Aperture Alike

Aperture Alike began when the author first walked into a rock-climbing gym, and soon after, a community, more than a decade ago. A community held up by friends, mentors, and unlikely prophets of the steep, which quickly presented a fantastic, intoxicating path; a lifestyle without equal. While the sensational, rugged, and itinerant chapters - from high peaks to depraved inner landscapes – of the outdoor life came together, one facet soon became clear. The inner journeys of those friends, mentors, and homely prophets far exceeded any outward feat of will. Aperture Alike attempts to shine light into the deeper realities, the inner character swings and the unplanned arcs of those who have both devoted themselves to an outside craft, and to defining themselves apart from it. Aperture Alike is a collection of short stories about community, about people pursuing their own immutably holy center point, in the midst of a life defined by trials and tribulation.

This authoritative guide, now thoroughly updated in a new edition, enables accurate identification of the common components of the inshore benthic invertebrates of the British Isles and adjacent European coasts, as well as a substantial proportion of fish species.

For as long as stories have been told, we’ve had a peculiar fascination with the wayward among us, with those we call the fools. Our histories are flush with those who stand at the edge of reason, of those who see what others cannot. Among the archetypes, the Greater Fool holds a most special place within the canon. Standing there unphased after the dust and the punchlines settle, the Greater Fool is the one who hangs on when all others let go, the one who turns into the storm when all common sense and foot traffic points the other way. Where the world around them sees only an empty promise, the Greater Fool maintains there is yet worth to be discovered still. Intrepid and unwitting as they may be, they’re also the ones we need. As irony would have it, in every Greater Fool there’s just enough magic to pull us back in their direction. Just enough light for truth to shine an arc of redemption. This is the story of Brad Gobright, one such anomaly who shined for us all a most special and unending light.

Defining photography is impossible. Revealing it is another matter, and that's what The Concise Focal Encyclopedia of Photography does, with each turn of the page. History: The technical origins and evolution of photography are half of the story. The other half consists of the ways that cultural forces have transformed photography into a constellation of practices more diverse than any other mode of representation. Photographers can tell a more in-depth story through a photo like Dorothea Lange's "Migrant Mother than a journalist ever could with the written word alone. Major themes and practitioners: Over 25 entries, many with supporting illustrations, examine the figures, trends, and ideas that have contributed most heavily to the history and current state of photography. Contemporary issues: The issues influencing photography today are more complex than at any other time in its history. Questions of ethics, desire, perception, digitization, and commercialization all vie for attention. Hear what the experts have to say about crucial issues such as whether or not the images we take today will last the test of time, and if so, how? When material is covered this skillfully, "concise is no compromise. The Concise Focal Encyclopedia of Photography is packed with useful information, compelling ideas, and - best of all - pure pleasure.

Plant Systematics, Third Edition, has made substantial contributions to plant systematics courses at the upper-undergraduate and first year graduate level, with the first edition winning The New York Botanical Garden's Henry Allan Gleason Award for outstanding recent publication in plant taxonomy, plant ecology or plant geography. This third edition continues to provide the basis for teaching an introduction to the morphology, evolution and classification of land plants. A foundation of the approach, methods, research goals, evidence and terminology of plant systematics are presented, along with the most recent knowledge of evolutionary relationships of plants and practical information vital to the field. In this new edition, the author includes greatly expanded treatments on families of flowering plants, as well as tropical trees (all with full-color plates), and an updated explanation of maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference algorithms. Chapters on morphology and plant nomenclature have also been enhanced with new material. Covers research developments in plant molecular biology Features clear, detailed cladograms, drawings and photos Includes major revisions to chapters on phylogenetic systematics and plant morphology

Magic Lantern Guides Multimedia Workshops The world’s best photographic package! Magic Lantern Guides and DVDs have always provided the very best, most in-depth coverage of a camera’s ins-and-outs. Now, there’s even more "magic” on the market for photographers: the MAGIC LANTERN MULTIMEDIA WORKSHOP. It’s a complete class in digital photography with a D-SLR camera--one that enables you to learn the essentials at your own pace, in the comfort in your own home. The attractive package includes: - Specific 80-minute DVD: An authoritative DVD guide made just for your model. Created by photographers for photographers, it covers specific camera features and functions. The format allows you to navigate easily between different topics and review chapters any time. - Taking Great Digital Photos: This full-color, 64-page book gets newcomers to the digital world started right. Packed with picture-taking tips and information on digital file formats, it explains how f/stops and shutter speeds work together to create an exposure, which focal lengths are best for various subjects, and how to get accurate color with white balance. - Great Photos with Your Digital SLR 60-minute DVD: This live-action tutorial demystifies digital shooting, and shows how to compose photos; choose the best picture-quality settings; improve results with the built-in flash; and interpret your histogram. Plus, see when to trust your camera’s automatic settings...or change them yourself. - Quick Reference Wallet Card: This laminated take-along is an ideal in-the-field key to camera and menu operations. There’s nothing else like this on the market!

This title includes a camera specific 80-minute DVD, created by photographers for photographers, as well as a book packed with picture-taking tips and useful for those who want to get the most from their camera.