Book Review: Frozen in Time

Frozen in Time: Photographs

Every so often, there's a book that pulls so tightly at your heart strings that you literally feel connected to it, a part of the story. That's exactly what happened with me when I opened Frozen in Time. The photographic narrative of a turbulent mother-daughter relationship inside of a terribly dilapidated farmhouse in Maine. Eager to reconnect and reconcile with her dying mother after a long estrangement, photographer Sarah C. Butler moved into the house her mother had allowed to nearly crumble around her, photographing the emotionally moving experience, and ultimately sharing it with us in Frozen in Time.

It's all at once beautiful and heart-wrenching. Rarely do you ever see something so intimately personal and at the same time, oddly nostalgic in coffee table books. It's a stunning visual tour de force that has absolutely mesmerized me, and I think it will do the same for you. Take a look: 

An exquisite book of photographs, but it's so much more than that. This is a book about the complex nature of relationships with our family, particularly our mothers, moving away from home, finding home, and reconciliation. It's a book about acceptance, of those who have harmed us, and of the harm we do to ourselves. It's a book about love, and the beauty that can be found in true understanding. 

A definite MUST have! Take a look and buy your copy via the Amazon link below:

Book Review: Life of a Pattern

Life of a Pattern by Neisha Crosland

Published by Merrell Publishers 

You may or may not be familiar with the name Neisha Crosland, but you are definitely familiar with her work. Neisha is a surface pattern designer, based in the UK, recognized internationally for her sophisticated, yet unusual color combinations, and her impeccable attention to balance and proportion. Her body of work has propelled her to the forefront of UK design, and in 2006 she was honored with the title Royal Designer for Industry, an incredibly high accolade for designers in the UK as only 200 designers can hold this title. 

Neisha started her own textile company designing scarves and accessories nearly 23-years ago, and has since gone on to design fabrics, wallpapers, rugs, tiles, fine china, and even stationary! Turnell & Gigon carries her wallpaper, Harris & Jones her stationary, and her pillow covers and curtain panels can be found at Crate & Barrel. 

Without a doubt, Neisha's unerring eye has an extraordinary ability for seeking out symmetry, order, and beauty and then taking that inspiration and funneling it into her beautiful work, is unsurpassed. In her first book, Life of a Pattern luxuriously published by Merrell Publishers, specially commissioned photography focuses on the detail, color, techniques, and patterns Crosland has mastered. She shares fascinating technical detail in current and early work, including weaving and printing methods that have now vanished because of commercial pressures on mills and manufacturers. Life of a Pattern takes you from the inception of the idea to the finished product, exploring all of the wonderful resources and inspirations along the way. 

Brilliant and massive, the book is filled with inspirational drawings, and photography. Let's take a look: 

360 pages in a large format, results in a book perfect imbibing inspiration. Page after page, you are introduced to brilliant textiles, patterns, and more from pattern visionary, Neisha Crosland. Take a closer look, and pick up your copy via the Amazon link below: 

Book Review: Dreamscapes

Keeping with the coffee table book theme, I'm excited to share with you Dreamscapes, published by teNeues. The book is the fourth from Canadian born photographer and artist, David Drebin. Now based in New York City, David focuses on the landscapes of awe-inspiring destinations around the globe. David is known for his breathtaking cityscape shots and landscapes, and this book is a beautifully curated collection of some of his most stunning.

From the Manhattan skyline and Central Park, to the magical beaches of the Amalfi Coast, David takes us on a mini world tour, with remarkable photos guided by his inimitable sense of reflections, light, and playful timing. Take a look:

They are truly lovely, aren't they? And this is just a sample of the 100's of brilliant images in the 200-pages of Dreamscapes. Books like this one are lovely reminders of the beauty in our every day world, and they are far less expensive than booking a flight. Take a vicarious vacation and a closer look at this gorgeous book via the amazon link below:

If you're interested in any of David's other books, you can see them here:

Book Review: Horses

Horses

By Tony Stromberg

Published by teNeues

I love books on interior design, and I love sharing those with you here. But my collection of books doesn't stop there! I also have quite a few books by photographers. These brilliant coffee table books are a staple to the rooms in my home, and I have them scattered everywhere! From on top of and under chairs, to sitting in neat stacks on tables and armoires, even creating tables out of my favorites next to the bed, I just can't get enough! Many of my favorite photography books have been published by teNeues, a publishing house that focuses on books on interior design, art, and photography. I also seem to have a collection of photography books with a singular subject, Horses. 

Horses, just horses - unbridled, no riders, no saddles, no tethers of any kind - it's just something you don't see anymore. Tony Stomberg, equine photographer extraordinaire, is a genius at capturing the unbridled beauty of Horses. Tony's way of photographing these massive beauties, almost in the same way a portrait photographer would agonize over the perfect light and shadow, position and angle of the photo of a dignitary, is nothing short of extraordinary.

I could go on and on, but see for yourself:

The collection of photos here stir every emotion inside of you. These glorious subjects are the teachers and soulmates of a photographer who was struggling with burnout in the 90's after years of working as an advertising photographer. The deep connection that he has built with horses since, is evident in every single photo; and that passion, has catapulted Stromberg to unrivaled fame. 

If you're looking for a great gift to give this Christmas, or if you simply would like to have an inspiring collection of beautiful photos for your own home, look no further. Purchase your copy via the Amazon link below: 

Book Review: The Prado Masterpieces

I am a lover of art, and I'm sure that most of you are as well. I am also a lover of books, an obvious statement I know based on the number of book reviews that I've done here. I truly believe that books, stacked on a coffee table, on the floor next to a chair, under a table or a console, even collected in piles on top of an armoire or cabinet can be beautiful art, and so I don't have any problem keeping my favorite books out on top of the coffee table for anyone to pick up and thumb through. Lately, The Prado Masterpieces has been at the top of the stack!

The Museo del Prado is the main Spanish national art museum, located in central Madrid. It features one of the world's finest collections of European art, and is undoubtedly the steward of the most comprehensive and finest gallery of Spanish art ever produced. 

The Prado Masterpieces is a massive 494 page book showcasing in beautiful large format photography the Museo del Prado's permanent collection, from ancient sculpture to 19th century paintings. A comprehensive volume of work like this has never been published about the Prado collections before, so there are pieces in The Prado Masterpieces you've likely never seen. Let's take a look at a few of the pages within: 

Beyond beautiful photos of art, the book takes an in depth look at painters (Velazquez, Titian, and Bosch) and at the themes of the paintings in their world renown collection (portraits, religious paintings, etc.). Organized chronologically, the book allows you an appreciation for the different styles of art created throughout Europe and Spain in the same time period, and their unique dialogue. 

It's no wonder that The Prado is one of the most visited sites in all of the world. And now, thanks to Thames and Hudson, you can visit without the expense of a ticket to Madrid, in the comfort of your own beautiful home. Take a closer look, and buy your copy via the Amazon link below: