Photo Book Reviews

Admittedly, toy cameras were never designed to produce the professional quality crystal clear, razor sharp images we so often strive to create. They are simply toys but because of their unique nature they do have a lot more to offer than one might suspect. They are amazingly good at producing wonderfully blurry, strangely distorted images marked with the odd streak of light but—for some photographers—these aren’t unwanted or undesirable traits at all. These quirks add an entirely new dimension of creativity to their work.

It could be said that American photographer Vivian Maier was one of a kind. The embodiment of the new liberated modern women, she was never afraid to speak her mind—often very passionately—and explore the world on her own terms. Born in the Bronx, New York to a French mother and Austrian father, Maier was an intensely private person. Her life remains a mystery of sorts but a new book is certainly effective at pulling back that dark curtain.

Photographer Bunny Yeager first attained fame as a beautiful and popular pin-up model in her own right—one of the most photographed in Miami. Upon retiring from her successful first career in front of the lens, Yeager soon embarked upon a new endeavor by expertly transitioning from subject to artist.

Fashion has many faces, from the normal casual outfit of jeans and tops to the extremes of fanciful designer creations. Fashion photography captures it all but the vision we see in the hottest magazines (rather than store advertisements) is often associated with the avant-garde runway style. In Fashion Photography Next by Magdalene Keaney, the viewer is presented with images that can be best described as bold and ultra modern (even a bit strange but always wonderfully memorable).

San Francisco-based photographer Richard Nagler’s career spans nearly 40 years and in that time, his images have become a treasured part of many private and public collections. For this latest book project, titled Looking At Art: The Art Of Looking, Nagler stationed himself in front of various art works in museums across the globe.

Shutterbug, a member of the Technical Image Press Association (TIPA), once again joined forces with 30 other member magazines from around the world to choose the winners of the annual TIPA Awards for the best photo/imaging products in 40 different categories. The award process began in early 2017 with an initial selection of a wide range of products conducted by TIPA’s Technical Committee, on which Shutterbug’s Editor-at-Large George Schaub serves. 

Photographing Waterdrops is a beautifully illustrated how-to photography guide that serves as both a technical tutorial and visual photography inspiration. Its collection of imagery explores the world within the tiniest droplets of water. Written by award-winning photographer Harold Davis, author of more than 30 books including the bestselling title, Photographing Flowers: Exploring Macro Worlds with Harold Davis, this photography book is intended to offer a fresh, creative perspective into the dynamic possibilities of natural waterdrop photography. Davis draws from his professional expertise and artistic perspective to offer advice on capturing extraordinary waterdrop compositions. Readers learn how to use light and reflections to their advantage, which tools and equipment work best for macro photography, and how to perfect their waterdrop shots both before and after shooting.