Monday, August 10, 2009

#16 - Photoshop Creative

Photoshop Creative is actually more of a magazine, but it is priced in more of a book range and contains more information and instruction than most tomes on the subject. It is an imported magazine from the UK and does include a DVD-ROM for the computer filled with tutorial videos, samples, and stock photography. The subscription seems hefty but is actually quite a bargain compared to the $29.99 cover price in book shops. Full color and amazingly detailed, each issue walks you through all of the tips and tutorials that the pros use to accomplish amazing results. From photography work, to digital painting, to true digital artwork, and all of the tools, brushes, layer tricks, and tips to achieve these same results... It's all there, every issue! It's almost mind-boggling that there is more to cover in the next issue because each one is so exhaustive. If you do any sort of photography or graphic design and would like to take your craft to the next level, this is it. Far better than any Photoshop book I own. Highly Recommended.

#15 - No Touch Monkey

I took this one along on vacation since it was a travelogue sort of read. It turned out to be quite prophetic because we did actually end up touching monkeys on vacation whereby a sign in broken English advised against it because "it could bring hurt to both." Neither brought hurt, and it was actually one of the coolest moments of my life. So back to the book, it starts out well and follows a fairly hapless young woman and her travel on a budget tales with old boyfriends which has quite a few funny spots... and then it all falls apart. Somewhere about half to three-quarters through it takes this terrible nosedive into an uninteresting account of fashion show parties and her having a baby and some disjointed acting gig with her and her husband. None of which are funny in the least and are painful to endure. What a disaster for what could have been a decent book. Not recommended.

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

#14 -Dungeons & Dragons Player's Handbook 4th Edition

Even though I haven't played for over 10 years I have a love for gaming systems and design and really like the direction 4th edition went. Apparently I'm the only one though since most players have rebelled against it. I'd love to play again, but there is just no one to play with these days sadly. I really enjoyed the new book, I didn't like the Dragonborn thing but other than that I'm down. Recommended, especially if you'll DM and I can play again!