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Summary: Extraordinary, but don't make a mistake thinking...
Review: ...don't make a mistake thinking that this is a Photoshop tutorial book -- it is definitely not! This is primarily a digital art book, not a technique book. While the book has some Photoshop information, Photoshop is important only for showing how Paul uses it to fulfil his artistic intent. A such, the book would be better placed under art instead of computer rubric. The book is primarily about visual aesthetics, inspiration, artistic vision, and only then about using Photoshop to translate these into images. In my own pursuit of making digital fine art images, I found that no amount of knowledge of curves, layers, levels, and masks will teach you how to create the visual magic. Yet, by getting a glimpse of how Paul creates his brand of magic, you may discoved your own way of expressing yourself visually. His book certainly gave me many avenues to explore and a promise of many more to be discovered. If you like them as I did, you might be interested in understanding some of the aspects that led to their creation. Then -- read Paul's book. Please note, that you don't have to know Photoshop to appreciate Paul's work and his book. But if you want to apply his techniques, master Photoshop fisrt by reading many other great books on the subject.
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Summary: Open your eyes
Review: A fantastic book for those who wish to take tradtional photography and move into a realm of creativity that few experance. I teach the Adobe product line and recomend this to all my students. It will be money well spend
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Summary: Adobe Photshop Master Class: John Paul Caponigro
Review: Before I read this book, I didn't know a thing about Photoshop. John Paul Caponigro's unprecedented images, his engaging prose commentary on his own work, and his lucid descriptions of basic and advanced techniques alike made this book a pleasure to read and gaze upon. There is something here for everyone interested in Photoshop; and until his monograph is released in a year, this book offers the first chance to peruse a wide selection of his images in book form. A treat for my eyes and my curiosity.
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Summary: Yucky New Age photography tutorial
Review: Caponigro uses Photoshop effectively, yet you should really take a look at the book before purchasing to see if you can stomach his fluffy, new-age photographs. As many reviewers already noted, his thin philisophical meanderings are tiresome. I found it sad that such advanced Photoshop skills yielded such lightweight results, and would have to recommend other Photoshop books--ANY other Photoshop book--unless you are inspired by the same new-age things as John Paul.
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Summary: Master class snooze book
Review: I admit that there is alot of content in the book, but i feel like i am reading someones personal journal. .... As one other review said " "Master Class" is 50% philosophy..." all that philosophy just turns me off, and makes me feel like he is talking down to me at every step. If you want to combine photography and photoshop then perhaps this books for you, but if you want to do anything else with Photoshop then select another book. If the book had not been a text book I never would have bought it, and for the first time in my life I might just sell it back at the end of the semster. There are better Photoshops books, there just has to be! ...
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Summary: Master class snooze book
Review: I admit that there is alot of content in the book, but i feel like i am reading someones personal journal. .... As one other review said " "Master Class" is 50% philosophy..." all that philosophy just turns me off, and makes me feel like he is talking down to me at every step. If you want to combine photography and photoshop then perhaps this books for you, but if you want to do anything else with Photoshop then select another book. If the book had not been a text book I never would have bought it, and for the first time in my life I might just sell it back at the end of the semster. There are better Photoshops books, there just has to be! ...
Rating: 
Summary: Best for someone with lots of Photoshop experience
Review: I because acquainted through this book because it is a required text for a second-level digital photography class I'm taking in college. I've read almost all of it. While there is a lot of valuable information (particularly with regard to monitor calibration), this book definitely has some issues.
Firstly, Caponigro's New Age tone is ponderous and meandering, and it's difficult to discern the necessary concrete tips hidden among the adjectives. The methods, in particular, are poorly organized. I took a Photoshop class (completing Adobe's Classroom in a Book), and I found the lack of intermediary steps to be challenging.
For this reason, my instructor--after many student complaints--dropped the requirement that we complete a number of "methods" (Caponigro's term for exercises) in this book. We are now free to choose other, clearer exercises from the multitude of Photoshop books available.
Also, while I appreciate the expertise that has gone into Caponigro's artwork, I don't care for most of the work itself, and I am not alone in my view. (Just how many bilaterally-symmetrical floating rocks does a reader really need to see?) While I'm aware that this is a personal bias, it definitely affects my overall impression of the book. If Caponigro's tone was a little less arrogant, I'd let that slide, but it's a sticking point for me.
Ultimately, I am sure there are people who would find this book to be a perfect fit. I am not one of them. I would recommend that anyone new to Photoshop stay far away until they've gathered a lot of experience and patience with the program. Perhaps at that point they'd be ready.
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Summary: How an artist uses Photoshop
Review: I first saw John Paul Caponigro's images 3 years ago and thought he was an exceptional artist. His book describes some of the Photoshop techniques he uses to create his art, a melding of traditional photography with digital techniques. I especially enjoyed the chapters on creating atmospheric perspective, compositing images, creating shadows and generating symmetry. He also offers a different perspective on how to use many of the Photoshop tools. This is not a book for a beginner wanting to learn Photoshop ('Classroom in a Book' is my suggestion), nor perhaps for an intermediate (I recommend 'Photoshop Artistry') but for someone who is familiar with the program and who wants to learn the techniques of a highly skilled artist 'Master Class' is a good choice. Some may find his musings on his artistic choices too Zen-like but if you like his art you'll probably love the book. I certainly did.
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Summary: The Zen of Photoshop image retouching!
Review: IÂ've been using Photoshop almost every day for 6 years. At least I have found a Photoshop book that skips the tiresome "for dummies" approach ! (If you want X, select X on the Y-menu....)
"Master Class" is 50% philosophy, 45% art and 5% technology. It provides you with the insights in color and image composition that otherwise would take you 5 years to accomplish.
The only thing I find negative is that it is too focused on obscure art. If you are a 21.century da Vinci wannabe, this book is for you! If you work on preparing (normal) photos for print or web (as I do) you should rather stick to the Photoshop WOW-series. If you need to study for an Adobe Expert Certification, you shold read the WOW book first, "master class" second, and the Adobe manual never:-)
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Summary: Illustrated with amazing full-color works of computer art
Review: Illustrated with amazing full-color works of computer art, John Paul Caponigro's Adobe Photoshop Master Class is a truly excellent and well organized guide to getting the most out of Adobe Photoshop so as to create vivid, lifelike images and breathtaking works of art. Individual chapters address color accuracy, creating realistic shadows, tessellation, perspective, and much more. An amazing guide filled with instructions for creating outstanding images, Adobe Photoshop Master Class offers a range of astounding techniques eminently suited for the novice, while also offering much of value for the experienced Photoshop user as well.
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