Photo Book
Reviews
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All Reviews are by Paul W Faust unless otherwise noted as Michael Fulks (MF)
and Elizabeth Powis (EP).
To purchase any book or to find out pricing
information, click on any of the book images.
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Waterfalls of the Blue Ridge
by Nicole Blouin, and Steve and Marilou Bordonaro
Waterfalls of Virginia and
West Virginia
by Kevin Adams
I am listing both of these books together because they are of
similar interest and top quality guidebooks on waterfalls, with
their names telling the only difference. Both books are the best you
will find on the waterfalls in these areas, and they are both full
of information about the falls, and how to find them with the maps
included. Information includes: directions, length of hikes to the
falls, ratings of the falls, and even some history. There is a
gallery of images in both books, and if you have any intention of
going to these areas to photograph waterfalls, then you should not
go without these guides.
Both soft cover books are about 6x9 inches, with 195 and 252 pages
respectively, and both retail for US$16.95 – and are published by
Menasha Ridge Press at
www.menasharidge.com
I Rate both: A+
(Reviewed March 2007)
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Walker Evans: Photographer of
America (Neal Porter Books) by
Thomas Nau (Author)
A biography of one
of the great American photographers, Walker Evans, this book uses
his photographs to tell the story of his life. The style of
the writing is a very light narrative making it an easy and
leisurely read, instead of a textbook. The author begins every
chapter, which is a section of Evans’ life, with a quote, bringing
out Evans'
personality. Walker Evans photographed the people and places of New
York City and other cities around the world using his unique
narrative style. Not only does this book illustrate the life of a
photographic legend, but it tells a social history through his urban
landscapes and portraits. This would make a great edition to anyone
interested in photography, history, or both.
This hardcover book has 64 pages and measures
10.6 x 9.2 x 0.5 inches. It is published by Roaring Brook Press, and
retails for $19.95
I rate it: A++ (EP)
(Reviewed June 2007)
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WAVES,
by Steve Hawk
Here is a new book totally about nothing but
ocean waves. I have always loved photos of the beauty of waves
breaking with all of their shapes and curves, and colors like you
can’t believe, and this book is filled with exactly that. If you
have ever lived at the beach in the past, as I did for half my life,
this book will make you want to go back real fast. If not, it will
make you want to pack up and move there. If it weren’t such a nice
book, I would probably tear a lot of pages out to frame. It's a
hardback with 100 images on 132, 9x10 pages, retailing for US$29.95.
Published by Chronicle Books at
www.chroniclebooks.com
I Rate it: A+ (Reviewed Aug. 2005) |
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Wedding Photography from the Heart: Creative
Techniques to Capture the Moments that Matter By Joe Buissink
and Skip CohenThis book is a collection of beautiful
images and personal suggestions. It is very enjoyable to look
through the book at the images and read the captions which describe
the technical aspects of the shoot but also describe the situation
and give short tips of advice. These interesting and very personable
comments tell you a lot about the photographer, Joe Buissink. He is
an excellent photographer who knows how to capture intimate and
beautiful portraits of individuals and couples, but also images that
document a cherished day. These images are organized into sections
based on wedding photography topics, such as shadows and light;
equipment and work flow; kids, pets, and grandparents; and working
with celebrity clients.
Paperback: 192 pages
Publisher:
Amphoto Books (October 27, 2009)
ISBN-10: 0817424547
ISBN-13: 978-0817424541
Product Dimensions: 9.9 x
8.9 x 0.5 inches
Text: A+ Layout: A Photography: A+
User: All Photographers
(Reviewed by EP November 2009)
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Wild & Scenic California – The Natural
Landscape
photography by Carr Clifton.
I am having a hard time knowing what to say
about this new book of California landscapes by one of the best
photographers in the business. Saying that this is a book full of
the best images in print, and that they are great, beautiful or
anything else, is really like using language to try to describe what
an ice cream sundae tastes like. I have seen many beautifully
printed images before, but these go far beyond most of those. I can
only think that California must wish it really looked this good, and
I wish I could have every page of the book open at the same time.
You WILL NOT find a better book for your photo library
This hardback book is about 12x12 inch, with
128 pages and retails for only US$39.95. Distributed by BrownTrout
at
www.browntrout.com
I Rate it: A++++ (Reviewed Oct. 2005)
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Wild & Scenic
Pennsylvania,
photography by Steve Mulligan,
text by Robert Hutchinson.
This new picture book is filled with
magnificent nature and landscape images from the state of
Pennsylvania. If you already live there, you will love having this
book in your library, and if you are planning a photo trip there, it
will be a wealth of information on places to travel to. It is broken
up into geographic sections of the state to better group what is
found where, which makes it a lot easier for the reader to know
where to find certain locations. This is a large hard back
book, over 12x12 inches in size and 153 pages.
The images are all of the best quality and the book retails for
US$39.95. It is published by BrownTrout and can be ordered from
www.browntrout.com
I Rate it: A++ (Reviewed Aug. 2005) |
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Wildflowers of The
Appalachian Trail
written by Leonard Adkins
photography by Joe & Monica Cook
If you live near, or plan a photo trip to the Appalachian Mountains
to take flower images, then this book is a “Must-Have.” It is not a
“how-to photograph” book that will tell you how to shoot them, but a
full reference book on each wildflower found in that range, with
each flower being beautifully illustrated in close-up (full page
size) and a second page full of info on it, including the range of
states it’s found in, blooming season, plant description, and
paragraphs full of general information. It is even a great size to
take along on your trip. Not too small as to be hard to read, and
not too large to carry around.
This soft cover book is about 6x9 inches, with 214 pages, retails
for USD$18.95 – and is published by Menasha Ridge Press at
www.menasharidge.com
I Rate it: A+++
(PF)
(Reviewed May 2007)
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Wild Hoofbeats: America’s Vanishing Wild Horses
by Carol Walker
One of the largest wild horse herds in the United States, and the
largest in the state of Wyoming, is the subject of Carol Walker’s
book. She spends four years documenting the lives of seven bands
(families) before they were eventually rounded up and removed from
the area. Walker has a passion for the future of these wild horses
that are decreasing in numbers in the US. She uses amazing
photographs and her own experiences to tell their story. Walker
talks about the land mismanagement and suggestions for future
protection from large wild horse removals, which continue to threaten an
already declining population. We are encouraged, as US citizens, to
stand up and make a difference for these true symbols of the
American west heritage and for the sake of the animals themselves.
These creatures should have the right to roam free with their
families without being disturbed.
Paperback: 160 pages
Publisher:
Painted Hills
Publishing; 1st edition (August 27, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0981793649
ISBN-13: 978-0981793641
Product Dimensions: 11.2 x
8.9 x 0.6 inches
Text: A+
Layout: A+
Photography: A+
User: All Photographers and Non-Photographers
(Reviewed by EP Sept. 2008)
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Wildlife Photographer of the
Year – Portfolio 15 The
cover image on this book will give you a good idea of the kind of
great images are inside, and they just keep getting better with each
page. All of the images are the final selection from over 17,000
entries in the 2005 Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition
for both pro and amateur
photographers around the world. Even though not all of the images
are animal shots, any wildlife photographer would still love this
great book, because the other images are a good selection of
nature images that are just as beautiful, and some even funny.
This hardback book is about 10x10 inches, with 159 pages, retails
for US$45.00, and is distributed by Trafalgar Square at
www.trafalgarsquarebooks.com/
I Rate it: A+
(Reviewed April 2006)
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Window Seat, The Art of
Digital Photography & Creative Thinking,
by Julieanne Kost
When I
requested this book to review I was thinking it was about something
else, but I got something completely different and was very glad
that I did. The title sort of tells you what it is about, but seeing
as I have never seen another book like it, it was easy to be fooled.
From cover to cover every image was taken through the window of one
of the hundreds of flights that the author takes every year, and
they include shots from over 30,000 feet down to landing level.
Beautiful cloud formations, farm land patterns, mountain ranges, and
high altitude sunsets, all so well taken and printed that you would
never know that they were shot through a double thickness of
scratched, and usually dirty plastic. This is a great book to add to
any photo library, and one that is sure to be unlike any other ones
you have.
This soft cover book is about 10x10 inches,
with 148 pages, retails for US$39.99 - and is published by O’Reilly
Media and can be checked out at
www.oreilly.com
I Rate it: A+ (Reviewed June
2006)
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Within The Stone,
by Bill Atkinson
Within The Stone is a
new photo book that is probably like nothing you have ever seen
before, but one you will likely never forget. Made up entirely of
close-up images of polished stone slices that create some of the
most beautiful abstract shapes you can imagine. They are a perfect
example of how nature makes man’s attempt at art more than a little
feeble. The cover image will give you a good idea of what I mean,
but it does not come close to what I consider the best ones in this
book. I’m talking about images that look nothing like stone. One
image looks like a river of red-hot lava, and another is like the
most beautiful blue set of three small waterfalls along a riverbank
of fire. If the whole book weren’t so well done I’d very likely tear
many of the pages out just to frame them for my walls. I am very
partial to abstracts, but anyone would like all of these images
because they are so impressive. This large 12x12 inch hard back book
has 179 pages, with 72 color images, and retails for ONLY US$39.95.
It is published by BrownTrout Publishers and can be ordered from:
www.browntrout.com
I rate it: A+++ (Reviewed April 2005) |
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WOLF – Legend, Enemy, Icon,
by Rebecca Grambo, photography by Daniel Cox.
The word "wolf" usually stirs two emotions - fear or admiration, and
almost always total misunderstanding. For those who admire this
beautiful animal, this book will be a library treasure. It fully
explores the relationship between man and wolf and how it evolved
throughout history, from being seen as creator by native tribes, to
devil by pioneers. It is filled with images of the personal lives of
wolf packs, which have social orders and family bonding as strong a
man's. It is both beautiful and inspiring.
This hardback book is about 9x11 inches, with 176 pages, retails
for US$34.95 - and is published by Firefly Books at
www.fireflybooks.com
I Rate it: A++
(Reviewed Jan. 2006)
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Women Photographers at
National Geographic
by Vathy Newman
This is one of those things in life that I say, “is about d _ _
time!” In this case it is the history of the female photographers
who have worked in the field for greatest NGO that has ever existed.
This book is a collection of the images and stories of many of those
women, and they go back as far as 1914 Japan when Eliza Scidmore
photographed for the society, which was the first photo published by
their first female photographer. Many others since have filled
National Geographic Society pages in places that most of us would
rather not have to be, including EVERY major war as far back as
World War I. The images range from a kitten and ballerina, to
addicts shooting up in a slum kitchen. In addition, different
sections showcase the works of various photographers like Jodi Cobb,
who is one of my favorites.
This soft cover book is about 11x11 inches, with 280 pages, and
retails for only US$25.00 and if your local bookstore does not have
a copy you can order it from the NG web site at:
www.nationalgeographic.com
I Rate it: A+++
(Reviewed March 2006)
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Working Smart in Adobe Photoshop CS2
by Conrad Chavez
Adobe Photoshop is the most powerful imaging program around, but it
still requires the user to know how to make it work at top
efficiency to get the best results out of it, which is what this new
book is all about. The author shares his long experience as a
Photoshop pro to give the reader his best time-saving techniques and
shortcuts to do just that. This is one of those rare reference books
that pay for themselves with the first idea you use from it. Then
after that it is all one big bonus after another.
This soft cover book is about 7x9 inches, with 290 pages,
retails for US$39.99 – and is distributed by Peach Pit Press at:
www.peachpit.com
I Rate it: A
(Reviewed Oct. 2006) |
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The World’s Top Photographer’s
Workshops: Celebrity & Performance
by Andy SteelThis 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.
Hardcover: 176 pages
Publisher:
Voyageur
Press; First edition (September 6, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0760337675
ISBN-13: 978-0760337677
Product Dimensions: 10 x 10
x 0.8 inches
Text: A+
Layout: A
Photography: A+
User: All Photographers and Non-photographers
(Reviewed by EP April 2010)
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