I’ve been reading a lot of books on photography since it’s become a big hobby for me, and this book is definitely the best I’ve read so far. Written in a really easy, candid style, the author provides a ten-step plan for success that really covers everything you might ever consider when pursuing photography, whether as a career or as…
Although I don’t follow sports anymore, I was a fanatical baseball fan as a kid, and the New York Mets were my life. That mythical 1969 season is embedded in my head forever, and I never get tired of reading about it. Last year, I read Art Shamsky’s great book about that miracle team. This year, I gave Ron Swoboda’s…
ART + AWARENESS = ACTIVISM! Many of you know that I’ve been friends with Brad for 27 years, since he was a little boy. Brad is 41 now, and I have gotten to see him jump into many unique and creative projects using his talents: computer whiz (his company, Ravelong, has been providing growth-hack outside-the-box digital marketing since 2006.). He’s…
Though it’s a daunting topic, the author tackles questions about the mind – what is consciousness, how does it arise, why does it even exist – in a very clear, concise (a mere 144 pages) manner, providing quite a lot of food for thought. Questions about free will, whether plants have consciousness, and artificial intelligence (AI) are addressed in a…
I’ve been working on a photo project: One hundred photos of New Yorkers – at work, at play, shopping, walking, just living. All ages, sizes, shapes.
I readily admit that it was the provocative title of the book that suckered me in. I was hoping the book would have more of a sociological bent, given that the author has a history of political activism, but it was totally focused on Buddhism and mindfulness. I’ve read a few books on mindfulness and meditation, and I do meditate…
Although I’ve had an iPhone for years, I still feel like a novice when it comes to iPhone photography. I’m still developing my own photographic style, but I feel that I’ve found the genre that suits me best: street photography. Opinions vary as to a precise definition of street photography, but for me, it’s candid photos of ordinary people, taken…
This is, hands-down, one of the best memoirs I’ve read in a long time. This is a coming of age story taking place in the 60’s and 70’s. The author’s search to find self-acceptance as a gay teenager and to earn the love and respect of his father leads him on a tumultuous, drug-fueled journey across the country. It’s a…
In my quest to improve my photography skills, I’ve been reading books on the topic. I still feel like a beginner, so most of the books I’m reading are inspirational and instructional manuals designed to help you in composing compelling photographs. This book is really terrific. I found myself understanding and relating to all of his ideas and opinions. The…
The pandemic has frustratingly closed off many of my former avenues of enjoyment in retirement. However, one advantage of my not being able to go to gyms, museums, and movies is that I have a lot of free time during the day to pursue my newfound passion, street photography, and there’s no shortage of subject matter or inspiration here in…
I breezed through this very enjoyable, very readable book. Chris Frantz takes you back to the art school origins of Talking Heads, the heady, exciting early days of New York punk (lots of cool stories about CBGBs), the exhilarating early European tours where they toured with bands like the Ramones and XTC. He describes the creative process that gave rise…