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.

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

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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.

Master Lighting Guide for Portrait Photographers

Average customer rating:

For the advanced Photographers
Good book, great guide, very helpful
Great for spawning lighting ideas...
An impressive book that teaches it all
Great Buy!

Master Lighting Guide for Portrait Photographers
Christopher Grey
Manufacturer: Amherst Media
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1584281251

Book Description

Time-tested lighting strategies that will improve the quality of a portrait are detailed in this book for beginning photographers. Terminology used by industry pros is explained, the equipment needed to create professional results is outlined, and the unique role that each element of the lighting setup plays in the studio is explored. Photographers learn how color, direction, form, and contrast affect the final portrait. The concise text, photo examples, and lighting diagrams enable photographers to easily achieve traditional lighting styles that have been the basis of good portraiture since the advent of the art.

Customer Reviews:

For the advanced Photographers.......2007-09-10

I read the book and one thing that I did learn is that I need to take some Photo classes and learn more about taking photos. Some of the subject matter was over my head.

Good book, great guide, very helpful.......2007-08-10

I am halfway through this book and find the instructions, diagrams and pictures very helpful. I do not understand some of the criticisms because this is about staged lighting and studio portrait and will always be "posed". I am amazed at the length of detail that the author has gone through and appreciate the multiple portrait examples in various lightings.

Great for spawning lighting ideas..........2007-08-09

This book met and even exceeded my expectations. Much like "The Portrait Photographer's Guide to Posing", this book is an excellent reference book that you will find yourself re-reading for inspiration and technique. The examples and photos are great and the book is very easy to follow. I am glad that I ordered this book.

An impressive book that teaches it all.......2007-07-03

I am a photo prothusiast. I love photography and use it in my profession. Recently I have toyed with the idea of shooting portraits on the side for a little extra cash. I thought I'd bone up on my portrait lighting techniques. I bought a few books, including Christopher Grey's Master Lighting Guide for Portrait Photographers.

I have to say, Christopher's book is my favorite. I have had a blast working through the techniques he teaches in this book. He starts out by giving a rundown of lighting gear on the market. He weighs the pros and cons of different lighting systems and shares his favorites.

The book gets really exciting when he starts teaching lighting techniques. He uses actual photographs so you can see the results, comparing light settings and placement. He demonstrates many configurations, each more beautiful than the last.

I have taken this book seriously. I love to grab a subject and get busy, trying out his different light scenarios and seeing if I can match his quality. In some cases I have, in others I need practice.

I would highly recommend this book for both pros and beginners. It is an excellent reference that I have found invaluable.

Thank you, Christopher.

I hope this helps.

-Craig Nybo, co-author of Total Human: The Complete Strength Training System

Great Buy!.......2007-06-20

I have learned tons of information from this book on lighting. You must have it if you are a little or alot confused about studio lighting and how to do it right!

Pam Vasquez

Lighting and the Dramatic Portrait: The Art of Celebrity and Editorial Photography

Average customer rating:

It's a book for beginners.
wonderful peek into the world of reknowned pro photographer
Good beginning book
A wonderful aproach, not so technical and not so philosophic
A little too much!

Lighting and the Dramatic Portrait: The Art of Celebrity and Editorial Photography
Michael Grecco
Manufacturer: Amphoto Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0817442278
Release Date: 2006-09-29

Book Description

Priceless--yet practical--ideas and insights from the master of portrait photography
* Ready-to-use insider tips for photographers at every level
* Author teaches across the country and is renowned for sharing his secrets

Michael Grecco is one of the best-known celebrity photographers in the world. His beautiful, insightful work is all around us--on movie posters, in advertising, on magazine covers, everywhere. "I delight in inspiring people," he writes. "I want them to stop, think, and feel." Now Grecco shares the secrets of great portraits with photographers at every level, in Lighting and the Dramatic Portrait. Sections on cameras, illumination, film and digital, creativity and conceptualization, connecting with the subject, and having a point of view, plus intriguing case studies that show "how I got that picture," make this book a resource photographers will use again and again through the years. Whether the subject is a star or a soccer mom, Grecco shows how to add artistry, drama, wit, humor, and personality to their portrait.

Customer Reviews:

It's a book for beginners........2007-09-10

I'm totally not impress with that book. Their is almost no contain in. A couple nice lightning idea, but nothing to really improve your skill if you are an advanced photographer.

It's a book for beginners.

wonderful peek into the world of reknowned pro photographer.......2007-09-01

This book is everything I had hoped. I wanted to see how the "big guys" get such gorgeous shots. It's true that just owning an expensive dSLR does not make you a professional, it takes practice, lots of photo shoots, and, most importantly, an eye for creativity. Grecco is an extraordinary photographer. I know I'll probably never be photographing celebrities or have the budget for a clan of assistants and high price lighting equipment, but some of his techniques I can certainly adapt. This is a wonderful book with enough tips and beautiful images to inspire any photographer.

Good beginning book.......2007-08-26

This is a good beginning lighting book, and it includes a helpful introduction to lighting terminology, techniques, and tools. Unlike many portraiture books, this one focuses more on editorial rather than consumer portraiture. As such, the illustrations are edgier and more conceptual. The book is pretty thin on substance, however, and rather high on ego. A good introduction, but nothing more. Hicks and Schultz's book Photographing People; Portraits, fashion, glamour has much better lighting diagrams and a lot more technical variety and instruction.

A wonderful aproach, not so technical and not so philosophic.......2007-08-13

In this book, Grecco show us pictures and the creation ideas about them.
The lighting set-ups is only top view, but in his text, Grecco explain how create each image, the concept and techniques.

A good book for photographers that love portrait and want learn more about this photography segment.

A little too much!.......2007-07-28

The pictures, techniques and equipments used are topnotch. The pictures are topnotch as well but this is really not a book for the run of the photographer. This is hollywood style photography. Impressive techiques and styles but with not much of a practical value for amateurs and hobbyists I would say. I don't think this is something suitable for all so you need to be careful about this book. There are better portrait photography books out there that are more suitable for the majority.

Average customer rating:

Face-to-Face Comparisons Reveal Warhol's Perspectives
A less familiar Warhol
An influence that continues down to the present

Andy Warhol Portraits
Tony Shafrazi , Carter Ratcliffe , and Robert Rosenblum
Manufacturer: Phaidon Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0714846678

Book Description

First Book to Feature over 300 of Warhol's Famous Faces"I think everybody is my friend." -Andy Warhol To the general public, Andy Warhol is known as a painter of legendaryicons, from Marilyn and Jackie O to his own ever-changing self-portrait. Less known are the portraits he made of socialites, art dealers,collectors, politicians, fashion designers and a variety of contemporarycult figures, mostly commissioned work that helped finance Warhol's manyother artistic activities.Never before has there been a book thatprovides a comprehensive overview of all of Warhol's famous faces. ANDY WARHOL PORTRAITS by Tony Shafrazi, is the first book to provide acomplete overview of Warhol's many celebrity portraits, from the famous tothe infamous.It features over 300 glamorous portraits including manyworks largely unknown even by avid fans.ANDY WARHOL PORTRAITS grew out of an exhibition that was organized by theTony Shafrazi Gallery, New York in 2005.Shafrazi paid homage to a seminaldisplay of Warhol's portraits that took place at the Whitney Museum ofAmerican Art in 1979-80.The Whitney exhibition presented for the firsttime a large array of the commissioned portraits that the artist began inthe early 1970s as a way to offset the cost of multiplying activities atthe Factory.Shafrazi's exhibition included many portraits from theoriginal Whitney exhibition as well as others.ANDY WARHOL PORTRAITS takesShafrazi's exhibition even further, nearly doubling the number of worksshown.On the 20th anniversary of Warhol's death in 1987, there has never been abetter time to reflect on Warhol's life and influence on pop culture today. According to a recent interview with Charlotte Abbot from PublishersWeekly, "It's a good moment for Andy Warhol.Culturally, he is still ontop."Art historians and critics have long neglected this body of Warhol's work,preferring to discuss and study the more iconic Marilyns or Campbell SoupCans of the 1960's.ANDY WARHOL PORTRAITS includes, in addition to famousportraits of Marlon Brando, Liz Taylor and Dennis Hopper, lesser-knownimages of actors Bill Murray and Meryl Streep, fellow artists Donald Juddand Cy Twombly and royal family members such as Princess Diana and PrincessCaroline.It also features a number of musicians, including Prince andDolly Parton, and fashion icons including Diane von Furstenberg and GiorgioArmani. The book begins with an introduction by Tony Shafrazi, and features essaysby established art historians/critics Carter Ratcliff and Robert Rosenblum,who lend insight into one of the least fully known but neverthelessprolific aspects of Warhol's endlessly fascinating career.The book makesthe perfect gift for any pop culture fan.

Customer Reviews:

Face-to-Face Comparisons Reveal Warhol's Perspectives.......2007-05-08

When most people think of Andy Warhol, images of Campbell's soup cans and a vividly colored Chairman Mao come to mind. For those who know Warhol better, memories also include Marilyn Monroe, Jackie Kennedy, most wanted posters, and self-portraits of the artist.

What few appreciate is that portraiture was the bread-and-butter that Warhol used to finance his experimental work at the Factory. Before this book, you could not see the full range of this work. Unframed and grouped with similar and complementary works in the same time period, these 300 portraits show a considerable range of style and expression that will be a new perspective for all but collectors of Warhol portraits. I found the work to be so impressive that it totally changed my sense of who Warhol was as an artist.

In this book, the portraits do the talking. The brief essays merely describe the processes that Warhol used and that he tried to make people look good . . . and larger than life. But you knew that already, didn't you?

The range of the ways he captured the spirit of his subjects is what's most impressive in this volume. Repetition of the same image in one work with different treatments could help us see many different expressions of the person (see Natalie 1962). In other places, many images of the same person in one work express mood, movement, and a story (see Sixteen Jackies 1964). In other cases, multiple images of the same subject give us deep insight into personality (see Ethel Scull 1963). In other cases, the multiple images show the reality as well as the personality (see Merce Cunningham 1963 and Triple Rauschenberg 1963).

Exploring different use of colors and backgrounds, Warhol could totally change our emotions as viewers (Silver Liz 1963 gives us a sense of coolness and elegance while Liz 1963 shows a woman of great emotion and passion).

In Warhol's process, subjects were photographed around 100 times using a Polaroid camera. The subject then picked the images (or image) that she or he liked best. The images were turned into silk screens. Then, Warhol added the background and color to capture what the mere shape could not. The degree of focus also creates more or less power and immediacy (compare Donald Judd 1967 and Robert Rauschenberg 1967).

The portraits also create dialogues, such as when married couples had their portraits done around the same time. In the book, these images are often on facing pages. You'll be arrested to see Nelson Rockefeller 1967 and Happy Rockefeller 1968 looking off into the same spot in space . . . but not each other. The color overlap is minimal, emphasizing their differences.

These images are even more arresting when the pair are portrayed looking away from one another as with Gianni Agnelli 1972 and Marella Agnelli 1972.
In places, painterly backgrounds add remarkable depth and power to the images as with the Agnellis.

In places, the painterly treatment is sufficient to remind one of the work of Degas such as Lee Radziwell, 1972.

Portrait creators have always arranged sitters carefully to emphasize a certain point. Warhol does this in a very minimal way, often adding more than part of a hand touching the face or a bit of clothing. Because of its slight use, the impact is much stronger.

How do the subjects fare? Those with strong personalities do best. Those with complex personalities are rendered beautifully, but aren't as accessible. Subjects who want to look physically attractive often appear merely decorative, like a background model at a party.

Warhol's talent can best be seen by comparing the various ways he renders eyes. Male and female subjects alike receive slashes of color that sometimes resemble eye shadow and other times seem like tiny masks.

There isn't much that's soulful about these works. They are more about promotion than about moral uplift. It's all the more surprising when that soulfulness appears as in Farah Dibah Pahlavai (Empress of Iran) 1977.

Seeing Judy Garland 1979 and Liza Minelli 1979 made me wish that Warhol had done more mother-daughter combinations. These two stunners crawl right inside you.

Part of Warhol's art comes in knowing something about the person. Where the subject is unknown, you'll find yourself a little more baffled about what the message is. Think of each of the celebrity portraits then as being in part a reflection of the public image and our current perceptions. Warhol uses this celebrity awareness to good purpose in creating very minimal works that express the dominant impression of a person (see Martha Graham 1980).

As his career continued, the works became more daring. I was particularly drawn to the line drawings with bold bands of color such as in Paul Delvaux 1981 and Jean Cocteau 1985.

Some of these portraits will cause you to stop and rethink what you know about the people. I had that reaction to the pairing of Prince Charles 1982 (coolly displayed as a young symbol of the monarchy) with the almost flirtatious Princess Diana 1982 (appearing as a powerful force with an earthy grounding).

The portrait of John Lennon is simply stunning (1985-86).

For a good sense of Warhol's progress, you'll enjoy seeing many of his self-portraits.

Enjoy a good look!

A less familiar Warhol.......2007-04-28

This book enables the reader to discover some rarely seen paintings by Warhol, representing many personalities from the sixties, seventies and eighties, from O.J. Simpson to Pelé, from the Queen of England to the Shah of Iran, artists, art dealers, art collectors, musicians (John Lennon...), actors, fashion designers and friends of the artist's. Even though it was this kind of work that drew the harshest criticism (Robert Hughes, critic for Time Magazine, dubbed Warhol the new Van Dongen, meaning by that that he only painted superficial portraits of the rich and famous of his time), they still show the scope and depth of Warhol's creative power. The book is lavishly illustrated and the text was written by leading Warhol authorities (dealer or critic). A very complete checklist of all the portraits illustrated is given at the end of the book. A valuable addition to the albeit extensive Warhol literature.

An influence that continues down to the present.......2007-04-10

Andy Warhol is one of the best known American artists of the 1960s and renowned for his uncoventional life and art as well as is enduring influence on American pop culture. An influence that continues down to the present time several decades after his death. Famous for his iconic images of Marilyn Monroe and Campbell Soup Cans, he also made art out of the facial images of political, social, entertainment, sports, and music celebrities of his day. This particular body of his work has been compiled and edited by Tony Shafrazi, who enhances this 320-page coffee table art book with 350 color illustrations and informative essays by art critic Carter Ratcliff and art historian Robert Rosenblum. The men and women whose images were made immortal by Warhol range from Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Giorgio Armani, Truman Capote, Jimmy Carter, Joan Collins, Clint Eastwood, Herman Hesse, Alfred Hitcock, Jackie Kennedy Onassis, Lenin, Robert Mapplethorpe, Liza Minnelli, Princess Diana, Yves Saint Laurent, O.J. Simpson, Elizabeth Taylor, Tennessee Williams, Natalie Wood, Mao Zedong, and hundreds of others. An important contribution to academic library 20th Century American Art History reference collections, "Andy Warhol Portraits" is a 'must' for the personal collections of Warhol's legions of admirers.

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

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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.

Average customer rating:

Just beautiful
100 Naked Girls
New Nude
Great Photographer
Too small

100 Naked Girls

Manufacturer: Amphoto Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0817452974
Release Date: 2006-01-01

Book Description

•Exciting work from an important artist

•Beautiful, inspiring nudes

Petter Hegre is hailed as the master of the New Nude, a unique and instantly recognizable style based firmly in reality: real people in authentic situations. In his sixth book, this dynamic photographer has banished the counterfeit glamour of the old century, replacing it with an intimitable and graphic romanticism. Intimate and insightful, dramatic and fun, 100 Naked Girls offers truth in advertising—the name says it all—and in art.

Customer Reviews:

Just beautiful.......2007-01-07

Hegre has an eye for a certain kind of beauty in women. Not all women's lives create it, it may be prettiness rather than beauty, and it lasts for only a short part of a life. Still, it's there, and Hegre has captured 100 different kinds of it.

Marketa, the cover model, sets the pattern: they're all young, slender, and very lovely. A few, like Tatiane and Lucy, don't match the European mold - very few, and I would have liked more of the variety they represent. Some, like Luba are very 'posed.' Others, like Olga and Lena or Sveta and Inga, show models in close groups, hinting at physcial affection between them. Natural looks predominate but some - like Lza - offer surprises. The majority, typified by Olga, Andrea, and Dina, convey the fun the woman seems to have in simply being herself.

This book is almost too much, though. The models are sweet, but I wouldn't want to eat only desserts all the time either. There are lots of other ways for a woman to look good - but Hegre has ignored them in favor of just this very conventional one. Well, it's an easy one to enjoy.

This is a lovely collection of very pretty young women. It's not overtly erotic, except maybe once or twice. Instead, it simply celebrates the charm and elegance that's native to these lovely models.

//wiredweird

100 Naked Girls.......2006-11-10

I got the book for my boyfriend and he honestly hasn't even looked at it, just flipped through. I looked at it though and just thought it was cheesy. The girls all look the same and they just aren't very sexy. I was disappointed. Poo

New Nude .......2006-07-21

Do girls enjoy seeing beautiful naked girls? You bet we do, and few photographers as far as I can see find more beautiful girls or photograph them more beautifully. This is not a book to race through but a book to savour, honest, natural, totally real, Petter Hegre has taken the new nude to new limits of human endeavour. I can't wait to see the next one. Milly Belladulce

Great Photographer.......2006-05-20

This is the difference between porn and art. This is Art photography; a tastefull display of beauty, in its purest form.

Too small.......2006-04-04

To my eye, the models are wonderful, charming. The compositions are good to great. The phototechnical quality is excellent throughout the book. But the physical size of the page is simply too small! What is worse, many pages feature several photos at once, or a single photo accompanied by text. In other words, many (nice) photos occupy much less than one page.

I ended up selling this book. Not enough detail in the small images to suit me.

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
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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.

100 Butterflies and Moths: Portraits from the Tropical Forests of Costa Rica

Average customer rating:

100 Butterflies and Moths: Portraits from the Tropical Forests of Costa Rica
Costa Rican Leps

100 Butterflies and Moths: Portraits from the Tropical Forests of Costa Rica
Jeffrey C. Miller , Daniel H. Janzen , and Winifred Hallwachs
Manufacturer: Belknap Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Nature & Wildlife | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Taxonomic Classification | Biological Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books

Reference | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Outdoors & Nature Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Science Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
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ASIN: 067402334X

Book Description

Walking a forest trail in Costa Rica, a visitor might be struck by the sight of an iridescent blue morpho butterfly fluttering ahead in the filtered daylight, or an enormous silk moth, as magnificently patterned and subtly colored as a Persian carpet, only emerging to fly at night. Elsewhere, vivid yellow and orange sulphur butterflies flock to puddles to sip the concentrated minerals. Such is the dazzling variety of the butterflies and moths unique to this region.

Gathered by biologists Daniel Janzen and Winifred Hallwachs in the forests of northwestern Costa Rica, 100 tropical butterflies and moths represent the diversity in large-format photographs by Jeffrey Miller that document the dizzying variety of shapes, colors, and markings. The photographs are accompanied by species accounts and images of the corresponding caterpillar. The authors recount these insects' feats of mimicry and migration, lift the veil on their courtship, and show how the new technology of DNA barcoding is changing the picture of Lepidopteran biodiversity.

The authors also tell the success story of Area de Conservacion Guanacaste, where the long-term work of Janzen and Hallwachs, a team of caterpillar collectors, and the participation of neighboring farming communities has deepened understanding of Costa Rica's Lepidoptera and has brought about advances in restoration ecology of tropical habitats, biodiversity prospecting, biotechnology, and ecotourism development.

Customer Reviews:

100 Butterflies and Moths: Portraits from the Tropical Forests of Costa Rica.......2007-09-07

Excellent! details in text and photographs. Highly recommended for biologists and folks interested in wild life.

Costa Rican Leps.......2007-05-24

This ia an excellant book that combines coffe-table quality photographs of the butterflies and moths with an excellent text describing interesting aspects of their biology.

Wide Open: Inspiration & Techniques for Art Journaling on the Edge (Book & Card Kit)

Average customer rating:

Very Cool Concept
Wow!
So Much Fun
This is a Gem
Great things come in little boxed sets...

Wide Open: Inspiration & Techniques for Art Journaling on the Edge (Book & Card Kit)
Randi Feuerhelm-Watts
Manufacturer: North Light Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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

General | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

Scrapbooking | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 1581809115

Book Description

Each card in this inspiring deck offers an idea to stretch your approach to observing and chronicling the daily events around you. You'll learn how to harness the power of words (what to write about, and what to write with), explore extreme photography techniques without having any previous photography experience, focus on the little things (like a two-inch section of a painted mural you drive by every day), and discover unusual ways to create a self-portrait (from plastic wrap and tree lights, to close-ups of your hands). Includes 50 cards and a creativity notebook to record your own art-journal explorations.

Customer Reviews:

Very Cool Concept.......2007-09-26

I love these creativity cards! The graphics on one side are unique, interesting, colorful, and eye catching. The prompts on the flipside are thought-provoking, meaningful, and different. The small journal is a great creative jumpstart in itself. I love the colors and techniques that were used to produce the backgrounds. Think I'll even attempt to create some of those myself. The box housing the creativity cards and journal is sturdy and pleasant to look at.

This is a fresh concept, and I am enjoying this package very much.

By the way, this is in no way a "how to" of any type. It is intended to make you think about doing old things in a fresh way or to help you attempt something new altogether.

Highly recommended.

Wow!.......2007-08-05

these cards are amazing. each one is a little piece of art in itself. you'll want to frame and hang them. except then you wouldn't be able to turn them over and get a shot in the arm of inspiration... yummy. i'm too afraid to work in the little workbook as yet, tho. i don't wanna mess it up. :)

if you're looking for cutesy, pretty art, tho, look somewhere else. this is real, gritty from-the-soul art. the kind that hits you "right there". and hopefully will help you make your own journal pages that do the same.

several of them are geared towards photography but lots of it is the kind that can be done with even an el cheapo camera. the author will also have you using tape, glue, spraypaint, and maybe a few things you never thought of as art supplies before. this is the kind of journaling that begs you to jump in and get messy.

if you do any kind of visual journaling, i highly recommend these cards and workbook.

So Much Fun.......2007-08-05

I got this after much thought. I figured it was just another "how to do a journal book". But, I found it to be much fun to do the exersizes and if you are an artist with a block, this will help to unblock you. It can give you ideas you never really thought of before on approaching your art work. Plus, as I said, it is a lot of fun to do the exersizes suggested on the individual cards. The kit also includes a fun little notebook/journal book to do as you please with. If you teach art, these are also fun ideas to inspire your students. I plan on doing that with my students this Fall.

This is a Gem.......2007-07-26

First of all, this will make a perfect gift for anyone crafty or involved in journaling, scrapbooking, altered books, ATCs, etc. It's a very affordable gift that keeps on giving.

The author opens your eyes to new ways to be creative in a way anyone, whether an "artist" or not, can use everyday observations to create real, unique, personal, fun, journal pages. She'll encourage you to take in all your surroundings and find a common element - she was able to find the common element while sitting in an Italian restaurant and watching war protesters: she, the waiter, the protesters were all waiting, caught up in a moment in time which was the theme she used for one one of her journal pages. She uses paint, photography and any object that she can use to express herself in her work -and makes no apologies. I LOVE this little gem. Just lovely and real. You won't be disappointed.

Great things come in little boxed sets..........2007-07-04

I noticed that there was a 1 star review of "Wide Open...". No offense, reviewer, but clearly you don't have a clue. Yes, the cards in the set are sort of vague -- if you are looking for step-by-step instructions for making something, don't waste your money on this. And, yes, you do need to own... and have some very basic knowledge of... art supplies (again, no offense, but if you've been within spitting distance of an art supply or craft store, then you'll know what gesso is).

[Ok, stepping off my soap box and done with the snarky comments.] Randi Feuerhelm-Watts is such an inspiration! I love her style and the ideas for inspiration that she presents on the cards go way beyond some of the tired, old suggestions that seem to always crop up in art/craft publications.

I read all the cards in one sitting (because I'm obsessive like that!) and I did notice that some of them related to each other. Not that they are dependent on each other or that you would be lost if you pick them at random... but I did observe some links between the individual ideas. I think this is great for continuing themes in your art work. Also, while she references photography quite a bit (she is a photographer after all), I definitely do not feel that any of the ideas are pigeonholed by the techniques. The author's basic ideas translate really well no matter what kind of visual artwork you might do.

The cards themselves each feature snippets of the author's artwork on the back. This alone is incredibly inspirational. You almost get double the bang for your buck - pull out one of the cards to interpret the visual side and then come back to it later for inspiration from the narrative side.

My only complaint would be about the Creativity Notebook... I wouldn't really call it a complaint, persay. I guess I'm just ambivalent about it's inclusion in the set. On one hand she has provided some great backgrounds to help you combat "white page syndrome" as well as some random instructions to offer a jump start to someone who is new to visual journaling. But on the other hand, I don't see myself personally using it since I already have half a dozen journals and prefer to make my own backgrounds (once you get on a roll, its half the fun).

The ideas and techniques are presented in Randi's conversational style, along with her great little stories. While I have not had the pleasure of taking a class with her or meeting her, she comes across as the kind of person you'd love to have as an art friend because she'd always be inspiring and challenging. I think that's the greatest thing about this kit... she's managed to package a ton of her personality and a lot of what I imagine she teaches in her workshops into one cool product. This set definitely gets a front row spot on my art-bookshelf.

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