Book Reviews

A powerful portfolio involves so much more than just a strong grasp of the technical aspects of photography—it’s a complex mix of style, techniques, and intriguing ideas. Many photographers struggle to achieve a high-impact portfolio, feeling that they lack the creative spark to invigorate them and move their work forward.

Experienced mountaineer, rock climber, author and photographer David Neilson is no stranger to the many dangers and dramatic extremes of the wilderness. For this stunning project, Neilson embarked upon 6 journeys to Antarctica and the sub-Antarctic to explore the wonders of this dangerous—and very beautiful—frozen landscape in search of new adventures and to capture the exquisite light of these southernmost lands.

Painter Showcase is a collection of works by 40 artists who utilize Corel’s Painter software in their craft. The book features over 300 pieces that display not only the amazing tools provided by Corel Painter and Wacom but the many styles and approaches used by artists to create unique images that combine original photos with deft use of the tools. According to Cecil Williams, the book is the largest collection of paintings using these techniques, with the work assembled from contributors by invitation only. Corel Painter Master Heather Chinn was project director for the book, which was two years in the making. The book also includes a Foreword by Jeremy Sutton as well as contributed material from Cher Threinen-Pendarvis, author of The Painter WOW! books, Karen Sperling, Corel Painter Master and author of Painting for Photographers, and Michael Campbell, who writes about the future of art/photography.

Sylke Jackson is a writer and a teacher with a true passion for architectural preservation. This book clearly expresses that passion as we join Jackson on a virtual tour of the US and Canada to explore lighthouses. This is both an educational and a visual treat since Jackson wisely included a brief and high informative history of lighthouses from the Roman era to the twentieth century and a history of each of the structures photographed.

The New Art of Photographing Nature: An Updated Guide to Composing Stunning Images of Animals, Nature, and Landscapes (Amphoto Books, $29.99) is from world-renowned photographer Art Wolfe and writer and photo editor Martha Hill, with Tim Grey. In this revised edition, the text has been updated throughout to reflect the dramatic changes in photography since this classic was first released in 1993. More than 50% of the beautiful images are all new, and a new contributor, digital imaging expert Tim Grey, shares sidebars throughout offering tips on digital imaging and processing.

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.