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- Classic Hollywood Portraiture
- Hollywood Portraits
- Great Creative Ideas
- How to Shoot like the Stars
- you will never get tired of this book
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Hollywood Portraits
Roger Hicks , and
Christopher Nisperos
Manufacturer: Amphoto Books
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Hurrell's Hollywood Portraits
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Hollywood Glamor Portraits
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Movie-Star Portraits of the Forties
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Film-Star Portraits of the Fifties: 163 Glamor Photos
-
Master Lighting Guide for Portrait Photographers
ASIN: 0817440208 |
Product Description
This inspirational book of star photographs provides classic portrait styles and detailed directions on how to set up, light and shoot each photo. Step-by-step instructions reveal the techniques used by top Hollywood photographers for their glittering glamour portraits of the 1920s through the 1950s. Included are sections on equipment, processing, lighting and more.
Customer Reviews:
Classic Hollywood Portraiture.......2007-08-11
This book, by Roger Hicks, was good in its way. Having recently been required to try to reproduce the style of Hurrell/Bull, I did find it useful. The photographs were well reproduced and the descriptive material, particularly as regards history, was good. I did find it a bit confusing with "camera right" and "subject right" being thrown in willy-nilly. You would think that this would be self explanatory. However, combined with the illustrative drawings which looked at the set from different angles I would often get mixed up as to which light went where.
I am just a little thick, perhaps.
Hollywood Portraits .......2007-02-16
This is an excelent book for the budding portrait photographer, dealing with the various lighting solutions used to produce stuning portraits; I certainly found it to be very informative when undertaking my HND portrait assignment.
Great Creative Ideas.......2005-11-21
For many of us, the artistry of Hollywood publicity photographs of the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s were the spark that would ignite our passion for photography.
Who can ever forget classic images of Fred Astaire in top hat and tails, Humphrey Bogart with cigarette in hand, any of hundreds of sultry Lauren Bacall photographs?
"Hollywood Portraits" is an unusual book, in that it not only celebrates these great photographs, but dissects them and then shows the lighting setups that were probably used to create them. The book is intelligently written, technically excellent and will definitely get your creative juices flowing.
Each image not only has a lighting diagram, but is rated for difficulty in recreation. The narrative here is very useful, addressing issues as diverse as why today's health conscious models need to act comfortably around cigarettes if you are to recreate these classic images.
What I like about "Hollywood Portraits":
1) GREAT unusual subject, tackled from a photographer's point of view.
2) Written with the aim of re-creation in mind
3) Something for everybody, from simple one and two light setups to complicated recreations.
4) EVERY image is rated for difficulty in recreation.
5) Very little filler or fluff, only one page on 'lighting basics' (essentially a vocabulary) that doesn't seem out of place at all.
6) If you've been searching for a new photographic project for 2005, this one will get you thinking about Tinseltown recreations within fifty pages.
What I don't like about the book:
Nothing.
This one's definitely a keeper. Read it for fun, then recreate magic from Hollywood's golden years.
How to Shoot like the Stars.......2003-02-09
I was surprised when I recieved this book that it not only had fantastic photographs, but it gave you great detail in how to reproduce the same effect for each photograph. It was rather a nice addition to the fine photography. Stars included are Vivien Leigh, Sophia Loren, James Cagney, Elizabeth Taylor, etc. Photographers included are among the best like C.S. Bull, Lazlo Willinger, George Hurrell, and some anonymous photographers who sadly did not get credit during their time. All in All, this is a nice book printed on high quality paper and bounded in soft cover.
you will never get tired of this book.......2001-09-17
Some else worte that the book is not correct, they had never tried to recreate some of the effects. I have personaly tried recreating some of the lighting and all of the photo's came out great without much make up and no touch ups. Also most all of the photo's I took were worth blowing up to a large photo. The book explains lighting, film types, and how it has changed over time. You can reproduce the hollywood portrait look with very little expense.
Book Description
In 1966, as the largely nonviolent Civil Rights movement swept through America, Huey P. Newton and Bobby Seale founded the legendary Black Panther Party in Oakland, California. Revered by some and vilified by others, the party burst onto the scene with a militant vision for social change and the empowerment of African-Americans. Its methods were so controversial and polarizing that in 1968, FBI head J. Edgar Hoover described the organization as the country's greatest threat to internal security. During the height of the movement, from 1967 to 1973, photographer Stephen Shames had unprecedented access to the organization. He captured not only its public face--street demonstrations, protests and militant armed posturing--but also life behind the scenes, from private Party meetings to Bobby Seale at work on his Oakland mayoral campaign. Shames was prolific and his archive of Panther images is the largest in the world, presenting an uncommonly nuanced portrait of this dynamic social movement. Released on the occasion of the Party's fortieth anniversary, this illuminating publication gathers an astonishing collection of never-before-published images, offering an electrifying visual history. Panther newspapers, posters and other ephemera help convey the ethos of the Panthers and of a transformative period of social upheaval for the whole nation.
Customer Reviews:
The Black Panthers.......2007-03-21
Stephen Shames' The Black Panthers provides some very powerful and insightful documentary images of the Black Panther Party. Shames served as their official photographer- and was actually close to publishing this book decades ago until convicted felon and Vice President Spiro Agnew told his golf buddy (and publishing honcho) that he best not publish any such book.
This book also serves to remind us how our government first denigrates, infiltrates and then obliterates any political movement committed to the direct service of its people and community.
Offering candid and rare glimpses behind the scenes........2007-03-12
While the visual study The Black Panthers could've been profiled in our Arts or Photography sections, it's reviewed here because no serious collection of titles on social issues and 1960s American history should be without it. The foundation of the coverage is black and white photos by Stephen Shames, which have taken nearly forty years to appear in book form. Shames was involved with the Panthers since a student at UC-Berkeley: his photos thus document the party from an insider's viewpoint, not your usual outsider's journalistic documentary approach, offering candid and rare glimpses behind the scenes.
Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch
THE RISE AND FALL OF THE BLACK PANTHERS.......2007-02-17
FEBRUARY IS BLACK HISTORY MONTH
Recently I posted on my blog an article passed on from the Partisan Defense Committee protesting the recent arrest of some former Black Panthers for crimes allegedly committed in the early 1970's. Apparently, when the government gets you in its sights you are there forever, especially if you are black. That article got me to thinking back to the days when we of the white left were head over heels in love with the Black Panthers as the epitome of revolutionary manhood (and it was mainly men) and of revolutionary struggle. Well, as we are all painfully aware, those days are long gone although the goals fought for in those days are still desperately in need of completion. Thus, some thoughts about the ups and downs of the Black Panther experience, the most militant and subjectively revolutionary part of the black liberation movement of the 1960's, and its role in the history of black liberation is in order.
It is extremely improbable that the phenomenal rise of the Black Panthers in California, and later elsewhere, would have occurred had it not been for the tidal wave of the black civil rights struggle in the South in the early 1960' s and the various ghetto uprisings in the mid-1960's. The victories achieved in the civil rights struggle, limited as they were, taught masses of blacks how to organize around their own interests. That those victories were limited became apparent with the hardheaded and hard-learned experience that those problems were only the tip of the iceberg for the black community as the struggle moved North and West. This contradiction played itself internally in the black liberation movement and eventually caused a profound political collision between the liberal integrationist, pacific wing epitomized by Martin Luther King and the separatist, nationalist, self-defense oriented Malcolm X wing , of which the Panthers were the heirs. A shorthand way of putting this is the black liberation variant of the age-old tension between revolutionary and reformist strategies for social change. The Black Panthers throughout their rise and fall never did successfully overcome that tension, to the detriment of militant leftists, black and white.
As any photograph taken of the Panthers from the period would demonstrate the Panthers and particularly the central leadership, Huey Newton, Bobby Seale, Elridge Cleaver among others were not adverse to little provocative demonstrations or shock-value publicity. The FBI, however, early on had other plans for them and they were not pretty. If J. Edgar Hoover saw the placid Martin Luther King-led branch of the civil rights movement as some kind of communist conspiracy then he turned apoplectic at the thought of armed black men asserting their right to bear arms. Since early slavery times that possibility had always been the fear of whites and the response was no different this time. Over a very short period the Hoover-orchestrated federal and state drive against the Panthers left most of the key leaders and cadre dead, in jail, on bail or in hiding, This was not the first time a perceived leftist threat had been deal with this in this way. One can think of the International Workers of the World (Wobblies) in the World War I period, the Communist and Anarchist `red scare' raids and deportations after that war and more recently the anticommunist witch hunts of the 1950's. With this difference, however, in the case of the Panthers there was a concerted effort to kill off every one they could get their hands on.
The repression of the Panthers became so intense that in many ways they became a de facto legal defense organization. That was quite a difference from the wild, revolutionary black nationalist days when they believed that they could go it alone on the streets with a cadre of black street militants in an American version of a `third world' guerilla warfare- driven national liberation front. Their nationalism initially alienated them from the black community (except, perhaps in their home base of Oakland, California) as until very late the ordinary black worker could not relate to the Panther political line despite the fact that even then the East Bay and other locales where the Panthers had influence were solidly working class areas. In short, they were looking in the streets not in the factories to organize the revolution.
The state repression also caused a shift in strategy as a matter of self-defense. However, the price the Panthers would pay for this was a capitulation to Democratic Party reformism through the vehicle of the Communist Party's legal defense organizations, which they latched onto out of desperation. I have personal experience of this change. A fair number of blacks I had known from various earlier political struggles drifted into the Panther revolutionary nationalist orbit in revulsion against Martin Luther King's non-violent strategy for social change, the incessant racism of American society and the barely hidden paternalism of the white liberal establishment and a fair part of the left. For a period in the late 1960's it was almost impossible for white radicals and revolutionaries to talk or to socialize with many Panthers, especially the rank and file. On more than one occasion I was either snubbed by or threatened by Panthers for attempting to argue for an integrated black and white alliance around a common program to fight the beast of American imperialism. Then in the very early seventies all of a sudden I was invited to various Panther support meetings and social affairs. Obviously the line had changed (through the concept of the united front against fascism) and now I was a comrade again
Even a cursory glance at the current American class structure points out that blacks (and more recently Hispanics) are heavily concentrated in the working class so that in order to be successful the struggle for socialism will have to deal with the fact that blacks will be a central component in the leadership of, and the struggle for, those goals. This is where the sad lessons of the demise of the Panthers between the rock of black nationalism and the hard place of democratic reformist politics is especially important. Looking back at the history of the 'sixties' black liberation struggle one can see little turning points where if hard communists had had enough forces they could have shifted the axis of the struggle away from black nationalism and democratic reformism. A working class program to break from the Democratic Party and struggle independently for a freedom/workers party could have gained a cadre. Do you not think that such a program would have not gotten a hearing from the landless rural workers in the South and the black industrial proletariat of the North and West? That, dear readers, is the ultimate tragedy of the demise of the Black Panthers. Enough said.
All Power to the People!!!!!!!.......2006-11-23
First off peace to all those panthers that are still living and fighting for freedom (FREE ASSATA SHAKUR!!!!!!!!). This book is awesome!!!!!!!!!! Has great historical value, unseen articles and never before seen pictures of the panthers. I was looking for a christmas present for my brothers and it looks like I found it!!!!!!! I love my people and my history and recommend this book for anyone who wants to enrich their book collection or enlighten someone in the dark.
a Must have .......2006-11-19
I've always collected books&things on the Black Panthers. the Panthers were a Powerful movement&they made a strong impact. this Book captures the Images&elements that made the Black Panthers a Powerful force. hard to beleive it's been 40 years since the Black Panthers first emerged. Props to Bobby Seale&RIP to Huey P.Newton. this Book takes you behind the scenes&showcases so much more. a Must have.
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3-D Hollywood/Book and 3-D Glasses
Manufacturer: Simon & Schuster
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The Stereoscopic Nude: Der Akt in Der Photographie : Le Nu Stgereoscopique 1850-1930 (Photobook)
ASIN: 0671769480 |
Book Description
Every winter when the ocean buoys start to read 10-, 15-, and 20-feet, the coast of Half Moon Bay, California, is transformed by an enormous wave called Maverick's. Recognized as one of the most dangerous big wave surf breaks in the world, Maverick's is big, cold, and sickeningly powerful. It's the best show in town, but until now you could only see it through a pair of binoculars. Inside Maverick's brings you right onto the sickening ledge of a 75-foot wave with jaw-dropping photographs and gritty insider accounts of what it's really like out there. Sports columnist Bruce Jenkins and Maverick's surfer Grant Washburn have interviewed top big wave surfers Peter Mel, Zach Wourmhoudt, Evan Slater, and others to discuss every aspect of the freakish wave from the paddle out to the terrifying drop to the inevitable and brutal wipeouts. Covering fifteen years of incredible surfing with photos that have never before been published, Inside Maverick's grants unparalleled access to this legendary wave and the elite core of big wave surfers that are obsessed with challenging it.
Customer Reviews:
The Trifecta for a Mav's Book: Acton/Jenkins/Washburn.......2007-01-15
Inside Maverick's is an outstanding mix of excellent photos, writing and story telling. The book captures amazing stories from the unique mix of surfers that ride Maverick's. No extreme sport enthusiast's coffee table or bookshelf is complete without this book.
An Extraordinary Book.......2007-01-01
The stunning photos alone make this book worthwhile, but the surfing commentary is topnotch as well. A great companion to the DVD "Riding Giants", and you will recognize many of the people from the DVD in the book.
If you are in to any adventure sports or just an armchair surfer, this book is for you.
"Are you KIDDING ME??".......2006-12-28
"Are you KIDDING ME???"
Those are usually the first words out of anyone's mouth when they see this book on my coffee table. And then, usually I have to throw in "Riding Giants" and change any conversation we may have been having.
The photography and story telling present by Grant and team in top notch. Grant alone has spent more than a decade chronicling the history of the world's heaviest big wave, and it comes through in an amazing presentation that anyone who could possible comprehend what these guys do will appreciate.
But then again, comprehending just exactly what these guys are doing is pretty much impossible.
Maverick's - A Very Gnarly Place.......2006-09-28
Inside Maverick's is an extraordinary book. It is written & photographed by 3 extraordinary people and, as a team, there is not another 3 people alive who can match their intimacy and knowledge of Mavericks or who have the ability to capture in words and images the wild moods and moments of this world class break. This incredible book answers the question, what's it like and the answer is delivered by more than 50 voices, all of remarkable courage, strength and boldness. If you want to wade in, here are a few excerpts of what Maverick's has to offer up. Washburn describes an unforgettable wipeout: "I was shocked at the ferocity, the gravity, the mercilessness. Where was he? Would he be drowned? Dismembered? It seemed entirely possible that his head could be torn clean off. When the set was finished with him, he popped up, shaken, but alive. We knew he had been lucky" There is a chapter giving us expert weather advice, courtesy of Mark Sponsler: "Hurricane swells pale in comparison to Northern California surf, because all 12-foot waves are not the same. Some will seem to move a lot more water and travel much faster. The period is what makes the difference. The longer the period, the faster and stronger the wave. Pure chop has a period of 4 to 8 seconds, windswell 9 to 11 seconds, weak swell 13 to 15 seconds and strong swell 16 seconds or greater. Though a hurricane can generate waves with periods in the 14 second range, storms headed for Maverick's can generate waves with periods at 25 seconds or greater, the most powerful waves on Earth short of a tidal wave." And here is Evan Slater's description of the take off zone: "Only fifteen or twenty feet wide, swells march in as big, fat lumps, then double in size and fold over themselves as they hit the shelf. Within this zone, each wave has about a three-to-five foot wide ramp or make-able entry point, with a one-to-two-second window of opportunity. The location of the ramp changes with every wave; sometimes it's not there at all. Mistime it by a split second or take off a foot too deep, and you'll be freefalling. Guaranteed. Even after surviving countless beatings and a handful of two-wave hold-downs, I still have no clue why there's a 99.9 percent wipeout survival rate at Maverick's. Every time you go through one, you wonder in midthrashing, 'Is this the end for me?'" And there is a chaper on fear, "I love fear," says Don Curry, "I thrive on it. But there are times at Maverick's when it overwhelms you. There was a day in '97 when I was out there for three hours, just me and Jay and one other guy. None of us even took off--not once--and I'll admit to being psyched out. I felt like I was seeing things that I shouldn't have. Things that were not meant to be seen that close by the human eye. I felt like God and the devil were right there, and it could go either way." And finally, one of many tributes to Jeff Clark, this one written by John Raymond: "We owe everything to Jeff Clark, and nobody should forget that, I'm talking about going left or right with nobody else out there. I don't think people understand what kind of courage that took. It's one thing for the rest of us to come in afterward, but for him to go out, at a place that looks like it just might kill you, that's unbelievable. If it wasn't for Jeff, I'll bet that place would still be cloudbreaking, and nobody would be out there." If you're in search of inspiration, Inside Maverick's is where it's found. I can see this becoming my all-time favorite surfing book.
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- Perhaps the finest source of information on Egon Schiele
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Egon Schiele's Portraits (California Studies in the History of Art)
Alessandra Comini
Manufacturer: University of California Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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Schiele, Egon
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ASIN: 0520068696 |
Book Description
The meaning of portraiture in the egocentric and erotic culture of Vienna at the end of the Hapsburg Empire frames Alessandra Comini's definitive, lavishly illustrated study of the art of Egon Schiele (1890-1918), first published in 1975 and now available in paperback with a new preface and updated bibliography. Comini analyzes Schiele's work in the context of Viennese Expressionism, rising existential consciousness, and the unique ambiance of Vienna. The human figure forms the most compelling motif in Schiele's oeuvre, which is comprised of hundreds of oils and thousands of drawings. Numerous self-portraits record emotional states, reflect major stylistic changes, and provide a brilliant focus for this examination of his art and his life.
Customer Reviews:
Perhaps the finest source of information on Egon Schiele.......2006-02-05
Alessandra Comini has published more books and catalogues on the art and life of Austrian artist Egon Schiele than any other writer. The personal favorite of this reader has been the succinct but intensely informative and visually documented 1976 volume simply titled EGON SCHIELE, but sadly that is out of print. But those who are absorbed by the idiosyncratic work of the artist of both bizarre life and bizarre paintings may rest assured that this large volume contains not only most of the information Comini has contributed tot he world literature, but also adds the bonus of a very close examination of the Portraits.
For Schiele nearly all of his paintings (with the possible exception of his gorgeously bleak landscapes) were portraits, whether named as such or no. But Schiele's eye was focused on the raw psyche Freud was unveiling and his preoccupation with the sensual, the erotic, and the dark dies of this subjects is what makes them unique. Schiele was a tortured man, not only from his own strident personal issues, but also form the public response to his art. An outcast, he never stopped painting the prepubescent girls he entertained in his studio, nor did he ever tire of his self portraits, works that range from the most savagely aroused eroticism to the frightened eyes of a man at odds with the art world and indeed with the world at large.
Comini suffuses this superb array of reproductions of Schiele's genius with straight forward, authoritative, non-judgmental and even adoration writing. The symbols and body gestures of his models are investigated and examined and explained. Comini is an art scholar but she writes with a style that reads like a novel. For those looking for a definitive basis of work on the art of Egon Schiele this volume is a fine starting point. Highly recommended. Grady Harp, February 06
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- Picstures Worth Crying For
- I'm So Buying This Book
- An extraordinary view of an indescribable place
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Burning Man: Art in the Desert
A. Leo Nash
Manufacturer: Harry N. Abrams, Inc.
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Desert to Dream: A Decade of Burning Man Photography
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Burning Book: A Visual History of Burning Man
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This is Burning Man: The Rise of a New American Underground
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Burning Man: Beyond Black Rock
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Journey to the Flames - 8 Years of Burning Man
ASIN: 0810992906 |
Book Description
For one week in August the Burning Man Festival in Nevada's Black Rock Desert brings people together in a spirit of self-reliance and creativity. Art has become the defining feature of Burning Man, as the festival continues to be a testing ground for a growing circle of artists seeking engaged audiences. Their most compelling works are large-scale constructions that are burned at the end of the festival, and radically altered vehicles, or “art cars.”
Art at Burning Man, like the experience of being there itself, is a way of being outside routine existence: People return home rejuvenated and inspired to seek ways to express the spirit of the festival in their everyday lives. For more than a decade, A. Leo Nash has been creating a photographic document of this work, and in his photographs we see the wellspring of a new art movement.
Customer Reviews:
Picstures Worth Crying For.......2007-08-03
I just received this book as a gift. I immediatley sat down and slowly turned each page in amazement of what he has captured. I cried.
I'm So Buying This Book.......2007-06-29
This is seriously one of the coolest books I've ever seen in my life. I've never been to Burning Man (wouldn't want to), but these pictures are AMAZING. It might have been worth enduring desert discomfort dust storms and camping just to see the 2996 "Uchronia" structure-- wow.
An extraordinary view of an indescribable place.......2007-05-14
Nash is a great photographer, with a clear, timeless vision that you can literally feel. His photographs hold you and keep you looking into them, farther. This is another volume in the work of our best contemporary photographers, and an extraordinary record of art and a place we might never have otherwise seen.
Burning Man is often described as being indescribable, and for good reason. So much of the art created there is ephemeral, lasting just a few days before burning to the ground. An entire city of 30,000 rises, falls, and disappears. To some, it feels like a heartbeat, and to others, a lifetime. To describe it in words is nearly impossible, when so much quickly becomes the elusive memory of memories.
Through Nash's remarkable photographs, we see a decade of visionary work and creativity that physically existed for only a moment. Whether you've been to Burning Man or not, this book will fill you with awe, and longing for the place.
Book Description
Sexy swimwear has evolved along with the times. The sun-kissed bodies that filled the seams have always caught the eye of appreciative onlookers. Throughout the nation-defining decades of the 1930s and 1940s, the flawlessly famous bodies of models and movie starlets were often found clad in sexy sunwear and swimwear for the eager eyes of the world.
Throughout the pages of this first-of-its-kind book, you are bathed in the glowing images of swimwear that revealed the lives and livelihoods of the starlets and models that prompted our beach bound desires. Sun worshipers of every generation will enjoy the nostalgic images of the bathing beauties found between the covers of Sunkissed.
Customer Reviews:
A great 30s - 40s fashion reference.......2006-04-18
It's obvious that "Sunkissed" is a labor of love. A nostalgic look at the glamor that was once Hollywood, "Sunkissed" is a trip back in time. The author, Joshua Curtis, captures the essance of the golden age of motion pictures with brilliant color layouts, original photographs and accurate text. This is one of those rare books that should occupy a perminant spot on the shelf because it will never become dated or out of style. A pure joy for any fan of the 1930s and 40s.
Retro resource.......2005-08-06
Great photos, lots of them--my only wish is it went up to 1959 and included more of the 50's. Not many of these beauties look that tan so 'sun kissed' is a good term. If you're looking for a good resource for period bathing suits this is it.
Beautiful Pictures Of Beautiful Stars.......2005-02-23
This is a book that any classic movie fan will love. It is filled with gorgeous photos of movie stars modeling swimwear. Many of the photos are in color and I have never seen them published anywhere else. Paulette Goddard, Betty Grable, Carole Landis, Gene Tierney, Marie McDonald, and Marilyn Monroe are among the many actresses featured in this terrific book. There is also a nice forward written by Ann Rutherford.
A Breath of Fresh Air.......2003-03-18
This book is full of beautifully restored photo's and insightful commentary. A must have for anyone.
Customer Reviews:
Feast for The Eyes..............& Heart...........2006-11-10
As Someone Who has 'Lived' This Era, The Book Was Especially
Gratifing! Esp. The 'San Pedro' Pics (Where I Hail From) Everyday
People Capturing Everyday Situations....Makes The Book VERY
Spontaneous! A Winner!
Sorry, this book is a waste of money.......2006-01-24
You'd be better off buying a pack of postcards. Pictures are certainly NOT exuberant, lack good explanations, and are not relevant enough--I am a native Southern Californian and was bored and disappointed.
"AND STILL THOSE VOICES ARE CALLING FROM FAR AWAY..."*.......2006-01-03
[*Lyric from the song, 'HOTEL CALIFORNIA' by The Eagles.]
I acquired SOUTHERN CALIFORNIALAND by Charles Phoenix just over a week ago in a Christmas gift exchange game. The book is a true celebration of Southern California in its glorious, paradisiacal decades of 1940 through the 1970s. Charles Phoenix who oddly became obsessed with the old 35 mm Kodachrome slides taken by strangers in memorializing their family trips, gatherings, and everyday lives, shares about 150 of his favorites with us in this absolutely charming book. His love and enthusiasm for his subject (SoCal in its glory days) just oozes from every page. Like the author, I grew up in SoCalLand in the '60s & 70s, and so I share his fascination for the magic that it once held.
Enchanting, dreamy, nostalgic, and a tad melancholic (because the enchantment and the dream has been reduced to nostalgia) are words that best describe this picture book. But "surprising" is another word that fits, because I was surprised by the wealth of information to be found in the brief text that accompanies each photograph. Even I - who has traversed so many of these locations - learned some interesting bits of trivia. For example: Did you know that when Vice President Richard Nixon cut the ribbon and became the Disneyland Monorail's first official passenger, unbeknownst to that famous rider, it was the first time the unique transportation train completed a trip without catching fire? Phoenix describes Walt Disney as being very nervous. Yeah, I suppose he was! Did you know that the Luer "Quality Meat" Rocket (a forerunner to the Oscar Meyer Wienermobile) was discovered in a Prescott, Arizona junkyard in 1997, "weathered, but restorable"? (And here I always thought that I was the only good thing to wrench free from the evil clutches of Prescott! I made good my escape in early '94, also "weathered, but restorable.")
I loved perusing the lost details of places where I have traipsed: the famous Brown Derby restaurant and the Pan-Pacific Auditorium; White Front of Anaheim, one of the discount chain of stores fo' po' folks. (My Ma used to drag us to one as children in Orange County. I don't know how many the O.C. boasted of, but this might well be the same White Front.); the Pacific Ocean Park amusement park, which I guarded as a young Police Explorer during its demolition in the Winter of 1973-74; the L.A. International Airport Theme Building where I experienced my first Red Dog beer. The beer wasn't memorable, but the location was.
Phoenix includes insightful, and sometimes funny commentary. When he describes the cover photo (a white, 1955 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz convertible parked near the corner of Walnut & Allen in Pasadena, with palm trees, an orange grove, and snow-capped Mt. Baldy in the background) as "a perfect Southern California shot," he's right on the money! When he writes of the 1954 Mineral Baths photo in Desert Hot Springs, "Hundreds of thousands of acres of beautiful undisturbed desert scenery and someone had to build a wall around this place and paint in [desert] scenery," it's genuinely funny.
This book is a treasure trove for any pre-Hotel California SoCalLand lover. Where else are you going to find a photograph of a 1956 teenager with the perfect ducktail 'do waiting to test Disneyland's Autopia track? Or a photo of President Eisenhower blowing his nose in Palm Springs? Or a photo of Lee and Katie Kellogg eating meatloaf sandwiches in 1955 Alhambra? This book is a vibrant, eye-popping gem of pop culture which I urge you not to buy.
I'd rather you didn't purchase this fun Charles Phoenix book. Why? Because on page 144 we learn that SOUTHERN CALIFORNILAND was "Printed in China." Yes, this is the same China that embraces Communism, a failed economic/social system responsible for murdering approximately 100 million human beings worldwide, and torturing and starving many millions more. The same China that enforces its one-child family policy with forced abortions. The same China that got caught smuggling AK-47s into the U.S. to be sold to Los Angeles street gangs; threatened to nuke L.A. if the U.S. militarily defends Taiwan; kills its citizens who have the audacity to publicly request freedom; sells body parts of executed prisoners to medical facilities; enslaves political opponents & Christians for their faith, and puts them to work in forced labor camps, producing all imaginable types of goods, and printing books, all to be sold to Americans.
Everytime we purchase a Chinese-made product, we are feeding the human rights-abusing monster that has made no secret of its hatred for us - a monster that is increasing its military might at an astonishing rate and will someday overrun its neighbor, Taiwan, and declare war on the United States. Let's have a little foresight for once. Let's stop building our enemies. Let's boycott ALL Chinese products and sleep better at night. SOUTHERN CALIFORNIALAND is a nice book, but until it is being produced in a country that values human life, it's a book that we can LIVE WITHOUT! (Of course, if you're buying a used copy, this is not an issue.)
Southern Californialand: MId-century Culture in Kodachrome.......2005-08-05
I purchased this book for my husband's 50th birthday and it was a big hit!! He loved seeing many of the sights he grew up with in the San Gabriel Valley. We both grew up in So. Cal. in the 50's-70's and the photographs captured the "feel" of those times perfectly. Looking at them was like going back in a time-machine,just a fun blast into the past!
Californian Kodachrome........2004-08-28
This is the author's second bite of life in Southern California, his earlier book 'Southern California in the 50s' (ISBN 1883318491) was an exuberant looking collection of photos and graphics mixed in with the text. I thought it was rather let down by the less than rigorous image selection. 'Southern Californialand' is a much better offering which I think captures the feel of this fascinating part of the Nation.
For a start 'Southern Californialand' only uses photos and none of them are angled like the earlier book. The design is much more formal too, the photos are large, frequently one to a page or one to a spread, the very detailed captions and headings are not set in period typography either.
The 170 were mostly taken by amateurs but don't let that put you off, there are some great shots in these pages and Phoenix has wisely chosen a wide selection of places, for instance the Eastland Shopping Center, West Covina 1957, the Compton Drive-in 1977, Angel's Flight funicular railway 1956, kids enjoying an Easter party in Palm Springs 1953, Vine Street, Hollywood 1948, tract homes in Highland Park 1958, oil derricks at Signal Hill 1953 and the huge globe at Leisure World 1962.
As well as plenty of places and events there are many showing folks having fun in the fifties (why would an amateur take a photo of someone looking glum?) and some of these are sometimes the most interesting, a super photo on page sixty-eight shows four people having a meal, nothing clever about this at all photographically but it has a wealth of information about fashion, interior decor, furniture, utensils and the food on the table. Pages twenty and twenty-one show a husband taken a photo of his wife sitting on a bench at an intersection, again a real amateur shot (I wonder why this photo of someone taking a photo was taken?) but it is full of detail, commercial strip architecture, their clothing, ads on the seat, and the street furniture. So many of these photos have this kind of detail that you can pore over.
Because these are amateur photos there are a few duds but overall I thought this was a lovely book of photo nostalgia and examples of the pop architecture that commercialism in Southern California did so well. If you lived here in mid-century this is the book to get.
***FOR AN INSIDE LOOK click 'customer images' under the cover.
Book Description
In Hollywood Nudes in 3D! a dazzling array of Hollywood starlets, including Marilyn Monroe, Bettie Page, Dixie Evans, and Tura Satana, come to life in all of their enticing loveliness.
Harold Lloyd, star of such classic silent films as Safety Last and The Freshman, shot more than 300,000 photographs with a stereoscopic (3D) camera. Many of the photos were of young women who dreamed of making it big in Hollywood. Here--for the first time ever in book form--are 200 of Lloyd's most lavish, luscious, and ludicrous pictures of Hollywood nudes posed against some of the most dramatic and creative backgrounds imaginable. Approximately 75 are reproduced in tantalizing 3D, and can be viewed with the aid of the special "Harold Lloyd-style" glasses included with the book.
Customer Reviews:
not enough 3d.......2007-07-30
I was dissapointed in this book as The stereo images on the whole were just not good enoughas,as well as being to few. The book quality was good, I feel this book would have been have sold in one of the many cheap book stores.
Enjoyable.......2007-06-29
The pictures in this book are not bad, but nothing special. A couple of the girls are particularly lovely, and the 3-d feature is great, but overall I would not highly recommend it. I would only suggest it for someone who would like to check out the 3-d pics. There are (clothed)(few) pictures of Marilyn Monroe and other past celebs, nothing great.
Some of the best of that Era.......2006-11-21
Lloyd was a facinating and diverse man. Besides film and 3D photography, he also enjoyed painting and magic/mentalism as hobbies - all of which I shared until the 3D bug bit me hard as well.
Any 3D person who peruses eBay is familiar with the type of "nudie" 3D slides of that era. Because of his Hollywood connections, the beauty of Lloyds models stand very well above the standard stuff (in what other 3D collection can Betty Page seem only second-string?). Some of these girls were actually established, professional LA models who never posed nude for anyone else.
Lloyd's artistic sense also shines through, and the props, settings, color, composition and depth rise above nearly all the others in the genre. The book design itself is also a treat (and interesting to actually read!)
Ignore the complaints. Virtually any anaglyph book I've seen came with inferior glasses. Any dedicated 3Der who actually minds the glasses is also likely to have a good, substitute pair on hand. Registration mistakes are uncommon only in the more exclusive, pricey 3D portfolio books - which this book doesn't pretend to be. While I'd love to eventually see a well-made, high-end, dual image book, this is still worthwhile for any 3D, glamour or retro fan, especially at the low prices offered.
Use different 3-D glasses.......2006-07-23
Many of the reviews here complain that the anaglyph conversions are misaligned. This is somewhat true of a few pictures. The real problem is that the 3-D glasses provided with the book are just plain terrible and the images suffer considerable 'bleed-through.' Use standard red/cyan 3D glasses and most of the pictures are magnificent.
I wish I would have read the reviews before buying this.......2006-03-16
The anaglyph conversions were poor, to put it nicely.
(Honestly, I've seen better in TV Guide.)
I'm a stereo aficianado, and was quite disappointed that none of the original stereo photos were included.
Also, not all of the photos were 3-D, and I found it quite annoying to be putting on and taking off the glasses every third page or so.
Amazon.com
When director Brett Ratner (Rush Hour, Family Man, Red Dragon) bought Hilhaven Lodge, the former home of Ingrid Bergman, his first purchase was an old-school black-and-white photo booth. Hilhaven Lodge: The Photo Booth Pictures captures--in candid, four-panel glory--the revolving door of A-listers who have passed through chez Ratner and stopped to strike a pose.
Things kick off with a meandering, though entertaining, introduction from the legendary Robert Evans (don't worry, he's in there--page 177). The photos are then alphabetized by first name--from Aaliyah to Zhang Ziyi--allowing for some surprising pairings: Don Cheadle and Don Rickles, Quentin Tarantino and Quincy Jones, and the sign-of-the-apocalypse match-up of Michael Jackson across the page from Mickey Rourke clutching a Chihuahua. When faced with the prospect of posing it seems that most subjects do one of the following: Stick Out Their Tongue (Estella Warren, Jackie Chan), Mug (Britney Spears, Danny DeVito), Vamp (Gina Gershon, Rebecca Gayheart); Kiss (Bridget Fonda and Danny Elfman, Edward Norton and Selma Hayek), or Flip the Bird (Lara Flynn Boyle, Philip Seymour Hoffman). Paris Hilton pops up (as expected) along with Leonardo DiCaprio, Justin Timberlake, Jay-Z, and Chelsea Clinton. Christopher Penn looks like he's daring you to take the first swing, and, sporting a shaved head and thick goatee, Colin Farrell perfects the Escaped Con on a Bender look. And even without aid from their stylists or special lighting, there's no denying the natural glamour in some of these candid photos--Matthew McConaughey, Monica Bellucci, and Heidi Klum's snapshots sizzle.
You'll want to clear off a VIP spot on your coffee table for Hilhaven Lodge, one very cool and austere collection. --Brad Thomas Parsons
Book Description
Red-hot Hollywood director Brett Ratner (Rush Hour, Rush Hour II, Red Dragon, and an upcoming mega blockbuster soon to be announced), lives in Ingrid Bergman's old manse, Hillhaven Lodge. And in this house Ratner has an old-fashion, black-and-white photo booth. And into this photo booth Ratner has enticed a cornucopia of white-hot celebrities, outsized personalities, and rare public legends, all of whom voluntarily vogued, posed, and made silly faces without makeup, wardrobe, or lighting, in four quick shots. The result is a hilarious and revealing look at generally famous people being...silly, and, well, normal. Hillhaven Lodge: The Photo Booth Pictures is comprised of wacky and outrageous picture strips of Michael Jackson, Britney Spears, Colin Farrell, Heath Ledger, Heidi Klum, Shaquille O'Neal, Chris Tucker, Kim Cattrall, Jackie Chan, Dino De Laurentiis, Clive Davis, Aaliyah, Edward Norton, Salma Hayek, Quincy Jones, Ralph Fiennes, Rod Stewart, Val Kilmer, Liv Tyler, Harvey Keitel, Jay-Z, John C. Reilly, Russell Simmons, Nicolas Cage, Sean "P. Diddy" Combs, Jack Osbourne, Paris Hilton, Tommy Hilfiger, Tony Shafrazi, Mariah Carey, Matthew McConaughey, Chelsea Clinton, Rebecca Gayheart, Norman Lear, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Robert Downey Jr., and many, many more!
Customer Reviews:
Coinvolgente.......2005-08-27
Il gioco dell'autoritratto si combina con la lunga vicenda della cabina per fototessere (photobooth): felice connubio, miscelato con un poco di vanità (da star system), che offre un punto di vista che si aggiunge a una storia lunga.
Andy Did It First.......2004-02-19
...as in Wharhol. At least his book, like his work, was authentic. This is one of the very little ones that gets tossed back in the pond, or ends up on the close-out table.
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