Image Books

This book is a very good book. It covers a great deal on the various aspects on what turns a simple picture into a great picture. It focuses a lot of energy on the photographer's ability to compose an image, and teaches a bit of the technical knowledge needed.

This book however does not cover in too much detail how a camera works, it assumes you have a moderately good understanding of what a camera is and what it can do. This is fine in a class room setting, as you would expect students to have a camera to take pictures with.

Pick up another book or read your camera Manuel if you want to master camera operations, read this book if you want to understand what kind of result can achieved with the various function of the camera, and how to compose a great picture with it.

My new favorite book about photography. It has a wide range of creative artists, processes and styles represented, with beautiful reproductions, as well as examples on how to perform techniques in Photoshop and in-camera. Great inspiration for any artist or student of photography.

Once in a blue moon a book comes along that is so elegant, fresh, and deeply insightful that it takes your breath away. This is one of those books.

Photography has long been fraught with a divide between, as the author describes, two distinct disciplines - professional or fine art practices. Perpetuating these divisions is counterproductive to the photographic endeavor as a whole and often creates significant impediments for individuals from either camp in achieving their highest potential.

Angela Faris Belt is a professional educator on the faculty of The Art Institute of Colorado, and her new release is actually a textbook -- a beautifully crafted one. Her main premise is succinct and deeply insightful - that "photography is a unique form of visual language, and as such is based on a specific visual grammar." She asserts that four elements form the basis of this grammar, and that they "are specific to every image created through the action of light." The four elements are: the photographic frame and its borders; quality of focus as determined by the aperture or lens; shutter speeds and their effects in relation to time and motion; and the physical media used to the aggregate image.

The author believes that these four visual grammar elements must all be fully addressed in each image for that image to reach full potential, whether the intended end use is technical (commercial, reportage, portraiture, etc.) or artistic, and whether the medium is traditional or digital. Following the preface and introduction, each chapter addresses one of the elements in detail and is both illustrated and illuminated with small image portfolios by carefully selected artists.

The result is simply wonderful and provides a compelling entreaty for all photographers to embrace both sides of the photographic process in order to achieve their greatest potential in the use of imagery as a visual language for communication in all its variations, regardless of discipline or medium. The book belongs in the reference library of every aspiring photographer and deserves to be studied again and again until it is thoroughly internalized and thoughtfully applied in the ongoing practice of making images that communicate to their maximum potential.

There are many great examples of basic image processing techniques in this book. Topics like Image Filtering, Edge Detection and also some Wavelets. There is both theory and detailed examples which really helps when trying to get the DSP in a symbiotic relationship with Matlab, CodeComposer Studio and MS Visual Studio.

There is a logical flow in how information is presented. First a basic description of the algorithm. Second some Matlab or pseudo-code. Then third he describes exactly how to implement it on the c6x dsp. Not only are there implementation details but also interfacing explanation for both Matlab and Visual Studio.

Overall this is an excellent book for getting a project up and running in a timely fashion.

This is an extremely well laid out and understandable text. The coding examples are easy to understand and can be easily demonstrated on the TI DSK's. As a current TI employee with little experience with the C6x line of DSP's, Qureshi's book allowed me to learn a large amount of image processing background in a short time while becoming familiar with the workings of Code Composer Studio and the DSP. The book starts very simply and has clear instructions on how to obtain the tools to run all of the code samples on real DSPs.

Starting with an overview of the tools involved and the C6x architecture, Qureshi moves into simple image processing concepts, such as contrast stretching and window/level processing. After clearly explaining the concept and the implementation, the reader is led through the process of optimizing the code for the DSP environment. Later topics, such as edge detection and wavelets leave the reader with a clear understanding of the fundamentals of image processing, as well as code examples that make implementation a breeze.

Overall, an excellently written book and a must for anyone interested in image processing, whether on TI DSPs or not.

In a world where 'Christians' are talking about getting rich and making the 'Gospel' a tool to pad their bank accounts, Michael Brown gives a clarion call to stop and wake up! The Word promises what it will cost to follow the savior and this book will paint a little bit of a different picture than you might receive by watching Christian television. God is looking for warriors who would be willing to follow Him at ANY cost. This book is a must read for both those in ministry and those desiring to live for the King

This is the wake-up call for Christians who want to
have a REAL walk with a REAL GOD.

Generally speaking, "institutionalized christianity" does
not cut it. This book spells out the reasons why and where
American churchianity has often missed God and HIS will.

If this book does not stir something deep in our soul:
you likely need to get [for REAL] converted.

This is an excellent college level text.I particularly like the detailed "real world" drafting problems for the students. Also it has a very good apppendix. It is comprehensive enough that we use it in three different courses here at Vincennes University.

I have had this book in my drafting library for some time now. I am always using it and recommending it. The book is laid out so that you can go from beginning drafting up through advanced. It not only says what the standards are, but walks you through drafting technology so that you understand why they are like they are. I believe that anyone that is going to be doing drafting should have this in their library.

The title of this text does its contents no justice. This book accurately explains the continually changing mentality of (and towards) African Americans from the end of slavery and through the Harlem Renaissance. It follows two methods of expression (art and literature) which helped to define the diverse culture that blossomed in Harlem after the Great Migration.

In efficiently examining the art and writings of the prominent African Americans of the time, Prof. Nadell helps bring to the surface fascinating connections between the two creative forms and between the creative, intellectual, and socio-economic aspects of the 'New Negro'.

Besides being wonderfully enlightening, the book is also masterfully put together. Nadell's art selection is thought-provoking and sharply printed. The layout of the book is stunning and the index complete. The cover-art, as you can see, makes you want to display the book on a pedestal instead of stuffing it between some musty tomes on your shelf.

A completely invigorating read.

I found Professor Nadell's book clearly and eloquently written, and illustrated with beautiful images of the time period she examines. The concept that ideas about race can transmitted through text and images is an original and fascinating subject and she does a wonderful job examining it and explaining it to non-scholars. Kudos to Professor Nadell.

I WAS IN GA. WHEN BILLY HOWARD WAS TAKING THE PHOTOGRAPHS FOR THIS BOOK I WAS VISTING AN AIDS PATIENT THAT IS IN THE BOOK, HE NOT ONLY WAS THERE AS A PHOTOGRAPHER, BUT AS A FRIEND. AFTER THE BOOK WAS IN PRINT HE CAME BY TO SEE HIM. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK HIM FOR THAT. THE BOOK IS GREAT . C.S.

The collection of words truly was an inspiration of life. After I finished reading the book, I had a new profound feeling about life. I feel that everyone should read this book once, because many of people in our materialistic society, including myself, take life for granted. But for me, that is a thing of the past. HAPPY READING!!!

As a total new beginner, the book is really good. Although there are tools that the Author does not touch it and encourage the readers to explore by himself/herself, this is mainly a modeler book as the Author says. The author teaches you very useful tips and tricks. For me, it met my expectations and more. I have learned a lot from it and it put me straight up and running with 3ds max.
Yes, the Author haven't touch some of the tools, but will you remember all and every tool??? Well, if you wish to go through the over 1000 pages and have a reference book that tells you every and all buttons, then I think the Bible one will do the great job. However, I like the practical approach from this book.

Among all the 3ds max books I bought:
- Learning 3ds Max 2008 Foundation by Autodesk (Terribly Bad)
- Introducing 3ds Max 2008 by Dariush Derakhshani (Good)
- Essential 3ds Max 2008 (The BEST)
- 3ds Max at a Glance (At a Glance) by George Maestri (Bad)
- 3ds Max Modeling: Bots, Mechs, and Droids (Wordware Game and Graphics Library) by Jon Weimer. (Just got it, so no comments on this one yet).

I can tell you that Essential 3ds Max 2008 by Sean McBride is no doubt the King! I just got the 3ds Max Modeling: Bots, Mechs, and Droids (Wordware Game and Graphics Library) by Jon Weimer, haven't got the time to read it yet. But it looks promising too at the first glance.
Plus it comes with the Matrix Sentinel Video tutorial... Awesome...

Never the less, my verdict for this book, it definitely goes 5 stars. There are sections that it does challenge you a bit and requires a bit of the reader attention and memory. I like that approach.

Having used 3ds Max since version 3, I have had the opportunity to see the application evolve over the years. With each new release, more and more sophisticated tools are added to meet the production needs of artists and studios. However, the core techniques necessary to model are not tied to any specific version of Max. But if you want to excel as a modeler, then Essential 3ds Max 2008 by Sean McBride is the book for you.

Learning Max's interface is daunting at first but the author goes into great detail when explaining all the relevant tools and their functionality. Once you are able to navigate the interface, you can then focus on your craft. It's always amazing to see a final production model, but it had to start somewhere and this book steps through that process. Many models begin their path to a complex high-poly state as just simple primitives and the author provides multiple examples of how to effectively utilize this modeling technique.

Chapter 16 - Becoming an Advanced Modeler / Artist is only 12 pages long but McBride manages to give the reader years worth of production experience. If all modelers followed the techniques in Chapter 16, it would significantly benefit the rigging/animation phases of any pipeline. If you are interested in working in the game industry as a modeler, then this book will prove to be an invaluable resource, especially Chapters 19 & 20, which describe the process of creating Normal Maps.

In short, if you want to efficiently create production-quality models, then I highly recommend Essential 3ds Max 2008. But like most 3ds Max books, there is just a mention of the power of MAXScript, which is the one area that I wished this book would have explored.

NOTE: This book says 3ds Max 2008, but it is essential reading for 3ds Max 2009 and for every version after that.

This is the most charming book I have come across in years, and I can't wait to read the original in German (available now on amazon.de for about $30.) The combination of master storytelling by Dische and Enzensberger and Sowa's richly surreal art is mesmerizing. The story is light, simple, and very rewarding. You will return again and again to this story of a rabbit traveling through modern Germany. It brings back memories of my time in both East and West Germany, around the wall. When I read it, I smile and feel better.

The story of little Prince Esterhazy is so simple and charming, sure to delight young and old. We bought the book because we are huge fans of Michael Sowa's art. The illustrations are at the same time surreal and precious; a bunny trying on boxer shorts? A bunny in the bathtub? Fantastic! And the poignant story of a bunny finding love as the wall falls in Berlin is too sweet.

Ethnic Notions is a catalog of images exploring racist memorabilia from the collection of Jan Faulkner, examining racial stereotypes in commercial imagery from toys to sheet music. Over 200 items are examples of how the black image has been distorted over the years. The black and white images provide powerful testimony.

Ethnic Notions: Black Images In The White Mind explores American racial stereotypes in commercial imagery, including toys, household items, postcards, sheet music, and advertisements. More than two hundred items showcased in these pages accurately depict the ways in which the black image was distorted and black people misrepresented in the broader American culture from 1847 to the present day in order to establish and reinforce the existing social discrepancies, justify discrimination, and perpetuate traditional majority/minority relationships in the county. Ethnic Notions is very highly recommended reading for Black Studies, social issues, and American cultural history reading lists and library reference collections.

This book covers multimedia in depth, and is has a interactive CD that is great. It also covers multiamedia issues, has demos and a good library. It is a must for anyone who is intrested in multimedia!

I really like the fact that the book and the Cd rom are interactive, that helps me alot with my school work and learning powerpoint