Passes: The Art of the Bullfight: Seduction, Deception, Illusion and Truth

Rating:
Summary: Magical
Review: Spectacular photography and production! Photo after photo takes you into the bullring, into the beauty and art of bullfighting. I love this book because the images are so surreal and yet so real and beautiful. The mystique of beloved España has never been so well captured, despite the fact that this book is an in-depth look at one part of the culture. My husband loves this book because it covers bullfighting so well, with a technical variety. But I have been seduced by the beauty alone. Essays complement the photography perfectly, and Ricardo Sanchez shines!

Rating:
Summary: Exceptional
Review: This is actually a photography book that happens to be about the art of bullfighting. But what's amazing about it is that it has none of the documentary aspect of all other books about bullfighting; it is so uniquely and remarkabily photographed that you actually see what has made bullfighting an artform in Spain and other places where it is so revered: it is really a ballet. I believe this book will someday be a classic. I have never seen anything quite like it. The extraordinary manufacturing and design job by the publisher, combined with absolutely breathtaking photography make it a necessity for anyone who loves extraordinary books, photography, art, or bullfighting. Grab one while you can!

Rating:
Summary: Exceptionally blurry!
Review: Well, it boils down to this: if you like blurry photos, you'll probably like this book. They are all blurry and/or out of focus and/or doubly-exposed. I know this is supposed to be one of the "artistic" ("arty" is more like it) styles of the day, but I happen to like a bit more clarity and definition in photos. And for page after page after page . . . truly, if you've looked at one of these photos, you've looked at them all. One hardly ever sees the bloody bull except as a blur the size of a cat. As for the essays, all that information can easily be found in other, much cheaper, sources. So, even with the generous Amazon discount, this over-priced and cumbersome volume is a major disappointment.

Rating:
Summary: Exceptionally blurry!
Review: Well, it boils down to this: if you like blurry photos, you'll probably like this book. They are all blurry and/or out of focus and/or doubly-exposed. I know this is supposed to be one of the "artistic" ("arty" is more like it) styles of the day, but I happen to like a bit more clarity and definition in photos. And for page after page after page . . . truly, if you've looked at one of these photos, you've looked at them all. One hardly ever sees the bloody bull except as a blur the size of a cat. As for the essays, all that information can easily be found in other, much cheaper, sources. So, even with the generous Amazon discount, this over-priced and cumbersome volume is a major disappointment.