Best photography book ever, 14 Nov 2008
This is the best photography book I have ever purchased.
Self contained pages telling you how to get the shot.
No nonsense, no complications, no need to understand intricate instructions.
A word of caution. It has cost me a fortune! Because all of Scott's suggestions about how to get better images are actually very sensible but once you start buying better hardware - tripod, mount, lenses, printers, software, filters, flashes....you have spent a lot of extra money.
However, it is all great advice and it pays off.
I have many more really good shots on my computer after reading Scott's book/s (actually you will eventually buy the second book so you might as well get it straight away)
I have recommended this book to everybody I know who is interested on photography from beginner to interested amateur. Most have purchased and everybody is very pleased with the advice.
It makes ordinary people into much better photographers.
Phil Gordon
Newcastle upon Tyne

Fantastic!, 08 Oct 2008
I have just bought this book and only really to get my free postage on my order - but what a great book! I only have a passing inerest in photography but often wondered how people got shots like they do. This book is presented in an easy to understand format and don't take any notice about the negative remarks about humour - it's there for a reason, to fix the ideas in your memory. I'm going to order the second volume as well.

A Groan A Minute, 30 Sep 2008
However useful this book may be the so-called humour is so thoroughly irritating that I ended up hurling across the room into the waste basket!

Highly recommended, 16 Sep 2008
Purchased this and the follow-up volume 2 and I have to say, I've read many books on the subject and all follow a similar path. These two books however are amazing. I have learned so much just reading volume one, that I can highly recommend these two books to anyone, who is wanting to improve their technique and produce not just good photo's but Great photo's. Scott has a very unique style which is easy to follow and along with his quirky humour (which I find actually helps get the message across) has produced two of the most amazing guides to the world of digital photography, I have had the pleasure of reading.

digital photgraphy book, 07 Sep 2008
this book is amazing,with in 2 days of reading the book,my photos improved 100 per cent.i highley rocomend this book for any beginners.well done scott.

Best photography book ever, 14 Nov 2008
This is the best photography book I have ever purchased.
Self contained pages telling you how to get the shot.
No nonsense, no complications, no need to understand intricate instructions.
A word of caution. It has cost me a fortune! Because all of Scott's suggestions about how to get better images are actually very sensible but once you start buying better hardware - tripod, mount, lenses, printers, software, filters, flashes....you have spent a lot of extra money.
However, it is all great advice and it pays off.
I have many more really good shots on my computer after reading Scott's book/s (actually you will eventually buy the second book so you might as well get it straight away)
I have recommended this book to everybody I know who is interested on photography from beginner to interested amateur. Most have purchased and everybody is very pleased with the advice.
It makes ordinary people into much better photographers.
Phil Gordon
Newcastle upon Tyne

Fantastic!, 08 Oct 2008
I have just bought this book and only really to get my free postage on my order - but what a great book! I only have a passing inerest in photography but often wondered how people got shots like they do. This book is presented in an easy to understand format and don't take any notice about the negative remarks about humour - it's there for a reason, to fix the ideas in your memory. I'm going to order the second volume as well.

A Groan A Minute, 30 Sep 2008
However useful this book may be the so-called humour is so thoroughly irritating that I ended up hurling across the room into the waste basket!

Highly recommended, 16 Sep 2008
Purchased this and the follow-up volume 2 and I have to say, I've read many books on the subject and all follow a similar path. These two books however are amazing. I have learned so much just reading volume one, that I can highly recommend these two books to anyone, who is wanting to improve their technique and produce not just good photo's but Great photo's. Scott has a very unique style which is easy to follow and along with his quirky humour (which I find actually helps get the message across) has produced two of the most amazing guides to the world of digital photography, I have had the pleasure of reading.

digital photgraphy book, 07 Sep 2008
this book is amazing,with in 2 days of reading the book,my photos improved 100 per cent.i highley rocomend this book for any beginners.well done scott.

Spectacular!, 03 Nov 2008
This is the second volume I've reviewed in the now very well established, BBC wildlife photographer of the year competition. Portfolio 15 was the first one I bought and because of the amazing pictures I've continued to buy it each year, however I did not review 16 or 17 because there was little else to say. Now, I feel there is.

I don't know what the photographers out there have been doing this year but the level in quality has jumped to a whole new level and it will be amazing to see if they can sustain it. The number of pictures produced from film rather than a digital sensor seems to have fallen almost to nothing but if the quality is improving for that reason then who would complain? The photos in this volume transcend wildlife or nature photography. They are fine art. Incredible moments, captured with exquisite competition and perfect timing.

A few photos after my first look already stick in my mind, an image of dolphins going after fish, an underwater portrait of a beaver, a snake trying in vain to eat a treefrog.

If you bought other volumes in the series you'll know how good they are and need little convincing, even without knowing how much better this new portfolio is. If you haven't - then you must try them out starting with this one. If you only have the one book of wildlife photography, make it this one - you won't find better than this anywhere.

The book follows the standard formula and include a short statement by each photographer and include technical details, these are generally short but cover the essentials like aperture and shutter speed and this is, after all, not a book on how to take a photo. It would be nice if the pages were bigger but they're glossy and the photos seem to have been reproduced very well.

Absolutely wonderful book, stands head and shoulders above the other volumes in the series. A must-own item!

Best photography book ever, 14 Nov 2008
This is the best photography book I have ever purchased.
Self contained pages telling you how to get the shot.
No nonsense, no complications, no need to understand intricate instructions.
A word of caution. It has cost me a fortune! Because all of Scott's suggestions about how to get better images are actually very sensible but once you start buying better hardware - tripod, mount, lenses, printers, software, filters, flashes....you have spent a lot of extra money.
However, it is all great advice and it pays off.
I have many more really good shots on my computer after reading Scott's book/s (actually you will eventually buy the second book so you might as well get it straight away)
I have recommended this book to everybody I know who is interested on photography from beginner to interested amateur. Most have purchased and everybody is very pleased with the advice.
It makes ordinary people into much better photographers.
Phil Gordon
Newcastle upon Tyne

Fantastic!, 08 Oct 2008
I have just bought this book and only really to get my free postage on my order - but what a great book! I only have a passing inerest in photography but often wondered how people got shots like they do. This book is presented in an easy to understand format and don't take any notice about the negative remarks about humour - it's there for a reason, to fix the ideas in your memory. I'm going to order the second volume as well.

A Groan A Minute, 30 Sep 2008
However useful this book may be the so-called humour is so thoroughly irritating that I ended up hurling across the room into the waste basket!

Highly recommended, 16 Sep 2008
Purchased this and the follow-up volume 2 and I have to say, I've read many books on the subject and all follow a similar path. These two books however are amazing. I have learned so much just reading volume one, that I can highly recommend these two books to anyone, who is wanting to improve their technique and produce not just good photo's but Great photo's. Scott has a very unique style which is easy to follow and along with his quirky humour (which I find actually helps get the message across) has produced two of the most amazing guides to the world of digital photography, I have had the pleasure of reading.

digital photgraphy book, 07 Sep 2008
this book is amazing,with in 2 days of reading the book,my photos improved 100 per cent.i highley rocomend this book for any beginners.well done scott.

Spectacular!, 03 Nov 2008
This is the second volume I've reviewed in the now very well established, BBC wildlife photographer of the year competition. Portfolio 15 was the first one I bought and because of the amazing pictures I've continued to buy it each year, however I did not review 16 or 17 because there was little else to say. Now, I feel there is.

I don't know what the photographers out there have been doing this year but the level in quality has jumped to a whole new level and it will be amazing to see if they can sustain it. The number of pictures produced from film rather than a digital sensor seems to have fallen almost to nothing but if the quality is improving for that reason then who would complain? The photos in this volume transcend wildlife or nature photography. They are fine art. Incredible moments, captured with exquisite competition and perfect timing.

A few photos after my first look already stick in my mind, an image of dolphins going after fish, an underwater portrait of a beaver, a snake trying in vain to eat a treefrog.

If you bought other volumes in the series you'll know how good they are and need little convincing, even without knowing how much better this new portfolio is. If you haven't - then you must try them out starting with this one. If you only have the one book of wildlife photography, make it this one - you won't find better than this anywhere.

The book follows the standard formula and include a short statement by each photographer and include technical details, these are generally short but cover the essentials like aperture and shutter speed and this is, after all, not a book on how to take a photo. It would be nice if the pages were bigger but they're glossy and the photos seem to have been reproduced very well.

Absolutely wonderful book, stands head and shoulders above the other volumes in the series. A must-own item!

Simple and lovely, 01 Sep 2008
There's something very soothing and calming about this book, which makes it perfect for bedtime. The story is simple, the illustrations are beautiful, and we all feel good when we read it. My two-year-old son absolutely loves it, and I do too.

fly me to the moon, 25 Jan 2008
amongst one of the most beautiful contemporary children books i have read.
it is the innocent and very basic style in which children are encouraged to dream and reach out for the impossible and get motivated to fuel their imagination with creative thinking and alternative solutions to seemingly unachievable tasks. i consider it the very skill of a good children book to not mock or burst a bubble but offer a beautiful alternative to the unachievable. Oliver Jeffers always has a nice twist in his books and heartbreaking illustrations of the yearnings and hopes of his characters.
every child needs to read or be read a book like this. the only equivalent
i know is a book about a bear who wants to reach the moon. a book that is
decades old and whose title i cant currently recall- but it still sits in a box in the house i grew up in surrounded by other books that shaped the very me- why i think a good choice of book for your children is invaluable- and i believe this one is a very good choice that will hopefully get passed on to as many generations possible.
enjoy.






Beautiful modern book for young children., 25 Nov 2007
This is a lovely book. I was drawn to buy it from the great reviews it had received and I'm truly glad I did. The story is so poignant that I actually feel quite tearful each time I read it and my 34 month old absolutely adores it - I don't think she quite understands the concept of trying to catch star as she told me the other day that she wants to buy the moon in Tesco! However, it's the futility of trying to catch a real star that makes this story so sad but so sweet at the same time - and the ending, without wanting to spoil it, is perfect. The illustrations are just beautiful and the story is brilliant. I can't put this one down. I usually prefer classic children's stories as I can't bare 'political correctness' but this story is wonderful. I can't wait for my 12 month old to get into it too. Oliver Jeffers is a genius.

Charming, 18 Aug 2007
Bought on the strength of the other customer reviews and I wasn't disappointed. It's a bit old for my 14 month old (illustrations are beautiful but a bit sophisticated at this age), but I can see it's going to become a bedtime classic.

A heart warming tale - this is magical reading!

Funny and enchanting, 06 May 2007

Oliver Jeffers is my favourite childrens author. And this book is another fine example of why...

...The story itself is simple, but not patronising. It is a lovely story about a little boy who wants a star, and his quest is detailed in such a humourous way (he couldn't travel in his rocket as he'd used up all the petrol last Tuesday). For the story alone this book would be an asset to any childs story collection - but Oliver Jeffers' books have a little something else - the illustrations!

Oliver Jeffers does his own illustrations, they are unique in style, and genuinely quite beautiful. They make every page turn a joy, and you find yourself immersed in the story, and loving the art you have in front of you.

Your child will love this book - and you will too.

Best photography book ever, 14 Nov 2008
This is the best photography book I have ever purchased.
Self contained pages telling you how to get the shot.
No nonsense, no complications, no need to understand intricate instructions.
A word of caution. It has cost me a fortune! Because all of Scott's suggestions about how to get better images are actually very sensible but once you start buying better hardware - tripod, mount, lenses, printers, software, filters, flashes....you have spent a lot of extra money.
However, it is all great advice and it pays off.
I have many more really good shots on my computer after reading Scott's book/s (actually you will eventually buy the second book so you might as well get it straight away)
I have recommended this book to everybody I know who is interested on photography from beginner to interested amateur. Most have purchased and everybody is very pleased with the advice.
It makes ordinary people into much better photographers.
Phil Gordon
Newcastle upon Tyne

Fantastic!, 08 Oct 2008
I have just bought this book and only really to get my free postage on my order - but what a great book! I only have a passing inerest in photography but often wondered how people got shots like they do. This book is presented in an easy to understand format and don't take any notice about the negative remarks about humour - it's there for a reason, to fix the ideas in your memory. I'm going to order the second volume as well.

A Groan A Minute, 30 Sep 2008
However useful this book may be the so-called humour is so thoroughly irritating that I ended up hurling across the room into the waste basket!

Highly recommended, 16 Sep 2008
Purchased this and the follow-up volume 2 and I have to say, I've read many books on the subject and all follow a similar path. These two books however are amazing. I have learned so much just reading volume one, that I can highly recommend these two books to anyone, who is wanting to improve their technique and produce not just good photo's but Great photo's. Scott has a very unique style which is easy to follow and along with his quirky humour (which I find actually helps get the message across) has produced two of the most amazing guides to the world of digital photography, I have had the pleasure of reading.

digital photgraphy book, 07 Sep 2008
this book is amazing,with in 2 days of reading the book,my photos improved 100 per cent.i highley rocomend this book for any beginners.well done scott.

Spectacular!, 03 Nov 2008
This is the second volume I've reviewed in the now very well established, BBC wildlife photographer of the year competition. Portfolio 15 was the first one I bought and because of the amazing pictures I've continued to buy it each year, however I did not review 16 or 17 because there was little else to say. Now, I feel there is.

I don't know what the photographers out there have been doing this year but the level in quality has jumped to a whole new level and it will be amazing to see if they can sustain it. The number of pictures produced from film rather than a digital sensor seems to have fallen almost to nothing but if the quality is improving for that reason then who would complain? The photos in this volume transcend wildlife or nature photography. They are fine art. Incredible moments, captured with exquisite competition and perfect timing.

A few photos after my first look already stick in my mind, an image of dolphins going after fish, an underwater portrait of a beaver, a snake trying in vain to eat a treefrog.

If you bought other volumes in the series you'll know how good they are and need little convincing, even without knowing how much better this new portfolio is. If you haven't - then you must try them out starting with this one. If you only have the one book of wildlife photography, make it this one - you won't find better than this anywhere.

The book follows the standard formula and include a short statement by each photographer and include technical details, these are generally short but cover the essentials like aperture and shutter speed and this is, after all, not a book on how to take a photo. It would be nice if the pages were bigger but they're glossy and the photos seem to have been reproduced very well.

Absolutely wonderful book, stands head and shoulders above the other volumes in the series. A must-own item!

Simple and lovely, 01 Sep 2008
There's something very soothing and calming about this book, which makes it perfect for bedtime. The story is simple, the illustrations are beautiful, and we all feel good when we read it. My two-year-old son absolutely loves it, and I do too.

fly me to the moon, 25 Jan 2008
amongst one of the most beautiful contemporary children books i have read.
it is the innocent and very basic style in which children are encouraged to dream and reach out for the impossible and get motivated to fuel their imagination with creative thinking and alternative solutions to seemingly unachievable tasks. i consider it the very skill of a good children book to not mock or burst a bubble but offer a beautiful alternative to the unachievable. Oliver Jeffers always has a nice twist in his books and heartbreaking illustrations of the yearnings and hopes of his characters.
every child needs to read or be read a book like this. the only equivalent
i know is a book about a bear who wants to reach the moon. a book that is
decades old and whose title i cant currently recall- but it still sits in a box in the house i grew up in surrounded by other books that shaped the very me- why i think a good choice of book for your children is invaluable- and i believe this one is a very good choice that will hopefully get passed on to as many generations possible.
enjoy.






Beautiful modern book for young children., 25 Nov 2007
This is a lovely book. I was drawn to buy it from the great reviews it had received and I'm truly glad I did. The story is so poignant that I actually feel quite tearful each time I read it and my 34 month old absolutely adores it - I don't think she quite understands the concept of trying to catch star as she told me the other day that she wants to buy the moon in Tesco! However, it's the futility of trying to catch a real star that makes this story so sad but so sweet at the same time - and the ending, without wanting to spoil it, is perfect. The illustrations are just beautiful and the story is brilliant. I can't put this one down. I usually prefer classic children's stories as I can't bare 'political correctness' but this story is wonderful. I can't wait for my 12 month old to get into it too. Oliver Jeffers is a genius.

Charming, 18 Aug 2007
Bought on the strength of the other customer reviews and I wasn't disappointed. It's a bit old for my 14 month old (illustrations are beautiful but a bit sophisticated at this age), but I can see it's going to become a bedtime classic.

A heart warming tale - this is magical reading!

Funny and enchanting, 06 May 2007

Oliver Jeffers is my favourite childrens author. And this book is another fine example of why...

...The story itself is simple, but not patronising. It is a lovely story about a little boy who wants a star, and his quest is detailed in such a humourous way (he couldn't travel in his rocket as he'd used up all the petrol last Tuesday). For the story alone this book would be an asset to any childs story collection - but Oliver Jeffers' books have a little something else - the illustrations!

Oliver Jeffers does his own illustrations, they are unique in style, and genuinely quite beautiful. They make every page turn a joy, and you find yourself immersed in the story, and loving the art you have in front of you.

Your child will love this book - and you will too.

Fascinating and accessible approach to Shakespeare, 05 Nov 2008
I really enjoyed this book. It was a quick and easy read, admittedly, but it does not bill itself as a Shakepeare textbook or biography and would be a different animal if it was. If you take it at face value, it's a fun read, helped along by Bryson's amusing style.

Read this even if you are bored by Shakespeare, 28 Oct 2008
Bought it as a background book to a historical novel on Shakespeare. I knew so little about the man.It is one of the best books I read all year. Bryson explains with great clarity how scholars are forced to deduce so much with very little hard evidence. Even the basic facts that 'every school-child knows' are really conjectures. No contemporary manuscript of his plays exists. His birthday (23 April) is based upon assumptions drawn from his baptism. Even his picture may not be him. Bryson then dances his way through the host of theories, myths and scholastic analysis over the past five hundred years like a wiry court jester. It helped me make sense of it all and even become quite excited. I finally understood the significance of the different folios/quartos - and even more amazingly, I cared. For the first time in 30 odd years I had the urge to re-read Shakespeare's plays and I even thought about buying an audio-tape of Macbeth. I didn't but my hand hesitantly stretched out towards the shelf before I put it down again.

Makes the most of what little there is to know, 26 Sep 2008
A neat little book exploring what little we know about Shakespeare's life. Bryson hasn't had the easiest of tasks, trying to work a coherent life out of such scant information and vague references to Shakespeare during his lifetime, and all in all he's done well.

It starts a little dry, and the small details get a bit overwhelming - but then, there is little emotive material to work with so detail is there is to offer. Where Bryson excels is in fleshing out these patchy details with other interesting information about the theatrical conventions of the time, life in Stratford and London, and other literary types who surrounded Shakespeare. In doing so he turns this into a much more interesting biography than it would otherwise have been. The last chapter, relating to the various theories that Shakespeare didn't write the plays and sonnets attributed to him, is where Bryson's wit and sharp humour really come into their own as he batters them down one by one, and the book thus ends on a vibrant note which made me laugh aloud and left a lasting smile!

Much Ado About Nothing, 21 Sep 2008
Although his name is oft bandied about as a must read this is the first time I've ever had the chance. Bryson that is not Shakespeare! This serves as a nice intro to Shakespeare the man with a "just the facts ma'am" approach. And as he admits, this slim volume is a testament to the fact that what we can take as absolute fact about Shakespeare is very little at all.

For a giant in literary terms Shakespeare has left very few footprints. However as Bryson points out this isn't as odd as it might sound, one can't reasonably expect records dating 400 years ago to either be in a sturdy condition or to be legible or even to have survived numerous calamities over the years from natural fires to German bombing campaigns. The fact that the actual early copies of manuscripts of Shakespeare's plays account for about 15 % of all surviving plays from the late Elizabethan / early Jacobean period is pretty remarkable in and of itself.

The author obviously allows room to discuss the speculation of other scholars or this would be a very very slim volume indeed, but he clearly demarcates between what is established fact and what is theory. From his early years we get the speculation of his education and whether he was a secret Catholic, to the sparse years in London before becoming an established writer taking in such romantic fancies that he sailed with Drake.

The one thing Bryson holds no stock in at all is the theory that Shakespeare is not the author of the plays and though he dutifully covers all the potential others he is quite clear on the lack of any tangible evidence that anyone other than William of Stratford wrote the plays

The Perfect Layman's Biography of Shakespeare, 13 Sep 2008
Well, I suppose the big beardy Anglophile yank had to do it sooner or later.

As Bryson himself says in his introduction, the world doesn't really need another book on Shakespeare. From the incredibly specific and obscure to the uselessly vague and general, from the trivially lightweight to the inaccessibly somber, the Bard of Stratford is the subject of literally dozens of new books of facts, biography, analysis, opinion, theory and conjecture, every damn year.

For all that, this was a worthwhile book to have written, which is more or less all we'd expect of Bryson, who is a clear, clever and witty writer who rarely fails to please.

Bryson has chosen biography as his goal. The book is written in more or less chronological order, with chapters covering distinct periods in Will's life. Bryson starts by characterising the period, analysing the (usually scant) evidence available, then raising and scrutinising the various popular interpretations about what is known. He detours occasionally into anecdotal discussion about his researches or funny or impressive stories about other people's attempts at research, which all over helps it from getting too dry and to remain a very Bryson book.

Throughout he's diligent about the distinction between evidence and interpretation. The problem is, we actually have pretty slender information about Shakespeare's life: a veritable wealth of data by the standards of Elizabethans in general, but still very little from which to derive any reliable idea of the facts of his life. Inevitably, this means foraying into conjecture from time to time; a practice at which Shakespearean academe excels, but a dangerous one. Bryson gives an example of the famous deer-poaching incident, a romantic guess made in the eighteenth century that was repeated as solid fact in Shakespeare scholarship for more than a hundred years after. Bryson, by contrast, while happy to include reasonable and useful guesses as to how to interpret what is known, is very careful to let you know what's fact - and where it's from - and what's conjecture and how it was arrived at.

If you're seriously into your Shakespeare scholarship, this book probably doesn't have anything new to tell you (although Bryson's research is up to date, and he has access to facts I didn't have at Uni), but if you're only likely to buy one Shakespeare biography in your life, this isn't a bad one to choose.

Best photography book ever, 14 Nov 2008
This is the best photography book I have ever purchased.
Self contained pages telling you how to get the shot.
No nonsense, no complications, no need to understand intricate instructions.
A word of caution. It has cost me a fortune! Because all of Scott's suggestions about how to get better images are actually very sensible but once you start buying better hardware - tripod, mount, lenses, printers, software, filters, flashes....you have spent a lot of extra money.
However, it is all great advice and it pays off.
I have many more really good shots on my computer after reading Scott's book/s (actually you will eventually buy the second book so you might as well get it straight away)
I have recommended this book to everybody I know who is interested on photography from beginner to interested amateur. Most have purchased and everybody is very pleased with the advice.
It makes ordinary people into much better photographers.
Phil Gordon
Newcastle upon Tyne

Fantastic!, 08 Oct 2008
I have just bought this book and only really to get my free postage on my order - but what a great book! I only have a passing inerest in photography but often wondered how people got shots like they do. This book is presented in an easy to understand format and don't take any notice about the negative remarks about humour - it's there for a reason, to fix the ideas in your memory. I'm going to order the second volume as well.

A Groan A Minute, 30 Sep 2008
However useful this book may be the so-called humour is so thoroughly irritating that I ended up hurling across the room into the waste basket!

Highly recommended, 16 Sep 2008
Purchased this and the follow-up volume 2 and I have to say, I've read many books on the subject and all follow a similar path. These two books however are amazing. I have learned so much just reading volume one, that I can highly recommend these two books to anyone, who is wanting to improve their technique and produce not just good photo's but Great photo's. Scott has a very unique style which is easy to follow and along with his quirky humour (which I find actually helps get the message across) has produced two of the most amazing guides to the world of digital photography, I have had the pleasure of reading.

digital photgraphy book, 07 Sep 2008
this book is amazing,with in 2 days of reading the book,my photos improved 100 per cent.i highley rocomend this book for any beginners.well done scott.

Spectacular!, 03 Nov 2008
This is the second volume I've reviewed in the now very well established, BBC wildlife photographer of the year competition. Portfolio 15 was the first one I bought and because of the amazing pictures I've continued to buy it each year, however I did not review 16 or 17 because there was little else to say. Now, I feel there is.

I don't know what the photographers out there have been doing this year but the level in quality has jumped to a whole new level and it will be amazing to see if they can sustain it. The number of pictures produced from film rather than a digital sensor seems to have fallen almost to nothing but if the quality is improving for that reason then who would complain? The photos in this volume transcend wildlife or nature photography. They are fine art. Incredible moments, captured with exquisite competition and perfect timing.

A few photos after my first look already stick in my mind, an image of dolphins going after fish, an underwater portrait of a beaver, a snake trying in vain to eat a treefrog.

If you bought other volumes in the series you'll know how good they are and need little convincing, even without knowing how much better this new portfolio is. If you haven't - then you must try them out starting with this one. If you only have the one book of wildlife photography, make it this one - you won't find better than this anywhere.

The book follows the standard formula and include a short statement by each photographer and include technical details, these are generally short but cover the essentials like aperture and shutter speed and this is, after all, not a book on how to take a photo. It would be nice if the pages were bigger but they're glossy and the photos seem to have been reproduced very well.

Absolutely wonderful book, stands head and shoulders above the other volumes in the series. A must-own item!

Simple and lovely, 01 Sep 2008
There's something very soothing and calming about this book, which makes it perfect for bedtime. The story is simple, the illustrations are beautiful, and we all feel good when we read it. My two-year-old son absolutely loves it, and I do too.

fly me to the moon, 25 Jan 2008
amongst one of the most beautiful contemporary children books i have read.
it is the innocent and very basic style in which children are encouraged to dream and reach out for the impossible and get motivated to fuel their imagination with creative thinking and alternative solutions to seemingly unachievable tasks. i consider it the very skill of a good children book to not mock or burst a bubble but offer a beautiful alternative to the unachievable. Oliver Jeffers always has a nice twist in his books and heartbreaking illustrations of the yearnings and hopes of his characters.
every child needs to read or be read a book like this. the only equivalent
i know is a book about a bear who wants to reach the moon. a book that is
decades old and whose title i cant currently recall- but it still sits in a box in the house i grew up in surrounded by other books that shaped the very me- why i think a good choice of book for your children is invaluable- and i believe this one is a very good choice that will hopefully get passed on to as many generations possible.
enjoy.






Beautiful modern book for young children., 25 Nov 2007
This is a lovely book. I was drawn to buy it from the great reviews it had received and I'm truly glad I did. The story is so poignant that I actually feel quite tearful each time I read it and my 34 month old absolutely adores it - I don't think she quite understands the concept of trying to catch star as she told me the other day that she wants to buy the moon in Tesco! However, it's the futility of trying to catch a real star that makes this story so sad but so sweet at the same time - and the ending, without wanting to spoil it, is perfect. The illustrations are just beautiful and the story is brilliant. I can't put this one down. I usually prefer classic children's stories as I can't bare 'political correctness' but this story is wonderful. I can't wait for my 12 month old to get into it too. Oliver Jeffers is a genius.

Charming, 18 Aug 2007
Bought on the strength of the other customer reviews and I wasn't disappointed. It's a bit old for my 14 month old (illustrations are beautiful but a bit sophisticated at this age), but I can see it's going to become a bedtime classic.

A heart warming tale - this is magical reading!

Funny and enchanting, 06 May 2007

Oliver Jeffers is my favourite childrens author. And this book is another fine example of why...

...The story itself is simple, but not patronising. It is a lovely story about a little boy who wants a star, and his quest is detailed in such a humourous way (he couldn't travel in his rocket as he'd used up all the petrol last Tuesday). For the story alone this book would be an asset to any childs story collection - but Oliver Jeffers' books have a little something else - the illustrations!

Oliver Jeffers does his own illustrations, they are unique in style, and genuinely quite beautiful. They make every page turn a joy, and you find yourself immersed in the story, and loving the art you have in front of you.

Your child will love this book - and you will too.

Fascinating and accessible approach to Shakespeare, 05 Nov 2008
I really enjoyed this book. It was a quick and easy read, admittedly, but it does not bill itself as a Shakepeare textbook or biography and would be a different animal if it was. If you take it at face value, it's a fun read, helped along by Bryson's amusing style.

Read this even if you are bored by Shakespeare, 28 Oct 2008
Bought it as a background book to a historical novel on Shakespeare. I knew so little about the man.It is one of the best books I read all year. Bryson explains with great clarity how scholars are forced to deduce so much with very little hard evidence. Even the basic facts that 'every school-child knows' are really conjectures. No contemporary manuscript of his plays exists. His birthday (23 April) is based upon assumptions drawn from his baptism. Even his picture may not be him. Bryson then dances his way through the host of theories, myths and scholastic analysis over the past five hundred years like a wiry court jester. It helped me make sense of it all and even become quite excited. I finally understood the significance of the different folios/quartos - and even more amazingly, I cared. For the first time in 30 odd years I had the urge to re-read Shakespeare's plays and I even thought about buying an audio-tape of Macbeth. I didn't but my hand hesitantly stretched out towards the shelf before I put it down again.

Makes the most of what little there is to know, 26 Sep 2008
A neat little book exploring what little we know about Shakespeare's life. Bryson hasn't had the easiest of tasks, trying to work a coherent life out of such scant information and vague references to Shakespeare during his lifetime, and all in all he's done well.

It starts a little dry, and the small details get a bit overwhelming - but then, there is little emotive material to work with so detail is there is to offer. Where Bryson excels is in fleshing out these patchy details with other interesting information about the theatrical conventions of the time, life in Stratford and London, and other literary types who surrounded Shakespeare. In doing so he turns this into a much more interesting biography than it would otherwise have been. The last chapter, relating to the various theories that Shakespeare didn't write the plays and sonnets attributed to him, is where Bryson's wit and sharp humour really come into their own as he batters them down one by one, and the book thus ends on a vibrant note which made me laugh aloud and left a lasting smile!

Much Ado About Nothing, 21 Sep 2008
Although his name is oft bandied about as a must read this is the first time I've ever had the chance. Bryson that is not Shakespeare! This serves as a nice intro to Shakespeare the man with a "just the facts ma'am" approach. And as he admits, this slim volume is a testament to the fact that what we can take as absolute fact about Shakespeare is very little at all.

For a giant in literary terms Shakespeare has left very few footprints. However as Bryson points out this isn't as odd as it might sound, one can't reasonably expect records dating 400 years ago to either be in a sturdy condition or to be legible or even to have survived numerous calamities over the years from natural fires to German bombing campaigns. The fact that the actual early copies of manuscripts of Shakespeare's plays account for about 15 % of all surviving plays from the late Elizabethan / early Jacobean period is pretty remarkable in and of itself.

The author obviously allows room to discuss the speculation of other scholars or this would be a very very slim volume indeed, but he clearly demarcates between what is established fact and what is theory. From his early years we get the speculation of his education and whether he was a secret Catholic, to the sparse years in London before becoming an established writer taking in such romantic fancies that he sailed with Drake.

The one thing Bryson holds no stock in at all is the theory that Shakespeare is not the author of the plays and though he dutifully covers all the potential others he is quite clear on the lack of any tangible evidence that anyone other than William of Stratford wrote the plays

The Perfect Layman's Biography of Shakespeare, 13 Sep 2008
Well, I suppose the big beardy Anglophile yank had to do it sooner or later.

As Bryson himself says in his introduction, the world doesn't really need another book on Shakespeare. From the incredibly specific and obscure to the uselessly vague and general, from the trivially lightweight to the inaccessibly somber, the Bard of Stratford is the subject of literally dozens of new books of facts, biography, analysis, opinion, theory and conjecture, every damn year.

For all that, this was a worthwhile book to have written, which is more or less all we'd expect of Bryson, who is a clear, clever and witty writer who rarely fails to please.

Bryson has chosen biography as his goal. The book is written in more or less chronological order, with chapters covering distinct periods in Will's life. Bryson starts by characterising the period, analysing the (usually scant) evidence available, then raising and scrutinising the various popular interpretations about what is known. He detours occasionally into anecdotal discussion about his researches or funny or impressive stories about other people's attempts at research, which all over helps it from getting too dry and to remain a very Bryson book.

Throughout he's diligent about the distinction between evidence and interpretation. The problem is, we actually have pretty slender information about Shakespeare's life: a veritable wealth of data by the standards of Elizabethans in general, but still very little from which to derive any reliable idea of the facts of his life. Inevitably, this means foraying into conjecture from time to time; a practice at which Shakespearean academe excels, but a dangerous one. Bryson gives an example of the famous deer-poaching incident, a romantic guess made in the eighteenth century that was repeated as solid fact in Shakespeare scholarship for more than a hundred years after. Bryson, by contrast, while happy to include reasonable and useful guesses as to how to interpret what is known, is very careful to let you know what's fact - and where it's from - and what's conjecture and how it was arrived at.

If you're seriously into your Shakespeare scholarship, this book probably doesn't have anything new to tell you (although Bryson's research is up to date, and he has access to facts I didn't have at Uni), but if you're only likely to buy one Shakespeare biography in your life, this isn't a bad one to choose.


Great Book Even For Pro's, 05 Oct 2008
I've been a wedding photographer for 25 years. I thought this was going to be another "how to take photos book". I've liked other Scott Kelby books so whilst in a bookstore picked it up just for a quick glance, but was suprised to see how much detail he went into. Each page being a new subject, it gave a detailed taster of each subject without all the waffle many books have, and then gave links to websites where you could read more or get equipement that is hard to find. To me it was worth it just for those hard to find links.

Should have stopped at volume 1, 04 Oct 2008
I like Scott Kelby, I really do.
OK he's from the other side of the Atlantic and totally over the top - but he is totally infectious in his love of photography and, in particular Photshop

However, this one doesn't do it for me.

It is just a re-hash of voulme one. The content is very weak and I gained very little from it.

Buy volume one by all means - and certainly buy his photshop books Adobe Photoshop CS3 Book for Digital Photographers (Voices That Matter)....

but I suggest you think long and hard before buying this one

Buy a highlighter pen..., 21 Apr 2008
Please, don't take any notice of the tripe you will read in these reviews about stupid humour. It is only in a half dozen intro pages and even then, it's not enough to worry about and stop you learning from these wonderful books.
Buy this book, buy volume one too and a good highlighter pen, because you will learn an awful lot (unless you are a seasoned pro). The tips are quick, precise and have made my photography much better in the week it has taken me to read (and cover in highlighter!) both volumes.
Volume two has a great section on studio work with simple and inexpensive equipment that is worth the cover price alone. Don't listen to the silly moans about his sense of humour, buy these and learn lots!

An amazing book, 07 Apr 2008
As an amateur photographer I found the book to be compelling reading, being written in an engaging fashion and giving information in doses small enough to absorb with pleasure.

In addition to basic techniques and tips, you will also learn what equipment you require in order to improve your photography.

This is an excellent book which has helped me advance in my photography and which I have read from cover to cover at least twice.

This book is a must for anyone new to photography!

Don't buy it...., 15 Feb 2008
.....if you are a seasoned pro or utterly humourless. If you think your photographs are generally OK, but are missing that little something extra that makes them good enough to be proud of; then buy it instantly.

This isn't a technical photography manual that will spin your head out with more terms than a consolidation loan contract. Neither is it an artsy Bauhaus analysis of photography design. No, it is actually useful.

I wrote a glowing review of the first volume, and the second volume is just as good. The only downside is that I now am going to spend more money on photography kit. I really think that addiction to narcotics or alcohol would have been much cheaper and far less damaging to my marriage.

The author, to me anyway, comes across as a thoroughly nice bloke who obviously loves what he does. The style is informal and friendly and I enjoy reading both volumes again and again. If, like some reviewers, you find this off-putting I think that says far more about you than it does Scott.

In conclusion: my photographs are better after reading this book, thanks Scott.

Best photography book ever, 14 Nov 2008
This is the best photography book I have ever purchased.
Self contained pages telling you how to get the shot.
No nonsense, no complications, no need to understand intricate instructions.
A word of caution. It has cost me a fortune! Because all of Scott's suggestions about how to get better images are actually very sensible but once you start buying better hardware - tripod, mount, lenses, printers, software, filters, flashes....you have spent a lot of extra money.
However, it is all great advice and it pays off.
I have many more really good shots on my computer after reading Scott's book/s (actually you will eventually buy the second book so you might as well get it straight away)
I have recommended this book to everybody I know who is interested on photography from beginner to interested amateur. Most have purchased and everybody is very pleased with the advice.
It makes ordinary people into much better photographers.
Phil Gordon
Newcastle upon Tyne

Fantastic!, 08 Oct 2008
I have just bought this book and only really to get my free postage on my order - but what a great book! I only have a passing inerest in photography but often wondered how people got shots like they do. This book is presented in an easy to understand format and don't take any notice about the negative remarks about humour - it's there for a reason, to fix the ideas in your memory. I'm going to order the second volume as well.

A Groan A Minute, 30 Sep 2008
However useful this book may be the so-called humour is so thoroughly irritating that I ended up hurling across the room into the waste basket!

Highly recommended, 16 Sep 2008
Purchased this and the follow-up volume 2 and I have to say, I've read many books on the subject and all follow a similar path. These two books however are amazing. I have learned so much just reading volume one, that I can highly recommend these two books to anyone, who is wanting to improve their technique and produce not just good photo's but Great photo's. Scott has a very unique style which is easy to follow and along with his quirky humour (which I find actually helps get the message across) has produced two of the most amazing guides to the world of digital photography, I have had the pleasure of reading.

digital photgraphy book, 07 Sep 2008
this book is amazing,with in 2 days of reading the book,my photos improved 100 per cent.i highley rocomend this book for any beginners.well done scott.

Spectacular!, 03 Nov 2008
This is the second volume I've reviewed in the now very well established, BBC wildlife photographer of the year competition. Portfolio 15 was the first one I bought and because of the amazing pictures I've continued to buy it each year, however I did not review 16 or 17 because there was little else to say. Now, I feel there is.

I don't know what the photographers out there have been doing this year but the level in quality has jumped to a whole new level and it will be amazing to see if they can sustain it. The number of pictures produced from film rather than a digital sensor seems to have fallen almost to nothing but if the quality is improving for that reason then who would complain? The photos in this volume transcend wildlife or nature photography. They are fine art. Incredible moments, captured with exquisite competition and perfect timing.

A few photos after my first look already stick in my mind, an image of dolphins going after fish, an underwater portrait of a beaver, a snake trying in vain to eat a treefrog.

If you bought other volumes in the series you'll know how good they are and need little convincing, even without knowing how much better this new portfolio is. If you haven't - then you must try them out starting with this one. If you only have the one book of wildlife photography, make it this one - you won't find better than this anywhere.

The book follows the standard formula and include a short statement by each photographer and include technical details, these are generally short but cover the essentials like aperture and shutter speed and this is, after all, not a book on how to take a photo. It would be nice if the pages were bigger but they're glossy and the photos seem to have been reproduced very well.

Absolutely wonderful book, stands head and shoulders above the other volumes in the series. A must-own item!

Simple and lovely, 01 Sep 2008
There's something very soothing and calming about this book, which makes it perfect for bedtime. The story is simple, the illustrations are beautiful, and we all feel good when we read it. My two-year-old son absolutely loves it, and I do too.

fly me to the moon, 25 Jan 2008
amongst one of the most beautiful contemporary children books i have read.
it is the innocent and very basic style in which children are encouraged to dream and reach out for the impossible and get motivated to fuel their imagination with creative thinking and alternative solutions to seemingly unachievable tasks. i consider it the very skill of a good children book to not mock or burst a bubble but offer a beautiful alternative to the unachievable. Oliver Jeffers always has a nice twist in his books and heartbreaking illustrations of the yearnings and hopes of his characters.
every child needs to read or be read a book like this. the only equivalent
i know is a book about a bear who wants to reach the moon. a book that is
decades old and whose title i cant currently recall- but it still sits in a box in the house i grew up in surrounded by other books that shaped the very me- why i think a good choice of book for your children is invaluable- and i believe this one is a very good choice that will hopefully get passed on to as many generations possible.
enjoy.






Beautiful modern book for young children., 25 Nov 2007
This is a lovely book. I was drawn to buy it from the great reviews it had received and I'm truly glad I did. The story is so poignant that I actually feel quite tearful each time I read it and my 34 month old absolutely adores it - I don't think she quite understands the concept of trying to catch star as she told me the other day that she wants to buy the moon in Tesco! However, it's the futility of trying to catch a real star that makes this story so sad but so sweet at the same time - and the ending, without wanting to spoil it, is perfect. The illustrations are just beautiful and the story is brilliant. I can't put this one down. I usually prefer classic children's stories as I can't bare 'political correctness' but this story is wonderful. I can't wait for my 12 month old to get into it too. Oliver Jeffers is a genius.

Charming, 18 Aug 2007
Bought on the strength of the other customer reviews and I wasn't disappointed. It's a bit old for my 14 month old (illustrations are beautiful but a bit sophisticated at this age), but I can see it's going to become a bedtime classic.

A heart warming tale - this is magical reading!

Funny and enchanting, 06 May 2007

Oliver Jeffers is my favourite childrens author. And this book is another fine example of why...

...The story itself is simple, but not patronising. It is a lovely story about a little boy who wants a star, and his quest is detailed in such a humourous way (he couldn't travel in his rocket as he'd used up all the petrol last Tuesday). For the story alone this book would be an asset to any childs story collection - but Oliver Jeffers' books have a little something else - the illustrations!

Oliver Jeffers does his own illustrations, they are unique in style, and genuinely quite beautiful. They make every page turn a joy, and you find yourself immersed in the story, and loving the art you have in front of you.

Your child will love this book - and you will too.

Fascinating and accessible approach to Shakespeare, 05 Nov 2008
I really enjoyed this book. It was a quick and easy read, admittedly, but it does not bill itself as a Shakepeare textbook or biography and would be a different animal if it was. If you take it at face value, it's a fun read, helped along by Bryson's amusing style.

Read this even if you are bored by Shakespeare, 28 Oct 2008
Bought it as a background book to a historical novel on Shakespeare. I knew so little about the man.It is one of the best books I read all year. Bryson explains with great clarity how scholars are forced to deduce so much with very little hard evidence. Even the basic facts that 'every school-child knows' are really conjectures. No contemporary manuscript of his plays exists. His birthday (23 April) is based upon assumptions drawn from his baptism. Even his picture may not be him. Bryson then dances his way through the host of theories, myths and scholastic analysis over the past five hundred years like a wiry court jester. It helped me make sense of it all and even become quite excited. I finally understood the significance of the different folios/quartos - and even more amazingly, I cared. For the first time in 30 odd years I had the urge to re-read Shakespeare's plays and I even thought about buying an audio-tape of Macbeth. I didn't but my hand hesitantly stretched out towards the shelf before I put it down again.

Makes the most of what little there is to know, 26 Sep 2008
A neat little book exploring what little we know about Shakespeare's life. Bryson hasn't had the easiest of tasks, trying to work a coherent life out of such scant information and vague references to Shakespeare during his lifetime, and all in all he's done well.

It starts a little dry, and the small details get a bit overwhelming - but then, there is little emotive material to work with so detail is there is to offer. Where Bryson excels is in fleshing out these patchy details with other interesting information about the theatrical conventions of the time, life in Stratford and London, and other literary types who surrounded Shakespeare. In doing so he turns this into a much more interesting biography than it would otherwise have been. The last chapter, relating to the various theories that Shakespeare didn't write the plays and sonnets attributed to him, is where Bryson's wit and sharp humour really come into their own as he batters them down one by one, and the book thus ends on a vibrant note which made me laugh aloud and left a lasting smile!

Much Ado About Nothing, 21 Sep 2008
Although his name is oft bandied about as a must read this is the first time I've ever had the chance. Bryson that is not Shakespeare! This serves as a nice intro to Shakespeare the man with a "just the facts ma'am" approach. And as he admits, this slim volume is a testament to the fact that what we can take as absolute fact about Shakespeare is very little at all.

For a giant in literary terms Shakespeare has left very few footprints. However as Bryson points out this isn't as odd as it might sound, one can't reasonably expect records dating 400 years ago to either be in a sturdy condition or to be legible or even to have survived numerous calamities over the years from natural fires to German bombing campaigns. The fact that the actual early copies of manuscripts of Shakespeare's plays account for about 15 % of all surviving plays from the late Elizabethan / early Jacobean period is pretty remarkable in and of itself.

The author obviously allows room to discuss the speculation of other scholars or this would be a very very slim volume indeed, but he clearly demarcates between what is established fact and what is theory. From his early years we get the speculation of his education and whether he was a secret Catholic, to the sparse years in London before becoming an established writer taking in such romantic fancies that he sailed with Drake.

The one thing Bryson holds no stock in at all is the theory that Shakespeare is not the author of the plays and though he dutifully covers all the potential others he is quite clear on the lack of any tangible evidence that anyone other than William of Stratford wrote the plays

The Perfect Layman's Biography of Shakespeare, 13 Sep 2008
Well, I suppose the big beardy Anglophile yank had to do it sooner or later.

As Bryson himself says in his introduction, the world doesn't really need another book on Shakespeare. From the incredibly specific and obscure to the uselessly vague and general, from the trivially lightweight to the inaccessibly somber, the Bard of Stratford is the subject of literally dozens of new books of facts, biography, analysis, opinion, theory and conjecture, every damn year.

For all that, this was a worthwhile book to have written, which is more or less all we'd expect of Bryson, who is a clear, clever and witty writer who rarely fails to please.

Bryson has chosen biography as his goal. The book is written in more or less chronological order, with chapters covering distinct periods in Will's life. Bryson starts by characterising the period, analysing the (usually scant) evidence available, then raising and scrutinising the various popular interpretations about what is known. He detours occasionally into anecdotal discussion about his researches or funny or impressive stories about other people's attempts at research, which all over helps it from getting too dry and to remain a very Bryson book.

Throughout he's diligent about the distinction between evidence and interpretation. The problem is, we actually have pretty slender information about Shakespeare's life: a veritable wealth of data by the standards of Elizabethans in general, but still very little from which to derive any reliable idea of the facts of his life. Inevitably, this means foraying into conjecture from time to time; a practice at which Shakespearean academe excels, but a dangerous one. Bryson gives an example of the famous deer-poaching incident, a romantic guess made in the eighteenth century that was repeated as solid fact in Shakespeare scholarship for more than a hundred years after. Bryson, by contrast, while happy to include reasonable and useful guesses as to how to interpret what is known, is very careful to let you know what's fact - and where it's from - and what's conjecture and how it was arrived at.

If you're seriously into your Shakespeare scholarship, this book probably doesn't have anything new to tell you (although Bryson's research is up to date, and he has access to facts I didn't have at Uni), but if you're only likely to buy one Shakespeare biography in your life, this isn't a bad one to choose.


Great Book Even For Pro's, 05 Oct 2008
I've been a wedding photographer for 25 years. I thought this was going to be another "how to take photos book". I've liked other Scott Kelby books so whilst in a bookstore picked it up just for a quick glance, but was suprised to see how much detail he went into. Each page being a new subject, it gave a detailed taster of each subject without all the waffle many books have, and then gave links to websites where you could read more or get equipement that is hard to find. To me it was worth it just for those hard to find links.

Should have stopped at volume 1, 04 Oct 2008
I like Scott Kelby, I really do.
OK he's from the other side of the Atlantic and totally over the top - but he is totally infectious in his love of photography and, in particular Photshop

However, this one doesn't do it for me.

It is just a re-hash of voulme one. The content is very weak and I gained very little from it.

Buy volume one by all means - and certainly buy his photshop books Adobe Photoshop CS3 Book for Digital Photographers (Voices That Matter)....

but I suggest you think long and hard before buying this one

Buy a highlighter pen..., 21 Apr 2008
Please, don't take any notice of the tripe you will read in these reviews about stupid humour. It is only in a half dozen intro pages and even then, it's not enough to worry about and stop you learning from these wonderful books.
Buy this book, buy volume one too and a good highlighter pen, because you will learn an awful lot (unless you are a seasoned pro). The tips are quick, precise and have made my photography much better in the week it has taken me to read (and cover in highlighter!) both volumes.
Volume two has a great section on studio work with simple and inexpensive equipment that is worth the cover price alone. Don't listen to the silly moans about his sense of humour, buy these and learn lots!

An amazing book, 07 Apr 2008
As an amateur photographer I found the book to be compelling reading, being written in an engaging fashion and giving information in doses small enough to absorb with pleasure.

In addition to basic techniques and tips, you will also learn what equipment you require in order to improve your photography.

This is an excellent book which has helped me advance in my photography and which I have read from cover to cover at least twice.

This book is a must for anyone new to photography!

Don't buy it...., 15 Feb 2008
.....if you are a seasoned pro or utterly humourless. If you think your photographs are generally OK, but are missing that little something extra that makes them good enough to be proud of; then buy it instantly.

This isn't a technical photography manual that will spin your head out with more terms than a consolidation loan contract. Neither is it an artsy Bauhaus analysis of photography design. No, it is actually useful.

I wrote a glowing review of the first volume, and the second volume is just as good. The only downside is that I now am going to spend more money on photography kit. I really think that addiction to narcotics or alcohol would have been much cheaper and far less damaging to my marriage.

The author, to me anyway, comes across as a thoroughly nice bloke who obviously loves what he does. The style is informal and friendly and I enjoy reading both volumes again and again. If, like some reviewers, you find this off-putting I think that says far more about you than it does Scott.

In conclusion: my photographs are better after reading this book, thanks Scott.

A must-have!, 20 May 2007
This was the first Usborne book I bought for my son, and it's still one of his favorites. He loves to roar along with each lion and find the tactile part of the pages. A beautiful book, wonderfully illustrated and excellent for the age group. A definite must-have!

Lion For My Leo, 29 Aug 2006
My 1 year old son loves this book, he has the dragon and the robot too. they are very bright and pretty with lovely pictures so different to touch. My son loves to turn the thick pages and goes straight for the rough or smooth textures every time.
These are great books for both boys and girls.

Good Fun, 27 Nov 2003
Terrific book. We've been reading this book for a long time, and now that my son is 2 1/2 he still loves it.

Happy I bought this book for my baby daughter, 28 Nov 2001
I bought "That's Not My Lion" for my daughter when she was 10 months. The book is solidly made with rounded corners and thick (non-tear) pages. Each page (even the cover) features a small textured section that doubles as a body part of a lion (ears, paws, tail etc.,). From the first time she watched me read the book, and then take her finger to rub the textured area, my daughter has been hooked. Even bottles of milk are put to one side to sit with Dad and read through the book together. For that alone, it is easily worth the money.

Best photography book ever, 14 Nov 2008
This is the best photography book I have ever purchased.
Self contained pages telling you how to get the shot.
No nonsense, no complications, no need to understand intricate instructions.
A word of caution. It has cost me a fortune! Because all of Scott's suggestions about how to get better images are actually very sensible but once you start buying better hardware - tripod, mount, lenses, printers, software, filters, flashes....you have spent a lot of extra money.
However, it is all great advice and it pays off.
I have many more really good shots on my computer after reading Scott's book/s (actually you will eventually buy the second book so you might as well get it straight away)
I have recommended this book to everybody I know who is interested on photography from beginner to interested amateur. Most have purchased and everybody is very pleased with the advice.
It makes ordinary people into much better photographers.
Phil Gordon
Newcastle upon Tyne

Fantastic!, 08 Oct 2008
I have just bought this book and only really to get my free postage on my order - but what a great book! I only have a passing inerest in photography but often wondered how people got shots like they do. This book is presented in an easy to understand format and don't take any notice about the negative remarks about humour - it's there for a reason, to fix the ideas in your memory. I'm going to order the second volume as well.

A Groan A Minute, 30 Sep 2008
However useful this book may be the so-called humour is so thoroughly irritating that I ended up hurling across the room into the waste basket!

Highly recommended, 16 Sep 2008
Purchased this and the follow-up volume 2 and I have to say, I've read many books on the subject and all follow a similar path. These two books however are amazing. I have learned so much just reading volume one, that I can highly recommend these two books to anyone, who is wanting to improve their technique and produce not just good photo's but Great photo's. Scott has a very unique style which is easy to follow and along with his quirky humour (which I find actually helps get the message across) has produced two of the most amazing guides to the world of digital photography, I have had the pleasure of reading.

digital photgraphy book, 07 Sep 2008
this book is amazing,with in 2 days of reading the book,my photos improved 100 per cent.i highley rocomend this book for any beginners.well done scott.

Spectacular!, 03 Nov 2008
This is the second volume I've reviewed in the now very well established, BBC wildlife photographer of the year competition. Portfolio 15 was the first one I bought and because of the amazing pictures I've continued to buy it each year, however I did not review 16 or 17 because there was little else to say. Now, I feel there is.

I don't know what the photographers out there have been doing this year but the level in quality has jumped to a whole new level and it will be amazing to see if they can sustain it. The number of pictures produced from film rather than a digital sensor seems to have fallen almost to nothing but if the quality is improving for that reason then who would complain? The photos in this volume transcend wildlife or nature photography. They are fine art. Incredible moments, captured with exquisite competition and perfect timing.

A few photos after my first look already stick in my mind, an image of dolphins going after fish, an underwater portrait of a beaver, a snake trying in vain to eat a treefrog.

If you bought other volumes in the series you'll know how good they are and need little convincing, even without knowing how much better this new portfolio is. If you haven't - then you must try them out starting with this one. If you only have the one book of wildlife photography, make it this one - you won't find better than this anywhere.

The book follows the standard formula and include a short statement by each photographer and include technical details, these are generally short but cover the essentials like aperture and shutter speed and this is, after all, not a book on how to take a photo. It would be nice if the pages were bigger but they're glossy and the photos seem to have been reproduced very well.

Absolutely wonderful book, stands head and shoulders above the other volumes in the series. A must-own item!

Simple and lovely, 01 Sep 2008
There's something very soothing and calming about this book, which makes it perfect for bedtime. The story is simple, the illustrations are beautiful, and we all feel good when we read it. My two-year-old son absolutely loves it, and I do too.

fly me to the moon, 25 Jan 2008
amongst one of the most beautiful contemporary children books i have read.
it is the innocent and very basic style in which children are encouraged to dream and reach out for the impossible and get motivated to fuel their imagination with creative thinking and alternative solutions to seemingly unachievable tasks. i consider it the very skill of a good children book to not mock or burst a bubble but offer a beautiful alternative to the unachievable. Oliver Jeffers always has a nice twist in his books and heartbreaking illustrations of the yearnings and hopes of his characters.
every child needs to read or be read a book like this. the only equivalent
i know is a book about a bear who wants to reach the moon. a book that is
decades old and whose title i cant currently recall- but it still sits in a box in the house i grew up in surrounded by other books that shaped the very me- why i think a good choice of book for your children is invaluable- and i believe this one is a very good choice that will hopefully get passed on to as many generations possible.
enjoy.






Beautiful modern book for young children., 25 Nov 2007
This is a lovely book. I was drawn to buy it from the great reviews it had received and I'm truly glad I did. The story is so poignant that I actually feel quite tearful each time I read it and my 34 month old absolutely adores it - I don't think she quite understands the concept of trying to catch star as she told me the other day that she wants to buy the moon in Tesco! However, it's the futility of trying to catch a real star that makes this story so sad but so sweet at the same time - and the ending, without wanting to spoil it, is perfect. The illustrations are just beautiful and the story is brilliant. I can't put this one down. I usually prefer classic children's stories as I can't bare 'political correctness' but this story is wonderful. I can't wait for my 12 month old to get into it too. Oliver Jeffers is a genius.

Charming, 18 Aug 2007
Bought on the strength of the other customer reviews and I wasn't disappointed. It's a bit old for my 14 month old (illustrations are beautiful but a bit sophisticated at this age), but I can see it's going to become a bedtime classic.

A heart warming tale - this is magical reading!

Funny and enchanting, 06 May 2007

Oliver Jeffers is my favourite childrens author. And this book is another fine example of why...

...The story itself is simple, but not patronising. It is a lovely story about a little boy who wants a star, and his quest is detailed in such a humourous way (he couldn't travel in his rocket as he'd used up all the petrol last Tuesday). For the story alone this book would be an asset to any childs story collection - but Oliver Jeffers' books have a little something else - the illustrations!

Oliver Jeffers does his own illustrations, they are unique in style, and genuinely quite beautiful. They make every page turn a joy, and you find yourself immersed in the story, and loving the art you have in front of you.

Your child will love this book - and you will too.

Fascinating and accessible approach to Shakespeare, 05 Nov 2008
I really enjoyed this book. It was a quick and easy read, admittedly, but it does not bill itself as a Shakepeare textbook or biography and would be a different animal if it was. If you take it at face value, it's a fun read, helped along by Bryson's amusing style.

Read this even if you are bored by Shakespeare, 28 Oct 2008
Bought it as a background book to a historical novel on Shakespeare. I knew so little about the man.It is one of the best books I read all year. Bryson explains with great clarity how scholars are forced to deduce so much with very little hard evidence. Even the basic facts that 'every school-child knows' are really conjectures. No contemporary manuscript of his plays exists. His birthday (23 April) is based upon assumptions drawn from his baptism. Even his picture may not be him. Bryson then dances his way through the host of theories, myths and scholastic analysis over the past five hundred years like a wiry court jester. It helped me make sense of it all and even become quite excited. I finally understood the significance of the different folios/quartos - and even more amazingly, I cared. For the first time in 30 odd years I had the urge to re-read Shakespeare's plays and I even thought about buying an audio-tape of Macbeth. I didn't but my hand hesitantly stretched out towards the shelf before I put it down again.

Makes the most of what little there is to know, 26 Sep 2008
A neat little book exploring what little we know about Shakespeare's life. Bryson hasn't had the easiest of tasks, trying to work a coherent life out of such scant information and vague references to Shakespeare during his lifetime, and all in all he's done well.

It starts a little dry, and the small details get a bit overwhelming - but then, there is little emotive material to work with so detail is there is to offer. Where Bryson excels is in fleshing out these patchy details with other interesting information about the theatrical conventions of the time, life in Stratford and London, and other literary types who surrounded Shakespeare. In doing so he turns this into a much more interesting biography than it would otherwise have been. The last chapter, relating to the various theories that Shakespeare didn't write the plays and sonnets attributed to him, is where Bryson's wit and sharp humour really come into their own as he batters them down one by one, and the book thus ends on a vibrant note which made me laugh aloud and left a lasting smile!

Much Ado About Nothing, 21 Sep 2008
Although his name is oft bandied about as a must read this is the first time I've ever had the chance. Bryson that is not Shakespeare! This serves as a nice intro to Shakespeare the man with a "just the facts ma'am" approach. And as he admits, this slim volume is a testament to the fact that what we can take as absolute fact about Shakespeare is very little at all.

For a giant in literary terms Shakespeare has left very few footprints. However as Bryson points out this isn't as odd as it might sound, one can't reasonably expect records dating 400 years ago to either be in a sturdy condition or to be legible or even to have survived numerous calamities over the years from natural fires to German bombing campaigns. The fact that the actual early copies of manuscripts of Shakespeare's plays account for about 15 % of all surviving plays from the late Elizabethan / early Jacobean period is pretty remarkable in and of itself.

The author obviously allows room to discuss the speculation of other scholars or this would be a very very slim volume indeed, but he clearly demarcates between what is established fact and what is theory. From his early years we get the speculation of his education and whether he was a secret Catholic, to the sparse years in London before becoming an established writer taking in such romantic fancies that he sailed with Drake.

The one thing Bryson holds no stock in at all is the theory that Shakespeare is not the author of the plays and though he dutifully covers all the potential others he is quite clear on the lack of any tangible evidence that anyone other than William of Stratford wrote the plays

The Perfect Layman's Biography of Shakespeare, 13 Sep 2008
Well, I suppose the big beardy Anglophile yank had to do it sooner or later.

As Bryson himself says in his introduction, the world doesn't really need another book on Shakespeare. From the incredibly specific and obscure to the uselessly vague and general, from the trivially lightweight to the inaccessibly somber, the Bard of Stratford is the subject of literally dozens of new books of facts, biography, analysis, opinion, theory and conjecture, every damn year.

For all that, this was a worthwhile book to have written, which is more or less all we'd expect of Bryson, who is a clear, clever and witty writer who rarely fails to please.

Bryson has chosen biography as his goal. The book is written in more or less chronological order, with chapters covering distinct periods in Will's life. Bryson starts by characterising the period, analysing the (usually scant) evidence available, then raising and scrutinising the various popular interpretations about what is known. He detours occasionally into anecdotal discussion about his researches or funny or impressive stories about other people's attempts at research, which all over helps it from getting too dry and to remain a very Bryson book.

Throughout he's diligent about the distinction between evidence and interpretation. The problem is, we actually have pretty slender information about Shakespeare's life: a veritable wealth of data by the standards of Elizabethans in general, but still very little from which to derive any reliable idea of the facts of his life. Inevitably, this means foraying into conjecture from time to time; a practice at which Shakespearean academe excels, but a dangerous one. Bryson gives an example of the famous deer-poaching incident, a romantic guess made in the eighteenth century that was repeated as solid fact in Shakespeare scholarship for more than a hundred years after. Bryson, by contrast, while happy to include reasonable and useful guesses as to how to interpret what is known, is very careful to let you know what's fact - and where it's from - and what's conjecture and how it was arrived at.

If you're seriously into your Shakespeare scholarship, this book probably doesn't have anything new to tell you (although Bryson's research is up to date, and he has access to facts I didn't have at Uni), but if you're only likely to buy one Shakespeare biography in your life, this isn't a bad one to choose.


Great Book Even For Pro's, 05 Oct 2008
I've been a wedding photographer for 25 years. I thought this was going to be another "how to take photos book". I've liked other Scott Kelby books so whilst in a bookstore picked it up just for a quick glance, but was suprised to see how much detail he went into. Each page being a new subject, it gave a detailed taster of each subject without all the waffle many books have, and then gave links to websites where you could read more or get equipement that is hard to find. To me it was worth it just for those hard to find links.

Should have stopped at volume 1, 04 Oct 2008
I like Scott Kelby, I really do.
OK he's from the other side of the Atlantic and totally over the top - but he is totally infectious in his love of photography and, in particular Photshop

However, this one doesn't do it for me.

It is just a re-hash of voulme one. The content is very weak and I gained very little from it.

Buy volume one by all means - and certainly buy his photshop books Adobe Photoshop CS3 Book for Digital Photographers (Voices That Matter)....

but I suggest you think long and hard before buying this one

Buy a highlighter pen..., 21 Apr 2008
Please, don't take any notice of the tripe you will read in these reviews about stupid humour. It is only in a half dozen intro pages and even then, it's not enough to worry about and stop you learning from these wonderful books.
Buy this book, buy volume one too and a good highlighter pen, because you will learn an awful lot (unless you are a seasoned pro). The tips are quick, precise and have made my photography much better in the week it has taken me to read (and cover in highlighter!) both volumes.
Volume two has a great section on studio work with simple and inexpensive equipment that is worth the cover price alone. Don't listen to the silly moans about his sense of humour, buy these and learn lots!

An amazing book, 07 Apr 2008
As an amateur photographer I found the book to be compelling reading, being written in an engaging fashion and giving information in doses small enough to absorb with pleasure.

In addition to basic techniques and tips, you will also learn what equipment you require in order to improve your photography.

This is an excellent book which has helped me advance in my photography and which I have read from cover to cover at least twice.

This book is a must for anyone new to photography!

Don't buy it...., 15 Feb 2008
.....if you are a seasoned pro or utterly humourless. If you think your photographs are generally OK, but are missing that little something extra that makes them good enough to be proud of; then buy it instantly.

This isn't a technical photography manual that will spin your head out with more terms than a consolidation loan contract. Neither is it an artsy Bauhaus analysis of photography design. No, it is actually useful.

I wrote a glowing review of the first volume, and the second volume is just as good. The only downside is that I now am going to spend more money on photography kit. I really think that addiction to narcotics or alcohol would have been much cheaper and far less damaging to my marriage.

The author, to me anyway, comes across as a thoroughly nice bloke who obviously loves what he does. The style is informal and friendly and I enjoy reading both volumes again and again. If, like some reviewers, you find this off-putting I think that says far more about you than it does Scott.

In conclusion: my photographs are better after reading this book, thanks Scott.

A must-have!, 20 May 2007
This was the first Usborne book I bought for my son, and it's still one of his favorites. He loves to roar along with each lion and find the tactile part of the pages. A beautiful book, wonderfully illustrated and excellent for the age group. A definite must-have!

Lion For My Leo, 29 Aug 2006
My 1 year old son loves this book, he has the dragon and the robot too. they are very bright and pretty with lovely pictures so different to touch. My son loves to turn the thick pages and goes straight for the rough or smooth textures every time.
These are great books for both boys and girls.

Good Fun, 27 Nov 2003
Terrific book. We've been reading this book for a long time, and now that my son is 2 1/2 he still loves it.

Happy I bought this book for my baby daughter, 28 Nov 2001
I bought "That's Not My Lion" for my daughter when she was 10 months. The book is solidly made with rounded corners and thick (non-tear) pages. Each page (even the cover) features a small textured section that doubles as a body part of a lion (ears, paws, tail etc.,). From the first time she watched me read the book, and then take her finger to rub the textured area, my daughter has been hooked. Even bottles of milk are put to one side to sit with Dad and read through the book together. For that alone, it is easily worth the money.

Brilliant, 22 Oct 2008
This is brilliant book on design and composition taking the reader on a tour through graphic elements, colour, contrasts etc.

A lot of photography, but independent of technology: It's not the camera that takes the photo, it's the photographer. And this book introduces the reader to all the decisions a photographer makes, whether concious or not, when taking the photo.

The word "digital" should be dropped from the title, only four pages discuss techniques particular to digital photography, and then not.

This makes the book perfect for any one with a desire to improve their photographic skills - or eyes.

My best photography book ever, 13 Oct 2008
I keep returning to this book over and over again for inspiration and it has completely transformet the way I take pictures.

Perhaps the best book regarding photographic composition, 07 Jul 2008
I have always been skeptical about buying books that deal with photography either because there exist too many online tutorials which cover many aspects in detail or simply because the techniques each book covers are more or less the same rewritten in a different format.

This book by Michael Freeman though is trully a gem and a "must-have" in the library of every photographer.
It covers most photographic composition aspects in a great detail with perhaps images of excellence regarding composition, including schematic figures outlining and justifying the choice of the composition which exactly hit the point the writer is trying to make. It is printed in premium, relatively thick, paper with high quality images.

- The book is well structured in 6 main chapters beginning with the usage of the image frame, the positioning within the viewfinder of the camera and generally the placement of a scenery and objects within the frame
- Chapter 2 explains the objective principles of design and why certain photographs pop up from the lot if thinking is allocated to aspects such as Gestalt theory, Dynamic tension, patterns, visual weight etc.
- Chapter 3 walks us through the elements that compose photographs such as lines, shapes, focus, motion exposure and others.
- Chapter 4 highlights the importance of light needed in composition and its association with color.
- Chapter 5 analyzes the intent in composition, that is the purpose the photograph was taken in order to please aesthetically by teaching and explaining among others, planning, ahead thinking and reactiveness, simplicity and complexity in photographs, ambiguity etc.
- The book finishes with chapter 6 which in detail explains why process is so necessary prior to composing and shooting a photograph.

This draft description only outlines a few of the topics covered and by no means it can show the true depth of the book.
A small word of advice though. This book is not purely intended to teach basic rules of photography (although the writer explains topics such as the rule of thirds and HDR) but it rather builds and expands on some existing knowledge and fine granulates the art of photography through composition and design with the utmost intent to help the user develop the skills to shoot great images.

The book helps !, 07 Jul 2008
I bought this book after reading the reviews as I'm not into too technical stuff...

It's a very handy book which nicely and in easy terms (I'm not an native English speaker) explains about composition, what our eyes see or focus on and therefor why we better take a photo this or that way.

The book contains many example photographs which makes it even easier to see what the author means.

more design than composition, 27 Feb 2008
i was looking for a book to help with my photo composition and was recommended this, so perhaps i was expecting something a little 'less formal'

for me, its quite formal and concentrates on design aspects rather than composition itself in which i would think of things such as framing subjects etc, but perhaps i was just expecting more along the lines of "rules of thirds", "bottom heavy images" etc. <