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Layers: The Complete Guide to Photoshop's Most Powerful Feature

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Art- Architecture and Photography
by: Matt Kloskowski

February 21, 2008
I've used Photoshop for a number of years now, and even teach it on a regular basis, but this book blew me away! It wasn't so much that all the information in it was new to me (though a lot was), but the way that Matt explains things is fantastic!

I think I managed to get as far as about page 10 before I went "wow, that's brilliant!".

Highly recommended. Thanks Matt!

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Analysing Architecture

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Art- Architecture and Photography
by: Simon Unwin

September 25, 2003
I found this book rather unsatisfying. Like so many instructional works in design, the duality of tacit and explicit knowledge was not bridged and again like so many works of this sort it relies upon a rehearsal of historical and contemporary precedents and exemplars to illustrate formal spatial, geometric and structural concepts. Talking about design is not the same as doing it and I did not feel the book helped one to set about tackling a design problem. The many hand drawn illustrations are engaging - the better ones are those that have not been traced or rendered over from photographs.

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Seven Days in the Art World

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Art- Architecture and Photography
by: Sarah Thornton

October 01, 2008
I found this book rather unsatisfying. Like so many instructional works in design, the duality of tacit and explicit knowledge was not bridged and again like so many works of this sort it relies upon a rehearsal of historical and contemporary precedents and exemplars to illustrate formal spatial, geometric and structural concepts. Talking about design is not the same as doing it and I did not feel the book helped one to set about tackling a design problem. The many hand drawn illustrations are engaging - the better ones are those that have not been traced or rendered over from photographs.

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The Americans

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Art- Architecture and Photography
by: Robert Frank, Jack Kerouac

June 09, 2008
What a great idea, re-release an out of print book which in its original form costs hundreds of pounds and make it assessable to the multitudes.

I love the images in this book and I am so pleased it has been republished at a reasonable price. This ranks up there with books by Henri Cartier-Bresson, David Bailey and Ansel Adams, each of whom have or had their own style but this book and its images stand out and proven how good Robert Frank was as a photographer.

When this was first published there was uproar in that The Americans showed Americans how they were in society and it caused anger in some areas. this wasn't a sugar coating of Americans but the real thing. Even, Walker Evans said that this book and Franks images had "a bracing, almost stinging ... Read More:

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A Visual Dictionary of Architecture

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Art- Architecture and Photography
by: Francis D.K Ching

November 14, 1996
Having asked for this book as a present I am so glad I did. This has to be THE BEST dictionary on architecture. I also have a non visual dictionary by Oxford but this book far outweighs that one. Being an architecture student, there are still a lot of architectural terms I am not familiar with which is where this book comes in real handy. Every time I come across a new term I always think "no, it's not going to be in here" but it actually IS! Not only is there a brief description but to help you understand better there is often a hand sketch too (of which there are many and of EXCELLENT quality). The best thing about this book is, however, I have architects looking up things in here too! This book is invaluable and a definite must for anyone studying architecture or even newly qualified ... Read More:

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How to Cheat in Adobe Flash CS3, (How to Cheat in): The Art of Design and Animation (How to Cheat in)

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Art- Architecture and Photography
by: Chris Georgenes

August 10, 2007
I have been using flash for years and there are still some great tricks that I have learnt from this book. I lecture flash at university to complete beginners and I intend to point them in the direction of this book. The exercises look great and are FUN to complete. Flash is not the easiest program to learn. The beauty of this book is that the content is so engaging, the exercises rewarding, you might not even notice you are learning along the way.

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Francis Bacon: Anatomy of an Enigma

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Art- Architecture and Photography
by: Michael Peppiatt

September 11, 2008
A fascinating study of the great man and his work. Peppiatt knew Bacon from the 60's onwards, thus the biography feels intimate and true to life and is successful in depicting the flamboyance, complexity and sheer charisma of this important British artist.

Bacon's father is depicted as a key figure, as well as a leitmotif of brutal masculinity in Bacon's paintings. A tyrannical, martial man, (according to Peppiatt, he has his teenage son horsewhipped by his grooms in order to `make him more of a man') he is the very antithesis of the highly intelligent, young, unconventional Bacon. This early encounter with such brutality goes some way to explaining the power and masculine energy so apparent in Bacon's paintings, as well as the sado-masochistic and destructive nature of his ... Read More:

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Derelict London

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Art- Architecture and Photography
by: Paul Talling

April 24, 2008
Loved this! A great reference to parts of London we see every day, but ignore so easily.

One of the buildings I walk past going to work every day is in here, and I look at it now, and soak in the History.

This is a great little book, if you love London and its history, you will really enjoy Derelict London.

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New Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain Workbook: Guided Practice in the Five Basic Skills of Drawing

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Art- Architecture and Photography
by: Betty Edwards

April 30, 2003
For anyone who has decided that they can not draw at all this is the book for you. It is a pratical book. To start off all you need is a pencil and a rubber.This will get you through the first 7 exercises and if you are like me get you very enthusiastic. The book starts with 3 exercises to show your starting ability and then has 37 more exercises using the techniques given. The sketches are done in the book. The book also includes a pullout viewfinder tool. Just brilliant.

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London Through a Lens (Time Out London)

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Art- Architecture and Photography
by: Time Out Guides Ltd

September 04, 2008
For anyone who has decided that they can not draw at all this is the book for you. It is a pratical book. To start off all you need is a pencil and a rubber.This will get you through the first 7 exercises and if you are like me get you very enthusiastic. The book starts with 3 exercises to show your starting ability and then has 37 more exercises using the techniques given. The sketches are done in the book. The book also includes a pullout viewfinder tool. Just brilliant.