A Photographer's Life: 1990-2005

Book Description

“I don’t have two lives,” Annie Leibovitz writes in the Introduction to this collection of her work from 1990—2005. “This is one life, and the personal pictures and the assignment work are all part of it.” Portraits of well-known figures–Johnny Cash, Nicole Kidman, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Keith Richards, Michael Jordan, Joan Didion, R2-D2, Patti Smith, Nelson Mandela, Jack Nicholson, William Burroughs, George W. Bush with members of his Cabinet–appear alongside pictures of Leibovitz’s family and friends, reportage from the siege of Sarajevo in the early Nineties, and landscapes made even more indelible through Leibovitz’s discerning eye. The images form a narrative rich in contrasts and continuities: The photographer has a long relationship that ends with illness and death. She chronicles the celebrations and heartbreaks of her large and robust family. She has children of her own. All the while she is working, and the public work resonates with the themes of her life.

Customer Reviews:

Great photography book.......2007-09-17

I've been wanting this book for a while and to have found it here for under $75 I was excited and bought it immediately. A Photographer's Life: 1990-2005 by Annie Leibovitz mixes photos of famous faces and intimate photos of her family, close friends and a few landscapes. I really enjoyed all of the photos. The book is so big I have yet to get through the whole thing! It was well worth the money I am defiantly now a fan of Leibovitz.

not a copiest.......2007-09-14

Great artists are inspired by others and yes, one can see other photographer's work in Annie's. I consider her one of the greats, right up there with Irving Penn, Avedon, Mapplethorpe and found the text very interesting. This book is a bargain considering the depth of information and production quality.

The size of this book!.......2007-09-10

I was surprised at the size of this book! It is much thicker and larger than what I thought and I think it is good value for money. It provides the reader with an insight into the photographer's life and gives the book a very intimate feel. Not all the pictures are flattering to Ms Leibovitz and her relatives and seeing these ordinary photos of people not looking at their best makes you feel as if you are looking at people that you also know. An interesting mix of photos of celebrities and everyday people is presented.

One point of critisizm - why do they print a good photo over two pages and then cut it in half by the page break? A good picture deserves to be printed on one page so as to see it as a whole.

A Celebration of Ugly and I Don't Care.......2007-09-01

This book is perfect for today's society and culture.

Page after page I couldn't help thinking that Ms. Liebowitz was getting back at everyone because God made her so unattractive. It seems it runs in the family -- the photo of her sisters would frighten a scarecrow. Her parents look like fools, the photos of Sontag are disrespectful, and even Brad Pitt is at his worst. Ugly, ugly, ugly...

Yes the world is cruel and not everyone nor everything can be beautiful... it is merely that this book is blatantly defensive.

Well ... is exactly like the title says ..........2007-08-26

... no more no less.
Do not expect to see more than an "allowed invasion" on her life in B&W.
Self promotion, just it. But who didn't, right?
If you can take some lessons "through her personal eyes", good for you.
I believe from everything you can take something good.

Understanding Exposure: How to Shoot Great Photographs with a Film or Digital Camera (Updated Edition)

Average customer rating:

Basic
Great Book for Users
If You Can Only Afford One Photography Book, THIS IS THE ONE!!!
A must have
That is what I wanted! All-in-one book for amateurs who want to master photography - both digital and film

Understanding Exposure: How to Shoot Great Photographs with a Film or Digital Camera (Updated Edition)
Bryan Peterson
Manufacturer: Amphoto Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Photo Essays | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Reference | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Equipment | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0817463003

Book Description

For serious amateur photographers who already shoot perfectly focused, accurately exposed images but want to be more creative with a camera, here's the book to consult. More than seventy techniques, both popular and less-familiar approaches, are covered in detail, including advanced exposure, bounced flash and candlelight, infrared, multiple images, soft-focus effects, unusual vantage points, zooming, and other carefully chosen ways to enhance photographs. The A-Z format make sit easy for readers to find a specific technique, and each one is explained in jargon-free language. Top Tips for each technique help readers achieve superb results, even on the first attempt.

Customer Reviews:

Basic.......2007-10-04

Very basic book, mostly for those who are absolute beginners in photography or for point-and-shooters that are upgrading to SLR.

Great Book for Users.......2007-09-27

I purchased this book after reading reviews and having people suggest this literature to me. I have to say that the author makes it very straightforward, concise and comfortable to read. For a amateur photographer, this book is a gem and I highly suggest reading it just to familiarize yourself with the basic conceps of exposure and how you apply it to both digital and film photography.

If You Can Only Afford One Photography Book, THIS IS THE ONE!!!.......2007-09-26

I purchased this book over a year ago and have since bought several more copies to give to my friends that are into photography. It is by far one of the best books out there for teaching ANYONE about correct exposures!! It's a very easy read, I have read it through at least three times, and this guy knows his stuff. There are so many beautiful full page color photos to demonstrate what he is talking about and he gives his settings for all the shots. If you are just starting out in photography, or have been into it for a while, I feel EVERYONE can learn something from this book. After reading this book, obtaining a 'proper exposure' in-camera clicked for me. I gained a thorough understanding of shutter speed, ISO, aperature/f-stop, light, composition, depth of field and many more very important aspects of photography, everything made sense, opened up new creative doors for me. I still don't always achieve the perfect exposure, but I do have complete control over my camera and settings, the whys and how-to-fors. If you can only afford ONE book, this is the one. I rarely do book reviews, but this one deserves it! I submitted some of my own photos above, using various techniques in photography, all learned from this book.

A must have.......2007-09-26

No question, this is an excellent book. I am a intermediate level photographer, it is filled with great tips. Stop reading this and buy the book!

That is what I wanted! All-in-one book for amateurs who want to master photography - both digital and film.......2007-09-21

Well, I never expected to write a review, but I did because this book is what I was looking for. I've been using camera for decades now, but I was mainly point-and-shoot photographer. Yes, everybody liked my pictures but I really did not know how to be consistent in the results. So I got myself a new Nikon D80 and undertook to learn how to take pictures with full control over the process. I browsed through Amazon in search of "become a concious photographer book for dummies" and I ended up buying this book and Ansel Adams's "Camera".
This book has everything you need to move from amateur to prosumer photographer. It expalains what is exposure and light and how you can control it. It gives you hints on metering and some basic special techniques. What is very important is that it gives you plenty of color pictures with short stories on how they were taken and data on exposure parameters so you can check how they impact the final result.
So get this one if you would like to buy one book which would allow you to undersatnd how to take beautiful and creative pictures! I guess that when you finally get it and read it you will be hungry for more information. But then you can get books on specific subjects - here - you have all the basics that you need.

Average customer rating:

Big Book of Breasts
Worth It
Better Than I Imagined - Great On Several Levels
Great coffee table book
great for the coffe table

The Big Book of Breasts

Manufacturer: Taschen
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Erotic Photography | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Photo Essays | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Portraits | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Erotic | Other Media | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Expeditions & Discoveries | World | History | Subjects | Books

All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 3822833037

Book Description

Say no to silicone: The greatest natural breasts of our times

Some call it the American obsession, but men everywhere recognize the hypnotic allure of a large and shapely breast. In The Big Book of Breasts, Dian Hanson explores the origins of mammary madness through three decades of natural big-breasted nudes. Starting with the World War II Bosom-Mania that spawned Russ Meyer, Howard Hughes's The Outlaw and Frederick's of Hollywood, Dian guides you over, around, and in between the dangerous curves of infamous models including Michelle Angelo, Candy Barr, Virginia Bell, Joan Brinkman, Lorraine Burnett, Lisa De Leeuw, Uschi Digard, Candye Kane, Jennie Lee, Sylvia McFarland, Margaret Middleton, Paula Page, June Palmer, Roberta Pedon, Rosina Revelle, Candy Samples, Tempest Storm, Linda West, June Wilkinson, Julie Wills, and dozens more, including Guinness World Record holder Norma Stitz, possessor of the World's Largest Natural Breasts.

Customer Reviews:

Big Book of Breasts.......2007-09-07

Quite an interesting book from both a social and historical perspective. The text deals mainly with how and why many of these women became models and the roles they played in creating an image. Many of these models come from the glossy mens magazines of the 1970's and 80's, as well as date back to the 50's and 60's when nude photography was taboo.
The photos are tasteful and the text is interesting and speaks of the models how they conducted themselves, and why they posed.

Worth It.......2007-08-10

Great publication, although it's a bit large for the average coffee table. The photos are high quality and the commentary is interesting and well written. I only wish there was a greater variety of models and more everyday women featured. Certainly a conversation starter!

Better Than I Imagined - Great On Several Levels.......2007-07-16

From the "perv" in me, the focus on breasts, frankly, is right up my alley. :)

The execution of this book, however, is clearly on the art book level. It is a beautiful, large coffee table style book. The large b/w and color photos are extraordinary and beautifully printed. The text gives both context for these photos and offers extensive interviews with various models and people involved in the business. Furthermore, the plastic cover of the book is actually a virtual bra for the woman's torso underneath it. If you look at the cover art on this page, the black bra can be "removed" by removing the plastic dust jacket. Extremely clever. This book would be worth it at its retail price of $50, but at the approximately $33, it's a bargain. Even my wife, who is not particularly interested in women's bodies, found this book fascinating.

Great coffee table book.......2007-07-05

This book had wonderfully entertaining interviews and high quality photographs. I recommend it for the aficionado in your life.

great for the coffe table.......2007-07-05

everyone that has seen this book out has wanted to look at it. its very appealing to the eye and is a great coffe table book for singles.

Average customer rating:

Erotic and Classy
Amazin book for fantastic subject
The New Erotic Photography
Misleading title
Wonderful Collection

The New Erotic Photography

Manufacturer: Taschen
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Collections, Catalogues & Exhibitions | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Erotic Photography | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Photo Essays | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Erotic | Other Media | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

French | Foreign Language Nonfiction | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

German | Foreign Language Nonfiction | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Arts & Photography | French | Foreign Language Books | Specialty Stores | Books

Nonfiction | French | Foreign Language Books | Specialty Stores | Books

All French Books | French | Foreign Language Books | Specialty Stores | Books

Arts & Photography | German | Foreign Language Books | Specialty Stores | Books

Nonfiction | German | Foreign Language Books | Specialty Stores | Books

All German Books | German | Foreign Language Books | Specialty Stores | Books

All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 3822849243

Book Description

The most provocative modern image makers

Imagine walking into a room filled with the world's finest contemporary erotic photographers, each with a portfolio of his or her best work. As you browse the photographs they discuss inspiration, censorship, how to find models, and how to make a living capturing beautiful women on film and in pixels.

The New Erotic Photography is the room, and 82 photographers from 14 countries are the hosts of this intimate gathering. In this 608 page volume you will meet Ralph Gibson, Jan Saudek, Terry Richardson, Natacha Merritt, Petter Hegre, Richard Kern, Bob Carlos Clarke, Thomas Karsten and the many fresh new talents currently redefining eroticism. Playful, provocative and exuberantly sexy, these aren't your granddad's art nudes; this is The New Erotic Photography.

Customer Reviews:

Erotic and Classy.......2007-09-28

This book is amazing. 600 hundred pages of pure beauty. Anyone who is not famaliar with erotic photographers, like myself, this is a wonderful book to start with. The cost of the book will set you back about the cost of a tank of gas. And unlike gas, you will have the book longer than a week. Every artist is a bit different from one another and shine in their own way. A great coffee table book. Except, i would absolutely put it away when the nephews are over, but not my parents. Classy and sexy. Buy this book now.

Amazin book for fantastic subject.......2007-09-28

TNEP is a amazingly book very well done, with a interesting text on this subject. The finishing, paper, photo quality are outstanding. I recommend for all who love photography and beautiful women.

The New Erotic Photography.......2007-07-26

This is a wonderful book. Full of beautiful photographs of many beautiful women. Makes a great coffee table book.
Not safe for kids!

Misleading title.......2007-06-12

The book should be called "The New Female Nude Photography". No sex here. Nothing wrong with that, I just feel the title is a bit misleading. Quality is up to Taschen standards (they're really high), but the content is somewhat dull. There's nothing terribly creative or groundbreaking here.

Wonderful Collection.......2007-05-12

The book contains a variety of photographers, with each presenting a short series of well done photos, using many different models. The overall quality of the collection is outstanding. I was particularly impressed with the highly detailed nature of the photos. For devotees of erotic photography, I would definitely recommend this book.

Average customer rating:

Great book
disappointing
I do NOT recommend this book
It's good, but could be shorter.
Great with one exception

Private Rooms

Manufacturer: Te Neues Publishing Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Collections, Catalogues & Exhibitions | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Erotic Photography | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Photo Essays | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

French | Foreign Language Nonfiction | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

German | Foreign Language Nonfiction | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Spanish | Foreign Language Nonfiction | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Arts & Photography | French | Foreign Language Books | Specialty Stores | Books

Nonfiction | French | Foreign Language Books | Specialty Stores | Books

All French Books | French | Foreign Language Books | Specialty Stores | Books

Arts & Photography | German | Foreign Language Books | Specialty Stores | Books

Nonfiction | German | Foreign Language Books | Specialty Stores | Books

All German Books | German | Foreign Language Books | Specialty Stores | Books

All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books

Arts & Photography | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books

Nonfiction | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 3832790810

Book Description

Daring and provocative, these images of the female nude push the viewer's limits and enters 'forbidden territory'. Argentini plays with our notions of privacy and constructs a deeply erotic universe where it is hard to know what we will find--our hidden sexual fantasies or a parallel reality? These charged images are both sophisticated and raw, with a dark and extemely refined glamour all their own.

Customer Reviews:

Great book.......2007-08-24

For starters: this book is a monster. I had the package dropped off in the mail room and wondered, "what the hell did I order?" The box was massive and weighed a ton... I thought I may have ordered a slab of bricks and forgot.

Once inside I opened the package. I quickly realized this was a well printed book. From the padded felt cover colored in red, to the nice paper that gripped your fingers. That, alone, made up for the cost.

Ibegan going through page by page. The color was all vivid. The women were beautiful and the poses were elegantlly seductive. I turned each page to find something new and exciting.

After about 50 or so pages, I began to get restless. It was almost TOO much book to be consumed all at once. I went through 10 more pages and decided to put it down. My mind couldn't properly digest everything it was taking in and I needed a break. 2 or 3 hours later I sat down to view more. This time viewed 20 pages before I had to close the book. The photography was great and the concepts are executed with precision. As a budding photographerI was overwhelmed with his skill. It was too much for me.

I have gone back to the book several times. I have probably viewed each image 2 or 3 times by now. There are some images that still resonate in my mind. It's definitely a book I would suggest to others.

I show many of my models, makeup artists, and wardrobe stylists. They react with different opinions. Some see it as trash. Others see it as art. Annd ohers are indifferent.

disappointing.......2007-07-12

the pictures are...frankly mediocre. I would suggest another one named Erotique--it's ligher, less expensive, and has better pictures.

I do NOT recommend this book.......2007-06-15

The women in this book are, for the most part, lifeless mannequins. In general, I didn't find the women to be photographed in a way that was either erotically attractive, or artistically attractive.

It's good, but could be shorter........2007-05-17

I like this book and the quality is superb, the models are beautiful, and the poses are excellent. However, I thought that the same could have been accomplished in a smaller size and shorter version which would have saved on cost and price. It got a little repetitive as it went on, in my opionion.

I highly recommend this book as one of the best ones out there for nude/erotic photography. It's classy and it really highlights beautiful female form with excellent lighting. What I also enjoyed is that the sets are all environmental and not studio. I hate those studio nudes that look so fake and posed. It was a good learning book for me.

Great with one exception.......2007-05-13

The imagery presented in this book is truly stunning and imaginitive. As a man that truly appreciates both beautiful women and photography, my only criticism is that the body types of the models could have been a little more varied, Otherwise, this a great book.

Average customer rating:

One Eyed Visionary
Great book, intresting facts, great, candid shots!!!!
For Photograghy Fans Too!
Photo by Sammy Davis Jr.
Great photos complement this wonderfully written book!

Photo by Sammy Davis, Jr.
Burt Boyar
Manufacturer: HarperEntertainment
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Collections, Catalogues & Exhibitions | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Photo Essays | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Portraits | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Performing Arts | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Entertainers | Arts & Literature | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

General | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

Popular Culture | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0061146056
Release Date: 2007-02-06

Book Description

Sammy Davis, Jr. will forever be remembered as one of America's finest entertainers. An all–around performer who could sing, dance, and act, Davis broke racial barriers in the entertainment world and became the only non–white member of the Rat Pack. Only now, however, is Davis's talent as a photographer finally being recognized. In this previously unpublished collection of black and white photography, readers will be fascinated by Davis's portrayals of A–list performers, iconic world leaders, and scenes from everyday life. Davis's subjects include dozens of classic celebrities–such as Frank Sinatra, Marilyn Monroe, Paul Newman, and James Dean–who are often photographed at their most casual and revealing moments.

Accompanying the pictures is an assortment of remembrances by Burt Boyar, a longtime friend and traveling companion of Davis who collaborated with the entertainer on both of his autobiographies. Through a series of memorable anecdotes, Boyar reflects on Davis's many achievements as well as the private moments they shared as friends. Along with Davis's candid shots of ordinary life–from a group of children laughing to a baseball game at the Washington Monument–these stories reveal a side of the performer far removed from his Rat Pack persona.

The release of this book will also coincide with the release of Burt Boyar's upcoming documentary, Sammy Speaks, created from his extensive archive of taped conversations with the star.

Customer Reviews:

One Eyed Visionary.......2007-09-25

Few have personified the phrase "self-made man" as did legendary entertainer Sammy Davis, Jr. (1925-1990). The world remembers Davis for his varied and extraordinary accomplishments as an actor, singer, musician, dancer, and comedian.

But hardly anyone outside his circle of friends and family has been familiar with his photography--until now. With this hefty book, interspersed with reminisces by longtime friend Burt Boyar (who co-wrote Davis's autobiographies Yes I Can and Why Me?), his old fans and a new generation can revel in hundreds of images that reveal yet another significant facet of Davis's far-reaching talents.

Though Photo lacks the singular thematic focus of books published by such photographer-celebrities as Dennis Hopper and Gerry Spence, that's no drawback for this posthumously published volume. Rather, it pulls the reader into the exciting world of nightclubs, casinos, and Beverly Hills homes in which Davis moved, mostly from the late 1940s through early '70s. A voracious shutterbug, he took his photography seriously: his compositions are strikingly iconic, employing sophisticated use of line and form. Yet, his pictures are mostly snapshots--in the best sense of the word: they capture their subjects spontaneously, and his joie de vivre suffuses his work. Think of it as a highly stylized family album packed with candid portraits of "Rat Pack" pals Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Joey Bishop, Peter Lawford, and Shirley MacLaine, as well as other famous friends like Nat "King" Cole, Tony Curtis, Janet Leigh, Sidney Poitier, James Dean, Marilyn Monroe, Jerry Lewis, and Bill Cosby.

Among the more touching aspects of this book are the portraits of his actual family: his parents, his second wife May Britt and their children, and his third wife (and widow) Altovise Gore Davis. The most poignant are the many shots of actress Kim Novak, the first great love of Davis's life, who was forced by Columbia Pictures studio chief Harry Cohn to break off their relationship (interracial relationships were strictly taboo in 1950s Hollywood, not to mention in society generally).

One photograph, despite its matter-of-fact framing, is particularly chilling. Through the window of a passenger train en route to Miami, Davis snapped a picture of an elderly white gentleman on a station platform holding a cigarette, standing before a pair of double doors over which the foreboding phrase "WHITE WAITING ROOM" is painted. Davis's photographic abilities and inclinations were such that we see a mostly glamorous world through his eye. Thus, when we arrive at this jarring image, it's impossible not to apprehend it from his point-of-view--and also not to feel the sense of injustice that he must have experienced in the Jim Crow South as he clicked the shutter.

As Davis's show business career took off, many venues--even north of the Mason-Dixon Line--were happy to let blacks perform onstage; but the same headliner artists weren't even permitted to drink at the bar, use a dressing room, or occupy one of their hotel rooms. Photographs from Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s 1963 "I Have a Dream" speech at the Lincoln Memorial, and portraits of politician friends Senator Robert Kennedy and President Richard Nixon, give silent witness to Davis's largely forgotten achievements as an outspoken civil rights advocate.

Photo is a coffee-table book that won't spend much time on the coffee table if your houseguests are anything like mine. Because of a car crash in 1954, Sammy Davis, Jr., was left with only one eye. But what an eye this cat had!

Great book, intresting facts, great, candid shots!!!!.......2007-08-09

This book is so fun. It has so many candid great photo's, really intresting history on Sammy Davis Jr. and his relationship's. I really enjoyed this book. Great coffee table book.

For Photograghy Fans Too!.......2007-06-22

I originally picked up this book as a curiosity and found its links to a bygone era utterly fascinating. The subject matter, i.e., rat pack photos were wonderful but the photographic mastery of Davis Jr. is, I think, equally as stunning. A look into Davis Jr.'s remarkable life is given by him in the way, like other great photographers, he insightfully choses to document and communicate with his subjects through the lens. Again, like many great photographers, the images are powerful and soft, crisp and dazzling. More talent revealed from a man who had more in his baby finger than most of us have coursing through our entire bodies.
Bravo. Well done.

Photo by Sammy Davis Jr........2007-05-28

An excellent "coffee table" book that graphically recalls the fifties and sixties, and the hedonistic style of the Rat Pack and Sammy's many friends and colleagues. Beautifully captures the mood and style of the period.

Great photos complement this wonderfully written book!.......2007-04-21

An extremely fun book that reminds the reader of a very happy period of US entertainment history (including old Hollywood, the Rat Pack, and more). Lets the reader see Sammy's world from the camera's view, and what a great world it must have been. Boyer is a talented writer and put together a fabulous collection of photos. A perfect book for the coffee table that includes some great stories to go with the rare photos. A must have for any fan of mid-century Hollywood.

Dirty Wow Wow and Other Love Stories: A Tribute to the Threadbare Companions of Childhood

Average customer rating:

So-so
Wow, wow - what fun!
Dirt Wow Wow and Other Love Stories: A Tribute to the Threadbare Companions of Childhood
Sweet Memories
Hilarious!

Dirty Wow Wow and Other Love Stories: A Tribute to the Threadbare Companions of Childhood
Cheryl Katz , and Jeffrey Katz
Manufacturer: Ten Speed Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Collections, Catalogues & Exhibitions | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Photo Essays | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Toys | Antiques & Collectibles | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

Toymaking | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 1580088325

Book Description

DIRTY WOW WOW AND OTHER LOVE STORIES is a celebration of the lovey, binky, or blankie--known as the "transitional object" in psychoanalytic terms--that eased us through the uncertainties and loneliness of childhood. Bundles of comfort and security fashioned from fluff and fur, these treasured friends have a lifetime of stories sewn up in their tattered bodies: a trip to Paris smushed up in a suitcase, a new home behind the family liquor cabinet, an interminable wait in the lost-and-found bin. With stunning photographs that reveal the personalities within, DIRTY WOW WOW is at once humorous, wistful, and oddly comforting--like a shabby childhood favorite who's tucked away but never forgotten.

Customer Reviews:

So-so.......2007-09-01

I agree with the reviewer that said this book was just so-so - I really thought this a great book concept and was looking forward to heartwarming stories of people who remember their toys fondly, and funny pictures of wretched, worn, well-loved toys. However, the authors seem to fall short of the promised delivery on the cover - one of the "toys" was simply a photo of torn up cloth and the entry was called "Rags"...and the "story" was about how children may take to rags instead of stuffed toys. I felt a bit cheated. I would much have preferred real people and real stories about their stuff - maybe a photo of an interviewee and toy today and his/her childhood photo clutching the toy when new. I always loved those photos. But this book doesn't have such things - it seems superficial, more an artsy pretty photo book than a book where real legwork was taken to uncover the stories.

Wow, wow - what fun!.......2007-07-25

This is a darling book of photographs and loving tributes to some of the scruffiest and best loved of childhood "lovies". It's currently getting much attention as my coffee table book and is bringing both smiles and sighs of remembrance to our visitors. I wish only that my own "Lindy", "Andy Pandy", "Ted" and "Snoozer" had been honored among its pages.

Dirt Wow Wow and Other Love Stories: A Tribute to the Threadbare Companions of Childhood.......2007-07-15

I so wanted this book to be wonderful, but I found it just so-so. I'm going to return both copies, since I don't feel right giving a friend something I don't treasure. Sorry :-(

Sweet Memories.......2007-07-04

I received this book as a gift and immediately had to order it as a gift for my sister who turns 65 next week. Her threadbare companion until our family left it in a motel enroute from Chicago to Seattle, was a small down pillow, called her "My My". She was only four years old, I was nine and I can still remember her cries of anguish.

Almost anyone can relate to this charming book.

Hilarious!.......2007-07-03

The book made me laugh out loud! Both the pictures and the commentary are hilarious! A real treasure!

Average customer rating:

A Caution for some ... nude photographs
A work of art keepsake.
A New Direction For Coffee Table Books
Beyond art book, beyond photography
Many great portraits ...

Richard Avedon Portraits
Maria Morris Hambourg , Mia Fineman , Richard Avedon , and Philippe de Montebello
Manufacturer: Harry N. Abrams
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Photo Essays | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Portraits | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0810935406

Book Description

For over 50 years, Richard Avedon (b. 1923) has captured the creative genius of our time with dazzling insight and incomparable style. Spanning the artist's entire career, from the late 1940s through his most recent work, Richard Avedon Portraits offers a superb selection of his photographic portraits.

With uncompromising directness, Avedon portrayed his subjects against a white background, with no extraneous details to distract from the essential specificity of face, gaze, dress, and gesture. This challenging innovation, coupled with the artist's intense interest in his subjects and mastery of his craft, resulted in mesmerizing portraits-among them Truman Capote, Willem de Kooning, Samuel Beckett, Francis Bacon, and Marilyn Monroe, as well as the uncelebrated Americans of his project, "In the American West"-that rival the greatest works in the portrait tradition.

Richard Avedon Portraits is published to accompany a major exhibition at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. With its innovative accordion-style design and superb reproductions, the book is a virtual stand-alone mini-exhibition in its own right.

Customer Reviews:

A Caution for some ... nude photographs.......2007-08-23

This book is absolutely exquisite. The photographs are stunning and insightful If you are not familiar with Avedon's male nudes--I wasn't--you should be aware that many of them are full frontal and not in any way prettified, pornographic, or erotic. I include this because none of the other reviews mentioned it. Had I been more familiar with the book's contents, perhaps I would not have left the book out on the kitchen counter for the wrong (adult) friend to unfold it before I did!! Yeah, I know, I should have known better . . . . Duh.

A work of art keepsake........2007-03-23

I bought this book for my photography friend for Christmas. She was blown away. From the moment you open the package, it is clear this book is worlds apart from your standard photography book. Every photo is frame-ready. I highly recommend for the picky photography enthusiast.

A New Direction For Coffee Table Books.......2006-12-27

The format allows for a stand-up display down the entire length of a coffee table! Pretty cool if you ask me;
Got this as a christmas gift for my art-school-grad photographer/niece. It caused something of a stir when the holiday guests started to look at everyone elses presents.. Along the lines of "Don't let the kids look at that book" and "Let me see it' and "Ewwww".

Beyond art book, beyond photography.......2006-01-01

It is not really a book, but an art object: accordion folded and neatly ensconced in a box, its heavy cardboard structure makes it a durable thing, one that transcends the notion of a mere "book." It is an object of intrinsic beauty and the mere holding of it in one's hands conveys the good taste, fine quality, and the superb craftmanship that were blended to create PORTRAITS.

One side of the fold contains text -with some pictures- and the other the portfolio of portraits. Maria Hambourg and Mia Fineman collaborate in the essay "Avedon's Endgame," which presents, analyzes and brings into focus the extraordinary talent behind the portraits; and Richard Avedon gives us a touching essay called "Borrowed Dogs," in which he addresses some of his unquiet talents. The other side is one's private gallery of 27 pictures (including the covers) to be savored at home, each image a meticulous print. In all it is an extraordinary performance by those involved, and a jewel to possess.

Avedon has pushed the borders of his art far beyond picture taking: a master psychologist, his portraits are potent statements about the soul and the fears and the anger and the dilapidation and the triumph and the humanity of his subjects. His pictures are so intense and revealing that the viewer cannot remain neutral. The diptych of Clarence Lippard, a drifter, makes one see more than we have any right to ask for: because if we must view the horror of a wasted life on one panel we must also accept the defiant triumphalism and humor that the second panel conveys. Waste no pity on Mr. Lippard, he asks no such thing from you.

I shall often return to this jewel for solace; and for a jolt about the meaning of being alive and a human being.

Many great portraits ..........2005-10-14

... but it's not a book. I personally did not care for the strange format, which has a sleeve, a back and a front cover, and a sort of concertina arrangement of the intervening text and pictures.

Vitamin Ph: New Perspectives in Photography

Average customer rating:

An impeccably-made survey of contemporary photography.
An overview of photography
A great glimpse at contemporary photography
New Zealand Artist

Vitamin Ph: New Perspectives in Photography
T.J. Demos and Editors of Phaidon Press
Manufacturer: Phaidon Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Collections, Catalogues & Exhibitions | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

History | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Photo Essays | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books

Arts & Photography | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0714846562

Book Description

The Definitive Book on Photography Today;Featuring 121 Artists from Over 30 CountriesThe life of an artistic medium lies in the capricious nature of thecontemporary art market.Even the heavy-hitters - painting, sculpture anddrawing - have fallen victim to this ebb and flow; declared dead onemoment, only to be resurrected the next. Now it is photography's turn tocontemplate its fate atop this precarious fence.Does it fall backward andplay into the taunts that call photography an "obsolete" medium, sostretched and manipulated by its collaborations with other practices thatit is rendered indefinable?Or, inspired by globalization, does it jumpforward into distinction, with practitioners resuscitating the traditionalform of the documentary image?VITAMIN Ph: NEW PERSPECTIVES IN PHOTOGRAPHY, with an introduction by TJDemos, is the definitive book on photography in the contemporary art worldtoday.VITAMIN Ph is a global survey of new developments in the medium ofphotography, featuring 121 living artists who have made a contribution tothe international art photography scene in the last five years. VITAMIN Ph presents a stunning collection of 500 images, the magnitude anddiversity of which illustrates the integral developments in photography -the dispersal of the medium on the one hand and the reinvention ofdocumentary representation on the other - that have recalibrated the mediumin the age of globalization. The artists were nominated by 78 of theworld's top critics, curators and fellow artists such as: Vince Aletti,Christine Macel, Martin Parr, Sandra Philips, Mark Godfrey, Tod Papageorge,Tim Griffin, Jack Persekian, Richard Flood, Donna De Salvo, Katy Seigel,Richard Prince and Sarah Lewis. VITAMIN Ph features an introduction by TJ Demos, Lecturer in Art History atUniversity College London, member of Art Journal's editorial board andcontributor to ArtForum.Demos offers a critical account of photography asa medium driven by two things - the reinvention of documentary practice andphotography's fragmentation as a medium - and inspired by the historicalcircumstances of our current era.He explores the impact of technologicaladvances, geographic mobility, and the decline in national sovereignty onphotography today.Demos theorizes that photography, through its growingdiversity, illustrates the many ways that we are different, helps us tounderstand those differences, and connects us to a global world.The 121 artists selected represent over 30 countries including, Morocco,Russia, South Africa, Israel, South Korea, Greece, Mexico, Palestine, andthe United States. There is an ocean of talent: established artists, recentcrossovers to the medium, and artists who are just making their mark on theart scene.Some highlights from the book include:*The work of established artists Tacita Dean and Anri Sala and themore emerging, Miriam B+ckstr+m and Markus Schinwald, display theinfluence of a trained camera-eye.These artists have made a foray intophotography that is built upon the elements of video: storytelling,framing, and the importance of place and time. Schinwald, who's artisticstudies began in fashion design, explores strategies of theatrical gesturewith a polished cinematic style *The performance artist, Tim Lee, uses the medium to stage complexrelationships between iconic artworks, canonical moments of popular cultureand issues of racial identity.His image, The Jerk, Carl Reiner, 1979(2004), illustrates a duality in meaning, one with complex culturalundertones as well as full frontal absurdity.*The Russian collaborate AES+F, the Israeli artist Emily Jacir and theemerging artists Ahlam Shibli and An-My L+ create works inspired by thepolitics of their respective cultures, as they exist in today's society. Le, a political refugee from Vietnam, became involved in a Vietnam Warre-enactor group in South Carolina in which she participated and tookphotographs of Vietnam battles restaged on her newly adopted American soil. Under the guise of photojournalism, Le documents the actors on theirhistorical stage, achieving a look that is both rigorously aesthetic andconceptual, almost dream like. *Inspired by a decade of belly dancing, Elinor Carucci photographs thelives of belly dancers taken in the years following Carucci's move from herhometown of Jerusalem to New York.Seen alongside images of Carucciherself, this series addresses the divisions between public and privateselves, celebrating the moments of preparation and repose as much as thosefilled with glamour and noise. *Drawing from his own experience as a drug addict Gareth McConnell'smost recent series is filled with a palpable loneliness.In Night Flower#43, for example, the stark contrast of delicate pink petals that seem tofade into a dark void cause the viewer to rethink issues of time,permanence, abandon and hope.In VITAMIN Ph, the featured artists are presented in A to Z order.Foreach artist, approximately five selections of work are reproduced alongsidetext by a critic who is a specialist on the artist's career.The surveyscover the artists' careers to date and explain the methods and subjectmatter featured in recent works.Whether the style is documentary, deadpan, abstract, or portraiture; nomatter that the artists are sculptors, video artists, painters, andphotography has become a vital part of contemporary art.VITAMIN Ph is theonly book of its kind to illustrate the up-to-the-minute complexity,variety and global spectrum of photography today.The book follows the similar concept, scope and structure to Phaidon'ssuccessful volumes Vitamin P (2002), for painting, and Vitamin D (2005),for drawing.

Customer Reviews:

An impeccably-made survey of contemporary photography........2007-08-31

This is a wonderful book. I bought it truly as a "vitamin", to give myself a kick in the pants regarding my own photography: to find some sources of inspiration that were more up-to-date than my usual heroes (Minor White, Cartier-Bresson, etc). It served that purpose admirably. The artists and photographs are carefully chosen, and the essays are well-written. Some of the essays are even in English rather than art-speak. There is an incredible range of styles represented here, encompassing both conceptually-driven and aesthetically-driven art. Because of the large size and beautiful paper and production, this book is a tactile and visual treat that would make a great gift for any photographer on one's holiday list.

An overview of photography.......2007-07-11

It's big, it's well produced and it's a worthy addition to a photo book collection. Phaidon is a great publisher and the production values of this book are up to their usual high standards. The concept of "New Perspectives in Photography" is an ambitious topic, given the broad variety of art photography practice around the world. If you could sum up the main trend, it would have to be the movement away from the photo document and towards a conceptual exploration of the photographic object as it relates to the human experience. It is not photography, it is photographic.

Much of the work is relatively new, made in the past ten years and is representative of that shown by a certain kind of photography gallery -- one looking forward, yet rooted in the past. That said, much of the work references earlier photographs. Artists such as Gregory Crewdson and Anne Hardy create narrative, staged environments that the photograph documents, yet they look back to work from the 80's by Sandy Skoglund. Nikki Lee's work with her personal identity clearly references earlier work by Cindy Sherman. Tim Lee uses the photograph as a document of his conceptual work, a traditional way to preserve performance and conceptual art. However, there are some valuable new perspectives.

Rinko Kawauchi's beautiful photographs of life's ephemeral moments indeed provide a new, thoughtful perspective -- her book "the eyes, the ears" is worth searching out (sorry, not available on Amazon, I found my copy in Tokyo). Esteban Pastorino Diaz challenges our understanding of visual devices and the way they form our perspective of the world. And Paul Pfeiffer uses a database filtering model to create meaning from a photographic practice based on images appropriated from popular media. Clearly, innovation is limited only by the imagination.

The challenge with this type of overview is that it is almost too wide ranging and lacks depth -- it is without a singular point of view. It mostly covers artists who are already "established" in the gallery and museum circuit, which means you will be about five years behind the state of the art. The latest, newest work is found on the Internet, but only to those with the time, desire and domain knowledge to seek it out.

While you may pick it up once or twice, it is most valuable as a point of departure for further exploration of individual artists. As the other reviewers from New Zealand mentioned, it will probably be most valuable to readers without access to contemporary art galleries.

A great glimpse at contemporary photography.......2007-04-01

This book provides a short sample of each artists work along with an explanation about the artist or the works.
It is fantastic as a student tool to have such a range of works at your fingertips. It is also great for those just looking as the content is broad and dynamic.
I have yet to come across a book that has such a large number of contemporary photographers along with a range of their work (rather than a single iimage job).

New Zealand Artist.......2007-01-19

Having already purchased Vitamin D and Vitamin P I was expecting great things of Vitamin Ph. I was not disappointed. This book is beautifully presented. The Artists work chosen for this book are all of a high standard. Living in NZ you are a long way away from the International art scene. The only way to find out what is happening is from books such as this.

Average customer rating:

Artists And Prostitutes (Photography)

Manufacturer: Taschen
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover