Customer Reviews

Aircraft: The Jet as Art

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

This book shows the underside and a few side shots of commercial aircraft on approach to some airport in the US. Unfortunately, the author/photographer doesn't appear to be an enthusiast, and doesn't record tail numbers, location shot, airports, runways, how far from threshold, engine types, or even date of photograph. The problem, then, is that since it's not a plane nut's book, it has to be an art book. For me, it's hard to understand what, as an artist, he is trying to show about these planes.

If it is about comparison, then the one-plane-per-page format doesn't really do that. Also, every image is at a different scale, so that a 747 and a Cessna Citation are shown at approximately the same size. This set of photographs would be perfect for starting to let the mind wander about flaps configuration, the number of seats across on the various body styles, the different types of landing gear, and the concept of big metal things flying in general as you look at the vastly different silhouettes.

On the other hand, if he wants to capture the feel of a plane passing overhead, then that is something that starts to happen. The elegance of the machinery is front and center in this meditative series of images. At times I was wondering just how loud it must be out there, and wanted to hold my ears as well. The crisp images really capture that moment we all want to hold - to be able to stare straight up and think about all that metal hanging over our head. However, the occasional side or front shot isn't consistent with that theme, and seems more about the plane as a canvas, which is a different idea altogether. It doesn't appear that some of the shots chosen have any particular order or reason, as a few special Southwest 737's and Frontier planes are scattered around when you least expect them.

I purchased this book wanting a look at the "anatomy" of these planes, almost as if they were pinned there in a display case for me to compare and notice features and how the original engineers solved problems. I would have even been happy if there were notes on the images as a composition, or some analysis on these birds he caught in the wild. I didn't get either.

I gave it 3 stars because the images, the editing, and the print quality is all really spectacular. Take a look at the 2' long centerfold image of the 767 and see if you can find a pixel somewhere. I couldn't. Unfortunately, I flipped through it a few times and then put this book away.

You really have to be a plane person to fully appreciate this book. But even a casual observer will notice the quality that is put into the volume both in the photography and the book itself. It left me wishing there was more and I mean that in a positive sense.

I fly almost weekly and was informed about this book by United's in-flight Horizons magazine. I was immediately impressed by the cover, and after getting it, was impressed by every single image. I thank Mr. Milstein for showing AirCraft so creatively that they rekindle the excitement that frequent travel (and today's airport hassles) takes from our taking to the air. I wish I could have joined Mr. Milstein as he created these wonderful images and can live vicariously through the book. Our children are learning how to identify the different aircraft types by reading this with me, too.

This book has the very best set of aircraft photographs I have ever seen. The precision the photographer used in perfectly focusing, exposing and framing the subjects is astonishing. You can literally see the rivets on the aircraft, and as an aviation photographer, I can tell you that is a very difficult accuracy to achieve.

I was reluctant to buy a book containing pictures of only the underside of airplanes. I thought "There must be other photos, too. Who would ever shoot only the bottom of an airplane?" Well, the bottoms are all you'll see, but wow, are they interesting. I love this book.

This book is for you if you want to see:

1. Astonishing photography. The exposure is wonderful. You can easily make out detail in the wheel wells, as well as the underside of the fuselage and wings

2. A very detailed look at the underside of 100 commercial aircraft (and maybe 3 front views) revealing all of the seams, doors, probes, slats, flaps, and landing gear (all the pictures are in the full landing configuration, shot on final approach)

However, this book has absolutely no text, other than the name of the aircraft on each page. So, if you want to read about the features of the aircraft or get information about the airline industry, this book won't do that for you. Also, if you want pictures of the "livery" of airliners, you won't see that here, either, except for the little bit that is on the underside of the jets.

I like this book because it presents something we always see but never take the time to really look at. It transforms the ordinary into the extraordinary. By omitting everything except the orthogonal view of the plane, we are able to see new aspects of its design. Get a copy.

For the passenger aircraft enthusiast, this is an amazing book. The author/photographer has captured, from a very consistent angle, the landing configuration of passenger aircraft that are flying today. The excellent photographs of each plane have been set against a white background that eliminates the distraction of any other surrounding elements and focuses one's view on the plane itself. A very interesting study of passenger aircraft, each photograph reveals details and the differences in wing shape, flaps in landing configuration, nacelle shape, landing gear, navigation lights, etc. that are otherwise only seen in fleeting moments when one is lucky enough to have a plane fly directly overhead just seconds before touchdown. Again, an amazing book!

The Jet as Art is a beautifully presented book with sensational photos. A dedinate must have for anyone who loves planes.