Documentary-collections Books

Awesome collection of photos. I started collecting the same a few years ago and am SO glad I found this book b4 it got "rare"... because it will get "rare".
The pics are HIGH quality on good, heavy paper. The construction is strong and the jacket is nice, as well.
The aquisition was very smooth with quick delivery. I'm very pleased with this purchase ;-)

This book was interesting, but I was hoping for more pictures from the 1800s. The muscle men presented had a good selection of body building pioneers and famous names. The pictures of everyday guys strutting themselves, while providing a time capsule of men feeling proud about their bodies, didn't offer anything outstanding in the way of physical development. If you are looking for links in the chain of what would later become beefcake photos and pioneering body builders, you'd like this book. If you are looking for a definitive history with more pictures of Sandow, Atlas, Joe Weider, and Steve Reeves you might be dissapointed.

I was really, really impressed with this book about Strongman covering the period from the 1880's to the 1950's. The reason I was so impressed with these vintage photos of strongman and those aspiring to be strongman is that a lot of these classic photos have not been seen before. This is a fascinating selection of rare cabinet cards and studio portraits by some of the most famous photographers of that time period. You have your Herculean types such as Tony Sansone (my all time favorite), Eugene Sandow, Jack Lalanne, and many others. But what's really fascinating is all the amateur photos & snapshots of anonymous muscular young men that Robert has brought together for us in his book.

There is a very personal foreword by Jules Bacon, Mr. America 1943, who was one of the most handsome & muscular young men of his time. The introduction by Robert Mainardi is a fascinating account of why he started collecting & how his obsession began as a young man.

Any collector of physique photography should not miss having this volume in their collection. It's a must. Council Oak Books has done a beautiful job in printing this book, from the design of the book to the clear photo reproductions. If you like this book be sure and buy Council Oak Books first vintage photo book called "Sailor." Another beautiful book for your enjoyment and collection. Both are highly recommended.

With this book, Robert Mainardi has produced a marvelous and valuable addition to the history of photography and bodybuilding. This slim (but fully packed, nonetheless) volume contains many priceless physique photographs from the late 19th century to the 1950s-60s. Every page astonishes with the variety and quality of the collection that Mainardi has put together over many years. Some photographs are humorous (to our 21st century minds), some seriously dramatic and beautiful, but all are worth more than one look. One or two of the photos are bitter-sweet in the way they capture an earlier, more innocent and trusting time. Mainardi has written an essay, an introduction of sorts, that lays the foundation for why he collects, as well as some background on the field and people in question. I can't recommend this book srongly enough; it is great to own, and great to give as a gift to someone with an interest in photography, bodybuilding or history.

Mainardi's picture book is more than the vintage beefcake photos I'd expected. His introductory essay is a wonderful personal reflection on the power these images had on him as a boy, shaping both his erotic and aesthetic sensibilities for the rest of his life. In that context, the photos become a kind of study in the masculine ideal; any gay man -- and perhaps many straight men and women -- can find in them the sparks to light up distant sense memories and the dim images we buried in our dreams as children: everything from real body builders to guys like our fathers, uncles and brothers, hamming it up in front of a camera on the beach. A really great little book.

It was my honor to have met Bill Owens in 1975. My San Francisco Art Institute photography class went to his home to meet him and discuss his work. At the time he shot the photos he lived in suburbia and made his living shooting for the local newspaper. He was, in fact, documenting his own neighborhoods. We were a bunch of hippy art students expecting someone similar to ourselves and what Bill had to say was "yes, suburbia is weird but it still a pretty good place to live. Safe and comfortable." It should be noted that bay area suburbs were not exactly Ohio or Florida. Weed and wine were both first class. The book remains as one of the most insightful documents of California in the '70s and great fun to revisit.

I'm delighted to see this book available again. Last year I spent $100 for a copy (well worth it!) because it was out of print. I plan to buy the new version for the additional pictures promised. I've been fascinated with this book since I was a kid (and his other out-of-print books). I have too much to say about Bill Owens' work and not nearly enough room! I love "Suburbia" and would highly recommend it to anyone who loves to study people just "doing their thing".

The 1973 original edition, which contained only black-and-white photos, may not have been to everyone's taste. I went to the library and compared the "NEW & IMPROVED" (as the red 8-pointed star on the cover proclaims) 1999 edition with the old. The new edition is a lot better. First, some photos that did not have much impact for me (e.g., a shot of adults kissing on Halloween) have been deleted. Second, 18 pages of color photos (some of which have the gaudy color combinations typical of the 1970s) and a number of B&W photos were added. Third, the order of photos is more meaningful; for example, "I believe in women's liberation" was the second photo in the old edition but is on page 21 in the new edition (opposite a depiction of two chairs and a TV). Fourth, Owen's editor Shimshak has added captions for photos that previously had none (e.g., on pages 16-17). Finally, there is a new introduction by journalist David Halberstam.

I think this new edition of Bill Owens wonderful book is slightly better than the original. Having both editions I find that although the halftone screen is less than the original (first edition was over 200, this edition is 170) the printing quality and paper are better, giving the photos more depth. After all these years the images still look fresh and fascinating and the amount of detail the photos contain is amazing. As far as I am aware no other book comes close in capturing the feel of the American suburb of thirty odd years ago.

The book is always favourably mentioned in photo history books as an example of the `new topography' with photographers like Lewis Baltz, Robert Adams and Stephen Shore and the critics suggest that the citizens of this suburbia lead superficial lives because they live there. But they can't get round the fact these folk, living in Livermore Amador Valley, California, or perhaps three thousand miles away in Levittown, Long Island enjoy the life-style of suburban living and Owens photos capture this feeling so well.

On the visual strength of `Suburbia' I bought another book of Bill Owens photos, `Working: I do it for the money', published in 1977, a super collection of photos showing Americans at work and Like `Suburbia' it includes many observations from those in the photos. Well worth searching out for.

***FOR AN INSIDE LOOK click 'customer images' under the cover.

I'm delighted to see this book available again. Last year I spent $100 for a copy (well worth it!) because it was out of print. I plan to buy the new version for the additional pictures promised. I've been fascinated with this book since I was a kid (and his other out-of-print books). I have too much to say about Bill Owens' work...and not nearly enough room! I love "Suburbia" and would highly recommend it to anyone who loves to study people just "doing their thing".

Vivid colors, inspiring images in a very appealing format. Book has a high production value, making it one of those reference books you keep on your shelf and refer to year after year. Glitterati is to be commended on a beautiful print job. Along with abstract images as this book captures remarkably, [..]

Weinberg's photography is beautiful: gritty and linear and simultaneously glossy and sensual--like the city he has depicted. But what I find most interesting is that his photographs of refelections on buildings have caused me to look for similar images, colors and reflections as I travel about. I'm seeing some of Chicago in a new and exciting way.

Mr. Weinberg has unchained the camera from the rigidity of classic architectual photography. His photographs of high rise buildings and the images that the reflections present has opened my eyes and enabled me to see structures in a new and magical way. The artist has taken steel, concrete and glass and transformed them into abstract art forms. Bravo, Dave Weinberg.

My dad is an architect and an art lover. Picked up this book for his birthday and he was thrilled. Nice value for the money and it really stood out as an easy choice to buy! I'm going to pick up a copy for myself.

I am not usually a big fan of photo books but when I started flipping through this book at a friend's house, I couldn't put it down! The images are surreal and imaginative, to the point that the photographs seem to be of hand crafted jewelry or nature, not just of concrete, steel and stone. I ended up buying the book myself and even bought a second copy to give as a gift! Definately buy this if you like architecture, photography, or even just looking at something beautiful. I hope Weinberg puts out more books like this!

I purchased "Virtuoso" solely for the inclusion of wire walker/artist, Philippe Petit ("Man On Wire" film fame). I had no idea that the other individuals featured would be just as fascinating and interesting. A true find. I had watched a video or an interview with Charlie Rose and Philippe Petit in which the book was showcased and immediately knew I had to have it!

This is one of those extraordinarily rare books that inspires me to buy not one, but 100...for family, friends, and colleagues. The idea is so simple and so brilliant but more important, it is beautifully executed. Truly inspired virtuoso selections, gorgeous photography and wonderful writing-- rarely, does one find all of these qualities in one body of work. My only regret is that the book wasn't available during the holiday season or I would have used it for ALL of my X-mas gifts. With tremendous respect, LCLJ

What's great here, in addition to stellar photos and high production values (what kind of paper is this?) is the surprising quality of the selection of the people. I like seeing boxers and map makers, basketball players and glass blowers set next to each other.

Joseph Campbell's sadly over-used expression "Follow your bliss" is personified in the 40 profiles that fill the pages of The Virtuoso. What a revelation to find that the world possesses such remarkable individuals in places we might least expect to find them. The Virtuoso says much about taking risks, about going as far as you can to arrive at a place that is larger than yourself. Love, and a dash of madness, are at the core of every choice a Virtuoso makes, shaping the lives of these extraordinary talents in the most unimagined ways, and those who come into contact with them. It takes a vision to see the vision in others. Clearly this author has that. Bravo!

Wayne Gretzky's retirement from hockey seems a fitting occasion to remark on the phenomenal collection of virtuosos Ken Carbone has gathered together in his new book. The gift of a Virtuoso like Gretzky, and of this book, is the realization that absolute focus and dedication to a passion can lead one beyond oneself. That message resounds like a gong through the handsomely designed pages and expressive photographs of The Virtuoso. The thrill of sharing a Virtuoso's talent is the transcendence it offers, the visceral feeling that one is witnessing, in the Eastern sense, life lived fully in the moment. Inspiration, indeed.

This book is a wonderful compilation of the early panoramic cameras, and includes both pictures of groups and sweeps of landscape. The large size of the book allows for close examination of the photographs; in some cases the negatives have been cropped, but this is also noted in the text.
An engaging history of this camera and the pictures it produced. It makes a great coffee table book as well as an historical document for those interested in the photography.

This is a wonderful book not only for photographers, but also for those interested in timeless pictures of Americana. I found the subjects to be most interesting, as they are indeed captured moments in our history.

The book is also of special interest to those interested in Cirkut cameras; I own one and was very glad to be able to obtain such a specialized book that demonstrates what the cameras were capable of in skilled hands.

The book is very impressive, with multiple fold-out pages that do justice to the ultra-wide format photographs that are reproduced. The printing is first rate and everyone that I have shown the book to has been pleased with it.

The above headline pretty much sums it up. Sorry for ending with a preposition ( I should have said "an" to be silly).

The author obviously has a deep respect for the history of photography. The images, reproductions, and explanations are excellent. This is a beautiful book that every panoramic photographer could relish for many years to come.

I have an interest in panoramic photography, currently own a Widelux camera (can take a 120 degree pano on 35mm film), and am looking to buy a Kodak Panoram which performs similarly but on 120 format film. If I could afford a Cirkut camera, and the film and chemistry costs, I'd have one.

I'm also a history buff.

"America by the Yard" combines history and panoramic photography in a series of stunning images that seem to draw the viewer in. Consider it a series of graphic, high-resolution photos showing America growing up from circa 1900 to almost 1950.

The photos have so much detail, and so much width, that the photos continue to reveal new details each time I "read" it.

When showing the book to friends and co-workers, it has the same effect on them: lots of "oooohs" and "aaaaahhhhs" and exclamations.

An amazing book. I can't reccomend it highly enough.

I bought this book for my 20 year old daughter, and she absolutely loves it.

SUPER FAST DELIEVERY. GREAT SELLER RIGHT HERE. EVERYTHING ARRIVED IN TACT AND PACKED WELL! HIGHLY RECOMMEND.

Aside from the nostalgia of this collection, American Photobooth is a fabulous coffee table book, a varied collection of black and white and color images from the photobooths that have contributed to this country's collective photographic history- literally the faces of friends, strangers, couples, service men and their girls soon off to World War II, a stunning compilation reproduced on high quality paper, the images prefaced with a detailed history of the photobooth.

It all began with the 1894 invention of a Parisian vending machine. Once the concept of the coin-operated vending machine was embraced by an evolving popular culture, these booths became a favorite pastime, "the ultimate pedestrian art". Over the years the concept developed, along with techniques to streamline the process, photo strips available to customers for twenty-five cents. A number of entrepreneurs contributed to this emerging art form that could be found in storefronts, department stores and virtually any place one of these booths would fit. The technology progressed with the times, from a "plumbless" machine that no longer required a water supply to various chemical paper treatments that allowed quick-drying, cost-efficient results.

Over the years, booths were refined redesigned and updated under a series of names: Photomaton, Phototeria, Mutoscope Photographics, Photo-Me USA, Tru-Photo and Photo-Dome, through a number of innovative family-owned enterprises appearing everywhere, including the Depression. By the 1970s color strips arrived; by the 80s chemical photobooths were nearly phased out. The first art promoter to use the photobooth, Andy Warhol made the images part of the American artistic lexicon. But for those of us who ever posed with a friend, inserted a quarter and received a strip of four pictures, this book is a reminder of simpler days. Although "this American tradition stands on the brink of extinction". Goranin's wonderful collection offers a trip to the past, from the early 20th century, page after page of smiling faces hoping to capture a moment in a fast-moving world. Luan Gaines/ 2008.

The title of this book is perfect. What American hasn't had that moment in a photo booth waiting for the
flash of light, deciding second to second what pose to strike with or without accomplices? And then...
the wait for the magical strip of photos.

It's fascinating to find that this seemingly American invention was not invented by an American.
Even the history of the photobooth is filled with photos and ephemera about this "American" institution.
American Photobooth addresses this sociological phenomenon in a concise and fascinating way.
Who knew the depth of history to the everyday photobooth?

A great read and visual feast. A fabulous collection of photos, evoking the human spirit, its highs and lows.

After reading a "New York Times" interview with Nakki Goranin, the author of American Photobooth, we took a walk along Broadway between 51st and 52nd Streets. Goranin, calls this site of the first Photomaton "a landmark in photo history." (An extract from the interview and an incredible picture from its early "landmark" days appears in a link in the first Comment.)

Goranin provides a fascinating history of the Photomaton and its offspring, and touches on its modern counterpart incorporating digital rather than chemical based photography. Famous names like Al Smith, Jack and Jackie Kennedy, and Andy Warhol pepper American Photobooth.

(Andy Warhol: Photography is an excellent collection of images and essays on Warhol's interest in photography. Andy Warhol Photobooth Pictures is a catalog of Warhol's 1989 exhibition held by the Robert Miller Gallery in New York; the catalog makes the point that "there's this incredibly close resemblance of the photo booth to the Catholic confessional. You went in and drew the curtain, and suddenly you're alone with the priest.". Photobooth by Babbette Hines contains an abbreviated history of the device, and Google Books displays a number of interesting photos from the book.)

The history of the device is interesting but much more compelling are the wonderful images of ordinary people displayed in American Photobooth. The quality varies, of course, but one can create endless stories based on the poses, costumes, expressions and actions of the subjects. It is fascinating to compare the images here, where the subjects basically determine their own images, with the snapshots in The Art of the American Snapshot, 1888-1978, where the photographers almost invariably played a significant role in creating the images.

American Photobooth is a book I'll return to over and over again.

Robert C. Ross 2008

This is a very unusual and wonderful book that covers the working environment of American writers. The oldest writer in the book is Washington Irving who lived almost 200 years ago. The author has researched the environment and writing space of famous writers. This book looks at how the living & working conditions of the writers impact on their works. The book includes gorgeous photographs of the homes and writing spaces of the many writers covered in the book.

This beautifully illustrated hardback book would be a wonderful library addition for anybody that loves all forms of literature and also biographies of famous writers.

This book was well researched by J.D. McClatchy and wonderfully photographed by Erica Lennard. And for once, it's so nice to read a book in which the photos go hand-in-hand with the prose and descriptions.

As stated by other reviewers, this book includes a short biography of many famous writers, such as: Ralph Waldo Emerson, Edna St. Vincent Millay, Washington Irving, Mark Twain, Wm Faulkner, Louisa May Alcott and many more.

The author then visited all the places that each author has lived, and has shown the reader the rooms (& accessories) that made each home so special to each writer.

Many of these rooms and writing accessories might surprise the readers, since after reading some of the authors' famous works, one would think that each author/poet had created such amazing literary works in the most inspiring and comfortable surroundings. Not so.... because when you look at each photograph, the reader may notice that some of the rooms in which the authors wrote, looked rather dark and lonely and cold (also, some of the furniture looks so uncomfortable) . In addition, many of the authors/poets wrote their famous works snuggled in their beds, (not even on a desk & chair)! Thus, J.D. McClatchy showed the reader each bedroom that the author slept in, or wrote in, and sometimes even lived in. Through these photographs, the reader can imagine what it must have been like for these famous writers to create their famous poems or short stories or novels.

It was so interesting to read and visually see how each author/poet viewed their writing experience. For example, if a writer needed to be surrounded by gardens, then J.D. McClatchy made sure that chapter included photos of the author's yards. Or, if an author preferred to pace back and forth outside on their porch, then J.D. McClatchy made sure to include photos of that special porch. Or, if an author liked to eat a big breakfast before beginning to write, then of course, this book would include photos of the kitchen and eating nook.

I am going to refer to this book often, so that the next time I re-read THE SUN ALSO RISES or AGE OF INNOCENCE (for example), I can imagine how the author felt during that writing experience.

You unlikely would read it cover to cover. Instead, like the houses it explores, you would pop in for an occasional visit. And such wonderful visits author J.D. McClatchy and photographer Erica Lennard provide. Their words and pictures share similarities-soft and gentle in color yet detailed and realistic in portrayals so vivid you feel like a guest awaiting your host(ess) to step into the room and greet you. Poet McClatchy has woven details of the authors' biographies into a fabric of words about a central pattern of the homes where they lived and wrote. The 21 homes you will visit range from the austere farm house of Robert Frost to the Victorian elegance of Mark Twain's mansion to Hemmingway's Key West estate. As you travel from home to home-including those of Alcott, Dickenson, Emerson, Irving, Longfellow, Melville, and Welty-you travel, too, through time, from when pen and ink were the primary tools of authors into the era of the manual typewriter, but not beyond. McClatchy and Lennard have given us a romantic sense of simpler times and of the lives of the men and women who wrote our Nobel and Pulitzer winning classics, mostly while sitting at simple desks and tables. Surprisingly, many of them wrote in their bedrooms, perhaps further proof that really good writing comes from those who shorten the distance between an arduous task and creative rest. This book would have a proper home on the coffee table to the classroom.

-- Lowell Forte, Cupertino CA

I found this book to be quietly revolutionary in its very conception. The author and photographic collaborator set out to show how physical space influenced and stimulated various well known American writers. They look at both the writer's residence and personal writing space within that structure. As an archaeologist I spend much of my time looking at how artifacts once served to reproduce worldview. Much of that interest in my field has followed Pierre Bourdieu's notion of habitus. This book does the same in that it looks at how home and writing space might stimulate both thought and words. And this is done in an absolutely stunning fashion with thoughtful text, quotation of relevant passages from the writer, and striking illustrations. Any one with an interest in writing, writers, history, photography, architecture, or material culture (as well as the just plain curious folks) will welcome this book as a holiday gift.

I love visiting historic homes and especially author's homes like Cross Creek (Rawlings), the rowhouse in Baltimore (Poe) and on Prince Edward Island (L. M. Montgomery). Now this book can take me to other homes for that special insight into favorite authors. I particularly like seeing the photos of their writing spaces. For some it's a handsome desk, while another worked at a worn wooden table. Just being able to picture where Hemingway spent his days in Key West or Emily Dickinson lived her quiet life, adds dimension to their writing.
Although this book is not unique in covering this topic, it gives a quality tour of the homes of 21 writers. Other titles that might intrigue you are Writer's Houses and the book, Home: American Writers Remember Rooms of Their Own.
For each author, you get a brief background on that person and the house. There are photos, a listing of visiting hours, phone numbers and web sites.

No recommendation could be higher than that which I read in "The Economist" as follows:

Photographs to swell the heart of any armchair traveller. Like a Patek Philippe, this is a book you don't own, but merely look after for the next generation - once, of course, you've repaid the loan you took out to buy it.

This is from the "Books of the year 2003" recommended by "The Economist" Dec 6 - 12 th, 2003 issue. I don't choose to wear a watch, but I do appreciate the refined elegance and quality of a Patek. Likewise, ANTARCTICA is an heirloom.

ANTARCTICA by Pat & Rosemarie Keough

Reviewed by Charles Swithinbank,
Scott Polar Research Institute
for: The Antarctican Society Newsletter
Vol. 01-02, No. 2, January 2002

This is the first Antarctic book that may require a Sherpa to bring it to your home, a lectern to display it, and a special book-case to put it in. But make no mistake, it is something that you will treasure for life.

While is not the first large-format volume of Antarctic photographs by professionals who have spent years traveling in the Antarctic, what distinguishes this is the unmatched quality in every aspect of its production. The book is published in a limited edition of 950 leather-bound volumes, each one signed by the authors and by Her Majesty Queen Noor of Jordan, Honorary President of BirdLife International. An advance copy was unveiled on January 14th, 2002 during a reception hosted by HRH Prince Charles at St James's Palace, London. The authors have agreed to give the net proceeds from Antarctica to BirdLife International for their Save the Albatross campaign. An incidental consequence of current longline fishing practices is that 17 of the world's 24 species of albatross are now at risk of extinction. Attracted to the baited hooks, seabirds are hooked or entangled and then drowned as the trailing lines sink behind the fishing vessels.

Antarctica weighs 12.6 kg (27.8 lb) in its linen-bound presentation case, and 8.6 kg (19 lb) by itself. The book itself measures 44 x 34 x 6 cm (17 x 13 x 2.5 inches), contains 330 color images taken by the authors, a 15-page narrative, a map and a glossary of ice and snow terms.

The Keoughs have assembled a stunning and eclectic portfolio of such artistry that your reviewer was left speechless. It embraces wildlife, landscapes, abstract patterns in nature and touches of man from the heroic era through the heyday of whaling to the present. I was transported from the windswept interior plateau to the mountainous coast, from off-lying islands to the icy seas and the stormy ocean. The volume is a stress-free way to experience the wonders of Antarctica with all its savagery and beauty. For connoisseurs of photographic art and for collectors of fine books, Antarctica will greatly please.

My own regret is that I was not able to rummage through the Keoughs trash bin on the morning after they made their selections for the book. I could have sold my redundant camera. But remembering Herbert Ponting and Frank Hurley before them, I expect they will have fuelled their log fire in the backwoods of British Columbia with most of the rejects.

The authors traveled to the Ross Sea, the Weddell Sea, Ellsworth Land, the Antarctic Peninsula and South Georgia. The book includes a map of the continent with insets of the Ross Sea and the Antarctic Peninsula showing place names mentioned in the text. South Georgia, being peripheral to the main theme of the book, has no map of its own.

Each image has a brief but adequate caption. Most of the scenes would look fantastic on an IMAX screen. Having myself been to most of the places that the Keoughs visited - some in their company - many of their photographs brought a pang of nostalgia. But as I lack the eye of an artist, I had looked but seldom appreciated the stark beauty of what I was seeing. If tempted to tear out the pages to frame, Antarcticans will discover that with a properly bound book like this, it is almost impossible.

As I watched the Keoughs in the Antarctic, they almost always had their cameras on a tripod, surely a major factor in creating such pin-sharp images. The authors themselves inspected each page of every book (some 400,000 pages in all) before sending them to the bindery. To make the high quality binding, some 2000 goat skins from India were specially tanned in Scotland. To counter the squeamish, we are told that semi-wild goats are destroying plant diversity, and that fewer goats equate to a healthier natural environment.

The images are printed on custom-made acid-free and chlorine-free heavy paper, hand-sewn with Irish linen thread using centuries-old techniques. Treated with care and kept in dry and pollution-free conditions, the book should last for 1000 years. It is the first photographic art book in the world to have been printed with 10-micron stochastic spots, a leading edge printing technology with three times the resolution of traditional high- end lithography. Pat and Rosemarie's company, Nahanni Productions inc., have previously published six books featuring their images exclusively. Titles include The Nahanni Portfolio and The Niagara Escarpment. Antarctica is the first of their Explorer series. In buying the book you will help to ensure that your children may live to see the albatross still wheeling and soaring over the ocean - no longer threatened by the greed of man.

This book is an amazing and mind-boggling effort to bring the continent of Antarctica to life for all to see and experience, albeit vicariously. The work, endless dedication, and exacting attention to even the minutest detail set this magnificent book apart from all others of its genre. It is, in my opinion, the most beautifully conceived art book that I have ever seen. Not only is the photography in "Antarctica" exceptional and awe-inspiring, but in addition, the leather, binding technique, paper selection, etc.--all contribute to its incredible uniqueness.

I had the pleasure of sharing a tent with Rosemarie Keough during the photographing of the Emperor Penguins at the Dawson-Lambton Glacier in November/December 2000, and I can attest first hand to her ceaseless pursuit to capture on film as many phases of Emperor Penguin activity that constantly changing weather conditions would allow. No easy task, to be sure, but one done with much caring and love for Nature and its handiwork.

Anyone who would like to own a rare masterpiece of shear exquisiteness should not hesitate to add this magnificent volume to his/her collection.

ANTARCTICA arrived this morning. I've never seen anything so beautiful; it takes my breath away. The photos are so incredible that even as the viewer, it feels like I'm behind the lens. Thanks to Pat and Rosemarie Keough for completing this important work and sharing it with the rest of the world, especially for those of us who will never set foot on Antarctica--but we have visited there--because of the Keoughs and their photographic genius.

ANTARCTICA is a stunning book of such exceptional quality that it almost defies an adequate review. Pat and Rosemarie Keough have produced and edited this volume, and filled this first book of their Explorer Series with world-class photographs, each individually captured and carefully selected, to lovingly show the wildlife, the structural landscapes, and the stark physical beauty of this rarely visited continent and the subantarctic islands. Accompanying the stunning photographs is a beautifully written description which further amplifies the unique features of this frozen land. The pages of this book have been carefully handsewn, and the cover is bound in fine goatskin. The book is delivered in a well constructed presentation box.
The final product is an exceptional example of uniting the craft of publishing, handsewn book binding, and stunning photography with flowing text. The photographs themselves leave one amazed at the beauty of this continent.
The Keoughs have received fourteen major publication and artistic awards for the overall excellence of this tome. For me, this exceptional book has such beauty and lasting value, that I plan to bequeath it to the next generation for their pleasure and enjoyment.

Araki is the self proclaimed bad boy of the Japanese art world. His photography ranges from scenic to pornographic. This book covers the highlights of an expansive career covering his documentary, portraits, bondage and abstract work. Stylistically he is all over the place, sometimes intentionally degrading the "quality" of the image by scratching or burning the negatives, at other times, using medium format cameras and intricate studio lighting. Araki is provides a great example of the infinite possibilities that non-digital photography has to offer. WARNING: the book contains sometimes graphic nudity and adult content.

Not for the faint-hearted, or those without a sense of humor - but this is a remarkable collection of the notorious photographer's work. Some may find the bondage shots disturbing. If so I recommend watching the DVD "Arakimentary." This will put the whole thing in perspective. Araki is so amusingly solicitous of his models' comfort. His manner is endearing. He photographs EVERYTHING. And he does it well.

Self-described "photo-maniac" and sex trade voyeur, Nobuyoshi Araki is modern Japan's best-known photographer. This selection is an autobiographical recording of the artist's career from 1963-2002. It chronicles in black-and-white and color the whims of the enfant terrible of the Japanese art scene-and the changes in Japan as well. Reviled by feminists for his frequent use of ropes and other implements to bind women, Araki remains unrepentant and upbeat. If that and his documentation of Japanese brothels is not your cup of tea, his lovely color shots of exotic flowers may be more appealing. They bring to mind some of Robert Mapplethorpe's work. However, it is the recurring motifs of rope, lizard, yukata, tatami, Tokyo street scenes, and above all the ever-present Japanese female nude that appear most often in this book. Also, Araki provides commentary ("Notes of a Photomaniac") on each picture, which has been translated into English.

Araki by Araki is an interesting collection selected by the man himself for his 63rd birthday. This makes the book both incredibly interesting for those already familiar with Araki and a poor choice for those unfamiliar with his work. These pictures are very personal for Araki for reasons not really explained, but first-time viewers would do well to start with a collection that contains more of his classics.

The photographs are arranged chronologically, which allows us to see the evolution of his aesthetic over the course of his long career. This is rather unique, as most other collections are grouped by theme or some other organizational scheme. It's not necessarily better per se, but it is unique.

Another interesting aspect of this collection is that some of the photographs are presented retouched, as Araki tends to do. In the Taschen collection, the pictures appear as they do on the film negative, but as we know, Araki tends to paint over his pictures - both to add vital color to some of his monochromes (which he describes as death), and to self-censore some of the more explicit areas. Its quite interesting to compare the originals with the retouched versions, so that will doubtlessly be of interest to connoisseurs.

Also on the note of censorship, I noticed at least two instances of cloudy pixillation - very minor - but this is probably due to the Japanese publisher and their rather strict guidelines.

Finally, a word on the commentary. I was disappointed to find very minimal commentary spanning only two pages. Araki provides two or three sentences on maybe 60% (or less) of the photographs within. If you're buying this for the commentary, I'd think twice. He doesn't say much in these fragments that he doesn't also say in the excellent documentary "Arakimentary." Since the commentary is so minimal, an introductory essay would have been nice. I don't think Westerners such as myself can fully understand Araki's aesthetic without at least a little cultural context. Everything I've read on Araki directly translates into more viewing pleasure and I'm fairly sure that would be the case for anyone.

This is not a huge collection like the ones available from Taschen or Phaidon, but for the collector, this is an interesting volume, if only to see which pictures Araki feels the deepest personal connection to. You do get many many photographs, but they tend to be small (his massive "Tokyo Lucky Hole" is summarized on two pages!!), so I wouldn't necessarily buy this for the reproductions alone. While the image quality is very acceptable, I'd rather have fewer, bigger reproductions. Regardless, I highly recommend it to collectors. If you decide to make this your first Araki book, just make sure it isn't your last.

This is (as the title states)the photographer's personal selection of photographs from different bodies of work amassed over a 40 yr period. It's interesting to see work from his early days (even his commercial photos done while working for an advertising agency)and to see how much Araki was influenced by photographers like Cartier-Bresson, Robert Frank and William Klein. I cannot recommend however as introduction to Araki's oeuvre. All the photographs are taken out of context of their original books/project and there is only minimal commentary by Araki on select photos and no introductory or explanatory essays to help one understand the complexity and scope of Araki's work and personality.

Nice for those who are familiar with first generation Bel Ami models. Lukas, Johan, Ion, and Daniel Valent are the highlights here. There are photos of other not as attractive models that kind of spoiled it for me, but this book was a nice trip down memory lane.

If you're a fan of Bel Ami, then this book is for you. It's a hardback book with beautifully photographed images of the Bel Ami men. I would recommend adding this book to your collection.

The gorgeous Bel Ami guys are featured in this high quality artbook. All illustratiuons are in color on thick stock paper. Featuring your favorites Lukas and Johan.

Intimate Friends is another of Bel Ami's offerings that his beautifully compiled and presented. Youth at its finest. And the Hawks will hover....and...sigh.

This book has been reprinted several times since 1996 and now is available in hardcover for the first time. "Intimate Friends" features all of the most famous and popular Bel Ami models like, Johan, Lukas, & Ion Davidov. It's a beautifully designed book, with all of his handsome nude young men in living color. All of these models who appear in his videos plus prints are very handsome and in the prime of their life. I think Bel Ami has been a true pioneer in presenting us with some of the best looking European men ever to be photographed and published in America and worldwide. He enjoys an almost cult status now. If you're a fan of the Bel Ami stable of models be sure and have this wonderful book in your collection. We would all like to have "Intimate Friends" in our lives who are this handsome and beautiful. Highly Recommended!