This book is a new collection of Mulligan's B&W landscape images that many would consider to be more fine art than landscape. It is quality of the kind that you would like to frame for on a wall instead of sit on a bookshelf. Most of the images, but not all, are of western US locations from weathered rock potholes to the baked surface of the badlands, but the book also includes Florida glades and tree topped peaks in China. If you like the feel that only B&W can give, then this is one great book to add to your photo library.

This hardback book is over 12x12 inch, with 39 images and retail “signed copies” are just US$39.95.  Distributed by Photo-Eye at: www.photoeye.com      
I Rate it:  A+++ 
(Reviewed Oct. 2005)
 

Click on the above image to find out current pricing or to purchase this book from Amazon.com

This book covers the “art, craft, and power of the high-definition monochrome photograph.” For quality and information on the craft of B&W printing, I put this book on par with those written by Ansel Adams. It is B&W only, and covers everything you need to make the best prints around. It is also illustrated with many fine images from the English country side, which I like because seeing mostly images of the US gets boring after the first few dozen or so books with them. The late Mr. Thornton was a master printer, and this book shows you how he made his prints. Practice what he teaches and you could be too. At 9.5 x 9.5 inches, with 176 pages, it is well worth the $29.95-US retail soft cover price, especially when you consider what it would cost to pay a master printer to teach you their trade.  Published by AMPHOTO. It and others can be checked out at www.watsonguptill.com               
I rate it: A++    
(Reviewed Nov. 2004)

This is probably the best, and most complete book on the photographic life of the world’s first “great” photographer. Anyone who knows anything about photography knows the name Edward Weston, and you only have to look at a print to be able to tell it was his. This 12x12 inch hardback book is “filled” with his images and the facts and history behind them. Not only where he shot them, but what his life was like at the time he did a famous piece, as well as the people around him. With 288 pages, it is not just a large book in size, but also in content. I’d also say that at least half of the images in this book are unfamiliar to most people, so that is one more plus in its favor, and they are reproduced so well that you could frame them for the wall.  If you are a true lover of pure photography, then this book should be in your library, or if you know someone that is, buy them a copy and you will have a new best friend! The book retails for US$75.      
 I Rate it:  A+++ 
(Reviewed June 2005)
 

Tina Modotti & Edward Weston, The Mexico Years,
by Sarah M. Lowe

This is a great addition to the first Weston book above. This one also covers the history of these two famous photographers, and the images they took between 1920 and 1930. There are also photos by several other photographers including Manual Alvarez Bravo. All images are B&W and reproduced to the top quality of fine art prints. This hardback book is 10x11 inches, with160 pages, and close to 150 of their images, and many Weston images that the other one does not have.  It retails for US$49.95.       
 I Rate it:  A+ 
(Reviewed June 2005)

Both of these books are published by MERRELL and can be ordered at:     www.merrellpublishers.com
 

The Elements of Photography: Understanding and Creating Sophisticated Images
By Angela Faris Belt

After learning the basics of photography (how to use your camera, correct exposure and how to make a good print), the next step is learning about what the author calls the Elements of photography. Angela Faris Belt compares the elements to the grammatical structure of every form of language. The four elements that are covered in the book include: the photographic frame and its borders; the quality of focus as determined by the aperture or lens; the shutter speeds and their effects in relation to time and motion; and the physical media used to create the image. This book is for the photographer who wants explicit instruction to consciously improve their artistic photography skills. A great addition to a Photo II (or above) class with an artistic emphasis.

RATING
Text: A+
Layout: A
Photography: A+
User: Intermediate to Advanced Photographers
(Reviewed April 2008 by EP)

Emotion in Motion: Ideas for Mastering Action Portraits
By James Austin

People: they swim, they hike, they dance-they like to have fun.  Now how do you catch that action in a photo?  If your interests lie in capturing portrait images of people on the move, then the practical ideas and helpful tips in this pdf formatted eBook will get you headed and keep you headed in the right direction to creating successful photos.

“A blend of camera technique with the spirit of the subject is only intriguing if a sympathetic photographer shows the humanity glowing in a person’s face. Action portraits only move us when we recognize their humanity.”

The chapters cover an array of topics: “eye lights”, shutter speed, depth-of-field, choosing your backgrounds, lighting, choosing lenses, timing of the action, positioning for the shot, color and tone, working with children, and so much more…  Learn how to become invisible and learn about the “missing why” question… 

It uploads quickly, has beautiful illustrations and can be used as a quick reference when you’re out taking photos—just use your iPad2 or Kindle2. 

If people on the move inspire you to pick up the camera, this is a must have eBook—Purchase for $5.00.

·  eBook: 55 pages
·  Publisher: James Austin (2010)
·  Language: English

Text: A+
Layout: A+
Photography: A+
User: All Photographers Interested in Action Portrait Photography
(Reviewed April 2008 by MM)

 

This soft cover book is about 9x10 inches, with 176 pages, and is distributed by Thomson Course ( www.thomson.com ) in the US, and by iLEX Press ( www.ilex-Press.com ) in the UK. Check their web sites for the current price where you live. I Rate it: A++ 
(Reviewed June 2006)

Here is a new book out that presents all of the basic and advanced methods of creating the best images, and they are all directed to one subject: nature. With easy to use step-by-step instructions you can get improved results the very first day, and it will answer most of your questions about shooting this subject. This 8.5x11 inch soft cover book with 110 pages is fully illustrated and captioned with the image information. Most of the illustrations are shown in black & white, and for some I think that was a mistake, such as the several sunset and flower shots. They are also not printed all that good either. This book does have much valuable information in it as long as you don’t need the images that much. Published by Amherst Books and retailing for US$29.95, it can be ordered from  www.amherstmedia.com       
I rate it:  B++ 
(Reviewed July 2005)

Click on the book to order
your copy from Amazon.

Leonard Volk, FAIA emeritus, retired architect, author and photographer, has produced a book of photographs that is more than you would expect to see.  It is a wonderful collection of images taken over a 60-year period.  The images awaken the eye to the “normal” as seen by a photographic enthusiast. As an architect, his training has been in design…and this discipline speaks enthusiastically well to the structure of his photographic images.  They are worth studying for this alone. However, the text is also very special.  In a simple and straightforward manner, he imparts beautiful nuggets of information that will assist the photographer in their creation of personal and unforgettable images.  Everyday is a book that will be welcomed in a photographer’s library for its imagery and its fundamental understanding of the process that encourages and helps photographers record their world in fascinating detail.

Exhibiting Photography: A Practical Guide to Choosing a Space, Displaying Your Work, and Everything in Between
By Shirley Read

This book is based on workshops given by the author, Shirley Read, to provide others with the invaluable information of how to have successful photography exhibitions. She emphasizes the point that there are many ways of exhibiting and that this is not a step-by-step how to book. Despite this fact, the book does an excellent job of providing lists of what to keep in mind for why, when, and how to exhibit. The reasons for not exhibiting your work, for example, are detailed in clear, concise, and easy to understand explanations. This book would be an invaluable tool for the currently exhibiting photographer or the instructor of future photographers. The book includes handouts to give to students or use for yourself, including a model release, example vitae, how to give critical feedback to fellow photographers and more.

RATING
Text: A++
Layout: A+
Photography: A
User: Advanced Photographers
(Reviewed April 2008 by EP)
 

This book is perfect for use as a textbook in a Beginning Photography class.  Only what a beginner needs to know is discussed, explained, and illustrated.  The limitation of topics prevents the amateur from getting overwhelmed.  The organization of the book is designed for instruction; each chapter beginning with objectives, continuing with clearly labeled sub-topics, and ending with a summary and place for notes.  To entice the beginner’s curiosity of advanced and alternative techniques, there are windows or articles inserted throughout the book, describing cyanotypes, for example. This book is part of the Design Exploration Series published by Thomson Delmar Learning.  An instructor’s guide on CD-Rom is also available for purchase (ISBN: 140181557X). 

This softcover book is 256 pages and measures 10 x 8.1 x 0.5 inches . It is published by Thomson Delmar Learning; 1st edition (November 5, 2003) www.delmarlearning.com. It retails for $31.95
I rate it A++ (EP) 
(Reviewed April 2007)

Click on the above image to find out current pricing or to purchase this book from Amazon.com

EXPOSED The Victorian Nude
edited by Alison Smith.

This book is a complete study of the history of the Victorian type nude, and it has not only photo images, but paintings, drawings, and sculpture. It is a large  9 x 12 inch hardback book, of coffee table quality. Its 288 pages covers all forms of nude art for over 100 years, starting from around the early 1800’s, and includes much of early nude photography. If the nude form is one of your main interests, this book will be a great addition to your library, and for the nude photographer, it is full of ideas to pose your own work. At only $45-US  retail, it is a great buy. Most other books of this quality are twice that amount. It is also published by www.watsonguptill.com                   
I rate it: A
(Reviewed Nov. 2004)