Abstract City

Request this item!!!

In July 2008, illustrator and designer Christoph Niemann began "Abstract City," a visual blog for the "New York Times." His posts were inspired by the desire to re-create simple and everyday observations and stories from his own life that everyone could relate to. In Niemann's hands, mundane experiences such as riding the subway or trying to get a good night's sleep were transformed into delightful flights of visual fancy. The struggle to keep up with housework became a battle against adorable but crafty goblins, and nostalgia about New York manifested in simple but strikingly spot-on LEGO creations. This brilliantly illustrated collection of reflections on modern life includes all 16 of the original blog posts as well as a new chapter created exclusively for the book. 

Digital Photography Through the Year

Request this item!!!

For anyone who's ever wondered what it takes to capture the nuances of a snowy landscape, to do justice to fall leaves, to catch reflections in a dewdrop, or to convey the exuberant joy of a summer picnic, Tom Ang's "Digital Photography Through the Year" is the essential companion to photography throughout the changing seasons.
Divided into seasons, each chapter features beautiful, evocative images, and provides details of how to recreate the look. With advice on which settings to use, overcoming potential challenges, dealing with tricky lighting situations, capturing and freezing movement, composing with color, and more, Tom's informal style makes stunning photographic results achievable for both the casual cameraphone user and the SLR expert.

Short Nights of the Shadow Catcher: The Epic Life and Immortal Photographs of Edward Curtis

Request this title!!!

Library Journal (08/01/2012):
"Edward Curtis's photographs have been controversial since their rediscovery in the 1970s. Although his work documented Native American cultures, he was also guilty of framing his subjects in ways that emphasized his belief that they were a dying people. Egan, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and a National Book Award recipient for "The Worst Hard Time", examines Curtis's life (1868-1952) from 1896 until his death, the years he worked on his 20-volume "The North American Indian". Although his supporters included such luminaries as Theodore Roosevelt and J. Pierpont Morgan, Curtis struggled throughout his life to maintain the project. His cause was hindered by his efforts to help the Native Americans he encountered as he alienated Indian agents and other government officials by demanding that they respect the basic human rights of the local populace. Most damaging to his reputation and his financing efforts was his claim, based on eyewitness accounts, that Gen. George Armstrong Custer's actions at the Battle of the Little Big Horn were not heroic, but in fact cowardly. Egan seeks to restore Curtis to a deserved high reputation. VERDICT This fascinating biography is recommended to readers interested in the American West from the late 19th through early 20th century.--John Burch, Campbellsville Univ. Lib., KY Copyright 2012 Reed Business Information."

Photographing Trees

Request this title!!!

In "Photographing Trees" renowned wildlife photographer Edward Parker shares his expertise so that both amateurs and experts can get the best shots possible. As the author writes, "The wonderful thing about photography is that anyone can take a great picture almost regardless of the equipment. . . . The trick is seeing how the camera 'sees' and learning to turn whatever conditions you are faced with to your advantage."

Sanctified Landscape: Writers, Artists, and the Hudson River Valley, 1820-1909

Request this title!!!

In Sanctified Landscape, David Schuyler recounts the story of America's idealization of the Hudson Valley in art and literature during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.

Breakthrough!: Proven Strategies to Overcome Creative Block and Spark Your Imagination

Request this title!!!

Breakthrough! is a lively compilation of strategies for combating creative block offered by a who's who of leading graphic designers, typographers, cartoonists, photographers, illustrators, musicians, writers, and other creative professionals. Because every block is different, they offer a wide variety of solutions-from cleaning the house and eating spicy food to making a plaster cast of your hands and feet-that are surprising, amusing, at times weird, but always inspiring. Breakthrough! is rocket fuel for any creative individual in need of a catalyst to get ideas flowing again.

Banksy.: You Are an Acceptable Level of Threat

Request this title!!!

The single best collection of photographs of Banksy's street work. Period. It concentrates on this singular artist's iconic imagery, spanning the late '90s up until the end of 2011. The locations are from around the world, and many images have never been seen before.