http://pspug.org/cgi-bin/forum/Blah.pl/Blah.pl? http://www.eblah.com en http://pspug.org/cgi-bin/forum/Blah.pl/Blah.pl?m-1370550837/ http://pspug.org/cgi-bin/forum/Blah.pl/Blah.pl?m-1370550837/#num1 A Graphic Designer's Guide to Creating Typographic Art Using Optical Illusions, Symmetry, and Visual Perception
Using this link will financially benefit PSPUG, thank you very much!

The back cover blurb - "Typography, when coupled with unbridled creativity, craftsmanship, and obsession, can take the mesmerizing form of an ambigram. Ambigrams are typographic designs that combine optical illusion, symmetry, and visual perception. The resulting word or phrase can be read in any number of orientations, viewpoints, or directions.

"Here is your master class in the art and craft of the ambigram! Curated by graphic and ambigram designer Nikita Prokorov, this book offers a thorough introduction to the esoteric artistic movement made popular by Dan Brown's novel Angels & Demons. You'll find insightful introductions to the ambigram from an all-star panel of design judges, including Scott Kim, John Langdon, Maggie Macnab, and Cheryl Savala. Next comes a series of case studies that includes sketches and the thought process behind the creation of some fascinating ambigrams. Finally, the showcase section presents numerous curated artworks from ambigramists around the world. Equipped with the expert techniques and inspiring examples found in these pages, you'll be ready to start creating your own ambigrams!

• Stunning showcase of ambigram artwork from around the world
• Insightful commentary form an all-star panel of ambigram luminaries
• In-depth case studies illustrating the creation of ambigrams from start to finish"

My review will be posted this week but the book is SO mindblowing I couldn't wait to let you know we have it at PSPUG for check out.]]> Thu, 6 Jun 2013 13:33:57 Pete http://pspug.org/cgi-bin/forum/Blah.pl/Blah.pl?m-1369958147/ http://pspug.org/cgi-bin/forum/Blah.pl/Blah.pl?m-1369958147/#num1 Sketching Light AN ILLUSTRATED TOUR OF THE POSSIBILITIES OF FLASH by Joe McNally

ISBN: 978-0-321-70090-2
Book Level: Intermediate/Advanced
US $49.99  CAN $51.99
418 pages

From the back cover: "For 35 years, Joe McNally has been telling stories with pictures. His images - by turns dramatic, subtle, energetic, joyous, poignant, mysterious - are as varied as his approaches to lighting them. In Sketching Light, Joe takes you behind the shots to discuss his lighting solutions for dozens of pictures. What truly sets the book apart, though, is that he also takes you beyond the numbers to consider how the light he creates works for the pictures he makes.

"Covering both small and big flash, Sketching Light begins with demonstrations of basic lighting techniques, lighting modifiers, and one-light solutions, then moves on to discussions of individual images, flash technology (such as high-speed synch and the latest TTL radio triggers), and a host of lighting styles and approaches. Joe shows the images he makes as he works toward the final shot, as well as behind-the scenes pictures and sketches that detail light placement, power settings, f-stops, and shutter speeds.

"Of course, the numbers never really tell the story, and Joe routinely goes beyond the metadata to get to the heart of the image. In each story, Joe discusses both craft and technique, revealing how he approaches a subject and what motivates his decisions - both technical and creative - behind the camera. Written in a characteristically lighthearted and humorous tone. Sketching Light is packed with insight, information, and the hard-won knowledge and wisdom that only comes from an attentive, passionate, and ever-thoughtful life in the field."

Joe's site: http://www.joemcnally.com
Joe's blog: http://www.joemcnally.com/blog

I like a lighthearted technical book. In his intro below this title "And Now, Time for a Short Brisk Whipping!", is an introduction to his style: "As opposed to a long, drawn-out torture, which could be, for instance, reading the manual! It has its purpose, and I bring it with me, but it's not exactly a nail-biting whodunit page turner." On the opposite page is a full page photo by Mike call of Joe making faces at the camera he is holding to photograph himself - it's funny.

The first chapter includes his commentary on the photos, a photo of the set up with him, light(s), model, background, and larger area. From those positions and set-ups he presents the picture he made.

Chapter two goes on location, with set-ups and lighting and results reviewed. In other chapters he prints pages from his sketch book that has notes about the set-up, light meter readings, things he wants to remember for the photo session.

In the ABCs chapter you get to see the first raw image and then the same image as he begins to build his light drama. Each chapter takes a model and goes for an effect. Mostly these are jobs for clients and it is their story he needs to make meaningful. That is why it is good to see so many different chapters, covering so many situations.

Another thing that becomes obvious is that he does not work alone. Looking at some of the simpler work (no less dramatic, exqusite photography) where he uses one light or one umbrella you know that can be handled just by the photographer. Later on it is shown that the requirements of the session call for extra hands: holding reflecting surfaces, lights, directing fans, etc. That is not a down side of the book but a realization that when you begin to make those photographs that just SCREAM professional, someone else is bound to notice.

You have to grow with your craft and have people available to you for the odd jobs.

This will not be a tiresome book to read and learn from: you'll laugh, be amazed, delighted, and even scratching your head as you pick apart each shoot.

If you would like to check out this book just give me a hollar.

Amazon's Listing: http://www.amazon.com/Sketchin.....ords=Sketching+Light]]> Thu, 30 May 2013 16:55:47 Pete http://pspug.org/cgi-bin/forum/Blah.pl/Blah.pl?m-1362073012/ http://pspug.org/cgi-bin/forum/Blah.pl/Blah.pl?m-1362073012/#num1 'Almost Every Black and White Conversion Technique Known to Man'

Book Level: Intermediate/Advanced
Category: Photoshop/Digital Photography
Price: $44.99
ISBN: 978-0-321-79402-4
255 Pages

... review to be continued...]]> Thu, 28 Feb 2013 09:36:52 Pete http://pspug.org/cgi-bin/forum/Blah.pl/Blah.pl?m-1335226980/ http://pspug.org/cgi-bin/forum/Blah.pl/Blah.pl?m-1335226980/#num1 'A Guide for artists and designers'
by Andrea Marks

ISBN: 978-0-321-76745-5
Book Level: Beginning/Intermediate $34.99

We all take pictures. We don't often write. When we do it's more like a blog, email, small web page. There is a CD with resources to articles, books, websites, blogs, wikis, video, and more.

"An upbeat exploration of fun, engaging techniques for using words to unleash the powers of the mind." - Ellen Lupton

Email me if you would like to check out this book: devlinpt @ qconline.com

]]> Mon, 23 Apr 2012 17:23:00 9662 http://pspug.org/cgi-bin/forum/Blah.pl/Blah.pl?m-1335225695/ http://pspug.org/cgi-bin/forum/Blah.pl/Blah.pl?m-1335225695/#num1 'A Self-Training Guide to Mastering the Challenges of Taking World-Class Photographs'

Roberto Valenzuela
ISBN: 978-0-321-80353-5 $44.99 294 pages Book Level: Intermediate/Advance

I paged through the book to have a good look at the photographs and see what Mr. Valenzuela is showing, both in final images and the "no-good" shots. Many of the practice shots have circles around the area of the photo to be looked at and evaluated. I am impressed. Many of the poses and situations are different from anything I've ever seen before.

It is a thought provoking book that photographer's of people will enjoy.

Email me if you would like to check out the book.
devlinpt @ qconline.com]]> Mon, 23 Apr 2012 17:01:35 9662