Shaw Books

This book really helped me develop some interesting concepts to adapt into my own work, and it introduced me to many things that you can do with lenses to take more interesting photographs.

Yeah, it's film centric but much of the information is great for digital too. If you are a wannabee, hobbiest nature photographer like myself, this is a great read.

All of John Shaw's books are great. There is some overlap between them as he goes over the basics but they are all worth a read for any aspiring nature photographer.

This is a great book for all photographers. Even those just a little interested in close up photography. Recommended 4++++

This book would be very helpful to a true beginner lots of tips and explanations. Very easy to read and follow no rocket science here. I would recommend this to anybody who is starting out in closeup and or macrophotography

"Closeups in Nature has provided a good technical approach to closeup photography, especially for the amateur photographer. I was in need of information relative to lense specifications and technical data to try and sucessfully photograph some difficult subject for publication. THis book gave some very generic insight on how to start that photo process and some guidance on how to develope a personal technique.

Although I haven't read Michener's classic, "Hawaii", "Texas" is my unquestioned favorite of Michener's works. Yes, it's formulaic but it's a formula that works. Some of it is so accurate it hurts. The part where the two friends go together on a hunting ranch and wind up enemies is way, way too close to home.

I won't try to synopsize what is a long and fascinating novel but I learned [I think I learned] things I hadn't known before. Did you know that the Texas longhorn became extinct in Texas and had to be reintroduced from some remnant herds in Mexico? No? I didn't either. It might not even be true but if the reader THINKS he was learned something new, he'll probably be interested. Did you know that only the longhorn steer gets really long horns? Me neither. As a matter of fact, it really isn't true but it's a fascinating falsehood.

Hey, Michener, at his best, can really write, twisiting fact and fiction into a tale worth reading. If you like Michener and you LOVE Texas, you can't miss this one.

Ron Braithwaite author of novels--"Skull Rack" and "Hummingbird God" on the Conquest of Mexico

This is a good overview of Texas history. It was written by Michener, so is, as one would expect, very long. It is a slightly different format than others of his novels, though. It flips back and forth between the current day and stories of history. Current day has folks from a representative set of backgrounds. The history story takes each of those people and frames historical tales around their ancestors. At various points the histories of the ancestors intermingle and the current-day folks realize that they are linked with each other.

An enjoyable book but don't bother reading the last two chapters. I don't know what the author was thinking. Maybe he had seen too many episodes of 'Dallas'! Ransom Rusk was a little too 'JRish' for my liking.
Apart from that glitch the rest of the book is a great read. Some of it extremely hard to come to terms with from all sides, Mexican, Anglo/German, Black and Native American. But nevertheless very worthwhile if you have the time to read it.

James A. Michener manages to educate you a little while also creating interesting enough stories around the State of Texas United States of America. He covers the natives, the influence of Mexicans in the area, and more modern issues like the obsessions with oil and gridiron. Pretty interesting book, in general.

Got to be a lot of research in something this long. This is a pretty cool trick to pull enough. I wonder how many library chairs he wore out back then while working on it.

I have a goal to try to read all of Michener's books. Three of the best so far are Centennial, Chesapeake and Hawaii. Have not completed Texas yet.

As a single mother with two small children and some very big questions, I found some reassurance reading this book. Like the cover I did find the author uncomfortable with the gray that makes up most of our lives! Of course one should have our partners vetted before taking a stroll down the aisle and certainly prior to creating a living partnership but reality is, if we knew so much ahead, would we dare enter any relationship.

What happened to my journey into motherhood, was a fast slide down the years to my early upbringing and that was something I was NOT expecting. Thus many many books later, some questions have been answered and along those lines, this book does do an excellent job, of reminding one of the higher road that is to be taken during parenthood. This road is as the author points out, a hard uphill slog against the stream of survival in the competitive world we live.

Although this book is not in full agreement with the Bible, my Christian brothers and sisters, it is good in that many of the things the author says confirms the truths of Scripture. It's also good evidence that non-Christians are able to recognize major things which Scripture says is true without having to have had their heart changed by God, and therefore are without excuse when they disobey him.

I thought this book pretty much spelled it out. Yes it has information that is common sense, but then common sense is not common. I appreciated the book stating that responsibility is important as well as good decision making and today kids are not given this at a young enough age to work through poor decisions and lagging responsibility. Learning throughout your childhood to improve decision making and take on responsibility - is accomplished through active parenting. Parents need to parent and friends are peers. The world is tough enough as it is and to go out in the world totally unprepared is not going to make life - any life easier!

I recently read this book and found it to be both relieving and empowering. I could fill a library with the books I've bought about babies and raising children, but this is one of the ONLY books I've read that really tells you to trust your own instincts and to feel confident in being a real parent. You know, the kind whose job it is to both nurture and love their children AND to teach them structure, limits, independence and consequences. Until now, I would have sworn that every other book I've read said the two were independent of one another!

I was baffled to see other reviewers write things like Dr Shaw doesn't promote breastfeeding or completely misconstruing his advice regarding "on demand" feedings, potty training, etc. For instance, he clearly states that breastfeeding is best UNLESS it is making you miserable, your baby miserable and it just isn't working for you.

Of course, if you can't stand the thought of your child ever crying, being mad at you, disagreeing with you or not having their own way, then this book isn't for you. But if you would like to find a way to teach your children how to be fulfilled and get along in both a family and a civilized world, then please read it! And after all, nothing good ever comes easy, does it?

I thought this book was very refreshing. As a mother of two young children (2 years and 11 mos) I am so SICK of the 'experts' who tell us how to raise our children. Most new mothers are so overwhelmed with information that they are left completely helpless when the time comes to actually get down to business of being a parent. I know this because I felt this way when my first son was born.

Thankfully I realized I needed to toss out all the idiot baby books (yeah, I'm talking about Dr. Sears) and trust my own judgement. I have two wonderful boys who are healthy, sweet, and happy. I'm not so cavalier to think that 'attachment parenting' doesn't work for some families, but it was destroying mine. You really need to decide what works for you and your child's temperment.

The norton critical edition was very useful for this novel. Having all the background about the novel as well as all the footnotes throughout the novel really aided me in my understanding of the novel. Without the information in these footnotes, the book would not have had the same meaning for me. The book itself was also very good, although a bit difficult to read. It was very interesting and it led me to a better understanding of the Victorian era and trials ordinary men at that time had to go through. A good read.

This is a wonderful classic for many reasons. But, I urge you not to read this edition, because the notes are terrible! There are notes for things that are obvious, and a lack for those things which need them. The worst offense, however, is that one of the notes (which readers are likely to check, as it gives background on a forgotten song sung by one of the main characters) gives away not only the important action of that short chapter, but also gives away the main line of the story. Awful, awful editing...

i do think it's a wonderful fiction! in the process of reading this book, i was captivated by the twisted development of the story and also Hardy's mastery language. it gives you a great picture of beautiful scenery in rural England, and there is romance, expections for what happens next. i really enjoy it !

Few literary settings are more distinctive than Thomas Hardy's Wessex, a hilly, chalky, bucolic quilt of pastures and villages occupying the southwest of England, its residents sworn to the immutable cultural traditions of centuries long past. But it is not the goal of "Far from the Madding Crowd" to be merely a sentimental portrait of a region for which Hardy has a great affection, but a grandiose drama about the eventual union of a man and the woman he loves. In summary, Hardy does accede to a Happily Ever After ending, but how he gets to this point is why his novel deserves to be read.

It's not surprising that the novel was originally attributed to George Eliot because the protagonist, Gabriel Oak, as the novel's moral anchor, is very similar in character to Eliot's Adam Bede. Oak is trying to make a living on his own as a farmer, but a stroke of bad luck compels him to take a job as a shepherd for a beautiful young woman named Bathsheba Everdene who has recently inherited her uncle's farm and commands a large number of workers and servants. Oak iconically personifies the rustic setting, not only because of his surname but because of the intimacy with which he communes with nature, and his fondness for playing the flute seems designed to evoke an image of Pan.

Oak has an awkward history with Bathsheba -- he had known her before her windfall, but in her independent spirit she spurned his love. As the head of Weatherbury farm, however, she can't get by on her independence alone, and she needs Oak's expertise in ensuring her sheep are healthy and fit for wool production. Her romantic attention turns toward a profligate soldier named Francis Troy who, through an unlikely error, has just barely avoided wedding Fanny Robin, one of the Weatherbury servants. Bathsheba's eventual marriage to Troy breaks the hearts of Oak and another rival, a neighboring farmer named Boldwood whose affections she had once teased and whose obsessive nature erupts at a most climactic moment in the novel.

The plot developments are a flamboyant display of contrivance, but Hardy masters his devices so well it's impossible not to go along with him for the ride. As an example, consider the jilted Fanny who is so weary from sickness that she has to use a dog as a crutch to get to her destination where she finally dies; not until Hardy reveals what's written on the lid of her coffin do we (and Oak) realize the role Troy played in her death. Likewise, Troy's impulsive reaction to this incident seems like a purposely destructive measure that intends to stir even more turbulence into the story.

A large part of Hardy's appeal is his prose, which maximizes the value of a mastery of language; his sentences are like finely cut gems that demand to be held up to a light and studied for their craftsmanship. I believe that Hardy is the consummate novelist; he approaches the art of the novel as a painter looks upon a canvas, a weaver upon a tapestry, a composer upon an opera -- as the supreme representation of man in harmony with nature and in conflict with fate.

In Far from the Madding Crowd, Thomas Hardy introduces us to the precarious "love square". At the core of all the turmoil is beautiful farm girl, Bathsheba Everdene - spirited, vain, intelligent and adept at toying with the hearts of men. Inevitably beguiled by her charms a humble and kind farmer, Gabriel Oak, fervently attempts to win Bathsheba's affections. Enter the competition: (suitor#2) Farmer Boldwood - a wealthy and temperate middle-aged man respected in the community, eventually plunges into maniacal obsession at the mere possibility of making the beloved Miss Everdene his wife; and (suitor#3) Sergeant Francis Troy - a dashing young philandering soldier, with his share of inner demons, ruthlessness and vanity, vies for Bathsheba's hand in marriage. Bathsheba's ultimate decision, and the cataclysm it evokes, lies at the epicenter of Hardy's unforgettable ambivalent story.
Far from the Madding Crowd, Thomas Hardy's fourth novel, saw publication in 1874 and earned him widespread popularity as a writer. A delicately woven tale of unrequited love and regret, set in the mid-19th century, Far From the Madding Crowd is a masterpiece of pure story-telling. Hardy's classic style is a pleasure to read as he masterfully brings his characters and their dealings to life. I would not hesitate to say it definitely captured my heart as another favourite.

Having grown up on the Friday the 13th movies I had been wanting this book for a while. I decided to throw don the $$$ and I'm glad I did.

This is an excellent book and a true must have for any fans of the series. You can see why and how they ended up making both the good (Jason Lives) and bad moves (Jason Goes to Manhattan) in the series.

I do wish they had more pictures of the cast though. I had to keep looking up names to go with the little images they had. But still a great book!

Wow! This is one amazing book. If you have any interest at all in the Friday the 13th movies, you have to buy this book. If you have a friend or relative who loves horror movies, you have to buy this book. This would make one hell of a gift for a horror freak. The book covers absolutely everything on every single Friday the 13th movie! Every aspect of each film and the entire filming process is in this book. A great book about a great franchise of the horror genre.

I ordered this book because I am a major fan of the genre. Obtaining these kind of books in Belgium (Europe) is pretty hard, so Amazon was an obvious choice for me. What baffled me the most was the fact that this book was way heavier and bigger than I ever imagined it would be.

The book starts off with a foreword by Sean cunnigham, director of the original Friday 13th, and then an introduction by the writer Peter Bracke. Both the foreword and introduction are very intersting to read and they explain briefly the why's,who's and when's of the book and the movies.

After that it only gets more interesting. They analyze every Friday 13th film (inclusive Jason X and Freddy Vs Jason) by telling stories about how some scenes were brought to life and how the general atmosphere was during the shooting. Combined with tons of wonderful pictures it gives you a very good idea of how the series came to life!

I can recommend this book for every fan of the genre. It's the most complete history of the Friday 13th films to date!

Maarten Lemey

Crystal Lake Memories is a collection of Peter Bracke's interviews with just about everybody who had anything to do with an F13 movie. He elicits fascinating details and opinions from his subjects, and accompanies the package with loads of BTS photos and film stills. I just wish there had been more of those - but it's obvious that Bracke went to exhaustive lengths to gather what he could, so I don't know if there's anything else out there.

A must-have for slasher fans and an interesting behind-the-scenes narrative for any movie lover.

Friday the 13th fans take note: you need this book. It's a very cool "scrapbook" densely populated by behind-the-scenes pictures, anecdotes, and interesting trivia.

It's actually most useful as an index of the films. If you're thinking "huh . . . now, which film was it where Jason killed someone with a harpoon . . . " you can just flip through until you find the picture of Jason killing someone with a harpoon! (No. 3, of course) Or if you're trying to remember what goes on in part six (I always forget), this will jog your memory.

The book itself is quite impressive. It's large and the photographs are, on the whole, very decent. They're not the amazingly beautiful, glossy pictures you'd find in, say, a Star Wars book of similar nature, but when you think about these series and how the behind-the-scenes pictures probably weren't great to begin with, the results aren't too shabby. I think the book is about as nice as it could possibly be.

The negative points include the fact that for anyone who already owns the Friday the 13th DVD collection, there isn't a whole lot of new information. If you've gone through the DVD extras and listened to all the commentaries, there's just not a whole lot of new or different information here. The text consists mainly of what appear to be roundtable discussions involving available cast and crew members. Basically, anyone who was available to participate in the DVD collection is represented here, but not many new ones.

As I said, the text is more like a discussion than a history or essays. There are a few brief essays, but nothing groundbreaking or particularly insightful - unless you haven't seen the DVD extras. The bottom line is: don't buy it for the text - buy it for the pictures.

This is a fun book and its presence on your bookshelf or coffee table definitely qualifies you as a Friday Fanatic. It's a fun and nostalgic look at one of the longest and most beloved series of all time.

As a fan since 1972 i thought I knew it all about Styx. The personal interviews with the managers and roadies and such enlightened me with alot more of the story.
I enjoyed learning so much about my Favorite band. I still favor the A&M years of Styx but all of the catalog is quite enjoyable.

My Thanks to the Author for all his hard work and efforts he put forth for OUR enjoyment.
I can't wait for the next book he puts forth.
A GREAT Read for the Styx Fans we all are !!!!

I read this book in a matter of hours, and it's not a short book, but it was so interesting I could not put it down. It was very in-depth and straightforward, and answered a lot of questions I had about the band. Certain interviewees had their biases, but overall I thought it was very fair. Loved it.

Sterling is one talented writer. I've read A LOT of Rock Bio's over the years covering evryone from The Beatles to Queen to Zeppelin to Bowie to the Monkees and this one tops them all. I COULD NOT put this book down. Sterling tells the back story to everything we ever expected with the Band STYX, and the book goes thru the Highs and Lows to the end of the show....The Joy, the Sorrow, the Tragic,...yet ALWAYS COMPELLING. It's sad that Styx just didn't understand how to enjoy their success when they had it, and Heart Breaking to know that the Talented Classic Lineup will never create another classic album simply because of unyielding Egos, Closed Minds & Stubborness. Perhaps their heads are in too far a different space to create another classic, But it would've been awesome to see them try. They've all had various degrees of success on their own and with the "NEW STYX", But it's obvious that the sum of the parts, or the chemistry, is much greater than the individual, no matter WHO wrote most of the hits. And Lastly, somebody PLEASE tell the wives that they aren't actually IN THE BAND!

I've been a Styx fan back in the late seventies early eighties and then I've lost track on any of the band's activities. I was then able to see a show during their European tour in 2005 here where I live in Switzerland. I didn't know about the change in the lineup and I absolutely had no clue about the band's internal problems. I was just happy to see them again after so many years and I was more than impressed with their preformance.

Just now I've been able to read "The Grand Delusion" and I found this book absolutely brilliant! Even though English is not my mother tongue, it only took me two nights to read the whole book. As an "outside" fan from far away, I would say that the author of this book was able to present the two sides of the story without taking one's side. Well done!

And from my point of view as a fan, I am looking forward to any future Styx Show in Europe as well as looking forward to Dennis' upcoming concerts in Germany at the end of this year. I just simply love Styx' music!

First I have to say I appreciated Sterling autographing the book for me. I've been a Styx fan since the mid-70's and have seen them perform 8 times and DeYoung on his own once. This book really gives you the background information about what was going on behind the scenes. Interviews with band members, management, and employees of the band all combine to provide a 3D view of what it was like during the rise and fall of Styx and in many cases what the rise and fall of any band can be like. I've also read Chuck Panozzo's book and while it provides a few Styx insights, this is the book to read if you want to focus on the band and not Chuck's personal life (I also enjoyed Chuck's book, but it serves a different purpose). If you are a fan of Styx you need to read this to gain some insight into the inner workings of Styx. The only glaring omission is the lack of perspective from DeYoung himself although this isn't the fault of the author but rather DeYoung's inaccessibility.

Though Styx is still touring today it effectively ceased to exist after the last tour with DeYoung in the mid-90's. One of the great arena rock bands in our history - this book is a must read.

I wish I could find more books on this topic. This is the best I have found so far...I recommend it!

The book gives creative and fun ideas for couples looking for something different. I would highly recommend the book to any couple not sure about a traditional wedding. I loved that it also gave resources such as web sites and phone numbers.

Eloping has always sounded like a good option but i never really gave it any credit untill i read this book. This book is filled will enough information to get you to believe that eloping can be done and also provides you with enough examples of peoples who went throught with it. For some one, like me, who is just starting with the idea this is a great book. Its filled with stories, successes, and hints on what to do and avoide - as well as some initial resources to start your research with. For those who have already excepted the idea and have done some research you will not find any thing new.
You will deffinitly need to do more on you own but this is a great starting point.

This book was a great for helping to make the decision of whether to elope or not. If you still want the "big wedding" there are lots of creative ideas in this book of how to include your family etc. It even has information on places to elope! If you are considering a destination wedding, elopement or even just a non-traditional wedding with less stress read this book.

Far more couples than anyone might suspect, would, if they were honest with themselves, reaize that a planned elopement could / would have saved them endless headaches and a lot of money. Elopement is not just two wide-eyed teenagers, running away from home to get married. It can be a very respectable, honorable thing, if done in the right way. This book gives you a lot of advice on what is the right way and what is the wrong way.

Every family and couple is different of course, but the truth is, for most families and friends, all they really want is for the both of you to be happy. And if they thought a small wedding of 6 people, in a favorite destination of yours, on two weeks notice, was what would make you happy... they'd want you to do it.

Don't be afraid to offend or hurt feelings, because chances are good elopement would not offend or hurt anyone's feelings, if you plan and communicated your plan properly. It's not for everyone of course, but it's a thought raised in the minds of far more couples than will ever let on. Think about it, read the book, and decided if it's for you. There are 100 different ideas here that will spur 100 more and might just result in your dream wedding. Don't discount it because of the taboo associated with the word "elope"!

Instead of having a big nose, like Cyrano, Cyril (Get it - Cyril/Cyrano?) is too big all over - 240 lbs.

Instead of secretly writing poetry for his buddy like Cyrano, Cyril cooks gourmet meals . . . for the girl he himself is in love with. You, of course, know where this is going.

The writing is slightly wooden. And I frequently wanted to whap Cyril alongside the head.

But it is a fun, romantic read and the recipes sound good too.

Flavor of the Week by Tucker Shaw is a modern-day retelling of Cyrano de Bergerac in which the protagonist remotely woos his dream girl with pastries instead of poetry.

Cyril, a teenage boy with a flair for cooking, hopes to make it into a culinary academy after high school. He also wants to make it onto Rose's radar. Rose is quiet and cool, easy to talk to, but Cyril would rather freeze up than admit his feelings for her. When his friend Nick also falls for Rose, Cyril finds himself whipping up tasty treats for the girl and helping Nick pretend that HE made them instead.

The main characters are all offbeat high school students without being stereotypes. For example, instead of being the most popular girl in school or conforming to the norm, Rose is a Bohemian girl, with glasses and swirly skirts. With steady pacing, a sweet conclusion, and mouthwatering recipes - including kitchen-sink cookies and butter-and-sugar sandwiches - between chapters, readers will be drawn to the kitchen and to the characters. Hopefully, they'll check out the original Cyrano too -- after they've had dinner.

the book is so simple and boring even if the plot might be slightly interesting the writting style is total crapola

I had to read this book for school and dreaded it. I was so shocked when I started to read it-I was right away hooked! I did not set this book down till I finished it-and trust me, I am not a bookworm or anywhere close.
I highly recommend this book for anyone, the story is so sweet. If I could I'd give it 6 stars, maybe more.

Cyril is the best cook ever but no one knows about it. No one but Nick his best friend. Nick moved away 2 years ago. Since then Cyril has become really good friends with Rose. Cyril wishes him and Rose were than just friends, but Rose sees him more as a brother. On top of everything Cyril has a cooking interview to get into college. One day Nick moves back. He suddenly falls in LOVE with Rose and Cyril finds himself cooking dinners for them that rose loves... Nick takes all the credit for it. Nick and Rose hook up and jamie and Cyril are bummed. Jamie Roses best friend liks Nick. With everything going on Cyril doesnt prepare for his interview and totally blows it. His boss pulls some strings and he gets on more chance..... Will Cyril score on his next interview and get into college??? Will Nick and Rose last?? Will Jamie and Nick ever hook up?? What about Cyrils chance at his one true love???

After purchasing three other books on CS3, this was the most applicable for someone that is primarily focused on nature and landscape photography. The authors introduce you to their work flow, which I find works well. They guide you through the entire process, beginning at taking your picture, to setting up your preferences, to final print. It leaves room for your own personal settings without "directing" you to do it only their way. The authors not only explain the "how", but the "why." This was something I found lacking in the other books, even the official Adobe workbook. The lessons are easy to follow and understand. You don't have to be a computer expert to work with this book, but basic knowledge of CS3 helps, although not required. If getting the most out of your landscape/nature images with CS3 is your goal, then this is your book. A very good "A to Z" instructional guide. Highly recommended.

For several years I have attempted to gain at least a small degree of skill doing some basic image editing using Photoshop. Each attempt was accompanied by the latest and greatest book claiming to be the source of everything needed to become quickly proficient with Photoshop. And these books tend to get read -- perhaps all the way to chapter 3 -- where I become entirely overwhelmed by the minutiae and lose complete interest, especially since the book is only introducing details and accomplishing nothing useful. I was skeptical when I purchased this book, assuming it would lead to the same dead end. I have been very pleasantly surprised, not to mention pleased with the progress I have made -- right through the final chapter!

I think several things make this book stand out. The authors have wisely chosen not to attempt to document every single feature of this huge and complicated software tool. Often they note, in passing, areas that they do not plan to cover -- and why (because the software was designed for a wide audience and nature photographers only need a sub-set of the available features). The book progresses very logically, providing you just what you need to do "the next thing." In practice, this means that you only need to learn a reasonable number of things in order to begin to see some success. As well, you then begin to build on these skills -- but never to the point where you become frustrated with the process. Finally, they provide options for you to consider and try, typically suggesting that you use the method most comfortable for you. In hindsight, I believe that many of the earlier books that I worked with often required adherence to the author's proscribed ideas about how to do this or that. It was quite nice to discover, for example, that a "keyboard person" was not forced to use the mouse -- and vice versa.

I can certainly recommend this to advanced beginner and intermediate photographers -- not JUST Nature Photographers. If you need to work with some of the advanced options that Photoshop offers then this may not be the right book for you. If you have tried many times to succeed with Photoshop I urge you to try again with this book -- you just may find that you will succeed this time!!

This is a pretty good book filled with quite a few tips. The writing style was difficult for me to enjoy per se but the content is there. It was extremely distracting however for nearly every photograph in the book to have the caption "Photo by Ellen Anon". Over and over and over....Even multiple steps in a procedure apparently required a credit on each photo. Just a small gripe but it would have been easier to say at the beginning all photos by Ellen Anon unless otherwise noted.

I had been muddling through Photoshop for years, learning how to do things mostly on my own. This book, however, was an eye-opener. First off, although being nature photographer-centered doesn't mean it is impractical for other subjects, the nature focus does preclude the types of portrait and architecture examples of other books that really don't help the nature-oriented photographer very much. I find this to be a big strength.

The book is fairly inclusive of most of the basic tools needed to produce quality photos, but some areas are a bit lacking, notably with respect to sharpening. Specifically, there is no discussion of high-pass sharpening, nor of the multipass sharpening process (capture, creative, and output sharpening) that Adobe is now embracing. If you are interested in getting the best out of your photos, I strongly suggest googling these two subjects and learning more.

This book, as do all books on the subject, also suffers from that fact that parts of it are partially obsolete almost from the time it was printed because of advances in plug-in technology. This is especially the case with the recent upgrade of Camera Raw to version 4.1 (now available for free download from Adobe's website), which has tools (sharpening, notably) that could not be covered by this book because ACR 4.1 didn't exist at the time it was written. Again, this isn't a flaw of the book, just the nature of the beast. Heck, I'm sure someone reading this review a year or so from now will be remarking how obsolete ACR 4.1 is, once ACR 4.2 comes out.

I like the fact that there are two authors for the book because they each have ideas on how to best accomplish their goals. This leads to multiple options being presented to the reader. The sidebars by well-known photographers are also quite valuable, although it seems that they were written based on earlier versions of the book (i.e., once centered on CS2, and possibly CS). As such, some of that information is a bit dated. Still, there is a lot of valuable information in there.

I can't comment on the tutorial CD, because I haven't used it, but for those of you who prefer to learn by doing, I imagine it is a very valuable resource.

All in all, I would definitely recommend this book to any newcomer to Photoshop who shoots primarily nature photos.

As a web designer I've been using Photoshop professionally for years. I've also worked on lots of photographs, both my own and those I've gotten from clients. I don't need a how to book on layers, cropping and levels. I've got a good understanding of the basic Photoshop tools, and have benefitted from Scott Kelby's Photoshop CS for Photographers. But Kelby's book is a recipe book both useful and well presented, but I want more.

What I want to do now is take my own photography to another level. Past a certain point, improving becomes less a matter of collecting tricks and recipes and more a matter of learning the entire workflow from experts. For that a basic how-to cookbook is no longer of much use to me. I could probably spend a lot of time working out a good workflow and set of procedures through trial and error, but why not take advantage of the experience of those who have already taken the art of nature photography editing to a high place?

Enter Photoshop CS3 for Nature Photographers. As one reviewer has stated, much of the introductory Photoshop material is covered in other books, but not in quite the same way. Photoshop has many tools, each of which has many settings and options. It's perfectly possible to be familiar with one tool or filter in one context and not realize that it can be used in combination with another tool to achieve a completely different result. I once read that when Einstein proposed his theory of relativity maybe three people in the world understood it. I wonder if more than three people in the world completely understand all of what can be done with Photoshop. What I was looking for and found here is an expansion of my Photoshop horizons, a deeper exploration of the art and science of nature photography and photo editing.

Anon and Grey offer an excellent look over the shoulder of experts in both practice of nature photography and in the use of Photoshop as a digital darkroom. I can't emphasize strongly enough how helpful that approach is for someone who has some Photoshop chops or who has used the program for another end and who wants to get great results with nature photos. Their workflow is time tested and produces excellent results

And nature photograph editing benefits from following a slightly different approach from that of product photography, with which I have some experience, portraiture, photojournalism and so on. Again, I'm struck with how specific and helpful the presented workflow, and the mindset that using such a workflow creates is. And placing editing in context with a specific photographic goal informs my picture taking too.

I recommend this book to anybody interested in nature photography who has at least some experience with Photoshop, though a dedicate beginner could work through the introductory phases with this volume. For someone who has used Photoshop in another context and wants to expand into the nature photography realm this book is brilliant.

I really thought I might connect with this book, but unfortunately it fell way flat of my expectations. I am 37, going through a divorce and wanting a career change. On the plus side, I'd love someday to be a writer but never thought I had the talent. Now I know that talent is not needed! The message of the book was ok...but that's all...ok. There are so many other books (parables and allegories) that say what this one did so much better. I'm amazed at all the 5 stars.

As a born again Christian, I hadn't gotten very far into it at all when I started feeling uneasy about it. I did finish the book, though - hoping to figure out what was making me so uneasy. What bothered me about it is that is not written from a Christian world view. It is humanism, in all it's deceptiveness and subtlety. That's why it made me so uneasy. First and foremost, it takes away from God His most important attributes - His omniscience and His consistency. It says that God made mistakes and that He is not perfect, that His will changes and that He exists only within us however we want Him to. The scary part is the subtlety - which is what is so insidious about humanism as a cult. The message in the book certainly makes you feel good and gives you warm fuzzes. It certainly can speak to me where I am with the current changes in my life....live in the moment, simplify your life, be patient, etc. There isn't anything wrong with any of those things. However, comments throughout the book make it clear that the author believes that each of us are our own "god" and there is no mention of salvation, of Christ's sacrifice, etc. The end of the book really left me puzzled and maybe because I don't know enough about the humanistic beliefs....but the author seems to be referring to the "being" that she has been eluding to as "god" and references him as "Joseph of Nazareth" - I didn't quite get that! I thought through most of the book that the "being" was supposed to be Jesus......but the end of the book says he was Joseph.

I thought in many ways, the author made the "being" seem cavalier and glib - and that was a bit unsettling. I didn't like the way the main character got jealous of the "being" - I found myself praying for the author - that she find The True source of "warm fuzzies." Sure, the book was full of them - it was a feel good story - makes you feel empowered when you read it - as if you can change yourself and your life by just adhering to 6 rules.....but the only true source of change is through Jesus Christ - and that the change He can make in our lives is permanent and complete. If you're looking for good Bible-based fiction, this is not your book. If you are a new Christian or are struggling with your faith, this book could leave you quite confused. Don't buy it. Don't read it. Stay clear of it's deceptive message and the humanisitic cult that it perpetuates.

This is a good example of "You can't tell a book by its cover". My wife and I ride Harleys, and enjoy reading books on many different subjects. We also think we have some spiritual sensitivity. Anyway, my Harley lady saw this book while Christmas shopping, and picked it up for me as a stocking-stuffer. When I opened it, I jokingly asked her if she found it in the motorcycle section or the religion section of the bookstore. After reading the first couple of chapters, I was about to consign it to the trashbin, but continued to read it, in part piqued by curiosity as to how such lightweight drivel makes it into print, in part hoping to find something redeeming in it. To sum up, all this book has taught me is that as a writer, you'll never go broke underestimating people's intellect, and as long as you use a few easily-applied formulas (the aging single woman in search of fulfillment; the hot brand ----in the title, of course; God ---it also helps to put Him in the title; banal self-help platitudes, etc.) you'll be laughing all the way to the bank. A total waste of money.

This book is amazingly written. It gives you (especially women) so much enlightenments to life.. and it addresses many difficulties that women go through everyday. It's a GREAT fable!!

I read for a living, so reading for pleasure is now, unfortunately, not the most appealing. I have turned to Audio Books, and what a joy they have been. I'm particularly thrilled to have "read" God on a Harley. In short, it changed my life, much the same as it has for the reviewers before me, and I've recommended it to all my friends. If you're not a big reader or feel you just don't have the time, check out the audio version. You'll find yourself not wanting to get out of the car so you can finish the chapter!