Aircraft: The Jet as Art [Hardcover]

Jeffrey Milstein (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 2007

Often it takes an artist to show us that the familiar is in fact truly remarkable. Jeffrey Milstein’s elegant photographs of commercial airliners have quickly become contemporary icons, published in 2005 in photomagazin, Graphis Photo Annual, and American Photography 21, and winning first place in the PDN Digital Photography Contest. Milstein’s meticulously composed large-format photos of airliners in flight reveal the beauty and power of these sleek, complex machines and restores some of the glamour to the experience of air travel.

An eloquent foreword by Walter J. Boyne helps the reader appreciate these amazing technological wonders, and the book gives technical data on each airplane pictured. Not just for the aviation buffs but for anyone who appreciates the sublime beauty possible in even the most complex technology.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Jeffrey Milstein is a photographer, architect, graphic designer, and private pilot. AirCraft showcases all of these passions at once. He lives in Woodstock, New York.

Walter J. Boyne is a prolific author and former director of the National Air and Space Museum. His books have appeared on both the nonfiction and fiction New York Times bestseller lists.

Ariel Shanberg is Executive Director of the Center for Photography at Woodstock, New York.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 104 pages
• Publisher: Harry N. Abrams (May 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 081099285X
• ISBN-13: 978-0810992856
• Product Dimensions: 12.3 x 12.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #79,159 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #89 in Books > Arts & Photography > Museum Exhibition Catalogs
  • #92 in Books > Professional & Technical > Transportation > Aviation

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Flying low, October 25, 2007

By 

Robin Benson - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Aircraft: The Jet as Art (Hardcover)

How refreshing to come across a technology art book. Artists, of course, have realized the beauty of the machine for decades, especially with the Modernist movement in Europe during the Twenties and Thirties. Charles Sheeler was perhaps the leading American photographer to appreciate the exciting visual form of technology. Now photographer (and designer because he did the book's layout) Jeffrey Milstein brings it bang up to date with these stunning photos of jet bottoms.

I thinks it's worth saying that if you like the technical detail aspect of aircraft maybe this book isn't for you but if you want to see crisp, precise photos of contemporary jets from a very unusual angle you'll enjoy the forty-two shown in these pages. There are some profile shots and seven front-on ones but neither of these can capture the fascination of the undersides.

The book is a treat to look through thanks to the square twelve inch by twelve format with the jets handsomely printed (in 250dpi) on good paper. There is a visual extravaganza of a double foldout (to forty-six inches across) of the 'Indian Princess' Virgin Atlantic Airbus A340-600 so if you ever sat in the window seat on the right-hand side of this particular jet here's a rather unusual flight memento for you. My only criticism is that the list of aircraft on a spread in the back is alphabetical rather than page number sequence and some spreads, amazingly, have no numbers.

A second volume Jeffrey?

***FOR AN INSIDE LOOK click 'customer images' under the cover.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My new favorite!, June 5, 2007

By 

J. Schultz (Fort Worth, TX USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Aircraft: The Jet as Art (Hardcover)

As an Aerospace Engineer, I have always seen artistic value in Commercial Aircraft. That is why I am so excited to find a book that illustrates this in such exquisite detail. The resolution in these photos is just incredible. One can identify every antenna, drain mast, external doubler and placard on these magnificent machines. The white background makes the subject jump off the page; plus the centerfold was an unexpected bonus. I can only hope that Jeffrey Milstein brings us other books like this in the future.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An art book for all aircraft enthusiasts, May 29, 2007

By 

M. G. Lonergan (Darien CT) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Aircraft: The Jet as Art (Hardcover)

AirCraft is a beautiful and unsuspected work - those of us who have been around aircraft much of our lives understand and warm to the beauty of the machine. Jeffrey Millstein brings not only a superb eye, but extraordinary technical ability to capture these birds from an unusual perspective. This book is for anyone interested in design, color, aircraft, or who wants to see a customary object from a different vantage point.