that Mr. Lemon must've put into researching this book and it seems utterly intimidating to me.
   
   This is precise scholarship and exquisite art in one simply superb package.



5. A jaw dropping remarkable ressurection of one of th the most sacred sights on American soil.
   
   This is further proof that the campaign to support the rebuilding of the Alamo as it was then in it entierty should full steam ahead and Mark Lemons work lay the foundations.
   
   Im sorry, I cant say anything that would do justice to this work, except Thank You Mark Lemon, Thank You.

1 comments about Tim Walker.

1. this lovely dreamy book features the fashion photography of Tim Walker in all it's glory. Every single magazine editorial that I felt compelled to tear out (featuring his lovely imagery) is in here. It makes for a great coffee table book or gift for a photographer. He creates whimsical magic set ups and combines them with surrealistic styling. Must have for the fashion mag junkie!

5 comments about Private Tuscany.

1. Something that I will enjoy over and over with a cup of coffee on a Sunday morning.



2. I WAS LOOKING FOR A GRANDER INSPERATION AND IT WAS NOT THERE. SOME NICE SHOTS BUT NOT WORTH BUYING.



3. With this book you can get a good idea of the warm ranges of wall colors that create a Tuscan mood. This book focuses more on color and neutral tones as opposed to some that go for the white tones. The decor shown is generally not over the top and focused on the grandiose villas that are out of reach of most everyone. There are many modest but lovely homes shown and you can pull fabric inspiration and accessory inspiration. I would give the book 3.5 stars due to some of the rooms being a bit sparse in design and lacking in real life things such as television/stereos, etc. That however is typical of most design books.



4. I am an Interior Designer and I am always searching for new references and inspiration. This is a beautiful book



5. This was not the book for me because we are building a Tuscan style house and the houses featured in this book are beautiful, but old and refurbished houses in Tuscany. So many of the materials are not available in America, and also there is the comfort issue; while the houses are beautiful and definitely authentic, they might not be so comfortable for today's lifestyle. If you are looking for ideas on a modern Tuscan style house, I definitely recommend Tuscan & Andalusian Reflections. However, if what you want is to see is the real, authentic, Tuscan refurbished houses, then this is the book for you.
   
   I must say the decoration ideas are great, and the pictures are beautiful. Even though it wasn't what I expected, I don't regret buying it because it definitely transports you to another place and time when you flip through it.