The Garden is a new book that I have wanted to get and review for many months, and now I am sure glad I did not give up trying. This book is filled with images from a place that would be any nature photographers dream come true. Mr. Patterson was the owner of about 500 acres of high, forested, rocky land in New Brunswick, Canada, which he donated to the Nature Conservancy, but kept about another 25 acres to live on himself. With photo access to the reserve, and a large group of flowerbeds he built on his acres, he has filled this book with four seasons of images from all of those areas. As I said, “a photographers dream” and when you look at all of the images that range from “flower landscapes” to visiting deer, you will think so too. I could write a full page on this book, but I already have my copy and you will just have to buy your own to see exactly what I mean. You won’t be sorry! Hardback with 192, 9x10 pages US$34.95. Distributed by Firefly Books at: www.fireflybooks.com
I Rate it: A+++  (Reviewed Aug. 2005)

This book is another super collection of great images, this time of all of the things that are left behind after everyone has left and abandoned what used to be their lives. This is not a ghost town book. It is a record of places that may not have ever gotten past one single building, or home, in the middle of what now is usually called nowhere. Many look like the people just up and left with a dress still hanging on a hook, or bottles still in the medicine cabinet. The 176 pages are filled with b&w, color, and toned images taken throughout the upper Midwest states. A large map inside the hard back covers shows each town this couple photographed for this book, on their 36,000 mile photo trip.  The book is published by AAPPL in England and sold through Sterling Publishers.   Check it out at:    www.sterlingpub.com       
I Rate it: A+++  (Reviewed June 2005)

The Hurths' new book is a top rate figure photography book that has plenty of great images and info to go with them. Most were taken in a studio, but all of the info could probably be used out of doors as well, and there are some great ideas for new images you can set up yourself in either location. Fully illustrated, fully captioned, and full of how-to info.  This is a very good book to add to your how-to library.
    This soft cover book is 8.5x11 inches, with 118 pages, and retails for US$29.95.  This book is published by Amherst Media at   www.amherstmedia.com  
I Rate it:  A+  (Reviewed Sept. 2005)

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

If you are a photographer, who like me, also uses Adobe Golive to create your own web site to present your work, then this book will make that work a lot easier. With over 300 pages, and tips on every one, this soft cover book, which retails for only $14.99, will save you nothing but time and money. One of the best things these tip books do is show you time saving shortcuts that the regular manuals, and training books do not cover. Just one tip I found would pay for this book 10-times over, and it is for both Mac and Windows users. This is one book that will stay next to my keyboard. Published by PeachPit Press. (www.peachpit.com) 
I rate it:   A+  (Reviewed Sept. 2004)

This hardback book is about 9x12 inch, with 100 images on 128 pages and retails for US$25.95.  Distributed by BrownTrout Publishers at www.browntrout.com      
I Rate it:  A++  (Reviewed Nov. 2005)

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

GRAPHIS PhotoAnnual 2003 

This book is a selection of the best images from an international photography competition. It is a 9 x 12 inch, 256 page hard back filled with one or more great images on just about every page. Subjects include landscapes, flowers, nudes, and eleven others standards, and range from a chicken leg to handcuffs with jewelry. The reproduction is top quality, as you usually find in coffee table books. I personally collect as many of these kinds of books as I can find. Not just for the great images in them, but also because they are one of the best ways there is to stimulate my creative brain cells. (both of them)  It is published by GRAPHIS Publishing, retails for $70-US, and can be checked out at www.graphis.com      
I rate it: A (Reviewed Nov. 2004)

Sand dunes have always been one of my all-time favorite subjects to shoot, but even those who have never seen a dune will like the beautiful images in the Great Sand Dunes National Park. This 9x10 inch, 128-page soft cover book records these great dunes through every month of the year, from sun-up to sunset. I especially like the abstract effects captured with the play of light and shadow, and they work great in both color and B&W. Along with the images the author has included his own diary of events while shooting the dunes, which includes a lot of must-have information for anyone planning to shoot any dunes in the American southwest. This may be a desert, but I can tell you first hand that you do not want to go there in the winter unprepared! The book retails for just US$19.95 and is published by Westcliffe Publishers, and can be checked out at;  www.westcliffepublishers.com 
I Rate it:  A+  (Reviewed Feb. 2005)

This is a new book that panorama lovers will want to get. It is a combination of historical pan images, and the history of many of those locations and how-to info on their making. Many images are 100+ years old, made by well-known photographers, and some are so long that they are printed on double fold out pages. Most others are two-page spreads, and all are of super quality. One, the old west mining town of Oatman, Arizona has every mine located and labeled. There are also many modern images and the whole book has various photographers' work. This is a super addition for any photo library, and especially for anyone who likes panoramic images.

This hardback book is about 8x12 inch, with about 160 pages, depending on how you count them, and retails for US$45.95.  Distributed by Merrell Publishers at   www.merrellpublishers.com  
I Rate it: A+  (Reviewed Nov. 2005)