62 of 64 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Four huge Positives - One minor Negative (no pun intended!), February 4, 2006
This review is from: Adobe Photoshop Master Class: Maggie Taylor's Landscape of Dreams (Paperback)
I find it difficult to believe that anyone would object to the following statement: Maggie Taylor's work represents today's highest standard of surrealistic photographic image making.
(If you are not familiar with her work, go to her website: www.maggietaylor.com).
Maggie Taylor has taken the inspiration and guidance of contemporary surrealist masters like Jerry Uelsmann and Duane Michaels and expanded into an arena of deep color based multiple subject imagery, somewhat ala Gregory Crewdson. The interaction of each altered component in her montages hints at psychological storytelling. Moreover, most of her images have a painterly, nostalgic quality to them, making them appear richly filled with a deep feeling of belief that the subject actually could exist - or have existed. I admire her art work immensely, as I know that each piece of her work takes months to complete and each image is assembled with dozens upon dozens of sophisticated Photoshop layers, and only after hours of experimentation and thought. Her technical detail is very good, but the true beauty of her work lies in her artistic decisions regarding composition and the interaction of the subject matter. The color/shading and layer manipulation makes the images beautiful to look at - but it's really the thought of the subject composition that causes them to be so hauntingly deep in emotion and have such tremendous subconscious impact.
However, you are reading this review regarding the book - and not solely for a review of one of my favorite artists. So here are Landscape of Dreams' "positives" and "negatives".
In summary, the positives of this book include (not in any particular order):
1. The book contains many high quality color images of Maggie Taylor's work. These wonderfully colored reproductions alone make the book worth acquiring.
2. The interviews and verbiage are very interesting and honest. No hyperbole, just good conversations with the artist and some interesting commentaries from critics and other artists.
3. There is an overview description with photographic image steps of how she assembles the images. Several descriptions of image making gives us Photoshop students a summary idea of the basic elements of layer construction she utilizes as well as a distilled and simplified description of, what must really be, a very complex thought process.
4. There are some examples of early work and written biographical portions that imply the reasons she creates and how she "moved" into the technically complex multi-subject area of photographic image making in which she now resides. This may give beginning artists a sense of direction, or inspiration, and should aid in reinforcing the attributes of patience and experimentation that seem to be required in order to develop a "style".
Here's the one negative:
1. The subtitle "Master Class" is very deceiving - as the instructional part of the book is lacking in detail regarding the exact Photoshop tools and techniques she uses. In other words, although the rough basics of her compositional techniques are covered, be aware that this book is not a precise "step-by-step" instructional road map covering the myriad of Photoshop techniques she uses in her image making. I would like to see Adobe name other books of this type "Master Artist", for it is NOT an instructional tool worth the words "Master Class".
In summary, this is a wonderful book where the positives far outweigh the one negative. Every time I look at the images in Landscape of Dreams, they inspire and enthrall me. Photographic students along with Photoshop veterans, art lovers in general, and even those looking for intriguing coffee-table fare, will be far from disappointed if they purchase this book.
If you are not looking for instructional techniques, but interested in a wonderful photographic artist that will stimulate and enthrall you, it's highly recommended!
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
39 of 40 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Sunshine over Maggie, November 27, 2006
This review is from: Adobe Photoshop Master Class: Maggie Taylor's Landscape of Dreams (Paperback)
I give this book three stars for an average rating mostly because the title is a misrepresentation. It is a very nice coffee table type art book with beautiful and thought provoking imagery created (mostly) in photoshop but it is not in any way, shape or form a "photoshop master class"!
While there is some exquisite imagery and artwork within, this book is written with much of the hyperbole of art criticism today i.e. "Isn't this artist wonderful and completely groundbreaking and influential, oh my!". This is not to say Maggie Taylor isn't a talented and provacative artist but I don't feel she is re-creating and re-directing the surrealist movement as we know it as this book might begin to lead one to believe.
The author, Amy Standen, writes much more about Maggie Taylor's life and inspirations than her actual work and even less about her creative process involving photoshop. There is one step-by-step tutorial (which is available as pdf dowload with a little searching on the internet, I had it before I bought the book, actually it's why I bought the book) and even then it assumes much about the knowledge of the reader. There are several in-process works which show images of each in various stages of completion but talks little about the down and dirty photoshop techniques used to create them.
I would have liked to seen much more in the way of tutorials and creative process in the literal sense. It's more than acceptable as an "art" book rather than a "photoshop master class" book but let's call it what it is...
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Awesome, July 27, 2005
This review is from: Adobe Photoshop Master Class: Maggie Taylor's Landscape of Dreams (Paperback)
The title of this book suggests a lesson plan and tutorials for Adobe Photoshop, but focuses more on exploring Maggie Taylor's work, with lessons learned on how else to use Photoshop once fully read.
Through discussions on her art you see how Maggie Taylor is an artist in her own right, despite her medium. These interviews with other artists and photographers, well liked in their respective fields also offer a short narrative on the history and now evolution of photography.
The styles taught and considered acceptable have changed over time - as have the techniques and tools. This allows you to understand the stigma attached to the work of Maggie Taylor who utilizes Adobe Photoshop to create her art. Indeed, Maggie Taylor could not create these works without the aid oh Photoshop, a trusty scanner and trial and error to find the best medium to print these images on.
"Master Class" is a somewhat misleading term. It suggests step b y step instructions on how you can create similar work. While there is a step by step detailed look at how a few images are created, do not expect a blow by blow account of which blur tool and layering technique were used. It is a description of how and why Maggie Taylor came to decide on how a piece should look and feel. These series of decisions give a greater insight into how Photoshop is used by this artist. Maggie Taylor's surroundings and history are explored to see how and why these haunting images came about. From photography class influences to the various 'knick knacks' that crowd her home.
If you currently work with Photoshop to create I would recommend this book. While many try to apply a label to Maggie Taylor's work, this book offers a valuable glimpse into another digital artist. It is a great resource to those who look for inspiration in strange places. Offering a look at what else can be created with Photoshop allows beginners and experienced users a chance to see what else can be achieved with this medium.
Above all else this well written, insightful, thought provoking account of Maggie Taylor's work gives the reader much to think about. Coupled with samples of her work this book becomes a visual feast for the digital artist, art enthusiast and owner of Maggie Taylor's work. Use this book to learn more about her art from how a series of stray thoughts and EBay bought items become the picture you have hanging on your wall or desktop.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
