Art Architecture Photography Books

This book is a visually compelling, interesting, and insightful look into Japanese urban living. While the book is physically small (something that surprised me, despite having read the many reviews saying as much) it is jam-packed--much like Japanese apartments, come to think of it. The photography is not beautiful, but it is captivating and it serves its purpose. Besides, given the subject matter, one could hardly ask for "beautiful" photography. You will be disappointed if you're looking for a book on Japanese design, because this is certainly not it. We're not looking at luxurious, spacious apartments by hip Tokyo designers, nor are we looking at serene, "zen" houses. We're looking at the real homes of real people, and thus your expectations should be adjusted accordingly.

I know that some people have complained that there is a lack of information about the people living in the apartments, and it's true that the writing is sparse. However, I felt that the pictures adequately told the story without having to be further cluttered with text. That's what makes this book so interesting--it allows us to draw a comparison between the way ordinary Japanese people live and the way that we ourselves live without the distraction of too much explanation.

The text that the book does have sheds some light on cultural differences without being overbearing--the fact that many Japanese apartments do not have their own bathroom, for example--and is a welcome look into normal people's lives without being intrusive. Because of the author's unobtrusiveness, we are offered a truly objective look into the lives of Tokyo's citizens through their homes--sometimes messy, cluttered, and cramped though those homes (and lives) might be.

It's a small book filled with pictures of real people's apartments.
Also, all of them are small apartments (probably located on japanese cities like Tokyo), in everyday situations (read very messy).
For the japanese culture curious/entusiast. The book adds nothing in knowledge, but it's interesting to see how real people live in real japan today.

If this book were in larger format, I would love it. It is an afront to the western understanding of Tokyo design, showing how real people live, not high design. An interesting subject matter, but it is difficult to look at the photos since the book is so small (just like the apartments, I suppose). At first opening, the binding cracked and the cover partially separated from the spine. The format has done the subject a disservice!

Its good to see how other cultures live, the style of types of living spaces that the Japanese have as a posed to that of America and Australia etc. Certainly an eye opener.

The photography is nice the light is pretty much all natural. There were a few photos where I have been able to make out some titles of manga that the people have and found some that I own.

If you are interested to see how other people live day to day and thing your house is small (and its rather large) get this and see how it compares.

The photographs are so well taken, I have never been a fan of small packed rooms, but these rooms in the book are gorgeously messy. However I would give it 10 stars if the apartment owners were photographed too.

I was amazed at how well this classic treatise on architecture has held up over more than 25 years. It's a thoroughly engaging history of architecture with something to please anyone interested in building and design.

Allthought not the best book ever written on American Architecture (Learning from Las Vegas, etc), it does provide a good overview of the evolution of architecture in America from the functionality of house forms in the early colonial times to asthetic forms of the 20th century. The book focuses on the regional influences which dictated the building forms of the early periods from materials to climate, which are often overlooked in broader surveys. Much has been written about the Segrams building in other books, but this book will give you a better understanding of why houses in the South are brick with external chimneys and New England houses are clapboard with internal chimneys.

You know what?
This book rules.
I've been waiting for Quincy for some time now.
We read it to our unborn child 1x a week now.
There's nothing like Quincy on the shelf. It's 100% genius.
If you already own it, then you're Einstein.

A wide grade range, from 4-7 and perhaps beyond, will find much to delight in the beginning photographer's guide Quincy the Hobby Photographer: the Complete Guide to Do-It-Yourself Dog Photography. Black and white and color photos offer helpful tips on taking photos and operating a camera, blending humor with plenty of clear examples on everything from picking a subject to working with a canine who won't sit still.

We usually see bridges as an extension of the road we're on, never realizing that every bridge is a great venture unto itself, where creativity, engineering genius and big capital all come into play.
Mr. Cortright's book highlights the most beautiful and unusual bridges from around the world, covering a span of nearly 3000 years. They're all here, from ancient Roman arches to extravagant futuristic showpieces. Whether the locale is Buenos Aires or Shanghai, you'll find yourself daydreaming about who built these bridges and what it would be like to cross them. I picked up this book in an odd moment and found myself captivated for hours.

Ideal for bridge fans, but even better for those who simply like to travel in their imagination. Highly recommended.

An amazing book. Great photos of bridges all over the world. Very insightful. The book has inspired me to go Bridging and I use the book as a reference handbook.

Bridge aficionados are lucky that Bob Cortright is alive, well, and traveling the world with his camera and lifelong, unabashed love of bridges. In this, his third magnificent volume, Cortright takes his camera further afield to bring readers stunning, full color photographs of bridges from 28 countries across six continents. His witty, succinct commentary conveys fascinating lore and trivia about each bridge. A perfect gift for travelers, students, and pontists of all ages. To see more of Cortright's bridges, visit [...].

If you take bridges for granted, perhaps as part of a daily commute, you likely won't again after reading Robert Cortright's lovingly assembled book.

Whether it be a multi-century old stone bridge in the old world or a recently built cable-stayed structure, you can't help but pause to admire the hundreds of examples of man's handiwork in Bridging the World.

Grouped by the method of construction used, these bridges are a tribute to man's ingenuity and his need to communicate. Featuring bridges from almost 30 countries and from 6 continents, the book is guaranteed to leave you wanting to see more, perhaps even in your own locale.

BRIDGING THE WORLD would make a wonderful gift for anyone with an interest in engineering or architecture, an armchair traveler or history buff, or anyone who just likes beautiful photography. Cortright is a retired American banker who just loves bridges. This is his third book filled with bridge photos, and he's obviously very good at his craft. The photos are gorgeous, displaying bridges from all over the world, with 306 clear, colorful photos from 28 countries and six continents.

The photography is exquisite -- you can see the individual cables, the shadows on the water or canyon beneath the structure, and the texture of the stones and other materials used in the bridge construction. The book arranges the bridges more or less chronologically or by length of span. The photos are divided by method of construction used in the bridge -- beam, arch, suspension, cable-stayed, aqueducts and special bridges. The book begins with structures built in ancient times and moves on to huge, modern works of art. To see several of the photos, visit www.bridgeink.com. Strongly recommended, especially as a gift.

I felt in love with this book at first sight. The hardcover its on metalic gold color. When you get to open it you know that you made one of the best buys if you like contemporary painting. Every single page is amazing. Almost the whole book has full-page image. The paper quality is (like couché) great. I haven's seen a Richter's face to face so I can't say anything about the color (perhaps it has a little more contrast than the real ones, but it doesn's bother me at all). The print quality is excellent and allows you to see plenty of details. In the first pages you can watch Richter working at the studio with huge canvases around him. In the last pages you can get to see like a hundred of sketches most of them painted with oil on canvas or paper. This book and the Matthias Weischer's one I think are both A MUST HAVE ARTBOOKS.

One of the very few books on Daniel Richter with good reproductions and covers a substantial part of his illustrious career.Definitely does justice to one of the great painters of this decade !! Wish they had also included more interviews with Richter and some of his rarely seen drawings.

Frank Whitford provides an essential introduction to the Bauhaus in his book, titled simply--Bauhaus. Whitford follows the events of the school from a historical perspective starting with Walter Gropius' plan and motivation for the school, to its ultimate end in Dessau at the hand of the Nazis. Whitford also presents personal perspectives through the journal entries and personal letters of the staff and students of the Bauhaus. These personal accounts help create a connection between the historical and the personal, and track the change in mood within the school. Whitford's book spends very little time on the impact of the Bauhaus, which is an analysis beyond the scope of this book. Frank Whitford's book, Bauhaus should be of interest to any student of art, design or education.

Copyright © 2007 Of My Own Design, Josh Crain. All Rights Reserved.

Great background to an institution which was about as rock'n'roll as they come. The soul put into the establishment, its teachings, its beliefs (collective and individual) and the commitment of those involved is staggering - its a shame that it really doesn't have an equivalent today, but that's todays politic and media for you. Consice account that was almost written as a historical novel - Christ, I even read the bibliography at the end !! Off to find more books about it all now. Oh, and listen to Blumfeld, International Jetset & Earl Brutus whilst reading this too.

AJC 1999

Frank Whitford's Bauhaus in the Thames & Hudson World of Art series provides a fine basic introduction to the 20th century's most important school of art. Whitford writes engagingly and informatively. He begins by sketching the prehistory of the school in the 19th century arts-and-crafts movement and then goes on to examine van der Velde and the Weimar Art School that served as the basis upon which Gropius established the school. Whitford deals with all the major figures in the fourteen-year history of the Bauhaus and he uses contemporary documents (journals, personal accounts, etc.) to tell the story. I rank this among the best books in the Thames & Hudson series. In fact, I assigned it as a required text in a course on the Bauhaus and the Weimar Republic. Incidentally, teachers might be interested to know that Whitford has also written and narrated a fine 60" film "Bauhaus: Face of the 20th Century" (available in the Films for the Humanities series.)

Mister Whitford thoroughly chronicled the events that formed and shaped the Bauhaus - from the very beginning to the unfortunate end. A very good point of view - a must read for the Bauhaus enthusiast.

This a great tribute to perhaps the most influential design institute of the 20th Century.
The story of it's development, philosophy, success and untimely end is perfectly chronicled here.
The expert, novice and vaguely interested would find this book useful. It's a superb acaedemic source and an important catalogue. Bauhaus still influences design today and should also be regarded historicaly as yet another victim of the Nazi regime.

Photographer Robert Lautman has taken and assembled a remarkable set of photographs depicting scenes which a visitor would see upon touring the wonder that is called Monticello. Near the beginning of this book are two architectural drawings showing the first floor room layouts. Numbers appear on these drawings and they indicate the approximate camera positions for each black and white photographic plate.This is an outstanding photo-tour of Jefferson's custom built mansion. I would have given it a 10 rating had it not been for a few little features and omissions which detracted from the work. The major distraction centered on an obviously retouched photograph showing the surrounding hills as seen from Monticello. The photographer, in an attempt to show what the view might have looked like for Jefferson, had to manipulate the photograph to remove or minimize modern distractions such as houses, roads and other man-made edifices. While the intent to recapture a lost vision is a good one the execution wanting. It would have been nice to see more than one photograph of the second floor rooms.

Excelente libro reuniendo un trabajo impecable de Sugimoto.
Los textos que acompañan este trabajo son realmente muy buenos también.
Edición de calidad insuperable.

The photographs in Hiroshi Sugimoto's "Architecture" are the gentlest of abstract art. Although the subjects have been reduced to the simplest of forms, they are still recognizable and there are no modifying or distracting elements added,

The pictures are all of iconic architecture, ranging across history from the entrance to the temple of Dendur at the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art, through the structures of Le Corbusier and Wright, to Gehry. The pictures are all taken from classic angles, either head on, or at 45 degrees to the structures. The pictures are all in black-and-white with deliberately blown out highlights and shadows that seldom reach into absolute black. (This light range is not the range of the American photographers of the first two-thirds of the twentieth century who prescribed a range of light from absolute black to white with the barest of specular highlights. Rather, to speak in digital terms, it's as if the entire histogram had been shifted to the right.). Most noticeably, all of the pictures are deliberately out of focus to the point where the subject is recognizable but few distinguishing surface features appear. These are elemental forms.

Sugimoto has said that he used this technique because many of the structures were time-worn and he wanted to reduce them to their basic forms. He certainly has done this and those familiar with architecture will recognize the structures without reference to the captions. Other people, including some of the essayists whose works introduce the book, have found much deeper meaning in these photographs. A good work of art often leads the mind to wander into speculation about meaning, and often the speculation reveals as much about the speculator as the art.

One may very well ask whether the book is about photography or architecture, but I suspect the photographer might answer that it is about seeing.

Another question one might ask is whether these images, which are so much alike, can survive regular scrutiny. I felt that, having read the book, I got the point and had no need for further examination at this time, although I did reexamine the pictures again and again, looking for additional meaning. On the other hand, I suspect that if I returned to this work in five years, when I had more experience, I might find something new.

Hiroshi Sugimoto is known for his long-exposure photos of empty movie theaters and museums: his blurred masterpieces of public places depict both familiar, major structures and lesser-known buildings. Sugimoto: Architecture is an impressive collection of his art offers full-page unsullied black and white reproductions of his finest works and will delight fans of photography, architectural representation, and the Sugimoto style in particular.