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.

Average customer rating:

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

The New Erotic Photography

Manufacturer: Taschen
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 3822849243

Book Description

The most provocative modern image makers

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

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

Customer Reviews:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Average customer rating:

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

Private Rooms

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

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ASIN: 3832790810

Book Description

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

Customer Reviews:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Average customer rating:

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

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

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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.

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

Average customer rating:

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

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

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ASIN: 1580088325

Book Description

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

Customer Reviews:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Almost anyone can relate to this charming book.

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

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

Average customer rating:

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

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

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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.

Washington, D.C., Then and Now (Then & Now)

Average customer rating:

Pretty Good
Interesting historical look at the nation's capitol
Washington DC Then and Now

Washington, D.C., Then and Now (Then & Now)
Alexander D. Mitchell IV
Manufacturer: Thunder Bay Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1571451919

Book Description

Millions of schoolchildren and visitors make the pilgrimage to our nation's capital each year. Built on reclaimed swampland, Washington is now the country's neoclassical seat of government and culture. Now you can witness Washington's development over the last century and a half. Seventy modern color photographs are compared side-by-side with seventy archival photographs from the 1850s to the 1950s. While focusing on famous vistas and familiar landmarks, it also explores well-known neighborhoods. The Then and Now series includes: New York, Washington, Boston, and San Francisco.

Customer Reviews:

Pretty Good.......2006-10-01

This book is pretty good to see a historical comparison of Washington DC "then" vs. "now." The most disappointing aspect here is that a lot of the current pictures seem to have been taken on the same overcast late fall/early winter day. Washington DC is one of the most beautiful cities in the world but a lot of the current pictures don't capture that. The historical pictures and overall comparisons are pretty good though and I would have rated this a "5" if they had done a better job capturing the city's beauty. A solid "4" none the less.

Interesting historical look at the nation's capitol.......2005-04-01

Having seen a few other books showing historical photos of different cities' landmarks and their modern looks, I was interested to see what this book would offer. I was not disappointed, fiding the choice of subjects ranging form the famous to the obscure, painting a picture of a Washington long ago.

With many of the more famous buildings in Washington having been built in the last 70 years, there aren't as many older structural pictures to hold up against a view of the current looks. This is often refelcted by what originally stood on the site, and then the facing page shows what is built on the site now. Obviously, there are pictures showing the White House, Capitol, and a few other notable buildings to examine for small changes, but the majority of the book features things the average visitor wouldn't normally notice.

To people who have spent some time in this great city, they would greatly appreciate where the modern looks and everyday scenery has come from. To the average reader, this book would be an interesting coffee table book to entertain the curious.

Washington DC Then and Now.......2000-07-18

Washington D.C., Then and Now, is full of many fascinating pictures taken in and around the Washington D.C. area. The city is rich in history and full of a number of buildings, monuments and historic areas. Through the years, the city has changed and developed around these landmarks. Washington D.C., Then and Now traces this development and change through pictures.

The premise behind the book is to show the reader each area of the city as it appeared using archival photographs on one page, and comparing it to a recent picture of the same area, taken from approximately the same location, to demonstrate how the area has evolved.

The author has organized the book by street name or area. The earliest known picture of the Capitol, taken in 1846, is the most famous picture (Only seven are known to exist). There is an interesting story about how the rare picture was obtained. You'll have to get the book to find out.

Book Description

Who's the greatest star of star photography? It's the inimitable David LaChapelle, the photographer whose singular style is perfectly unmistakable. He has photographed personalities as diverse as Tupac Shakur, Madonna, Amanda Lepore, Eminem, Philip Johnson, Lance Armstrong, Pamela Anderson, Lil' Kim, Uma Thurman, Elizabeth Taylor, David Beckham, Paris Hilton, Leonardo DiCaprio, Hillary Clinton, Muhammad Ali, and Britney Spears, to name just a few. Once called the Fellini of photography, LaChapelle has worked for the most prestigious international publications and has been the subject of exhibitions in both commercial galleries and leading public institutions around the world. Celebrating the visionary LaChapelle's truly extraordinary photography, this 698-page, XL-sized book is packed cover-to-cover with vibrant full-bleed images; the best of his entire career to date. Bursting at the seams with spectacle and drama, and saturated with colors that only LaChapelle! can realize, this limited edition pays tribute to the most daring and ambitious photographer in the history of portraiture.

Average customer rating:

An exceptional book
Fascinating
Interesting and a book more people should read...and then change their food choices
What people eat
Fascinating view on feeding your family

Hungry Planet: What the World Eats
Peter Menzel , and Faith D'Aluisio
Manufacturer: Ten Speed Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1580086810

Amazon.com

It's an inspired idea--to better understand the human diet, explore what culturally diverse families eat for a week. That's what photographer Peter Menzel and author-journalist Faith D'Alusio, authors of the equally ambitious Material World, do in Hungry Planet: What the World Eats, a comparative photo-chronicle of their visits to 30 families in 24 countries for 600 meals in all. Their personal-is-political portraits feature pictures of each family with a week's worth of food purchases; weekly food-intake lists with costs noted; typical family recipes; and illuminating essays, such as "Diabesity," on the growing threat of obesity and diabetes. Among the families, we meet the Mellanders, a German household of five who enjoy cinnamon rolls, chocolate croissants, and beef roulades, and whose weekly food expenses amount to $500. We also encounter the Natomos of Mali, a family of one husband, his two wives, and their nine children, whose corn and millet-based diet costs $26.39 weekly.

We soon learn that diet is determined by largely uncontrollable forces like poverty, conflict and globalization, which can bring change with startling speed. Thus cultures can move--sometimes in a single jump--from traditional diets to the vexed plenty of global-food production. People have more to eat and, too often, eat more of nutritionally questionable food. Their health suffers.

Because the book makes many of its points through the eye, we see--and feel--more than we might otherwise. Issues that influence how the families are nourished (or not) are made more immediate. Quietly, the book reveals the intersection of nutrition and politics, of the particular and universal. It's a wonderful and worthy feat. --Arthur Boehm

Book Description

On the banks of Mali 's Niger River, Soumana Natomo and his family gather for a communal dinner of millet porridge with tamarind juice. In the USA, the Ronayne-Caven family enjoys corndogs-on-a-stick with a tossed green salad. This age-old practice of sitting down to a family meal is undergoing unprecedented change as rising world affluence and trade, along with the spread of global food conglomerates, transform diets worldwide. In HUNGRY PLANET, the creative team behind the best-selling Material World, Women in the Material World, and MAN EATING BUGS presents a photographic study of families from around the world, revealing what people eat during the course of one week. Each family 's profile includes a detailed description of their weekly food purchases; photographs of the family at home, at market, and in their communities; and a portrait of the entire family surrounded by a week 's worth of groceries. To assemble this remarkable comparison, photojournalist ! Peter Menzel and writer Faith D 'Aluisio traveled to 24 countries and visited 30 families from Bhutan and Bosnia to Mexico and Mongolia. The resulting series of photographs and facts is a 30-course feast of visual and quantitative information. Featuring essays on the politics of food by Marion Nestle, Charles C. Mann, and Alfred W. Crosby, and photo-essays on international street food, meat markets, fast food, and cookery, this captivating chronicle offers a riveting look at what the world really eats.

Customer Reviews:

An exceptional book.......2007-09-18

If there is only one universal human experience, it's food. And this book puts it all in perspective by showing in photographs, essays, and charts what people eat around the world. The differences can be astonishing (how can an entire family survive on so little, in one case, or, how tidy all those little packages look in another -- do they eat anything fresh?). The off-the-cuff statements by some of the subjects are very insightful, such as the woman who says when she wants a sweet, which is rare, she goes and eats a banana. This book truly communicates something unique about the people with whom we share our world.

Fascinating.......2007-09-04

I heard about this book about 3 months ago as it was featured in Time Magazine. I only wish I picked it sooner because it is fascinating. My 7-year old enjoyed discussing the finer points of eating in the United States. She thought it was shocking that people in the world eat starfish, guinea pigs and bugs. On the other hand, when we discussed our eating of beef and realized that a Hindu in India would never do that; the world seemed to get a little smaller. The discussions about culture and food are so interesting.

Interesting and a book more people should read...and then change their food choices.......2007-07-15

The one thing that jumped out at me in readin and seeing the photos is how much Coke and Pepsi the United States sells around the world. It was nice to see a number of examples of families who buy little if any 'junk food'. And how much meat is eaten in some countries and how much healthy fish is eaten in others. Was impressed with the examples of fruits vegetables and grains eaten in some countries.

Japan: The Ukita family of Kodaira City
Food expenditure for one week: 37,699 Yen or $317.25
Favorite foods: sashimi, fruit, cake, potato chips I was surpsied at how most of the items are packaged at not at all the fresh foods one hears about.

*Italy: The Manzo family of Sicily
Food expenditure for one week: 214.36 Euros or $260.11
Favorite foods: fish, pasta with ragu, hot dogs, frozen fish sticks

Chad: The Aboubakar family of Breidjing Camp
Food expenditure for one week: 685 CFA Francs or $1.23Favorite foods: soup with fresh sheep meat Notice there is NO Coke or Pepsi in the photo.

Kuwait: The Al Haggan family of Kuwait City
Food expenditure for one week: 63.63 dinar or $221.45 Family recipe: Chicken biryani with basmati rice.Notice there is NO Pepsi or COKE in the photo.

United States: The Revis family of North Carolina
Food expenditure for one week: $341.98
Favorite foods: spaghetti, potatoes, sesame chicken But look at see how much Coke etc they buy

Mexico: The Casales family of Cuernavaca
Food expenditure for one week: 1,862.78 Mexican Pesos or $189.09
Favorite foods: pizza, crab, pasta, chicken But look and see how much Coke etc they buy They do eat ALOT of fruits and vegetables

China: The Dong family of Beijing
Food expenditure for one week: 1,233.76 Yuan or $155.06
Favorite foods: fried shredded pork with sweet and sour sauce They buy very little overall

Poland: The Sobczynscy family of Konstancin-Jeziorna
Food expenditure for one week: 582.48 Zlotys or $151.27
Family recipe: Pig's knuckles with carrots, celery and parsnips

Egypt: The Ahmed family of Cairo
Food expenditure for one week: 387.85 Egyptian Pounds or $68.53
Family recipe: Okra and mutton Notice lots of healthy items and cannot see any Coke or Pepsi

Ecuador: The Ayme family of Tingo
Food expenditure for one week: $31.55
Family recipe: Potato soup with cabbage Notice its all healthy food

United States: The Caven family of California
Food expenditure for one week: $159.18
Favorite foods: beef stew, berry yogurt sundae, clam chowder, ice cream Notice the Coke and other prepackaged foods

Mongolia: The Batsuuri family of Ulaanbaatar
Food expenditure for one week: 41,985.85 togrogs or $40.02
Family recipe: Mutton dumplings They love eggs which are a good source of protein

Great Britain: The Bainton family of Cllingbourne Ducis
Food expenditure for one week: 155.54 British Pounds or $253.15
Favorite foods: avocado, mayonnaise sandwich, prawn cocktail, chocolate fudge cake with cream Mostly all prepacked items

Bhutan: The Namgay family of Shingkhey Village
Food expenditure for one week: 224.93 ngultrum or $5.03
Family recipe: Mushroom, cheese and pork Healthy food little if any prepackaged

Germany: The Melander family of Bargteheide
Food expenditure for one week: 375.39 Euros or $500.07
Favorite foods: fried potatoes with onions, bacon and herring, fried noodles with eggs and cheese, pizza, vanilla pudding Notice all the Beer and Sodas and all the fried foods

What people eat.......2007-03-30

A very informative book with excellent photographs, large size and printed on good quality glossy paper.

Fascinating view on feeding your family.......2007-03-09

Photos, background story and typical receipe from a family living in one of 30 countries around the world. The idea is very original: ask people to buy the ingredients for their meals for a week and take a picture of them together with the food. The differences are very revealing: all the packed and processed food in the USA in contrast with the basic ingredients most African families use. It is not only about rich or poor; it gives you many good ideas and examples for a new way of life. And the photos with so many details and colors are impressive.

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