The Sadness of Men Photographs by Philip Perkis
Introduction by Max Kozloff 

This book is a fifty year retrospective of photographer Philip Perkis, Professer Emeritus at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York. The sequence of these duotone images was carefully selected to build upon each image. When looking at the images in the book, there is a different feel than from a collection of traditional black and white images that have wide range of tones, selective or infinitive focus, and perfect exposure. Philip Perkis is all about the reality in photography. The back of the book includes the text from a conversation about his work. He says:

      "In the fifties, there was an acknowledgement that 35mm was grainy and blurry and dark, by its very nature. The Abstract Expressionist painters were saying that a painting should look like it was made with paint. Charlie Parker said the saxophone would sound like a saxophone, and it’s okay if you can hear the breath. De Kooning was letting the paint drip. Kerouac said, ‘You write the way you talk. You want to bring the language of the street onto the page."

This book is for the collector of photography capturing the real world. A perfect coffee table book.

RATING
Text: A+
Layout: A
Photography: A
User: All Photographers and Non-Photographers
(Reviewed by EP March 2008)

Here is a great collection of images from the African bush. This new book is filled with super quality images surpassed only by the super quality of the printing of them. With images from close-ups of a lion's head where you can almost count the hairs, to full two-page spreads of a giant heard of buffalo, you will want this book right on your home coffee table. Many, if not most of the images, are about the best I have ever seen, but when it comes to the text part of this book, there is a lot to be desired, and that is due to the fact that so much of it is too small. In fact, some of the captions are so small I had to use a magnifier to read it. A pity for a book that is otherwise one of the best I have ever reviewed.  (It will still go on my coffee table though)

This hardback book is about 10x12 inch, with 223 pages and retails for US$50.00.  Distributed by Rizzoli at:    www.rizzoliusa.com      
I Rate it:  A++ 
(Reviewed Oct. 2005)

Fall is over and a lot of us are already planning our spring photo trips to shoot that first wildflower that sticks its head up. You don’t really have to wait that long though.  Use these cold winter days to set up flower shots that can look just as good as any taken on a mountaintop.  A new book, Searchings, Secret Landscapes of Flowers, Volume II, is a great place to start with new ideas. This is not a how-to book that will show you how to actually do it, and most images in the book were taken in the wild, but you can create images at home like those shown in it.  Searchings is a coffee table picture book of beautiful flower portraits, and printed so well that you will want to tear them out and frame them for your walls. But don’t, at least not unless you buy a second copy just for that. That is how good the images are. I now wish I had a copy of the Searchings, Volume I, which is sold out.  This is a hardback book, 9.5x14 inches, with 80 full color photos, one of which even folds out to a 3-page spread. How they can do this quality of a book for a retail price of only US$40.00 is impressive. It’s too late to give for Christmas, so get one for yourself. Published by Welcome Books at,   www.welcomebooks.com     
I Rate it:  A+++ 
(Reviewed Jan. 2005)

This book is the 3rd in a series of “Secret Landscapes of Flowers,” each new one even better than the others, (if that is possible.) Last year, I reviewed Vol. II and could not believe the beauty of the images, and this new version is no different. Flower portraits, or landscapes, or whatever you wish to call them - beautiful is the only real word that fits. Full page, up close and personal, each image is a fine art print in itself. This collection also includes 2 and 3 page spreads. Even flowers you are familiar with, you will not recognize when shown from the bottom and other unusual angles. Each flower is labeled in case you’d like to try your hand at matching what you see in this book. (Lots of luck! You’ll need it to match these images.)

This hardback book is about 9x14 inch, with 70 images on 132 pages and retails for only US$40.00.  Distributed by Welcome Books at:   www.welcomebooks.com      
I Rate it:  A+++ 
(Reviewed Dec. 2005)

I Rate it:  A 
(Reviewed March 2007)

Secrets of Adobe Bridge is an information book on the new “bridge” workflow program. This is not exactly a how-to book as it mostly tells you what Bridge does more then how to do it. In fact it is closer to a manual than anything, both in size and content, but unlike a manual it is far from free. It is nicely written and illustrated, but I am not sure that it is all that much better than the manual that comes with the programs, especially at a price of $25.

This soft cover book is about 7x9 inches, with 108 pages, retails for US$24.99 – and is distributed by Peach Pit Press at   www.peachpit.com       
I Rate it:  B+ 
(Reviewed Feb. 2006)

 

This long published book by Engh is cover-to-cover information on how you to can profit from what to most people is a very expensive hobby. This 6x9 inch, soft cover book, gives you everything you need to know from A-to-Z on making your work pay for itself. With 374 pages, there is nothing left out. It also contains the forms you will need to conduct your business, including model releases. The best part is that you get all of that for a retail price of just US$19.99 and you can order it from:  www.fwpublications.com     
I Rate it:  A 
(Reviewed June 2005)

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

Shooting and Selling Your Photography
by Jim Zuckerman 

This is book is a fresh look at an old topic. I can’t tell you how many books of this title I already have. This one is full of great photos, and great direction. There are discussions about what makes a great photo, how to evaluate your own images, and what images are likely to catch a perspective buyer’s eye. There is a good chapter on choosing digital or traditional film and why one may be better than another. Zuckerman has a great chapter on using the Internet to promote oneself, and how to build a website that will get you sales. There is also a chapter on art shows and how to set up booths and sell in that venue. And what would a book about selling your photos be without a discussion of stock agencies, how to join them and the new trends in this business. Especially if you are interested in selling your photos, as opposed to setting up a studio and marketing your services in that way, this book provides many ideas and tips to maximize your chances of success. It also retails at $29.99. The book is by Writer’s Digest Books.
(Reviewed July 2004 by Michael Fulks)

Here is a collection of Curtis's images from the old west, which he is best known for. Most are Indian and Eskimo subjects, but a few are also of other buildings, such as southwestern mission churches.  The quality of the book and the images in it are as good as collectors’ editions, the kind you take extra good care of. I would also venture to say that most of the images have seldom been published before as I have only seen a few of them before. It is not just pictures though, as the first part has 10 pages of Curtis history that is fascinating in itself, and will make you want to find and buy a book of his biography.

This hardback book is about 12x10 inches, with 144 pages, retails for US$65.00 – and is distributed by Chronicle Books at    www.chroniclebooks.com      
I Rate it:  A+ 
(Reviewed Jan. 2006)

 

This soft cover book is about 8x10 inches, with 128 pages, retails for US$19.95 – and is distributed by Trafalgar Square at www.trafalgarsquarebooks.com/
I Rate it: A 
(Reviewed June 2006)

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