Book Reviews

Painter Showcase is a collection of works by 40 artists who utilize Corel’s Painter software in their craft. The book features over 300 pieces that display not only the amazing tools provided by Corel Painter and Wacom but the many styles and approaches used by artists to create unique images that combine original photos with deft use of the tools. According to Cecil Williams, the book is the largest collection of paintings using these techniques, with the work assembled from contributors by invitation only. Corel Painter Master Heather Chinn was project director for the book, which was two years in the making. The book also includes a Foreword by Jeremy Sutton as well as contributed material from Cher Threinen-Pendarvis, author of The Painter WOW! books, Karen Sperling, Corel Painter Master and author of Painting for Photographers, and Michael Campbell, who writes about the future of art/photography.

Alphabet Everywhere; by Elliott Kaufman; Abbeville Press; $14.95; (ISBN: 978-0-7892-1115-6)
Our daily environment is full of thousands of very tiny details. They can be found in many forms from light and shadow to colors, patterns and textures both natural and man-made. All of these tiny bits and pieces make up the big picture that is our world but is often hidden in life’s mosaic. Architectural photographer Elliott Kaufman has a very sharp eye for detail and a highly developed sense of whimsy. These are extremely valuable traits that every artist works hard to develop as part of their artist’s eye. It’s clear that Kaufman expertly exhibits these hard won traits—along with his extensive photographic skills—in his book, Alphabet Everywhere.

Experienced mountaineer, rock climber, author and photographer David Neilson is no stranger to the many dangers and dramatic extremes of the wilderness. For this stunning project, Neilson embarked upon 6 journeys to Antarctica and the sub-Antarctic to explore the wonders of this dangerous—and very beautiful—frozen landscape in search of new adventures and to capture the exquisite light of these southernmost lands.

The New Art of Photographing Nature: An Updated Guide to Composing Stunning Images of Animals, Nature, and Landscapes (Amphoto Books, $29.99) is from world-renowned photographer Art Wolfe and writer and photo editor Martha Hill, with Tim Grey. In this revised edition, the text has been updated throughout to reflect the dramatic changes in photography since this classic was first released in 1993. More than 50% of the beautiful images are all new, and a new contributor, digital imaging expert Tim Grey, shares sidebars throughout offering tips on digital imaging and processing.

Award-winning photographer Nick Veasey used his artist’s eye to move beyond the surface of every day objects in order to reveal the complex beauty hidden deep within them. His book, X-Ray, contains a wonderful collection of unique and well-crafted images that allow you to see the world like never before. With the aid of scientists and medical personnel, Veasey used X-rays to capture the inner workings of everything from musical instruments, animals, plants, various types of electronics and people. The results are both stunning and inspiring.

Photographing Waterdrops is a beautifully illustrated how-to photography guide that serves as both a technical tutorial and visual photography inspiration. Its collection of imagery explores the world within the tiniest droplets of water. Written by award-winning photographer Harold Davis, author of more than 30 books including the bestselling title, Photographing Flowers: Exploring Macro Worlds with Harold Davis, this photography book is intended to offer a fresh, creative perspective into the dynamic possibilities of natural waterdrop photography. Davis draws from his professional expertise and artistic perspective to offer advice on capturing extraordinary waterdrop compositions. Readers learn how to use light and reflections to their advantage, which tools and equipment work best for macro photography, and how to perfect their waterdrop shots both before and after shooting.