Star Wars The Blueprints Review

Posted by Francois in Books, movies, Uncategorized on Nov 19th, 2011 | 0 comments

Review by John Derricks submitted via email

Star Wars: The Blueprints contains the original blueprints that were made and used for the Star Wars Saga. The images are accompanied by a lot of commentary and show the extreme detail that was the foundation for a truly epic movie cycle. The funny thing is that you don’t even need to be a hardcore Star Wars fan to appreciate these drawings. Just from a technical and engineering perspective alone, these wonderful blueprints are true eyecandy. The amount of detail in these drawings is incredible. I wouldn’t what else to call it. This IS the ultimate book on Star Wars and it’s a massive release. How massive you ask? It has it’s own trailer!

The book has a list price of $500 (an an average online price of around $450). This might look a bit steep but wait until you see the sheer quality of the blueprints. For a full list of all the blueprints click here.

This book will give you the ultimate, rare insight in the foundations of what ultimately became one of the most beloved science fiction stores of all time. Among the never before seen artpieces are views of the Rebel blockade runner hallways, the bridge of the flagship of General Grievous, the interior of the Falcon, and the palace of Jabba.

The book measures 15.5 inches wide by 18.5 inches tall, contains 336 pages and offers more than 250 blueprints and 500 photographs and illustrations. The entire thing weighs a stunning 22 pounds.

Needless to say such an exclusive release doesn’t come in a cheap case either. The book is encased in a custom dyed cloth material enclosure with debossed stamping on the spine and cover and comes with a certificate of authenticity signed by the publishers president. So the entire package has the looks to match the pricetag.

Star Wars: The Blueprints is limited to 5,000 hand numbered copies

Positives

• A lot of never before seen artwork presented in a beautiful high quality book that will entertain both fans as well as engineers
• Not your average behind the scenes book
• Insane amount of stunningly detailed blue prints and photographs

Negatives

Aside from the fact that there are a few of the drawings don’t contain any measurements, which is kind of weird for blueprints, there isn’t much I can complain about with this release. It’s pretty damn magnificent.

Verdict

This is a beautiful limited edition book of very high quality. But its odd that a publication of this sheer size and magnitude and most importantly a hefty price doesn’t come with a little something extra. The price will definitely put some people off and I wonder if aside from the novelty factor for engineers there will be a huge audience for this besides hardcore Star Wars fans. But if you can spare the money and love Star Wars then you’ll want to have this.

The Guitar Collection: Flat Top ’43 edition Deluxe Hardcover Limited Edition Review

Posted by Francois in Books, Photography on Nov 19th, 2011 | 0 comments Review submitted by Dale T.
It’s not often that I find myself absolutely flabbergasted at the site of a book. But this is a clear exception. The Guitar Collection is without a doubt the most insane and awesome book ever made on my favorite subject: guitars.

This is not a big book. It is a HUGE book. And when I say huge I don’t mean slightly above average book size either. It is 23 inches wide and 11 inches tall and weighs 20 pounds! Not the kind of book you will be able to fit on your book shelves. So the publisher came up with an awesome alternative: the book comes with its own hand crafted leather carrying case.

This custom leather case has satin nickel latches and is lined with beautiful fabric just like a real guitar case. The case holds the book itself as well as a companion piece with stories on the guitar collection, a certificate of authenticity and a stunning print signed by photographer John Peden. The sheer size and quality of this publication is very much remniscent of the insanely large original Helmut Newton release from taschen in 1999: You have to see it to believe its real.

Now, if the almost 32 inches wide 10.5 pound stunning case with burgundy fleece lining and the 24×12 inch museum grade print alone weren’t enough to win you over already, then the contents, 670 full color high definition images most certainly will. The photographs are of a truly jaw dropping quality and are bound in well over 500 pages. The companion book contains an additional 180 photographs and stories on the subject.

The Guitar collection contains guitars from the Country Musical, Rock and Hard Rock Halls of Fame and features pictures from Paul McCartney, Jim Page and Keith Richard instruments along with pictures of guitars from over 40 locations in North America and the United Kingdom including the legendary J45 from Buddy Holly.

This limited edition book is published in a run of only 1,500 hand-numbered English-language copies and contains a photographic print of said J-45, signed by photographer John Peden. It is a beautiful image of the the leather covered Gibson that was customized by Buddy Holly himself. While browsing the book I felt like a kid in a candy store. All the legends are there. There is no doubt in my mind that you will not ever find a better or more comprehensive book on legendary guitars than this truly stunning piece of art.

The Verdict

This is the mother of all guitar books. Period.

Unfortunately awesome things tend to come with an awesome pricetag. The recommended retail price for this insanely large book is $1500. That is quite steep, but still not bad considering the size and quality and sheer exclusivity of the entire package and the amount of detail and effort that went into this publication. Similar limited editions with signed and numbered prints in other book categories tend to be far more expensive and I cannot think of any other guitar book that even comes close to this one. In fact I was sold the second I first laid eyes on this book. Turns out I was a bit too eager because a few weeks later I found an online retailer that now offers a $400 discount(!) on the list price. Needless to say this upset me a bit after my rather expensive shopping spree. So if you want to buy one of the last remaining in stock I highly suggest shopping here instead.

Jim Marshall: Proof (Limited Edition #51-75) Review

Posted by James D. in Books, Uncategorized on Nov 19th, 2011 | 0 comments

Reviewed by James D.

To honor the 40th anniversary of Woodstock, this special edition of Jim Marshall: Proof, comprised of a copy of this acclaimed book, accompanied by an 8×10 gelatin-silver print of Jerry Garcia, taken on site at Woodstock in 1969, both signed and numbered by Jim Marshall has been released by Chronicle.

I a big fan of Jim Marshall and the man is considered somewhat of a legend in this area so I was glad to see that the publisher has given this release the full high end treatment it deserves.

All the aforementioned awesomeness is packaged in a linen clamshell box stamped with Marshall’s signature. This great piece of musical history is limited to 75 pieces and 5 artist’s proofs. Both book and print are signed and numbered. (8×10 gelatin silver prints). Recommended retail price is $750.00, but the link below will give you a $200 discount! which is not bad for such a collection of legendary photographs along with some unique gelatin silver prints.

Verdict

$550 might sound like a lot of money but just Marshall’s prints usually start at around $1000 so that alone makes this book a worthwhile investment. It features stunning photography of one of the most important times in rock music history and is a must have for fans. Jim Marshall’s proof contains his contact sheets from the concerts and sessions for which he is best known as a photographer. More than sixty sheets are present here, together with the photograph that was the final choice for each series. Highly recommended but if you want one then better buy it now. Stock is extremely limited and last time I checked only a few were left.

Linda McCartney – A Life in Photographs – Collectors and Art Editions – Review

Posted by Francois in Books, Photography on May 16th, 2011 | 0 comments

Review by Francois

Linda McCartney – A life in photographs is a limited “collectors edition” photography book that is released in 750 pieces run by publication powerhouse Taschen. It is a retrospective of Linda McCartney’s life and photography who started her career with her clearly original and highly informal shots of the Rolling Stones on a yacht on the Hudson River. In May 1968 she became the first female photographer to have her work featured on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine. During her career she has photographed some of rock n rolls most influential musicians including including Aretha Franklin, Jimi Hendrix, Bob Dylan, Janis Joplin, Simon and Garfunkel, The Doors, The Who, and the Grateful Dead.

Linda married Paul McCartney in 1969 after they met at a launch event for one of his albums with the Beatles. This book features stunning and very candid photography of many years of touring with the Beatles as well as much of Linda’s family life with Paul. The book really is a must have for rock photography fans. Needless to say hardcore Beetles fans will drool over its contents.
Contributing authors for this book are world renowned photographer Annie Leibovitz and historian and curator Martin Harrison. The book was edited by Alison Castle who also worked on titles on photography, film, and design, such as Some Like it Hot and The Stanley Kubrick Archives.

This edition is released in a truly magnificent clamshell box that gives this edition a very luxurious feel. Lukcily for those with a slightly smaller waller, the book is available in a number of different sizes and options. These range from a very affordable general edition, a limited collectors edition of 750 copies and two very special art editions that include a pigment print on Hahnemuehle paper, numbered and signed by Sir Paul McCartney in a print size of 40 x 30 cm (16 x 12 in.). Needless to say the latter will undoubtably become a highly sought after version that will make an interesting investment to those interested in buying and selling high end art books. We caught up with this book at a bookstore in Berlin and were quite impressed with it’s quality. So much in fact that I seriously considered buying this book and if it hadn’t been for my wife pointing towards another quite expensive yet awesome title it would be sitting on my desk right now.

Positives

• beautiful clamshell box
• avaiable in a wide range of sizes and pricing options
• a must have for any rock photography fan
• interesting investment for art book afficionados
• high quality

Negatives

It’s hard to fault such an impressive publication. Although some will contend that the art editions have a fairly steep pricing it must be said that those will get you limited edition prints of some very fine photography artwork that would likely fetch considerately more when you’d purchase these through an art gallery.

The Verdict

With an average price of around 2 grand (at the time of this publication) the high end versions of this book will likely be out of reach for most general collectors, but avid rock photography fans cannot afford to miss it. If you want one we suggest buying it right now before the limited runs is out of stock. If you want the art edition there’s a pretty good chance it will be sold out by the time you read this.

Dennis Hopper: Photographs, 1961-1967 (Limited Edition Boxed)

Posted by Francois in Books on Apr 12th, 2010 | 0 comments

update: Dennis Hopper born May 17th 1936 in Dodge City (Kansas), died today, May 29th 2010 in Venice, Los Angeles RIP. You were one awesome actor.

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This edition is limited to 1,500 copies, all signed and numbered.

“I was doing something that I thought could have some impact someday. In many ways, it s really these photographs, that kept me going creatively” – Dennis Hopper

The sixties, in all their turbulence and revelation, have been documented many times over but the photographic recollections of actor/artist/director Dennis Hopper have set themselves decidedly apart. Now an undisputed icon of the era, Hopper captured some of the most intriguing moments of his generation with a keen and intuitive eye. At the epicenter of a cultural upheaval that would transform art, music, and politics, Hopper documented the likes of Tina Turner in the studio, Andy Warhol at his first West Coast show, Paul Newman on set, and Martin Luther King during the Civil Rights March from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama with equal insight and grace.

These amazing images have been collected into a single extensive volume over a third of them never before published and all mined from Hopper s own personal archive. In evocative, remarkably personal photos, Hopper captured the performers, the politicians, and the poets who defined those incredible years. And at the center of this intimate overview are the artists and collectors who would ignite the Pop Art movement and create some of the most potent visual imagery of the 20th century.

In many ways this work is photography as film, a deeply poignant narrative expressed through a collection of unforgettable images. With his marriage to actress Brooke Heyward and his roles in Rebel Without a Cause and Giant, a young Hopper s own fame allowed for an intimate connection with even his most celebrated subjects. The result is photography that captures the same energy and intensity that would later mark Hopper s work as actor and director. His early photos of Tijuana bull fights, L.A. happenings and urban street scenes are marked by an experimentation and imagination that would lead directly into the vivid cinematic imagery of Easy Rider and beyond.

From a selection painstakingly made over the course of two decades by Hopper and longtime friend and infamous gallerist Tony Shafrazi, the book highlights Hopper’s vast photographic career, with emphasis on the 1960s. Also integrated are interviews with Hopper s famous subjects, as well as his family, friends, and extensive conversations with Hopper himself. With introductory essays by Shafrazi and Walter Hopps, co-founder of Los Angeles s legendary Ferus gallery, and an in-depth biography by journalist Jessica Hundley, this an unprecedented exploration into the mind and experiences of one of America s most fascinating personalities.

Product Dimensions: 21.8 x 18.7 x 6.9 inches
Shipping Weight: 22 pounds

During the 1960s, Dennis Hopper carried a camera everywhere—on film sets and locations, at parties, in diners, bars and galleries, driving on freeways and walking on political marches. He photographed movie idols, pop stars, writers, artists, girlfriends, and complete strangers. Along the way he captured some of the most intriguing moments of his generation with a keen and intuitive eye.

From a selection of photographs compiled by Hopper and gallerist Tony Shafrazi—more than a third of them previously unpublished—this extensive volume distills the essence of Hopper’s brilliantly prodigious photographic career. Also included are introductory essays by Tony Shafrazi and legendary West Coast art pioneer Walter Hopps, and an extensive biography by journalist Jessica Hundley. With excerpts from Victor Bockris’s interviews of Hopper’s famous subjects, friends, and family, this volume is an unprecedented exploration of the life and mind of one of America’s most fascinating personalities.

Dennis Hopper (b. Dodge City, KS, 1936) is an acclaimed artist, actor, screenwriter, and director who first impressed audiences with his performances in Rebel Without A Cause (1955) and Giant (1956). He changed the face of American cinema with Easy Rider (1969), which he co-wrote, directed, and starred in. Hopper went on to act in hundreds of memorable films and television shows, including Apocalypse Now (1979), Blue Velvet (1986), Hoosiers (1986), True Romance (1993), Basquiat (1997), Elegy (2008), and the TV series Crash (2008). Hopper began painting as a child and started taking photos in 1961, after his then wife Brooke Hayward gave him a 35mm Nikon camera for his birthday. His paintings and photography have been exhibited all over the world, including the recent retrospective, “Dennis Hopper and the New Hollywood” in Paris. He works and lives in Venice, CA, with wife Victoria Duffy and his three children, Marin, Ruthanna and Henry.

(source: Taschen)