Book Reviews

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Book Reviews
A Moment.: Master Photographers: Portraits By Michael Somoroff
With essays by Michael Somoroff and William A. Ewing  |  Feb 07, 2013  |  First Published: Jan 01, 2013  | 
From 1977 to 1983, Michael Somoroff, then a gifted young New York photographer in his twenties filled with passion, drive, and unbridled enthusiasm, had the privilege of photographing some of the greatest photographers of the 20th century, including Brassaï, Elliott Erwitt, Andreas Feininger, Ralph Gibson, André Kertész, Duane Michals, Arnold Newman, Helmut Newton, and Jacques Henri Lartigue, among others. He was first introduced to many of these icons through his father, Ben Somoroff, who studied under Alexey Brodovitch, and was one of the most influential still life photographers in the history of the medium. These photo sessions granted to Michael were deeply personal, and it was never his intention to make the resulting images public.
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Book Reviews
Alphabet Everywhere
C.A. Boylan  |  Mar 07, 2014  | 
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.
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Book Reviews
Architectural Photography; Professional Techniques For Shooting Interior And Exterior Spaces
Norman McGrath  |  Feb 01, 2010  | 

This is an excerpt from Norman McGrath’s “Architectural Photography: Professional Techniques for Shooting Interior and Exterior Spaces”, a definitive and up-to-date guide to modern architectural photography.

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Book ReviewsPhotographer Profiles
Beth Moon’s New Photo Book Is An Astonishing Visual Homage to the Oldest Trees on Earth
Steve Meltzer  |  Dec 30, 2014  | 

Beth Moon’s photo book Ancient Trees: Portraits of Time is the result of a 14-year-long global journey in search of the oldest, most ancient trees on Earth. In this book of gorgeously reproduced black-and-white images, Moon takes us to into magical primordial forests and to isolated islands on a voyage of discovery.

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Book Reviews
Big Difference; Dave Black’s Ideas For Impact
Barry Tanenbaum  |  May 01, 2010  | 

Sports photojournalist Dave Black wants his photographs to attract and hold your attention. And he wants them to be as different from the next guy’s as possible; the next guy is, after all, the competition.

In search of the big differences that make for high impact photographs, Dave uses ideas as much as he uses technology.Here are four examples of his thinking about...

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Book Reviews
Blogging For Photographers; Showcase Your Creativity & Build Your Audience
C.A. Boylan  |  Jul 15, 2014  | 
With the swift advances and the continuing simplification of technology (smart phones, laptops, tablets and more), the Internet has been transformed into the ideal venue for artists of all sorts. The Internet can now be used as a gallery and a marketplace with unlimited potential. As a result, photographers by the thousands flock to various sites to showcase and share their work while others build their own websites to advertise their studio and attract new clients. With the potential to be seen by—very literally—millions of people, this is a wonderfully golden opportunity but for the beginner it can also be a bit confusing as to exactly where and how to get started.
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Book ReviewsPhoto How ToPro Techniques
Book Excerpt: Creative 52: Weekly Projects To Invigorate Your Photography Portfolio
Lindsay Adler  |  Apr 21, 2014  |  First Published: Mar 01, 2014  | 

A powerful portfolio involves so much more than just a strong grasp of the technical aspects of photography—it’s a complex mix of style, techniques, and intriguing ideas. Many photographers struggle to achieve a high-impact portfolio, feeling that they lack the creative spark to invigorate them and move their work forward.

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Book Reviews
Book Excerpt: Fashion Flair For Portrait And Wedding Photography
Lindsay Adler  |  Dec 29, 2011  |  First Published: Nov 01, 2011  | 
In Fashion Flair for Portrait and Wedding Photography (304 pages, Course Technology, ISBN: 978-1-4354-5884-0, $34.99) Lindsay Adler shows photographers how to apply the concepts of fashion photography, including preparation, styling, props, lighting, posing, and post-processing, to their portrait and wedding photography. This practical guide demonstrates how to prepare for a shoot, including choosing the location, wardrobe, hair, makeup styling, and poses, as well as considering the lighting and equipment. You’ll also find in-camera techniques, fashion lighting essentials, Photoshop techniques, and a variety of other tricks to achieve the fashion flair aesthetic. Also included are business and marketing tips, including useful social networking sites, products, and services to help you maximize the fashion flair approach and make it work for you. Chock full of great shots and extensive how-to and lighting diagrams, this can easily serve as a study and workbook that will help elevate anyone’s portrait and wedding work. In this excerpt we’ve chosen just a few of the many lighting diagrams and tips found in the book.—Editor

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Book Reviews
Book Excerpt: Flash Techniques For Macro And Close-up Photography
Rod and Robin Deutschmann  |  Dec 22, 2011  |  First Published: Nov 01, 2011  | 
There is something magical about macro and close-up images. They provide a glimpse of a world few ever see and fewer still understand. In this book, acclaimed photography instructors Rod and Robin Deutschmann show all the ins and outs of creating outstanding images of small subjects. They begin with an overview of the key challenges of macro photography, including achieving correct focus, maximizing the depth of field, and providing optimal lighting.
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Book Reviews
Book Review
C.A. Boylan  |  Apr 01, 2010  | 

Professional Commercial Photography: Techniques and Images from Master Digital Photographers; by Lou Jacobs Jr.; Amherst Media; $34.95; (ISBN-13: 978-1-58428-269-3)
Author Lou Jacobs Jr. provides valuable insight into the demanding world of professional commercial photography in this informative guide. He uses a collection of 160 color images to highlight special...

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Book ReviewsPhoto Bag Reviews
Book Review: ROY G. BIV, An Exceedingly Surprising Book About Color
Cynthia Boylan  |  Sep 10, 2014  | 

Every child delights at the sight and knows that the rainbow has a name. At a young age we are all taught to call it Roy G. Biv, a catchy title crafted from the first letter of each color it contains and it is also the perfect title for this interesting little book. Our environment (both natural and made-made) is simply alive with a constant riot of color and because each shade has a subtle influence on our appearance or an effect on our mood, we named them and gave them a distinct meaning. 

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Book Reviews
Book Reviews
C.A. Boylan  |  Jun 01, 2003  | 

Reefs And Rain Forests

Reefs And Rain Forests: The Natural Heritage of Malaysian Borneo; by Murray S. Kaufman; Reefs And Rain Forests Publications, 608 North Sierra Drive, Beverly Hills, CA 90210; hard cover; 276 pages; $49.95; (ISBN 0-9710655-0-0)
...

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Book Reviews
Book Reviews
C.A. Boylan  |  Aug 01, 2003  | 

The Photographer's Travel Guide

The Photographer's Travel Guide; by William Manning; Writer's Digest Books, 4700 East Galbraith Road, Cincinnati, OH 45236; soft cover; 160 pages; $27.99; (ISBN 1-58297-132-3)
Now that you have a firm grasp on...

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Book Reviews
Book Reviews
C.A. Boylan  |  Sep 01, 2003  | 

Classic Nude Photography Techniques And Images; by Peter & Alice Gowland; Amherst Media, PO Box 586, Buffalo, NY 14226; soft cover; 124 pages; $29.95; (ISBN 1-58428-040-9)
The beautiful images of Peter Gowland are legendary and this book offers a...

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Book Reviews
Book Reviews
C.A. Boylan  |  Oct 01, 2003  | 

Perfect Exposure; by Jim Zuckerman, Writer's Digest Books, 4700 East Galbraith Road, Cincinnati, OH 45236; soft cover; 160 pages; $27.99; (ISBN 1-58297-126-9)
This is a fantastic opportunity to learn the fine points of exposure with the expert help of Jim...

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