The Photographs of Esther Bubley
Introduction by Melissa Fay Greene

The Photographs of Jack Delano
Introduction by Esmeralda Santiago

The Photographs of John Vachon
Introduction by Kurt Andersen

These are three books from the series Fields of Vision published by The Library of Congress. They are individual collections of great American photographers who were employed by the Farm Security Adminsistration (FSA), later called the Office of War Information (OWI). Each book features fifty images from a particular photographer with a detailed biography. These photographers were able to honestly capture the life experience of many Americans during the 1930s and 1940s. The images of Esther Bubley have a unique style of capturing a spot of light on the single figure in the frame, documenting unique signs in the cities, and symbols of segregation.  Jack Delano did many black and white portraits of people in their homes or places of recreation, and also some color landscapes including Puerto Rico. The photographs of John Vachon often focused on the repetition of shapes and lines he saw in the signs, symbols, architecture, and people of the time.

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This is a book of photographs created by Brian Sweeney, a New Zealand based photographer. Most of the images are landscapes, aerial photographs, and other perspectives on nature. The term “landscape” does not adequately describe Sweeney’s style, because of the unique perspective he uses to capture the shapes and lines in nature. There is often an emphasis on the sky and its powerful presence. The photographs which are limited to land frequently draw the viewer’s eye to the storytelling-lines. A few of the images could be compared to color field painting because of the minimalist style and emphasis on color.  The ideal location for this book is on a coffee table.

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The images within this book are literally worth a thousand words. Although this is meant to be a guidebook or how-to book for travel photographers, it would also make a great coffee table book because of the quality of the images.  Photographer Nick Onken does an outstanding job of capturing a story with every image whether it’s a group of people, a landscape, or up-close shot of building. Many people, photographers as well as non-photographers, could easily spend a lot of time flipping through the pages of the book staring at the images and listening to the stories they have to tell. As well as including exemplar examples within the field, Onken also does a great job of touching on the many aspects of travel photography such as the gear one needs, tips for composition and technicalities, and workflow. Each chapter includes a page titled the “Traveler’s Journal” in which Onken describes a specific situation he was in as a travel photographer. This book is a great addition to the collection of anyone wanting to learn about travel photography or just look at travel photographs.

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This a book of the many images Rania Matar has taken of Labanon. Born and raised in Lebanon, then moving to the United States in 1984, Matar is the perfect observer to a country of people who intertwine the culture of the consumer West and the Islamic East. Her images, mostly portraits of the women and their lives, convey the variety of conditions and styles across Lebanon. There is one image showing a young woman dressed in a tight sequined, tiny-t-shirt getting her eyebrows done by a woman, presumably her elder, dressed in a conservative head scarf. Another image shows a war created hole in the wall, serving as a frame to the image of another building across the street. Matar’s goal was to create a perspective for Westerners to see the humanity and individual lives that are determined to prevail in a war torn country. The images are proven to be a success because of her ability to pass on to the viewers her intimate connections with her subjects. Looking through the images of this book give any photographer or non-photographer a better understanding of the lives of women and children in the Middle East, specifically Lebanon.

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This is a collection of photographs taken by Sandra Lousada who was not only born with an access pass to the celebrity world, but also earned it as a fashion photographer for Queen, Vogue, Tatler, and Harpers. It portrays the public lives of celebrities in literature, art, and theatre such as, Lawrence Olivier and Joan Plowright, Vanessa  Redgrave, Julie Christie, Helen Mirren, Joanna Lumley, and David Hockney. Most of the images are in black and white which was the highest quality of photography at the time of most of her shots. Even if there was an alternate available, the images wouldn’t have the same emphasis on the story of the character. Even though only some of her subjects were actors, the writers and artists appear to be characters as well, telling the story of their sometimes average, but usually unique, lives. Each image has a short caption that names the subject, year taken, and a brief statement about the location or event taking place. A great book to sit with, stare at the pages and a get a glimpse of artistic lives.

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Lives of Devotion: The Many Faces of Faith
by Fernando Moleres

This is a beautiful view of many faiths around the world. The book is organized into regions of the world and the religions that are found there. The text starts each section describing the ceremonies, people, and places. Most of the photographs are as large as the page or span two pages, allowing you to see the many details documented in the scenes. Additional small images are included amongst the text to provide further explanation. The photographs are gorgeous and respectfully document many people’s lives and devotion to their faith. The book is fascinating and would intrigue those interested in documentary photography or world religions.

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This is a selection of images from ten celebrity photographer’s collections. It is organized by photographer. Starting with a short introduction about the artist, it continues with a few of their best photographs and an interview conducted by Andy Steel. Each photograph has a detailed caption describing the situation, the subject, and the technicalities of the shot. Each photographer’s section ends with a list of Tips for Success and a Workshop which diagrams the layout of a particular shot with a list of equipment and specifications. The photographers and styles included in this book are Polly Borland: off-beat reportage, Sheila Burnett: immediacy is key, James Cheadle: editorial photographer, Russell Clisby: airport paparazzo, Andy Gotts: perfect portraits, Tim Graham: regal images, Michael Grecco: Hollywood A-lister, Miles Ladin: photographic artist, Karen McBride: music specialist, and Soulla Petrou: inspired by style. An interesting book for book portrait photographers and those enthralled by world of celebrities.

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This is a collection of vintage photographs using stereoscopy: two images of the same scene with a slightly different view using a special camera. They were taken from the 1850s though the 1930s and were based on British scientist Sir Charles Wheatstone’s idea of how we see the world in three dimensions. This book has images of New York City and is part of a series of other books that include subjects such as Minnesota, Washington D.C., London, Battle of Gettysburg, and Native Americans and the Wild West. Originally, these stereoscope photographs required a special viewer, but the front cover of the book unfolds to be the reader’s own viewer. This is an affordable way to experience the history of photography and New York City.

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This is a collection of images that celebrate the symbols decorating the landscape of Dallas, Texas. Photographer Barry Doyle uses color photography to document the many buildings, outdoor artworks, animals, and flowers that symbolize this unique city. At the end of the book, Doyle uses a map to locate each item so that one could possibly use his book to virtually tour the city, or to guide an actual visit. An excellent gift for many Texas-lovers.

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A Memoir up to 2009--what does his future hold for him?  Interesting!  Comical!  Entertaining!  Encouraging!  A non-traditional approach to helping yourself!  From starting a photography studio in the back bedroom of his parent's home,  to becoming the most famous wedding photographer in America, to his "storybook" system of wedding photography which was  transformed into a software company, to the invention of the Lightsphere (photography equipment used worldwide), Gary takes you with him over the course of his life and his accomplishments--mishaps and all.  And along the way, he'll help you to see with a different perspective and guide you with tidbits on how to improve your own life and business.  This is a must read!

One of my favorite passages from Gary's book is this..."When you're passionately preparing for one thing, the universe may be preparing you for something else. As long as you're actively and creatively preparing for something, you're usually on the right track."  

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(Reviewed by M. Meier)