Don James: Prewar Surfing Photographs

Book Description

A strong sense of nostalgia and a yearning for a simpler life are the accompaniments to the images in Don James's Pre-War Surfing Photographs. At the end of the Depression and before the beginning of WWII, James and a small group of friends lived a charmed life in Southern California. When school was out, they roamed the undeveloped Eden-like coast from Malibu to San Onofre, scraping together gas money for their worn jalopies, lugging 90-pound wooden boards to the ocean, sleeping in lifeguard huts and makeshift tent camps in the sand. They lived hand-to-mouth, plucking an endless supply of abalone and lobster from the ocean and raiding nearby orange and avocado orchards at night. What spending money they had came from guiding rumrunners to secluded coves, selling fresh fish to local restaurants, life guarding in posh beach clubs in Santa Monica, or acting as stuntmen and extras for Hollywood films. At that time, there were fewer than 200 surfers in the entire state, and James and his friends were inventing a beach/surf culture that would endure for decades. In 1936, at 16 years old, James began chronicling those days with his father's folding Brownie camera. For water shots, he would place the camera in a homemade semi-waterproof pine box, rest the box atop his board, and paddle out to the calm water adjacent to the surf. Focal range of the Brownie was limited, and James preferred to keep his frame uncluttered, so many of the photographs have a similar weight and balance. The images in Pre-War Surfing Photographs are the result of his preliminary endeavors, the works that mark the beginning of James's career. Throughout his life, James continued to perfect his skills going on to take a multitude of elegant surfing photographs, for which he became famous, until his death in the 1990s.

Customer Reviews:

REDDSURF.......2007-05-18

THIS IS A MUST FOR SURFERS. THE PICTURES SHOW US HOW SURFING IN THE GOOD OLD DAYS WERE. IF YOU ARE INTO THE HISTORY OF SURFING THIS A GREAT BOOK. IT IS PUT TOGETHER VERY WELL.

Research Material Unrealized to Sustain a Book.......2007-01-20

"Don James: Prewar Surfing Photographs" is a collection of black and white photos taken by someone who would go on to become one of the first great photographers of surfing.

Matt Warshaw assembled this heretofore unpublished collection of what can be described as among the very first attempts in California at taking surfing photos from the water from the perspective of another board ( water level). Water shots of surfing had been pretty common in the waters of Waikiki for a number of years, but were almost always taken from an outrigger canoes, thus the perspective was not actually from water level.

The book seems to have been thrown together quickly from photos that were "found" in Dr. James' desk, after he died. Given that some of them are out of focus and others seem almost comically composed, ( plenty of self-conscious posing and mugging for the camera) one can assume that the late Doctor was on to something when he decided to leave these in his desk. Perhaps some of these photos could have been used in the context of another book about the history of surfing, but to stand alone as the backbone of a specific book devoted to just these photos, was in my opinion a miscalculation or an after thought.

Warshaw is one of the preeminent chroniclers of the surfing phenomenon and history. His other works, "Photo/Stoner.....", "Surf Movie Tonight", and his "Encyclopedia Of Surfing" demonstrate his thorough grasp of the cultural, historical and socio-economic history of surfing. Warshaw's prose ( especially in his excellent "Photo/Stoner...") is among the best if not the best in the genre. Coupled with his keen eye for photos that capture an era and the reader's imagination, Warshaw has a commendable body of work. The Don James book cannot be listed among them.

The book contains a short preface from Warshaw but as previously stated many of the photos that follow are sub-par. Some of them would probably work well in framed large formats, at say a Restaurant in So. Cal.
The photos are left in a vacuum. No notations or specific identification of what we are looking at or an effort to put them into any surf history context.
Warshaw could have, should have fleshed this effort out more. Perhaps a bit more on Doctor James. Maybe some drawings or photos of what the camera rig looked like that took the photos. A map that shows geographically where the spots are.. A bit more insight into the people in the photos, a description of the nuances of the reefs and breaks portrayed, anything something, but alas nothing.

Another reviewer of the book mentioned that it captures a lost era and life style. Surfing back then was not considered a "life style", that did not happen until well after WWII. These were young men, who had the good fortune to discover and take part in a sport/art that was a welcome respite from the pressures of the economic conditions prevalent in the nation at the time. What was on their minds was more probably, "Am I going to make it socially-economically". James did by becoming a successful Dentist.
This book can only be recommended to the most hard core surfing history enthusiast, and even they ( I among them) will find this book, a less than valiant effort.

Don James:Prewar Surfing Photographs.......2007-01-09

This is an excellent collection of photos. Don did his best to capture a lifestyle that is long behind us.

PREWAR SURFING PHOTOGRAPHS: DON JAMES - PORTFOLIOS 1,2,3,4 & 5: A COMPLETE SET

Average customer rating:

PREWAR SURFING PHOTOGRAPHS: DON JAMES - PORTFOLIOS 1,2,3,4 & 5: A COMPLETE SET
DON). James, Don (JAMES
Manufacturer: T. Adler Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Loose Leaf
ASIN: B000OZNRAG

Book Description

Easy-to-make project ideas are packaged with key art supplies. An ideal introduction to art techniques for kids. Contains 8 boxed crayons

Customer Reviews:

A must for any child who likes arts and crafts!.......2006-01-29

This a a nifty little book choke full of tips for maintaining supplies and ideas for crafts. It has just so many little ideas on every page! This is a book made for little ones and adults alike! With adult tips like preserving a childs crayon drawings by spraying them with hairspray, to rubbings and cut outs for older children, to ideas for the smallest child like fastening three crayons together with a rubberband or tape so that even they can participate.

Average customer rating:

Five Minute Art - Draw (Activity)

Manufacturer: Quadrillion Publishing Ltd
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Instructional & How-To | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Crafts & Hobbies | Arts & Music | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Average customer rating:

Five Minute Art Draw

Manufacturer: Eager Minds Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: 1590930355

Average customer rating:

Five Minute Art Draw

Manufacturer: Ideals Children's Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1571021825

Average customer rating:

Draw (Five Minute Art)

Manufacturer: Eager Minds Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: 1590930290

Average customer rating:

Five Minute Art - Draw (Activity)

Manufacturer: Quadrillion Publishing Ltd
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Book Description

The King's Bedpost is a lavishly-illustrated detective story about a painting. Edward VI and the Pope is an important and fascinating visual allegory of the Reformation; but when and why was it painted? Following up a sequence of clues to answer these questions, the author embarks on a fascinating and unusual voyage of historical exploration that takes the reader into book illustration and scriptural iconography, Tudor religion and politics, anti-papal propaganda and iconoclastic manoeuvres. The discovery of previously unrecognised pictorial sources conclusively re-dates the painting, and opens a wide-ranging discussion of art and image-making under Edward VI and Elizabeth I. A large and varied cast of characters joins the Tudor monarchs as the tale unfolds and the painting ultimately becomes the key to a series of hitherto locked doors.

THE KING'S BEDPOST: REFORMATION AND ICONOGRAPHY IN A TUDOR GROUP PORTRAIT.

Average customer rating:

THE KING'S BEDPOST: REFORMATION AND ICONOGRAPHY IN A TUDOR GROUP PORTRAIT.
Margaret. Aston
Manufacturer: Cambridge Univ. Press,
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000N7I4XA

The King's Bedpost: Reformation and Iconography in a Tudor Group Portrait.: An article from: Renaissance Quarterly

Average customer rating:

The King's Bedpost: Reformation and Iconography in a Tudor Group Portrait.: An article from: Renaissance Quarterly
Christy Anderson
Manufacturer: Renaissance Society of America
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Renaissance Quarterly, published by Renaissance Society of America on March 22, 1998. The length of the article is 631 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: The King's Bedpost: Reformation and Iconography in a Tudor Group Portrait.
Author: Christy Anderson
Publication: Renaissance Quarterly (Refereed)
Date: March 22, 1998
Publisher: Renaissance Society of America
Volume: v51 Issue: n1 Page: p307(3)

Article Type: Book Review

Distributed by Thomson Gale

The Areas of My Expertise
Average customer rating:

boring and tries too hard

Hodgman is Funny

A must on audio

Painful

John Hodgman is why I run a PC

The Areas of My Expertise
John Hodgman
Manufacturer: Riverhead Trade
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Essays | Humor | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
General | Humor | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
Satire, General | Humor | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
Comic | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 1594482225

Amazon.com

With his Daily Show appearances and his "I'm a PC" Apple ads, John Hodgman has only become more famous since the hardcover edition of his all-you-need compendium of facts, The Areas of My Expertise was released. He has also become smarter. To reflect this, the paperback edition of The Areas of My Expertise has been expanded to include 100 new hobo names and new, additional complete world knowledge. John Hodgman and his fur-hatted associate, Jonathan, have prepared an exclusive video for Amazon customers explaining the above.

Click here or on the image above to watch John Hodgman describe the only book you'll ever need.

Book Description

Hot on the heels of the #1 bestsellers The Onion's Our Dumb Century and Jon Stewart's America comes The Areas of My Expertise, the brilliant and uproarious #15 bestseller (i.e., a runaway phenomenon in its own right-no, seriously)-a lavish compendium of handy reference tables, fascinating trivia, and sage wisdom-all of it completely unresearched, completely undocumented and (presumably) completely untrue, fabricated by the illuminating, prodigious imagination of John Hodgman, certifiable genius.

Customer Reviews:

boring and tries too hard.......2007-10-02

This is a random grouping of charts and graphs that attempt to be funny in the way of "The Onion" type humor. Unfortunately, the book fails to be even moderately funny.

Hodgman is Funny.......2007-09-19

I like Hodgman's humor and enjoyed this book quite a bit. I also would recommend Lloyd Dangle's latest book, "Troubletown Told You So: Comics That Could've Saved Us From this Mess."Troubletown Told You So: Comics that Could've Saved Us from this Mess

A must on audio.......2007-09-04

Although I imagine John Hodgman's "The Areas of My Expertise" would be both illuminating (containing, as it does, the sum of all human knowledge) and entertaining (written, as it is, by a man who has won an Oscar, a Grammy, an Emmy, a Tony, the Pulitzer Prize and was named Miss Massachusetts 1989), it's even better when read by John Hodgman himself.

And that's even without the musical interludes by Jonathan Coulton and the 700 hobo names. The latter, incidentally, has proven invaluable in my personal life.

A must-buy for anyone who enjoys knowledge, learning, hobos or breathing.

Painful.......2007-08-12

I special ordered this book based on a glowing review from a good friend.

I have decided to ask this friend never to recommend anything to me ever again.

I didn't laugh at anything in this book. I smiled once or twice at certain parts. The author has a troubling obsession with werewolves and hobos that is tedious and fairly juvenile. The only person laughing is John Hodgman as he sleeps on a giant pile of money from people foolish enough to buy into the hype, and the publisher that was double-dog-dared to print it.

John Hodgman is why I run a PC.......2007-07-10

If you're looking for jokes of the keynote variety (this is not something I would recommend), do yourself a favor and buy a Reader's Digest.

If, however, you're a fan of humor (along the lines of Mark Twain, Andy Kaufman, Bill Cosby, Christopher Buckley, etc.), buy this book. There is a world of difference between jokes and humor. Jokes rely on a punchline; humor requires a humorist. For instance, it's impossible to "tell" a bit by any of the aforementioned people and produce laughter (except among people who are already familiar with the material).

Each has a unique voice and outlook that can be imitated but never duplicated. John Hodgman falls into this class of genuine humorists. If you find yourself understanding the distinction between jokes and humor, I would highly endorse purchasing both the paperback edition of this book--unabridged plus 100 additional hobo names--AND the audiobook, for the pleasure of hearing John Hodgman narrate in his incomparable, slightly lazy-eyed style.

Average customer rating:

John Hodgman the Areas of My Expertise
John Hodgman
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: 0739466232

Product Description

Includes: Matters Historical, Matters Literary, Matters Cryptozoological, Hobo Matters, Food, Drink & Cheese (a kind of food), Squirrels & Lobsters & Eels, Haircuts, Utopia, What will Happen In the future, and most other subjuects

The Areas of My Expertise Abridged Cds, 6-copy counter display

Average customer rating:

The Areas of My Expertise Abridged Cds, 6-copy counter display
John Hodgman
Manufacturer: Penguin Audio
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: 0143059343

The Areas Of My Expertise: An Almanac Of Complete World Knowledge Compiled With Instructive Annotation And Arranged In Useful Order

Average customer rating:

The Areas Of My Expertise: An Almanac Of Complete World Knowledge Compiled With Instructive Annotation And Arranged In Useful Order
John Hodgman
Manufacturer: Riverhead Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000O8BGHE

Average customer rating:

The Areas of My Expertise: An Almanac of Complete World Knowledge Compiled with Instructive Annotation and Arranged in Useful Order
John Hodgman
Manufacturer: Riverhead Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000LNTS72

Book Description

Departing from those who define postmodernism in film merely as a visual style or set of narrative conventions, Anne Friedberg develops the first sustained account of the cinema's role in postmodern culture. She explores the ways in which nineteenth-century visual experiences--photography, urban strolling, panorama and diorama entertainments--anticipate contemporary pleasures provided by cinema, video, shopping malls, and emerging "virtual reality" technologies.
Comparing the visual practices of shopping, tourism, and film-viewing, Friedberg identifies the experience of "virtual" mobility through time and space as a key determinant of postmodern cultural identity. Evaluating the theories of Jameson, Lyotard, Baudrillard, and others, she adds critical insights about the role of gender and gender mobility in the configurations of consumer culture.
A strikingly original work, Window Shopping challenges many of the existing assumptions about what exactly postmodern is. This book marks the emergence of a compelling new voice in the study of contemporary culture.

Fingerpicking Paul Simon 2 (Fingerpicking Paul Simon)
Average customer rating:

Flat out wrong

Fingerpicking Paul Simon 2 (Fingerpicking Paul Simon)
Paul Simon , Marcel Robinson , and Music Sales Corporation
Manufacturer: Music Sales Corporation
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
Rock | Musical Genres | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
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Fingerpicking Beatles and Expanded Edition: 30 Songs Arranged for Solo Guitar in Standard Notation and Tab Fingerpicking Beatles and Expanded Edition: 30 Songs Arranged for Solo Guitar in Standard Notation and Tab

ASIN: 0825633125

Book Description

Twelve of his greatest hits, specially arranged for fingerstyle guitarists at all levels. Includes Bridge Over Troubled Water, Slip Slidin' Away, Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard, Bookends, Peace Like A River and more.

Customer Reviews:

Flat out wrong.......2005-01-08

It seems like I only write reviews when the book it bad. But the publishers here are practically stealing. Let me explain.

First, there are no lyrics. That is right, it is tabbed transcriptions of many well-known Simon songs, but if you are a devout flatpicker (like me) and trying to follow along it is impossible to do so. No lyrics with these songs is like trying to find your way to a friend's house when there are no street signs.

Second, some of the tabs are flat-out wrong. The opening chord of "American Tune" is tabbed as a G. Only you don't even need a guitar in your hands to know that it is a C.

Which leads me to wonder what else is wrong in this book?

Too bad, cause it would be great to learn from a book like this, but it is more trouble than it is worth. I bought it to save some time learning something new. Guess I will do it the old way and hit the pause button a million times figuring it out note for note.

That is what I get for trying to take the easy way out.

Book Description

DON'T MISS OUT ON THE NEWEST PUZZLE CRAZE!From Japan to London to the U.S., sudoku is the new puzzle craze that's taking the world by storm! Now Puzzlemaster and New York Times crossword editor Will Shortz presents this brand-new collection featuring 150 sudoku, along with an introduction that explains these fascinating puzzles and how to solve them. These addictive puzzles are easy to understand -- just fill the grid with numbers according to the few simple rules -- but incredibly fun and engaging to complete. You don't need any knowledge of mathematics: just a pencil and an inquisitive mind. Once you've mastered the easier sudoku, try the last fifty puzzles, designed to challenge those who want to give their brains more of a workout.If you're a crossword enthusiast, a fan of logic puzzles, or just a puzzle lover in general, you will be engrossed and delighted with sudoku!

Customer Reviews:

Quick fix for the addict.......2007-04-11

It's an insane craze, or a mindless waste of time - everyone seems to love it or hate it.

This is an enjoyable set of 150 puzzles of graded difficulty, ranging up to two oversized 12x12 offerings. A brief introduction traces the puzzle's murky history, and another offers the basics of solution strategy. It's just the basics, though. You'll need a lot more than that intro to get through even the "Light and Easy" section of the book (the first half) - the barest beginners might dispute that "easy" claim.

So enjoy it, if it's the kind of thing you enjoy. It's fun, challenging, a test of wits, and won't get the neighbors talking about you.

//wiredweird

not a good book to get started with..........2005-12-27

I didn't find this book particularly good for a beginner. I would recommend starting with a New York Post version to get familiar with Sudoku and try this book later. I'm still in the NYP book and am enjoying it a lot. The NYP ones are written by Wayne Gould.

From the Board Games Editor at BellaOnline.com.......2005-12-09

150 puzzles for five bucks... not a bad deal. These puzzles are light and easy, great for coffee-breaks or subway rides. They're printed small, which can be problematic for more difficult puzzles (it's hard to write in "possibles" and difficult to erase without accidentally erasing other numbers), but since the puzzles are relatively easy, you won't be needing to write in "possibles" anyway.

All-in-all, this is a nice little book which will fit in most purses or briefcases and make for a great diversion when you have nothing else to do.

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