His white teacher tells her all-black class, You'll all wind up porters and waiters. What did she know? Gordon Parks is most famous for being the first black director in Hollywood. But before he made movies and wrote books, he was a poor African American looking for work. When he bought a...  more

His white teacher tells her all-black class, You'll all wind up porters and waiters. What did she know? Gordon Parks is most famous for being the first black director in Hollywood. But before he made movies and wrote books, he was a poor African American looking for work. When he bought a camera, his life changed forever. He taught himself how to take pictures and before long, people noticed. His success as a fashion photographer landed him a job working for the government. In Washington DC, Gordon went looking for a subject, but what he found was segregation. He and others were treated differently because of the color of their skin. Gordon wanted to take a stand against the racism he observed. With his camera in hand, he found a way. Told through lyrical verse and atmospheric art, this is the story of how, with a single photograph, a self-taught artist got America to take notice.

In 1877 in Rochester, New York, George Eastman couldn’t understand why picture-taking was so difficult. Having left school at fourteen to support his mother and two sisters, George decided to find out by making photography his hobby. He packed up glass plates, a plate holder, a tent, a heavy...  more

In 1877 in Rochester, New York, George Eastman couldn’t understand why picture-taking was so difficult. Having left school at fourteen to support his mother and two sisters, George decided to find out by making photography his hobby. He packed up glass plates, a plate holder, a tent, a heavy tripod, a thick piece of black cloth, a water jug, and chemicals and set off to take his first photograph. George realized that not many people could own a camera — they were too expensive and the size of today’s microwave ovens! But how could he make picture-taking easier? Eventually, George created dry plates, and they were such a success that he opened his own dry-plate company in 1881. But this was only the beginning — George went on to invent film and the Brownie camera. The rest is history.Monica Kulling’s spunky, playful text is beautifully complemented by the stunning pen-and-ink with watercolor illustrations of artist Bill Slavin. It’s a Snap! George Eastman’s First Photo introduces a new series for Tundra — the Great Idea Series — a must-have for schools, libraries, and parents alike.

Follows the life and career of the man who revolutionized photography by developing a camera simple enough for anyone to use.

Imogen?s family didn?t have much, and life was hard atop the wild hill they call home. But when Imogen declared she wanted to be a photographer, her father built her her very own darkroom. Flash forward. Imogen is a photographer and a mother. She has her hands full! How does she do it all? She...  more

Imogen?s family didn?t have much, and life was hard atop the wild hill they call home. But when Imogen declared she wanted to be a photographer, her father built her her very own darkroom. Flash forward. Imogen is a photographer and a mother. She has her hands full! How does she do it all? She turns the garden into a wonderland for her three growing boys and a workshop for herself. While she works, her boys play, and Imogen photographs them. Click. Click. Click. Photographing her sons leads Imogen to focus on plants and flowers—most notably her signature magnolia blossoms—for which she will become best known. Here, then, is the story of Imogen Cunningham, one of the finest photographers of the 20th century and mother to three boys.

The lens turns to Julia Margaret Cameron, an ambitious and fascinating early photographer of 1800s celebrities and romantic staged tableaux. The girls in Julia Margaret?s family were known as "the beautiful Miss Pattles"? all except her. Plain, short, and clever, Julia Margaret would eventually...  more

The lens turns to Julia Margaret Cameron, an ambitious and fascinating early photographer of 1800s celebrities and romantic staged tableaux. The girls in Julia Margaret?s family were known as "the beautiful Miss Pattles"? all except her. Plain, short, and clever, Julia Margaret would eventually create her own beauty in the photographs she produced. Susan Goldman Rubin follows the groundbreaking photographer from her privileged childhood in Calcutta and Versailles to her role in bohemian salons in England, whose luminaries ? Alfred Tennyson and many others ? would later pose for her portraits. Commanding and eccentric, Julia Margaret Cameron persuaded children and friends to dress up and hold still for the long sittings needed to stage scenes based on literature and myth. Featuring more than a dozen vintage photographs as well as gorgeous illustrations by Bagram Ibatoulline, this engrossing biography illuminates the very beginnings of photography ?and the determined woman who made the art form her own.

You may be familiar with Adams's iconic black-and-white nature photographs. But do you know about the artist who created these images?As a child, Ansel Adams just couldn't sit still. He felt trapped indoors and never walked anywhere--he ran. Even when he sat, his feet danced (today, he would...  more

You may be familiar with Adams's iconic black-and-white nature photographs. But do you know about the artist who created these images?As a child, Ansel Adams just couldn't sit still. He felt trapped indoors and never walked anywhere--he ran. Even when he sat, his feet danced (today, he would have likely been diagnosed with ADHD). But in nature, Ansel felt right at home. He quickly fell in love with the gusting gales of the Golden Gate headlands, the quiet whisper of Lobos Creek, the icy white of Yosemite Valley, and countless other remarkable natural sights. From his early days in San Francisco to the height of his glory nationwide, this book chronicles a restless boy's path to becoming an iconic nature photographer. A Christy Ottaviano Book

"Ewald"s project is wonderful because it lets kids speak for themselves; instead of being passive subjects for the lens, they eagerly harness it tothe engines of their imaginations."—Andy Grundberg, The New York TimesWritten for parents and teachers, I Wanna Take Me a Picture is filled...  more

"Ewald"s project is wonderful because it lets kids speak for themselves; instead of being passive subjects for the lens, they eagerly harness it tothe engines of their imaginations."—Andy Grundberg, The New York TimesWritten for parents and teachers, I Wanna Take Me a Picture is filled with anecdotes about Ewald"s work that makes it an accessible and practical guide to getting children involved in photography. Striking photographs of children"s work show the benefits of her program. "Young people know joy, sorrow, and loss. By looking at their photographs and talking about making them, they begin to realize their lives have importance. This book is needed!" —Deborah Willis, author of Reflections in Black"A treasure of photos taken by the author and her pupils, plus stirring testimonies from children around the globe who faced tragedy through the lens of a camera." —City LimitsWendy Ewald, who lives with her husband and son in Red Hook, New York, is currently a fellow at the Center for Documentary Studies in Durham, North Carolina. Alexandra Lightfoot received her Ed.D. from Harvard University in 1998.

This definitive guide to studio lighting explains and demonstrates universal lighting principles that help photographers think on their feet and master lighting theory and technique. Explained are essential concepts such as why light behaves the way it does and how to manipulate it to its best...  more

This definitive guide to studio lighting explains and demonstrates universal lighting principles that help photographers think on their feet and master lighting theory and technique. Explained are essential concepts such as why light behaves the way it does and how to manipulate it to its best effect. Concrete, practical examples illustrate topics such as shooting light, dark, and reflective surfaces; mastering contrast control; modifying shadow formation to effectively shape mid- and light-colored objects; creating definition in black objects; and using Photoshop to fine-tune subjects. Instruction is also provided on creating simulated sunlight, painting with light, using softening filters, and lighting subjects in motion. Compelling photographs and numerous lighting diagrams are included.

An amazing (and some would say magical) resource on photographic lighting that has been talked about in the community and recommended for years. This highly respected guide has been thoroughly updated and revised for content and design - it is now produced in full color! It introduces a...  more

An amazing (and some would say magical) resource on photographic lighting that has been talked about in the community and recommended for years. This highly respected guide has been thoroughly updated and revised for content and design - it is now produced in full color! It introduces a logical theory of photographic lighting so if you are starting out in photography you will learn how to predict results before setting up lights. This is not primarily a how-to book with only set examples for you to copy. Rather, Light: Science and Magic provides you with a comprehensive theory of the nature and principles of light to allow you to use lighting to express your own creativity.Numerous photographs and illustrations provide clear examples of the theories, while sidebars highlight special lighting questions. Expanded chapters on available light in portraiture, as well as new information on digital equipment and terminology make this a must have update!*New four color art package with contemporary lighting examples*Based on the behaviour of light *Theory book for serious photographers

THE FIRST BOOK WITH ONE FOOT ON THE COFFEE TABLE, AND ONE FOOT IN THECLASSROOMJoe McNally, one of the world’s top pro digital photographers, whose celebrated work has graced the pages of Sports Illustrated, Time, and National Geographic (to name a few), breaks new ground by doing something...  more

THE FIRST BOOK WITH ONE FOOT ON THE COFFEE TABLE, AND ONE FOOT IN THECLASSROOMJoe McNally, one of the world’s top pro digital photographers, whose celebrated work has graced the pages of Sports Illustrated, Time, and National Geographic (to name a few), breaks new ground by doing something no photography book has ever done?blending the rich, stunning images and elegant layout of a coffee-table book with the invaluable training, no-nonsense insights, and photography secrets usually found only in those rare, best-of-breed educational books.When Joe’s not on assignment for the biggest-name magazines and Fortune 500 clients, he’s in the classroom teaching location lighting, environmental portraiture, and how to ?get the shot? at workshops around the world. These on-location workshops are usually reserved for a handful of photographers each year, but now you can learn the same techniques that Joe shares in his seminars and lectures in a book that brings Joe’s sessions to life.What makes the book so unique is the ?triangle of learning? where (1) Joe distills the concept down to one brief sentence. It usually starts with something like, ?An editor at National Geographic once told me?? and then he shares one of those hard-earned tricks of the trade that you only get from spending a lifetime behind the lens. Then, (2) on the facing page is one of Joe’s brilliant images that perfectly illustrates the technique (you’ll recognize many of his photos from magazine covers). And (3) you get the inside story of how that shot was taken, including which equipment he used (lens, f/stop, lighting, accessories, etc.), along with the challenges that type of project brings, and how to set up a shot like that of your own.This book also gives you something more. It inspires. It challenges. It informs. But perhaps most importantly, it will help you understand photography and the art of making great photos at a level you never thought possible. This book is packed with those ?Ah ha!? moments?those clever insights that make it all come together for you. It brings you that wonderful moment when it suddenly all makes sense?that ?moment it clicks.?

Taking the guesswork out of lighting, this invaluable examination provides tools and techniques from an accomplished expert. The most essential principles for photo shoots are presented through lengthy image sequences, considering different finishes for reflective surfaces, types of light...  more

Taking the guesswork out of lighting, this invaluable examination provides tools and techniques from an accomplished expert. The most essential principles for photo shoots are presented through lengthy image sequences, considering different finishes for reflective surfaces, types of light sources, light modifiers, and even light placements. From creating fundamental looks to the effect of fine-tuning placement and setting, this detailed guidebook enables photographers to maximize productivity on any shoot. Concluding with the most effective solutions for solving lighting problems, this study is an excellent resource for both active professionals as well as intermediate to advanced students of photography.

Dorothea Lange Photographs the Truth After a childhood bout of polio left her with a limp, all Dorothea Lange wanted to do was disappear. But this desire not to be seen helped her learn how to blend into the background and observe others acutely. With a passion for the artistic life, and in...  more

Dorothea Lange Photographs the Truth After a childhood bout of polio left her with a limp, all Dorothea Lange wanted to do was disappear. But this desire not to be seen helped her learn how to blend into the background and observe others acutely. With a passion for the artistic life, and in spite of her family's disapproval, Dorothea pursued her dream to become a photographer and focused her lens on the previously unseen victims of the Great Depression. This poetic biography tells the emotional story of Lange's evolution as one of the founders of documentary photography. It includes a gallery of Lange's photographs, and an author's note, timeline, and bibliography.