Photo Book Reviews

Born in Toronto Canada, Douglas Kirkland used his talent for photography to build a successful career that spans 60 years. Starting out with Look magazine, Kirkland then moved on to Life magazine where he became a photojournalist. This provided him with the exciting opportunity to explore such places as Greece, Lebanon and Japan. This position soon took him to Hollywood where he worked with stars such as Marilyn Monroe and Elizabeth Taylor and be on the set while iconic films like 2001 A Space Odyssey were being created. 

Hollywood, is so much more than just a spot on the map. Hollywood is a well-oiled machine, a fantastic dream factory where stars are born and ideas become reality on celluloid. This book offers a rare glimpse behind-the-scenes of films such as Some Like It Hot, Psycho, Dirty Harry, The Godfather, Taxi Driver, The Thing, Wall Street, The Crow and many more. Images captured on the set—and some candid moments caught between scenes—are all presented in the form of contact sheets, the direct prints that photographers used in pre-digital days to edit their work.

From the 50s into the 80s, nearly everyone had a Polaroid instant camera at home and most of our family pictures were captured with one. We all had a great time with this ingenious device because it was easy to use, economic and provided fast results. Polaroid cameras were also an indispensible tool of pro photographers before the invention of LCD screens and the ability to “chimp” the shot. 

These days we consider dogs, cats (and other animals, both large and small) to be much more than just pets, they are our beloved four-legged friends and full-fledged members of the family. Many pet parents have often wondered what the world looks like from their fuzzy pal’s unique vantage point. What do they do when we aren’t around and where do they go? Questions like these are answered in the book Petcam: The World Through the Lens of our Four-Legged Friends by Chris Keeney.

The mid-1970s was a time of musical transformation in New York City’s hot underground club scene. Glam was fading away and being replaced with the raw, bold sounds of Punk. New bands were being formed and drawing the attention of legions of eager fans. It was an explosion of creativity and (musician and photographer) Paul Zone was there to witness it all. Zone spent his teen years exploring the sights and sounds of famous clubs like CBGB and Max’s Kansas City while other kids his age only dreamed of being there.

For 15 years Grant Scott worked as an art director of photography books and magazines and in 2000 he decided to make the transition to professional photographer. This background—and his years of extensive experience in the field—provided Scott with a solid perspective on the fast paced, every changing world of photography. His book, Professional Photography: The New Global Landscape Explained is a valuable handbook designed to guide photographers through the complex maze that is the international marketplace and help them thrive there.