Book Description
A One-Stop Resource for Freelance Photographers
*2,000 completely updated photo markets--with listings for the U.S. and abroad *More than 50 pages of tips and advice to give photographers at every level a boost
Whether they're trying to break into a stock agency or sell their first image to the local newspaper, photographers will find all the keys to success to success right here. This comprehensive guide is packed with information on markets, ranging from magazines, newspapers, and book publishers to advertising agencies, galleries and more! There's also priceless insider information on the photography business from some of the industry's top talents.
Customer Reviews:
Great resource.......2007-09-02
YOu need this book if you are trying to sell your photography work. I can't say enought about it. This book has changed my business.
Photographer and Author
The Way of Leading People: Unlocking Your Integral Leadership Skills with the Tao Te Ching
A must have.......2007-08-11
A must have to start selling your images. Helpfull tips for the digital age.
You suply the camera and images. The rest is in the book.
The photographers friend!.......2007-07-30
This book contains a wealth of information. I am new to Photography. I want to make good money and this book shows you the road. I pre ordered the 2008 edition. If you want to make money in photography, get this book!!
necessary.......2007-04-09
necessary for any serious photographer - provides plenty of ideas of where and what to submit
Provides a list, but it's not enough.......2007-03-14
This book provides a very thorough list of photo buyers and surely photographers can try and contact them by sending portfolios or cold-calling, but in my opinion, you get a lot more exposure on online stock photo agencies like shutterpoint and such. Get the buyers to come to you instead of trying to push your work to them.
The book is a useful resource for serious beginning photographers, but there are more effective ways to start your photo business and get returns on your photos right away.
Average customer rating:
- 5 stars
- Best in field
- motion graphics professor
- Fundamental book on the theory of the moving image
- The Filmmaker's Bible of Aesthetics or What Works and Why
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Sight, Sound, Motion: Applied Media Aesthetics
Herbert Zettl
Manufacturer: Wadsworth Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
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ASIN: 0534526772 |
Book Description
This book describes the major aesthetic image elementslight and color, space, time-motion, and soundand how they are used in television and film. Zettls comprehensive coverage of aesthetic theory and his inclusion of effective visuals and examples place this text in a class by itself.
Customer Reviews:
5 stars.......2005-10-10
The book is totally new and under very good condition, and the dilievery time is much earlier than i expected.
Best in field.......2004-12-28
This text thoroughly explains the intricacies of applied media asthetics in a concise and completely accessible way. It is a well organizied text that ehances its presentation through the use of many illustrations. I believe that this is the best text on the subject and that it has been since its first edtion.
motion graphics professor.......2002-06-04
"Sight, Sound, Motion: Applied Media Aesthetics explains the WHY of film and video production. If you're looking for HOW then turn to another book."
I would disagree with the above review. Only by learning WHY first, can we learn HOW later. This book is more than a cookie cutter approach to film and video. If you want to "click and drag" your way through an editing program, then true, this book is not for you. Add this to your collection if you want a book that teaches how to see and create film. Sight, Sound, Motion: Applied Media Aesthetics has staying power.
Fundamental book on the theory of the moving image.......2001-05-20
This was the assigned textbook for my digital video 2 class, and it is simply wonderful. Zettl is a very knowledgable man on the subject of creating images for film, video, and even new media. (Zettl's text Video Basics 3 was used in my digital video 1 class as well) This book lays a solid foundation for the theory behind how and why the viewer perceives the moving image, and how the filmmaker and video producer can create more pleasing and coherent productions.
While the biggest complaint I've heard about this book is it's over-reliance on theory, it still does a good job of contextualizing theory into practical application. Thus the title of the book: APPLIED Media Aesthetics. Although I haven't read any of Eisentien's theories behind filmmaking, I suspect that Zettl's treatment would compete rather well, and is probably more accessible for a modern reader.
This book covers all the bases from color and light, time and space and structuring audio to image. Zettl succintcly deconstructs the intelligent mind behind the images and sound of our cultures film and television productions.
Sight, Sound, Motion: Applied Media Aesthetics explains the WHY of film and video production. If you're looking for HOW then turn to another book.
The Filmmaker's Bible of Aesthetics or What Works and Why.......2000-11-04
This is probably the most important textbook a film production student can have on his/her shelf. NOT for how to work with actors or how to light a scene, but for understanding the underlying reasons of why things work due to our learned aesthetics and Western sensibilities.
Professor Herbert Zettl has written the most concise manual on why we has film viewers percieve things the way we do. He explains in detail (and layman's terms) how our aesthetics have been formed to interpret the dynamic medium of film and television.
How editing of action from shot to shot creates the illusion of continuous motion. How stagelines work so not to give the effect that your actor is jumping around from one side of the scene to the other. How to crop your shot BETWEEN the bodies natural cut-off points (i.e. neck, elbow, waist) to prevent the actor from looking like a disembodied head or torso.
This book is cover-to-cover insights into what we as viewers take for granted when we watch a good filmmaker's work, but may not consider when faced with the daunting task of mounting a film production and the on-set "reality" problems that dominate the filmmaker's mind when shooting a film.
I first read this book when I was in film school twenty years ago. Since then I have directed many professional film productions and I still review it before starting a new one to refresh myself.
Just as Syd Field's book "Screenplay" is the bible for screenwriting, "Sight Sound Motion" is the bible on understanding what works in film/video and why.
Book Description
Successfully design and implement lighting setups with LIGHTING FOR FILM AND DIGITAL CINEMATOGRAPHY with InfoTrac®! Coverage includes lighting, color control, texture, exposure technique, and elements that create image, 'look,' and mood. With a balance of the aesthetic and technical aspects of lighting, this communication text helps you apply what you have learned with over 150 photographs, diagrams, and images from real films.
Customer Reviews:
THE BEST BOOK FOR CINEMATOGRAPHERS.......2007-09-10
This book is a definitely must have for anyone interested in cinematography. This book goes thru all the different aspects and things that a cinematographer must know to create beautiful images. It does go into detail about video as well. But the thing is, and it does state this in the book, if you use film techniques for video, you'll come out with much better images than those that you see on those bland tv sitcoms and such. If you know the film techniques you can't do anything but improve the quality of your video. And the lighting exercises in the back are good ways to practice what the books teaches...all books on lighting should come with exercises. The only true way to learn lighting is to engage in it. This is a great book but the price is a bit outlandish.
Excellent but pricey.......2005-11-21
I'm very new to lighting for any film stock. My goal is to become more aware of how to light for film, mainly digitial stock. This books does provide extremely detailed information on lighting, such as footcandles, gamma, lighting terms and much more, but mainly in one chapter. It did provide detail about digital film lighting and standard photography lighting. I wish it gave more insight about "moods" but I learned a great deal. Downside, it's expensive for the material you get.
Not for Novices.......2004-11-06
This book dishes out a lot of information in the small space between it's paperback covers. I read it looking for film lighting basics, and had a tough time grasping some of the more technical language involving exposure, T-stops, etc, even though I have a decent background in photography. The book does a poor job of addressing and explaining these key concepts. I gleaned a decent amount of information from the pictures and diagrams, but they were poorly aligned with the text, requiring lots of flipping back and forth. All in all, I would reccommend this book only to people with a fair amount of knowledge of the physics behind photography and/or film.
Must Have.......2000-03-29
Anyone interested in Ciinematography sholud have this book. It is full of practical examples, and the apendix is a very useful reference. Lots of information you will not find elsewhere
no better introduction to the craft.......1999-01-28
I have had this wonderful book since its first imprint. It demystifies the art of cinematography and lays a good foundation for the reader to understand both the craft and practice of cinematography. Those who have struggled to read American Cinematographer will have no problems after reading this excellent book. Highly recommended. But why the price increase? I paid only $30 in 1992.
Book Description
This book delivers candid, specific inside information about how to get
started in the competitive field of modeling, whether you're male or female or the
parent of a potential child model. The advice comes from those in the know, including successful models and modeling agents, casting directors, magazine editors, makeup artists, photographers, and health professionals. These experts debunk myths about the profession and shed light on common scams that plague the industry. Get the scoop on everything from being discovered to maintaining a
long-lasting career. Go behind the scenes on a New York City fashion shoot to find out what it's really like. Whether you dream of becoming the next supermodel, or just hope to supplement your income with exciting modeling work, this is the book for you.
Beauty is just one trait of a successful model, find out the other 12 traits, along with important information on the business of modeling, from getting an agent, developing your portfolio, make-up advice, and more. A range of model specialties are covered in detail, including: babies and children, teens, men's division, women's division, runway, commercial, mature and classic, plus sizes, swimsuit, body and fitness, and more. Co-author Eric Bean is a successful fashion photographer in New York City, and has worked with top models and agents for over two decades. Jen Bidner is the author of over a dozen books in related fields.
Customer Reviews:
cool.......2006-08-28
this book is useful to those starting out in modeling. if you already have a contract i wouldnt reccomend it so much, but it has useful tips throughout, and anecdotes from real life models
Incredible Book!.......2005-08-20
A must have for anyone who is wanting to become a model. This book offers insight information that is both vital and informative. The authors, Eric Bean and Jenni Bidner illustrate this book with fantastic photographs and beautifully written compositions of what should be expected by models and what is expected of them. I absolutely love this book and recommend that anyone who is even faintly interested in the subject manner should read this book. It is truely a fascinating read.
All the basics of what it takes to become a model.......2005-06-09
It's fitting that art and crafts book publisher Lark Books should then move to a book on photographic modeling, Complete Guide For Models: Inside Advice From Industry Pros: it's a logical transition and offers the power of an art book publisher paired with the expertise of a fashion photographer and fashion editor. Models will learn all the basics of what it takes to become a model for the artist; from posing for commercial print ads to special opportunities for men, women and child models. Complete Guide For Models could have easily been featured in our 'Business and Careers' section, but is profiled here so artists and art library holdings will catch sight of it: it's an important, recommended instructional guide for the reference collections of artschool, artists and sculptors.
I Loved the interview with Supermodel, Carmen Dell'Orefice........2005-06-03
It was really informative hearing from a model who has modeled for 50+ years. I recently saw Carmen Dell'Orefice in a runway show in NYC, and she looks great. Great interview, great photos.
I learned alot from this book.......2005-05-22
I live in a small town in California, and i want to be a model. I always dreamed of going to NYC and being a runway model. I asked a few of the agencies in nearby towns, but they didnt know much about NYC. I got this book, and it answered alot of questions i had about modeling. The modeling schools near me charged alot of money, to take classes, but i learned just as much from this book. I can't wait to go to NYC now.
Book Description
A New York Times bestseller, Absolut Book is the behind-the-scenes account of the birth and growth of this award-winning campaign and provides a definitive illustrated history of one of the most successful ad campaigns ever. It is a collector's delight with nearly five hundred ads.
Customer Reviews:
Best coffee table book!.......2007-08-27
I love Absolut ad's and have always wanted to get one. They are expensive new , so I got an used copy from an amazon seller. It came quickly and I flipped through the book for about 20 min when it arrived 2 days later. I love all the ads and they are all so clever. I might not get some of the modern art ones, but I love the city ones in particular. Anyway, I got this book for my new house and new coffee table book, I think it is one of the best hardcover coffee table book (marketing story book) ever.
As advertised - a great buy.......2007-01-11
If you like the Absolut ads, this is a good book for you. It's what you'd expect - big pictures of the Absolut ads with explanations from the ad agency guys who made it happen. A fun coffeetable book.
shaken not stirred.......2006-09-03
Compulsory addition to the coffee table library. An excellent example of a clever, consistent, cutting edge branding campaign helping to position a generic product at the top of consumer mind. Absolut genius.
Absolut Book: The Absolut Vodka Advertising Story.......2005-03-19
Absolut is one of the best selling vodkas in the world and the advertsing for it is second to none. In this fabulous book were are told the inside story behind the marketing and selling of this tasty treat. The paper is first grade and the pictures are outstanding to say the least. Absolut original with a bottle looking like a Roman ruin is probably my favorite one but there are so many nice advertising ideas that have become stupendous posters. Absolute Enivironment is also a nice one. This is a good coffee table book and a nice gift for the person that likes vodka and to read.
WOW!!.......2003-06-19
This is a wonderful, informative, and beautiful book.
This book is about the Absolut Vodka advertising campaign. How it began, and what it is about. There are many beautiful, and breath taking images which makes you see the entire light of the campaign which looks so simple from the outside. Now, you get the inside looks and it isn't simple at all but an amazing experience.
WOW!!
Book Description
Herbert Zettl has drawn on his expertise and field experience to bring you the new edition of Video Basics, which continues to be the most authoritative, current, and technically accurate student guide to video production. Meeting the instructor's needs for a briefer book, this text distills video basics so they can be covered in a single semester. The book moves students from video concepts and processes to production tools and techniques, and finally, to the production environment (studio or field, inside or outside) and its effects. A more conceptual framework leads the student from the idea (what to create) to the image (how to create) on video.
Customer Reviews:
A Great Start.......2006-03-02
This book is a must for anyone getting into video production. Full of basic information that is conveyed in an intuitive and concise way, plus there is plenty of advanced knowledge to keep you referring back for years to come. Definitely a staple for all video people.
Very Good.......2004-01-24
My boss told me to buy this book, and it is one of the best available book.
great book!!.......2002-08-09
i am an electronic media communications major and this book has been used for a number of years in my school's communications program. video basics 3 has everything you need to know and everything is explained in much detail, yet not too complicated. there are great illustrations throughout the book that are very helpful as well.
i bought this book used from my campus bookstore and i gotta wonder, why would someone return this book at the end of the semester? i still have mine and have re-read it through quite a few times, most definately something worth holding on to!
Superlative.......2002-04-24
This book gives a broad overview of the field of video. It is intended as a textbook for students in a university video course, however, the information that it contains will be valuable for anyone interested in improving their video skills, especially in professional contexts. Since the book is a textbook, each chapter begins with a list of key terms and definitions, and key concepts are highlighted in the text and repeated at the end of the chapter. Each chapter also contains instructions for a lesson in Zettl's Video Lab on CD (not included). The book covers many topics related to professional video production, including the video production process, the video team, video cameras, lighting, sound, editing, and the studio. I found the language to be very straightforward and highly informative.
Bad Copies.......2002-01-30
My copy of the book did not have chapters 3 and 4. I had a chapters 1 and 2 repeated. Check your copy of the book.
Book Description
Video Production: Disciplines and Techniques introduces students to the operations underlying multiple-camera video production. This textbook deals with a range of issues from how crew members interact with equipment to the manner in which crews interact with each other. More than just telling students "what to do," this textbook shows how to do a job and why.
Customer Reviews:
Good Video Production Textbook.......2006-11-05
I continue to look for a book that conveys the myriad practical details needed to put together a successful video program. I'll have to admit this is one of the best textbooks I've seen on the subject; but I continue to search for a more practical guide to the art/science of live video production.
Very Good.......2002-05-03
This is one of the best books that I've every used. I had it for 5 years and I use it all the time. it's great for beginnners, and professionals. I own my own video productions company.
I'd recomend it to anyone and everyone!
Book Description
The rapid evolution of digital photography and the ease of distribution over the Internet has transformed the photo industry. Everything from marketing and sales to competitive pricing and job security has been affected. And now that the flood gates have come down, everyone from semi-pros to amateurs to the common consumer affects how business is done, whether it's pricing, assignments, or just getting your photos seen by potential buyers. In a market once dominated by agencies and seasoned professionals, succeeding in today's industry demands a fresh new approach. For those who are just starting out or those who are established photographers trying to compete more effectively in a changing market, Dan Heller's book Profitable Photography in the Digital Age provides a new and progressive approach to understanding and succeeding in the photography business in today's market. It will help established photographers find new strategies for diversifying revenue streams and adding nontraditional sources of income. For serious amateurs, this book explores realistic perspectives on what to expect and how to gauge their aptitudes for making it in this highly competitive arena. Profitable Photography in the Digital Age shows how photography is more accessible than ever to the average person, even though making money with photography can be more challenging. It also offers new ways of teaching (and learning) the basics of the photo industry apart from just making an impressive portfolio or reaching the right art director. It outlines some of the available paths to success, examines the methods available and provides the analysis on which methods achieve the desired results. While there is heavy competition, many new opportunities have opened up and more buyers are entering the field. "The digital era isn't just about making great websites or being great at photoshop," says Heller. "One must be able to work within that and many other mediums to broaden one's reach and market segments. What's more," he says, "the buyer's perception of images and the culture of the business has also taken an abrupt turn that isn't as accommodating to the traditional models as it once was." By following Heller's strategies and integrating the concepts presented in Profitable Photography in the Digital Age, anyone who wants to have a career in the photo industry will have the tools he or she needs to succeed.
Customer Reviews:
A good dose of reality.......2007-08-12
The best book on the Photography business to date. It may be hard for some to swallow, but sometimes when you are forced to look in the mirror and evaluate the decisions you have made in your life and career, it's easy to criticize the one forcing you to do so. Dan has written a book that should be a classic for anyone even thinking about making money from photography at any level, be it just an amateur wanting to make a few bucks to support his equipment habit, or the serious photography looking to make a true career in the business. A must read for the new and the seasoned.
Profitable Photography is tough to get through.......2007-07-18
While this book was intended to be directed to photographers, I feel it is firstly just another sales book. The jargon and hairsplitting discussion on career direction and the importance of branding your product had a few nuggets of helpful information, nonetheless finding a way to apply it to my needs was a stretch.
yet another chatty "how to" book.......2007-03-18
I was all excited after reading about him on-line and I had the impression this would truly be an insightful book. Well, he talks a lot, most of it common sense. I'm pretty disappointed by it.
Just the Facts........2007-01-12
It's what you need to know. The good, the bad, and the ugly truths about the photography business. If you only want to buy one book on this topic, this is it.
Very well written book.......2007-01-12
I thoughly enjoyed reading this book. It has very up to date info about the internet. I also thought he covered many topics like business types, stock agencies, and webpages better than other books I have read. Highly recommend this book to anyone wanting to go into stock photography business. This book mainly deals with stock photography business, not other types of businesses.
Download Description
Here is a virtual treasury of advice, insight, and guidance for every freelance photographer! From creating a portfolio and promoting your work to winning the first client and running a healthy, profitable business, this book provides crucial marketing, business, and legal know-how for every step of the process.
Customer Reviews:
Informative. .......2007-09-19
I am not a freeelance photographer, but wanted to learn what it takes to be one. I will definately keep my day job!
Starting Out.......2005-08-19
When I first encountered this book and glanced through its index, after noting that it had been published by the American Society of Media Photographers and Allworth Press, I expected it to be a version of "ASMP Professional Business Practices in Photography"...light. The latter book was designed to help professional photographers with the business aspects of their careers (but I found it omitted reference to many important business questions). I was wrong.
This book purports to be aimed at people who are interested in becoming professional freelance photographers and it starts out simply in the first part with a broad overview, including comparisons of the advantages of attending a photography school and apprenticing to a professional photographer and selecting equipment. It was simple stuff to be sure but I'm told many people entering the career need this type of information.
But when Part II came, there was more meat. It was a first for me to encounter a photography business book that actually talked about where the new professional was going to get his startup cash: family, friends, a working wife, or even (highly unlikely) a bank loan. The short chapter on location and leases even referred to things like zoning and subletting. There was even a section that talked about the collection of sales taxes and resale certificates for tax exemption. The chapter on insurance covered a topic you never hear even experienced photographers talk about although you know they all need it.
Part IV on negotiating contracts and prices even had a pricing model that looked at the costs of creating photographs and suggested that if the photographer could not set his prices high enough to cover his costs (including his own draw) he should not enter the business.
Part V called "Photography and the Law" discussed copyright, privacy and hiring an attorney. It even had a section on income taxes with suggestions on how to keep the books, which combined with an earlier reference to the software Quicken, talked about an issue that the new photographer usually doesn't even think about facing.
You may have noted that I haven't discussed Part III on marketing, which I found the weakest part of the book. It was disjointed and not comprehensive, although most photographers would probably benefit from reading the short but well written chapter called "The Web Site as Marketing Tool." If you want to understand what's involved in marketing I would suggest Scott Bourne's little book "88 Secrets to Selling & Publishing Your Photography."
This is not to suggest that this is the only business text a freelance photographer will ever need. Far from it. With the exception of the chapters on copyright and privacy and releases (which I think covered the fields very well) every one of the issues raised by the book will require more extensive study. But the book will highlight areas of the business of photography of which the beginning freelancer would never think until a major problem exploded in his face. Presumably, that's a good enough reason for him or her to read the book.
Lots of good information but a very dry book........2005-04-21
This book contains a lot of infomation on how to get started on photography from a business perspective- However a lot of the chapters are taken from other books. Also it is very dry reading- kinda like reading a text book, its stuff you should know but you probably take a few naps before you actually finish the book.
A basic guide to beginning a freelance photography career.......2003-12-08
Talented with a camera? Check out Starting Your Career As A Freelance Photographer, a basic guide to beginning a freelance photography career, which covers everything from skills needed to equipment, locating clients, and building portfolios of successful projects. The meat of Starting Your Career As A Freelance Photographer lies in its photography-specific business savvy, from negotiating contacts and pricing to studio management.
Average customer rating:
- Additional interesting information...
- The banality of sex work.
- Exploration of the sex industry.
- top-notch journalism ý the opposite of exploitation
|
Red Light: Inside the Sex Industry
James Ridgeway
Manufacturer: powerHouse Books
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Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 1576870006 |
Amazon.com
Sylvia Plachy, a photographer for the Village Voice, and James Ridgeway, a reporter for the same publication, have delved into the depths of the pornography trade to explore and explain both its allure and its vulgarity. There is a sense of shock value in exposing the most lurid of fantasies--a man who has his dominatrix mummify him in concrete--that is tempered with theories as to how such an industry could have evolved. We also get to meet for ourselves those in the trade, providing a walk on the wild side within the safe confines of photographs and words.
Book Description
Featuring over 120 gritty black-and-white photographs, Red Light: Inside the Sex Industry is a provocative tour of New York City's sexual underground, told in the authentic voices of those who live and work in it.
Customer Reviews:
Additional interesting information..........2003-08-19
Apparently the book may have hit a little too close to home for some. One of the book's researchers (a dancer in the sex industry) disappeared not too long after the release of the book. It is still unknown if the disappearance was a result of her work on this book or some of her other reasearch in writing about Vampyre Cults. If you ever catch the documentary "Stripped", you can find more of the details there - but it seems fairly certain that foul play was involved. Anyway, just a little interesting fact that may make the book more interesting for some.
The banality of sex work........2000-06-11
Published in 1996, "Red Light" is a quick, interesting read that opens a window to the everyday world of New York and New Jersey sex work. Focusing primarily upon different types of prostitution and "exotic" dancing, writer James Ridgeway also touches upon porn films, phone sex, and computer-oriented enterprises. The black and white photos by Sylvia Plachy ably illustrate the world that's being delved into here.
Because "Red Light" was published in '96 the subject of computer oriented work is out of date, but the predictions regarding that arena have turned out to be mostly true. Frustratingly, Ridgeway occasionally makes sweeping or trite generalizations - particularly in the introduction - without presenting information beforehand to bolster his statements. The biggest drawback to this book is that it is geographically focused on New York and New Jersey, which are unique to anywhere else in America. Lastly, while it is often understandable, Ridgeway sometimes uses language that hinders the reader from deciding how he or she feels about a certain situation or person; or he turns the narrative in a negative direction if an interviewee starts to express something positive.
Even so, since I'm interested in human sexuality, our society's dichotomous, hypocritical and confused views on sex, and because I believe in freedom of choice, I thought "Red Light" would provide uncensored insight into the sex worker's life. It did that, though not to the extent I'd hoped. Mr. Ridgeway mainly focuses on the squalid side of the business (e.g. street prostitution and small time go-go dancing), and limiting this exposé to New York and New Jersey says more about the culture of sex work in those areas than it says about sex work everywhere else. However, even within that limited area the authors had their work cut out for them, which they presented in a bold and visceral style that gripped my attention.
"Red Light" will undoubtedly get people to re-evaluate their perceptions of the sex industry. The inherent dynamics of sex work - greed, laziness, male lust, fear, danger, fantasy, and denial - ultimately reveal the banality of commercialized sex.
Exploration of the sex industry........1999-07-10
An excellent survey of all types of sex work, from phone sex, massage parlor, brothel and street prostitution to stripping. The author presents a balanced and readable work. I recommend it highly.
top-notch journalism ý the opposite of exploitation.......1998-04-06
Red Light promotes the radical notion that sex workers are people, too. Here "sex worker" carries far beyond the stigmatized streetwalker stereotype. This biz provides the legal livelihood of folks as diverse as the vice cop, the cosmetic surgeon who creates the outlandishly enlarged tools of the trade, the porn star, the publisher, the dominatrix and the vibrator dealer. Their voices, as well as those of the neglected other half of the equation, their customers, humanize the daily commerce of desire. Ridgeway's eloquent and stylish prose probes the relationship of the sex industry to family values, gender inequality, censorship, anti-porn feminism, sexual liberation, puritanism, government repression and the fulfillment of fantasy. But the focus is always on the people: go-go dancers including men who shake it for audiences of both straight gals and gay guys, fetish mistresses, peep show performers and a midwest massage parlor madam, among many others, tell their stories. Their articulate observations about their professions in their own words comprise the most compelling part of the text. Plachy's intimate photographs are likewise non-judgemental, neither romanticizing or demonizing the workers or their patrons. Depictions of on-stage professional personas engaged in enacting male expectations alternate with moments of quiet, backstage reflection and many pictures of nothing more or less than workers at work. Red Light ranges from the oldest profession to lap dancing, cybersex chatrooms, gender bending customers of size XXX lingerie, the trials of male porn film performers, phone sex, zines, the Goth/vampyre scene, S/M dungeons, immigrant brothels, erotic shaving services, the sexual performance art of Annie Sprinkle and Ron Athey, the hustles, the mob, the impact of AIDS and drugs, and back to the age-old fear of the inevitable descent to the street. An intellectually provocative work, no matter what side of the debate you're on, Red Light is a consummately professional journalistic collaboration that illuminates a thriving enterprise that many would prefer remained in the darkness.
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