What does classical music mean to the Western World? How has it transformed over the centuries? What relevance does it have today? Julian Johnson inspires readers to explore over 1000 years of music; and examines how music is related to some of the big ideas of Western experience including spirituality; emotion; the weight of history; and self identity. Julian Johnson is currently Professor of Music at Royal Holloway; University of London. He is also a composer and public speaker on musicology; championing the relevance of classical music to the general public.
#1687036 in eBooks 2012-10-12 2012-10-12File Name: B009W32A86
Review
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Art and science it is.By Fred ForbesI have been a John Gerlach fan for many years and still have amidst my photo gear a typewritten exposure guide that he handed out during a seminar I attended many years ago in Orlando. His emphasis then. which is repeated in this book. is an emphasis on getting the picture right in the camera - not depending on Photoshop to "rescue" haphazard results. Exposure and sharpness are critical and he demonstrates how to achieve the results. Comments on equipment are interesting since he shoots Canon and his wife who is now his partner in these endeavors shoots Nikon so you can gain insight into both systems. He will also reference Sony and Pentax now and then but on a more limited basis. Tips on composition are also quite helpful.An excellent book to get the basics down but also some great content for those. like me who have been doing this for many years. (47 in my case) The cover shot alone is enough to keep one inspired!Two areas might disappoint. First. there is little discussion of the use of software like Photoshop. As he points out. there are plenty of books on the topic and he would rather be out taking pix as opposed to siting in front of the computer. The second area that might disappoint is that there are no pictures or illustrations of equipment or accessories. This was less of a problem for me as an experienced photographer but some may wish to see exactly what a particular item such as an "L bracket" for off camera flash or a flash extender looks like. (I understand that given the rapid changes in technology that material may become dated - as opposed to the photos which are timeless!)I found reference to this book in his column in Nature Photographer and ordered this and the one on landscape photography. Both were worthy purchases.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. An Outstanding Digital Nature Photography Foundations BookBy Jay H. LevinAlthough I first read this book in 2008 the year after it was published. I have decided to go back and write this review from a more recent perspective. One way of dividing nature photography is to consider its three components: landscape. wildlife. and macro and then ask how this book addresses these topics. Are there any general issues common to these three areas of photography. and are there any issues specific to each of them? Furthermore. does digital photography make a difference in answering these questions?A critical chapter in this book is called "Exposure Essentials". and the Gerlachs discuss the histogram as the "key to making sure you get the best exposure". However. at the time this book was written. most cameras only provided the single large luminous (brightness) histogram. Since then. the three color channel RGB histogram has become universally available. and the Gerlachs now have adopted the view that to obtain perfect exposure in the highlights of a RAW file one of the color channels must be just barely touching the right hand side of the LCD screen without spiking ("expose to the right"). This principle clearly applies to all three branches of nature photography and ensures that none of the colors in a scene will be overexposed.The Gerlachs also mention in this chapter that they first used spot metering and manual exposure mode as their original exposure method prior to the histogram. However. they acknowledge that spot metering requires that you "must meter carefully. learn to judge reflectance values. and know how to compensate the exposure." Since this book was written the Gerlachs have switched to Evaluative (Canon) or Matrix (Nikon) Metering in all of their photography because of its ease of use and accuracy. They also prefer manual exposure for most subjects. and their outstanding book on "Digital Landscape Photography" has a chapter on "Mastering Exposure" that explains the advantages of using manual exposure in landscape photography in detail. On the other hand. they indicate that shutter priority mode can have its advantages in photographing wildlife subjects. and I expect this topic will be discussed thoroughly in their forthcoming book on "Digital Wildlife Photography".A second critical chapter in the book is entitled "Shoot Sharp Images Consistently". Here there is an excellent discussion of continuous autofocus and back-button focusing in wildlife photography. and a photograph on p. 96 suggests that this technique also can be used in landscape photography. Indeed. their "Digital Landscape Photography" book shows how these techniques are essential for obtaining sharp landscape images.I have focused on these two chapters because they elucidate basic principles in digital nature photography. Of course. there is much more to the book than I have so far indicated. In fact. there are excellent chapters on macro photography and using flash. which will interest most nature photographers. Also. beginning and even intermediate photographers will benefit greatly from the chapters on light. composition. and gear. Indeed. an excellent section on shooting panoramas appears in the chapter on composition. While the more recent development of high dynamic range photography does not appear in this chapter. the Gerlachs recent book on "Digital Landscape Photography" contains a comprehensive chapter on the subject.This is a superb digital nature photography foundations book. and I expect subsequent books written by the Gerlachs. such as their "Digital Landscape Photography" and their forthcoming "Digital Wildlife Photography". will become classics in their fields.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Another informative book from the GerlachsBy Jennifer ReadingI am definitely a fan of John and Barbara Gerlachs. because they are wonderful teachers! As with their Digital Landscape Photography book. this book offers information on in-camera techniques that will save you time in post capture. I do not enjoy sitting at the computer for hours on end. trying to fix something I did not get right in camera and when I studied at school. this was definitely something we were taught. "get it right In camera" which takes knowledge and then practise to hone your skills. You will gain the knowledge from this book. There are those. now that the digtal and photoshop era has arrived. that believe close enough is good enough. cause it can be fixed later. not true. not if your serious about your photography. This book covers the skills. equipment and knowledge needed to take magic photos of wildlife. insects. flora and panoramas. it covers it all. Flash is something I have been wanting to master and a necessary component to nature photography. this book explains flash as the only light source. the main light source and as the secondary light source. multiple flashes and how to set them up. how to expose for each situation and they explain it so well. that I know. if I just go and practise what i have read. it wont be long before I am using flash with some degree of proficiency. I have found purchasing books written by these two gifted teachers. of great benefit in my pursuit of knowledge in this feild. They give sound advice on such practical and necessary things like. Carrying your Photographic Gear. pitfalls to look out for. simple things like. making sure your quick release plate is in the clamp properly on your tripod. maybe you only got one side in. I have done this myself and luckily. discovered it. before I had my camera fall to the ground. disaster! I was surprised to read that this happens a lot. Have you heard of a plamp. I hadnt. its a plant clamp. how often have you tried to photograph a flower that is moving in the slightest breeze. or its in slightly the wrong position? a plant clamp could be the answer. They explain lenses and there uses. for differnet situations. there are sections on composition. leading lines. light. colour temperature. manual exposure. manual focussing. when and how to use aperture priority and shutter priority successfully. I have never used either of these. favouring manual. but through reading this book. I can see good reason for using one or the other. in certain situations. I love the fact that they remind us to tread carefully in nature. mind where you put your feet! There is so much to cover. that it would take all day to discuss. my advice is. buy the book and study it. you wont be disappointed!
