Book Review: John Shaw’s Guide to Digital Nature Photography

Katie April 2, 2015 0 Comments

A couple of items on my bucketlist would probably fall into the “Nature Photography” category – a cruise to Alaska and an African Safari.  I do not have a DSLR camera – but I would say if either of these trips end up happening it will be time to invest in one and learn how to use it.  Digital Nature Photography will be one of the books to help me use the camera.  In this book, John Shaw teaches you techniques on how to use your DSLR, what settings he used for shots, etc.  There are even comparison shots where he shows something he shot with and without a filter for a comparison.  This book is filled with a lot of great information, and it kind of made me wish I had a DSLR *now* so I could go out and find some things outside to practice taking shots of.

Throughout the book there are a lot of gorgeous photos that John has shot over the years – and I can only hope using his tips from this book that some day I can take photos that look half as good as his!

I received a copy of this book in exchange for this review through the blogging for books program.

About the Book

Photography legend John Shaw returns with his much-anticipated guide to digital nature photography, complete with more than 250 extraordinarily beautiful photographs.

For over four decades, John Shaw’s authentic voice and trusted advice has helped photographers achieve impressive shots in the great outdoors. In his first-ever book on digital photography, Shaw provides in-depth advice on everything from equipment and lenses to thorough coverage of digital topics including how to use the histogram. In addition, he offers inspirational and frank insight that goes far beyond the nuts and bolts of photography, explaining that successful photos come from having a vision, practicing, and then acquiring the equipment needed to accomplish the intention. Easily digestible and useful for every type of photographer, and complete with more than 250 jaw-dropping images, John Shaw’s Guide to Digital Nature Photography is the one book you’ll need to beautifully capture the world around you.

Book Review: The Next Boston Band

Katie April 1, 2015 0 Comments

The Next Boston Band is about a Battle of the Bands that happened in Boston.  I was excited to read this as I’ve been to several concerts in Boston and was familiar with some of the venues that were mentioned.  Unfortunately for me, this book seemed to fall flat.

The judges of the Battle were “Steve” Tyler from Aerosmith (I’ve never heard him called anything other than Steven) and Ric Ocasek from The Cars.  The book follows one of the band’s managers, Mekhi and the band Pistola.

There is a sub plot where Mekhi seems to have some sort of beef with the managers of another band and he seems to keep getting beat up by them and their pals.

I did like the style of writing which used the morning radio DJs to tell part of the story each morning as Mekhi woke up.  There was just something about the story overall that I wasn’t particularly a fan of.

I received a free e-copy of this book in order to write this review,  I was not otherwise compensated.

About the Book

Mekhi Bessel was maybe the top indie promoter in all of Greater Boston.  He could get anyone to come to anything.  He could get the Saudi kids from BU to show up to a football game at BC.  He could get the cokehead finals club WASPs from Harvard to a poetry slam at Chocolate City, the Afro-theme house at MIT.  And he knew from experience he could get the Euro-Latins from Emerson to dance salsa in the freezing cold to Israeli rock music in the parking lot outside the Beanpot hockey semi-final.  He had been an indiscriminate impresario since his sophomore year in college when he produced his first play and charged for it in violation of Theater Club rules.  Now, at 24, he had a whole series of gigs under his belt: nightclubs, rock and roll bands, hockey, football, girl’s lacrosse, good seating at the Head of the Charles, poetry reading, hip-hop (battles, a-cappella, and instrumental), dj’s, album launch, magazine launch, school committee candidate (Alan Price, Democrat, victorious), class day at Lesley University, ill-fated steak-and-live-blues restaurant, not-ill-fated brunch-and-live-blues restaurant, independent movie premieres, and the highly lucrative after-hours party.  Boston shut down at 1 a.m., so the party had to go somewhere just as it was getting going.  Mekhi found the lofts, bought the liquor, paid the dj, and collected the bar and gate.

This is how he had run afoul of the Tygers brothers.  They cooked all the nightlife in Boston.  Last night was the first time they had given him such a serious beating.

Book Review: Deadly Echoes

Katie April 1, 2015 0 Comments

Deadly Echoes is about a woman named Sarah.  It is the second book in a series, but it works as a stand alone as well. When she was 6, her mother and father were both murdered while she and her 12 year old sister hid in a closet. The two girls ended up separated through CPS after that, but she had just reunited with her sister Hannah about a year ago when she finds out that her sister has been killed as well. The police think that it was a burglary gone wrong and find a drug addict guilty of the crime.  But Sarah is not so sure.

She enlists her police friend Paul’s assistance in trying to get to the bottom of what is going on. She thinks that her sister was close to figuring out who had murdered her parents – a case that has gone unsolved for 20 years – and that is why she was murdered because there were too many similarities between the two crime scenes and Sarah doesn’t think that the police are taking her concern seriously.

The rest of the book shows how Sarah is coping now being caretaker to her niece and trying to go through the things of her sister’s she was able to grab before her sister’s house was set on fire. (Coincidence?)

Will Sarah and Paul figure out what Hannah had figured out – before it is too late? Are their lives at risk by investigating these murders? You’ll want to find out by reading the book.

I really enjoyed this book – there were a few things that I picked up on throughout that I was kind of hoping that Sarah would as well to help keep her safe – but she didn’t.  Although I guess those led to other things in the story happening that might not have if she did what I wanted! This book was quite a thriller and I didn’t want to put it down.

I received a free copy of this book in order to write this review. I was not otherwise compensated.

About the Book

After a youth filled with tragedy and upheaval, Sarah Miller’s life is finally settled with all echoes of the past silent at last. She happily calls Sanctuary her home and spends her days teaching at the local school.

Sarah’s joy at her recent reunion with her sister, Hannah, and meeting the niece she didn’t know she had is too soon interrupted when Deputy Sheriff Paul Gleason informs Sarah her sister has been killed.

As she learns more about Hannah’s death, the circumstances are eerily similar to their parents’ murder. Sarah enlists Paul’s help in digging deeper into the murders the police are dismissing as burglaries gone wrong. Paul’s concern encourages Sarah’s growing feelings for him, but as their investigation peels back the layers of lies almost twenty years old, they get close to uncovering the truth one person will do anything to hide–even if that means coming after the last remaining members of the Miller family.